CHAPTER I

"Georgia!" Mrs. Welch called out the window, "Georgia! Where is that child?" "Coming Madam" I yell back, though my mind is saying something a little more like, "Man, I hate that woman almost as much as I do my life.." I hurry back to the 'mansion' as Mrs. Welch calls it, though it seems more like a prison to me. I come in through the servant's door in the kitchen and quickly walk up the stairs to her bedroom. As I go I think of the night that, though was only a year ago, feels like an eternity in the past. The night that regrettably changed my life. But my climb up the stairs only last for so long, so I force myself back into the present.
"Yes Mrs. Welch?" I say as peak my head into the bedroom. "Good gracious child, if I've ever heard of anyone walking so slow? And a slave none the less." Yep, she said slave, "And haven’t I told your before?" she went on, "You can call me Madam." Wow, I hate this lady, I think, even the kitchen maids have it better than this. "Oh, stop gawking child, can you speak?" "Yes ma'am" I reply. "Good girl" she says to me like I'm some dog. "Now come along, darling. Busy day, busy day."
I followed her out the bedroom and to the 'tea and social room' ,also known as a living room, Mr. Welch waited in the for us. "Hello Darling" he said kissing Mrs. Welch on the cheek, "Georgia" he said with distaste. "Mr. Welch" I said with a curtsy, so he had no excuse to abuse, sorry discipline me. They went on with meaningless chatter, bragging of their achievements, for the thousandth time, the way rich people do.
I always found it funny how a house like this was only owned by the rich here, especially since my house is—was two times the size, and we were middle class. Okay maybe that’s over exaggerated but two times nicer definitely. The thought of my old house back on Kolo brought back painful memories. Ones of my mother, sister, and brothers, friends, and the Ladoes. Oh how I despise the Ladoes. "Georgia.." said Mrs. Welch, probably for the third time by her tone. "Yes Mrs.- Madam." "Go fetch that servant boy you like so much. Andy, Aaron.. something" "Andrew Ma'am" I said, trying to keep my voice even. "Oh, well yes. Go on, tell him to make me a pot of tea." I left the room swiftly, glad to leave.
As I walked I remembered the day I was bought at the slave market, and my outrageous luck of not only being bought with someone I knew, but three. Andrew, my little brother; Selein, an Aryian I met in a cart on the ride over to this miserable planet (Aryians have blue-ish skin and pointy ears, their eyes are just pupils so it’s like looking into a void); and Ky, another boy from the cart. I thought about Ky, I actually never really knew him all that well...

CHAPTER II

I exchanged friendly greetings with Andrew when I came into the kitchen. We had decided when we were bought together to not let anyone know our relation, we knew the Witch- sorry Welches would only use it against us if they knew.

Andrew and I walked back to the living room, each of us carrying a tray with either tea or cups. We walked in silence for a while, but Andrew broke it, "Chase’s letter said he and Steaven are looking for an escape" he asked so quickly and quiet I questioned whether he had said it or not. "Good" I said as we entered the room.
We set the tea on the table and left after Mr. Welch waved his hand, partially acknowledging us. Andrew headed back to the kitchen and I to my (insert sarcasm) favorite chore, the kids.
The kids are about the most stuck up little brats money can buy. If it rained they'd drown from how far they stick their noses up, which would be fine by me. They aren't here the whole year because of school, but when they are their favorite hobby it tormenting me, right after getting me in trouble that is.
I walked into the first room, "Wake up Walter" I said flipping the light switch. "LEAVE ME ALONE" he grunted with outrage at being woken before lunch time. I left and went to the next room. "Let's go Mildred" I said pounding the door and eventually coming in. I flipped the switch to see an angry pre-teen with a rats nest for hair and armed with a pillow. "Get out!" she yelled, throwing the pillow and missing me entirely as I walked out the door. I pounded on the next door and called, "Wake up Simon" but to my displeasure he was already up.
"Good morning, Cupcake" he said as he came out the door buttoning up his shirt, "I'm not your cupcake" I said as I walked away. "Oh don’t be a prune" he said with a chuckle, "Why don't you come into my room anymore?" "Because last time you locked me in" I said trying to control my attitude. "Aw, you’re not still sore about that are you?" he asked, still following me, "Maybe just a tad" I replied.
He followed me as I made my second trip to the other kid's rooms, "Let's go Mildred!" I yelled into her room again as Simon kept on with his daily routine. "Georgia, you’re looking marvelous this morning", "Georgia, does your face always light up like that, or just when you see me?", Georgia, Blah Blah Blah. Always "Georgia, something", he really wasn't very creative, just copied old chick-flicks. "Georgia" he began, "will you marry me?" he got down on one knee and held up a very expensive looking ring. His siblings snickered as they watched, "Of course now they get up" I think. "Simon, that's very flattering but--" I said trying to control my voice, then I noticed how expensive the ring actually was, "Simon, where'd you get that ring?" "Mother's jewelry box" he said it was no big deal. He and his siblings gave me a sly smile as I realized this was another one of their plots to get me in trouble.
"Go put it back" I ordered, doing a failing job at keeping my voice even. "Why should I?" he snapped back. I stared at him, I had no answer and he knew it. I knew he was a horrible, sneaky, conniving little twerp, but I never thought he'd go as far as framing me for stealing! I grunted in outrage and walked away as the kids snickered evilly behind me.

CAHPTER III

I went straight to the kitchen. I walked in and made sure that none of the family was there, or any of the rats that tell them everything. After I did , I gave another angry grunt and stomped my foot before sitting down at the servants table. I felt like crying, everyone knew the punishment for stealing, a whipping. Now I don't mean a whipping that your mom would give you when you were young; this was at least nine licks to the back with a bull whip, if you were lucky! Selein walked over, drying the tea pot from earlier, she asked me if I was alright. I told her everything, as usual. When I finished and looked up all the staff and kitchen maids had a strange mix of distain and sympathy on their faces. "That slimy, good for nothing" began Selein, "Shhh! "one of the kitchen maids, Jenny, warned. She did, knowing that she'd get in trouble for speaking out against the family, but she couldn't stop herself, "bug-eyed, ugly weasel!" she finished in a whisper. Then she looked back at me, "Oh come here honey" she said hugging me.
I spent the rest of the day worrying about it. When Simon passed by making a frowny face and tapping his ring finger with his other hand, I thought I was going to turn green. The night finally arrived, Mr. Welch had made plans for him and the family to go see a show at a theatre in the next town, so us servants would be home alone. "Oh Mother" said Mildred, glancing at me, "you know what would be perfect with that sash? That ring Daddy got you last year." "You think?" Mrs. Welch asked, examining her hand. "Oh, yes!" said Mildred, giving my an evil grin as her mother left the room to get the missing ring.
When Mrs. Welch came back in I thought I was going faint, from relief. She showed Mr. Welch the missing ring, exclaiming how much she still loved it. Simon looked at me in disbelief, I was as shocked as he was. "Alright let's go children" Mrs. Welch said shuffling them out the door. Simon shot me one last evil glance like, "You'll regret this" then left. I stood there in shock for a few moments, then a grin crept across my face in disbelief as I walked back to the kitchen.
When I entered everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at me. Everyone started cheering, we had actually won something against the tyrants we called 'the Welches.' "Shh!" warned Jenny, wanting to stay out of trouble, she still smiled at me and gave me a kiss on the forehead, "Good job Dearie" she said. "But I didn't do anything" I said in shock, "I thought Selein might have..." Everyone looked at her, "I didn't do anything" she said putting her hands up. I sat down at the little table in bewilderment, "Then who did?" I said almost asking myself.

