Page 21 of The Lost Zone (Dark Water #3)

“I live in a dorm in my houder’s mansion, and I work from seven a.m. until eleven p.m.,” Five told him. “We don’t see the news or have magazines – although some of the girls sneak them in sometimes.”

“I’m being trained as a personal valet for my houder’s twin sons, for when they go to university next year,” Three said importantly. “I’m kept very busy chasing around after them, as you can imagine.”

Alex was familiar with the life he’d led as Tyler’s IS, but he’d never thought much about the lives of ordinary indies – the kind lived by his father’s servants.

They’d simply been a fact of life growing up, always there to pick up after him.

Had they also worked these long hours in his father’s service? He realised he had no idea.

“I’m lucky to be here,” Five said. “Out of all my houder’s servants, he chose me for this training.

It means I won’t be in the dormitories when I go home – I’ll have a little room of my own.

” Alex glanced at him. “I can see you’re wondering why my houder picked me for such expensive training.

” Five grimaced. “I know I’m not very good at ironing, but I can cook, you see.

Quite well.” Five went red from embarrassment. “That’s what swung it for me.”

“I feel sure I know him,” Three said, frowning as he pointed to Charles. The photo was grainy, and Charles had suffered particularly from the ripping-up process, otherwise Alex was sure they’d have recognised him; Charles’s level of fame would have reached even the lowliest IS.

“I don’t think so.” Alex pocketed the photo quickly.

“Wow! This lady is so pretty,” Five exclaimed as they finished piecing together Solange’s picture.

“Yes, she was.” Alex folded the photo and put it away. The men shared a glance, but nobody said anything.

“And who is this?” Two asked with an appreciative whistle as they finished Joe’s photo. “He’s quite the hunk.”

Alex smiled as he looked at it. “Yes, he is,” was all he said as he put it in his pocket with the rest.

They finished just in time as F entered the rec room to escort them back to the dormitory.

“Well done, One.” F grinned as he announced the results of the day’s work later that evening. “You’ve avoided the cage tonight. You must be looking forward to a night in your own bed.”

“Yes, F,” Alex said meekly, because now was not a good time to get into another pitched battle with him.

“Five’s in the cage tonight, and, because I’m in a good mood, he can take a pillow and blanket in there,” F announced.

“And you know what? Because I’m feeling extra kind, you can have your mattress, too, Five.

” He stripped the thin mattress off Five’s bed, doubled it up, and shoved it into the cage.

It looked positively cosy in there as Five crawled inside and made himself comfortable.

“And, because I’m generous, here’s a piss pot for you, too.

” F threw a pot into the cage, then closed the door and locked it.

Straightening up, he looked around dramatically.

“Y’know, I could do with a piss right now. Where would be a good place?”

“The bathroom is next door,” Two pointed out.

“Nah.” F paced around the room and stopped next to Alex.

“I think here would be better.” He unzipped his fly and pissed all over Alex’s bed.

The warm stink of it, and the splashing sound as it hit his bedding, filled Alex with hatred, but all he could do was stand by impotently while F pissed all over his mattress, blankets, and pillows.

When F was done, he zipped up and surveyed the room with a grin. “Sweet dreams, loser,” he said, patting Alex on the cheek on his way out.

Alex stood there, fists curled, surveying his ruined bedding. There was no way he could sleep in his bed tonight, so he was in an even worse position than Five.

“Come on – let’s get it out of here. It stinks. We can sort it out in the morning.” Two and Three helped Alex move the soiled bedding into the hallway, where they left it.

Then Alex looked around the room, wondering what to do. He could sleep on the floor, maybe, and use his clothes to provide warmth. If he rolled up a towel from the bathroom that could work as a pillow.

“Alex – come here.” Two climbed into his own bed, lifted the sheets, and beckoned him over. “It’ll be a little cramped but there’s enough room for us both, if you don’t mind sharing.”

Alex nodded numbly, walking over to Two’s bed and climbing in. He felt tears pricking the back of his eyes and wiped them away.

“Hey, what’s this?” Two asked softly. “You’ve taken all F’s other tantrums without crumbling, but this has upset you?”

“Not him pissing on the bed,” Alex muttered into the pillow. “I wouldn’t shed a tear over that.”

“Ah.” Two stroked his hair gently. “I feel the same way. It can be harder to bear someone’s kindness than their hate sometimes.”

“Yeah.”

“Would you mind if I…?” Two wrapped his arms lightly around Alex and held him gently as he surrendered to the tears.

He felt safe with Two. Although, at this point, he would have traded sexual favours for kindness, he instinctively knew that Two would make no such demands, so he was able to relax.

Two stroked his hair and whispered to him, and eventually the tears subsided.

“Sorry,” Alex whispered.

“Don’t apologise. You have every right to be upset.”

“Still glad you asked your houder to send you here?” Alex asked.

