Chapter 18

"What's wrong with him?" Alice asked as she and Ellie sat in the cafe, watching Pride mumble to himself as he fiddled with bits of paper and string.

"He's nuts!" Ellie replied, sulkily, glowering at her mug of tea.

"Well, they say you are what you eat...!"

"He went weird a while back. I don't know what caused it."

"And the others? I hear Ebony's not the only one expecting!"

"Yeah, Amber's a few months gone herself. Everything seems to happen at once round here! First Amber announces she's pregnant, then May and Pride have this huge fight on the roof and May storms down here, packs a bag and leaves, then Pride starts going bananas 'cause she's left. Jay stops talking to Amber, even though she keeps reminding him she's carrying his child, or maybe because of it! KC turns up and Trudy seems convinced he's Bray! Ebony turns up with Lex and that other guy, Paul, and tells us she's had some near death experience thing and Bray came to her and told her he was dead, but she had to go on living. All these raids kick off and now they're getting worse, although they do seem to be moving away from here, which is good! Then, not long after the raids started, Sal turned up and last but not least you wander back in here with my AWOL ex-boyfriend, the daughter we never knew he had and some woman who looks like Lex and every woman he's ever dated all rolled into one!"

"I hear Luke came back," Alice pressed, "You never mentioned him."

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, we got married."

"You could try and sound a little happier about it!"

"About what? We got married. That's it. All there is to tell."

"You're bored."

"I'm not!"

"Yes, you are, Ellie. Either you're bored with Luke in general or just with being married to him. I remember how it was when you two first got together, before you dumped Jack might I add! Back then, the two of you were sneaking around, trying not to get caught by either the other Mallrats or the Chosen, then when Jack came back you were sneaking around behind his back. Now you're a legitimate, married couple and everybody knows about you. The fun's gone out of it: you're not sneaking around any more."

"Well, maybe," Ellie shrugged. "But never mind that now. What about you: why didn't you come back?"

Alice shifted uncomfortably as Pride chattered in the background.

"Oh, um, I had my reasons," the older sister looked down at her hands as she spoke.

"And they were?"

"Uh..."

"Here little birdie: fly!" Pride chattered as he threw his paper and string 'bird' through the air.

The sad looking contraption sailed haphazardly around the room then crash-landed onto Alice's clasped hands. Alice looked up and rolled her eyes at her little sister, secretly glad of the interruption.

"Excuse me," she said, standing up.

Picking up the paper bird, Alice walked over to where Pride was watching eagerly.

"Is it time for another flight?" Pride asked the limp, featureless article in Alice's hand.

"No, Pride," Alice sighed, forcing a saccharine smile, shifting the bird to her other hand and balling her fist. "It's time for beddie-byes!"

When the crazed Gaian hit the floor, Alice let the paper bird fall to lie by its creator.

"Uh, was that a good idea?" Ellie asked, walking up behind Alice.

"He'll wake up, eventually. Might have a bit of a sore jaw, but that's all. Never know, might actually have knocked some sense back into him!"

"Yeah..." Ellie frowned as her sister turned to walk out of the room. "I guess..."

****

"What news, Luke?"

His cool, calm voice drifted across her as he, her lover, her king, her idol, talked with his messenger. The iciness with which he ordered Luke to make things ready for the kidnapping sent shivers of excitement down her back. It was almost laughable: the great Mallrats, the tribe that had for years been the heart of the city, brought low by their own. It had taken someone of her king's greatness to see how it could be done.

She had done her best to comply with his wishes in this as well as in all his... desires. She had recruited the Queen herself. She had programmed her herself. The Queen: a pawn with which to checkmate the enemy. She believed herself in love with their king. Understandable. She also believed that he loved her. Not so. Their king was incapable of love. Not in the way the Queen knew it. No. In every monarchy, every empire, the power behind the leader is not in his Queen, but his Mistress. It is she who gives him what he truly needs. A queen may seem to hold power, but does so in name only. A queen has power over all those beneath her, but the king's mistress has power even over the king himself.

