The Healer's Garden Read online

  She heard Brenimyn singing in the shower. Leaning against the door jamb of the bathroom, she took a moment to let the baritone resonance of his song ease the tension in her muscles. Things must have gone well for him today.

  She stripped without a sound. Slipping into the shower, Jahara cuddled up to his back and slinked her hands around his belly, pushing lower into the curls around his sex. His fingers were busy scrubbing the soap through his hair.

  "I'm glad you made it."

  She smiled.

  "Jahara will be home soon, we don't have much time."

  She stepped back, smacking his stomach as he turned around.

  "Oh, Jahara, it's you.” He let the water rinse the soap from his hair.

  "You were expecting someone else?"

  "You know us breeders. Busy, busy. Always in high demand.” His mouth curved ear to ear, making his dimples deep and her heart skip in her chest. He bent over, lifting her in his arms, twirling them so the water ran down her back.

  "And as much as I'd like to enjoy a shower with you, I'm running late.” He kissed her briefly and was gone. She nearly fell over with the rush of his departure.

  "Hey, I just got here.” She peeked around the curtain.

  "And I'm glad you are, but there's still much to do.” He dropped a kiss on her nose. “After the meeting we'll have time.” He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple working up and down his throat several times before he spoke again. “I have to leave ahead of you. I need to do a little more work on the presentation.” He turned on his heel, practically running from the bathroom.

  Jahara let go of the curtain, thinking he was more nervous than she'd realized.

  It wasn't even fifteen minutes later she stood staring at her meager wardrobe. His shadow loomed in the bedroom doorway. Like the statues of the ancients, he stood regally. His appraising stare roamed her nakedness. She felt his gaze on her soft as a gentle breeze kissing her skin.

  "I must go now, Jahara."

  Why did she sense finality in the simple sentence?

  She walked to him, this man who had stolen her heart and at the same time, made her whole. “You look very handsome.” It was the only thing she could push past the burning coal in her throat.

  Self consciously, Brenimyn shot the cuffs of the billowy shirt. Buttoned down the front of his broad chest, it tucked neatly at his narrow waist. He readjusted the buckle of the leather belt he'd worn the first night at the apartment. He seemed unusually fidgety.

  "I'll be there shortly,” she said, unable to raise her voice above a whisper.

  "I love you with all my heart, Jahara.” He spoke the words before he leaned in to kiss her. “Hold onto that."

  He turned and walked away from her. And though she wanted to run after him, to tell him they didn't have to do this, she remained rooted on the threshold of their bedroom. It would have been futile to try to talk him out of this. They both understood that nothing could change the course of the events unfolding before them.

  She heard his sandals tapping across the kitchen tile and the creaky hiss of the broken door as it shut. She fell to her knees, her head falling into her hands and cried. He had just left her. Jahara wasn't sure how she knew. Nothing else was making any sense, but of that fact she was certain. He would not be coming back to her apartment.

  * * * *

  If Attika hadn't agreed to pick her up, Jahara wasn't sure she would have had the strength to make it to the government building on her own. The woman chatted incessantly in the vehicle and Jahara was grateful she wasn't expected to respond.

  She thought the breeders would be lining the street when they arrived, but no one was standing outside.

  The meeting hall however, was crowded with women and they had a hard time finding a seat in the gallery on the second floor. Peering over the edge of the railing, Jahara looked down on the wooden benches filled with chattering females, pondering just how many of them were governmental spies. Some in front leaned their bottoms on the heavy wooden railing separating the spectators from the floor of the assembly. Their hands moved animatedly as they spoke to those seated. The laughter filling the large room gave the whole scene a carnival quality.

  The women of the Governmental Body would sit at a long dais elevated only slightly higher than the assembly floor. The ten leather chairs currently stood empty. A young girl moved along the back wall, placing papers on the table at each seat.

  "There you are, Jahara.” Nazaret came up to them. The woman looked radiant. Obviously, pregnancy agreed with her.

