Successors (31 page)

“You do that.”

Danato headed to the door. He stopped and turned around. “Cori,” he said in a soft voice.

“Yes?” she said as she returned to her plants.

He searched his mind for a sentiment to express everything that he felt. This was probably their longest conversation outside of work related business. “Nice to finally meet you.”

Cori looked up at him through the foliage. She smiled. “You too.”

63

“She did
what
?” Ethan stood before his mirror in the gym, admiring his muscles.

Belus sat on the bench behind him playing with a stretch band. “I don’t know what she thought would happen. She just turned it in like she had seen a job posting.”

“I can’t believe she could be so underhanded.” He stepped closer to the mirror and leaned his hands against it. He stared into his own eyes. “Who am I kidding? She’s always been like this: conniving and selfish.”

“She described it as self-motivated and determined in her resume.”

He whipped around and glared at Belus. “I was taken from my miserable life, put into slavery, and then rescued into servitude. Just when I think to myself that being warden of this prison could be the highlight of my existence, she puts in an application for my job!” He panted and gritted his teeth, unable to conceal the growing rage inside him.

“Whoa, kid. Seriously, calm down. I didn’t tell you so I could watch you go through ‘roid’ rage. I told you because I haven’t told Danato yet. I wanted to get your take on it.”

“My take is she is a conniving—”

“Yes, yes, I know that part, but…” Ethan turned back to his mirror. “Listen to me! Danato will assume that she put in the application as a distraction from her sorrows. He might agree to let her compete with you.”

“How do you know that?”

“I know him. Look at me!” Belus threw his band at him. It hit him in the back, and he turned around. “There has never been a female warden in this prison. The board is very likely to never approve one. If she is thinking of taking the position, she will have to go through the same trials you did. Then there’s the final test. The likelihood of her passing that is slim to none. The dragon… the protein shake won’t work on females, so she isn’t going to be strong enough to pass the test.”

“No, she’s clever,” Ethan said, eyes narrowed in contemplation.

“So is the opponent. Quick wits will keep her alive, but luck won't…” Belus seemed to pause as if recalculating her chances of winning. “…no way.”

“What are you telling me? Am I supposed to congratulate her on reaching for the stars?” He clenched his fist, feeling hot from the anger that was screaming to be released. He knew he was overreacting but he couldn’t shake the emotion. He was already imagining every scenario in confronting Cori.

“I’m telling you don’t be surprised if she follows in your footsteps, reading the same books, and working out in the gym. I’m also telling you that you are his apprentice, not her, no matter what happens.”

Ethan nodded and turned back to his reflection. He was starting to feel like he couldn’t trust anyone but himself. Cori was trying to take his job. Danato was probably going to gift-wrap it in pink ribbons for her. Belus, so far, was the only one on his side, but who knew how long that would last? “It’s so nice to have someone I can trust near me.”

Belus said something in response, but Ethan wasn’t really talking to him. It was the man in the mirror that he trusted. Only he truly understood what he was going through.

64

After hearing about Cori’s application, Danato called a meeting with Belus, Ethan, and Cori. He rocked on his chair, behind his desk, arms crossed and his lips actively pursed in distaste. The chair creaked with the subtle movements of his deliberation. “I don’t like it,” he said for the third time with no other argument behind it.

Cori sat before him, running her fingers through her hair like a nervous tick. “What is the big deal? 90% of the job is the details, the knowledge; since when is a woman not good with details?”

Belus sat on his file cabinet, swinging his feet like a child. “We don’t mean to be prejudiced to your sex, but 10% of the job is physical, and a warden with strength is a better asset for emergency situations.”

Ethan leaned on the wall behind the door, glaring at the back of Cori’s head. He had yet to offer his opinion, but based on his expression Danato could guess what it was.

“I am not without some skill in self-defense.” Cori proffered her hand to Danato. “You’ve seen what I can do when I’m pressed.”

Danato thought about the first time he had seen Cori and her incidents here in the prison. He couldn’t deny she did have a knack for defending herself when necessary. He rocked faster and pinched his lips tighter. “I don’t like it.” Everyone groaned. “The issue is not just self-defense.” He leaned forward. “I am a captain to these men. I must command respect even when it is not readily offered.”

“A woman can’t do that?” Her brow lifted, challenging him to be a chauvinist.

He looked away for a moment, resisting the urge to laugh. He knew very well that convicts would have difficulty taking orders from a woman, but he didn’t want to get into that argument today. “I’m not referencing your ability to do it as a woman.” He leaned back and glanced at Ethan and Belus before continuing in a softer tone. “We did converse about your social graces at one point, did we not?”

As the statement set in, Cori blushed. She pushed her chin up, not willing to acknowledge anything of the kind.

Belus exchanged looks with Ethan.

“I could train,” Cori continued. “Maybe I could be a secondary. Someone to take over if Ethan is sick.”

“Wardens don’t get sick,” Ethan chided from the corner.

She didn’t look back at him. “Whatever. I just thought I could focus my attention on a higher goal. If Ethan is the
man
for the job, so be it.”

Danato looked at Belus. Belus furrowed his brow and shook his head. Danato often looked to him for the right answer. Belus was even more by-the-books than he was. If he said no, then that was probably the best choice.

However, Danato hadn’t taken the position of warden to do things by-the-books, and he certainly didn’t take his orders from anyone else.

“I wouldn’t mind at least letting her compete for it, but…” He added the “but” when he saw three mouths gape in resentment, excitement, and objection. “I would never open the position unless Ethan approved.” He offered his palm to Ethan. He knew it was a low blow, but if anyone should squelch Cori’s goal, it should be the person she would be taking it from.