CHAPTER IV

Days came and went and finally the kids holiday was almost over. Simon and his siblings had given up on asking me what had happened to the ring and how I got it back in the jewelry box. They went back to their normal schedule of making my life miserable with tough mornings, tougher nights, and sprinkled and dashed with a rough day in between.
"Georgia!" Mrs. Welch continued her usual morning cry, "Let's go child!" After giving an overview of the days plans she sent me to 'fetch' the children. I banged once on each one of their doors, "Walter! Mildred! Simon!" I called. They all came out eventually with bad hair days and worse breath. "Alright" I said stifling a cough, "Walter, you’re going to town with your father in an hour." "Yes!" he said running back into his room as fast as his nine year old legs could take him. "Mildred, violin lessons in the park at noon." "Hm" she said sticking her nose a tad-bit higher than usual. "And Simon" I said looking at him, "Make-out session in fifteen?" he said it like I might as well won a car. "Uh, no (as usual). Riding lessons within the next half-hour" I said with a smile knowing how much he hated horses, or stables, or well anything pertaining to the idea. "Fine" he said grumpily.
******
I went with Simon to the stables, partially by Mrs. Welch's request and partially because seeing him fall on his butt a couple times couldn't hurt... me. We met Ky at the stables, I had forgotten this was where he had been placed. "Ugh, look at Mr. Know it All" Simon said as we got close. "Your just jealous" I said back, feeling the need to defend Ky. "Why would I be jealous?" he asked as if he couldn't find a single flaw with himself, "Because" I responded, waving at Ky as we got close, "he does know it all."
Ky and I leaned against the stables, breathing in the cool morning as Simon complained about things like 'the sun being too bright' and 'the horse was too tall' and yelling at us to fix them. Ky chuckled, "And how would you like me to darken the sun?" he asked humorously. "I don't know! You're the one who 'knows it all.'" he said mimicking me. Ky raised an eyebrow and looked at me, but I just shrugged my shoulders and looked back at Simon as I tried not to blush.
I swear if I had never heard Chase's attempt at singing, then Simon riding a horse would definitely be the funniest thing I've ever seen. His head bobbled up and down as the horse practically rode him. "Are you going to help him?" I mumbled to Ky, "I'll let him go a little bit longer" he said as a mischievous smile snuck across his face and he winked at me. I suppressed a laugh, but a little bit slipped out. "What’s so funny!?" Simon asked. "Oh nothing just a few birds we saw" there were no birds, but he turned to look anyway, almost falling from the mare in the process.
"Alright he's endured enough" Ky said to me after a few more moments. He jumped on another horse, Lilly, with ease and grace and walked her over to Simon. I watched as he showed him how to hold the reigns and couldn't help but think of how different they were. Though both were sixteen, a year older then I, they were totally different. Ky had broad shoulders and strong arms and sat as if royalty, where Simon was short, a little chunky, and sat like an old man. I wouldn't be surprised to find both their pictures in a magazine, only difference: Simon's the before picture, and Ky the after.

CHAPTER V

After watching Simon fall off the horse a couple dozen times Ky decided to call it a day. Ky walked with us back to the house since he was done for the day. A smile pulled at the edges of his lips as Simon complained about his sore 'bum.'
Back at the house Simon went straight to his room to rest before dinner, leaving Ky and me some rare downtime. He struck up a conversation about his old home. As he talked about wide grass plains and the snow crested mountains I realized I didn’t know where he was from. But I told him about Kolo to be polite, our tall oaks and the strings of floating magnetic light called the Asurda Bond or 'Physical light.' “It’s really cool,” I said, “we’d take these poles, made of a metal called Lanomium, and gather the strands of light on them like cotton candy. We’d use as torches and stuff, but we couldn’t touch em, they’d dissipate if we did.”
We talked for about an hour, covering practically everything about our past lives; from his stallion Jasper to my friends Amelia and Chase. My voice trailed off when I started talking about the night of the capture...

We had a project at school due the next day so Amelia and Chase were over at my house trying to get it done. We had had a fourth partner, Conner, but he never showed, so we started without him. My mom was working late that night and Alva, my little brother, had stayed with her. Jason and Neomi, my older brother and sister, had gone to a concert and I was watching Andrew until my mom got home. It was mid-January and there was a blizzard blowing out side; so when then lights started flickering we didn't think it that weird, just a major annoyance.
After a couple hours of working by candle light Conner came bursting through the front door. His face was too white and his body shaking from cold and fear. "They're coming.. they.. they...they're coming.." he stuttered as he tumbled towards us. The three of us quickly ran to him and encouraged him to explain what on God's green Kolo he was talking about. He slowly lifted his head and looked straight into my eyes, I saw the fear in his brown eyes, just then we heard a crash like someone had accidently knocked over one of our trash cans. "Hide!" Conner yelled, then ran upstairs.
Not knowing what else to do we all followed him upstairs. I and Amelia ran into my room and hid under mine and my sister's beds, and Chase ran into Jason's room, which was across the hall, and hid among some boxes which were cluttering the corner, Conner was nowhere to be seen.
I then heard the sound of the front door creaking open, then a few moments later I heard someone coming up the stairs. When the person got to the top I thought it was Jason at first and was about to get out from my hiding spot when I saw his pant leg come up some and reveal a skin tone that was much too dark to be my brother's. The man walked through Jason's open doorway, and shined a flash light underneath the bed. As he bent down I saw the gun in his hands and the tattoo on his forearm, a three-horned beast in a fiery circle.
I had learned about the marking a couple years ago in school, it was the marking of an gang that had been started in the 7th Quadrant a long time ago and had spread like a forest fire ever since. Their name was the Lodoe, they were feared throughout all the quadrants because they didn't only kill, but they also took captives and no one had lived to tell what they did with them. My mind quickly flashed to Andrew sleeping in his bed and totally un-a where of the danger.
The man looked around Jason's room some more then spotted the boxes, he kicked them but Chase kept quiet. He kicked them again and Chase grunted in pain, the man heard him and started rummaging through the boxes. He bent down and picked up the squirming Chase like he was a puppy. Right as I was about to gasp a hand clamped over my mouth. I was about to spaz out when I saw that it was Conner. Relief surged through my body, but unfortunately no one was with Amelia, and no one silenced her gasp. The man slowly turned and Chase yelled as loud as he could, "Help!! Ladoes!!! It's the Ladoes!! HELP!'' The man clamped his hand over Chase's mouth, but that didn’t stop him, his muffled scream continued and his squirming went on. The man put the gun to Chase's chest then in a gruff voice said, "Stop. I have used this before and I'll use it again." With that he unclamped Chase's mouth and took some liquid in a water bottle from a pouch slung across his back, and forced Chase to drink it. In a matter of seconds Chase's head sunk forward and the man dropped him. He crumpled into a heap onto the floor and had no signs of life other than the small decrease and rising of his chest...

"Georgia?" Ky asked pulling me out of the flash back, "You alright?" I looked back at him, he looked a tad concerned. "Yeah, I'm fine" I said managing a smile. I don't think he believed me, but he moved on, "So, I heard Mrs. Welch got my gift." I looked at him in confusion, "You sent Mrs. Welch a gift?" "Not exactly." he said only continuing after seeing the confusion on my face, "I placed it in her room." "What was it?" I asked, now thoroughly intrigued. "A stolen engagement ring" he said looking at me with a twinkle in his eye and a crooked smile creeping across his face. I straightened my back in shock and looked at him wide-eyed as my mouth fell open. "Wait, you mean...that means...but how!?" Before he could answer Mrs. Welch's yell of my name rung through the air. As I got up to go back to the house he winked at me and said, with a smile, "We'll talk later."

