The Healer's Garden Read online

  Jahara moved back to Jacinta. The color had come back to her cheeks. Though her breathing was shallow, it came at regular intervals. She watched Mykilai finish repairing the skin, the scar diminishing with each pass of her hands.

  "You've done well.” Squeezing Mykilai's shoulder, Jahara smiled at her.

  Jacinta's eyes fluttered open. “Mykilai?” She spoke in a mere whisper.

  Mykilai moved to her head, cradling her face in her hands. “It's all right, my love. Everything's all right.” She brushed her lips across Jacinta's.

  Everything was not all right, but Jahara knew nothing about this day would make sense until she could discuss the unusual events with Brenimyn.

  * * * *

  Hours later, the water washed over her and Jahara stroked harder in the pool. She'd turned the unending current to a vigorous speed, hoping the exercise would clear her murky thoughts. As her arms swept over her head, and her feet pumped the water, nothing could keep her mind from replaying the scene in the delivery room.

  Like disjointed scenes from a video disk, pictures flashed, but nothing would come together in a logical pattern that made any sense. Jacinta and Mykilai were lovers. But Bresilee had fondled her secretary that first day at the office as if she possessed her. The infant she had futilely tried to save held very little of Jacinta's genetic material, but a great deal of Bresilee's. A surrogate? But why? Why would Mykilai allow her lover to be used that way? Jahara pulled harder at the water.

  But the most puzzling of all was Bresilee's lack of effort to save either the mother or child. Jahara had witnessed no healing energy coming from her. Perhaps she had tried in vain to save the infant and had used up her reserves.

  Bresilee had been an enigma since the first day Jahara had met her.

  Exhausted from her efforts, but no more satisfied with her ability to solve the mysteries pursuing her, Jahara stepped out of the pool and slipped into her robe.

  "Hard day?"

  She started at his voice, recovered quickly and ran into his arms.

  "Brenimyn.” She sighed his name just before their lips pressed hotly together. He smelled of fresh air and sweat and all she wanted to do was snuggle in close. She squashed her breasts seductively against his chest, enjoying the immediate reaction his body had to her proximity.

  "Your eyes speak for you, Jahara.” His dimples danced around the curve of his smile.

  "And your body for you, Brenimyn.” She rubbed her belly against the erection growing firmer with each stroke of her hand along the lean muscles of his back.

  We're expecting company. Smiling down at her, he spoke the words telepathically. “Perhaps we could retire to the bedroom?” Speaking that sentence aloud, he reached for her robe and she knew immediately they were about to put Xylice's cameras to the test.

  "I have missed you. I would like that very much.” There was no enthusiasm in her voice.

  Pulling her into the bedroom, he stood at the foot of the bed, his hands snaking through her hair. She tried not to let the disappointment show. They wouldn't be making love as their bodies desired.

  "Computer, dim the lights.” Brenimyn pressed his lips to hers and held them there for a breath. “The light turned green.” He pointed up to the camera. “We have only two hours. There's so much we need to talk about. Nathaniel met with the planning group today. He has a mate, Camille, who..."

  "Works in the dining commons."

  "Right.” Brenimyn cocked his head in confusion.

  "I met her at Bresilee's office. Kind of a weird exchange."

  "Wait until you hear what she has to tell you about her last visit to Bresilee's home."

  * * * *

  Jahara put the last of clean dinner dishes into the cupboards.

  "That was interesting.” Brenimyn watched Nathaniel and Camille's retreating backs until the door blocked them from his view. The broken lock jangled as it clicked shut. “What do you make of that?” When he turned, Jahara was disappearing around the corner.

  "Jahara?” He followed her into the office.

  She settled at her computer. “How much time before the loop's finished?” She didn't turn to face him.

  "A little over thirty minutes.” Looking in the corner, Brenimyn confirmed the light on the camera in the office glowed green.

  "Might not be enough time.” Rifling through the disks in her files, Jahara selected one and popped it into her computer. “I hope I have the right one. Why I didn't think of this sooner, I'll never know.” She banged her hand on her head. “It's all making sense now. All those female fetuses at the lake, what I felt today inside Bresilee and the baby, and the things Camille has experienced and witnessed at the woman's mansion. I should have put it together sooner."

