Lesser Being Chapter 3

Following a small group of Old Ones, I made my way to the Grand Hall near my tribe. Back at the arena other Amazons were preparing my Pet. I was told that I could collect him after my meeting in the Hall.

Upon entering through the large double doors my skin chilled. It always felt like snow in there. I caught myself shivering a few times. I was lead into a rather small room with only a small circular table in the center. I sat beside the Old One who represented my tribe. She was a timid old Amazon who only got the position because the pervious candidate past away not that long ago. Her body was soon thin that I feared she would break if I so much as tapped her.

"Firstly I would like to congratulate you Amazon Anastasia," said the head Old One of this meeting. "You did a fine job in capturing one of the most formidable Lessers we have ever captured."

"Thank you," I said, humbly bowing my head.

"Moving on to the actual reason for this meeting." The Old One awkwardly shuffled some parchment in front of her before looking at me. "You are aware that in order to bear children you need the aid of a Lesser?"

I nodded. I only vaguely remember one lesson from the schools a long time ago. It was something to do with a liquid from a Lesser that was used in order to create children. It sounded ridiculous.

"Will you be using your Pet for such purpose?" asked the Old One.

There are only two types of Chiefs. One, who help populate there tribe, like Hundi. The other type do not however, instead they only rule their tribe. The latter is stigmatized to an extent. If they are a good leader then the fact that they don't bear children is looked over.

"No," I firmly said. "I believe my skills are best suited elsewhere."

There was a loud slam on the table that came from the Old One sitting directly across from me. "We cannot have this, so many Chiefs have been reluctant to have children. Our numbers are growing fewer," she bellowed, with fire burning in her old grey eyes.

"I must agree," said my Old One. "You may think that your tribe is numerous, but in compassion to other parts of the world, your tribe is very insignificant."

I had to stop my mouth from hanging out. "But...But, I-I. You can't make me do something that I don't want to!" I yelled harsher than I intended to.

The leading Old One sighed heavily. "Then we must come to a compromise," she said, pushing up her thick rimed glasses. "I suggest that Amazon Anastasia must have at least one child."

There were murmurs of agreement.

"Amazon Anastasia, do you have any objections?" she asked sounding very tired.

I looked around at the faces of the Old Ones. All of them disappointed at me. I looked down at lap and felt a sinking feeling deep within my gut. "I agree."

"Good, now we can move on. Does anyone have any information regarding former Chief Hundi?"

"There was a severely mutated body found by River Mold," said an Old One sitting on the opposite side of me. "There has been no way to identify the body so Amazon Hundi remains missing."

I continued to stare at my lap. River Mold was miles away from here. There was absolutely no way Hundi could trek all the way there in just under a week unnoticed. There was absolutely no way that the body could belong to her. Then another thought pondered my head. Perhaps it was her. How could I be sure that it wasn't? After all I thought I knew everything about my former Chief. I was the one who spent most time with her. I loved her and she loved me. Or was that really true? The past week’s events left me filled with doubt.

"Do we know what attacked the Amazon?" said the head Old One.

"No, only it couldn't have been a Lesser, it was some sort of beast."

The head Old One sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead. "That's all we need right now, some monster running around River Mold," she muttered. "Are there any other matters?"

The room stayed silent.

"Good," the head Old One stood up. "You may now return to your posts."

We all stood up and began to walk out of the hall.

"Not you Amazon Anastasia, you follow me," said the Old One.

In my mind I said ever curse I could remember. Turning around to face the Old One, I put on a smile. Slowly I walked behind the Old One as we exited through another door. A spiral staircase was behind the door. It was cold despite being lit up by flaming torches. We were heading to the dungeons.

My stomach started to flutter with excitement. My Pet was down here. Finally I would get to see him again.

The Old One walked down the steps first, her feet hardly making a sound. My feet slapped on each piece of stone as I clumsily descended.

My sight was always poor. Most things were blurry to me if they were too far away or if I was in a dark area. It hindered my chances of ever becoming a Hunter. So I settled for Chief assistant.

