Jessica
The entire time we were in Headquarters, the only thing I could think about was how much I didn't want to give my card to Cindy. I mean, yeah, she is my best friend and all but Jack is my card. Like he said, the card does bind us in a way impossible to break or replicate and it's not something anyone would want to lose. Even stupidly independent me. But I know that Cindy wouldn't ask for it if she didn't feel it was absolutely necessary. It doesn't matter how mad she is at me, she wouldn't take something as important as Jack away from me.
Director Liles told me what it is I had to do as a Commander and I was surprised to find it's virtually nothing. The
Stike Team is a sort of police whose one and only job is to stop fights and riots. But the truth is that only the grunts do any actual work. The Captains do all the paper work and the Deputies maintain good relations with the other bases. The Commander's only job is to send teams to the appropriate spot in a timely manner.
We have Moles, undercover Grunts who report any disturbances, Townies, the Grunts who get our supplies and maintain the good image of the Strike Team, Healers, the medics for injured officers and civilians, Jailers, the officers who keep the responsible "criminals" in jail, and Strikers, the Grunts who actually stop the riots and fights.
I met some of the people at the base I'm at but it seems to me that they don't really like the Commanders. When Director Liles introduced me, they were civil at best. When he left me and Jack alone at the station, I was met with open glares and hostility. Only the Deputies treated me with any level of respect but it's their job to deal with unpleasant people so I didn't put too much faith into it.
One of the nicer Captains offered to show me around the base and I accepted but for tomorrow. I've been up maybe eight hours but I was beyond tired. I wanted to go home but Jack told my parents I'd be in the hospital for a few more days. Apparently I've been unconscious for a whole week. We have winter finals in two weeks so missing school isn't something I'm excited about. When I told Jack about it, he laughed and said that I'm the only person he knows who doesn't want to miss school. I punched his arm but that made him laugh even more.
Since I won't go back to the hospital and wasn't due back home for a couple days more, Jack said I could stay at his place. They offered me a room at the base too but I don't think I could handle that much animosity.
I ended up taking Jack's offer only because I knew he lived in a house that was much too big for him by himself. It would give me my own room and I'd finally be able to see the infamous setting of all his embarrassing stories. We decided to walk to his house if only so he could show off his neighborhood.
He talked about all the people who lived here and how most of them were of the pleasant and wonderful variety but there were, like everywhere else, a few cantankerous folk. His words not mine. I almost died laughing at his use of vocabulary we learned back in our first semester of this year.
Embarrassed, he carefully picked me up from my puddle of laughter and led me to his house. When we stopped outside the gates, I was confused, maybe he had something to warn or tell me about. So I waited and watched as he pulled out a big black metal key and opened the gate.
When he opened the doors and gestured for me to go in, I remembered that Jack is a Noble here. Of course he's have fancy gates and a beautiful, giant garden, and a house that takes my breath away every time I see it. I knew all that and I expected it when he first told me about his world and its caste system. I even made a point to make fun of him for a while.
It's just that Jack doesn't act like all the other severely irritating Nobles I've met at the Games. He's not selfish, or stuck up, or so damn vapid I want to punch their overpriced little faces with every word. He sweet, and kind, and genuinely cares about others. I'll admit that I didn't really like Jack at first but he's kind of grown on me. Kind of like a mushroom.
I was saved from the weird tangent my brain cooked up when Jack stopped to introduce me to the Sprite at the door.
"Jess, meet Edvik, our local annoying as hell Sprite." The four inch tall Sprite glared at Jack before he settled in my open palm. He just looked at me without a word until he smiled really big then opened his wings and kissed my cheek.
"Nice to meet you Jessica. I don't know what this jerk did to deserve you but its great to finally meet someone worth serving." Edvik made a strange comment about my eyes then flew off into the house saying he'll come back with friends.
I looked at Jack, hoping for answers, but he was just as surprised as I was. After a minute or two waiting for Edvik and decided he would not be coming back, Jack gave me a tour of his extraordinarily amazing house.
It had 15 bedrooms, with a bathroom in each one, six living room type rooms, I think he called them parlors, two amazing dining rooms and kitchens, one on each floor, two beautiful studies, and a home library. If I was Jack, I'd probably never leave but maybe living for three hundred years would change my mind.
"I'm only 274 Jess." He said forcing me to sit on the couch. I was exhausted but I wanted to see everything.
"I'm pretty sure I told you to stay out of my head." He looked down at the coffee table.
"I wanted to know if you liked it." He said quietly.
"Your house?" He nodded. "I absolutely love it!" He looked up, a smile on his face. "It's amazing Jack, I bet the outside is even nicer. How do you leave it so often? I mean yeah, you want to be with Cindy, but doesn't she like it here?"
"I've never brought her."
"Why not?"
"Well, I wasn't sure she would like it. I'm not going to show my girlfriend something she wouldn't like." His eyes were a serious and happy green. I love it when his eyes are smiling.
"I guarantee you, she will." He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by the sudden buzzing of a small swarm of Sprites. They flew around me until Edvik told them to calm down. They all lost their crazy energy and settled on the coffee table in front of me. Edvik bowed as the others stared at me as if determining something. One by one they bowed until the were all kneeling in front of me.
I looked over at Jack for an explanation, but he was too busy staring slack jawed at the Sprites. Edvik stood up and asked for my right hand. I gave it to him and the others stood and gathered around it. They said something in a language I didn't understand then as if one mind, they leaned forward and kissed my hand.
A cool revitalizing wind blew around me and my hand glowed blue. The Sprites disappeared and a new metallic blue tattoo shone on the back of my hand. I couldn't make out what it was, it was shining so bright, but whatever just happened had Jack staring at me in shock.
"H-how?" He sat forward and put his hand on the side of my neck. "How did you manage that?" His eyes were a golden yellow.
"I don't know what that is actually. What just happened Jack?" He looked into my eyes amazement rolling off him in waves and smiled.
"You just became a host mother."
