Chapter 78 Concubine Jana
Amarien POV
"I don't trust her," Orgah said as she stormed further into the dimly lit passageway. We were alone now, and the only sound I heard was the thuds of our feet against the marble floor.
Orgah had only spoken to me since the first day we met; after that, she only called me out of the gathering and led me into the passageway. She had never answered my questions or given an explanation as to why she's helping me.
But today was different. Today, she spoke.
"Who? Jana?" I pursued Orgah, thankful she'd finally said something to me afterall this time. This may be the beginning of her opening up to me.
"Who else?" She stopped and turned to me. I saw tenderness in her eyes. Despite her mean demeanour, Orgah's eyes revealed a quiet, sweet soul. "Trust no one in this place," she said and kept moving.
"But I trust you," I blotted.
Orgah stopped; her gaze whipped around. "Even me!" She turned and continued walking in the darkness.
I followed slowly right at her heel. "Jana seemed to be scared, like everyone of us here. She's just an innocent, sweet girl like me."
We reached the door, and Orgah found the key; she twisted it into the lock impatiently, as if she couldn't wait to walk out of this conversation.
"Look, you won't even tell me the reason you're helping. You just do it. And I'm sure it's because you're a sweet person." I said, stepping into the room. Orgah turned to face me, her intimidating frown resuming, "I don't know how I would have survived you were here. I don't know how Jana will do if she doesn't have a friend."
Orgah shook her head sadly. "Fine. Go ahead and be friends with her, but be careful," Orgah's eyes narrowed, and she leaned in. I nodded, showing her I'm willing to comply.
She started for the door and stopped, turning back to meet my eyes. "Tell no one of this room, Amarien. Not even Jana."
I watched as the door slammed behind her and lunged for my food, tearing it to pieces.
My baby kicked in my stomach as if acknowledging the sweet nourishment I gave him.
"We are going to be alright." I placed my hand on my stomach, feeling him move in me. And for the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful again.
The dorm buzzed with activity as Concubines stormed around in their white tunics; some formed groups, chatting; others were busy with hobbies or two, or just seated on their beds, staring into the wall.
It felt like an animated jail cell with just too many roommates. I quickly buried my head as I weaved my way to my bed.
I would be inviting trouble and bullying if I raised my head high enough to be seen. One time, I had walked in here after Nun Argo had made me pull out all the weeds in the whole Nunnery with my bear hands.
My head pounded with a nagging headache, and all I could do was sway into the room, not matching anyone's eyes.
All I heard was "There she is!" and I crashed to the floor as someone stretched her leg into my path. When I picked myself up, I was surrounded by mean concubines who cursed and spat at me for bringing this fate on them.
I was too weak to get to my bed when it was over. I lay there on the bare floor as people passed by, some tramped on me and cursed me, some spat and threw dirt on me.
Today, I was determined to avoid all that, so I quickly entered. Thankfully, for the distraction of the noise in the room, I weaved my way through the wooden planks of the bed, finding my way to my own.
Sigh
"At last!" I said, and I threw myself on my bed. But in a single swoop, someone shoved off, making me land on the floor with a thud.
I winced in pain, readying myself for another combat with these concubines tonight. But as I opened my eyes, I saw I wasn't some regular concubine who picked on me in the room.
It was Jana.
"Why did you...?!"
"Sshhh!" Jana placed her finger over her lips.
I looked at her for a moment, confused. Everything in the room seems to be going on normally; no concubine is pacing around my bed, hoping to toss in sewage or dirt on me while I'm asleep.
"What's wrong?" I finally said when I recovered from my shock. Jana, who still had her finger on her lips, pointed to my bed.
My eyes trailed her finger to my bed for a moment I saw nothing.
Then, something stirred on the bed.
I shivered. It was something in the sheets, crawling, pacing up and down.
I whimpered, but Jana held my hand and pulled me to her. She grabbed the top of my sheet and looked at me.
"Don't shout, okay? You're only going to fuel their satisfaction."
In a swift flip, she pulled open the sheets, revealing one of the most menacing creatures I've ever seen.
Its body was enormous, far larger than any creature of nature had the right to be: ink-black and glossy. The hard plates of its back overlapped like armor, each segment catching the light with a dull, oily sheen. It was still, horrifyingly still, as if it knew it did not need to move to command fear.
It's a giant scorpion.
Its claws were spread wide, resting against the thin blanket like cruel hands. Thick. Serrated. Each pincer ended in a wicked curve that looked capable of crushing bone with leisurely patience. One claw twitched, just once, and the soft scrape of chitin against fabric made my stomach lurch.
Its tail arched above its body in a perfect curve, poised and waiting. Long and slender. The stinger glistened at the tip, swollen and wet, pulsing faintly as though alive with its own hunger. Fine black hairs bristled along the tail's length, shivering as if they could sense me, tasting the air, measuring distance.
I could almost smell its poison, sharp and bitter, like crushed herbs and rot.
My breath got locked in my chest. My legs refused to move. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but terror rooted me to the cold stone floor. The scorpion turned its head, slowly, deliberately, and I realized it had been aware of me all along.
Its many eyes reflected the lantern light in tiny, merciless points.
How did it find its way here?!
I could have sat in it and had its dark claws stuck in my ribs or neck.
I shivered so hard I almost fainted.