The old man peers at her through his watery eyes and tugs at his red-veined nose. “I can’t believe you, of all people, feel this way, Vi. You do remember what happened when another New Blood resided in our village, do you not? Because I clearly remember what happened on that occasion.”
Vi’s cheeks flush with anger, and my own do the same. I wanna punch the old man in his huge nose for bringing up Jenna’s death to Vi with such cruelty but I don’t. Instead, I bite my lip and let her fight her own battle.
“Of course, I remember,” she grounds out. “It is hard to forget the day your child and husband were killed. And because I do remember, it’s why I think Jax is right. We need to end this. Fight back. Stand up for ourselves and the children and give them some sort of hope. They need to be able to live and not in fear.”
“Ma is speaking the truth. We need to do this. We need to fight.” Jax’s words are filled with passion, but it don’t seem to sway the old man.
“Stand up? How? Again, we are not fighters. We can’t stand up to the Prezedant’s men. And even if we did, they would just send more men. Men that would make us suffer for retaliating.”
“Yes, we can.” Don’t know why I’m getting in on this and backing up Jax. Only mere weeks—shizen days ago even—I was saying the exact same thing. But the words start pouring out. “I’ve done it. Beaten them at their own game. I ain’t sayin’ it’s gonna be easy, but Vi is right. If we don’t stop ‘em, they’ll just keep takin’ more and more ‘til you ain’t got nuthin’ left. Not even hope.
“And I’ve seen what it’s like livin’ with no hope. The people he keeps locked up in his city, servin’ him and his elite? Well, they been beaten’ down so much that they ain’t got a flicker of hope left. They don’t even live like people anymore. They’re liked caged animals just waitin’ to die and be put outta their misery. And the young’uns he takes? They suffer horrors and abuse you cain’t even begin to imagine. Things I cain’t ever explain, even though I’ll never forget seein’ it as long as I live. You cain’t let that happen to your young’uns.” I stop to breathe, surprised at the amount of words I’ve said. I ain’t ever been the real talkin’ type.
I think maybe I’ve gotten through to ‘em. Jax even smiles proudly at me across the span separating us, but then the old one speaks again. “A rousing argument to be sure, but I’ll say again we are not fighters. I am responsible for my village and my people. I won’t let anything happen to them, not while I can help it. Fighting the soldiers is pointless. Jax tells us you carry the New Blood powers, but we have no proof of that. And we have no assurance of how volatile those powers can be. We’ve already suffered that lesson, and we cannot take that chance again. I won’t jeopardize the safety of my people. You all need to get back into that machine and leave.”
He gets to his feet and starts ushering us towards the shanty door.
“Larius, you have to listen—” Vi starts, but he cuts her off.
“I have listened and my decision is made. I’ll give you until morning to leave. In respect for Vi, I won’t kick you out in the dead of night. But in the morning, you must be gone. If the soldiers are to show soon, you can’t be here, or else I may just hand you over myself.”
Already frustrated at his denseness, my skin prickles with anger, and I open my mouth to growl at the old man, but Jax realizes what I’m about to do and yanks me out the door.
“No, leave it be, Tara. Let them mull over what we’ve told them. I’m positive they’ll change their mind.”
“Argh,” I cry as I pull my arm outta Jax’s grip. “Why are they being so dang stubborn? Cain’t they see that by givin’ up the village’s crops to the Army to help feed ‘em is only makin’ it worse?”
Mack shrugs as he ushers me to follow Vi. “They’re scared, Tara. It’s a natural reaction. Remember how scared you were at first? Give them time to think about it. We’ll approach them again in the morning after they’ve had time to discuss it amongst themselves.”
“Mack is right, Tara.” Vi’s voice is gentle as she hooks my hand through hers. “Now, let’s go home. There is nothing you can do at the moment. And you all must be starving. I have food waiting for us back at the cabin.”
I don’t wanna give up that easy. I wanna go back in and argue some more, but my stomach growls in protest, making up my mind for me. I fall in line beside Vi before noticing that Jax is hanging back.
“Jax, you comin’ with us?”
“No,” he answers, but his voice is low. “You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up with you later. There’s something I need to do first.”
As I watch him disappear down the moonlit village path, I know right away where he’s going. He’s going to see Sky. My stomach clenches again, and I suddenly don’t feel as hungry anymore.
I’m sure the meat stew and dumplin’s Vi has made for us is delicious. I mean everyone else is digging in, and Finn is inhaling it so fast I fear he might choke. But every spoonful I put in my mouth tastes like dust. I keep looking at the cabin door, expecting any moment for it to open up and Jax to come walking through, but he don’t. Feels like he’s been gone for hours. I keep wondering if he’s with Sky and if so, what are they doing all this time? All kinds of ideas run through my head, and I don’t like any of ‘em.
“Tara… Tara.” I get pulled back to the present by Mack’s irritated tone.
“What?” I snap through my mouthful of stew.
“I asked you if you were up to showing the elders a sample of your Chi? The old one…” He looks to Vi and she provides him with the name. “Larius. He said they had no proof you were a New Blood, and they wouldn’t take the chance of fighting the Army. Do you think you could handle a demonstration?”
I stare at him over my steaming bowl in disgust. “A demonstration? Why? It ain’t gonna change anything. Except for Vi, the old folk here are too cowardly to fight back. They’ve already told us that. And for the life of me, I don’t know why you’re even botherin’ to try and change their minds. We may as well forget about gettin’ any help from Gray Valley and the bunch of shiteheads that live here. Let’s move on to the muties. At least we know they ain’t no damned cowards.”
