Page 45 of Chosen
There was blood everywhere.
So much blood but I keep digging my knife into his flesh. Even when he collapses to the floor. My tears blind me but I continue to swing until my arms give out on me.”
“I blacked out after that. They told me that I had killed him and that he was the relative of one of the governors in that region.”
“They said I would face a trial and then be executed when I was found guilty. So I was locked up in a dirty cell with without clean water to drink and I was only given stale bread to eat that even the rats wouldn’t touch. I was in there for days, and then one day I was collected by someone calling himself General Rohman. That was when I was taken to the Sector Leader’s manor.”
I never thought I would tell that story to anyone, especially not to Draken. I left out the part where I was tortured for several hours afterwards by Master Fredresks’ Enforcers. I was kicked, choked, hit and spat on before I was imprisoned.
It didn’t matter at that point because I’d been completely broken. I had a fleeting thought about Rose, wondering if she’d also been crushed when she realized that not all companion assignments were good.
“I’m sorry that happened to you, Jamie. The Registry is not a perfect system, but it was designed to make sure every homo sapien had some kind of employment.”
I snort at the oversimplification of something that was really invented to keep track of us and to keep us oppressed. But who was I to argue with him the Registry was created to benefit thesuperious.
“I see the doubt on your face and I understand why you feel contempt toward thesuperious.”
Somehow, I doubt that but I keep my thoughts to myself.
“You don’t believe me.” He states.
I turn my head away from him unable to meet his gaze.
“We have gotten off to a bad start, you and I.”
I’m not sure what he means by that so I don’t respond.
Draken rolls off the bed. “I’m going to make use of your bathing room and use the shower before I take my leave.”
There’s something in his tone that gives me pause. Is it sadness? No that couldn’t be. What does he have to be sad about? But I couldn’t have imagined it. I muster up the courage to take a look at him but all I see is his retreating back.
“Draken!” I call out to him unsure of why I did it.
He looks over his shoulder and nods. “You should get some rest. I won’t be long and then I’ll leave you to your privacy.”
Again I hear that sadness and something strikes me deeply. Maybe I do have a prejudice against thesuperious. After all, since my family had been captured on the compound, I’d face nothing but one miserable experience after another.
I can’t say my experience upon arriving here was that great but Draken was nothing like I’d expected. He was supposed to be the unreasonable beast who killed at willed. I had more than expected to be treated about the same as I had in my last assignment but under his care, I can’t really say things have been that bad.
And the most unexpected part is the way my body responds to his. I find myself missing his touch.
And now, even though I don’t feel I’ve done anything wrong, my words have somehow hurt him. I want to make it right.
Maybe I’m going crazy but I slide out of bed and head to the bathing room.
I see the Sector Leader in the far corner behind the glass wall of the shower. He has one hand braced against the wall, as the water rains over his head and cascades down his perfect body.
Taking a deep breath, I walk toward the shower and pull back the glass just enough to ease my way inside.
I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his back.
Chapter
Seventeen
DRAKEN
After hearing Jamie’s story, I understand her hostility towards thesuperious. I think if I were in her place I too would feel resentment. I’ve lived among them all my life. I am one. But what she doesn’t realize, is thatsuperiousare not good to each other either.