  "Nazaret, my breeding sister, Attika. Attika, Nazaret.” Jahara didn't even try to feign enthusiasm as the women exchanged pleasantries.

  "Sit with us, Nazaret, we can make room.” Attika scooted across the bench and they squeezed Nazaret in next to them. The two women flanked Jahara as if to protect her.

  "Xylice wired a feed to the barn. The men are watching from a safe distance.” Nazaret leaned in casually, whispering the words into Jahara's ear. She needn't have bothered. No one could hear above the incredible din of the growing crowd.

  A hush moved through the multitude and Jahara looked up to see the women in long robes parading across the stage. She recognized only Bresilee and Linsig, settling themselves in the two largest chairs in the center of the dais. The rest of the women were strangers to her.

  Bresilee waited a moment until nothing stirred in the room save for the fans on the ceiling. The wrap of the wooden gavel reverberated through the assembly like a gong.

  "This special meeting of the Governmental Body is called to order.” She paused and swept her gaze over the crowd. “I am pleased so many of you have taken an interest in these proceedings.” Bresilee lifted a paper in front of her, perusing it. “The first order of business is the petition to be brought forth by...” she looked down her nose at the paper. “Brenimyn, representative of the male breeding population of the Garden of Serenity."

  A side door opened and Brenimyn walked across the expanse of the tiled floor. The only noise came from his sandals tapping out the seconds of tension filling the air.

  Though he kept his eyes cast down at the floor, he stopped and stood before Bresilee with unmistakable dignity. His pride would not allow him to cower before this gathering. Standing tall, he squared his broad shoulders in defiance. His feet were slightly apart, his hands clasped loosely at his back.

  For a moment no one spoke and Jahara was sure, no one breathed.

  "This special meeting has been convened today, breeder,” Bresilee said the last word with obvious contempt, “not because you have petitioned the Governmental Body to present a proposal...” Bresilee stopped to let the words sink in, “but because your mate has brought charges of rape against you."

  The air that had been held in everyone's lungs escaped in a loud whoosh. Maybe it was simply the blood pounding in Jahara's ears. She wasn't sure she'd heard Bresilee correctly.

  A low rumble ran through the crowd. The women watching seemed to be the only ones reacting. Neither Bresilee nor Brenimyn moved. Jahara thought she might vomit. She was only vaguely aware of Attika and Nazaret's arms supporting her.

  Bresilee banged her gavel. “Please. These charges are very serious. If the gallery cannot contain themselves, I will have the chambers cleared."

  Of course it was an empty threat. Bresilee had staged this farce and what fun would it be if she couldn't act it out in front of an audience? None of this was really happening. Jahara was sure she would wake from the nightmare at any moment.

  But the heavy gavel thudding on the table made it all too real. Jahara went limp with grief. She marveled at Brenimyn's ability to remain so poised. He must have sensed something like this was coming. Hadn't she found the speech he'd written laying on the kitchen counter before she'd left? Up until this moment, she believed he'd simply memorized it. But now she realized he'd left it for her as a warning.

  "I call forth Kylie Giavenic"

  Kylie materialized out of the crowd. Her filmy dress swirl
ed about her body like the murmurs filtering through the crowd. Meticulously, she picked her way around the others seated on the benches below. She walked slowly down the isle as if embarrassed to be the center of attention. Slipping through the break in the wooden railing, she straightened the wisps of golden hair that had worked themselves loose from the braid running down her back. Demurely she stepped behind a podium which had materialized from the floor.

  Bresilee looked at the crowd as she spoke. “Kylie Giavenic, you have reported to the Governmental Body that this breeder has broken the first law of the Garden. Is that correct?"

  Kylie leaned into the voice magnifier, her eyes focused on Bresilee. “Yes.” The tremor in her voice could be heard in that simple word.

  This time Bresilee let the gasps die on their own before she continued. “Have you any proof?"

  "The surveillance video from my bedroom.” The tears trickling down Kylie's face could be seen even from the balcony where Jahara sat.

