My gown was exceptional, even more exquisite than the one I had worn to meet the Queen, as that was a day dress and this one was for the night. Fabrics were allowed to be richer, details more elaborate, jewels more expensive. I was the definition of opulence. Julian declared it fitting as tonight we would be among royalty—just of a different sort than England’s sovereign.

This was my first Carrier party and it was in my honor. I did not know what to expect though Julian said there was nothing I could do that would be wrong. There were very few taboos at a Carrier party, and even those were broken regularly. The men would treat me as he did, as a treasured child to be indulged and spoiled. There would be few, if any, women in attendance.

The party was not held in a home as I was accustomed, but in Julian’s club on Pall Mall. It was a beautiful, old building and women were not normally allowed. The rules had been changed because of me, and I was admitted not only as a guest but as a new member. Our host had been my sponsor and this party was to celebrate the grand achievement of my having been accepted. It was as much a sign of his power as it was my great value.

At first I thought the club was ablaze, so many lights shown from the front windows. Julian helped me from the carriage, explaining that a Carrier party was an exhibition of sorts and many lights were needed so that all could see. There was a large lounge room with tables, comfortable chairs, and couches at the front of the house. Next was an oversized square sandpit like the one I had seen at the circus when I was a child. All around the pit was a wide boardwalk, alternated with steps. Landing, steps, landing—turn corner; landing, steps, landing—turn corner. It went round and round the edge of the pit, making a square, spiral staircase.

There was actual fanfare when we entered. A purple carpet was rolled out over the sand so that I would not have to sully my shoes or the hem of my gown. I stood center while hundreds, possibly thousands of men, stared at me from all levels. There was polite applause and everyone was well-mannered. After a few minutes, Julian took me by my gloved hand and we started our ascension. Our seats were at the very top, where the view was best.

It was quite a walk and we had to pass in close proximity to everyone in attendance. I could tell that every man wanted to touch me and, though Julian had me wear long gloves and a wrap, not one attempted it. Under each staircase there were hidden alcoves where even more men sat. On every level connected to the landing was another lounge.

The highest was usually also the hottest and I was glad to find they had refrigerated air cooling the upper level. It was simply fans that blew over large blocks of ice, not the sophisticated air conditioning units we all have now. It was the best thing I had ever seen at the time and I was glad of it, or I would have been perspiring by the time we reached the final landing.

A man who looked very much like Julian embraced him in a familiar fashion. This was our host, I discerned, and Julian’s oldest friend. He turned to me remarking, “So, you are the miracle Julian cannot stop talking about.” He took my gloved hand in his own and placed a kiss on the knuckles. “I will dispense with the titles and, though you are certainly deserving of them, I do not believe those worthy of you have been invented yet.” I am certain that I blushed. He continued, “We use first names, you would know them as Christian names. Though why that religion has taken hold, I will never understand. May I call you Ramillia?”

I looked to Julian and he inclined his head. I nodded to the man. “Certainly, you are obviously a great man. You honor me with familiarity.” He clapped with pleasure just as Julian often did. He showed me to my seat. It was next to his on the dais. A smaller chair sat on the other side of mine for Julian. He seemed unperturbed at being in the lower place. “I must apologize. I am at a disadvantage. I do not have even a Chris…first name for you. Before tonight, Julian never mentioned you.”

“No, he wouldn’t have. Afraid of the competition for your affections, I imagine. It is I who must apologize. I dispensed with titles and inadvertently tossed out my manners as well. I am anxious to meet and please you in a way I am unaccustomed to. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Paetus.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Paetus.” My chair was more of a throne and was plush and comfortable. I was served the beverage of my choice and a young woman brought in a tray of food. She was young, but not very beautiful. Her features were foreign, although not in the exotic way, just the strange way. I was happy to see her just the same. “A woman Carrier? Julian said I was the only one on this continent.”

“By the gods, no. This is one of my human companions. She is allowed to feed me by her own hand because she has provided me a beautiful, olive-eyed Carrier. I brought her tonight because I thought it might put you at ease to have another of the gentler sex.”

“I am pleased to meet you…” I started.

“I am sorry. She is from quite far away and does not speak the Queen’s English. She is not for conversation, just comfort.”

