“We leave tonight,” he said, returning to the table. “Ready the child.”
Laura tried to steady herself to push back her anger. “I won’t leave; not without my husband,” she scowled.
Francis smiled at her, already knowing that she’d learned the truth of their relationship. “Your old life is behind you. I am your husband now. Gather your things and ready the child.”
She scrambled to her feet and backed away from him, almost falling against the dinner table. “We won’t leave with you. We won’t go anywhere with you.”
He stood and squared his chest to her. He pushed forward, the softness gone in his voice. His face was hard and intimidating. “You don’t have a choice. The war is over; we’ve won. Your governments—your people—have surrendered to us!”
She stepped back, bumping the table and knocking over the drinking glass and pitcher. Laura fumbled, steadying herself, and her hand brushed the side of the heavy clay pitcher. She quickly reached out and took it. Then, swinging hard, she smashed it against Francis’s head. The man stumbled back, surprised, putting a hand to his bloodied face. He lunged at her. She dodged and ran for the hallway, sprinting to Katy’s room. She made it just ahead of him, slamming the door, and leaving him to pound against it.
She felt the pressure cease against the door then heard the clunk of a bolt lock. She stood and backed away. Katy was sitting on the floor looking up at her with wide eyes. She moved back and fell to the carpet beside her daughter. She raised the girl onto her lap, and Katy gripped her hands. “Are you scared, Momma?”
Laura nodded, trying to hold back the tears. “We have to leave now; we have to escape.”
She grabbed Katy and stood her up. Finding her coat and long pants, she dressed her in heavy clothing, then put boots on her feet. She felt the tears falling on her cheeks as she reached out and took her daughter again, holding the girl tight to her chest. “What have I done…?” she said.
“It’s okay, Daddy will come back.”
Laura nodded, forcing a smile. “We’re gonna find him; we’ll leave tonight.” She snatched a rat tail comb from the dresser and pulled the girl’s hair back, tying it up, then put a heavy hat over her head. All of her own clothing was in the other room; she would have to leave with what she had on. She wasn’t dressed for the cold, but she would take her chances.
Prepared to move to the only bedroom window, she heard a knock at the door. The bolt turned and released. Laura stood and pushed Katy behind her. Taking the rat tail comb in her hand, she concealed it behind her back.
“Mrs. Anderson,” a familiar voice called as a woman in dark robes entered the room.
“Taurine!” Laura said, surprised to see the old woman. “What are you doing here?”
“Your mate sent for me. He is afraid for you; afraid for your daughter.” Taurine strained and saw Katy dressed for travel. Her gaze traveled up and met Laura’s.
“Were you planning on going somewhere? Do you know what will happen to you if he reports this?”
Laura shook her head and leered down. “Is that why you’re here? Are you going to take me away?”
Taurine smiled and stepped closer. “No, silly woman; I am here to discipline you, to teach you to be more respectful of your husband.”
Laura watched as the old woman slipped the small metal box from her pocket. She felt the knowledge plate on the top of her head begin to tingle.
“Don’t worry. As I promised your husband, this lesson will be discreet. I’ve come alone; this will be just between us. If the others knew, they would reject you.”
Laura backed away as the woman stepped closer. Taurine rubbed a finger along the top of the box and the tingling on Laura’s head buzzed with intensity, pain beginning to form in the back of her skull. Taurine stepped closer, now within arm’s reach.
“We have much to discuss, Mrs. Anderson. I knew from the moment I met you, that you would be difficult.”
She raised the box so it was at Laura’s eye level. “I’m sorry, but you have to learn the price for disobedience,” Taurine said, slowly sliding her thumb down the box.
Laura felt weakness in her legs. The woman was now so close Laura could see the pores on her skin. Suddenly Laura no longer felt afraid, the fear replaced by anger. She no longer hesitated; she feigned turning away to the left, while lashing out with the rat tail comb gripped tightly in her right hand. The tip of the spear caught Taurine just below the jugular. The old woman screamed and dove at Laura, her hand clasping the metal box tight. Laura felt shooting pain in her head and her vision filled with bolts of blinding light.
She fought through the agony to maintain the grip on the comb as she forced it deeper into Taurine’s neck, twisting it as it burrowed its way to her spinal cord. When the plastic tip broke, Laura punched at the wound and the side of the woman’s head. Taurine screamed something as her hot blood poured down Laura’s arm. The old woman gagged, spitting blood; her grip relaxed and Laura felt the relief and release of the knowledge plate.
Her vision returned to her in the scene of a nightmare, the old woman’s blood covering her body. She wanted to scream, but she saw Katy standing against the wall, her face white with shock. Laura pushed the old woman off of her and rolled back to her knees, pushing herself up to her feet. She looked at the door and wondered if Francis was in the house. Maybe she could sneak past him.
She gripped Katy’s hand and led her from the room, locking the door behind her. She stalked
