It's been a long time since I posted (almost 2 years). I decided to really treat this book like a real book. While not as popular as my Infection stories, I really like this story. I'm hoping to really stay consistent with posting this one. So here's Chapter 5 where we meet our second POV character: Jeremiah.
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NOW
JEREMIAH
Jeremiah Steineld sprawled out in the back seat of the limousine, the top button of his dress uniform's jacket undone as he looked out the window. The airport sped away as the car turned on to the highway. In the distance, he could see the city, a shining beacon of his family's status and influence. He frowned and turned away from it.
"You know, I almost missed it," he said.
"How could you not?" the man seated across from him, already drinking his second glass of whiskey, said. The eldest son of one of his father's vassal lords, Simon Bornholt had warded with the Steinelds for as long as Jeremiah could remember.
"I heard my father has made plans for another factory," Jeremiah said.
"It's true," Simon said, adjusting his own uniform collar. Where Jeremiah wore the black uniform of the Special Services, Simon wore the gray of the Reserves. "The people are very happy about it."
"They always are," Jeremiah said. He thought about the people. Another factory to fuel the endless wars of the Union. He sighed tapping the window with his knuckle.
"There's talk that your father may be moved up to the Third Seat before the harvest," Simon said before taking another long drink. Jeremiah sighed again. Moving up a seat in the Davaraugh, the highest council of the government of the Union, was an impressive enough feat but the Steinelds had long held the Fifth Seat. To leapfrog the Baincrofts and displace the Krugs would be notable if not extraordinary. His father had obviously been busy in his absence. Jeremiah wondered how much his hero son had helped in his machinations. Simon continued, "Your father would be the third most powerful man in the Union."
"I understand what the Third Seat means," Jeremiah said. Simon chuckled nervously. Jeremiah wondered how long his old friend had been his "father's man."
"You've missed quite a lot since you've been gone," Simon said, launching into the latest pieces of court drama. It was all dribble to Jeremiah. How could this be important when men and women were dying for no good reason. He tried to think of the last time he had actually been home. It was probably his brother's wedding. Had it been that long? A year. Maybe longer.
"How is my brother and his new bride...Lauren?"
"Lara Greenweld from the Harvest Downs," Simon said. "Little more than a farmer's daughter but Derek was very fond of her from his time in the Downs. I was getting to that."
Jeremiah had forgotten his brother's time warding in the Downs with Lord Buroney, Simon leaned forward.
"Their coupling hasn't been as fruitful as your father had hoped," Simon said. "That's why he brought on a new proxy."
"A new proxy?"
"Yes, Eva," Simon said, grinning. "Kind of short with a great body and just amazing legs. An ass to die for. Exotic. Dark eyes. I think she's definitely got some Northern Islander in her."
"I see," Jeremiah said. "I can't wait to meet her."
"I have a surprise for you."
"What's that?"
"I reserved some time for you at the covent house."
"Really? What makes you think I'd be interested in that?"
Simon opened his mouth but no sound came out. He looked like a fish. Jeremiah smiled crookedly.
"I just figured you need a release before seeing your father," Simon said. "Especially after being alone on the frontier."
"Yes, alone," he aid, looking out the window again. "Who did you reserve?"
"Tasha and Kienna," he said, smiling. "You remember Tasha, she's the well endowed brunette?"
"I remember her," Jeremiah said, smirking. "What about Kienna?"
"Reminded me of Eva," Simon said with a smirk. "Got some Northern Islander her."
"Hmmm, could be interesting," Jeremiah said. The car moved through the traffic as the sun began to set. Jeremiah wondered when his father was expecting him home. Not that it mattered, he could already feel his father's disappointment from here.
The driver took them down the highway and off the exit. Jeremiah vaguely recognized the route as they passed through a checkpoint into a walled-off neighborhood of large manses, many of them owned by some of his father's most powerful followers in the city. The driver drove up the main thoroughfare and around a hill to a large complex. A huge building loomed in the middle, a massive mansion surrounded by a high wall and guarded gate. The driver spoke to the guards who waved them through, saluting them as they passed. Jeremiah's eyes went up to the mansion. He tried to remember the last time he'd been here.
A massive stately building, the convent house was brightly lit up showing off the brick facade of the mansion behind tall marble pillars. Dozens of windows looked down at the courtyard as they drove through. The huge wings of the mansion disappeared into the darkness, swallowed by the night. Armed guards, carbines slung over their shoulders, walked the grounds and spoke to the drivers waiting by the dark sedans and limos that lined the circular driveway. The driver opened the door after they stopped and a servant led them through the front door.
"Lord Jeremiah, welcome," Madam Hester said as he stepped into the foyer of the main room of the convent house. An older but still attractive woman in her late fifties with white blonde hair and blue eyes smiled broadly as she bowed. Dressed in a dark green cocktail dress and matching heels that showed off her shapely legs.
"Madam Hester," Jeremiah said as he embraced her warmly. She was almost a friend to him. He had spent many a night in the convent house as a guest before he had been assigned to the Southern Frontier. She motioned for them to follow her to the main room, a sprawling room in the center of the mansion.
The main room was busy, filled with men with money trying to impress the convent girls slinking around the room. Girls that could've been proxies but didn't quite make it or had been proxies cast off for any number of reasons. Such as a family losing a seat in the Davaraugh. No one in the room gave him a second glance, they were too involved in other things. Girls on their laps giggling and whispering in their ears with promises of the night of their lives. Jeremiah was actually glad for this.
Three girls were waiting for them in a booth, dressed sharply in short skirted cocktail dresses. Tasha smiled, her huge chest pushing against her tight dress as she greeted them. The girl to her right was prettier but in a different way. Bronze skinned with dark, subtly almond shaped eyes, the girl's black hair hanging in long waves over her bare shoulder. She smiled almost shyly at Jeremiah. He smiled back as he wedged himself into the booth between the two women, Tasha's hand already on his knee.
"My lord," she said.
"My lord," Kienna squeaked. The third girl, a cute blonde in curls that he knew was for Simon. It amazed him how little his friend's tastes had changed. A waitress in a revealing outfit that barely covered her body came over with a bottle of champagne, courtesy of Madam Hester. Jeremiah was sure there was no courtesy in it, rather the wine was included in the price that Simon was paying for the night.
Simon smiled at Jeremiah as he blathered on. The girls all laughed when they were supposed to laugh and swooned when they were supposed to swoon. Kienna leaned over to Jeremiah, whispering in his ear.
"You are so quiet, my lord. Do I not please you?"
He chuckled. Why were they trained to talk that way? He looked at her and for a moment she seemed genuinely concerned for his well being. He smiled at her, running a rough knuckle down her cheek. She smiled back and he swore she blushed a little at his touch. Tasha laughed at something Simon said then took a long swig of champagne. His fingers danced up her leg and she repositioned herself so he could practically feel her warmth. He had been with her before and knew how to make her sing. And she knew it.
"If you'll excuse us, Shana had something she wanted to discuss with me in private," Simon said. Jeremiah shook his head as his friend took one more swig of his drink before leaving with the girl with blonde curls.
"He's always here for Shana," Tasha said. "I think she thinks that he's going to take her on as a proxy."
"Where is she from?"
"She was an orphan from the Baronies," Tasha said. Jeremiah poured Kienna another drink as Tasha spoke. "She was part of some special training program. She talks about it all the time. She was trained to be a convent house girl. Not quite a proxy but not a common factory or brothel girl either. Kind of like our Kienna here."
