The light streaming through the window illuminated Kaiya’s flawless features as her head rested on the pillow. She heard the shuffling of footsteps, a door closing, and then she was alone. Rising, she let the intricately threaded white blankets slip from her naked body. She stood, walking to the semi-circular looking glass and admiring her perfection.
This was a daily ritual for her. It was reassuring to see the beautiful image staring back from the optical world, in stark contrast to the shame and ugliness she felt inside. Upon confirming that she was still aesthetically pleasing, she turned away from the mirror. Kaiya would return to it many times throughout the day.
She walked to the window, letting the yellow sunlight wash over her body. The UV radiation was removed by the shielding dome and thus the light lacked that familiar burning sensation. She missed the feel of raw sunlight. It had been eighteen years since she entered Capitol City as a consort for Consulate Tiberius Septus. He had taken her from a life of servitude and poverty in the far away domed-city of Sikyon. Despite the luxuries she enjoyed in the lush mansion, it was a prison. Being improper for a Natural Born such as herself to cohabitate with a high-ranking Nephite, she was kept out of view. When he did allow her to accompany him around town, it was under the guise of a servant acting as a personal assistant. He was always careful not to be too affectionate. She had no friends in the city and her days were spent alone, waiting for Tiberius to return.
She walked to her dressing table, sampling a couple of fresh grapes that had been placed there by her handmaiden Gallia. It was strange to think that she, who had lived in servitude on a large plantation, now had servants of her own. The grapes were sweet, but nothing like the grappa she had eaten as a child. That was the only part of her former life that she remembered with fondness. She slipped a light blue gown over her head and exited the bedroom. Tiberius allowed her to keep her own quarters, although he spent many nights in her bed.
She continued down the long hallway past the servants’ room toward the stairs. The marble felt cold on her bare feet. As she passed the room, both Gallia and Idalia, the two fulltime maids, rushed out to meet her.
“Can we get you anything, my lady?” asked Gallia, her accent thick.
“I’m fine,” Kaiya responded in her disarming quiet manner. Rarely speaking above a whisper, the high-pitched tone of her voice was surprising from such a radiant woman. It was the voice of a small girl. “Perhaps I will take breakfast in the courtyard.”
“We will have it prepared immediately, my lady,” responded Idalia, rushing off toward the kitchen area.
“Will you join me, Gallia? It would be nice to have some company.”
“Of course, my lady.” The two women continued down the hall.
The Capitol City dome had been designed around the massive Central Tower. At a height of over three hundred stories, it was visible from thirty miles outside the city. It was from this building that the burgeoning empire of Arameus was run. It contained most of the offices of the high officials, along with the Parliament and the private quarters of the four Supreme Overseers. Surrounding this tower and located at the exact four points of a compass were the North, East, South, and West Towers. Still massive at one hundred and fifty floors each, they were dwarfed by the Central Tower. Roads leading away from there were met with cross streets at measured intervals so as to form concentric circles radiating outward. A beautiful blue river marked the boundaries of the Central Isle. Known as the Arymides, it was not a true river, but a man-made and self-contained channel. It created separation between the residential districts and the island.
Checkpoints ensured that only authorized Nephites and Natural Born servants could access the main seat of power for all of Arameus. Pleasure cruises operated on the blue waters, allowing the wealthy Nephites to dine as they circled the island.
Tiberius Septus’ manor was located on the West Bank of the Arymides. Gallia and Kaiya exited the back entrance onto the cobbled courtyard that overlooked the river. Large privacy walls rose on either side so that they were only visible from the river itself, were a boat to pass. The two women took a seat at a table on the balcony above the river, waiting for breakfast. Kaiya looked out over the Central Isle, her gaze floating up, high above the city, to the four spires at the top of the Central Tower.
“It seems so strange,” she said, almost to herself, “that the four old men in that tower have dictated the events of my entire life.”
“Do not speak such things, my lady,” said Gallia.
“There are always ears present.”
She was right, of course. Not to mention that Tiberius was also in the tower, surely carrying out some sort of important government business. He had brought her here, taking her away from the horrors of her former life. For that, at least, she should be thankful.
“Tell me of your life, Gallia.”
“My life is of no interest to you, Kaiya. I am no one.”
“Please. I have been here for years and yet I know nothing of you. You act as if I am one of them. I am no Nephite. I’m just a woman with no name.”
