Rise of the Mare (Fall of Man Book 2) Page 11

  My eyes stayed transfixed on the Day Stalkers. They didn’t move in attack mode. Pulling my sword, I walked to them.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Look at them,” I said. “Why aren’t they attacking?”

  “They are.”

  One Day Stalker swung out his arms.

  “Really? This is attacking?” I moved even closer.

  “Damn it, Tanner. Back up. Those things are dangerous.”

  I kept looking into the eyes of the one. He looked helpless and though his eyes were glossed over with gray, I saw something, I saw a spark of life. For the first time I realized the Day Stalkers still had some human in them and not just a heartbeat. Could they be changed? Or maybe even trained if we just fed them?

  The three before me failed to lunge my way, which was typical Day Stalker fashion.

  The one that stared back at me wore a flannel shirt. His neck was covered with dry blood. He was young, maybe a little older than me.

  He opened his mouth with a groan. I swore he was trying to tell me something. A part of me felt bad for him. He’d probably had a life. He wasn’t killed that long ago, and that told me that somewhere in the vicinity was a village we’d missed or didn’t know about. At least one he could walk from.

  Flannel Shirt Day Stalker was nearing a communication plateau. I could feel it. His mouth moved, I looked at him more intently and then…

  His head flew up in the air, bouncing to the ground. His body stayed upright, hands shaking until that fell as well.

  “You’re an ass!” Snake yelled in frustration. “Standing there staring at the thing. Did it lock you into a hypnotic state or something, or were you just trying to think of a way to make love to the thing?”

  “You killed it.”

  “That’s what we do.”

  “He was trying to tell me something.”

  “No.” Snake cleaned off his sword and replaced it. I noticed he had killed the other two as well. “And if he was trying to tell you something, it was probably that you looked tasty. Mount your butt and let’s go. Daylight is wasting.”

  I took one more moment to glance down to the corpse of the three Day Stalkers. While Snake was correct in what he did, I also felt right in the fact that the Day Stalker was trying to stay something.

  What, I would never know. I had to put it behind me as I mounted my horse and rode on.

  THIRTY-FOUR – NITO

  At first I believed it was only me and the tooth missing man named Burt. He had brought me a brown liquid in a cup and two slices of cooked bread.

  He said, “It ain’t much, but all that’s up here.”

  Up here? Had I gone to another planet.

  Burt gave me some clothing, denim, large pink undergarments, and a shirt with sleeves that would only come to my mid-arms. One would think humans would make up their mind. Sleeves or no sleeves. There was also a pair of awkward sandals with a single strap. I didn’t see how they worked unless I missed something about humans.

  “May be a little big on ya,” Burt said. “I bet you can make anything work.” He must have noticed me looking at the sandals. “Never seen a flip flop before? Probably not since you’re a Straits gal.”

  Flip flop? Straits gal. I questioned both.

  “Flip flops you put on your feet. Straits, that’s where you’re from, right, Madge?”

  I nodded. Obviously, he attributed my confusion with being from Esperanza Straits. I nodded. “I think,” I said. “I don’t remember.”

  “Probably hit your head. You were out cold. There’s a towel if you wanna shower.”

  “Where?” I asked.

  He pointed outside.

  “Is it going to rain?”

  Burt laughed. “No. Outhouse is out there. Got a shower hookup. Sun heats the water pretty good. Go get cleaned up. I did the best I could but, I know you women.”

  “That may be a good idea.”

  “I won’t watch. I’ll show you. Wait. Your breakfast. Aren’t you going to eat?”

  “After, I will.”

  Truth was, I was fearful of eating. I had not consumed human food at all. I wasn’t sure what reaction I would have.

  “Might wanna put them flip flops on.”

  “Doubtful,” I replied. “I am fine barefoot.”

  I followed Burt out of the small bedroom, which led to another room with a sofa. Clearly that was where Burt slept. His blanket was still there. We went outside and I was immediately pelted by the hot, dry wind.

  I looked around. For as far as the eye could see there was nothing but desert and hills. A chain linked fence was in the distance surrounding the property.

  “Sure you don’t wanna put them flip flops on?”

  I shook my head. We emerged from a small shack. A few feet away was another shack and by that, as Burt indicated, was the facilities. A half-moon crescent was on the door on the tiny lone building, and next to that was the obvious outdoor shower.

  I began walking at a normal pace until I realize that the sand beneath my feet was hot. Burning hot. I then moved as fast as I could, cringing outwardly in peeps of pain with each running step.

  Burt laughed. “Told ya.”

  The facilities were raised. I stepped up to the wooden plank and pushed open the first swinging door. A bench was there for me to place my clothes and towel.

  “I’ll let you be. Soap’s there. I’ll be over at the lookout when you’re done. And wear the flip flops.”

  “How?” I asked.

  Burt reached for the sandal. “Can’t believe you don’t remember these. Not that you’re old, but you’re old enough to remember them. This portion here goes between your big toe and next one.”

  “That cannot be comfortable.”

  Burt shrugged. “To each his own. They must have really done a number on your brain. Go shower. Just pull the lever, the water will come out.”

