“You think he’d only like you if you’re pretty?” Jade asked.
Alina shrugged. “I know it’s vain. But I always felt that was why boys never paid attention to me.”
Jade stroked her hand. “You put too much emphasis on beauty. I understand why—you had a different experience in Pria than the rest of us. But when everyone is beautiful, the meaning of the word changes. It’s a matter of opinion. Once or twice, I heard people say how unforgettable you were because of your unique face.”
Alina rolled her eyes. “Of course—I had red blemishes and crooked teeth and other things they hadn’t seen before. But here—well, you’ve seen how people react.”
“Yes, but remember, they have a different opinion of beauty. If Zaiden did make it here, he might be attracted to the simple girls of Carthem the same way he was drawn to you in Pria.”
“You think he was?”
Jade grinned. “I don’t know his reasons, but yes, he definitely was.”
“It doesn’t matter, anyway. If he makes it here, he’ll be a crazy killer, stalking me.” She tried to laugh but dissolved into tears.
Jade rubbed her back, and after allowing her to cry for a moment, spoke gently. “I’m not sure if this will help you feel better, but can I tell you my story?”
Alina looked at her and nodded, wiping her cheeks.
“You probably haven’t thought of this, but isn’t it peculiar Sampson didn’t release me into Carthem as a violent crazy woman after J’koby was sent back? To this day, he remains the worst of Sampson’s enemies, and Sampson knew we loved each other.”
“But since J’koby was mortal, why didn’t Sampson kill him?” Alina asked.
“I don’t know for sure, but my guess is he wanted more. He’s a cruel man. He wants his enemies to suffer and feel oppressed under his power. That’s the ultimate satisfaction for him.”
“Did he try to make you insane?”
“Yes. I believe he imprisoned me for that purpose. And to hasten this, he put you—a newborn baby—in a dark cell next to mine, so I would be tortured by your cries and my inability to do anything about them. This was temporary, though, until he could decide what to do with you. He needed to keep you secret. But naturally, no one in Gordian knew anything about mortal babies—not even he, who once lived in a mortal world. He never had children of his own. Or if he did, he didn’t know them.
“But during those two years that J’koby lived with Camden, he taught me everything about caring for babies. He didn’t have children himself, but he knew a lot, having lived among mortals for so long. The plan was, if Sampson discovered you and killed him and your mother, I would become your caretaker.”
“The plan worked, then!”
Jade nodded. “It wasn’t easy, though. Your cries and my helplessness would have driven me mad if I didn’t take action. Sampson knew how you threatened him, so he searched desperately for a way to keep you alive. He always sent one of his indoctrinated guards down to feed you—he never came himself, because he was terrified of you. You threatened him so much, he got anxious just being near you.”
She took a deep breath. “When I heard your cries, I got an idea. I told the guard you might be ill and to send for Sampson right away. He came down immediately. I told him I believed your cries indicated you were dying. Sampson didn’t believe me at first. He knew viruses and germs didn’t exist in Pria and thought as long as you ate, you’d be fine. His naiveté was so extreme, it was almost easy.” She grinned.
“I told him there were many ways a child could die without germs or infections. They could die if neglected or isolated without affection. Their body organs and brain could shut down, and so on. Everything I said was true, and he must have remembered some from his mortal days, because he believed me.
“So, he turned on a light, and holding me firmly, led me into your cell where he told me to examine you for signs of illness. He knew you’d need a diaper, so you had extra layers down there, but his guard didn’t have the slightest clue how to change your bedding, much less how often. You were lying in a small cradle, soaked in urine and feces. I took off your clothes and wiped you clean enough to reveal a flaming red rash from your upper torso down to your knees. Not only was this alarming to see, but you were screaming at the top of your lungs and Sampson went into a panic. He thought you, and therefore his precious kingdom, were heading for a quick and painful death.”
“The rash—was it serious?” Alina asked.
Jade chuckled. “No. J’koby told me about them. Any small detail might get you into my custody, so he told me everything specific to babies. This worked. I told Sampson I knew how to treat the rash, but you couldn’t live in a dark dungeon and survive—you needed to be nurtured to thrive. The better life he gave you, the longer you would live, and the more time he would have to find a solution. I offered to be your guardian and he consented, on one condition—I was put under surveillance. He didn’t want you to know who you were. Who you are.”
Jade paused and looked down at her hands, tears trickling around her nose. “That was the best moment of my life, the day I became your caretaker and was spared being sent into Carthem to murder my love.”
Alina was crying, too. She reached out to hug her.
“Don’t give up hope for Zaiden,” Jade whispered. “It takes a long time—years—to make someone crazy enough to murder a loved one. Sampson doesn’t have that kind of time.”
