Electus (Regnum Series Book 1) (17 page)

She tosses and turns for several hours. No position is comfortable enough to erase the thoughts cluttering her mind. No matter where she ends up, tomorrow, she will lose someone. If she is not chosen by Mr. Avery or Javan, she will miss out on both opportunities for any happiness.
So much for not being attached,
she thinks.

Tia attempts to close her eyes once more, taking deep breaths and clearing her mind.
I have no choice in it, anyway.
A tear slides down her soft cheek as her body surrenders to slumber, imagining her mother’s face, her one comfort right now.

It’s seven-thirty when Tia awakes to a knock on the door. She moans and crawls out of the bed, towards the entrance. Through the peep hole, Tia finds Allison waiting in the hallway. She forgot about her visit, this morning. Tia opens the door, greeting her with a smile.

“Good morning,” Allison salutes, entering the room.

“Thank you for coming over. Would you like some coffee or tea?” Tia offers, her eyes still slightly shut.

“Coffee would be great, thank you,” Allison answers. Tia enters the kitchen to turn on the pot.

“Please, make yourself comfortable,” Tia advises Allison, who is still standing. She appears the same as usual, her hair in a bun and her glasses hanging on her nose. Tia wonders if she is married. If not, Tia feels Allison would be a great fit for her father. They both sit down on the couch. Tia lifts her shirt slightly, revealing her stomach.

“The swelling reduced some. It is definitely still infected, though. Keep taking the antibiotic. I’m going to check your other cuts, just to ensure there is no further damage.” While Allison surveys her arms, Tia has a burning question.

“Why doesn’t Mr. Leporem like when people drink? I mean, I’ve seen him drink champagne with dinner and scotch on occasion.”

Allison stares at her for a moment, then continues examining her arms. “He doesn’t like drunks. It’s not alcohol necessarily he hates, it is the excessive use of it. It appears your arms are almost cleared up. Are your bruises gone?”

“Yes, I didn’t even notice them last night, so I think they are completely healed.” Tia responds, a little disappointed she didn’t receive a more detailed answer.

“Does this hurt at all?” Allison gently presses on Tia’s stomach.

“Only slightly,” Tia responds.

“That is to be expected. Just keep taking your medicine,” Allison comments. “The pills are working, just taking their time.”

“Oh, I didn’t get you your coffee. Stay a while, we can chat.” Tia walks over to the coffee pot and pours them both a cup.

“Thank you,” Allison replies, accepting the mug. “I have to say, I hope Mr. Leporem chooses you. I think you would be a great part of our team.”

“Honestly, I just hope I can make it through the day without having a nervous breakdown,” Tia answers, taking a sip of her coffee. She is slightly surprised at Allison’s comment. After last night, Tia assumed she was annoyed at her.

“Fate will determine where you are meant to be.” Allison smiles politely. “I am originally from Solum, myself. I thought the world was ending when I had to leave my family. Although, if I had not been sold to Mr. Tersus, then I would not have met the love of my life. We shared so many wonderful years together, that is, before he passed away.”

“How long ago did he die?” Tia pries, sipping her coffee.

“Last fall. He was a human, actually. A doctor. Which provided, of course, another learning opportunity.” She stares down at her cup.

“Do you still miss your family?”

“Every day, but I wouldn’t trade my time with John for anything. That is just how life works. You eventually need to move away from the protection of your family to learn how to watch after yourself. Doesn’t mean you love them any less. Just means it is a new chapter.” Allison drinks her coffee now that it has cooled some. They sit in silence for a few moments, absorbing the calmness as well as the company.

“I can’t stay long, but I do thank you for the hot drink.” Allison eventually stands, placing her empty mug on a table. Tia walks her out.

She decides it is best to not waste any more time and showers. In the drawer marked
Day Five
, Tia finds a white collared shirt with a black pencil skirt and a beige cardigan sweater.

The candidates are required to meet down in the lobby by nine-thirty for their individual meetings with the leaders. Tia arrives a few minutes early, out of nerves. The meeting is another part of the Electus that Tia is concerned she will fall short in. Interviews are just a more intimidating social situation.

