AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My family also has systems in place,” I say calmly. “But it doesn’t have to end this way. We can all thrive and prosper, and we can honor the charter—with a few changes.”
A babble of outrage rises, and I hold up my hands. “Don’t give me any bullshit about how you follow the charter like the Bible. Even people who follow the actual Bible make allowances for changing times. Do you know many Christians these days who literally believe ‘thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,’ or believe that those who masturbate should be killed? No. And as for your charter, did Isaiah have razor wire around the woods and guards on the day he killed his cousin?”
They all mumble and look at each other defensively.
“Isaiah claimed women who sinned against him or his family members, and kept them in his cabin. Did he do it with shock collars that would zap them unconscious if they crossed the property’s boundaries?”
“We’re adapting to modern times,” one man protests angrily, but he looks defensive, and I know I’ve struck a chord.
“Exactly. Isaiah said that a true man only ate food that he caught and killed with his own hands, and only lived in a house that he’d built with his own hands, and only wore clothing sewn by either a bride or a sinner that he had subjugated. How many of you follow those rules?” None of them. They all live in mansions and buy their clothing from the finest haberdasheries.
“It’s a metaphor,” Orion protests. “We earn our own money. Our women launder our clothing and press them for us. We honor the spirit of the charter in all things.”
“But you don’t follow the charter word for word, and you admit that you have changed with the times. And so will we. Number one. We will still have hunts, and my father and I can help bring you many men here to hunt. Not only that, but you can visit him in Europe and hunt there, in the forest land that he owns.”
They’re looking at me suspiciously. I need to sell it harder.
“Number two, we will still punish sinners, but we’re raising the bar on what sins they must commit. Because of that, we’ll expand our collection of sinners beyond those who sin against the family. Solomon?”
Solomon has been wirelessly hooking his laptop to a projector in the back of the room as I spoke. He presses a button, and a picture of a slender, beautiful, bottle blonde appears on the screen. She’s shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Simon and I have been tracking down these women for the past few weeks, ever since I first learned about how the Franklin family operated.
“This woman flooded her house with carbon monoxide and killed her husband and children for insurance money, and she never got caught. But we’ll punish her.”
Now the men look interested. Their eyes rove over the blonde’s beautiful figure greedily. “A woman who smites down her family is a terrible sinner indeed,” Orion says to Thomas, who nods.
Solomon calls up another video. A beautiful Hispanic woman is in her bedroom, making out with a handsome, muscular young man. “This woman conspired with her stepson, whose tongue she’s swallowing right now, to kill her husband. She’ll be visiting us very soon, and so will he.” Several of the men perk up considerably at that. Artemis had already told me about the Franklin men who enjoy sexually violating other men. There’s something for everyone here.
Solomon shows them a few more pictures of women who are absolute knockouts and absolutely evil. Gorgeous female gang members who lure in rivals to be butchered. A female doctor in Russia who snuffs out patients on the operating table in exchange for a hefty fee from family members who stand to benefit.
I can see the lust in their eyes. They’re licking their lips, moving restlessly. I’ve got their attention.
“My father and I will guarantee twenty new sinners here by the end of this month. And we will keep you well supplied. Now, here are the other changes. No more deadly ordeals for your sons. No more children dying to prove their worth.”
Some of the men mutter rebelliously, but a lot of them look relieved. The parental instinct is a strong one, too strong for even a lifetime of brainwashing to erase completely. Most of these men will be happy to know that all of their children won’t die brutal, unnecessary deaths.
“And no more kidnapping women to make them your wives. Not unless you want to marry a sinner, a woman who has done something so horrendous that she has earned that fate.”
That raises shouts of protest. Men jump to their feet, arguing and bellowing.
“Never,” Thomas shouts at me. “Never. I’ll die first.”
“Now?” I say, my fingers sliding across the keyboard. He stands there, jaw working, face flushed red with rage. He glances around him for support, and the men across the table are clenching their fists and tensing. I knew this would be a sticking point, but I’m not backing down. Mostly because I know that Camille and my mother will have to be told everything and wouldn’t be able to live with the kidnapping of innocent young women.
“I will concede that those of you who have already claimed brides won’t have to divorce. I am doing this because if you set them free, they would inevitably talk and bring down the entire family. Also, if they have children, that raises some thorny issues. You will be monitored, though, and you may not lift a hand to them ever again. You will not share them with others, and if they choose not to have sex with you, you will honor their refusal. And every one of them will be informed of their new status.”
I’ve set off a bomb with my words. More shouting, more cursing, and threats. Many of the men look as if they’re ready to come over the table and murder me on the spot—if only they could. I haven’t even discussed the current “sinners.” These women will have to live out their lives on the property because of their neck collars, and again, because they would tell people about the family. However, I am calling a halt to the rape and torture of the current group of sinners because their “sins” were not severe enough to warrant it, and a good number of them were merely the unfortunate descendants of other “sinners.” There will be no more breeding, and pregnant women will be allowed to keep and raise their children here on the estate.
It takes several minutes for the shouting to die down to a dull roar.
I know Camille and my mother will hate that part of the bargain. They would want the women to be freed. But there’s only so much that I can ask of these men, and even making the demands that I have is risking all of our lives. Life is full of ugly compromises. This is the best I can do.
“Quiet,” I yell. “And finally, Solomon will be the patriarch. I have no interest. I withdraw my challenge. I will be the security consultant for the family, and believe me, you want someone like me on your side. You’ve all seen what I can do. You’ve seen how I broke past your defenses.”
Solomon and I had agreed on that. They wouldn’t accept me as a leader, no matter what the charter says, especially with the drastic changes forced on them. But there’s a chance they’ll follow Solomon.
It’s a long bitter afternoon. The men are furious, and most of them balk. However, Solomon and I stand firm. They have no choice. If they don’t concede, they will die. Yes, they’d have their revenge, but it would be a hollow one, with every last adult male member of the Franklin family dead, along with their legacy and their traditions.
