Carnal Rites by Ines Johnson (learn to read books .TXT) 📕

Jaimes took off down the hall, crashing into a door in his attempt to get outside.

Alyss knew her looks were above the ordinary. She had golden-brown skin adorned with luscious curls that tinted a deep red in some spaces. She had ample breasts, a narrow waist, and wide hips. She'd been told that her hips were good for breeding. They were wasted on her since she had no intention of filling them with any children. She had no interest in males carnally, socially, or intellectually. But she was not above using what the Goddess, and her family genes, gave her to get what she wanted. She was her Mother's daughter after all.

The girls behind LadyMilysa watched the spectacle of Lord Jaimes speeding down the hallway in awe. Then they turned their owl eyes back to Alyss. Lady Milysa flounced off by herself. The other girls hesitated. Alyss saw two of them wearing a similar style dress to what she'd worn only last week. The third girl, whose hair had been straight yesterday, now had her tresses styled in springy curls and pulled back by barrettes that matched her shoes. When the girls received no welcoming smile from Alyss, they hurried after their leader.

"You didn't have to do that," Eryka whispered from behind her.

Alyss shrugged. Lady Milysa was wrong on many accounts. Most of the lords, self-respecting or not, were at her heels. It was Alyss who had no interest in them. And her family's reputation wasn't tarnished. At least not yet. Alyss' harlot of a sister had discovered the key to gender selection. With this scientific find, bonded triads could now choose the gender of their child while in utero. All they needed was for the Insemination Bill, which would allow the procedure to progress to human trials, to pass.

"Don't let snot noses like Milysa get to you," Alyss said. "Girls like her are so small they need to push others down to get ahead."

"It's easy for you to say things like that. You're beautiful."

"I've learned that if you smile at people, they generally do what you want."

"My smile is nothing like yours."

"Your smile is unique. No one else has it," insisted Alyss. Eryka was attractive. She had a shapely figure that called to the ancient Grecian style. Aside from her cleft, the rest of her skin was flawless porcelain, which was topped off with honey blonde hair and blue eyes. "You'd be beautiful too if you'd simply stop wearing that garish red. It's murder on your skin tone. Honestly, Eryka, for someone who understands art the way you do, its a crime."

Eryka cracked a small smile. "Your talents are wasted in the Chamber of Health and Sciences. You belong in here with us in the Chamber of Arts and Culture."

"Don't be silly. Art is a waste of time."

Alyss stole a glance over Eryka's shoulder once more. They'd masked the painting with the sheet once more and were carting the masterpiece off deeper into the chamber. Alyss' shoulders slumped, and she sagged against the door. She hadn't gotten a chance to see beneath the sheet.

She turned to her friend, preparing to take her leave when she realized her folly. Like her, Eryka had no intention of bonding. But not by choice. Eryka's whole life was dedicated to art.

"It's not a waste of time for you of course,” Alyss backpedaled. “You make dirt beautiful."

A tentative smile began at the corners of Eryka's mouth, but then dropped like a stone.

"Alyss."

Alyss held in her groan at the sound of her Mother's voice. She turned into the oncoming storm.

"What are you doing wasting your time out here." Lady Angyla wrinkled her nose at the Chamber of Arts and Culture. "You need to get back to your Chamber. The Male Voice is trying to push down our bill at this very moment."

With barely a goodbye wave to Lady Eryka, Alyss allowed her Mother to usher her down the hall.

They entered the Chamber of Health and Sciences to its beige walls, beige desks, and brown chairs. Alyss' shoulders stiffened as the door closed behind her. Then she brightened when she saw Sister Valyrie. She was dressed in the deep purple robes of her station as a Sister. Alyss sighed every time she saw the color. The purple was going to look perfect with her brown skin tone.

"We implore you, do not take up this bill. A bill of this nature will take away the rights of men."

Alyss focused on the deep voiced man standing before Sister Valyrie. It was the Male Voice. He was a first son who'd eschewed his rights to marriage to speak for all of his gender.

In their society, bills could be brought forth by ordinary citizens -including men. But each bill needed the backing of one of the Chambers to be brought before the full Sisterhood council. Alyss' Mother and Grand Mother had crafted the Insemination Bill and were now looking to have the Chamber of Health and Sciences back the bill and bring it before the council. In addition to bringing this, and various other bills on health and reproductive sciences, to the Chamber of Health and Sciences, Lady Angyla had also bought her daughter a spot in the chambers as a novice. Alyss had been a novice within the chamber since her eighteenth birthday. Now, three years later, she was vying for an apprenticeship under Sister Valyrie. With her family's backing, it was nearly a done deal. She just needed to walk alongside her Mother and sister as they pushed the Insemination Bill into law. With its passage, she’d be made an apprentice.

Alyss' Mother gave her a shove forward. The shove told Alyss that it was time for her to take action.

"With respect, Sister Valyrie," Alyss bowed and waited to be recognized. When Sister Valyrie motioned her forward, Alyss stepped in front of the Male Voice. "Men forfeited their rights when they pushed the button that began nuclear war, genocide, chemical warfare and-"

"That was a dark spot in our human