ONCE OUTSIDE, MUTTER CONSIDERED running. The tiny rope around his neck, held by the skinny arm of the Almighty wouldn’t stop him, but he wouldn’t make it far, not from here. Too much traffic. Too many Almightys and their Guards.

Ableson climbed inside his carriage. “Get in.”

He’d never ridden in a carriage. He’d always trailed behind on a chain. He crawled inside. It was small, enclosed like a comfortable cage.

“Sit,” said Ableson.

He sat on the bench across from the Almighty. It was soft, smashing up around him.

“I’m Ableson. What do they call you?”

“Mutter.”

“That’s an odd name.”

He shrugged. His older sister had given it to him. She’d hated him, blamed him for losing their home. According to her, before he’d been born she and their mother had lived in a nice home adored by loving Almightys, until their mother had taken up with a stray Guard. As soon as the Almightys had seen Mutter, they’d known his mother had mated with someone besides his sister’s father. They’d been planning on sending him and his mother to the Guards’ Shelter, but Mom had taken her children and fled. By the time he’d realized that his name was a whisper of hate, he’d had other things to worry about like where he’d find food and shelter. His mother had died when he was five and his sister had abandoned him.

“Do you have anything you want to ask me about your new home or why I picked you?” Ableson’s eyes were eager, like he was dying to talk.

“No.” He knew better than to question an Almighty. He’d find out everything he needed to know as the days progressed.

Ableson laughed. “The professor is going to love you.”

He wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that. No one had loved him since his mother.

Ableson stared out the window for several moments. When he turned back toward Mutter his eyes were sad. “I’m sure you wonder why I made you…you know.”

He didn’t wonder. Almightys were cruel and did as they wanted.

“You have to be curious?”

Obviously the Almighty wanted some kind of response. “You wanted a Guard who would obey. Now, you know. I’ll obey.”

“That’s right. I needed proof that you would do whatever I ask of you.”

“I’ll do what the Almighty wants.” At least until he had the opportunity to run. He’d been a stray before. It wasn’t pleasant but he could do it again.

“Excellent.” Ableson patted Mutter’s leg.

He fought to keep his face impassive when he wanted to punch Ableson over and over again until the memory of the little Guard was gone and all that remained was a bloody piece of Almighty pulp.

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“We are working on a very important project. We’ve failed in the past, but I believe that with you we will succeed. You’ll have plenty of good food and a nice place to sleep. I think you’ll be happy with me and the professor.”

“I’ll be happy.” He coughed again but this time he had a hard time stopping.

“We’ll give you something for that cold.” Ableson took out a notepad and began writing.

As the coughing subsided, Mutter relaxed in the comfortable seat. The unconscious face of the battered, little Guard haunted him. He stared out the window, forcing the image away. The night was glorious, warm and sultry. He’d never thought to see the moon again or breathe the fresh air. He’d made the right choice. The little Guard would not have died for him, so why should he have sacrificed himself for her?

The carriage pulled to a stop and they exited. The yard was large with a manicured lawn that stretched to the woods. A red brick, two-story house sat at the end of the driveway next to another larger building which was surrounded by a fence.

“Come, I’ll show you where you’ll stay.” Ableson led him through the fence and into the building.

It was the cleanest place he’d ever seen. The white tile floor was spotless. He shook the dirt off his feet before following Ableson into the building.

They maneuvered through hallways and stairwells, stopping on the fifth floor. The scent of fear and other smells that he couldn’t quite place assailed him.

“Come.” Ableson stood in an open doorway.

His instincts told him to run but he’d never find his way back out of the building. He entered the room. It was filled with cages and laboratory equipment.

Ableson unlocked the door to a cage and opened it. “This is your room.”

There was a pile of blankets on the floor, more blankets than Mutter had seen in his life and a small table and chair. He swallowed a lump in his throat but entered the cell. He had to sleep somewhere. This wouldn’t be permanent. It was probably just for the night.

“I’ll bring you some food.” Ableson pulled the cage door closed and left.

He leaned down, feeling the blankets. They were soft and smelled like flowers. He wanted to collapse into them and sleep until his ribs quit hurting but sounds from the other enclosures drew him forward. He grasped the bars of the cage and inhaled, as deep as he could without causing his cough to start again. He couldn’t quite place the scents. The odors of House Servant and Guard were strong but there were other smells too; ones he didn’t recognize. There was movement in a few of the cells, but the motion wasn’t quite right. In one cage, it was more a dragging than walking and whatever was in the cell next to his, made a noise like claws on the tile, tap, tap, tap as it scurried around its enclosure.

Ableson came back carrying a tray of food. He opened the cage and placed it on the table. Mutter’s mouth watered at the selection of meat and bread.

“You can eat in a minute. Take off your shirt,” said Ableson.

He pulled his shirt over his head.

Ableson examined his chest, poking and prodding. Mutter tried to keep the pain from showing but the Almighty’s fingers seemed to find the exact right spots.

“Give me your arm.” Ableson drew blood and then headed for the door. “Enjoy your meal and rest. I’ll give you something for the pain tomorrow.”

“The pain is almost gone.” He couldn’t appear weak or sick.

Ableson shook his head. “We are going to work closely together. This will not work if you lie to me.”

Mutter lowered his gaze. “I won’t. I promise.” He could not mess this up. He was caged again and would not be able to flee.

“The pain?”

He raised his eyes but knew better than to hold the Almighty’s gaze. It was a sign of disrespect and honestly, he scared most Almightys. “Still hurts but not as bad as before.”

“Very good.” Ableson pointed to a small door at the back of the cell. “Bathroom is in there. I expect you to stay clean.” He left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Mutter waited two seconds and then sat at the table, shoving food into his mouth. It was good. He barely ever got meat and never whole pieces, just scraps. The things in the other cells became more active once Ableson left. He swore a long, skinny, bristly arm shot out from between the bars of the cell next to him. He blinked twice but there was nothing there. It had to be his imagination. It had to be.