Moirai (13 page)

Stepping out into the cool winter air, I wrapped my arms
around myself as I glanced around. I saw Chancellor Collins coming my way and
he gave me a brief wave and called out to me, “Olivia.” With a heavy sigh I
walked over, approaching him. I had no idea what he wanted. “How are you
doing?” he asked as I stood before him. He stood tall, looming over me as I
kept my arms around my body.

“Okay, I guess.”

“I wanted to talk to you about Torv and the guests we
brought into town.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You told me once, we don't have
guests here.”

“Usually, we don't,” he acknowledged with a weak nod.
“But obviously times change. We brought in Adelaide, Madeline, Taron, and
Preston from Thena. Come with me.” He gestured, escorting me into the building
I was all too familiar with. It was where we held our weekly meetings and where
our test of honesty had taken place. To this day I still felt a chill as I stepped
into the foyer.

I followed him inside and into his office. I glanced
around at the furniture, nearly untouched. The couch I'd sat on hadn't moved an
inch. I'm not sure why I thought it would have. I walked over towards the
sunlight, staring out the dirty window. “Why am I here?” I asked.

Chancellor Collins sighed. “I wanted your opinion on our
newest recruits.”

“Is that what you're calling them?” I scoffed. “They are
staying where Joshua and I stayed.” I nodded slowly. “Do you plan on doing the
same procedure—Mindonsiphan—and requiring them to undergo the same training
that we had?” I was appalled at the notion that they brought back a handful of
allies only to kidnap and torment them.

“Hardly.” Chancellor Collins shook his head. “I hoped you
could provide some insight, seeing as how you've met Chloe?”

I shrugged. “She seems all right.” I didn't know what he
expected. I wasn't capable of reading someone's mind. I could only share
thoughts; it was completely different. “Chloe seems plenty knowledgeable.”

The Chancellor took a seat as I remained by the window.
“They are an interesting community, Torv. Just hours on foot from the
government, yet untouched.”

“You don't trust them?” I asked. “If that's the case then
why did you let them come here?” It made no sense to me.

The Chancellor sat in his chair, his hands folded
together as he considered his words. “I trust they believe they're doing what
is in the best interest of the rebel alliance back east.”

I walked from the window towards the couch, plopping myself
down. “You think they have different motives?” I tried to make sense of this
new information.

“I can't be certain about any of their motives without
further information from their own council. Yet, not a single member from their
council was willing to join them on the trip here. I find that bewildering.” He
paused for a long moment. “Did you hear the news?”

“What news?” He stared at me for a long moment, only
making me ache with anticipation. “What?” I asked again, hating the games. “If
you know something,” I demanded, expecting an answer in return.

“I know quite a lot, Olivia. I'm just not sure you're
ready for it.” He paused, thinking another long hard minute about it. “Mason
relayed some news to me,” Collins admitted. “I'm not sure what to make of it,
if anything. We had agreed not to discuss who you were with the council or
anyone in Torv but Jaxon went against better judgment.” I wondered if Collins
was worried for me; he looked puzzled by the news, as was I. “He met with the
council at Torv, trying to negotiate a deal between our towns, an alliance if
you will. In their talks, it seems as though someone in Torv already knows
you.”

“Knows me?” I frowned. “That can't be possible.” I didn't
know anyone from the rebel alliance in Torv.

His eyes pierced through mine as he let out a soft
breath. “Perhaps there were some survivors in Haven.”

“That's what you've heard? There were people who lived
through the attack?” I felt guilty for abandoning the city, running away with
Joshua when they needed our help. Perhaps his mother was still alive. My heart
quickened at the thought.

Collins sighed, “I don't know, Olivia. I wasn't there. I
can only relay what I've been told. My best guess is that someone survived.
Torv has been looking for you. I can only assume it's because there are
survivors from Haven.” Collins laughed softly and as he leaned closer, he
rested a hand on my back. “Don't look so upset.”

“How can I not be upset? They're looking for me and now
they know where I am!” I didn't feel safe. I wasn't sure why but I had the
sneaking suspicion they wanted me as a guinea pig. I hoped I was wrong, but the
fact they were impregnating women and not entirely successful in their attempts
made me think otherwise.

