Ties Stronger Than Blood

Ties Stronger Than Blood
by Scribe

Chapter Nine

Marko enjoyed the walk back to the motel. Santa Carla was a pleasant place. He wouldn't mind living somewhere like here. He thought about David and the others. *I wouldn't mind living here--period. Yeah, this wouldn't be a bad place to settle down. I'm pretty sure I could find a job. After all, California is supposed to be the land of opportunity.*

He went on the bus again, opening the windows to catch a breeze, then made himself comfortable and started reading the comic books. He had intended to start on one about zombies, but he found himself pulling out the vampire book that had been forced on him. The comic was never going to win any awards. The drawing was crude, the dialogue was stilted, and the plotting was rudimentary. Still, there was something compelling about it--powerful. *This thing reads more like an instruction booklet about vampires than a piece of fiction. It's practically a list of signs of vampirism, how to spot a vampire, how to repel a vampire, how to kill a vampire. Kind of interesting, but hardly enough to carry a book.*

The station wagon pulled up, and Marko quickly slipped the comic back into its bag, then tossed the bag over onto another seat. He took up his Bible and opened it at random. He found a short verse and started committing it to memory as Ruth got out of the vehicle. As he had thought she might, she entered the bus, rather than going to her room.

"Mark," she said as she came down the aisle, "I'll admit I'm a little surprised to find you occupying yourself productively. I would have expected you to be doing something frivolous with your free time."

"Your confidence in me is touching, Mother Ruth," he said blandly.

She frowned as she sat down opposite him. "You still need to work on your attitude, boy."

Marko's eyes glinted, but his voice was neutral as he said, "I am, I am."

Ruth grunted, then opened her purse. "I have something I need you to sign." She pulled out a thin sheaf of papers, which were bound together at the top. She flipped to the back page, then pointed. "Sign here and here, and put your initials here."

Marko stared at her. For a moment he considered simply folding his hands under his arms, but then he decided that he NEEDED to find out what this was all about. Ruth had been to see a lawyer, and now she wanted him to sign something that looked official. Yes, this was definitely something to be looked into. He took the papers and said, "What is this, exactly?"

"It's just something to do with the group." She offered him a pen. "Press down. It's on that automatic carbon paper, but you'll need to use enough force to go through."

"What is it?"

She frowned. "I told you--group business. You don't need to worry about it--I take care of the business."

"Ruth, if there's one thing anyone with half a brain knows, you don't sign anything without reading it."

"Mark, you wouldn't understand it, anyway."

"Then explain it to me."

He could hear her teeth gritting. "Just sign it."

Marko examined the last page, then ran his finger lightly over the surface near the bottom. He brought it close to his face, studying it, then lowered it, staring at Ruth. "Ruth?" His voice was gentle. "This seems to have been notarized already."

She didn't even twitch. "I had it done before I came home, to save time. I had no idea where you were, and there was no point in taking the time and trouble to hunt you down and drag you to a notary. He notarized MY signature, and it will work well enough for yours."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that just the teeniest bit illegal?"

"Mark, this is unimportant--it's just a small thing."

"There are very few small things when it comes to legal papers. If I was to sign this, it would be no good."

"There's... Mark, there is no reason why anyone would bother to question this, and even if they did as long as you agree, there's no problems."

"Okay, here's the thing--what if I don't agree?"

"Young man, this is nothing but something to insure your future, now you sign it!" Her voice had taken on the 'I am speaking for the Lord' tone.

*Oh, now I really want to know what this is.* He flipped to the first page and started reading.

"Mark, will you quit wasting time?"

"This doesn't strike me as a waste." He blinked, then looked up at Ruth. "This is a contract."

"I told you it's to assure your future."

He kept reading. "This is a contract for me to work for the director of the Glory Singers--you. A binding contract that says..." he kept reading.

"Mark, sign the papers."

"A ten year contract, with a renewal option--at your discretion. Salary to be five per cent of moneys taken in for appearances, and two per cent royalty on music sales." He looked up at her. "Five per cent, and two per cent. You know, that might almost work out to minimum wage, during a good stretch."

"You don't need more. I'll continue providing your shelter, clothing, and transportation. That's very substantial."

"An occasional motel room, fast food, and a bus. Lavish."

Her face reddened. "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!"

Marko sneered. "That's Shakespeare, Ruth--not the Bible." She slapped him. Marko froze, then one hand crept up to touch the smudge on his cheek. "Careful, Ruth," he said softly. "I have to work tomorrow night. You don't want to leave a mark."

She spoke through clenched teeth. "Sign--the--damn--papers."

"I don't think so. Right now I'm considered a dependent--under your guardianship. In a few months, I'm going to be legally an adult. I'm not about to sign myself over into what would amount to bondage. Besides..." he tossed the papers into her lap, and smirked. "I'm under age--it's doubtful my signature would hold any water, especially if I stated it was coerced. And I would, Ruth. Trust me on that."

