“As I love you, Sister," he responded.

Hassar made a bitter, grunting sound and tossed her head in irritation turning away. I took her moment to take one of my own. I moved to hug and kiss each of my men before she made them leave.

“Boys grow up in the Keepers all the time," Christof soothed when I hugged him. "Don't mourn him, Sister."

Hassar broke in and demanded the men Leave. She also demanded they stop calling me Sister. It offended her that they would use the sacred bond she shared with her family to imply slavery.

Damien didn't flinch as he faced her.

“You will understand one day," he promised her. "This is not our slave; she is our Sister."

My men were taken away and Hannah handed me a small, wooden square. Inside the square was a black and white drawing of Jonathan surrounded by his Brothers.

"One of the families here can draw," Kennedy explained.

“We brought them here and told them what we wanted them to do. There is nothing in this camp like a printer. They exist, but we do not have access."

Hannah had tears in her eyes as she ran a finger over Jonathan's image. "This is from just a moon ago. The boys saw something in the sky and they all looked at the camera at the same time. It struck me as something you would want," she said softly.

It was something I would want. I would put it on my shelf in my room and look at it every day.

"This room," Kennedy said, “is not the formal observation room for working. It is for mothers like you and fathers like Evan to come and see their sons. We have programmed the pad to recognize your human hand print and associated it with Jonathan. Any time you wish to see what he has been doing come in here and follow the instructions."

My tears refused to stop falling as I held the small picture to my chest. I'd kept what I could of Jonathan's baby clothes and blankets, but those were all at the compound. This was all I had of him.

Rose took my hand and I saw her drying the tears from her own eyes. She had helped raise Jonathan with me, as if he were the son she could never have. She felt the pain of losing him as much as any of us did. We all suffered for this decision.

“Dinner will be served soon," Hannah said pulling herself together. "Go put your things in your room and come down to meet us."

I shook my head and looked down at the picture of Jonathan's happy face.

"I promised to eat with someone named Arik," I said softly. "He grows things."

“Good,” Hannah said decisively, “that will please the Administrators, keep doing things like that. The faster they see you acting Like a free woman, the sooner we can start working on changing their minds about Daddy and his Brothers."

“Damien's family is going to have to change, too," Kennedy said softly.

“Did you hear Damien ask for cream for her? They can't keep her Like an orchid anymore. We need to talk with them. They have to understand.”

“Let's take them hunting to make sure they eat and show them around,“ Hannah said and Ra agreed.

ALL the girls planned to spend some time with the men tonight.