“Elsa asked that you join her and Chloe on a return trip
to Torv in the coming weeks. They have several pregnant women in their town and
from what I hear, they need all the medical help and expertise they can get. I
think you should join them.”

“I'm not a doctor.” A soft sigh slipped past my lips. My
mind was in a fog. “I don't know how I can help.”

He didn't answer my question, not directly. “I think it'd
be good for you. Believe it or not, Olivia, I've been on your side since we
first met.”

That got my attention. I glanced up, giving him a
disbelieving look. “Yeah, right,” I muttered. I remembered when we'd first met
and he put a gun to me. After that, he'd forced me to train with the other
recruits, drugged me with Mindonsiphan, and lied to me at every opportunity.
Somehow, I felt like Chancellor Collins only looked after himself.

In the evening, as we headed for bed, I was glad to see
Joshua again. “So how was your day?” I asked, sitting in the darkness of our
bedroom at the edge of the mattress while Joshua stripped down to his boxers
for bed.

“Good.” he smiled, pulling back the covers before he
climbed under the sheets. “Missed you though,” he admitted, gesturing for me to
join him.

Lying in my pajamas, I shifted back on the bed, slipping
my feet under the warm blankets. “I had an interesting day.” I let the words
hang in the air, wondering which part to tell Joshua first.

Joshua sat up in bed, waiting for me to further
elaborate. “You going to make me guess?”

I rolled my eyes, smiling as I gently pushed him onto his
back, lying down beside him. My eyes met his as I traced a warm path with my
finger down and across his chest. “Chancellor Collins wants me to go to Torv.
The thing is,” I paused, unsure I believed it. “It seems they already knew who
I was before Jaxon, Mason, and Margo showed up.”

“Hmm?” He frowned, his brow furrowed as he tried to make
sense of what I told him. “Any chance someone had survived the attack on Haven
and relayed the news to Torv? Then again,” he mused, “you'd think they wouldn't
want you to come to Torv because you'd be putting their town at risk.”

“Exactly my thoughts.” I shifted onto my back, staring up
at the ceiling, trying to wrap my brain around all of it. “Who would know about
me? Let alone the fact I survived the attack?”

“Maybe they didn't know you survived. It's possible they
assumed you were dead until these three new people show up from a town they've
never heard of.” He rolled onto his side, draping a leg over mine as he pulled
me closer. “If I told you I didn't want you to go…” His words trailed off.

It wasn't that I wanted to go to Torv. I wasn't a fan of
danger, but I didn't like sitting on the sidelines either. I wanted to be a
part of something bigger. “I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet.” As it
was we were running out of time. The Governor's Ball was in the spring and I
needed to be in Genesis before the party to know the exact date and time.

“Maybe I can help convince you to stay.” He smiled,
pulling me closer in his embrace.

My fingers slipped beneath his shirt and traced a path
along the hem of his boxers, grazing his skin. “You could come with me,” I
offered with an eager grin. “This time don't let Collins tell you no.”

“You think it will work?” His eyes momentarily closed.

“Too tired?” I teased, leaning on my elbows as I dropped
a kiss to his eyelids, the tip of his nose, and then his mouth. “If you give
him a reason he can't refuse, then he'll have to let you accompany me to Torv.”

Joshua's eyes fluttered open. “What reason would that
be?”

“Tell him you can't live without me.” I beamed.

Nearly a week had passed since the guests from Torv had
arrived. Joshua and I decided to go for a run, before showering and getting
dressed for our weekly meeting. I knew Chancellor Collins would insist on
sending Elsa, Chloe, and me to Torv. The pregnant women weren't getting any
less pregnant and I knew soon enough some of them would give birth. I didn't
want to imagine what it was like or even witness the nature of it. I'd heard
stories, enough of them as a child to know it was painful. I didn't want to be
around it, but I also knew Elsa had requested I come along.