"As your guardian, I can make contracts on your behalf."

"One that would benefit you? Don't think so. It would be the same thing. All I'd need to break it would be a lawyer, and believe me, I'd do it. I'd scrub toilets to afford it, and I would instruct them to put you through as much hell as they can."

She was staring at him in near shock. "Boy... you have never spoken to me like that before."

"And you believed I never thought that way? You've got a high opinion of yourself, Ruth. I've been keeping my head down, but now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm getting out of this, and there's nothing you can do about it."

"I could..."

"What? Throw me out?" She was silent. "I didn't think so. You'd better squirrel away all that you can now, because once I'm out from under your thumb--you don't get a dime from me." He leaned over and grabbed the bag off the seat, opened it, and pulled out the vampire comic book. "Now, if you'd excuse me--I'd like to do a little reading." He opened the book and began to read.

She sat there, staring at him, for more than two minutes. Instead of becoming nervous or irritated, Marko felt amused. Ruth could only be hoping to intimidate him with her disapproval, and that just wasn't going to happen. Finally Ruth got up and picked up the discarded paper. She put them in her purse and said stiffly, "I'll talk to you about this again when you're more reasonable."

"I've never been more reasonable in my life." She started toward the bus door. Just before she descended, Marko said, "I suppose it's no use to say this, but don't bother John about it. No matter what he says to me I won't change my mind, because I'll know he's just mouthing your words." He looked up from the book, catching her eyes. "He loves me, and he wants me to be happy. You know what else, Ruth? He just might look at me and realize that if I can break away, so can he. Wouldn't that be a pisser?" Her face contorted with rage, and she turned back toward Marko. Instead of flinching, Marko closed the comic book and laid it aside, sitting forward. His expression was hard. She stopped, studying him. Without another word, she left the bus. Marko called after her, "God grant you the serenity to accept the things you can't change. I won't say let him grant you the strength to change what you can, because you'll walk over someone to force a change, but you damn sure need the wisdom to know the difference!"

He sat back, and murmured, "Sorry, John. I know you won't resent it, but--sorry."

A little later John came out and went to each of the other two rooms. Marko had a feeling that he was passing on Ruth's directives--probably telling all the musicians that Marko was in disgrace, and was to be shunned until further notice. She'd done it before, knowing that one of Marko's few pleasures was the companionship of the other men. They didn't always obey her, but it had happened often enough to make his life that little bit more uncomfortable. John tossed Marko an apologetic look before he went back into his room, and Marko just shrugged, hoping that John realized that he didn't hold it against him.

That evening Marko watched as Ruth and John came out of their room to go to supper. Ruth sailed to the station wagon, her nose in the air. John was looking strained. *Hm, no invitation. Looks like I'm being punished.* A few minutes after they drove away, Luther came out, looked to be sure that the other two were gone, and came to the bus.

"Hey, Luther. Better be careful."

He sighed. "Yes, she said that no one is to speak to you till you have meditated on your disrespect, and listened to the still small voice, telling you to obey your elders."

Marko smiled. "She actually said that?"

Luther returned the smile. "I'm sure she phrased it something like that. Do you have any money left?" Marko indicated the bag of comics. Luther pulled out his wallet and offered him a ten.

"Luther, I don't want to take it. I know you aren't exactly dripping with cash."

"Take it, Marko. I'm not going to see you go hungry."

Marko accepted the bill. "It wouldn't be the first time. You know, it's amazing how often her decision that I need to fast comes right after I've pissed her off somehow." He folded the bill and tucked it in his pocket. "I'll pay you back."

"If you can, but there's no hurry. Will you meet your new friends?"

"I hope so. I didn't see them today, but I get the sense that they aren't around much during the day."

"That's good. I'm glad you're making the effort to get some sort of life outside this... this... artificial pen Ruth has created."

"Yeah, it's a pen, and she was going for an actual prison. Do you know what she was doing at the lawyer's."

Luther's expression tightened. "John told me. Thank God you have good sense, boy, and a backbone."

"Luther..." He sat forward, and put a hand on his arm. "I'm getting out of here on my birthday--you know that, right?" He nodded. "I don't want to leave John alone with that bitch, but I have no choice. I've got the determination now, but I can't risk staying. That woman has the talent for just sucking everything good out of anyone around her. I've seen it happen to John. I want to get him away from her."

Luther closed his eyes briefly. "Bless you, Mark. He needs to leave. He's a good man, and she won't let him be a man."

"But you do." Luther's eyes sprang open in alarm, but Mark squeezed his arm reassuringly. "No, Luther, it's all right. We both love him. You'll come, too, right? Things may be a little tight, but we'll be able to make it together. Will you?"

"Of course. Where John goes, I go."

Mark gave him a pat. "What do you think of Santa Carla, Luther?"

"It's a nice place. The people seem very friendly."

Marko's smile was brilliant. "They are. I think maybe this is where I'll come to when I'm finally rid of that witch. I think I'd like to stay here a long, long time."