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way.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “I wish he wouldn’t.”
     
    Iry approached, making his stand near me. My
hand shot to my nose.
    “Vala, concentrate,” he said in a whisper.
“It will cease. Concentrate.”
    It couldn’t, it was time for the ceremony to
begin.
    The Civilized Sybaris emerged from their
vehicles, walking pompously and wearing their best clothing.
    Tutano was a leader, older, but fit, and he
stepped to the center opening where the Sybaris would browse. He
spoke up as he did every month. “It is time to reward the Elders of
your race with peace and prosperity. May they step forward.”
    Were they that stupid? At least seven people
from our town over the age of sixty stepped from the pick and
choose line and made their way to the vehicles of the Sybaris.
There they entered a larger vehicle.
    Promised a better life, a free life, after
years of never being chosen, they, I believed were the food for the
gatekeepers. Still flesh, but not as fresh. Use them before they go
to waste. That’s what I thought.
    People cheered them as they walked out,
wishing them luck and happiness.
    Me, I didn’t believe they made it far.
    “That will be me one day,” my mother said in
a wistful voice.
    “No,” I replied, “it will not.”
    The choosing ceremony began and the Sybaris
browsed each one of us. A mated pair chose an infant, lifted it
with adoration, and embraced the child. The baby’s natural mother
rejoiced and thanked them.
    Thanked them for taking her baby? Families
aren’t even rewarded when they give a child.
    The Sybaris came and took what they wanted. I
didn’t understand or get it. When picked, people screamed with joy.
I would scream in horror.
    “This is absurd,” I said.
    “Vala!” Iry scolded me in a whisper.
“Cease.”
    I shifted my eyes to him, then I noticed he
looked in another direction.
    Nito .
    Her age was hard to tell. She painted her
face with blue above her eyes, and her lips as red as blood. She
stared at me and walked in our direction.
    Her mate was at her side. I wondered if he
was a chosen companion at one time and she had turned him. His eyes
were not deep like a Sybaris.
    “Such attitude little one.” She walked my way
then stood before me. “You’re not even trying any longer to look as
if you didn’t wear down.”
    Her stench was unbearable. I never recalled
her smelling so badly.
    “I’m waiting on you,” she said.
    “Then you will always have to wait.”
    “If chosen you will go. That is law.” She
lowered her gaze to Sophie and smiled. “Perhaps I need a child in
my life. Would you like to wear the prettiest dresses, feast on the
richest food, have items of play?” she asked Sophie. “Perhaps I
shall choose you as my own.” She reached out her hand to my
sister.
    “No!” I barked. “Don’t touch her.”
    The corner of Nito’s mouth raised in a snide
smile and she glided closer. “Then I choose you.”
    “You can’t,” Iry quickly interjected. “She
isn’t ready. She has one more month of education.”
    “Teacher, please,” Nito scoffed at him. “I
can finish her education.” She turned her head and raised her
voice. “I place bid on this one. Anyone else?”
    “Me,” Iry stated.
    “You can’t.” She laughed at him. “You have
another month, so you have no choice.” Again she shouted to the
other Sybaris. “Any bids?”
    No one said anything.
    “Then I guess…” Nito reached out, “you are
mine.”
    No sooner did her hand touch me, and the
breath of her final word seeped into my nostrils when I was hit
with a sickening wave of nausea. Her foul breath made me gag
uncontrollably and my mouth filled with saliva.
    “Come now.” She tugged my arm.
    She yanked me forward and everything that had
built up in my mouth, involuntarily shot out, landing on her arm,
and when it touched her, Nito screamed in pain.
    The fluid from my mouth was a watery fire
that burned her skin upon contact. She released me and cried out
over and over.