All to protect himself.
Master stood from his seat as 901 was dragged out of the pit by four guards. My heart swelled and burst, then regained a lost beat when a hint of a smile had pulled on his split lips.
He was so handsome. I cared for him so much, it seemed an almost impossible sensation to endure.
Master walked into a throng of people, all fussing and panicking over the champions’ attack. Master was trying his best to calm them all down, but I could see the strain and anger on his face.
A hand gripped my arm, and I found myself being forced to my feet by a guard. He guided me roughly to the beginning of a tunnel where Maya waited to take me back to my room. Her eyes were facing the floor in submission as I met her. She fell into step beside me and we hurried to follow the guard. I rushed as fast as I could through the hallways. I was glad that the guard was quick, clearly needing to return to the pit. I wanted to be alone with Maya. I needed to work out a way to get to 901.
As soon as we arrived at the door, the guard threw both Maya and me into the room. He slammed the door shut, and silence descended on us when we were left in our own company.
Maya’s head raised, and she moved to lock the bolt on the inside. When she did, I gestured with my hand to the side room to be sure we couldn’t be overheard.
As soon as the curtain was closed, sectioning us off from the rest of the room, she said, “Miss? What is happening? The entire place is in a fluster!”
I pressed my hand over my forehead and sat down on the couch. Maya crouched before me. I shook my head in disbelief at the actions of today. Maya took hold of my hand for support. I cast her a grateful smile. Meeting Maya’s eyes, I confided, “The champions revolted.”
Maya’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. “901?” she questioned in concern.
I shook my head. “He was trapped in the waiting cell. It was the other two males.” I quickly explained the rest.
Maya got to her feet and guided me to the chair in the center of the room. I sat on the vanity seat, and I sighed as she released the pins that were keeping up my hair. I groaned as her fingers raked over my scalp, and I heard Maya sigh.
“What?” I asked, feeling a nervous energy flowing from where she stood.
She walked around me slowly. “Miss,” she said softly, and I watched as a small smile spread on her lips.
“What?”
Maya took my hand. “I discovered your name.”
In a split second, my pulse raced at a heady speed. “What?” I whispered in disbelief.
Maya nodded her head and squeezed my hand. “And I know 901’s, too.”
“How?”
Maya shrugged. “I have been asking the chiri to help me.” She raised one shoulder. “We are a close community. We help one another.” Meeting my eyes, she said, “One of the chiri cleans the offices where the files for all slaves are kept. I asked her for yours and 901’s.”
My body was tense as I waited for her to reveal the biggest mystery to me. “You are Inessa Belrova, miss. From Russia.”
As she told me my name, it felt as though the invisible chains that kept me in darkness were breaking free from my soul. “Inessa … Belrova…” I repeated, and felt tears flow down my cheeks.
Maya wiped them away with her thumb, then said, “And 901 is named Ilya, Ilya Konev. He too is Russian.”
A sob slipped from my lips as I thought of 901’s, I meant Ilya’s, handsome face against that beautiful name. “Ilya,” I whispered, treasuring the sound of those letters on my tongue. “Inessa and Ilya.”
I laughed this time, the sound strained through my hoarse throat. I blinked to clear my vision. “We have names,” I said to Maya. She nodded her head. “Names,” I repeated, and this time, she laughed, too.
Leaning forward, I wrapped Maya in my arms. “How can I ever thank you?” I asked. Maya tensed. I immediately pulled back.
Her eyes dipped and she said, “Since I was sent to serve you, you have treated me as though I were alive, that I am somebody. This is worth more than I could ever give you, miss.”
“You’re wrong,” I said as my heart warmed. Maya shook her head. A sudden seriousness set in her expression. I waited patiently for her to speak.
“Miss, I found something else, too.” I held my breath as she revealed, “You had a brother, too. He was named Valentin, Valentin Belrov.”
At this moment I felt as if I were a cracked vase, taken back in time. I was the broken pieces, shattered and seeming irreparable, suddenly fixed and re-forming into a normal state.
“Valentin,” I said, and immediately saw a young boy holding me in his arms as we traveled in a small cage. I was crying, but he held me close, kissing me and making me feel safe. The boy that I waved to.
I pressed my hand over my lips. My eyes fluttered, when I whispered, “I’ll miss you.” Maya didn’t react to my words, didn’t ask why I had said it, but I explained, “When I was taken from him, when he was fighting to get me back…” A sudden image of high walls and towers flooded my mind. Snow and steep dark steps. “But I waved from far away and told him, ‘I’ll miss you.’”
My heart felt like it was cracking as an onslaught of images raced through my mind. Him as a young boy, training in the pits. Then him slightly older, near Maya’s age, with a metal collar around his neck. My hand lifted to my neck and I let my fingertips drift over the skin.
“He wore a collar,” I said, seeing a female dressed in all black using me to make him yield. “Mistress,” I said, and it was said harshly. I barely remembered the female, yet something told me that I hated her with all my being.
“Yes,” Maya clarified. “Master’s sister. She was the one who took both you and your brother away with her.”
“But I came back,” I clarified. Maya nodded sadly.
Sadly.
“What?” I questioned.
Maya sighed, then revealed, “Mistress was killed. Not too long ago. We don’t know how or by whom or even where, but she is dead.”