"Then we are ready," he concluded. "We will make our move at the allotted time and you, Luke, will ensure that no suspicion falls upon our Queen."

"I will, my liege," Luke replied.

As Luke disappeared from the room, leaving only the usual servants, standing as motionless as statues, the king's mistress stood and walked over to his chair. Standing behind him, she kneaded the tense muscles in his shoulders.

"You worry too much, my king," she said quietly. "I know your mind: you fear that Luke will fail us."

"He has much to lose once this is complete. Everything depends on his love for our queen being greater than his loyalty to his fellow Mallrats."

"When it is complete, and our queen stands beside you, will he not regret his decision?"

"No. I have talked with him in private. He and the Queen will remain lovers. As I have you, so she will have him."

"You are generous, my liege."

"Merely prudent. They would attempt to continue their relationship even without my consent. This way, I retain my hold over them and keep them both happy and, therefore, loyal."

The mistress' hands slid down the king's chest and she leaned forward until her lips were level with his ear.

"The thrill of the hunt runs through you, my liege. It will overpower you if you are not careful."

"And how do you suggest I control it?"

"Divert it's energies elsewhere," she purred, moving round to take his hand and lead him to his feet. "But not in front of these servants."

****

Another day dawned in the mall and Jack woke feeling as if he had never left. From the cafe he could hear Ellie's familiar whine and smiled as he pictured Luke taking the beating instead of him. He cast a glance over to the child's cot in the corner. Hope lay sleeping, peacefully, an old blanket grasped tightly in her small fist.

Jack dragged himself out of bed and pulled on some clothes. First, he would have to wake his daughter and take her to get some breakfast, then he would pass Hope's care on to Salene while he got his own breakfast and went in search of Ebony, who had refused to talk to him since their fight the day before. Alice and Salene usually took it in turns to help look after Hope. Yesterday, at dinner, Alice had suggested that Ellie or Trudy share the burden, but Luke had reminded her that young children need stability and it would be better to stick to the same routine and the same small group of carers until Hope was older. Trudy had been about to protest, but had changed her mind after glance at Luke.

His own morning ablutions complete, Jack turned to his daughter. Picking her up, he prised the blanket from her hand, only to have the tiny fist wave around, looking for another stronghold, then grab his nose. Even once he had finally got her little pink dress on, Hope still slept on, so, cradling her in his arms, he took her up to the cafe as she was.

Salene was already there and welcomed the sleeping bundle into her arms while Jack got himself some toast and tea.

"She's so like her father," Salene murmured, smoothing down the unruly, fine brown hair that was darkening every day.

"You think?" Jack chuckled, proudly, sitting down at the table next to Sal, Lex, Morgaine and Alice.

"Yeah, mate," Lex added with a smile. "I mean just look at her, sleeping through this racket!"

"Doesn't that make her more like you, Lex?" Alice laughed.

Jack smiled a half smile and avoided Lex's gaze.

"Look, Jack," Lex started, leaning forwards across the table. "I swear, nothing ever happened between us. Yes, I was there for her. Yes, I helped her through some stuff. But as a friend, nothing more. She wouldn't let me be anything more!"

"Yeah," Jack replied, sheepishly. "I-I guess I over-reacted a bit. Sorry."

"No worries!" Lex laughed. "It was worth it to see that ponce Jay get floored like that!"

"You don't like him?" Morgaine asked.

"Not so much, no," Lex replied.

"Any reasons why?" Morgaine's low tones rolled across the breakfast table with only the merest hint of amusement. "Or should we just put it down to the first ever case of male intuition?"

"I just don't take kindly to being ordered around by a guy who only ever seems to fight battles from a distance!"

"Sometimes it is the best place to fight them from: it lets you see the bigger picture."

"You sound like my wife!"

"I am sorry. I didn't mean draw forth unhappy memories."