We ate from the tray for a few minutes and when Paetus had enough and had ensured I was satisfied, he dismissed the woman. I was quite comfortable with Julian on my elbow and Paetus at my ear. The exhibition began below. There were many acts. Dancing, juggling, feats of strength and speed were enjoyed by all, but I could tell this was not the main event. When I asked Paetus, he seemed surprised. He spoke quietly to a man who walked away with an odd gait. When the man returned, I asked what was wrong with his legs and if there was nothing that could be done for him. We did live in the greatest age of medical advances of all time.

Paetus and Julian laughed. This time I knew it was at me, not with me. Paetus believed that this was by no means the greatest time of anything—I would understand when I was his age. He knew there was nothing wrong with the man’s legs. “He has a new Incola eager to exercise his control.”

Something passed between the two old friends but the final act before the main event was too engrossing for me to remember to ask what an Incola was. Across the way, a man in a ridiculous costume stood on the rail. He took a step off the rail and walked out onto what looked like thin air. Paetus pointed out the wire pulled taut from the rail where the man started to the banister right before us. I clapped and shrieked as he balanced, making his way over toward us.

He made it all the way across and jumped down from the rail, flipping several times, before landing on the dais in front of me. A bouquet of flowers appeared out of thin air and he presented it to me. I loved magic and I reached to take them from him. There was a note tied to them but I didn’t have time to examine it.

The primal feeling that I needed to rid the world of this one came on me suddenly. I could not think. I was made of desire—the desire to hurt the tightrope walker. It was his smell. It was a signal that I needed him dead and gone, just as it had been with the footman. Before I realized I had moved, I flipped the fake flowers over so the metal stems pointed up. I shoved them up through his chin, through his mouth, and into his brain. I jerked the flowers left and right, effectively scrambling his brain as a kitchen maid might a batch of eggs.

I stood, bringing him with me, and tossed him over the edge. He was dead before he went over and long before landing. The performer laid on the sand, his limbs twisted at grotesque angles, blood seeping from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. I came back to myself to the roar of approval. Paetus led me back to my chair and I started to shake. Why had I done that? I killed a man for no reason other than his nondescript aroma.

Julian realized I had been too long without his calming touch. He stripped off his gloves and mine. He soothed me using every available patch of my skin. He kissed my face and rubbed his cheek along my collarbone. He whispered that the man had deserved it. “Everything is all right.” I believed him.

Paetus gave the signal and the main event began. He joined me on the dais, all smiles and twinkling eyes. “My dear Ramillia, I cannot think of a better way to start the fights. You are truly the crown jewel of our community.” Below us four men battled in the sand.

An angry man attempted to approach me, however, Paetus stepped between us. “Leonus, she is the guest of honor. Do not disgrace yourself or my club by seeking revenge.”

“She destroyed something of mine. He was not for the fights. He was a feature. I demand the blood price. That was my most valuable Carrier. I will have satisfaction.” The man was not just angry; I had embarrassed him by killing his man.

Paetus took him by the throat. “By satisfaction, do you mean a child of hers? Can I guess that is what the note he bore proposed?” Leonus managed to look embarrassed as Paetus choked him. “I gave explicit instructions that there would be no talk of Carrier trade, nor offspring, and yet you sought to disobey me. Then you did not have the decency to let it go and challenge our guest! It will not be tolerated!” Paetus released his hold.

Julian spoke up. “I will pay for the loss of your feature. And, because I am feeling generous, I will pay the blood price, not to you but to the house by way of fights.”

“You would risk her in the fights?” Leonus blurted out. He turned to Paetus for justice. “That proves he does not deserve her if he would sacrifice his favorite.”

“I do not offer you my favorite. I offer you her favorite.” Julian seemed to salivate with excitement. I was quite sedated, watching the whole exchange through a rosy fog. “If you can best him, you may have your choice of my Carriers. Present company excluded, of course.”

Though Leonus seemed unhappy with the deal, he did not argue. He looked at me with what I thought was longing. He asked me, “Who would you have pay your blood debt?”

I just stared at him. I had no experience with this situation. Julian put his hand on my face and turned my head toward his. He kissed me and asked, “Who among our Carriers is your favorite, my love?”

