Welcome to my series of posts aimed at avid fans of Blackthorn who want a little extra insight. 

THE REGULATIONS

They’re mentioned in Blood Shadows, even more so in Blood Roses and they’ll continue to rear their head as the series continues. The regulations underpin much of the prejudice and paranoia in the series and weigh particularly heavily on the minds of the residents of Blackthorn. After all, it was the regulations that introduced the great divide between the human and third species communities.

What are they?

After the third species ‘outed’ themselves, the Global Council was formed and a new structure was put in place.

The regulations were ‘temporary’ provisions presented by the Global Council to ensure the safety and security of humans as well as taking into account the basic needs of the third species. This was to be until such time as the third species could be deemed ‘safe’.

What happened?

You’ll get more and more revelations about this as the series progresses, but as I promised you additional insight…

1) Terms negotiated

It was either potential all-out war or compromise, especially as whispers of a prophecy foretelling of vampires overthrowing human control coincided with the ‘outing’. To some, the outing was interpreted as the first step in the prophecy.

The third species representatives assured to the contrary. The Higher Order (the equivalent of vampire royalty) negotiated the terms – a place to live safely and control of those third species territories until such a time as a merger could be agreed.

They also brought with them a very tempting offer (no spoilers on that yet!) to encourage the Global Council to move forward co-operatively.

As part of the agreement, the Higher Order secured themselves residence in the more privileged Midtown where they work as so-called ambassadors between the third species and the local authority/Global Council. They cannot, however, be political representatives on the Global Council because those with shadows cannot be involved in decision-making that affects humans (a nice little clause the Global Council put in place.)

2) Locales created

A fresh start was needed to ensure adequate segregation. Cities, towns and villages were disbanded and third species ‘cores’ were created across regions. Temporary barriers were put in place and these cores were subsequently segregated from each other by series of outlying districts – a collection of which became known as a ‘locale’.

A locale consists of four border-controlled districts. In the Blackthorn series, they’re Blackthorn, Lowtown, Midtown and Summerton (more on those here). The further out from the nucleus, the better off you are and the greater the security. Only those in the outlying districts can move between locales.

3) New law enforcement introduced

The Third Species Control (and Intervention) Division was established to deal with minor and major inter- and intra-species issues. It is human lead though ‘consultative’ with the Higher Order.

4) Rules of conduct established to keep control, to keep the peace and to keep everyone in their place

It’s not all good for humans either. The shake-up of the locales also evoked a fresh take on society in general.

Not everyone can live in exclusive Summerton (or similar districts). Residential places have to be earned through regular academic and social contributions and achievements. Even healthcare has to be ’warranted’. Those who don’t achieve adequate annual pointage can be demoted to Midtown or even Lowtown and the climb back up is particularly hard, if achievable at all.

And, of course, if you’re third species but aren’t royalty, or don’t have a particular skill or gift that the Global Council needs, you don’t stand a chance of ever stepping beyond the Blackthorn boundary.

Where are we now?

Over time, this so-called temporary measure became more permanent. The barriers became more restrictive. The rules were tightened. The TSCD became more controlling. The cores gradually became the forgotten dumping grounds – let alone an overspill facility for convicts from the Penitentiaries. Unsurprisingly, locales across regions became a melting pot of unease, injustice and unrest – and none more than Blackthorn. Which is exactly the point I decided to start the series.

It’s my penultimate post of Beneath Blackthorn on Friday where I’ll be sharing some of those ‘rules of conduct’.