Chapter 5: Chapter 5

The main hall is buzzing with girls scurrying around, serving the three Masters and the soldiers who have also come for the night. Despite the attack this morning, we still have a duty to bring life into the world.

Some of the bedrooms, including mine, are in ruins, so we’re not expected to spend the night with a young soldier. I watch as soldiers pick girls and girls pick soldiers, then they head upstairs.

I have a feeling that tonight, many of the soldiers will be comforting the shocked girls, rather than the other way around.

My new friend and neighbor, Eva, grins at me. She moved into Beth’s old room, which was also destroyed today. She just turned twenty-two and already has two sons and a daughter.

We sit together, sipping our warm drinks. A few soldiers approach us, but we explain why we can’t take care of them tonight. They’re very understanding.

I watch Eloise guide the couples out of the room, offering a comforting smile to all the frightened girls. Across the room, lounging in heavy armchairs, are the Masters, the ones who saved us by opening the bunkers and helping us out.

“We’d still be down there if it weren’t for the Masters,” I whisper. “We should be grateful for such fine men looking after us.”

“We should always be grateful to the Masters,” Eva replies, raising her eyebrows at me. I take a sip of my drink and make a face. “What’s wrong?”

“It tastes weird tonight,” I say. “Don’t you think?”

“It’s the same stuff we had last night, and it tastes the same to me,” she says.

I frown slightly, then glance back at the Masters and catch one staring at me. To my surprise, I recognize him—the young one from my Testing.

He looks barely older than the soldiers, just as tall, broad, and handsome. Actually, even more handsome than most. His long gray coat over his gray suit makes him seem even more powerful.

“I recognize him from my Testing,” I tell Eva, subtly nodding my head toward him.

She’s not great at subtlety and stares at him before turning back to me. “The young one?”

“Yeah.”

“I heard about him.”

“Oh?”

“In the nursery. It was before my daughter Eva was born. He came there once for an inspection, and the girls found out some stuff about him.”

“What stuff?”

“He’s not from Sector 64, he’s from Sector 1.”

“Sector 1! I thought that had been destroyed.”

“It was. He survived.”

“That’s amazing.”

“That’s how they knew he was a Master, even though he was only a boy at the time.”

“What’s his name?”

“935,647,081.1.6 Eric.”

“Eric.” I watch him as he pours himself another glass of alcohol.

“So he was at your Testing?”

“Yeah, he didn’t say anything that I remember,” I reply. Eva nods and watches the last couple leave the room.

I get up to get a second bowl of soup. When I sit down again, I notice Eric still watching me every so often. I feel my cheeks heat up and I sip my soup quietly.

“Alex,” says Eloise as she approaches me with a small smile. “I thought I’d share some good news on this difficult day. To remind us of the important things in life, and how precious we all are.” She sits next to me.

“Good news?” Eva tilts her head to one side and looks at me.

“I was looking through your medical check-up last week. Alex, why didn’t you say anything?” Eloise beams at me.

Eva looks at me wide-eyed. I look at Eloise. “I…I’m late. But I didn’t want to get my hopes up,” I explain.

“Well, the results came out from your tests.” She grins at me. “You’re four weeks pregnant, Alex!”

I stare at her wide-eyed. Eva lets out a cheer and hugs me as I sit in shock. My hands move to my stomach. A life. There’s a life growing inside me. I’m going to be a mother.

My heart races, and through the commotion Eloise and Eva are making, I find my gaze locking onto Master Eric’s. His sharp eyes sparkle. He stands up, leaving the Masters’ table, and walks over to us.

Eloise and Eva grow quiet as he approaches and stands next to me. For a second, I can’t move. Then I stand up quickly and bow my head.

“Alexandra?” he asks, his voice deep.

I’m surprised to hear him say my name. “Yes, Master,” I whisper, my head still bowed.

He places his hand on my shoulder, and I look up at him in surprise. A Master touching me. The room has gone quiet.

“I couldn’t help overhearing the news Nurse Eloise shared. Congratulations. You are a true Perfect woman now.

“We will be moving past the nursery for Sector 64 tomorrow. You will come with us, of course; it’s safest for such a fragile, young mother,” he tells me.

I feel my heart racing with gratitude. “Oh, thank you, Master, thank you!” I drop to my knees in respect.

He touches the top of my head to show that he approves of me. “A pregnant woman is the most fragile Perfect, the most important person here. I heard your room was destroyed?”

“Yes, Master.”

“You may share my room tonight,” he insists. “I will protect you.”

We’re all speechless for a few seconds. Eloise finds her voice before the rest of us. “That’s such an honor, sir,” she says. “I’m sure Alex is grateful!” She looks at me.

“I am, sir! Thank you, sir, thank you for such an honor!” I manage to say.

He nods and reaches his hand down. I stare at it wide-eyed. He snaps his fingers suddenly, and instinctively I grab his hand. He pulls me to my feet.

“You look beat. Let’s get some sleep.” He leads me out of the room. Eva shoots me a playful wink before we vanish around the corner.

Eric guides me upstairs. He doesn’t say a word until we’re inside the guest room and he’s locked the door behind us. It’s bigger than our rooms and more tastefully decorated. The heavy curtains are drawn shut, and there are no connecting doors.

“You’ll sleep in the bed next to me,” he says as I start to arrange some pillows on the floor. I nod and push the pillows aside. “All your stuff got destroyed?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Then you can wear this,” he says.

To my shock and delight, he takes off his coat and jacket, then his tie, and finally his shirt.

I’m starting to appreciate a man’s bare chest, and his is a work of art. He towers over me as he hands me his shirt. I’m shaking with the honor.

“You’re giving me too much credit,” I tell him, holding the shirt delicately.

