The General part 27 AND part 28

Parts 27 & 28:

JOAN

“Hi, everyone.” I smile at the eleven children in the room. It’s an odd number, and everyone in here is odd, including me. I’m the alien adult in the room.

All the kids look at me with distrust in their eyes. It’s a look I’m familiar with; a look I’ve often reflected.

“My name is Joan, and I’d like to tell you a story.”

So I do. I tell them a kid-friendly version of being abducted from Earth, losing my hopes and dreams, and being introduced to a planet-full of people who hate me for not looking like them. I tell them about my odd jobs, my slips in ethics, my temptation to lose all my humanity.

With every chapter of my story that I share, I see a new set of starry eyes. The kids are melting into me, because I’m showing them that although I look peculiar, we’re cut from the same cloth.

I’m sharing the most traumatic, intimate part of my life because I want to show them we’ve been through similar struggles and they can rely on me.

Lady Hope was right in putting this ragtag team of “freaks” together. We understand each other, and we thrive within one another.

I fight back tears as I look into the lost expressions of these boys and girls, dressed in old rags and lacking a bounce in their legs, a fidgetiness in their fingers. They’re calm, as if life has already taken every spark from them.

It’s my job — and an honor, to inspire them back into a position of confidence and curiosity.

“Does anyone have questions?” I ask at the end.

Eleven hands go up — although not all the way like human children do. I’m stunned to a silence, because in all my years on Zolan, no one has shown an interest in hearing me out.

That includes The General. He’s interested in my present, but not much in my past.

Stop thinking about him. Since you’re speaking of past, realize that he’s in it. You will never see him again.

Although I’m nervous, I pick the little girl in the first row.

“Lady Joan, why did those mean people make you work without paying you?”

She’s referring to my time as a slave before I was rescued by Zolan authorities.

“Because they define being a person based on how they look. Although we look a little different, we are all people. We deserve the same rights and respect as any Zolano. That’s the very first thing we need to remember and never forget.”

I forget that lessons sometimes, but I never had a teacher. I hope these kids can learn with more confidence.

After answering the questions, I play some games with them and distribute lunch. They’re sweethearts, although most are still hesitant about getting attached. They’ve been hurt before, and trust doesn’t come easily.

“Joan, there is a delivery for you!” someone calls from the kitchen.

I leave the kids with Hope’s assistant and wipe my hands on my apron. The kitchen is empty, but there is a small container wrapped in silk waiting for me on the table. I know who it’s from without opening it. It’s not like The General or Yippy wouldn’t mail me anything.

There’s a temptation to dump the package, but that would be wasteful.

I open it and am immediately blinded by the bling of the necklace that’s inside. It’s shaped like a collar, and lined with green jewels. I’m not sure if the shape was intended, but the meaning is not lost on me.

Vrint wants a pet.

Disgusted, I set the heavy thing aside and look at the bottom of the package. There’s cloth there— dark, dull, and mine. He mailed me back my panties.

I toss the package in the trash and clutch onto the collar. What do I do with it? Sell it and donate to money to the orphanage? Yeah. The kids need new toys.

Stuffing the thing in under my bed makes me feel dirty. The necklace is like a dead rat rotting away in my room.

I shudder and get back to work. My neck feels tight, as if I’m still wearing the necklace.

“Joan!”

I jump, startled. The sound of my own name is becoming haunting all because of Vrint.

“Yes?”

The young maid looks irritated. I can imagine why. She has to hunt me down every day because of Vrint’s games.

“There’s a man here to see you. His name is Vrint.”

“Can you tell him I’m not available?”

The big bully just doesn’t seem to get the idea.

She sighs. “Alright, but this is getting disruptive. You will have to deal with this, eventually.”

I’m not leaving the orphanage. It doesn’t feel safe to step a foot outside with Vrint on the prowl.

“Thank you,” I say and watch her go.

I grip the sink and sigh. This was supposed to be a fresh new start, but I only went from one hole to another.

Hands engulf my hips, and I cry out in shock. I spin around and find myself pressed between the concrete sink and an angry Vrint. He’s in his camp uniform. A dagger digs into my hip and something else digs into my lower belly.

I dig my nails into his biceps and try to push him off.

“Get off me. You have no right.”

He squeezes my hips and lifts me a few inches off the ground. He smells like outside— like animal and the herb merchants that are located right outside the orphanage. It’s nothing like War’s scent. There’s no hint of wet soil, or the thin sheen of sweat from a laborious day.

He doesn’t feel like War, either. He’s soft in places that War is hard. My strong General could fold Vrint in half enough times that he would disappear.

“Did you like your gifts? You should be more thankful if you kept them,” he exhales by my ear, making my hair curl.

“Leuitenant Vrint, please release my employee.”

Slowly, I’m placed on the ground. I subtly reach for a knife behind me and walk to Lady Hope’s side.

“I think you should go, sir,” Lady says.

“Yes. I’m sure you have more pressing business to get to,” I say. I don’t want my boss to fight my demons for me. I need to show some backbone or Vrint will never get the hint.

He doesn’t look happy. I don’t think he’ll get the hint any time soon.

“Go to my office, Joan.”

PART 27

I take my leave without questioning her, the knife still in my hands.

I only wait a few minutes for her to return.

“He’s getting ahead of himself,” she sighs as she closes the door.

“I’m sorry. I promise I’m not encouraging this behavior.”

“I know. I might have to report him. Who is above him? The General?”

I shudder at the mention of War.

“Do you think The General will take care of him?” Lady asks.

