Authors: Kate Bloomfield
My temper boiled as I remembered how Jack had kissed Georgia, his arms all over her as though he was a giant octopus. And Georgia, kissing him with the same enthusiasm.
I screwed my face up in anger and tried to eradicate the memory from my mind. Why had I followed Georgia down the hall? Why had I been so curious? I wished that I had not seen it. But what would have happened if I hadn
’
t knocked the frame from the wall? If they had not been disturbed, would they still be kissing at this very moment? Or worse? I punched my lumpy pillow furiously. I wanted to scream. Jealousy coursed through my veins.
~
I ate breakfast in the kitchen the next morning. I toasted the bread with my Power and sat at the kitchen counter.
‘
Morning,
’
Jack smiled brightly as he walked in to the kitchen. He helped himself to my toast.
‘
Sleep well?
’
‘
Mmh.
’
I gave a shrug. I was furious with Jack, but he didn
’
t know that, yet. I would wait for him to tell me what had happened last night.
‘
Did
you
sleep well?
’
Part of me reasoned that it was none of my business who Jack kissed. He could
cosy
up to every woman within a hundred mile radius if he wanted to
–
and I wouldn
’
t be able to say a thing about it.
‘
Very well indeed. I
’
ve been up for hours, getting ready.
’
‘
Is Georgia still asleep?
’
I asked, stumbling over her name as though it was tainted.
‘
No, she left hours ago. For work, I assume.
’
Jack said with a raised eyebrow.
‘
Is everything okay?
’
‘
Fine,
’
I answered bluntly. I could not bring myself to tell Jack that I had spied on him and Georgia last night.
‘
All right. So, what
’
s the plan?
’
said Jack, stuffing toast into his mouth.
I sighed and leaned backwards, avoiding his gaze.
‘
What do Humans wear?
’
I asked.
‘
Well,
’
Jack said as he chewed.
‘
Owners usually dress their Humans in rags. They are not allowed to wash themselves either, because that would indicate some sort of civilization.
’
‘
So, I need to get really filthy,
’
I said.
‘
I can help you with that,
’
Jack said with a malicious smirk.
I did not bite at Jack
’
s sarcastic remark, like I usually would. He did not seem to notice my lack of spirit, however.
We made a makeshift dress out of an old curtain we found in Georgia
’
s attic. Jack then proceeded to make a thick paste of dirt and water. He grinned mischievously when he showed me his concoction.
I crinkled my nose.
‘
Are you going to lather me in that?
’
I asked.
With a fervent nod, Jack dipped his hand into the mud and slapped copious amounts into my hair.
‘
Oh, Jack,
’
I groaned as the mud oozed through my hair and down my face.
‘
This is disgusting.
’
‘
You have to look like a Human,
’
Jack insisted.
‘
Surely some Mages keep their Humans clean?
’
I said hopefully.
Jack scoffed,
‘
Yeah right. At best they might get a bucket of water thrown over them once a month.
’
‘
It
’
s just disgusting,
’
I sighed.
‘
The way they treat these people is horrid. Do they really think Humans will be a threat to our way of life if they are treated with decency?
’
‘
That
’
s exactly what they believe,
’
said Jack, rubbing the mud across my skin as though it were lotion. The mud dried quickly, leaving a hard, dusty coat across every inch of my skin. It looked at though I had not bathed in weeks.
‘
That should do,
’
said Jack, wiping his hands on my dirty rags.
‘
How do I look?
’
I asked, turning on the spot.
Jack smiled.
‘
You
’
re perfect, but we need to go over a few things first.
’
‘
Like what?
’
I asked.
‘
Mannerisms,
’
said Jack.
‘
How you and I need to act in front of Realm officials.
’
‘
All right,
’
I agreed. I had not had much interaction with Humans before but Jack had seen them sold in the marketplace in Frost Arch a thousand times.
‘
First of all, Humans don
’
t have names,
’
Jack told me.
‘
Helena has a name,
’
I said heatedly.
Jack backtracked.
‘
Humans born into slavery are not given names. I will have to call you
girl
, or
Human
, all right? It
’
s what masters do to their Humans.
’
‘
Okay,
’
I said.
‘
That
’
s fine.
’
Jack licked his lips nervously.
