Page 100 of Orc's Possession
“Yes, and watch what you say about my husband,” I quickly defend Atox as I strengthen my voice. I cannot allow his brusque manner and the way he left get to me. He loves me. I’m sure of it, even if he doesn’t use the words.
Sojek stands nearby, his hand on his knife, watching the humans who come and go. He did not understand Atox’s words to me, as Atox spoke in English, but Cami did.
“I think I embarrassed him,” I add for Camila’s sake. She doesn’t understand orcs and their bravado. It’s not like I always understand either, but I know Atox. He’s worried right now, though he would never show that to anyone.
“Yeah, right,” Camila says. She’s always been hard to lie to. Her suspicious nature makes everything difficult.
“It would take more time to explain Atox than we have, so you’re gonna have to take my word for it that he’s a good guy. And that he’s good to me,” I add, hoping to allay the disapproval on her face.
“Has he knocked you up? Is that why you’re trying to convince me he’s not a horrible beast?”
“Cami!” I practically shout, only to realize a bunch of people working the tables in Pen’Kesh, people I haven’t seen in months and I don’t really care to see given how they never fought to keep me with them, are watching us. I grab her hand in mine and lead her to a clump of trees away from the stalls. “And yes, I am pregnant.”
Her eyes go wide. Really wide.
“Oh, my god, Paloma! Why didn’t you use the birth control I sent with you?”
“My belongings were taken from me.” I wipe the tears poolingin my eyes when I think about that morning, how betrayed I’d felt by everyone including my sisters. “Before I realized what you’d given me, I thought you were okay with Council selling me.”
“Of course not! But none of us has a voice in our colony. You know this. As soon as Dad told us what was happening, we brainstormed ways to help you. I searched for birth control in case we couldn’t keep you from being sold, while Ren and Marta talked to everyone who would listen in the hope that someone could help. Mostly everyone slammed doors in their faces. No one wanted to risk their daughter taking your place.
“When I learned Gretta Anderson had birth control pills, I played on her ignorance, telling her Council ordered a ton more and they’d be arriving the next month. Since she wasn’t seeing anyone anyway, she agreed she could spare them. That, and I swapped kitchen duty for latrine cleanup for a month. I hoped the pills would buy you time to escape. Pregnant by an orc...” Camila shudders. “I’m so sorry, Paloma. What a horror show. To think you’re carrying a beast.”
I shove her away from me. In the corner of my eye, I see Sojek stepping closer, concern on his face. He doesn’t know what we’re saying, but he hears raised voices and sees the tension between us.
“I’m just thinking of you!” Cami says.
“I didn’t want to be sold to the orcs. I fought it every step of the way. Then I got to know them, especially Atox.”
“Clearly,” she says in a bratty condescending tone that implies I’m doing something untoward or reprehensible.
I slap her. Hard. I’ve never touched her with an angry hand or thought in my life. Immediately, I gasp and cover my mouth with my hand before reaching out to her to soothe the red mark on her face.
I’ve become my father. Unable to control the anger. Lashing out at my own family.
God, what has come over me? I wonder if this is how Atox felt after cutting Sojek.
“I’m so sorry,” I say and try to hug her, but she pushes me back.
Her hand covers the cheek I slapped. “I get it. You’re traumatized from being sexually assaulted. I was insensitive, but I’m scared for you, Paloma. Don’t worry. We’ll fix this. Together.”
“Fix this? You don’t understand?—”
“We finally have a doctor in the colony, from the last group of colonists. They arrived a month after you left. I’m sure he can get rid of it and maybe reverse this brainwashing.”
“No one is touching my baby. And I haven’t been brainwashed. Cami, look at me. I’m confident, stronger than ever, and it’s because of Atox. He’s a good man. Decent, honorable, and he cares about me.”
“Do you hear yourself? He’s not a man at all. He’s a beast.”
“You’re the one who’s been brainwashed. The same as me. From the moment we arrived on Kovos, we’re taught to hate the orcs but they’re not that different from us, Cami. They’re good people.”
“Are you actually saying you… love… that beast?”
“Yes, and he loves me,” I say, even though Atox has never used those words. But if I hesitate in front of Camila, she’ll deduce the truth. That I’m still insecure when it comes to Atox’s feelings for me. He didn’t react when I said I love him.
To my surprise, Camila’s face softens. “You don’t want to come home, do you? You’re actually happy with the orcs?”
“Very happy, Cami. From before we left Earth, we’ve been lied to. By the cendagi, then by Council. Everything they’ve said about the orcs is a lie. Even if I didn’t want to stay with Atox and his people, I wouldn’t return to New Earth. Not given what Council did to me.”