Once dressed, Joshua and I headed towards the council
room where we always met for our weekly update. I hadn't spent much time with
the members of Torv aside from having met Chloe. I knew two others had come
along, Beckett and Asher. Joshua had trained with Beckett and Asher in
hand-to-hand combat in the gymnasium. I spent those early mornings in skills
training with Maya. She'd taught me how to tie a knot and how to get out of
them. She was also on hand when I worked with Adelaide to teach her
self-defense. She got along better with Adelaide than Hazel, and Maya had many
more years of training and experience. As much as I wanted to be Adelaide's
guide, it was best to let someone who knew what she was doing instruct her. I
never once told Adelaide about the Mindonsiphan and hoped when she came of age
we'd live in a free world where she'd never have the need for it.

Joshua led me to the long oak table where I took a seat,
and he did the same beside me. One by one, the council members joined us over
the next few minutes: Cate, Mason, Elsa, Maya, Hazel, Aidan, and lastly
Chancellor Collins.

“Let me start this week,” Chancellor Collins began, “with
anyone who has new information they'd like to share with the council.”

Elsa raised her hand to speak first. “Chloe has been a
huge asset to our medical and science team. I know she'll return soon to Torv
but I'd like to invite her to stay on staff permanently.”

“Is that even an option?” I asked, perturbed. I glanced
around the table, waiting for someone else to question it as well.

Chancellor Collins glanced at me briefly with a hint of
warning in his eyes. “We'll consider your request, Elsa. What have you found
this week, anything?”

Elsa nodded eagerly. “We've been breaking apart the
different hormones pregnant women have, infertile women have, and then what
Olivia has.”

I felt all eyes on me. I hated when discussions involved
my reproduction. It felt invasive, like they were dissecting me.

“Continue,” the Chancellor answered, wanting to know what
breakthrough they'd had.

“It's Chloe's theory, but we think women no longer have
the ability to ovulate and for that reason can't conceive children. The
old-world terminology for the condition was anovulation. Now we know there are
a few medications that induce ovulation but none of them have been successful.
We're hoping we can synthesize a new hormone.” Everyone stared at Elsa,
confused. “I believe with the right tools and help it can be reversed. At least
the women who want to conceive can have the chance if they have hormone
injections. In fact, we think giving the proper injections to the pregnant
women in Torv might lower the chances of hemorrhaging while in labor. It's
risky; please don't underestimate how dangerous the experimental hormone
injection we're suggesting doing is. I just don't see another option.”

Maya spoke up, “No one has discussed using Mindonsiphan
to heal these women. I think it's something we should talk about.”

I glanced at Joshua, wondering if he knew what Maya was
talking about. Elsa had briefly mentioned it before but hadn't brought it up
again. We both knew about the procedure; we'd experienced it nearly a year ago
against our will.

Hazel answered, “Using Mindonsiphan is a temporary fix, a
Band-Aid. Nothing more, nothing less. Maybe we could save a mother or two but
one of us would always have to be there.”

Cate chimed in. “Do we know how Torv has managed to carry
out any successful pregnancies? We've studied for years and have been unable to
get a single woman pregnant.”

“Cate's right,” Mason nodded. “I hate to admit it but
what does Torv know that they haven't shared? Didn't you guys say Chloe was
from one of the Genesis projects? Are you sure she can be trusted?”

The room erupted in loud chatter and Chancellor Collins
raised his hands. “That's enough!” His voice echoed against the walls and
everyone grew quiet. “We trust Torv with our knowledge; I'm sure in the same
way they entrust us with theirs.”

Elsa spoke out, “I trust Chloe, and I'm confident she and
her town of Torv have no ill will towards us at all. They've been nothing but
nice, helpful, and forthcoming with information when I've asked questions. I
don't know about the rest of you.” Her eyes narrowed looking at each of us one
by one. “But she seems to be exactly what she is.”

Somehow I knew what she meant. We, in Shadow, were
harboring secrets of the Mindonsiphan, of our abilities, of what it had done to
us and allowed us to do. There was no way we could share that knowledge without
endangering ourselves, or the entire town's population.

Chancellor Collins cleared his throat. “On the matter of
sending Chloe, Elsa, and Olivia to Torv, I am in favor. Is there anyone
opposed?”

Joshua raised his hand. “I'd like to come with and see
Torv, offer any assistance that I may on the trip.”