Everyone in the lobby is dressed in similar attire. The girl’s sweaters are all different pigments. The boys wear kakis with a variety of collared shirts. Tia spots Delilah who dons a red cardigan.

“How you feeling this morning?” Tia inquires.

“Well, I am never drinking again,” a very groggy Delilah answers, with a groan. “Where did you disappear to last night? I saw you leave for the bathroom, then you were gone.”

“I took a cab back to the hotel. It made me pretty tired and sick,” Tia replies, hoping that Delilah will drop the subject.

“Yeah, I wasn’t feeling too hot, myself. Nathan and I rode back together, then hung out at his room for a while.”

“Oh?”

“Not like that.” She glances at Tia, who wears an evil grin.

After all of the candidates arrive, they are escorted to an extra room in the hotel where food set up for the candidates to partake in. Tia is too nervous to eat. She realizes it might be safer to wait until after her meeting with the leaders, so as to not have the same problem as the first day of the Electus.

When her name is called, Tia enters the conference room of the hotel. The leaders sit behind a long table in their usual order. A chair is setting a few feet away, facing the leaders. Tia’s mouth is dry and her heart races as she sits down.

“Welcome, Miss Trumble,” Mr. Avery greets her. “Any relation to Osborn Trumble?”

You think he would know that by now
, she thinks to herself.

“Yes, he is my father,” Tia responds. Her voice is small in front of them. Even Javan, who Tia grew close to during the past few days, appears intimidating amongst the other heads of the capitols.

“Today’s meeting is designed to inform you on your scores during this past week as well as allow us to interview you for certain positions in our companies,” Mr. Avery informs, folding his hands. Tia nods, too afraid to speak.

Mrs. Pusillus is next to speak, “During the first day of the Electus, all of the candidates are presented to us for purpose of creating a first impression. Your performance during the first stage was, to say the least, unprofessional and, quite frankly, gross.

“However, contrary to public knowledge this stage does not play a role in the score determination for the Electus as clearly written in the original rule book. Keep in mind, Miss Trumble, that we still hold every right to take this into account for the bidding ceremony.” Tia nods in response.

“It’s been a pleasure watching your performance this week,” Javan starts. “For each round, the candidates are awarded points by the panel of leaders. At no point are we to divulge these scores, to any one person, until the bidding ceremony. Not even between the five leaders, are we permitted to share our scores for each candidate. This ensures all points are objective.”

The next leader is Mr. Kramer, head of Maior. He is a lanky, dark skinned gentleman with deep, brown eyes. “Miss Trumble, at the end of this meeting, today, you will be awarded your points. You must treat this information as confidential and sign a paper that states as such. Once you have read your results, place them somewhere secret until the bidding ceremony commences.”

Mrs. Winslow, the leader of Solum, crosses her thin legs and leans back in her chair. She has short hair and a hooked nose. Mrs. Winslow is slightly younger than Tia’s father, so her hair is barely showing hints of grey.

“We will now conduct the interview. These questions will need to remain in this room should we choose to ask similar questions to the following candidates. Before we begin, though, do you have anything you would like to ask us?”

Tia shakes her head, then replies, “No.”

Mr. Kramer clears his throat and pulls out a paper. “Miss Trumble, I hear you are half human, half Pruden. How do you think your ancestry will aid in your performance as a potential employee?”

Tia mulls over the word employee in her brain. She knows that employment would be an inaccurate term. There is no applying or choosing to work for these people, nor does she have the option to leave.

“Well, as part human, part Pruden, I believe I have excellent skills in communicating with fellow humans in the company as well as Regnumians. You can say that I will provide a unique service to any Capitol, because I am able to build a bridge between those two creatures.”

“Do you see yourself a someone who is able to follow tasks and directions promptly and completely?” Mr. Kramer continues, noting his paper.

“Yes, in school, I always listened carefully to the direction of the teacher so as to complete my assignments correctly.” Tia is now twiddling her thumbs.
What does he expect me to say?

“Alright,” he continues writing, “that is all my questions.”

Mrs. Pusillus nods, moving forward with her interview. “When you are asked to treat information as confidential, do you find this to be a difficult task?”