"Don't be. They're not unhappy ones. And it was a complement anyway."

"You are a very odd man, Alexander."

"Don't call me that. No one calls me that. Just call me Lex."

"I think I'll take Hope back down," Jack cut in, seeing Salene's attention wander from Hope as the conversation went on. "If she's not woken up yet, she can't be hungry."

"It's okay, I'll take her," Salene's attention snapped back to the child in her arms. "You should really go talk with Ebony anyway. I think I saw her head for the roof."

"The roof? You don't think..."

"Oh, no, she wouldn't. I think she just wanted some air and some peace and quiet. It's much safer up there than outside."

"True. I'll go after her then, if you're sure."

"It's okay. Honest, Jack, you know how much I love looking after kids! I just wish I had some of my own!"

"Someday you will have."

Jack headed out of the cafe and up towards the roof. Salene watched him go, then turned back to the conversation with Lex, Alice and Morgaine. When they had finished their food, by now cold, Lex suggested that he and Alice show Morgaine round the market.

"What about the raids?" Salene asked, frowning at Lex.

"They've been moving over to the other side of the city," Lex shrugged, "We'll be fine! You've got Luke and Jack and Ryan and Mr Ken Doll here to keep an eye on the place while we're gone. Oh, and Pride, if he's come round yet. Besides, it's not like we're three helpless babes, Sal!"

Lex's eyes unfocussed a little, when he finished speaking, and the slight smile of a daydream spread across his face until Alice punched him on the arm and demanded that he "get moving". Salene watched them go with a slight smile then, as silence descended on the now empty cafe, turned her attention back to Hope once more.

"Looks like it's just you and me, little girl," she crooned. "What shall we do? Shall we go and see what Auntie Salene has in her room? Shall we? Oh yes, we shall! Oh yes, we shall!"

****

Jack found Ebony on the roof, standing looking out across the city. From the way she held her coat close around her, he could tell she was still angry. He found a comfortable piece of wall to lean against and settled down to wait. He'd made no effort to conceal his presence and he was certain she knew he was there, but he still jumped when, without turning round, she called his name.

"I know you're there," she continued. "I heard the door close."

"I figured I'd best stay out of reach for a while."

"You were right to."

For a while longer there was silence. Jack waited for Ebony to speak again. Eventually, he heard what sounded like a sob.

"Hold me," Ebony cried, her body doubling up as she crumpled to the ground in tears.

Jack hurried forwards and gathered her into his arms, holding her close for what seemed like the first time in years. As he kissed her hair, her forehead, her tears, he heard her laugh a little, as if at her own ironic weakness.

"This doesn't mean you're forgiven, you know," she told him.

"I know," Jack replied as she rested her head on his chest.

For what could have been minutes or hours, they sat there in silence. Clinging onto one another as if afraid that one letting go would mean losing the other forever. From their vantage point on the roof they could hear the sounds of the city wafting up from the streets below. The noise had almost disappeared into the background when they heard the scream.

"Who was that!" Ebony cried, leaning on Jack's arm as he helped her to her feet.

"Salene," Jack replied, his face paling.

"What is it, what's wrong?" Ebony asked, seeing his sudden change.

"Sh-she was looking after Hope. Sh-she wouldn't wake up this morning. I-I thought she w-was just sleeping! What if... What if..."

"Don't!" Ebony yelled at him. "Let's just go down and see what all the noise it about. She's probably just seen a rat!"

Dragging a panicking Jack behind her, Ebony hurried down the stairs to the main part of the mall. When they reached the fountain, they saw Amber and Ryan bending over an unconscious Jay while Ellie and Luke helped a shaking Salene to her feet. Trudy stood a distance away, trying to calm down Brady.

"Wh-where is she?" Jack asked, walking past Ebony to Salene. "Wh-where's my daughter? Where's Hope? Where is she, Sal?"

"Oh, Jack, I'm so sorry!" Salene said, her voice shaking with tears. "They took her!"