Chapter 6 Quinn #2
“There’s no need for visuals. You can just listen,” the man continued.
“I’m one of the five generals who run this family.
Only the Architect and his number one stand above me.
You can call me Valentino. I will keep this short and sweet.
No one in this family came here because they had an easy life.
Our family is young and full of misfits.
The Architect, Alexander, created us seven years ago.
He took this castle by force. He is the head of our family.
His decisions are law.” Valentino paused.
“However, unlike other families, our goal is to be accountable to each other. The Architect wants to build a world of equality and encourages new ideas. These placement tests will help you discover your strengths and how you’ll best fit into our family. ”
He took a deep breath. “They do not dictate your future. You will have a say in your placement within our ranks.” His hand appeared above the tall people, and he pointed to something behind him.
“We break up our jobs into departments: fight, physical, spiritual, science, technology, and logistics. At the end of your placements, you will get the opportunity to interact with each department at a Mixer.”
I didn’t know what a Mixer was, but I didn’t know a lot of things, so I let the word roll off me.
“We value education and have constant lectures running,” Valentino continued.
“You are always welcome to sit in on. Life here will be as difficult as it is rewarding.” The sound of something rapping against wood filled the room.
“However, you are all still in a probationary situation. If you step out of line, if you break the rules, if you make life for the family harder, we will not hesitate to toss you out of our walls. The Architect is a mentalist.”
Brody’s offhanded description of someone capable of controlling my thoughts and pulling my secrets out of my mind, mixed with too many science fiction and fantasy movies to count.
Valentino paused. Apparently, all of us needed a moment to let that sink in.
“Remember that and respect it,” he stated. “If you have to ask, then most likely, whatever you’re pondering is not good, and more than in any other family, you will be held accountable.”
A shiver of fear licked up my spine. Valentino’s threat was clear. If I didn’t want to go back to wandering the countryside, I needed to keep my head down and not piss off the Architect.
Sun streamed across the dry dirt of the all-too familiar coliseum the following morning.
I now wore the uniform of a trainee, although I had a pair of thick leggings and several thermal shirts underneath it.
A TB hung at my hip. I hadn’t figured out how to use it last night.
My face flushed. I hadn’t really managed to do anything last night.
Ezra was incredibly strong and absolutely certain that if I worked hard enough, I could be too.
Weight lifting wasn’t really something I was passionate about, but Ezra’s sculpted abs definitely were. Yeah. That growly stoic personality I’d assumed Rowan had, based on his appearance, belonged to Ezra. He could bark orders at me all night in that low, gruff voice. I would be okay with that.
I rubbed the outside of my legs. Muscles I didn’t know I had ached. Ezra recommended I keep moving today to stay loose; the ‘sore’ was always worse on day two, apparently.
“Do you do anything to keep from getting sore?” I had asked last night.
“I enjoy the pain,” Ezra said while racking our weights.
I rolled my eyes. Of course he did. He thoughtlessly adjusted the position of a small bench so that it was parallel to the walls.
He wanted everything to be in its place, something I understood really well. If an object in my room ended up in a weird location, I’d have to ask if it was me or Miss Q, which was never my favorite game.
Our workout had come to an end. Both of us stood near the exit, not quite ready to say goodbye.
“Our family has few luxuries, but we do have a sauna.” Ezra stepped toward the door. “I often use it after a lift. Join me.”
‘Join me’ felt like a question, but the way he said it was definitely not.
I soon found myself inside a small wooden box that could fit three at most. Ezra had a ratty towel wrapped around his hips, while I wore a black bikini that was at least two sizes too big.
If he noticed, he was too polite to comment.
He splashed water onto a cone, glowing with his plum purple magic in the center of the box. Steam rose off it and heated the air.
The damp cold of Scotland had sunk into my very bones and become a part of me without me realizing it. As the steam built, months of chill vanished. I spread out my towel onto the bench and lay on my back, basking in the sensation.
I missed my view of Ezra, but this was also really nice, and absolutely nothing like my journey here. For the first time since I went under the knife, I was not only relaxed, but safe.
Because I was with Ezra.
I didn’t want to ruin this with words or overthinking. Ezra, real or not, and I simply existed together. The companionable silence felt honest.