CHAPTER VI

The next day I told Selein about Ky. She was so shocked she couldn't speak, which was very unlike her. We sat in silence for a while at the servants table. It was a couple hours after lunch, all the dishes were already done and the kids were in their rooms packing for school the next day; so we had some extra time to spare.
After sitting quietly for a while she started mumbling something about how he got in and how he found it to herself. "Georgia?" I looked up to see Jenny standing in the doorway, "Mrs. Welch needs you for something Dearie" her voice sweet and face calm.
I ignored my thoughts of Conner running up the stairs as approached Mrs. Welch's room. "Madam?" I said slowly opening the door. "Ah, Georgia" she said turning to see me, "come help me with my corset." I came in and saw Mrs. Welch standing in front of a mirror holding the thing in her hand. I hated this job but I came in and helped anyway.
Since the kids were heading back to school I'd be back to my regular job of Mrs. Welch's hand-maiden. "Not so tight" she croaked as tugged a little too far. When I finished she told me to fetch the 'stable boy' (Ky) and have him rig the horses to the coach and that we were going into town. Giving a curtsy and a "Yes Madam" I headed off to the stables.
Within the hour Mrs. Welch, Ky, and me were heading towards the city for some meeting she had to attend. Ky sat on the seat in front controlling the horses while Mrs. Welch and me in the closed car on opposite sides. She sat fanning herself in her lacy dress. I looked down at my own dress, it was brown with a white belt and stripes of white on the ends of the short sleeves. It was the only nice dress I owned and I could only wear it into town, which was fine by me cause I hated it.
I sat outside the meeting hall aimlessly playing with my brown ringlets as I waited for Mrs. Welch. I was so zoned out I barely notice Ky plop down beside me on the bench. He stared at me with his instance blue eyes forcing me out of my daze. I looked up at him, "He hid it in your dresser drawer" he said after a moment. "I snuck in and took it, then while Mrs. Welch was out with Mr. Welch I snuck it back into her jewelry box."
My eyes drifted to the ground, not knowing what to say. After a moment I smiled slowly and looked back at him, "Why...how did you.." I stammered out. Thankfully he understood, "Word gets around pretty fast when nothing good never happens" he said smiling sympathetically at me. "No one needs to get lashed at all, much less for something they didn't do." My cheeks got a little warm as I smiled at him, "Thank you." He smiled back at me and nodded as he rose and walked back to care for the thirsty horses.
Not long after that Mrs. Welch came out with a flood of other people. I stood up and followed her back to the coach. Ky waited there for us, opening the door and extending his hand as Mrs. Welch drew near. Helping her up the two steps into the coach then turning to me with a knowing smile and the same extended hand.

CHAPTER VII

With the kids back at school I went back into my fixed routine of helping Mrs. Welch. Drawing baths, calling the gardener, and corseting her, among other things.
One day, two weeks after the kids were gone, Mr. and Mrs. Welch were discussing throwing a party over dinner. I stood along the wall holding a pitcher of some juice concoction as I listened. "We'll have the stable boy and maybe a few other slaves do valet parking,” Said Mr. Welch, “and bring in some caterers, and the kitchen maids can serve.” I thought for a moment about Jenny walking through crowds of people with a tray of glasses on her shoulder and I knew right then it wouldn’t end well. “Or maybe just our female servants around thirty and younger” he finished swirling his glass. That be better, but I didn’t know if my balance was any better than Jenny’s.
Mrs. Welch held up her empty glass and I moved forward topping it off with the concoction and moved back to the wall. “Hm, well I don’t know Richard.” Said Mrs. Welch, “It could be a ball” he replied. A smile slowly appeared on Mrs. Welch’s face, “Georgia” “Yes Madam” I replied, “Call and get some templates for invitations.”

*****

Mrs. Welch and I chose the template and she sent me to town the next day to drop them off for copying and to be sent out. When I got back to the house it was almost dusk the last bit of their orange sun was sinking in the south over the lake. I sat down on the warm grass and gave Lilly, the horse, an apple from my bag. I wasn’t due back for another hour so I decided to kill some time and watch the sunset.
Not long after I got situated on the bank did I see a shadow appear beside me. Looking up I saw Ky outlined by the blue and dark purple of the evening sky. “Hey” he said smiling as he sat down beside me. “Hi” I replied as I looked back over water. “Watcha’ doin out here?” he asked. “Nuttin’ much” I replied motioning to the sinking orang blob, “watchin the sunset.” “It looks nice but I’ve seen more beautiful” I saw him glance at me out the corner of my eye, “Is that so?” I asked a little amused. “That it is” he said with a smile.
“The sunsets on Kolo were red, and the sky would turn pink and yellow.” I said with a smile of the sweet memory. “Our sun was huge, blue so the sun looked a deeper shade of bluish-purple.” I furrowed my brows letting that sink in, a blue sun? That means… “Wait, your sun was blue?” “I suppose it still is” he said with a chuckle, then he saw my expression, “What’s wrong?” I couldn’t believe it, I knew this planet was out of my system, but so was Ky’s. How far am I from home? “What planet did you say you were from?” “Selder” he replied. I felt sick, Selder was so far from Kolo, which means I’m so far I couldn’t send a message home if I wanted.
“Georgia?” asked Ky, “you don’t look too good.” He put his hand on my back as I laid my head down on my knees, holding back the tears. “Let ‘em go” he said, pulling me into his arms as I wept into his shoulder. I hadn’t cried like this since I woke up in the cart tied and gagged next to Chase, he held me then. I felt drops of warm water wriggling their way through my hair onto my scalp. I looked up to see Ky’s face glistening with tear streaks also. He gave me a sad smile, “I miss it too.” I don’t know if we were thinking of the same ‘it’ but who cares?
After a few minutes we dried up and started the walk back to the house. Our faces cast down as we came in. After washing my face and checking in with Mrs. Welch I headed off to bed downstairs into the make-shift dorm I shared with Selein and a couple other maids named Lynn and Steph. Falling asleep as soon as I hit my bunk…

CHAPTER VIII

In my dream my sister Neomi and me were sitting along the bank of a river near our house back when I was nine and she ten. We had left early that morning with our older brother Jason for a fishing trip, but so far we hadn’t done anything but drown a couple worms and a few more crickets. We sat there holding the bamboo poles, giggling as the water tickled our feet.
Jason, twelve at the time, came over to see how we were doing. He gave us a loving, sort of brotherly smile when he saw us, “Your never gunna catch any fish if you keep kicking the water like that” he said with a chuckle. “I canth hep eh, eh ‘ickles my’ ‘eet” I cried indigenously. Jason raised an eyebrow at Neomi, “She said ‘I can’t help it, it tickles my feet.’” “Mhmm” I said in agreement with her as I gave Jason a huge smile showing off the gap right where my two top and two bottom teeth should have been. “Ah” he said giving me a smile of his own, “and when did his happen?” “’Ile you were o’er der” I said pointing down the back where he had been fishing. “Then where are your teeth?” he asked looking around where we sat. I smiled at him again as me and Neomi pulled our lines out of the water, showing a top tooth on my and a bottom on hers. Jason’s jaw dropped to the floor as he noticed the two teeth and hooks beside us. He got an angry look, then his eyes softened and he burst out laughing, doubling over holding his gut. My dream faded as he stood back wiping a tear from his eye and looking at mine and Neomi’s angry expressions, but before it did he walked over and knelt beside me, ruffling my hair he said, “Let’s go home kid.”
I woke up and turned to tell Neomi about the dream but instead all I saw was Steph, rolled up in her covers trying to catch a last couple of minutes of sleep. I was back in the dorm with my roommates when all I wanted was to be back in my room with my roommate, Neomi and to follow her and Jason through the woods, back home.
Our lights turned on automatically, followed by a couple groans, a few minutes later we were all up getting dressed and taking turns bathing. “You okay?” Selein asked as we grabbed our clothes out of the closet. “Had a dream last night” I replied, grabbing my blue dress, every woman on this planet wears dresses. “I wish I had my blue jeans back” I said, wanting to change the subject. Selein accepted it, “Yeah I had these really cute skinnies back home” she said looking at me with a smile and I couldn’t help but laugh even though I wasn’t in the mood to do so.