“No, I always believe that if someone wishes to keep something private, there is good reason for it.”

“Very good. Do you see yourself as someone who cares deeply about her community?”

“I suppose so. To be honest, I never think much about it. When I see an opportunity to help my fellow man, I take it. However, there was not much time to consider what was best for my community as a whole.”

Mrs. Pusillus makes a few notes, then continues, “If you could see yourself in any type of work, what would it be?”

“I don’t know, I have never had a choice,” she blurts out. One of the leaders clears their throat. Tia immediately regrets her answer.
Shit, way to screw up, Tia.

“I think that is all my questions, then,” Mrs. Pusillus responds, appearing slightly annoyed at Tia’s answer.

“I guess, I’ll go,” Mr. Avery comments. His face is stern. Today, he is dressed in another suit that appears tight around him. Tia wonders why a man as wealthy as him does not have a private tailor to adjust his suits. “How do you feel about Regnumian freedom?”

Tia is thrown off her train of thought, snapping back to reality.
What kind of question is that?
she thinks. The other leaders turn to Mr. Avery. Apparently he didn’t ask this question before. Then, they all glance at Tia, awaiting her response.

“Well, who doesn’t want to be free?” she answers, unprepared. No one in school asked that during her Electus prep course.

“Yes, but you are answering the question with a question,” he lifts his eyebrow. “I want to know, do you believe your people should be free?”

She takes a deep breath. Part of her knows it is a trap, but she can’t see how she could answer any other way, “I do. I believe every creature should have a choice in how to live their lives.” Tia hears herself say the words, and suddenly envisions herself scrubbing toilets in Letum prisons. He is silent, his beady eyes clinging to her.

“Your turn, Mr. Leporem.” Mr. Avery finally turns away and writes something down in his notes.

“This past week, we’ve watched you, on several occasions, place concern for others before your own. Do you think this will interfere with your ability to do as your leader would ask?” Javan questions, sounding as though what she did is a terrible thing.

“No,” she responds, a little hurt.

“So, if I asked you to cause harm to someone, for example, you would be able to?” he interrogates.
Why the hell is he doing this to me?
she wonders, sweating. “You are saying you would have no problem with killing a man, even if they were innocent, just because your leader advised you that it needed done?”

“Like I said before, I have no choice, do I?” Tia snaps, knowing she truly screwed up her chances of being bought, now.
Maybe that’s his intentions,
she thinks. It hits her now, he is trying to make her look bad in front of the other leaders so he can win her easily tonight at the bidding.

“Do you see yourself as someone who can adapt to change easily?” Javan continues without hesitation. Tia absorbs the question. After everything that occurred this week, she believes that she handles it effectively.

“Yes, in fact, I think part of me is looking forward to a new adventure.”

Something in Tia’s answer makes Javan smirk. “No further questions.”

Chapter 14

After the final candidate is released from the meeting, they all head for the salon, where they are flocked by several stylists. Each one is bouncing with joy at the idea of dolling the candidates up for the biggest event in the Electus. The bidding ceremony requires all candidates to appear in formal evening wear, again provided by the Capitol in which the Electus is held.

Tia’s stylist raves over her hair’s healthy shine. “I love your coloring. Is it natural?” he inquires, grabbing her locks with his manicured fingers. Tia nods, unsure what is so exciting about it. “Who is your usual stylist?”

Tia doesn’t know how to respond; only one person ever cuts her hair and that is Fera. She figures maybe that is who he means. “Fera,” Tia responds. The man cries in excitement and places his hand on his chest.

“Is that the woman you saved yesterday in the one obstacle? That’s so sweet! I know how you feel, darling. My stylist is like my sister, I could not imagine life without her.” His excitement is contagious and Tia finds herself smiling at him. He gently washes Tia’s hair. She enjoys the massage of his fingers on her scalp.

Next, he dries and curls her strands into tight spirals. The stylist asks Tia what look she prefers. Tia just shrugs. “Whatever you suggest is fine.” He pins her hair up in a low bun. Then, a woman applies make-up, composed of several products, way more than Fera used on her before.