  Jahara continued to mutter to herself and Brenimyn could barely understand the string of incoherent thoughts falling from her lips. Pulling up a chair, he sat next to her. “What's going on, Jahara?"

  "I didn't tell you about the birth—or death actually, of an infant I witnessed today. If my hypothesis is correct, we've got a bigger problem on our hands than the inequality of breeders,” and eunuchs she thought, but didn't say.

  Jahara's fingers flew over the keyboard, the images flashing in rapid succession. Brenimyn barely had time to read the titles of the articles she perused before she abandoned it for another.

  "Here we are.” Jahara sat back with a self-satisfied grin.

  He looked at the article title and whistled in disbelief.

  * * * *

  "Shut it off. I've seen enough for one night. Those two copulate like animals in heat. This is the second time in less than two hours.” Gabriella waved her hand at the computer screen.

  Kylie paused for a moment, watching Brenimyn stroke his fingers across Jahara's face. She didn't much care for men, but she wished just once he'd looked at her with that bone melting lust that now pierced Jahara's eyes. Perhaps she could have found comfort in a love like that.

  But men were worthless animals. She knew it. So why did she pine for a useless thing like love? Flipping the switch, the screen went black.

  "I didn't think I'd survive the blow of losing Jacinta's baby today. She has carried a female child the longest.” Gabriella lay back comfortably in the chaise of her private office.

  Kylie had been here at the house long enough to watch Brenimyn and Jahara copulate. Gabriella's face had pinched in disgust, but she'd watched everything in hopes of hearing them say something conspiratorial in the throes of passion. But they had whispered nothing more incriminating than each other's names.

  Sipping her whiskey, Gabriella rattled the ice against the glass. The silk robe slipped, exposing the warped skin of Gabriella's legs. “Thank you for joining me tonight, Kylie. I need your company."

  "It's a pleasure to be with you, Gabriella.” Kylie had been Gabriella's partner since she'd first arrived at the Garden of Serenity four, no, almost five years ago now. She had never taken a lover, male or female, before Gabriella.

  Even by society standards, theirs was an unusual relationship. It was beneficial that neither of them was the jealous type. She rationalized that Gabriella's affinity for young girls stemmed from the experiments and let her entertain herself with them when needed. Gabriella brushed off her relationships with breeders as a necessary evil.

  "Brenimyn should have received the invitation to our special meeting just before the dinner hour.” Gabriella said. “The Governmental Body has also been informed of the meeting. But they won't receive the agenda until just before the gavel drops. There are some sympathizers to this new cause sitting on the Board. I just haven't been able to identify them yet."

  Kylie watched Gabriella's long nail drag seductively up her thigh. The robe separated another inch, exposing the thinning triangle of red curls at the apex of her thighs. Gabriella was preening for her.

  "Brenimyn will have no idea what we have in store for him.” Gabriella smiled maliciously before taking a long pull of her drink. “It's delicious isn't it, K
ylie?” Gabriella stroked herself and Kylie had no idea if she referred to the scheduled meeting, the liquor or her body. She thought probably the last.

  "Delicious.” Stepping closer, she knelt in front of Gabriella, knowing it was what she both desired and expected.

  "Kylie, my sweet.” She dug her nails into Kylie's hair. The air hissed through her teeth when Kylie's tongue touched the moist heat of Gabriella's sex. Tonight, there would be no nubile girls satisfying Gabriella's sexual hunger, only Kylie.

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  Chapter Twenty

  "I'll be back in plenty of time for the meeting.” Brenimyn wound his hand into her hair, brushing his lips feather light across hers.

  "I'm not worried about the meeting.” Jahara laid her cheek on the warm flesh of his chest. “I just don't want to spend another day without you today.” She really wanted to tell him about the baby—their baby—but too many things were distracting them both.

  After they'd started the cameras in the loop last night, Brenimyn showed her the official document inviting him to speak at a general assembly of the Governmental Body. It had been hand delivered by couriers waiting outside for his return.