  I waited for Burt to leave and I removed that hideous housedress and stepped into the shower. I pulled the lever and the water was actually warm and refreshing.

  Showering was something I knew about.

  It felt different against my new skin. I also was not used to washing my own body and had to remember how my house maidens did it.

  While I cleansed myself I laughed. How perfectly brilliant of my father and the counsel. They hadn’t punished me. It was all a rouse. The Mare was dangerous. I knew that, hence why I wanted her destroyed. Granted, I went about it quite wrongly, but I tried. My father and the counsel saw this, and to save face they devised a brilliant plan. I wish they would had told me ahead of time. I could have prepared. They were sending me to be the hero. The savior of the Ancients. They were doing to the humans what they had done to us. The Mare was sent to us through the educator to bring us down. I was made human to go to the rebels and bring them down. I was certain I wasn’t among the rebels nor at their base. They were located in a much greener environment.

  I was sure I could manipulate Burt to get me there, or at least help. However, there was no way I could incorporate his assistance until I got used to being a human, acted like one. Getting used to the body that made uncontrollable noises and leaked with very little warning would take some time. I would draw upon my knowledge of human children and babies. They leaked often.

  Once I was convincing that I was surely a rebel as well, that Angeles City was my place, I would go there.

  The rebels had always only been a minor inconvenience, always planning but never implementing. The arrival of the Mare changed all that. Now, I was going to make a difference as well.

  Even if my being human wasn’t an intentional plot of my father’s, I would use it to my advantage. It would be my ticket to getting back into my kingdom’s good graces. I wouldn’t destroy the rebels. No. I would do better. I would lead the rebels to the kingdom, but only to be our replenished food supply.

  *

  Burt waited a distance from me, actually by the door of the main shack, and I was positive he did not watch me dre
ss. He would not be able to see much anyhow. I carried the housedress over my arm as I walked to him.

  “Since this is a treasured item of your mother…” I handed it back.

  “Uh, thanks.” He leaned back opened the shack door and tossed it in.

  I was aghast, I had thought it was a treasure.

  “Ready?”

  “For?”

  “To meet everyone.”

  I looked around. “Are they part of your imagination?”

  He laughed and shook his head. “I wonder what you were like before you got in the Straits. Come on.”

  Once again I was following Burt. This time he took me to the other shack.

  “There are people in this small building?”

  “Sort of.” He opened the door. “After you.”

  Apprehensively, I stepped through.

  “I have to tell you, those clothes look good on you.”

  “This shirt shows my feeble arms and they flap.”

  “Real women have movement to their flesh. Never liked them hardcore workout or stick thin gals.”

  “Thank you.”

  Burt winked.

  “You are a very nice person, Burt.”

  “Thanks, Madge.”

  I did like him. There was something about Burt. Perhaps I’d experiment with this body and have my way with him. I didn’t want to tell him that in case he frightened like most human men at the prospect of physical connection.

  A light came on as soon as he shut the door to a room smaller than my dressing room back home. He pulled me back and I heard a humming sound. Within seconds a metal box emerged from the floor and doors slid open.

  “This is very different,” I said walking into the box with Burt. The doors closed and the box jolted. I held on.

  “Been a while I take it.”

  “I believe so, not sure.”

  “Well, we know the Sybaris brainwash you folks.”

  “They do not. They …. they just shelter hum… us.” I forced a smile. “And I did hit my head. Everything is fuzzy.” I caught my reflection in the shiny doors. Had I not known who I was, I wouldn’t recognize me. I had truly been humanized, and I looked to be a human somewhere in their forties.

  “I figured.”

  “It feels like we are going down.”

  “We are.”

  “Below the Earth’s surface. To what?”

  “Home.”

  The box stopped moving and the doors opened.

  Immediately I hesitated. The noise of civilization flowed to me. We stepped out into a large room. Tables were set up, people moved about. Lots of people.

  “This is where we gather. We have rooms where we sleep. I’ll find you one.”

  “How many are here?”

  Burt scratched his head. “Five hundred maybe. Probably more since people keep having kids.”

  “How do you live down here without the sun?”

  “We go up,” Burt explained. “We farm down here using a system called hydroponics. Had a scientist from the Old World join us. We have a doctor as well if you want him to look at your head.”

  “I’ll be fine with rest.” I was amazed at how many humans there were, all dressed in clothing similar to the clothing I was wearing. Everyone looked different, unlike the humans in the Straits.

  “We live quite well down here. We’re safe. We like it.”

  “Is this… is this Angeles City?”

  “Um no.” He laughed. “Not at all, and not even close. Is that where you were headed?”

  “I think. Not sure. I’d like to go and be a rebel.”

  “Up to you. Personally, I think we have it better here. It’s cleaner and safer.”

  “Then why have they not joined you?”

  Burt stopped walking and stood before a door. “Couple of reasons, I suppose. We aren’t rebels. We just want to live, and I don’t think they know about us.”

  “If this is not Angeles City, what is it called?”