CHAPTER IX

An hour later I was tying my on apron over my raggedy blue dress as I climbed the stairs to the main level to start my daily routine. I pulled my dark brown hair into a pony as I walked outside to turn on the fountain and water the plants.
I stopped when I came around the corner. Where the pump waited also waited someone else, a guy about six foot and fairly strong, not overly strong like the body builders back home, but firm strong. Like a guy who worked for a living. I couldn’t make out any features about him in the early morning dark. He was humming a song I didn’t recognize, one with a sweet melody like a lullaby, but also had something repetitious about it, like I should know it. I hid behind the fountain as the man hummed as if no one was around to hear, because he thought there wasn’t. I suddenly felt guilty for watching.
I stepped out to say something as the man turned to face me. He about fell in shock of seeing someone in his moment of silence. “I—I’m sorry” I stuttered my apology. “Georgia?” He responded, I was flooded with relief to hear that it was Ky’s voice. “Oh my word, thank goodness.” I sighed, he chuckled in response, “I’ll take that as a yes. So what ya doin out this late?” “You mean early?” I retorted, “I have to start the fountain.” “Oh” he said, turning around to inspect the pump he was leaning on and twisting the knob.
The water arched out of two pots at the base of the fountain to the top tier, slowly filling and cascading to the next until reaching the tile bottom. I loved watching the fountain start, but I’d never watched it with someone else before. I felt Ky’s eyes on me, “Beautiful” he asked. I nodded, “That it is.” He chuckled, “What?” I asked. “I wasn’t talking about the fountain” he replied. I looked at his shaded outline for a second before realization set in, soon followed by my crimson cheeks Was he talking about me!? But before I could dwell on it much he said, “Sun’s rising soon.” He was right the morning stars were already fading, “Wanna watch the sunrise with me?” he added. I liked the way he said “with me” and suddenly became very happy that it was still dark because I could feel my face warming.
We sat on the bench by the fountain watching the stars fade and the sky brighten. “When I was young my mother told me the coldest part of night was right before dawn. I never understood that until now” I said with a shiver and a smile. He took off his coat and draped it around my shoulders, the thoughtfulness of it warmed me more than the coat did.
“Do you have any siblings?” it was a simple question, but it had a lot of significance. “I did” I replied, “Four actually.” “Four!? There were five of you?” he sounded astonished. “Seven counting my parents” I said suspiciously. “Why so many?” “Most families had at least six kids, usually up to eight. Mine was small” I said. “Wow. On my home planet you were lucky if you had three.” Now it was my turn to be astonished, “Dang!” “Yup” he responded with a chuckle.
“What about you?” I asked, “Family? Siblings?” “ Yeah, I had a little sister” he replied. “’Had’?” “Yeah, she killed in the raid” he said. My jaw dropped, “Oh my word! I’m so sorry!” I shrieked throwing my arms around him. I laid his head on my shoulder as rubbed his back. He was freezing, why had he given me his coat? He picked his head up as I started taking the coat off my shoulders. “No keep it” he replied with a smile. “How can you smile?” I asked. “Smiling’s good, helps you accept.” I shook my head, “No, I don’t believe so.” “Why?” he asked, “Can you not smile?” “Sometimes” I admitted, “but when I do it’s like I forget.” He gave me a sympathetic smile I could now see in the rays of the suns first light, “Who’d you lose?” he asked tucking a fallen ringlet behind my ear. I hate simple questions, “During the capture I was hiding out in my room under the bed with a friend of mine and another friend was under my sister’s bed. Well, she made a gasp on accident and it got the Ladoe’s attention. He ransacked my room for a good twenty minutes before something happened. The front door opened. My mother and little brother had come home. The men went down stairs and I heard two gunshots and my mother’s scream. I totally forgot, or actually didn’t care, where I was or what was happening, I got out from under the bed. Conner, my friend, tried to stop me, but I shook him off.” I looked at Ky, “So in answer to your question, I don’t know. They caught me on the stair way. Chase had already been caught, and I found out later Andrew had also, but other than that…”
“I’m sorry” he said quietly, “Who’s Andrew?” he asked. “Actually you know him” I responded, “He works in the kitchen, he’s my little brother.” “The one who came home with your mom?” he asked. “No, that was Alva. He was the youngest. He had gone to work with Mom after school,” I answered softly. “He was my baby brother. I used to watch him all the time.” A tear formed in the corner of my eye and slowly trickled down my cheek like the water in the fountain. Ky placed his thumb on the tear and wiped it away, then put my head on his shoulder and held me like I had him.
“I’ve got to go,” I said, but didn’t pull away. “Yeah,” he said thoughtfully, “Madam Witch will have our heads if she catches us not working.” I couldn’t help but laugh, “I wouldn’t get into the habit of calling her that if I were you.” He smiled calmly, “I call ‘em as I see ‘em.” “I’d hate to know what you call me” I mumble into his chest. He tilted my head up to look at him, his blue eyes were sparkling in the early morning light. “Beautiful,” he said, then tilted his head down slowly until his lips met mine closing off the feeling of the rising sun.

CHAPTER X

I didn’t remember the walk back to the kitchen’s servant’s door, just that I was practically floating the whole time. Selein raised an eyebrow at me when I came in—which was quite a sight considering she didn’t have any. I bit my lower lip, holding a smile. She squinted her eyes and tilted her head, scrutinizing me, Who? she mouthed. Wow, she’s good I thought as I looked at the ground smiling even more. “Jenny!” she called, “Can you come get this for a second, I got to interrogate Georgia.” I rolled my eyes at her. “Interrogate Geor—“ she said coming around the corner, “Oh, I see,” she said with a knowing smile. “On what!?” I squeaked. “Do not be coy,” Selein scolded, “I want details.” “I do not know what you’re talking about,” I lied. She looked at Jenny, “You still have his coat Dearie,” Jenny said kindly. I looked down, it was true. Ky’s coat was still wrapped around me. Busted. I groaned. “Excuse us, Jenny,” Selein said steering by the shoulder’s to the servant’s table.
“So?” she asked sitting across from me. “Ky” I admit trying to sound casual, and failing. She gasped and I laughed. She rambled off from question to question so fast I didn’t have time to answer. “I wasn’t surprised” she said matter-a-factly. “Oh really?” I asked, remembering her reaction. “Yes really!” she said crossing her arms.
“Georgia?” I turned, it was Andrew, “Yeah?” I reply. He waved a envelope in his hand and looked around, “It’s from Chase, addressed to ‘Sophia James’ from ‘Dr. Harrison’. That’s your ‘name’ right?” It was, “Come sit down I’ll read it aloud.” Just then the phone on the wall rang, “Yes?” Jenny answered it, “I’ll send him right up,” she hung up, “That’s you Andrew, apparently the cat smells.” She gave him an apologetic look. “I got to go, tell me what it says later,” with that he was out the door and down the hallway.
I opened the letter,
“Dear Georgia Skay,
Steaven and I have very important news, so important you must burn this letter after reading it. We have found a way out. A way to get to the near planet Selder. That is the nearest planet to us that still follows the human-rights act set up by the Treaty of Wern. Since no one knows what the Ladoes did with their captives no one knows to look for slaves. We are going a.s.a.p. but the details are still sketchy. What we do know is there are going to be three ships leaving for Selder within the next two weeks and we need to be on one. We will let you know soon where and when you need to meet us, but the party can’t be too big. There’ll be a two day ship leaving from Namay to Gringe on the sixteenth. From Gringe we go to Selder, and from Selder to home. Write back a date, the eighteenth, twentieth, or twenty-second. Write back soon, this is freedom.
Your Friend,
Chase Warner”
“What’s it say,” Selein asked, but I couldn’t respond. An escape? How? “I’ll tell you later,” I finally say. “Why later?” she asks. “I’ll tell you later,” I repeat. “O-kay?” she says. Selder? That’s Ky’s planet, but that’s so far away. Another solar system. But it’s my ticket home, if I could get there. Then I remembered something, Who do I take?