At some point, the sound of water hitting the heat cone and sizzling into steam woke me. I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep. I sat up, only to find Ezra’s intense gaze glued to me.
“I’ve lost some weight,” I flushed, though my face was probably already red from the heat.
“You’re beautiful, Quinn. What you cover yourself with is irrelevant.” Ezra pulled his gaze from me, and I squirmed from the compliment I wasn’t used to hearing.
Ezra met my gaze once more. “Only one other was ever comfortable in my presence to sleep.”
I gave him a soft smile and scooted closer, but didn’t touch. Beads of sweat made paths down his dark, sculpted chest. A few drops slid between his abs. The sauna wasn’t as hot as I remembered from my time. Almost as if he purposely kept it warm, but not boiling, so we wouldn’t have to leave.
“Tell me about your placement,” Ezra demanded.
I grinned and leaned back. “I saw a man with dog canines and magic!”
Not that I’d been holding this in all day or anything. Yeah, right, who was I kidding? I definitely had been. Magic was real here!! I wanted to share my joy before I woke up with it gone.
That thought kicked me out of my memory. Last night had been special. Would my memory of all of this still be intact when I woke? Or would it vanish like a dream? With no way to know, I set aside my speculation and focused on the present.
While I reminisced, more trainees arrived for the placements. Fresh footprints trampled the damp ground. Thankfully, not a soul sat in the spectators’ section.
I was more prepared for this placement. Which was either Miss Q’s exciting game of 'Believe Your Magic Is Real' or a series of hands-on tests designed to help me figure out my career path, which could be anything: book work in administrative offices, a stable hand, or maybe joining Rowan in his enforcer uniform.
My stomach growled.
What yesterday had not done was point me toward an obvious cafeteria or a free source of food. The Rooster and Wicked Wich were the two eateries. I could purchase essentials from the store attached to the trade hall. But I didn’t know what money looked like here, much less had any.
Honestly, three places to get food didn’t seem to be enough for the number of people walking around every day, but what did I know? I wasn’t great at logistics. It actually tracked that my imaginary world wouldn’t be great at it either.
I snorted to myself, only to have my stomach growl again. But this was better than owing Brody anything more. I’d made a mistake opening up to him right off the bat. I’d be more careful in the future. Either this one, or the next lucid dream.
A few minutes before go-time, around twenty-five trainees milled about.
Some I recognized from yesterday, and others were new faces.
A pair who’d done their Wundarboards together still chatted and laughed off to one side.
I wanted that same connection, but if anything, the circle of trainees around me had widened, and there was no Cayden in sight.
I planted my feet and lowered my expectations.
A simple sports bra kept my underweight chest flat enough. For what, exactly? After Hope and the chancellor had both said the same thing, I assumed the family was on the same page. ‘Blend in’ and ‘pretend to be a boy’ had been Hope’s key advice.
But yesterday, Winston, the Friar Tuck with yellow hair look-a-like who tested us with Wundarboards, told both men I was a woman. He then gave Seth a seal of approval and treated Cayden like an invader if he hurt me. Yet, it was Seth who kept invading my personal space and Cayden who defended me.
I scratched my head. Something I didn’t understand was happening behind the scenes here, but I wasn’t sure how much I cared.
This was all in my mind, although it didn’t always feel like it.
And so far, doing whatever made me happy was working out.
I sat on Rowan, and loved it.
I started my workout with Ezra last night by literally tugging his shirt so he’d take it off, and loved that.
I’d purposefully acted as dumb as possible to bug sourpuss Cayden, and really loved that.
And yeah, maybe Angela Moore started a bunch of rumors about me, making me social outcast number one.
I might have needed an extra cold shower this morning after Ezra had heated my dreams. And maybe I hampered whatever plans the family had for me by not befriending Seth… but I couldn’t bring myself to care.
My entire life, I’d tried to fit in and hide my craziness. For what? I’d still made people around me uncomfortable. I’d still been a social outcast. Sitting on Rowan was literally the closest I’d ever been to a dick. I’d take it!
“Another redhead,” a petite voice said, making me look left. “And a woman?”