  The meeting was scheduled for this afternoon. It was the reason he was going to the lake again today. Though he would be the only breeder permitted at the meeting, many would be working to perfect the initial proposal requesting only minor changes in the bylaws at the Garden. “One small step at a time.” Brenimyn had told her.

  Jahara had to wonder what prompted Bresilee's change of heart. No breeder had ever stood before the Governmental Body. The butterflies living in her stomach took flight as she mulled over the possibilities. None boded well for them.

  "Hey, something else going on here?” He cupped her cheek, turning her face up to him.

  "No, I'm just tired.” After the debacle on the horses, she kept her defenses up. He didn't need to worry about the safety of his child as well as himself. “I didn't get much sleep last night.” She heard the whir of the vehicle pull up to their residence. “You need to go."

  Brenimyn pulled her in for a deep kiss that weakened her knees. I love you with all my heart, Jahara. His arms held her tight.

  She didn't need him to send the message telepathically. She already felt it in his touch. But there was something extremely sexy about the way he communicated the words. Jahara's fingers brushed her lips, then her chest, her sign to him that she felt the same. Brenimyn hurried down the walk, the heavy pack of books bouncing with his long strides.

  Closing the door, Jahara leaned against it, inhaling the scent he'd left in his wake. She wanted to crawl back in bed, pull the covers over her head and not let this day continue. But that was impossible. She felt inexplicably pushed forward. Was she truly destined to fulfill a prophecy or had Brenimyn's love made her believe in a false vision?

  Last night they'd settled on the bed in meditation. They traveled together to the meadow where they'd first made love. Lying in each other's arms, they'd talked over her theories about Bresilee, or more accurately, she'd talked and he'd listened. Like any good scientist, she would now have to test her hypothesis then prove it, but then what? And did her knowledge of Bresilee have anything to do with the new world order they were ordained to accomplish together? She felt sick with the burden of the responsibilities being heaped on her and ran to the bathroom to vomit.

  * * * *

  The well-check was running like a finely tuned instrument. She and Collin were quite a team. Though Jahara did more thorough physicals on the men then Bresilee had done, she seemed to get them through more efficiently.

  The routine of the morning did nothing to keep her mind from meandering to Brenimyn and wondering how things were going for him at the lake. The anxiety that had been a mere flicker of wings in her belly this morning had become a tumultuous storm of rolling nausea rapidly migrating to fill her throat.

  "My name's Jahara...” She stepped around the curtain, immediately assaulted by a squeal and a bone-crushing hug that left her arms trapped at her sides.

  "I know it hasn't been long, but it seems like forever since we saw each other.” Attika's red hair was the first thing that cued her into her assailant. “Jahara, I owe you an apology.” Stepping back, Attika's color rose from her neck until Jahara didn't know where the skin stopped and the hair began.

  "Attika?"

  "This is Zenick, my mate.” She pecked the bearded cheek of the man sitting on the end of the table. “I know this is the well-check and I should probably have gone to the clinic, but we came to the place you were working. We just didn't trust anyone else. Zenick doesn't need a well-check because he just had one, but there's..."

  "Attika.” Zenick laid his bear paw of a hand on her arm. “Breathe."

  Attika smiled at him. The deep timbre of his voice stopped the onslaught of her words. Evidently, he understood the woman and her problem with verbal diarrhea.

  "What Attika is trying to tell you, is that we seem to have a ... uh ... a little problem.” It was Zenick's turn to blush. “It started a few days ago, but has gotten continually worse. Until this morning, when I thought I would go mad with the discomfort of it.” Zenick scratched his genitals with desperation.

  "We both, well, it seems we're sharing the same symptoms."

  Zenick craned his neck to the end of the hall. Jahara pulled the curtain closed. She was tired of that foolish door at the end of the hall. All the men feared being sent there.

  "Zenick, weren't you my first patient?"

  His head bobbed bashfully.

  Jahara remembered the shy way he'd covered himself. Embarrassed by his nakedness, he certainly had nothing to be ashamed about. If she remembered correctly, it was the reason Attika had chosen him.