CHAPTER XI

“Escape,” Andrew said thoughtfully late that night at the lake, “who all knows?” “Just you and me,” I explain, “I didn’t want a rumor started.” “Madam Welch said that they planned that party for next Friday, that’s the sixteenth right?” It was, I nodded. “That’s perfect if—,” he said, half to himself, “he didn’t say the time yet did he?” “No” “Well, if it’s while the parties on, we can slip out then, or after when they’re all drunk,” he had a mischievous glint in his eye. “Okay, well if all that works out,” I said, “we still have one large problem.” He stared at me, “Who do we bring? The letter said a small party,” I explained. “Well, me and you, obviously,” he began. “Selein,” I added, “Jenny,” he said, “Anyone else?” “Ky” I said staring at the ground. “Ky? Why Ky?” he asked. I needed an excuse, “He’s from Selder, no one knows it better than him,” that sounded good.
“Five’s still a small party right?” he asked me, “Did Chase say how many they’re bringing?” “Letter didn’t say, just the dates the ships leave and a vague plan.” “Okay, it takes a four days to receive a letter back,” he said doing math in his head, “and we have eleven days before the sixteenth, so—two letters. One for us and one for them, if we send tonight and they the day they get it.” I ruffle his hair, “For not being in school for a year I’m surprised you even remember that much.”
“Freedom,” he sighed longingly, “to think, back home, a nice bed, Mom—“ his voice faltered, neither of us knew if Mom was still alive, or Alva. The youngest child we saw in the cart on the way here was ten, at least, and Alva’s only five. Or he was last year, at the kidnapping. What good is a five year old slave, especially without his mother? And maybe they did take Mom too, but then why the gunfire? Why’d she scream? “We’d get to see Dad,” our father was in the Kolean Air force, we hadn’t seen him for months before the Ladoes came. “Yeah,” he said forcing a smile, “and Neomi and Jason and—“ he cut off again before saying Alva. “He may be alive,” I told him, “You know how he’d always go to someone’s house last minute, maybe he did that day.” “Maybe,” he said, not looking convinced.

That night I had another dream. Neomi and me were playing in the backyard underneath the full moons Gonar and Harah. We were waving our metal rods around and lasing the Asurda Bond, Physical Light, onto them. “Don’t go too far,” Mom called from her chair on the back porch with Dad, she smiled at us as she rubbed her swollen belly.
The bushes beside us started rustling and me and Neomi stepped forward with our now light-lased rods extended to investigate. “Boo!” Andrew yelled, jumping out of the bushes at us. I rolled my eyes , “Ha-ha, very funny, but I don’t scare easily,” I said crossing my ten year old arms and turning around, colliding with someone, face to chest. I screamed and fell down, Neomi screamed because I did and the guy screamed because we were. “Why are we screaming?” he yelled in a loud voice, it was Jason. “Ha!” Andrew called from the bushes, “You do scare!” Neomi started laughing and so did Jason, and when Andrew joined in I felt obligated to.
Jason helped me up, “Mom sent me out to tell you there’s ice cream inside,” he said jutting a thumb back at the house, “unless ya’ll want to play in bushes some more…” “Humph” Andrew said. Jason walked over and lifted the seven year old out with ease. “Race ya,” I said taking off before there was an answer.
Jason pulled ahead and Neomi and me were neck and neck as the light clicked on, on the porch. “No fair!” Andrew called from behind. I could see Mom and Dad inside, Dad was stooped over kissing Mom’s swollen belly that would soon be Alva. When I got to the screen door the dream started fading, “I won,” Jason bragged. “Humph,” I said crossing my arms, “you always win.” He laughed as he slid the sliding door open for Andrew who came running in last. The last thing I saw was Dad smiling at us asking, “Strawberry or chocolate?” though he already knew the answer. Both.

CHAPTER XII

“Chase said what!?” she whispered loudly while we stood in our room, “How did they find this? What if it’s a trap? Oh my word what is Steaven thinking, letting him go through with this!?” “Calm down,” I tell her, “it’ll work out fine. I sent a letter to Chase last night, he’ll send one back in due time. The train leaves in ten days, that is the night of the party. We can sneak out then and by the time they notice, we’ll be long gone.” She takes that in for a moment, “This actually may work… but how are we getting the train tickets?” I think for a moment, “Well, I guess we get some money from here.” “Stealing’s a lot harder than running away,” she noted. “No one said it would be easy,” I reply, “but we’ll see what we can do.” “May I see the note?” she asks me. “Sorry, me and Andrew burned it and buried the ashes yesterday,” I say apologetically. “Why?” “So no one could find it.”

A few days later I found Ky at the fountain in the morning. “Where have you been?” I ask him as he hugs me. “Mr. Witch sent me away for a few days into town,” he explains, “What’s wrong?” I tell him about the escape plan, “Our group then leaves from Gringe and we go to Selder,” I say wrapping it up. “Selder?” he asks, “The people on Selder are against slavery, but I do not think our military would be strong enough to do anything about it.” “Whose would?” I ask him, still breathing in the faint smell of horse on him. “At Selder we’ll contact Coz, they have a larger military, and they’ll be able to send some of it to troops to Gringe, that’s where the slave market is, and they’ll destroy it there.” I look up at him and smile, “The train leaves next Friday, the ride costs nine drooners, and there are five of us going. We have to find that money somehow.” He holds me a little tighter, “If you distract Mrs. Welch, I’ll get the money.”
Fifteen minutes later I’m talking with Madam Welch in the tea room about the party. I know that upstairs Ky’s looking for money in their room. “Now Georgia,” she goes on, “I’d like you to stay in the kitchen during the party.” “May I ask why, Madam?” I ask. “Oh Darling, we only need around twenty of you girls as waitresses and you just look awful in the outfit,” she explained sipping her tea. I scrunch my eyebrows, “Pardon me, Madam.” “Oh don’t be hurt Darling, the other girls are just much prettier than you, it’s only a fact,” she said waving me off. I really want to slap this woman

, “Where am I to work then?” I ask through gritted teeth. “In the kitchen, of course, now come here and help me with this list.”
I glance over her head and see Ky coming down the stairs, he smiles at me then goes down the other way that leads to the other hallway. “Yes, Madam,” I say taking a seat across from her.

That night I meet Andrew, Selein, and Ky at the lake to talk about the plan, “Has anyone told Jenny yet?” Andrew asks. No one says anything. “I haven’t gotten to talk with her alone,” Selein says after a few moments. “Well we need to let her know, and soon. We leave in a week,” Andrew says.
“I have forty-five drooners for the tickets,” Ky said presenting the coins, “do not worry they’re not straight from their wallets or bags, just off the floor and under the bed and such.” “Good,” Andrew says, “keep it in the stables for safe keeping.”
“I checked the server’s list this afternoon,” I say, “Selein, Jenny, and I are scheduled for the kitchen.” “Why the kitchen? I’d think she’d have you serve, not that I’m complaining,” Andrew says. “Apparently we’re ‘not pretty enough’,” I explain. “That’s balderdash,” Ky says. We all look at him, he shrugs his shoulders, “Just saying.”
“Anyway,” Andrew continues, “I’m working in the kitchen and Ky’s—“ he looks at Ky, “Do you know what you’re doing?” “I believe I’m opening the gates at the beginning and closing them at the end,” he answers, “There’s not much for a stable boy to do at a party where the drivers drop their rich owners off and leave.” “Well then you just sneak away after opening them,” Andrew says, “and that reminds me, we have a letter.” He pulls out a sealed envelope and hands it to me, “It’s to ‘Ms. Sophia James’” he says, “so you read it.” I take the envelope, open it, and read aloud:
“Dear Georgia Skay,
Chase and I are bringing two others, so there are four of us and nine in all. Your train to Gringe leaves at nine at night on the sixteenth, it will cost nine drooners each. It would probably be smart to pay and not try to sneak on. The train with take two days to reach here, when you arrive it’ll be around eleven at night, a man in a tan trench coat and blue scarf will meet you at the station, he will ask you if he can help you with your bags, say yes. This is majorly important, do not worry, he is with me. For safety purposes he will call you Sophia and you will call him Mr. Gown. Mr. Gown will let you and your party stay at his house for the night, the next day he will give you money, walk with you to the station, and leave. Do not, under an circumstances, tell him your real names, he has requested so for his own, and your safety. You may send one more letter, and we will respond with one under a different name and address, after that do not send anymore. Our master will find it. Our last letter will be sent to Andrew’s false name. On the eighteenth we will meet you at the station, look casual. We will go over the rest our plans on the train. If you do not arrive we will assume your capture. Burn this letter as you did the last.
For freedom,
Steaven Harrison.”