Yes. War would decimate Vrint with a single punch. I could easily bring an end to this by writing to him.

“I think so,” I tell Lady. I don’t want her to know just how close I got to War.

“Masters are so… forward!” she says. “To think I used to be lovers with one,” she laughs. “That’s exactly why I left him. They do and say whatever they want with no filter.”

I look at her in amazement. She had a thing with a Master?

“Oh yes, child,” she laughed. “That was the craziest part of my life. I would recommend a fling with a Master, but they’re a hassle. The most complicated creatures in existence.”

Too late. I fucked one; the most powerful one of them all. Whoops.

Lady soothingly pats my hand. “Vrint is a tyrant, and I will not have him terrorizing my orphanage. These kids have enough things going on. If he shows up again, let me know and we will make a formal complaint together.”

I know a complaint will bring War on the radar. I’m not ready to see him, and I don’t want Vrint’s blood on my hands. At the same time, I also don’t want him to hurt the orphanage.

The orphanage comes first.

— • —

“Joan!”

I cringe. It has only been twenty-four hours, and Vrint is back.

I close the scroll I had been reading for the children and I rise from my chair.

“Okay guys,” I say in English. The kids find it charming and like asking me to translate.

“Give me a few. I will be right—”

The wooden, grey doors burst open, and the kids scream in fright. I watch six officers dressed in formal attire stride in, bringing nothing but trouble.

Thinking of the kids, I scramble in front of them. They can’t see this. They’ve had enough trauma to last them a lifetime.

“Is that her?” an older soldier asks, pointing to me as I push one kid behind me.

“Yes,” Vrint arises from the crowd of men. “Arrest her.”

“Wait!” Lady runs into the room, her apron colored in baby vomit. “How dare you—”

“We are here on behalf of her majesty, The Queen. This female is to be arrested for theft.” The bearded, older male lifts the collar I recognize all too well. It’s the necklace Vrint gave me. The one I had been planning on selling for the orphanage.

“I didn’t steal that!” I argue. “Vrint gave it to me. Lady, take the children away, please.”

“On you go,” Lady ushers the crying crowd out of the room just as I’m dragged forward.

“Vrint, tell them!” I glare. My heart is racing, but I won’t let fear eat off me. I need to keep a level head to get out of this hell.

Only silence comes from him, but I know how this goes. I know what coercion he has cooked up. He’ll cover for me, but the payment for his intervention is my body.

“Take her. The Queen awaits.”

“Vrint!” I yell. “He’ll kill you for this!”

The General will hear of this — maybe after I’m executed, maybe before. It doesn’t matter. He’ll know of what became of me.

“He?” one of the officers scoffs. “Do you mean she? The only person the Queen will kill is you. Dirty maggot. How dare you steal from the Crown?”

“It has been a long time since we’ve had a good beheading,” someone else adds.

The orphanage doors open, and I enter the daylight for the first time in days. My bare feet are grated against the dirt and pebbles below, my tongue clashes with my teeth as I repeat that I’m innocent.

“Hold!”

I look at the sound of galloping. Through my blurry vision, I see two sets of broad shoulders. I see the savageness — the fur clothes, dirty boots, bloody swords. These warriors are Masters that live in the wild and tongues of storytellers.

They measure high and above the polished officers that are dragging me away.

“Malik,” I recognize.

How the hell—

Why—

Malik dismounts and lands with a loud thud. The Master beside him dismounts, too.

“Unhand that female.”

“Nonsense!” The leading officer counters. “This— alien, has been summoned by The Queen.”

“She has been summoned by The General as well. Which do you fear more?”

War is looking for me?

“The General is below The Queen. Return to your outpost, Master. Let us officers serve the Crown.”

A hint of irritation crosses Malik’s face— a rare occurrence because he never shows anything.

His eyes zero on Vrint. “You are behind this, aren’t you? Foolish. Resolve this at once. I need to return to camp. You won’t like what happens if I return empty-handed. He will come down here himself.”

“The General would not come to the city for such trivial reasons!” The officer interjects.

“He’s on a rampage simply because she is no longer at camp.” Malik gestures toward me. “He believes she is safe and happy here. The moment I breathe that she is hurt, he will drag himself, all of camp, and three Hells to the city. Spare yourself that destruction and hand her over.”

Like a coward, Vrint says nothing.

“You will have to unsheathe your sword and take her yourself,” the Officer warns. “My men and I will bring her to The Queen as we were ordered.”

Malik sighs. “Without this female, there is no General. Without the General, there is no victory. Do you think The Queen will risk this? She needs us to win the war.”

“This thief must pay. The General will agree.”

“How much does she owe? The General will cover all expenses. Hand her over,” Malik insists.

“No. Are we done here?”

Malik purses his lips and stares at me.

“Wirlock?” he calls the name of the Master with the scarred face. “Go get him.”

“Malik,” Wirlock finally speaks up. “That is not a good idea. You know he will—”

“I know. I warned them.”

As he interjects Wirlock, he keeps looking at me. He gives me a subtle nod, telling me everything would be alright.

I know deep inside of me, though, that this sunny day will be no more.

Wirlock jumps on his beast and gallops out of the city, leaving a cloud of dirt behind.

“Tell the Queen The General will be in the city in three hours,” Malik instructs.

“Impossible! The camp is a night-ride away. He cannot get here so quickly.”

Malik swings on top of his beast. “He will break all rules of physics to get here. Prepare the medics. You will need them.”

a/n: I will try my best to publish an EXTRA chapter of The General this week!!!