Part of Backstory for Lucretia - Lament - Book 2
Lucretia walked between the trees, cataloging the species as she saw them. Adam permitted her these small luxuries, but knew from the Source that she was treading dangerously close to places where he could not protect her.
It was growing late when Lucretia finally entered the compound. Adam was in her private room next to her shelves.
“What are all of these?”
“Books, Adam. “
“I can see that. Where did you get them?”
“I record what I see. I record what the others tell me.” She ran her fingers along the bindings.
Adam pulled a book from the shelf and flipped it open. Drawings of creatures littered its pages with scrawl along the margins. It was intricate, and Adam could not decipher the strange twists and turns of the ink.
“You wrote all of these?”
“Almost all of them. Some of them were—“
“Where did you get the materials?”
“Uziel provided me with the parchment,” she smiled. “I’ve been over to—“
“Uziel?” Adam interrupted her. “That filthy thing shouldn’t be talking to you.”
“Adam!” She protested. “His fate is sealed. We shouldn’t add insult.”
“The source of everything despises them.” Adam spat.
“But they are harmless! We can learn so much from—“
“No!” He reached out for another book Lucretia had retrieved. “I forbid you–“
Lucretia turned away from Adam, denying him the book.
“Hand me the book.”
“No! “ She pulled away from his grasp. “Adam!” She twisted “Adam, these are mine!”
“Obey me!”
Adam grabbed her wrist firmly and smiled as he bent it cruelly. Lucretia cried out. She held the book in her free hand.
“Please, Adam. You’re hurting me.”
Adam released her and she fell. Adam grabbed the shelf and pulled it back. “You disobedient wretch.”
Lucretia shrieked and raised her hand to block the shelf that spilled over onto her. She sobbed as she pulled herself out from under the mess of books.
Adam stormed out of the room.
Lucretia pulled herself into a corner of the room and pulled her legs in close to her body. Why was he so angry? She would teach him to read if that was it. He hadn’t even ventured beyond the compound, sending his creatures into town in his place.
Adam walked out of the home and across the garden into the temple.
“You should burn the books. They aren’t safe.”
Adam was alone in the antechamber, but the Source found him and spoke through the stones.
“What do they say?”
“They are filled with lies. Lucretia has found the outer world too tempting.”
Adam stroked the stubble on his chin. “She doesn’t listen to me.”
“She listens. But the pestilence has emboldened her against you. She has her own mind about things.”
Adam smiled, but looked concerned. “She is more clever than I.”
“She simply possesses knowledge you do not have.”
Adam looked into the air. “Why can’t I learn these things? Maybe then I could reason with her.”
“Oh, my beloved Adam. “ The room brightened. “You have a purpose here. You think that you must desire what they have, but the opposite is true. Those fallen seek to prevent a glorious event from transpiring.” Adam could not catch his breath. “This I cannot allow to happen. My will be done.” Adam felt pressure in his brain and around his throat. “Those who have left me want something that you andLucretia hold within you.” Adam’s mouth opened as he gasped for oxygen. “A special gift.” Adam reached for his throat and fell to the ground kicking. “It will germinate until the end of days.”
Adam stopped moving.
The light grew dim again. Blood trickled from Adam’s nose as his eyes stared into space.
Adam’s back arched painfully and he rasped as he inhaled.
“You hold my first breath.”
Adam breathed out and then contorted as he breathed in painfully again.
“You will bring peace to this conflict.”
Lucretia had replaced the books onto the shelf when Adam stumbled into the room.
“Adam!” Lucretia rushed to him and caught him, preventing his fall. “Adam, what’s happened?”
“You.”
She helped him over to the bed, but he brushed her help aside.
“Lucretia, my wife.” Adam looked down on her with burning eyes.
Lucretia shrank back. “Adam, I’m sorry, I—“
“Lucretia.” Adam raised his palm to her and motioned for her silence. “You are never again to engage with these creatures.”
“But, Adam.”
“Silence!” Adam stood squarely in between her and her books.
Lucretia looked at her books, and up at Adam. She could almost feel what he would say next.
“Lucretia, you are never again to consort with these creatures.” Adam pointed to the shelf. “These books will be destroyed and you are never to raise ink to parchment again.”
Lucretia’s heart sank as Adam continued.
“You are to join me in the prayer room every morning and every evening and any other time I call for you.” Adam touched his finger to her chest. “I command the creatures here. I command the winds and the waters. I am the authority here. Not those --” Adam pointed beyond the garden. “Not those things.”
Lucretia knew that Adam was not bluffing. He had been granted dominion over all living things, to steward them here in the garden.
“You are here to serve as my companion.” He pushed hard into her chest. “Nothing more.”
Lucretia could feel herself biting her lip. What was sadness became anger, knotting up in her stomach. But she looked up submissively. “Of course, Adam.” She pushed a smile to her lips, “I love you, husband.”
“Good. Do not disobey me. The source of all we have can be kind to us, but we have to obey.”
“Yes, husband.” Lucretia could feel the hairs stand on her neck as she forced herself into this role.
“Good.” Adam turned to leave and walked to the door, but then stopped.
“What is it, my husband.”
Adam smiled. “You first.”
Lucretia looked at her books, then back at Adam who was motioning her out of the room. She looked at the books again and then again at Adam. That bastard was smiling. He was enjoying this! She maintained a stoic visage and walked past him out of the room. He locked the door behind himself and marshaled her from the home.
Lucretia had no intention of staying. She could feel nothing but hate and betrayal coming from her husband. She turned to walk the path out of the garden, but Adam stopped her, “Where do you think you are off to?”
Her eyes watered, and she bit her lip. “To gather food, of course, my husband.”
“No.”
She grew flustered, “No?”
“No, I am confining you to the temple for the day.”
Lucretia spun around. “You can’t be serious.”
“Do not disobey. Move.”
Lucretia backed away waving her hands and shaking her head. “Adam, you know I can’t be in there.”
“An exception has been made.”
“No! Adam. I’m not going in there.”
Adam clenched an unclenched his fists. “Woman! You will go in there right now. You won’t argue.”
Lucretia shook her head vigorous, “No, no, no.” She backed away further.
“Lucretia!” Adam’s voice was savage and wind poured in from behind her. Adam’s voice boomed through the trees around the garden. The trees dipped until each was touching the one next to it. Lucretia could hear growling from the forest.
“So, I’m a prisoner?”
“You are my wife.” His voice boomed. The sky darkened and Adam’s face twisted and contorted like black wisps of smoke had made its way into his skin.
Lucretia knew that something had changed. She felt very afraid and with the next step backwards, her husband roared, “Kneel!”
Lucretia felt the wind knocked from her lungs, and she feel to one knee, her head lowering before her master. The wind and thunder did not cease. The temple door opened on its own. Adam was channeling the source, and she could feel its power. She had seen Adam use his position before on the outsiders who unwittingly found their way here. There would be no compromise.
“Yes, Adam.” She sobbed as she was allowed to her feet. She walked towards the temple, but not of her own volition. Adam had her now. She wouldn’t be able to stop moving had she wanted. The wind buffeted her forward, through the arch, and she could barely turn to see her master before the door slammed shut behind her, leaving Lucretia in darkness.