Everyone was silent for a while. Andrew broke it, “We meet here at eight o’clock. The station is a forty-five minute walk at least, pack lightly but definitely bring a bag. We need to blend in. Everyone will be changed into their town out-fits. Ky, bring the money. Georgia, write a return note tonight.” He stood up with the note now in his hand, “Everyone, remember Mr. Gown and nine o’clock. All good?” he looked around at us, “Good.” He walks over to the shore and moves some of the dirt to make a pit. He balls the paper up and places it in the pit, “For freedom,” he says puling a lighter from his pocket and lighting it up. Our now surrounding bodies cover the fire’s light, and the surrounding night, the gray smoke.

CHAPTER XIII

The darkness of the early morning surrounds me as I round the fountain and see the now expected shadow of a person. “Hey stranger,” I say to the shadow. Ky turns to me and gives me a small smile, “So your last name’s Skay?” I stood there, puzzled for second. “In the letter, Steaven called you Georgia Skay,” he explained, “I like it.” My cheeks warm a little, “I never really liked my name that much,” I say fidgeting with the knobs and pumps for the fountain. “I think it’s beautiful,” he said tilting my chin up enough so I could see his shadowed face. “What’s your last name?” I ask him, curiosity getting the best of me. He cocked his head to the side a little bit then I saw a coy smile play along his lips, “Penton, my last names Penton,” he said after a moment’s pause. Classy, I think, sounds almost like a rich name, but that couldn’t be, rich people don’t get abducted. “I like it,” I say smiling at him. He returns a sad one, “It ain’t that great, reminds me too much of my dad.” “Tell me about him?” I ask.
As the sun slowly rises into the early sky Ky tells me of a man so unlike him it’s unimaginable. One who left for a war when he was a small child as a strong, steady father; and came back a man, cruel and distant. One who batted at his impregnated mother and Ky and left for days at a time until returning for no other reason than to have a bed and a place to puke out his hangover. Tears fill rim my eyes as I listen to him describe his last moments with the man, “He’d just come home from one of his drinking sprees, not drunk enough the be falling over himself, too much; but his mind was definitely foggy to say the least. As he came through the door my mother screamed from the back room.
“My older cousin, who was staying with us at the time, was the first to get to the room, but my father and I soon followed. My mother had gone into labor, and my father was panicking. I stood in the doorway, helplessly watching as he yelled at her for not doing anything and how he ‘couldn’t afford another brat’ and other things like that. She couldn’t defend herself, she was in too much pain, she just laid on the floor and gave agonizing wails. As he raised his hand to her my cousin stepped in and pinned my father to the wall. He wasn’t usually that strong, but with adrenaline he could do it. In the end, my father left with a black eye and I was sent to get our neighbor, Mrs. Noelle. The next day my sister Kara was born.”
I stared at him quietly for the longest time. I had thought my life hadn’t gone very well, not seeing your dad was one thing, but watching him go was another. “I’m sorry,” I say slowly. He smiled as a silent tear rolled down his cheek and he told me it was good to talk about it, but I still felt bad for asking.

CHAPTER XIV

“Georgia, the ball is in two days. Two days, Georgia! And I don’t have even a clue what I’m going to wear,” complained Mrs. Welch as she flipped through a magazine she had picked up. I noted she had gotten used to the idea of calling it a ‘ball’. Which seemed strange since I’d gotten so used to calling it escape, “Why don’t you just wear something you already have?” I asked, feigning innocence since I knew the answer. She gasped and looked at my incredulously, “Something I—I—oh Georgia, you are just too simple minded! A lady of my—my importance reusing clothes like an orphan? Oh, dear child I know that may be alright for one who is, like yourself. But not for a lady! Use your head, I know it may hurt to think too hard,” at this point she patted my cheek sympathetically, “but you must try.” “I apologize Madam,” I say. “Rightfully child,” she says, “you will not be punished on this occasion because of your background. Though orphan or not we will keep outrageous thoughts like those from your mouth.” “Yes, Madam,” she really thinks I’m an orphan, “May I make amends with a suggestion?” She nods curtly, and I begin with the plan, “Maybe, Madam, you could go to town for a dress, so you might know it fits for sure.” “Are you suggesting I don’t know my size?” she asks. “No Madam, it is only that the dresses seem to look better on a page then if when they arrive.” She thinks for a moment, “True. Child we will go to town tomorrow,” she starts to get up and walk out when she stops and turns to me, “Oh, by the way, the children are being pulled out of school tomorrow and flown in for the ball, make sure their rooms are ready.”
I walk back to the kitchen, and Selein ambushes me as I come in, “Well!?” she asks in a hushed voice as she tugs me to the empty table. “She fell for it,” I whisper sitting. “Oh yay!” she excites, “This is great, now Ky can get the money and it’ll be great, and—and why are you looking at me like that?” “The kids are coming in,” I blurt out. She lets that sink in a bit, “You think they’ll cause too much trouble?” “I don’t know, you know how Simon is.” She stares at the table and scratches her pointed ear nervously as she muttered to herself, “Well they can’t do too much.. But they have before… But they couldn’t be allowed into the kitchen…. But they never obey the rules..” I sigh,
“Selein I’m sure it’ll be fine, we just need to avoid them.”
“Avoid who sweeties?” a voice says from behind. We turn to see Jenny standing nearby stirring some mix in a bowl, “The kids are coming in,” I tell her. She makes a grimace, “Well, that’s got to put a damper on you girl’s plans this weekend,” she says casually, but there’s a glint in her eye that reminds I forgot to tell her. Then I freak, how does she know if I didn’t tell her? “Jenny,” I start cautiously, glancing around, “who told you about our weekend plans?” “Oh, that nice boy that works in the stables said that you and Madam Welch were going to town for a meeting on Sunday.” One look at her eyes you could tell Ky told her the truth, but she couldn’t say it in a crowded kitchen. “Madam was talking about you making us some cookies for the trip to town, are you going to?” I ask her, but what I was truly asking was, Are you coming with us?

She smiles sadly, “I don’t know Dearie, my old hands are getting arthritis; I don’t know if I could make ’em.” Was that a no? Could she not make the run because of her old age? The thought worried me. “You won’t get in trouble right?” I ask. She grins, “No Dearie, I’d be fine.” With that she walked back to the counter where she glops the mix in blobs onto a tray.

“Tomorrow night we’ll be free,” Ky says as we sit by the fountain. “I don’t think us free till we’re off of Namay,” I say, “maybe not even until we’re on Selder.” “That’s good I guess, then at least you don’t get your hopes up,” he says. I look at him, “So you’re getting the money today?” “Yep,” he smiles, “when you and Madam Witch pull out I’m getting forty-five drooners from her room.” “Watch out,” I warn, “she mentioned yesterday that the kids had some sort of holiday and were coming to the party. I think they’re getting in today, you don’t want them to catch you.” He gives me a grin, “You worry too much,” with that he leans over and kisses my nose. Once again I became thankful for the darkness of the morning that so often covers my crimson blush.
“Come on, Ge,” he says, outstretching his hand to me, “let’s go for a walk.” “Do we have time?” I ask glancing over to where I knew the sun would rise in a bit. “I think so,” he says, “Anyway, Lilly’s had her colt and I think you’d like to see him.” I had wanted to see the new colt for a while now, but never had the time, “Oh, alright.”