  Motioning to the wall behind the dais, Kylie directed their attention to the hologram materializing over their heads. It was a picture of Brenimyn and Kylie standing naked. Fisted at his sides, his hands looked threatening. Her face held a startled grimace.

  "Play the video,” Bresilee's voice boomed.

  "Kylie, you want me.” Brenimyn's voice filled the room as the hologram went into motion.

  Kylie's hand impacted his face with such force, Jahara heard herself gasp.

  "I don't want you. Why are you here? I am refusing you, it is law.” Kylie's voice was filled with fear. “Go back to Jahara.” The last words were spoken with her back to the camera as she walked away from him.

  He took two steps towards her and she yelled. “No, no this is not right.” Her hands came up in defense or invitation, it was difficult to discern.

  Jahara couldn't believe what she was watching.

  "Damn you, Brenimyn. Stop.” Kylie's nails dug the ugly welts into his chest and his hands wrapped around her wrists.

  "Let go of me."

  "Stop fighting me. You will do as I say.” The voice was male, but not Brenimyn's. It was so close no one else would have picked up on the subtle nuances.

  Kylie dropped to her knees in front of him taking his penis into her mouth. They looked at each other, Kylie with revulsion, Brenimyn with satisfaction. His fingers wound themselves into her hair. “It is wonderful. Continue."

  As Jahara watched Brenimyn's body react, it was hard for her not to believe the video.

  She watched in horror as he hauled Kylie to her feet and swept her into his arms. She shook her head, the tears glistening in her eyes. He dropped her roughly on the bed, covering her with his body, shoving himself into her without any prelude.

  "I don't want this.” Her voice trembled with emotion.

  He didn't respond, only pinned her arms over her head and thrust his body into her.

  "No! No! Stop! Stop!” Her head flailed from side to side, but her pleas went unheeded. He continued to rock his hips, pounding against her even as she begged him to stop. The room filled with his cries of climax.

  When he rolled off her, he was flaccid, his need having been sated.

  The last image was of Kylie turning her back on Brenimyn, begging him to leave her.

  "We've seen enough. This woman doesn't need to relive the horror any more than that.” Bresilee's commanding voice broke through the heavy stillness.

  The hologram faded and with it Jahara's hopes that people would see the video had been forged. Someone had masterfully manipulated the images to condemn Brenimyn. Xylice had told them how easily it could be done.

  Bresilee turned back to the crowd. “The video is enough to convict this breeder. I'm sorry to ask you this, Ms. Giavenic, but for the record, is there any more proof?"

  Linsig stood. “I can speak for the woman. As a healer, I examined Kylie Giavenic in the clinic where she came after the rape. Indeed she was torn from the violence of his actions and the life essence of this breeder was present within her.” She pointed down at Brenimyn.

  Jahara knew all that was a lie, but she would have no way to prove it.

  The audience sat in stunned silence. Bresilee looked from Kylie, to Brenimyn and then swept the faces of the crowd, milking the situation for every moment she could steal from them.

  "Charges against this breeder have been levied and proven. The first law of the Garden has been broken and a woman has been irrefutably damaged and emotionally scarred. The penalty for breaking this law is castration and exile."

  The room exploded in disbelief. Brenimyn did not move.

  "So it is written, so it shall be done.” Yelling over the commotion, Bresilee slammed down the gavel.

  The sound assaulted Jahara like a knife through her heart.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The mob of security guards came from nowhere. They swarmed the assembly floor. With arms crossed over their muscular chests, biceps bulging, the women created a barrier between the maelstrom in the benches and Brenimyn.

  Jahara watched in helpless horror as four of them surrounded the man who only an hour ago had been wrapped in her arms. Now he was wrapped in chains. Though he hadn't tried to resist, two of the guards held weapons at the ready. He said nothing, but lifted his head in Bresilee's direction.

  The woman who had commanded the attention of all cowered in her seat and Jahara wondered if he had threatened her telepathically. She hoped it had been something scathing and vicious. But knowing Brenimyn, it was probably nothing more than the steely glare of his ice blue eyes that had Bresilee recoiling.