‘
Secondly, they will expect me to treat you roughly. It is not uncommon for a master to push their Human around as though they are nothing more than meat.
’
I nodded.
‘
I can deal with that.
’
Jack took a deep breath.
‘
Third, you must not look anyone in the eye. Humans lack the social etiquette that you and I learn at an early age. They do not speak and they do not make eye contact. Keep your head down and your eyes to the floor. If a Human looked their master in the eye, they would get a flogging. Do you understand? If I show compassion towards you they will think that I am a Human sympathiser.
’
‘
I understand,
’
I said, my nerves increasing with each passing moment.
‘
Do you … do you think they will hurt me?
’
A nerve seemed to twitch in Jack
’
s temple.
‘
I won
’
t let that happen, all right? They may be rough when inspecting you. I don
’
t know what this registration process involves.
’
I took a deep breath and nodded.
‘
I
’
m ready.
’
Jack put a hand to my shoulder.
‘
Are you sure you want to do this? Pretending to be a Human is dangerous.
’
‘
I know, but how else will we find my family? The Realm took them, so we are going to
T
he Realm Headquarters to get answers.
’
Jack nodded.
‘
I know I can
’
t change your mind.
’
‘
You
’
re right.
’
‘
But I can make sure you don
’
t do anything stupid.
’
I smiled.
‘
Me? Do something stupid? Never.
’
Jack chuckled.
‘
Now, I have a present for you.
’
‘
A present?
’
I repeated,
sceptically
.
‘
I told you I have been up for hours. I went to the marketplace before you woke,
’
he said.
‘
Wait a second.
’
He ran from the room and returned a moment later with something long and metal in his hands. It looked heavy.
‘
What is that?
’
I said, rather alarmed.
‘
Shackles,
’
Jack held them out to me.
‘
To go with the rest of your Human attire. I think they
’
ll suit you.
’
‘
Shackles?
’
I repeated.
‘
I have to wear shackles?
’
Jack nodded and sank to his knees in front of me, fastening the shackles around my ankles. A moment later he straightened up and looked at my bare feet.
‘
There.
’
He smiled.
‘
Now
you
’
re perfect.
’
‘
Jack, they
’
re really heavy,
’
I said looking down at them. I tried walking and found that they rubbed my ankles uncomfortably.
‘
It
’
s just for one day,
’
said Jack apologetically.
‘
All of the Humans for sale in the marketplace were wearing them. They have to, I guess, so they don
’
t run off.
’
I sighed and looked at my reflection in the gritty kitchen window. I was a mess, covered in grime and dirt. I looked like … well, like a Human.
‘
Let
’
s do this,
’
I said, turning to Jack.
‘
I
’
m ready.
’
Jack instructed me to walk in his shadow. He wore his best clothes for this occasion and looked quite smart as he marched up to the swarm of protestors that surrounded the gate of the Headquarters. I was barefoot and it was hurting the soles of my feet. I supposed that slaves would be used to being shoeless, so they must have built up calluses on the soles of their feet. I kept my eyes on the ground, focusing on each step I took. The shackles dug into my ankles painfully and chinked with every step. As we approached the protestors, some turned to face us and stared at Jack with pure hatred.
‘
Slaver!
’
An elderly woman spat at Jack.
‘
How would you like to be in chains?
’
A man hurled.
Jack ignored them, his chin high. A path formed in the crowd to allow Jack and me through. The intensity of their stares would be enough to make any man turn on his heel and run. But this was Jack Greenwood and he did not bat an eyelid. He marched through the crowd, with me following in his shadow. Someone threw a rock, but it missed Jack and hit another protestor. An uproar began.
People tried to grab Jack and I, tugging at our clothes and hair. I cried out in surprise, but Jack was prepared. He grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me over his shoulder. He carried me to the gate where the men in red cloaks stood, waiting for us.
‘
I
’
m here to register this Human,
’
Jack panted to the guards. I couldn
’
t see what was going on, but I heard the gate swing open and a moment later we were inside the perimeter.
Once inside Jack threw me to the ground in disgust.
‘
Come, girl,
’
he snapped. It was just as we had rehearsed.
I made the fall look more dramatic than it actually was, limping along behind Jack, while two guards escorted us up the stone steps towards the large wooden doors.