Being a Cheif assistant was an easy job - despite being the ones who mostly take part in battles - but being a Hunter was even easier.

They don't take part in battles, nor diplomatic events. I was in deep envy of Gen when she past her exam while I failed. As both Gen and myself grew older I watched the toll being a Hunter did to an Amazon. Gen was once rather talkative, and very friendly to absolutely everyone. Now she hardly speaks and only speaks freely to me - when she's in a good mood.

"Amazon Anastasia?!" braked the Old One.

"Pardon?" I said, dumbly.

"I was reciting your duty as owner!" she yelled, fumbling around with some large metal keys.

I couldn't help but filch slightly. Most Old Ones have a terrifying quality - I believe it is a requirement.

She opened a heavy wooden door which led into the dungeons. A strong smell of moss and damp filled my nostrils as we walked through. I scrunched my eyes every time I heard a whip and a sudden cry from a Lesser. Poor creatures. No! Quickly I shook the thought from my head.

Lessers deserved this! I told myself remembering one of the teacher Amazons sharp harsh words.

Cell seventeen held Lesser 277, my pet. He was shackled to the ground, wearing ripped grey trousers that just barely hit his knees.

"Looks like you finally are getting rid of me, eh?" he said to the Old One.

A flash of fury and pure disgust cloaked her face. "If I where you I'd rip his tongue out first." She slapped a collar and leash into my hand. "Take the tunnel through here and you will be back in your tribe." She turned on her heels and swiftly scurried out of the dungeons.

277's shackles clanked as me approached the cells bars. All my blood rushed around my body causing my heart to pound. He wrapped his fingers around the rusting bars and flicked his hair.

What I felt next is almost impossible to explain. As I looked into his sullen grey blue eyes I could feel my legs beginning to weaken, my heart pounded even louder, sweat began to pour out from my skin and my breath was caught in my lungs.

"How did a weakling like you get the better of me," he tuted.

Slowly I opened up the cell and strolled inside. 277 stood with his shoulder leaning on the bars just watching me as I moved closer to him.

The collar is put on every Lesser while the leash is to stay with the owner. The two items have a matching number for identification.

The collar was made in one of the 'big cities'. I had never been and had only heard tales of those places. Technology far beyond my imagination in made there, such as the collars. Collars are made with a small device in them which sends out a shock into the Lesser if an Amazon wishes to do so. This shock can also be fetal.

I strapped on the collar and tightened it just a little. He was a good head taller than myself, his body had lashes and bruises all over. I pitied him.

"I didn't know Lessers could speak," I said, clipping the leash.

"Have you spoken to many?" he said bluntly.

I opened my mouth to reply back but quickly closed it when I realized I had nothing to say.

Holding the handle of the leash in my mouth I bend down and undid his leg shackles. I spat out the leash into my hand and yanked 277 forward. Just like the Old One said I walked down the tunnel. It was longer than I had anticipated.

As we walked deeper into the tunnel I began reciting a Lessers rights.

"You are to serve me and me alone, any other Amazon who gives you an order must first be given permission by me," I started. "Any time you define one of my orders I am to punish you with a shock. How strong the shock is depends on how severely you defied my order. If I feel it is required I will not hesitate in being your demise. Is that clear?"

He grunted.

For the rest of our journey through the tunnel we walked in silence until I reached the door. Before I pushed it open I turned to him. He looked straight into my eyes.

"It is unorthodox for me to ask this but I feel as if I should..."

"What?" he said, not turning his gaze.

"Most Amazons refer to their Lesser as 'Pet' or 'Slave'. I, however, don't want to do so." I licked my lips.

"Then what are you going to refer me as?" he asked, a curious look in his eyes.

"Do you have a name? Or where you never given one?"

A slight smirk was on the edge of his lips. "Cain, one of the other 'Lessers' once called me that."

I took in a deep breath. "Then in private that is what I will address you as."

"Only in private, eh?" he shrugged.

I nodded. "Which means that in private you are allowed to address me as Anastasia."

"Hmm." His eyes rolled over my body. "Anastasia, that means resurrection."