I did not need to think long. “Albert pleases me most.”

Julian seemed angry for a moment. He stood abruptly and excused himself. He left his coat on his chair, departing with Leonus, and explaining that I should stay with Paetus. No harm could come to me in his club while he was at my side. My focus came slowly back to me.

“It is a shame. Leonus has as many centuries as Julian and I, and yet he has accomplished next to nothing. What an embarrassment he is.” And with that bit of club business finished we got back to the games. Several rounds had concluded and the body count was piling up. Paetus watched me with his peripheral vision. His hands hovered over mine. He looked at me to ask permission. “May I?”

I smiled and nodded. What harm could it do? I thought.

Little did I know at the time.

He started with a small touch. His eyes got big and he ran his hands up my arms. He pulled me to stand and I came without a fight. He wrapped me in his embrace. I slid my hands up his side, under his clothing, and placed my palms on his back. He laid kisses along my shoulders and neck, rubbing his face against mine.

He pushed me forward so that I was trapped between him and the banister. He rested his chin on my shoulder and we watched the scene below. The pit was cleared and two men came onto the freshly raked sand. Albert was there and another man twice his size, both stripped to the waist. They began to circle each other. The fighting started when Albert lunged at the bigger man. I gasped when Albert was struck in the face by his opponent’s left hook.

Paetus’ arms were on the banister on either side of my hips. I put my bare hand on his and clasped him tightly. With each blow, I squeezed his fingers tighter. His breathing quickened. When the two fighters went to their separate corners and retrieved swords, I clutched one of Paetus’ hands in both of mine and held it to my heart, quite unconcerned with the impropriety.

“Surely you do not care for this Carrier. Why is he special to you?” he asked me, his lips against my neck just below my earlobe. I was not aroused by Paetus, although I cannot say the same about his response to me.

“His eyes are a most beautiful green…and I like the way his cock fills me.” I don’t know why I answered as I did. The reply came out before I had decided to speak. I was mortified. I looked at Paetus and he was smiling.

He laughed it off explaining, “People answer me truthfully. I do not always enjoy it. Your words excite me almost as much as your contact.” He studied me when I did not react to his admission. “You did not think you and Julian were the only ones with the gift of touch, did you?”

Once again, my reply preceded my decision to answer. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

He pulled his hand from my clutches and took several breaths to steady himself. He gazed at me as we stood at the banister. Paetus wanted something. He seemed to want to touch me again, however, and thought better of it. “You are special for more than your gender and breeding capability, Ramillia. Julian and I chose these bodies in Rome long ago because they have the gift of touch. They are the most valuable Carriers we have ever come across. Until now. You have the touch also.”

A cheer from the crowd drew my focus below. Albert’s head hit the sand and rolled up so I could see his green eyes. They blinked once before their light disappeared. Paetus touched me again, almost unconsciously. “Julian got out in time. He is much too fast for Leonus to catch.”

I had no idea what he was talking about. Julian was nowhere to be seen. He and Leonus were not in the fight. Albert and the big man were. The victor did not seem pleased with his win. He stared at the body sadly. The club began to clear out. Paetus waited until we could descend without passing so close to the others. The party was over.

At the entrance, Paetus had me hold back until the carriage pulled round. I stood next to a pile of bodies as high as my shoulder. At the bottom lay the trapeze artist I had killed. Only part of him showed, his head and shoulders poking out from beneath whoever the loser of the first fight had been. My time touching Paetus had cleared my mind somewhat and I bent down. I closed the man’s eyes and made my silent apologies. The letter was still attached to the flowers he had given me, though it was now quite covered in his blood. I snatched it up quickly and hid it in my reticule under my gloves.

Paetus came back and pulled me to the carriage. Julian was already inside. He looked weak but pleased. The loss of Albert mattered not to him. Paetus helped me into the carriage and spoke to Julian, “So exciting. I have never felt more alive. Julian, my man, I do not see how you have managed her by yourself for all this time.” He closed the door and I heard him shout as we drove off. “Shall I fight or fuck? Perhaps both.”

My touch had affected him but his had also affected me. I was beginning to see the truth about the Carriers and myself. I hoped the letter in my bag would clarify even more.