He laughs. “Just put it on,” he says. “Alexandra, I was at your Testing two months ago, right?”

“Yes, Master,” I say, taken aback.

“Pregnant now, I see. I knew you’d make a respectable Perfect. Get undressed, Alexandra, and change.”

“Thank you, Master,” I say, taking off my shirt and then my skirt.

He watches me undress, just like he did during my Testing. I almost feel like he’s sizing me up again.

If he hadn’t been watching, I might have touched my stomach, tried to see if I could feel anything, but his gaze kept me moving quickly. I took off my bra and hurriedly put on his shirt, shaking out my hair.

“You’re quite perfect,” he says.

“Thank you, Master. So are you,” I reply.

He laughs. “I mean you’re beautiful,” he says.

This catches me off guard. Beautiful. Beauty was perfection, right? Weren’t we all beautiful?

He seems to pick up on my confusion. “Come.” He takes off his pants, leaving him in just a pair of gray cotton briefs, and gets into bed.

I slide into the other side, thankful for the soft sheets. After all, I did get a bit banged up today, first with the debris and then being knocked over by the girls running past.

I find a few bruises on my arms and frown at them. He notices them too. “You’re bruised,” he says.

“It’s from the raid today, sir. I’m usually not,” I assure him.

“Come,” he says again, extending his arm. Slowly I nestle against his bare chest. He strokes my hair gently. I feel my body tense up as it hits me that I’m in bed with a Master.

It always felt so natural with the soldiers. I’m suddenly filled with anxiety being next to a Master. I wish more than anything that I could go back to my room.

“I heard you’re from Sector 1,” I say, quickly trying to distract myself. To my surprise, he laughs.

“How refreshing. I see you’ve been asking around.”

“I was curious,” I confess.

“Curious?” I can hear the smile in his voice. “That’s not really encouraged for women, is it? Curiosity?” He laughs.

I stay quiet as my heart starts to race. Is he testing me? Is my curiosity a bad thing?

“You seem scared,” he murmurs.

“I always am,” I reply.

He’s quiet, then I feel his lips on the top of my head. My body tenses.

“That’s for the best,” he says. “That’s what keeps you safe. You should always listen to your fear and keep yourself safe.”

I don’t say anything. He shifts in bed and rolls toward me, pinning me under his body. His face is inches from mine. He leans down and gently presses his lips to mine.

I stare at him wide-eyed. A Master, kissing me. Masters weren’t supposed to make babies; they were focused on the nation, Albion, on strategy, governing, on protecting us.

My heart pounds against my ribs as his kisses deepen. I feel his hands moving up my body. One caresses my breast while the other slips behind my neck and lifts my head so he has better access to my throat.

He leaves a trail of wet kisses down my throat slowly. “You don’t seem very into it,” he murmurs, lifting his face to mine.

I stare at him wide-eyed. “I don’t know. I didn’t think…” I trail off.

“You do this every night,” he scoffs.

“Yes, but with soldiers.” I breathe.

He smirks at me. “My dear Alex, you really are naive, aren’t you?” I want to be offended, but next to a Master, I know I am. “Masters are like every other man on this planet.”

“Every other man?”

“Every man desires women, Alex. We desire to create life with women.”

“Even Foreigners?”

“Foreigners are the most dangerous because they don’t want to create life, they just want to satisfy themselves. They won’t respect you.”

“I had no idea,” I whisper, looking down at my body. “All men desire me?”

“You are a powerful weapon in yourself, designed to be so, a Perfect woman in every way. Foreign men can’t control themselves around you, which is why you must always protect yourself.” He starts kissing me again.

“Won’t it hurt the baby?” I ask.

He raises his eyebrows. “No, it won’t. You’re already four weeks pregnant.”

“But what if it causes a miscarriage? I don’t want to lose my child.”

“You won’t!” He’s frowning now. His arms wrap around my body tightly. “I promise you, you won’t lose the baby. Now, can you trust a Master’s word?”

I give a slow nod. “Okay. I’m sorry.” I let out a breath. He nestles his face into my neck.

“You haven’t learned about the old days, but I have,” he murmurs, his hands sliding up under my shirt, against my skin. “Back then, a man and a woman chose each other and stayed together until death.”

“Back when there were no Perfects?” I gasp as he swings my leg around his bare waist. He’s kissing my neck with a hunger, his fingers working on the buttons of my shirt.

“Yeah, before the Perfects. Even before the war.”

“That’s absurd.” My breaths are coming out in pants.

He grins at me, his hand caressing my face. “That’s still how it’s done in the rest of the world.”

“Well, that’s why they’re weak and we’re beating them,” I retort with confidence.

He chuckles, planting a kiss on my nose. “Oh, my sweet Alex. You really don’t know much.”

“I know it’s my duty to bear children for my country, to keep myself safe. I know I’m pregnant. What else should I know?”

“Nothing, sweetheart.” His kisses grow more intense as he peels my shirt off and tosses it aside. “I was just saying, once you’re done having your kids, I’ll take you in.”

“Take me in?” I blink at him, wide-eyed.

“It’s happened before. You’ll be mine. You won’t have to be a teacher or a nurse. You’ll be mine.”

“Yours? I belong to Albion,” I protest.

He strokes my face gently. “Sweetheart, you’re Albion’s. Albion created you, Albion sustains you. I am Albion. That makes you my property, like every other woman here. I can wait. I’ll have you again.”

He seals his words with a soft kiss on my lips, then buries his face in my chest. I know he can hear my heart pounding, I know he can sense my fear.

I can’t put it into words, but I’m scared. Scared of Eric, scared of belonging to him. Being his.

Am I not free?