And a snippet:
Ella didn't want to get Ben in trouble for telling her what Robin's mother wanted him to do, so she played dumb. "That's horrible. Ben told me a little about the purebloods, before."
"There are two pureblood families," Robin said. "But you can't guarantee having children of compatible ages at any given time. We're all related, of course. According to the Rule, there can be no new blood added to our ranks." He cracked open his eyes. "Who is in charge?"
"Jaime Duncan," Scarlett said. "At least for the moment."
"Jaime Duncan was three years old... oh." Robin sighed. "Fifteen years later, of course."
"She declared herself the last pureblood," Scarlett said. "But her power isn't complete. Especially with Marcus still alive."
"And have we heard from dear Marcus?" Robin's lip curled. "He's not the type to stay hidden for long."
"Marcus isn't pureblood," Ben whispered to Ella. "But he wishes to be king."
She nodded. "Are purebloods more powerful than halfbloods?"
Robin heard her question and opened his eyes. "That's a good question. And I thought it made sense, but years of inbreeding crippled our ranks. Scarlett and Ben do not know this, but most of the pureblood children are born freaks--damaged in one way or another and utterly useless to my father's cause. Once or twice, my family has birthed a human. Which would cause the utmost of embarrassment if that truth be known."
"That explains a lot, actually," Scarlett said. "Especially the curious custom of not admitting to the pregnancy until the babe is born."
"What happens to those children?" Ella asked.
A strained silence descended as they all waited for Robin's reply. Ella heard a car pass on the street outside, the only indication of mundane life that she had heard for hours.
He sighed. "Again, Scarlett and Ben know none of this. And I am breaking so many rules and regulations to tell you."
"I can guess," Scarlett growled.
"And you'd guess right," Robin said. "They are killed, for the most part. My father has--had--designs to outdo Hitler in some respects."
"For the most part?" Ben asked the question that hovered in the forefront of Ella's mind.
"Some were... spared." Robin shifted position on the bed and stared at Scarlett. "You do realize that what I'm telling you here no one else knows?"
Scarlett spread her arms. "And do you realize that my coming here to help you has pretty much cemented my loyalty to your cause?"
copyright 2004 Jennifer St. Clair
Ella didn't want to get Ben in trouble for telling her what Robin's mother wanted him to do, so she played dumb. "That's horrible. Ben told me a little about the purebloods, before."
"There are two pureblood families," Robin said. "But you can't guarantee having children of compatible ages at any given time. We're all related, of course. According to the Rule, there can be no new blood added to our ranks." He cracked open his eyes. "Who is in charge?"
"Jaime Duncan," Scarlett said. "At least for the moment."
"Jaime Duncan was three years old... oh." Robin sighed. "Fifteen years later, of course."
"She declared herself the last pureblood," Scarlett said. "But her power isn't complete. Especially with Marcus still alive."
"And have we heard from dear Marcus?" Robin's lip curled. "He's not the type to stay hidden for long."
"Marcus isn't pureblood," Ben whispered to Ella. "But he wishes to be king."
She nodded. "Are purebloods more powerful than halfbloods?"
Robin heard her question and opened his eyes. "That's a good question. And I thought it made sense, but years of inbreeding crippled our ranks. Scarlett and Ben do not know this, but most of the pureblood children are born freaks--damaged in one way or another and utterly useless to my father's cause. Once or twice, my family has birthed a human. Which would cause the utmost of embarrassment if that truth be known."
"That explains a lot, actually," Scarlett said. "Especially the curious custom of not admitting to the pregnancy until the babe is born."
"What happens to those children?" Ella asked.
A strained silence descended as they all waited for Robin's reply. Ella heard a car pass on the street outside, the only indication of mundane life that she had heard for hours.
He sighed. "Again, Scarlett and Ben know none of this. And I am breaking so many rules and regulations to tell you."
"I can guess," Scarlett growled.
"And you'd guess right," Robin said. "They are killed, for the most part. My father has--had--designs to outdo Hitler in some respects."
"For the most part?" Ben asked the question that hovered in the forefront of Ella's mind.
"Some were... spared." Robin shifted position on the bed and stared at Scarlett. "You do realize that what I'm telling you here no one else knows?"
Scarlett spread her arms. "And do you realize that my coming here to help you has pretty much cemented my loyalty to your cause?"
copyright 2004 Jennifer St. Clair
Comments