Keepers of the Cave (7 page)

Paige glared at her. “We met on a blind date,” she whispered. “You can’t improvise, for God’s sake.”

“Lighten up, baby,” she said. “I love to dance. Slow songs,” she added with a wink.

Thankfully—before Paige could respond—Suzette joined them, holding out a platter of deviled eggs. Paige politely took only one. CJ grabbed two, popping one in her mouth immediately.

“So good,” she murmured with her mouth full.

“It’s Becca’s specialty,” Suzette said. “Don’t tell her, but I’m actually sick of them.”

“This is fun,” Paige said. “Thank you for including us. It’s been nice to meet everyone.”

“Oh, sure. We do this every weekend, either Saturday or Sunday. Not everyone comes, of course, but all are welcome.”

“Well, we’ll have to host one soon,” Paige said, surprising CJ when she covered her hand, letting their fingers entwine.

Becca joined them, pulling a lawn chair closer to their circle. “So, what did you think of Hoganville?”

“Not sure what to think,” CJ said. “It looked like everything was shut down. We didn’t see a single car.”

“Car? We didn’t even see any
people
,” Paige said.

“Yeah, it’s crazy. It’s like they flip a switch and the place shuts down.”

“Surely some of the staff at the school is from Hoganville,” CJ said. “Has anyone asked them?”

“Really, there are only two locals at the school. Well, if you don’t count the part-time janitorial staff and cafeteria workers. We never see them anyway. But you’ll like Fiona. She’s nice. Teaches science. Now Gretchen, the nurse, no. Very standoffish. She doesn’t have anything to do with us.”

“Just two? Wow,” Paige said.

“Yeah. That’s weird too, I know. Even maintenance, they hire from outside.”

“What does Fiona say about the town?”

“Not much,” Suzette said. “When we comment on how strange everyone is, she just laughs and says that’s how it’s always been in Hoganville.”

“She lives right on the other side of you, by the way,” Becca said. “Not on weekends. She always leaves. Stays with her mother, I think. Comes back Sunday nights.”

“How old is she?”

“Thirty something,” Suzette said. She leaned closer and grinned. “Now, I want to hear how you two met.”

CHAPTER NINE

Fiona stared at her reflection in the mirror as she continued brushing her long, dark hair. Mother Hogan had summoned her and she had no idea why. She’d followed every instruction ever given to her. There had been no missteps. She had seen her friends culled long ago for not being true to the flock. She had no wish to suffer their fate.

With one last brush, she stood, reaching for the white robe and slipping it on. She longed for the day she could replace the virginal white for the black robe worn by most of the others. She was more than ready to couple, if only Mother would allow it. She didn’t know who she would choose if it were left up to her, as there wasn’t anyone her own age in the flock other than Don, and Mother had forbidden the two of them to talk.

“Fiona? It’s time.”

She met her mother’s eyes questioningly, but the older woman said nothing. With a nod, Fiona walked past her, heading into the kitchen and to the door that would take her downstairs and into the tunnels. She closed the door behind her, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She felt along the wall, finding the torch. As always, she did a quick inspection. The damp, musty smell was familiar to her, but she felt a slight surge of fear. The fear that the tunnels would collapse on her was something she’d carried with her since she was a child. She took a deep breath, finally pushing down the anxiety and making her feet move. She followed the maze of tunnels, turning right at the junction where she normally would turn left if going to the monthly gathering in the chambers. She had only been summoned to Mother Hogan’s twice before. Once, when she was told she’d go to college to become a teacher. The second time was when she’d gotten hired at the school.

Belden was standing guard outside the door that would lead up to Mother’s rooms. She nodded at him but didn’t speak.

“Fiona,” he greeted. “Mother is waiting,” he said, ushering her inside.

She followed Belden up the stairs and into the Hogan estate. The house had been built over a hundred years ago, she knew, and it used to house five families. Today, only Mother Hogan and her brother lived there, along with the child they’d produced. The child who didn’t speak.

As she had been the first two times, she was taken into the study. The large room was showing its age, the furniture old and worn, the drapes dusty and faded, drawn against the afternoon sun. Mother sat on the large leather chair, her purple robe covering her body, the hood nearly hiding her face. As before, Fiona felt a chill in the room.

