Given to the Savage(35)
But today was a good day, so far at least. She had been able to help Charlie and in doing so, had gained the trust of the doctor and Kara. And perhaps Silas. She had also found the selenium. That could make all the difference. But if what Kara said was true about the tattoos, she wondered if the ink could overwrite whatever code was embedded into the implant at her wrist and make it possible for her to disappear. But Silas would never allow it. He would be punished, perhaps the entire settlement would be, if she were to run away.
She put the garden tools back where she had found them, watered the plants, and went inside to have a bath. Once she was scrubbed clean, she looked through the two cabinets in the kitchen but found them empty. She would have made dinner but Silas had nothing to cook. She glanced back at the closet she had looked at yesterday and her curiosity got the better of her. Before she knew it, she was back inside it peeking through the furnishings, looking for clues into Silas’ past.
* * *
Silas arrived at the clinic just as dark was falling. He hadn’t meant to be gone so long but quite a few of the villagers had come to the hall that day to talk about ‘the breeder,’ about why she was in their village. They were afraid, understandably. What had happened six years ago hadn’t been forgotten and seeing him bring Rowan into the village had only awakened old fears, reminding them of what had happened the last time a breeder had been in their midst.
He had told them, however, that she was here to be bred on the colony’s orders. That this time was different than the last. This coupling would ensure that their supplies would not be cut off, that electricity and running water would be provided. Those few days when they had essentially gone dark, as he called it, had been a harsh awakening for the people of the village. It made very real the power the colony held over them and their livelihood.
He sighed. It had been a long day. Now he looked forward to a shower and some food. And, although he felt ashamed to say it, he also looked forward to having Rowan in his bed.
He pulled open the front door and walked into the clinic to find one of the nurses sitting at the desk.
“Hello, Silas,” she said.
“Hello, Ellen. I’m here to pick up Rowan.”
“Rowan?” she asked.
“The breeder,” he said, not liking the sound of himself saying it.
Dr. Stone came around the corner to walk a patient out. He looked at Silas and Silas knew in that instant that she wasn’t there.
“Where is Rowan?” he asked after the patient had left.
“I thought you had picked her up.”
The nurse watched them. “She went home a while ago.”
“Alone?” Silas and the doctor both asked.
“She asked for you but…” she stammered.
“Oh, hell,” Silas muttered and stormed out the door. He got home a few minutes later and when he walked in to find Rowan coming out of the room he had expressly told her to leave alone, after the relief of seeing her safe, his face grew hot with anger.
Rowan’s mouth fell open. She looked shocked to see him. “I…” she began, but in the next instant, Silas had covered the space between them and when she put up her hands to ward him off, he took her arms and shook her once.
“What in hell were you thinking leaving the clinic on your own? Wandering around the village?”
“I wasn’t wandering! I had to come home and everyone was gone…”
“You were told to wait for a reason! Do you realize I’ve spent the entire day defending your presence here, trying to explain it in a way that makes sense to my people?”
“This isn’t my fault! You think I want to be here? You think it’s up to me?”
“It’s not exactly up to me either but as long as it pleases the fucking commander, here is where you are, and while you’re under my protection, you will do exactly as I say, exactly as you’re told—word for fucking word! You’re on loan, remember, and while you’re here, my first priority is keeping the colony’s precious property safe!”
“I’m not property. I have feelings too, just like your women here,” she spat back. “We’re breeders, we’re not animals! I realize I’m only here because Commander Norrin has something he’s holding over your head but that’s not my fault either. Don’t take it out on me!”
Silas was shocked by her outburst and by the time she had finished, she looked just as surprised as he felt. He stepped closer to her so that his chest now touched hers, and she had to crook her neck to look up at him. She attempted to take one step back but found herself trapped between him and the wall.