Gallia looked at Kaiya, affected by the heartfelt words. Her look softened and she obliged.
“I live just beyond the eastern walls of the dome in the free city of Mardonia. We are all poor, but we are free to raise our families. Most of us work as servants within Capitol City, although many are farmers who sell their crops both to our own and to the Nephite traders in the eastern market at the entrance to the dome.”
“Mardonia sounds lovely. I too am from a farming town. And what of family? Are you married?”
“I was… to a wonderful man. His name was Hector. We made three strong boys together before he was taken from me by the flu that struck ten years ago. We could not afford the medicine from the Capitol City doctors. Afterward, I needed a way to provide for my family. With no husband, I had no need to worry about the sterilizations that are required by dome workers. I undertook them willingly and have been in the service of Consulate Septus ever since. He has been a kind master and lets me keep decent hours so I can return home to my children. I can hope for nothing more.”
For any other woman, this story would have evoked emotion and necessitated comforting words, but Kaiya was not any other woman. She had seen and experienced too much hardship in her life to be moved by those of another. Despite her youthful appearance, she was at least twenty years older than Gallia, who appeared to be somewhere close to forty. Tiberius had been giving Kaiya the nano-treatments for years. It wouldn’t do for his prized consort to age.
Idalia arrived with breakfast. The servant placed the plate of mixed fruit and assorted grains before Kaiya, along with a carafe of wine.
“Thank you,” said Kaiya. Turning to Gallia, she added, “Please leave me now. I wish to be alone.
The servants exited, leaving Kaiya alone with her thoughts. She picked at the fruit, not really hungry. She never had much of an appetite, as evidenced by her thin frame. Letting her thoughts wander, they settled on Gallia’s mention of children. The idea horrified her. What if the child were a girl? What if she were beautiful? That fear had long eliminated the possibility from her mind, which was strange since she might be the only fertile woman in Capitol City.
Wishing to avoid scandal, Tiberius had bypassed all official measures when bringing her to the city. A man in his position could do such things. It would not be politically beneficial to be seen cohabitating with a Natural Born. By avoiding the official immigration measures, she had also avoided the sterilizations. This had proven to be a problem for her on multiple occasions, when she missed her monthly cycle. Always resourceful, she managed to terminate the pregnancies without alerting Tiberius. She did not want to jeopardize her position in this household and Tiberius was content with the thought that she was unable to conceive.
Again, her eyes found the Central Isle. She had been there many times over the years as an assistant. Had she risen as far as she would? Could she shed the label of Natural Born and forever become a Nephite? This prospect seemed impossible just days ago, but recent developments had changed everything.
Tiberius had mentioned it in passing during pillow talk. The Overseers were monitoring the movements of a man named Ansley Brightmore, curious about his activities since removing himself from the greater scientific community. While this failed to register as an issue of national security to Kaiya, Tiberius impressed upon her the importance that scientific supremacy occupied within Nephite society. It was brought to the Overseers’ attention that Professor Brightmore had interrupted the talk of a promising young professor, creating a stir, and potentially uncovering a damaging flaw in the power structure. Making matters more complicated, Brightmore met with the same scientist the following evening, a worrisome development. Tiberius was offered a high honor from the Overseers: the task of contacting the young scientist, a man named Arian Cyannah, and enlisting him as a spy for the Security Council of Arameus. Wishing to keep himself distant from anything that could be perceived as intrigue, Tiberius enlisted Kaiya to contact the young professor, hoping her feminine charms would win his allegiance.
Many would have deemed this an insulting task, but not a woman like Kaiya. Her wiles were her weapon from childhood, her protection from a cruel world. This time, however, Tiberius had promised to use her service to the empire as a way to legitimize her in society. She could be made a true Nephite and no longer have to hide in the shadows of her mansion prison. She would be free to pursue all of the things that had been denied, free to restore the name of her family and forget her horrendous past.
All she had to do was seduce one more man. She needed only to convince him to befriend the Professor by sharing his research. One more seduction and she could be a citizen of Capitol City.
She stood, taking a last glance at the Central Tower before heading back into the house, this time toward Tiberius’ personal quarters. He had given her both the code to enter his bedroom and the code to use a spare qubit to contact Arian’s office under the guise of an Institute employee. She was ready for the task and prepared to make a new life for herself. Perhaps as a Nephite, she could even be Tiberius’ wife. She entered his room, full of confidence about her new mission.
Men were always so easy.