  “We call it Hopeland. But some say it was Area 51. To me, it was an abandoned underground base. We got here ten years ago and we’ve thrived.” He opened the door. “The best part is that the Sybaris don’t even know about us.”

  I nodded and followed. The Ancients did not know. I smiled. Little did Burt realize, they would know very soon.

  THIRTY-FIVE – VALA

  Sophie smiled, and while she still said no words, I knew by the look in her eyes she was coming back. Until then, she was still like a doll that I posed and dressed. I placed her in bed, covered her, and asked that Samantha find someone to watch her door just in case.

  It had been a long day of looking at dresses and trying them on. I retreated to my bedroom, a room bigger than the entire first floor of my home in Akana. My bed was across the room, and I sat on the sofa in the sitting area.

  I sipped on a warm beverage called tea, while curled up with a book I had found in the room. The book was odd. It was big and thick and had names with numbers next to it. I couldn’t figure it out and wondered if it was some sort of code.

  My mind was already too crowded to break the code of the big book. I had only a couple of days until I was to marry Iry. Not long to devise a plan to get back to Angeles City or bring down the Sybaris.

  One problem remained. Sophie. She was a Sybaris; she was also my responsibility. If I made one wrong move she would die and so would I.

  The large book barely fit in my lap and when there was a knock at my door, I jumped and the book fell with a hard ‘thump’.

  Iry stepped in. “Are you alright? I heard a bang.”

  “It was the secret book.”

  “The secret book?” he asked.

  “Yes, I found it in the closet. It has yellow pages and numbers.”

  “Ah,” Iry bent down and grabbed it. “This is a phone book. Back in the day humans communicated using telephones.”

  “Yes, I know what they are. Alf got himself in trouble using it.”

  “Exactly, and this was a reference for people to find numbers of people they were trying to reach.”

  “Silly me, and here I thought I was uncovering something.”

  “You know, perfect timing then if you are looking for something to read,” Iry said. “I brought you a pre-wedding gift.” He extended his hand and in it was a book. “Do not let this be found.”

  “A book?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Enjoy.”

  I looked at the cover. “Twilight?”

  “It’s a love story.”

  “Oh, will I like it?”

  “I hope. It’s about a young girl who falls in love with a vampire.”

  Immediately my eyes shot to his. “Is this a mind game?”

  “What?” he laughed. “No. It is my way to show you that not all are bad. Even though I’m not a vampire.”

  “I will read it, thank you.”

  “Sure. I have to do something to get you to like me. We are getting married.”

  “If it helps,” I said, walking back to sit on my sofa, “I do not dislike you.”

  “That’s a start.” Iry sat down next to me. “I am nice, Vala. The maidens all like me.”

  “Hmmm…”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Why do they all like you so much? Although Samantha fears you.”

  “Samantha does not fear me.”

  “I heard stories back in Akana. I didn’t understand what they meant then. I do now since I have been educated in Angeles City. They say the Sybaris men take human women.”

  “Take them where?”

  “Take them,” I repeated. “They choose them just to… take. What is that word? Seduction.”

  “Ah, I get it. Yes.”

  “I see. Did you chose a human woman to take.”

  “You’re my first choice, Vala. And I didn’t chose you to take. Remember I just became old enough.”

  “So you have not taken any human women?”

  “I…uh …” Iry cringed, “would rather not say.�
��

  “You have!” I gasped. “The women here?”

  “Vala...”

  “You have! Do you make them pleasure you, Iry?”

  “I would like to think I pleasure them in return.”

  My mouth formed a circle as I fought back my disgust. “You are blinded by your own arrogance if you think that it is pleasure to them.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “Well…” my chin dipped to my chest as I sought the right words, “I am informed. Marie explained the act. It sounds violating. A woman is placed in a very vulnerable position.” Feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed by the subject, I stood quickly.

  “You have it all wrong. It’s not a violation if both people agree, and it’s hardly torturous. There is more to it all, Vala, you just don’t know.”

  As he spoke I heard his voice getting closer and softer.

  “It’s more than the act,” Iry spoke near a whisper, so close behind me. “It’s every aspect of it.”

  I felt his finger trail softly up my arm. Then he moved to my shoulder and trickled his fingers down across the front of my chest.

  “And with the right person…” his breath was close as his hand made its way from my shoulder to my neck. The tips of his fingers tickled lightly up to my chin and his hand then extended across my face, “…it can be unbelievable.”

  My heart beat fast, why was that? Why was I breathing so heavily? A flutter hit my stomach as I felt him move behind me, his body against mine. I let him touch me.

  “You don’t know what you are missing, Vala.”

  On his last word his breath hit my ear and a shiver shot through my body. I couldn’t move.

  Iry stepped in front of me. His hand remained on the side of my face. His eyes locked on mine.

  I was caught up and then I snapped from it. “You cast a spell on me.”

  “When?”

  “Right now. You used a Sybaris spell. Right here I was almost drawn into your seduction ways.”

  “You weren’t caught in a spell, Vala,” Iry said. “You were caught in a moment.” He paused. “And so was I.”