Cori’s face fell. She didn’t even bother looking at Ethan, to see what his answer would be.

Ethan smiled, apparently enjoying the opportunity to give voice to his opinion. “Kind of a waste of her time isn’t it?” he said with a shrug. “I mean, she really has no chance of winning.”

Cori whipped around to glare at him. “Then you shouldn’t mind the competition.”

“I don’t mind the competition.” Ethan lost his smile, and his voice turned somber. “I mind your arrogance.”

“And what are you bringing to the table now?” she asked, swirling her finger over an imaginary table. “Certainly not humility.”

“My pride is earned. Yours is seeded by your acrimony and watered by your bravado.” Ethan looked at her without the sneer of a bitter sibling. He looked at her with the severity of an adult to a child.

Danato didn’t like where this was going, but Ethan was right. Cori had nothing to recommend herself to the position, other than her dumb luck. As clever as she was, she had crossed a line by assuming that she could do better than he could with half the time to train. As much as it pained him not to interject, Ethan was justified in his condescension.

Cori held Ethan’s gaze.

Danato felt like he was watching a psychic battle. The two stared at each other with nasty sneers. The last one to look away would be crowned with superiority. When they first came to the prison, Ethan was no match for Cori. Now Ethan seemed to have the upper hand. He was no longer weak, physically or emotionally. In some ways, it was good that they were separated for so long. It gave them both a chance to mature.

“You’re an ass-munch!” Cori blurted out when it was clear he wasn’t giving in.

At least, it gave Ethan a chance to mature.

When Cori finally looked away, Ethan smiled, pleased with his triumph. It wasn’t a wholly unexpected response, but what Danato didn’t like was how Ethan regarded her even after she had long since broken eye contact with him. Danato looked to Belus. He must have seen it too, because concern was written on his face as well.

“Let her compete,” Ethan said, breaking the moment. He stood upright and moved to Cori’s side. “I welcome the competition. It will be good for her to see what real work is.” Ethan touched her back. She tensed under his touch, but didn’t pull away. Ethan winked at Danato before leaving.

Danato stared at the door a few seconds after he left, just in case he came back in to withdraw his statement. Cori seemed just as surprised by the turn of events. Her face was stuck in befuddlement, as if she was replaying the moment in her head, trying to figure out what made him change his mind.

“Well,” Belus interrupted both their consternations, “I guess that confirms it.” He jumped off the file cabinet. “You can start training in the gym as soon as you’re ready. The library will be available to you.” Belus looked to Danato. “Right?”

Danato nodded. “Yes, right. Board approval is still a year away. You’d best hit the books hard. It is a lot of information.”

“The gym, also,” Belus said. “We aren’t equal opportunity employers.”

“Yes,” Danato agreed. “Physical strength and agility will still play a vital role in the final test.”

“So,” Cori said, “I need to hit the gym when I’m not studying, and study when I’m not eating or sleeping.”

He exchanged looks with Belus. They both seemed to be thinking the same thing.
She has no idea what she is getting into.
He nodded at her.

“Good,” she said and left the office.

“What is with Ethan lately?” Danato asked Belus when they were alone.

“I don’t know,” Belus said. “I’ve been monitoring his intake. He shouldn’t be in testosterone overload.”

“Sure seems like it,” Danato said.

“Maybe he is just that mad.”

Danato rubbed his chin. “I know they’ve had their issues, but he’s never been like that before. I understand his position. He has a right to be mad, but he didn’t sound mad. He sounded menacing. You saw the way he was looking at her.”

Belus nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on him. Hopefully we can make it to the competition without them killing each other.”

65

Ethan observed the definition in his body. His reflection showed vascular bulges that threaded through his forearms. His hands held taut skin over boney knuckles. His neck was thick and held tension with the slightest twist of his head.

He pulled his shirt off and tensed his chest and abs. His gaunt physique of the year before had given way to distinct muscles. His pride was most definitely earned.

“I have earned this,” he said to his reflection.

“Yes, you have.” his reflection spoke with obscure lip movement that didn’t stem from him. Ethan didn’t flinch at his reflection’s accolade. He continued to bathe in his own beauty. “She has done nothing to earn this position,” the reflection bristled.

“No, she hasn’t,” Ethan responded, flexing his back muscles.

The reflection sighed and walked away from its source. He sat on the mirrored bench of his world. He sat in view of Ethan, but was no longer his parallel. “She is such a nuisance.”

“I agree,” Ethan said. “But what can I do about it? Danato loves her too much to say no.”

“For such a big man, he is so weak in the heart,” the reflection philosophized.

“Aren’t we all?” Ethan said. “For all her flaws, I still can’t think of anyone but her.”

“That’s because she is the only one to think of,” the reflection explained. “I know a few girls on the upper floors that would have a go at you. You won’t be thinking of her, I assure you.”

“I wouldn’t want to risk the diseases they might be carrying,” Ethan said.

“True. Do you really think you love her, though? After all she’s put you through. Couldn’t it just be the memory of a crush that has you bound?”
Ethan thought about this. “I suppose you could be right.”

“Maybe you don’t even like her anymore. Maybe your memories have made you think of her as a friend, when really the only thing between you is a sort of… association.”

Ethan had nothing to say to that, but he thought about it. He and Cori had never really interacted privately. They argued. They chatted about prison duties. They hardly ever discussed their personal lives. They never sat together and talked about stupid stuff.

“I don’t know about you, but I don’t even think she’s that attractive,” the reflection said.