He felt Two tense up. “Well, it’s harsh, but I’m sure we’ve all known harsher,” he murmured, and Alex couldn’t argue with that. “The main thing is that we come out of the experience having learned something and improved ourselves.”

“What do you need to learn?” Alex turned to look at him. “Seriously – you can already iron better than B. What’s the point of you being here?”

“I have some skills,” Two explained. “Others are a little rusty and some non-existent. The entire course won’t be taken up with ironing. You heard Five earlier – he’s a good cook but a beginner at ironing. This course intends to make us all-rounders and thus of more use to our houders.”

“How old are you?” Alex asked. “In your mid-fifties? What is there for you to learn that you don’t already know?”

Two laughed. “Only the young would talk like that. I’ve had a lifetime to realise how little I know.”

“Tell me about your life.” Alex settled down with his head on the pillow beside Two’s, so they were touching.

He took hold of Two’s hand and held it. “I made a mistake earlier with D, and I regret it. I wasn’t interested in who she is, or what her life is like.

You’re right, I do still have a lot to learn.

So, tell me about your life – I want to know. ”

“Well, I was brought up in the Quarterlands.” Two’s voice was mellow and warm, and he was a born storyteller. Alex felt himself relaxing even more.

“What’s it like there?” Alex asked, remembering the stories Solange and Ted had told him.

“Let’s just say there’s a reason why the IS recruiters target it so vigorously,” Two said quietly. “It’s disgusting. Dirty, degrading, and depressing. I signed up to be an IS as soon as I turned eighteen, just to get out.”

“I had two friends who told me much the same thing,” Alex murmured.

“Are they the pretty lady and the gorgeous blond man from your photos, by any chance?”

“Her. Not him,” Alex said quietly. “I don’t know much about him.”

“And yet you keep his picture?”

“We had a connection.”

“Intriguing. Well, he’s a striking-looking man, so I can understand why you keep his photograph.”

“Carry on with your story. What did you do when you left the Quarterlands?”

“Well, I knew I didn’t want to work in a factory or construction. I was drawn to personal service in a house or hotel, so that’s what I chose. I worked hard and ended up as a personal butler in one of the finest hotels in New London.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Oh yes. I adore being of service. I loved being a butler and would happily have stayed there for the rest of my days.”

“What happened, then?” Alex traced little patterns on Two’s hand with his thumb.

“Something wonderful,” Two said quietly.

“One day, a businesswoman came to stay at the hotel, and in serving her I found my true purpose. We got on so well that she asked to buy my contract. It had years to run, but she offered the hotel a fortune, so they sold me. I’ve always been mindful of how much she paid for me and strive to justify her faith in me every single day. ”

“I can’t imagine loving a houder so much that all I want to do is serve them. What’s she like?” Alex asked.

Two gave a happy little sigh; this was clearly his favourite subject.

“She’s petite, brunette, and beautiful. She’s the perfect woman – kind, gracious, clever, elegant, and so refined.

She’s very feminine – she loves clothes, and everything in her house has to be just so.

I take care of her laundry myself, and all her personal needs.

It’s unusual. Often a woman would prefer a female IS to offer that kind of service, but my mistress is very comfortable with me. ”

“Perhaps because you’re gay,” Alex said.

Two stiffened. “We’ve never talked about anything so vulgar. Our bond is pure, and I find my greatest fulfilment in serving her.”

Alex had no doubt that he meant every word, but he found it strange all the same. “Why are you still with her?” he asked. “I mean, surely your initial contract has run out?”

“Oh yes, but like I said, I love being in service. I begged her to renew my contract, and she kindly obliged.”

“Maybe some people are just born servants,” Alex murmured.

“And others have to be turned into them.” Two squeezed his hand meaningfully. “The poor staff at Belvedere had no idea the task they were taking on with you. At least the rest of us are relatively tame.”

Alex laughed and closed his eyes. He’d almost drifted off to sleep when Two spoke again.

“Do you mind me asking – if you are to be a servant for the rest of your life, is there not at least some merit in trying to be at peace with the notion?” Two’s voice was filled with sincerity in the darkness.

“You think that’s why I’m fighting with F? Because I haven’t come to terms with being an indie?”

“Isn’t it?” Two asked quietly. “Everything about you screams your unhappiness at the very idea. The rest of us are experiencing no such conflict. We’re used to our station in life. Surely it would be easier for you if you could bridle your temper, suppress your ego, and do the same?”

“You think I’m proud. Privileged. Spoilt.”

“No, I think you’re used to being one of the served, not the servant. I understand, it’s a big adjustment to make – more so for you than for most, I suspect. However, this is your life now. What’s the point of fighting it?” Two asked gently.

Alex removed his hand from Two’s and turned away. “I don’t know any other way to be,” he said.

“But you can learn.” Two dropped a kiss on Alex’s hair. “You were wondering why your houder sent you here, and maybe it’s that simple: he sent you here to learn how to be of service.”