She swallowed nervously, waiting for instruction.

“Fiona, thank you for coming,” Mother said. “Please, sit.”

“Yes, Mother,” she said, sitting down opposite her.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why you’ve been called. A couple of reasons,” Mother said. “First, thank you for alerting us to the two new teachers at the school. I will need you to find out what you can about them. We can’t be too careful, Fiona. We must shield ourselves from the outsiders. Always.”

“Yes, Mother. I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will, child.” She smiled then, reaching out to clasp Fiona’s hand, her thin, cold fingers surprisingly strong. “There is something else. It is time for a coupling. Our flock is getting smaller. It is time to replenish.”

Fiona’s heart beat wildly. “Me?”

“Yes. In the large chamber. On the sacrificial altar. Tonight.”

“Who have you chosen for me, if I may ask?”

“There is only one pure Hogan left,” Mother said. “My brother, Antel.”

Fiona couldn’t keep the gasp from her voice. “But he...he coupled with my mother.”

“Yes. You have Hogan blood in you. What better way to improve the line than for him to father your child as well?”

“Yes, Mother,” she said, feeling relief when Mother released her hand. She rubbed her hands together nervously.

“We will have the ceremony at eight. Afterward, you will be presented with your new robe. You will stay here with Antel tonight and not return to the school,” she instructed. “You will have to miss a few days, perhaps a week.”

“Yes. Thank you, Mother. I’ll be ready.”

“I know you will, child. You have always been ready when I’ve needed you. Now, go. I’ve already sent word to your mother. She will prepare your bath.”

Fiona made the trip back through the tunnels much slower than before. She paused at a junction, her gaze traveling down the corridor that would take her to the chambers...and beyond that, the deep, dark caves. Tonight, the flock would gather to watch the coupling. She had witnessed five couplings herself. She remembered the fear she felt at the first one. She’d been young and didn’t understand. As she got older, the fear turned to arousal. Now, it was finally her turn.

***

Paige took her time in the shower, mainly because she still wasn’t sure of her reaction to the afternoon. She had no illusions to the roles they were playing. Or at least she didn’t think she had. When in public, they would pretend to be lovers. She was prepared for that. What she wasn’t prepared for was the hand holding, the touching. The kiss.

She stuck her face in the water, wanting to be angry with CJ. Paige thought they were being convincing enough. Did CJ have to kiss her? Granted, it was quick and nearly closed mouth. In fact, it could have been considered almost chaste. Almost.

If not for the fact that—to her horror—she wasn’t sure which of them started the kiss. Thankfully CJ had pulled away, had averted her eyes. Paige, however, was acutely aware of how her pulse had raced from the contact. She thought she’d forgotten about their night together, but apparently her body had not.

So yes, she wanted to be angry with CJ. She supposed CJ thought she would be angry too. As soon as they had left the party, CJ had dropped her hand and they’d walked home in silence. CJ had shut her out by putting in her earbuds and listening to music. Paige had retreated to the shower.

Despite it all, she couldn’t help but smile as she recalled CJ’s tale of how they met. God, it’s a wonder she was able to play along, seeing as how they were making it up as they went. At one point, as CJ was about to launch into yet another story, Paige had clamped her mouth shut, covering it with her hand. This led to a quick brush of CJ’s tongue against her palm, causing her to drop her hand. They had both laughed, and it had seemed natural, even to her, to lean in for the kiss. Before her mind caught up with her body, the kiss was over.

Well, maybe they just needed some ground rules. Holding hands? Okay. Occasional touching? Only if necessary. Kissing? Definitely not. There should be no reason for them to kiss in public. None.

Now with a purpose, she quickly finished her shower and dressed, finding CJ in the same position as she’d left her—sitting on the sofa, bobbing her head to the music she heard. Paige walked over, yanking the earbuds from her ears.

“We should talk.”

“Why?”

“
Why?
I think you know why,” she said, noting that CJ wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Let’s go over some do’s and don’ts,” she said.