As the sun rose to about seven-thirty we entered the kitchen. Chef Kline and some of the hired help were bustling around preparing breakfast as the servants sat around the table eating theirs. Ky and I take our seats and Jenny brings us a plate of the slave’s type of breakfast. The eggs are from the family’s chugga, a black bird that makes its nest on the ground and lays blue eggs, and the grits are mostly leftovers from what the family didn’t, or wouldn’t, eat yesterday.
Not going to miss the food,

I think. I could tell by Ky’s face he was thinking the same thing. “Georgia?” I turn to see Selein in the doorway, “Madam says it’s time to go.” I shovel a last bite into my mouth and walk out the door.
We get back in the late afternoon. Madam sends Harry, the guy who drove, to put the horses up and me to make sure the children’s rooms are prepared, because “they’ll be here any moment.”
I see Selein on the way. I raise my eye brow at her as to ask, Did he get the money? She gives me a subtle nod and secretive smile. I love how close we’ve gotten, we don’t have to even speak to be heard…

“To Mr. Freemont,” Andrew read aloud before opening the last letter:
“Dear Andrew Skay,
We left yesterday without a hitch. Since we heard nothing from the news, we assume our old master has found out only that his soup is getting in late and he can’t go into town. No alarms have been raised, but we are careful anyways. I won’t tell you where we’re hiding, but be sure we are safe and sound. By the time this letter arrives you should be leaving tomorrow for the station. Be careful. Remember your money and your average Namaian outfit. Nine drooners each. We will see you soon. Please, Andrew, be careful and listen to your sister. She knows the importance of this, as I know you do also from your letters. We’ve missed you, and are waiting patiently. Burn this letter.
For Freedom,
Chase Warner”

“Ky, did you get the money?” Andrew asks after finishing. Ky gives a mischievous smile and cloth sack filled bulging with coins, “Forty-five, I counted three times to make sure.” Andrew smiles, “Good.” He looks at me. “I don’t think Jenny’s coming,” I say in a small voice, then hurry on, “She won’t tell or anything, she just doesn’t think she can make it.” He looks at Selein, “Think she can keep a secret?” She shrugs, “Don’t think it really matters, she already knows. Her reason’s plausible enough.” He thinks for a moment then nods, “Alright.” We huddle around and cover the light the flame cast in the dark night.

CHAPTER XV

People sometimes do really stupid stuff without realizing it, or even meaning to. Sometimes I’m one of those people. “Hey, Stranger,” I said like I always did as I neared the fountain, but only as the last word left my mouth, did I realize this really was a stranger. And I had just openly announced I was there. But it got worse, he turned around. “Why, Georgia. You’re out awfully early,” said Simon. Do not act guilty, this is your job,

I remind myself. “I’m turning on the fountain like I do every morning,” I answer, my voice surprisingly flat. “Why are you out here?” “I pulled an all-nighter last night with my friend who came home with me,” he explained. “Shouldn’t you be tired then?” I ask as I turn the nozzles on the pumps. “Nope,” he says, “Ian passed out about an hour ago and I decided to go walking, couldn’t sleep.” “Your siblings bring friends home?” I ask because I want to know how many kids there are. He tells me there’s not any others and I ask what his mom would think of his staying up all night before her big ball. He replied with a, “She won’t think anything of it, because she won’t find out.” He looked at me pointedly. Nice to see the old Simon,

I think, I was wondering where he went.

A thought hit me then, What happened to Ky?

I hadn’t seen him since yesterday night, and we were leaving tonight. I glance around the garden, but there’s no movement to see. He looks a t me, “So Honey—” “Not your honey,” I interrupt. “I was thinking,” he continues, “Mother says I need to pick a specific servant to follow and to my whim at a moment’s notice. You know, to show off the service to the guests or something like that.” Uh-oh,

I think. “And since you’re such a good girl, I thought I’d pick you,” I knew it wasn’t a suggestion, but I needed to as far from him as possible tonight. “Didn’t your Mother want them to be a man-servant?” I ask, looking for an escape, “And besides,” I continue, “Madam already said she wanted me in the kitchen, away from the guests.” “Now, I know you can be quite startling at times,” he continues, “and your alien looks aren’t very attractive, but what else can the guests expect from a servant?” I look at him incredulously, “Alien?” “Well yes,” he replies, “you’re not a legal citizen of Harlow are you?” Harlow is the largest country on Namay, “That means you were most likely what? An orphan from Franton City or Darlineton or one of the other cities that practically runs orphanages like a mass production, right? That’s basically where most of our servants come from.”
I just stare at him. Wow, he really doesn’t know. Know how everyone here was kidnapped their homes or off the streets very, very far from here. A memory surfaces in the back of my mind, “Though orphan or not we will keep outrageous thoughts like those from your mouth.”

It was what Madam Welch had said to me the day before. Realization slowly sunk in, “Have you ever been to Darlineton?” I ask. “Nah, Father only goes on the auction days,” he says running his finger on the surface of the water. “You don’t go with him?” “Nope, won’t let us,” he sighs, “says it’s boring anyway.” A little voice says in mind, He won’t let them know the truth, it’s dangerous because slavery’s illegal even here.

“So, Simon doesn’t know a thing about slavery or the Ladoe gang?” Selein asks as we fix the curtains for tonight. I shake my head. She continues, “And Master Welch has kept it a secret from even his wife?” I nod. “Wait,” she says, jumping off the ladder, “they know it’s wrong to be part of slavery, but they think it’s alright to auction off orphans!?” I nod again. “Incredible!” she practically shouts. “Shhh,” Jenny warns from the other side of the room.
“So you talked him out of the handler thing right?” she asks in a whisper. “Yeah, well sort of. Apparently Madam Witch really

doesn’t want anyone seeing my face. I think he said he was using Harry instead.”
We spend the rest of the afternoon running around preparing, doing Madam Welch’s bidding, and preparing some more. At five in the afternoon the witch calls me to her room, but I hear the voices through the door and decide the listen instead of going in.
“Of course, Janet. All those pesky slaves our being kept in the kitchen or out back, don’t worry!” She was talking on the phone with a woman that she usually saw at those meetings in town. “No, I’m not stupid. I invited many important people to this ball, Richard would have my head if one of them even saw one of our imports.” Imports? “Janet, I’ve been to enough of our little meetings to know that have an unpaid servant is—what’s the word?—oh, yes illegal. Our average servant would be assumed an orphan from the city, but there’s a few—” She pauses, “Yes, exactly. Now could you imagine what would happen if they saw that blue one? No way she would pass as a Namaian orphan. We usually only buy regular looking ones from the black market, but she was cheap.” They were talking about Selein.
“The other ones? Well, I just don’t know what Richard was thinking. They were average price and they almost look Namian, but they are just too pale skinned! Yes, I know. I agree, so ugly. And Simon wanted one of them to be his handler tonight, can you believe that?” That’s why she made you and Selein kitchen duty

, the little voice murmured. “I think one the boys looks almost normal, but no one has that hair color. It’s a color between yellow and sand. Oh you’ve seen him? Then you know what I mean. We were going to shave it but we never got around to doing so. So, he’s stuck in the stables for now.” They must be talking about Ky, but how is blond not average?

Then I realized the only Namaians I’d seen had black or brown hair.
“Well I’ll see you within the hour,” Madam finished saying her goodbyes as I ran back to the stair case, counted to five, and slowly started walking down the hallway to the room. I knock and enter, “Finally child,” she said as usual, “help me with my corset.”

CHAPTER XVI

Evening bloomed as the sun sunk behind the tree line as the many coaches pulled in. Every one of them had a driver, and all a wealthily dressed family inside. I let the curtain fall back over the kitchen window and step back. “They’re arriving,” I tell Selein. “Jenny!” she calls, “They’re here!” “No need to shout Dearie,” Jenny says stirring the punch, “I’m right here.” “Sorry Jenny,” Selein whispers, “just a little excited.”
“What would you have to be excited about, slave,” asks the head chef. Selein face turns a shade of paler blue that I assume was her flushing. “She’s never seen so many wealthy people together at a time,” I cover, “she loves their clothes.” She nods numbly, keeping her eyes glued on the chef. He glances back and forth at us for moment then mumbles under his breath, “Women, I’ll never get them.”
Jenny rolls her eyes and goes back to stirring her punch. I give Selein an agitated look and she shrugs her shoulders. Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes, “Come on, we got to put the snails on the platters.” “Ew,” she says as I take her arm and drag her to the metallic island.

