29
(Silnaday)
South Joton, Kri’enden
.
Kailey Mern wasn’t sure what had awakened her at first. The bed beside her was still empty. That meant one of two things – that Joneel had decided not to come home, or that he’d come home very, very drunk.
She heard footsteps on the stairs. She smelled him before he opened the door. She pretended to be asleep; maybe she’d be lucky.
“Told yuh schee ‘uz bew-iful,” Joneel slurred aloud, shining a light on her.
“Mmmm,” came another man’s voice. “You really did well for yourself.” A hand stroked along her body, atop the covers. “She’s awake.”
“All d’ mo fun,” Joneel said. “Kai, jes’ relax. Ee’s not gonna ‘urt ya.”
Kailey froze as strange hands came under the sheets and stroked her naked body. “No!” She jerked away from him and kicked at him. Joneel grabbed her arm and held her.
“He promised. He lost the bet!” the man replied. “I won’t hurt you if you cooperate.”
“Never!” she shouted pushing the very air at him in desperation. He teetered backwards and there was a thud of his head hitting her dresser. A moment later, her husband fell across her, snoring loudly. She pulled herself out from under him and put on her clothes. Grateful for the early morning light beginning to lend color to her room, she picked up her bag, then went into the girls’ room.
“Come on!” she told Marcey. “We don’t have time! We must go!” She pulled the older girl to standing, knowing that Marcey would be able to walk in a minute. She put the diaper bag over her back and the sling over her shoulder. Everything else would have to be left.
“What’s wrong, Mom?” Marcey asked.
“Put your boots on, quickly! Grab your cuddly caballus, then we have to go.”
“Where?” Marcey asked, picking up the favored purple toy.
“Just come!” Kailey repeated. She picked up Minna, situated her in the sling and started out the door, tugging Marcey after her. “Be silent!”
Outside, it was light enough to see well, the sun just starting to come up over the horizon.
“Can I talk now?” Marcey asked.
“Wait a few more minutes!” Kailey begged, thinking quickly about which direction to go. There was only one place to go, she realized – and alleys almost the whole way there.
She led Marcey across the street, one hand holding hers, the other hand securing Minna. It was a beautiful morning, but she did not have time to appreciate it. Their lives depended on them finding help before her husband came to and found them.
After a dozen blocks, she and Marcey were weary. It had been a long time since she’d walked so far carrying Minna, and Marcey had probably never walked so far on one day. The building was in front of them, just across the street now, she would make it.
She realized it was still very early and wondered how long she’d have to wait for the building to open to admit her. Kailey tried the door, anyway.
To her surprise, it opened. She ushered Marcey inside. It was just a foyer, but she could sit and feed Minna who was grizzling now. There was a small box of toys in a corner that Marcey immersed herself in without invitation.
That was when Kailey’s tears started to flow.
♥
Joton, Kri’enden – Joton Neví Housing Project
.
Sheena N’handu was always quiet, Jessten Sipper realized as they walked the final block to the project after breakfast. Sheena was much taller and darker than she was, as befit a woman of the Kri’enden tribes. At least they’d get plenty done, though it would be boring without anyone else to talk to.
Upon entering the foyer, see saw that a young mother and her two children were there already, the younger one nursing, the older one playing with toys.
“Come inside,” Jessten invited, instantly assessing the situation as the woman passed into the reception. She had several bruises, including one which was bandaged well to cover another wound. It looked okay in the leya, but probably needed redressing, whatever it was. The woman blinked back the tears that had been flowing freely until the moment she’d opened the outside door.
“I’ll work on applications,” Sheena offered.
Jessten nodded as she thought about what had to happen. She wouldn’t let her personal problems endanger anyone. She turned to Sheena. “Please call Laisen. I think he’s going to need to interview her immediately.”
“Okay,” Sheena replied.
Jessten grabbed a clipboard with flyppaper on it to take down the woman’s information. “What’s your name?”
“Kailey Mern,” the woman replied before spelling it. “My girls are Marcey and Minna.”
“They are pretty,” Jessten complimented. “How old are they?”
“Marcey is three and Minna is just two seasons.”
“Why are you here today?” Jessten asked gently.
“My husband… he r...raped me the other day, that’s how I got my cut,” she said pointing to her bandaged arm. “I fixed it up and everything. I wouldn’t have done anything about him, but this morning, he was drunk and brought someone else home with him – the man was going to have me too! He tried, but I fought him off.”
“Good job, Kailey. I’m glad you’ve come to us.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt him though. I had to push him away somehow though. I hope I didn’t kill him.”
“What do you mean?” Jessten asked gently. “What did you do?”
“I threw him off me. He hit his head on my dresser. I hope I didn’t kill him.”
“You acted in self-defense no matter what happened to him,” Jessten reassured. “Now, just hang tight while someone comes in to interview you. May I hold Minna for you?”
“Please go ahead,” Kailey said, holding the chunky baby towards Jessten.
Jessten took the baby and held the child on her hip, showing her everything that was remotely interesting in the office, from the tank of fish to the map of Joton, to the painting of Zley Falls.
She didn’t hear the door, but she felt his presence. She felt his eyes on her as well. She would do her job, she determined.
“She needs to be interviewed right away,” Jessten said. “I believe she’s still in danger.”
Laisen nodded, then invited Kailey to the first interview room.
“You don’t mind holding Minna still?” Kailey asked.
“Not at all. She’s fun. I could watch Marcey too, then she can keep playing.”
“Thanks. Do you have children?”
“No.”
“You should. You’re a natural. You will be a good mother someday.”
“Thanks,” Jessten replied, fighting the blush on her cheeks while Laisen was watching. He had heard everything.
Kailey followed Laisen into the interview room.
♥♥♥
If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on [Goodreads](coming soon) for me.
Buy at: (coming soon to Books2Read, Scribl, LBRY and Lulu - paperback.)
Other Chapters of this set
Birth of the Neví - Chapter 1 on Whaleshares
Name of the Neví - Chapter 1
Mind of the Neví - Chapter 1
Game of the Neví - Chapter 1
Maps and Guides
- Kri'enden & Joton - 830 TCE (New/imprived map coming soon)
- Character Guide and Image Credits
- Calendar and Glossary - for Name of the Neví but these two parts are true throughout.
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2019 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
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blogging on: Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu, Hyperspace
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