CJ rolled her eyes. “Seriously? It was barely a kiss,” she said. “And it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”

“Yes, it did,” she conceded.
Crap
. “I would just prefer to keep things as simple as possible. It would be odd if we didn’t hold hands or...or touch occasionally. But I don’t see the need for... kissing.”

CJ looked at her then, an evil twinkle in her eyes. “Why? Afraid you might like it?”

Paige forced a laugh. “I assure you, no. You’re not my type. In the least,” she added. As soon as the words were out, she knew they were a mistake.

“Really? I recall a night about six months ago that begs to differ,” CJ said. “I seemed to be your type that night.”

“Yes, well, an aberration, for sure,” she said, as if that was excuse enough. “We both saw how well that turned out.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, you’re not my type either. This is as uncomfortable for me as it is for you.”

Paige had to bite her lip to keep from replying. Actually, she had to turn away to keep the words from tumbling out. CJ promptly put her earbuds back in, and Paige went into the bedroom with a slam of the door, dragging out her laptop to check e-mail.

“Right,” she finally murmured. “As if CJ Johnston
has
a type. Any woman with a pulse would do.”

Of course, she was being ridiculous. She had no clue who CJ’s type was really. She’d never seen her out socially and made it a point not to listen when the guys quizzed CJ about her dates. She simply wasn’t interested.

***

“I’m scared.”

Fiona’s mother smiled reassuringly. “It’ll be fine. You should feel honored Mother Hogan chose you.”

“Yes, I know.” She took a deep breath. “Will it hurt?”

“You’ve witnessed couplings, Fiona. What do you think?”

Yes. And she also had a bachelor’s degree in science. Nonetheless, this was still a foreign concept. When she went away to college, all the other girls would talk about sex and guys. She had nothing to contribute. It was the closest she’d come to forsaking the flock, to disobeying Mother Hogan. She was exposed to so many things, so many things that were not allowed in Hoganville. But in the end, she remained faithful. She knew she could still be culled. Her place was in Hoganville, not out
there
. She was glad she hadn’t succumbed to the outside. Mother Hogan had warned her and she had heeded that warning.

“I suppose I’m ready,” she said, letting her mother tie the robe at her neck, then put the hood over her head.

“I must join the others. Belden will lead you.”

Fiona nodded, taking several deep breaths before following her mother down the stairs. Belden was waiting, and she could see the excitement on his face. Couplings in the chamber only happened a few times each year. Recently, those times occurred less and less as the flock grew older and older. Once you wore the black robe, however, couplings in private were allowed, as long as it did not produce a child. Mother Hogan was the only one who could sanction a new birth in the flock. Fiona felt honored that she was chosen. If she bore a daughter, then the Hogan bloodline would continue. When she was of age, her daughter would then move into the estate and live with Mother Hogan. She would be next in line. That thought made her heart swell. Her own daughter could someday lead the flock.

“You look beautiful, Fiona.”

“Thank you. I’m nervous,” she admitted.

“Mother Hogan favors you. Do not be nervous.”

Easier said than done, but she kept that thought to herself. Antel Hogan was a big man, much older than herself. Older, even, than her own mother. As far as she knew, Antel Hogan and her mother had only joined the one time, that in the same chamber she was being led to now.

She was trembling with fear, with anticipation. They were all there, dozens of black robes with only one remaining white robe. Mother Hogan was standing near the sacrificial altar, her deep purple robe appearing almost black in the dark chamber, which was lit only by a handful of torches. Antel Hogan stood to her left, his hood covering his gray head, only his face visible.

Fiona paused, accepting the inevitable, yet clinging to a long- ago dream—when she had dared to dream. She had no reference as to what to expect from her life other than what she saw in Hoganville. There were no marriages. They were not needed. But she had a glimpse of another life and only then did she dare to dream of falling in love, of finding a young man to marry, to bond with. But it was just a dream. She stood now before Antel Hogan, about to give him her innocence at thirty-one years of age. The same man who had taken her mother’s virtue as well.

Mother Hogan held out her hand, beckoning her to come closer. In her other hand was the potion she was to drink. Fiona took the final steps, her gaze landing on that of Antel Hogan’s. She was afraid.