*****

Seven-thirty. Seven-thirty. Seven-thirty. Seven-thirty-one! The time was passing so slowly I wouldn’t be surprised if Father Time himself were trying to torture me. I take a glance at Selein who also had her eyes glued to the clock. “Waiting on a hot date?” We turn to see Simon sashay into the kitchen. “What are you doing in here?” I ask failing to hide my annoyance. “Ah, come on, Darling—” “Not your darling,” I interrupted, but he continues as if I didn’t, “Aren’t you glad to see me?” I think vomited a little in my mouth, “Glad’s not the noun I would use.” “Oh,” he says with a feigned pout, “maybe excited then?” I force down the puke, “Maybe,” I lie.
A chuckle comes from behind him and a boy about his age steps around, “See I told you she’d be happy to see me,” Simon says to the boy. He had a nose that should have belonged on a witch and thin hair that was tied back in a black ponytail. He scanned me with his beady eyes, “She’s so… alien.” He looked over at Selein and made a disgusted grunt, “What is that?” Simon grimaced, and looked her over as is she was an unwanted pest, “I’m not sure what orphanage Father got her from,” he explained to the boy, “I think he got her for half-price.”
Anger rose inside me, I clenched my fists causing my fingernails to drive under my skin. I glanced at Selein, her face had turned from blue to a shade of purple, but she shook her head at me. “It really is quite a distasteful to have that thing in the kitchen,” he said pointing at her. A metallic taste burst from the lip I didn’t know I was biting. “That beast is probably infecting the food,” he muttered. How dare they speak about a person as if cattle, or something to be bought or gained! As if we were roaches under their heal. I didn’t mind as much for me, but no one treated my friends like that.
The ichor slid over my tongue, encouraging my anger and want to spurt fowl words and my fists at him. But right as the pain to hold them in became too much, Jenny burst thru the doors. “Let’s go Dearies,” she said in a busy manner, “don’t stand idly by, help me fill these trays.” The light glinted on the empty silver trays in her hands. She took in Simon and his friend, “Boy, what are you doing in here? Get back to the party, your Mother is looking everywhere for you.”
Simon tilted his chin up arrogantly, “Who are you, slave, to tell me what to do?” I admired the defiant glint in her eye, “You are simply shooting the messenger,” she told him, “I’m your Mother’s servant, not yours. You have no charge of me.” Simon’s face lit a bright red, his friend’s jaw was swept the floor, and I thought I heard Selein chuckle. “You listen here—” he began but was interrupted by his Mother’s call. He grunted in frustration, “One day I’ll own you all,” he scanned us all with a pointed finger, his eyes reflected the evil of his soul, “when I do you’ll be flogged and sold to a master so cruel you’ll be crying for me to take you back.” I gulped, but to my horror Selein smiled as he turned to walk out, and said, “I’ll die before I shed a tear for you.” He paused but didn’t turn, “I’ll remember that,” he said and walked out, his friend following in his wake.

CHAPTER XVII

After they left it was quiet for several moments, Jenny glanced at the clock. “Seven-fifty,” she said almost to herself, “How about you Dearies help me fill these trays, then you can go out for some fresh air.” I glanced at the clock, and understood what she was getting at. We were to meet up with the boys at eight-fifteen, at the latest. It was amazing all Jenny knew, and could say without actually saying. “Please come with us,” I practically begged her, “They’ll tear you to pieces here.” She smiled the wise way old ladies always do, “You underestimate the power of brains, Dearie. These oafs couldn’t kill me if they tried.” I really did wish she would come, I looked at Selein for support. “Please, Jenny?” she asked, but the old maid was persistent, so we helped her load the trays.
I hand Selein her bag and grab my suit case from where we stashed them in the bushes outside the kitchen’s back door. I looked down at my brown town dress, then at Selein who wore an over coat and hat to cover her skin, ears, and downy hair. I smiled one last time at Jenny and we backed away into the darkness; starting our walk to the stables.
We scurry through the night; the only sounds to accompany us, the crunch of leaves and small wild life fleeing from our path. The lights of the house fade and the glow of the stable’s continual single lantern burns brighter in the narrowing distance. Hope builds in my chest as I stop at the stall and pat Lilly’s muzzle to quiet her. “Shh, it’s okay girl,” I lull, “it’s just me.” She nuzzles my hand affectionately.
“You sure we can’t take her?” I ask as Andrew steps out of the shadows. He shakes his head, “I’m sure, she’s actually their property. We’re not here to steal, and there’s no easier way to track a person than by following a trail of horse manure.” I smile a little and he continues, “Not to mention, we wouldn’t be able to get her on the train.” I nod, understanding but still wishing, “Where’s Ky?” I ask glancing into the shadows. Andrew’s eyebrows pull together, “I thought he was with you…” “Georgia,” Selein whispers loudly from outside the stable. I glance at Andrew and we both run outside.
*****
The reason for Simon’s kitchen visit became clear when we saw the steak knife. Simon’s friend held an unconscious Ky while Simon held the knife a hair from Ky’s neck. A sinister smile played along Simon’s lips as he looked straight at me, “Look what we found sneaking around out back, Darling.” A mix of shock and anger attacked my heart as I tried to figure out what to do. “Simon, you don’t want to—” Andrew began but Simon cut him off, “Don’t want to what? Kill a slave? Why not? I’ve seen Father do it, and worse, plenty of times.” He raised the weapon slowly up to Ky’s cheek, tracing his cheek bone and neck as if bored, “Such a pretty face,” he muttered, “Even Mother thought so.” He dug the knife a little deeper, “And what will darling, little Georgia do to save her hero?” He looked at me, almost sympathetically.. it was disgusting.
“What will she do?” he asked again, but I remained silent. He started shouting, digging his knife deeper, “What will you do Dar—” Throng!

The sound of metal hitting something rang with confusion. Simon’s eyes rolled back in his head and the knife fell harmlessly to the ground, as did he. His friend didn’t see the pan coming until it smacked him in the face. Behind them stood the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Jenny shouldered the pan with a huff, “Night, Dearie,” she said nudging him with her foot.
I ran forward and pulled Ky from the pile of unconscious boys. A cut ran from the left of his eye and followed a path under his cheekbone. “Oh my word, Jenny!” Selein exclaimed, “You rock!” I glanced up to see Jenny smile and spin her pan, “Andrew what time is it?” I ask. He pulls out Mr. Welch’s pocket watch, “Eight-ten,” he answers. I nod and rent part of Simon’s shirt to staunch the blood. “It’s going to need stitches,” Jenny mutters and digs into her apron. Upon pulling out a needle and thread I turn to Andrew and order he gives the lighter to Jenny.
She holds the needle above the flame for a moment then shakes it for quick cooling. “Should we wake him?” I ask moving him so his head rested in my lap. She shook her head, “He won’t move as much, and if he isn’t awake it won’t be as painful.” Time moved agonizingly slowly as she thread the wire in and out of his skin, but I couldn’t look away.
I pat his face gently with the wet rag until his eyes fluttered open. “Can you stand?” Andrew asked impatiently. “Andrew!” I snapped at him. “No it’s fine, Georgia,” Ky said, his voice immediately calming me. “I think I’m good to go, but what happened?” he took in Jenny’s frying pan and the unconscious boys. “I’ll explain later,” I muttered then looked at Jenny. “Please come with us,” I begged her.
She smiled at me, “You know I can’t Georgia,” she said, “I’ll cover for you dearies. But if you do not go now then there will be nothing to cover.” “She’s right,” Andrew informs me, “We have to go now, whether she comes or not.” He turns and walks away and Selein reluctantly backs away also. Ky tugs on my arm, but I don’t turn, “I’ll be back for you,” I tell her, “I promise.” We turn and silently sprint towards the gate.

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 04.03.2012

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