  Jahara was bumped and jostled from all sides as women fought to move out of the gallery. She couldn't be sure whether the commotion came from the disbelief that a woman had been raped or that their hero was being martyred. Some part of her brain knew Nazaret and Attika were talking to her, but she only had eyes for the man disappearing, perhaps forever, through the side door of the hall.

  He stole a look over his shoulder. Her eyes beckoned his to find her in the crowd. Locked in his gaze, she heard his words ring clear. Find strength in my love.

  Then he was gone.

  * * * *

  "Please, let me take you back to your apartment.” Attika would not let go of Jahara's arm. “I don't think you should be alone right now."

  Jahara stood on the empty side walk outside the government building. Nazaret had already left them to return to the barn. Jahara wondered what the men would be doing now and who they would turn to for guidance. Obviously, Nazaret worried the same thing.

  Everything was falling apart and she had no idea how to continue. The new world order couldn't come about without Brenimyn, but he had been exiled. Jahara expected to do battle at his side.

  She had stared at the women rushing from the room. None dared look into her eyes for fear they would be charged as traitors to the Governmental Body if they acknowledged her. Only Attika stood by her side, but even her doubtful expression weighed heavily on her. Jahara wanted someone to tell her what to do. Her gaze shifted from the vehicle to Attika, then up to the crimson sky. There were no answers in sight.

  Castrated and exiled.

  Bresilee had made the pronouncement with evident delight. Cut off the head, the snake cannot live. Merenith had told her that once when Jahara had been threatened by a deadly reptile in the mountains. Apparently that's what Bresilee had done. There would be no change without Brenimyn's guidance and conviction in the vision. Bresilee knew it.

  At that moment something snapped. Later she would speculate whether it was Brenimyn's telepathic prodding or her own belief in the new world order. Either way, she was pushed into action. The war had started and with absolute clarity, she knew where the next battle would happen.

  "I've got Bresilee fooled. It never occurred to her that it was a two headed snake.” Jahara looked down at Attika's face, wrinkled in confusion. “I'm not going home, Attika. I'm fine, dear friend.” Bending, J
ahara kissed her cheek. “You have not deserted me and I will always remember that. But there is still much to do.” Hadn't Brenimyn said those words to her as he'd left? “Return to Zenick. You'll know when I need you. For now, I must go on my own."

  "Jahara..."

  "Trust me, Attika,” she yelled over her shoulder as she ran down the sidewalk.

  * * * *

  "Of course there is great cause for celebration.” Pulling the gold robe over her head, Gabriella stood naked. “Don't be such a fool, Kylie. Everyone will want to rejoice the demise of the new world order.” Gabriella fussed with the bun at the nape of her neck. “I should have planned this ahead of time.” Threading a hanger through the neck hole of the robe, she placed it in the closet of honor. The other women on the Governmental Body had already left the building. She and Kylie stood alone in the ante chamber.

  "The video was so much more than I could have hoped it would be.” Gabriella clapped her hands together like a joyful child who has just received a gift. “Did you see their faces? Total disbelief that their guardian was such a villain? And how guilty did that breeder look? He just stood there accepting his fate.” Gabriella stared through Kylie. “And Linsig? Well, that woman's just a genius when it comes to acting. And you were just as delicious.” Pinching Kylie's chin in her fingers, Gabriella shook it back and forth. “As proud of you as your own Dame would be, yes I am. If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought those tears were genuine."

  Kylie swallowed hard, working to keep from puking. The tears had been real. They had nothing to do with the accusations of rape and everything to do with exiling an innocent man whose only crime had been falling in love with a woman.

  "...and contact everyone on my usual list through the video system.” Gabriella looked up at the clock on the wall. “The dining commons should be able to deliver food within the hour. Ask the guests to arrive at 1900 with the usual wait-staff in uniform. I will definitely want some of those lovely young girls with their perky little breasts there tonight.” She pulled on her yellow tunic, covering the scars she hid from so many. “Then arrange to have the computer technology do a pyrotechnic display over the mansion at 2300."