  "Zenick, Attika, there's nothing to fear here. I can probably heal any problem you have. There will be no going through the door for others to fix your health problem.” She looked from one to the other. “Now what is it you share?"

  Zenick stood, dropping the jade breeches on the floor. Attika hiked up her skirt, spreading her massive thighs. The foul odor filled the small space. Jahara didn't react, though she knew immediately what they had and the probable cause.

  "It smells awful. I'm sorry. We've both washed, but nothing helps.” Closing her thighs, Attika straightened her skirt. “That's why we could only come to you."

  "Attika, remove your skirt and lie down on the bed. Zenick, I can treat you standing.” She looked down at his penis, the tip red and raw from the infection and his scratching. “I will need to touch you, Zenick, if I am to heal.” Kneeling before him, Jahara looked up. The freckles of his face blended in one seamless color.

  Looking at the ceiling, he inhaled and nodded.

  "You're right, you share the same infection. How many times do you copulate?” Jahara's hands moved over Zenick's genitals, lifting his large penis, she swept her palm down the underside and along his scrotum. The angry blisters diminished, leaving healthy skin.

  "Seven, maybe eight times.” Zenick turned toward Attika for confirmation.

  "A week?” That didn't make any sense. Jahara looked up at Zenick.

  "No, each day."

  She stifled a laugh. That explained it. “Zenick, I'm done. Does it feel better?"

  "The itching is gone. Will it still hurt to...” Bending to pull up his breeches, he blushed profusely

  "No it won't hurt to urinate or have sex.” She was pretty sure which one concerned him more. “I need to wash; then I'll heal you Attika."

  "Nothing. There's nothing. It doesn't hurt, or itch.” He bent over Attika, capturing her mouth with his. “Oh, this is so much better."

  Jahara heard the relief in Zenick's voice over the chemical spray. She returned to the curtain.

  "Attika, I know you're embarrassed, but spread your legs and I'll heal you.” As her hand swept over the swollen lips of Attika's vagina, Jahara tried to make them feel more at ease. The smell was overwhelming and they all knew i
t.

  "What you have is not uncommon. It probably started with Attika. It's a simple yeast infection. Bacteria naturally in your body multiplied and caused this white discharge. Attika, in turn infected you, Zenick.” She bit painfully on the inside of her cheek. She didn't want to offend them, but Jahara was finding it difficult not to giggle at their situation.

  "If you've been copulating that much,” and she wasn't sure how they found the time or energy, “since you met, then the vagina never had time to recover. It's not uncommon in first time breeders.” That was only an assumption on her part, since they were the first couple she'd treated, but she knew it would make them feel better. “You may want to slow down a little in the copulating department.” The odor dissipated as the infection died under the white light of Jahara's palm.

  "There, you're both healed."

  She left to wash her hands.

  They were talking quietly when she returned the second time to the cubicle. Attika sat on the edge of the bed, Zenick's arm protectively slung around her waist.

  "Thank you.” They said it together.

  "No thanks needed. Just don't let it get so out of control before you come to see me. There was no need for you to suffer the discomfort for so long.” They didn't leave.

  Zenick pulled Attika closer. “Tell her."

  "Jahara, the first morning we came to the healing facility, you tried to tell me about the breeders,” she looked over at Zenick. “I got angry and argued with you, but I've learned much since I got here. Zenick took me to the lake. I listened to Brenimyn..."

  "Attika, None of us knew, did we?” She squeezed Attika's fidgeting fingers. “We all had much to learn about men. There's nothing more you need to say."

  "Thank you.” Attika's hand engulfed hers. “Know that there will be many supporting the new world order. You and Brenimyn aren't alone."

  "Then I thank you.” Apprehension washed over her. She knew there was nothing others could do to help her and Brenimyn fight the impending battle.

  * * * *

  Rushing into the apartment, Jahara wasn't sure how the day had slipped away from her. She barely had an hour before the meeting would begin and she still needed to shower. She nearly fell over the heavy pack of books on her way to the bathroom. Obviously she wasn't the only one running late.