The room falls silent at my angry outburst. Mack arches the brow over his one eye in question. Vi stops stirring the stew in the hearth and glances over her shoulder at me. Even Finn’s spoon stops in mid-air, though he don’t stop chewing what’s in his mouth. I’ve shocked ‘em all. There ain’t no reason for me to be this angry. None that I can tell them about anyway.
Embarrassed, I get to my feet and place my bowl on the table. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
I’m interrupted as the door flies open, and Jax makes his way in. He stops just inside and stares at everyone’s shocked silence.
“What?” he questions.
Just seeing his face fuels my anger again. “I gotta get some fresh air,” I mumble as I brush by him, slamming into his shoulder and his muttered “What the hell?” follows me out the door.
I don’t stop to think. I head straight for the quietest place I know—the little river on the outskirts of the village. I ain’t good to be around others right now.
I reckon I’m about two arm spans away from the river before I hear the unmistakable sounds of someone hurrying to catch up to me.
“Hey, freak. Wait up.”
Seriously? Why is he always following me? Jax is the last person I want to talk to right now. So instead of doing what he asks, I speed up and throw over my shoulder, “Go away, Jax.” And as usual, he don’t listen. He jogs up and catches me as I turn off the path and head down to the river.
“Where you going?”
“Where’s it look like?”
“To the river?”
“Very observant.”
“Why?”
“Go away.”
He grabs my arm. “Are you angry at me?”
I draw up short, almost yanking him back offa his feet and snort. “Ha. What was your first clue, genius?”
“I don’t understand. I mean, I know you’re angry at the old folk for their stupid decision. So am I. But why is that anger aimed at me?”
“Really?” I place my hands on my hips and glare at him, but I don’t think the pale moonlight allows my glare its full emphasis. “Tell me something. Where have you been for the past while, Jax?”
He drops my arm and sighs. “With Sky.”
“With Sky,” I reiterate through gritted teeth. “Just days after tellin’ me I’m like an infection in your blood that you cain’t get rid of and makin’ me believe I mean something to you. Then the moment we get here you cain’t wait to be alone with your promised. It don’t work that way, Jax. I won’t be involved with somebody who ain’t honest and upfront, either with me or Sky. None of us deserve to get hurt. What you’re doin’ ain’t right, and I ain’t gonna fall for it again—”
“Sky isn’t my promised anymore.”
“—and if you so much as… what?”
“I said—”
A low murmuring comes from behind us as a couple of villagers pass by on the road. A question carries on the wind. “Who’s there?”
“It’s just me, Jax.”
“Jax? Well, who’s that with you?”
“Nothing to worry about, folks. Move along.”
Slight laughter reaches my ears along with a muffled, “young love,” but the villagers do as he asks and go on with their nightly walk. Jax’s grip tightens on my arm again as he starts dragging me farther off the path.
“What are you doin’?”
“Just hold your tongue for one moment, okay? I know that’s hard for you but just do it.”
Not admitting how hard it really is for me to stay quiet, I bite my lip and let him lead me to the cover of a large boulder hugging the riverbed. Once we’re hidden from any eyes on the path, he finally releases my arm.
“Okay, it is time to clear the air between us.”
“What do you mean you ain’t Sky’s promised anymore?”
We speak at the same time, interrupting each other. He sighs and even in the low light, I can see his breath rustling the hair hanging over his eye. “No talking until I’m done, promise?”
I nod and clamp my lips tight.
“So, yeah, I’ve just spent the past while with Sky. We had a lot to talk about. We’ve been friends a long time and promised for almost all that time. It was expected of us. We’d even come to accept it. I came to accept it. I mean, why wouldn’t I? She’s kind and sweet and pretty—”
Really? I don’t wanna hear her virtues, and I open my mouth to say just as much, but Jax interjects with, “Nope, you promised,” and I snap my lips shut.
He continues on, “I figured one day we would be wedded, and I was okay with that. That was until I met you.”
That is the exact moment I stop breathing. It feels like every bit of air is sucked outta my lungs, even though my heart goes into overdrive and starts whacking against my ribs like a hammer. I stare up into Jax’s eyes; eyes that look as black as the night’s sky at the moment, afraid to move a muscle less he stops talking.
“You swept into my life with all the force of a dirt-devil and with just as much destruction. You pushed aside my mistrust of New Bloods. You forced me to see the good—no, great things, unselfish things, you are capable of. And whether I liked it or not, I knew I couldn’t live my life without you in it. Not anymore. I need to be with you, Tara. When I’m not around you, it’s like I’m not living. I can’t explain it. Argh!”
He breaks off with a strangled cry and runs his hand through his hair, gathering his thoughts. I still don’t say a word. “Sky knew. She knew I wasn’t happy staying in Gray Valley. She knew I’d take any opportunity to drop everything and go after you. Like I’ve already done. So we decided to call it off. She wants me to be happy. I want her to be happy, and we wouldn’t have been happy together. Comfortable with each other, yes. But not happy. We will always love each other, as friends. But we were never in love with each other. And we both knew that. So as of tonight, we are no longer promised. I’m free, Tara.”
The last words come out in a rush, and he stares at me through the dark as if expecting me to say something. But I don’t know what to say. My heart and brain are so overcome with happiness it’s like they’re dulled to wordlessness. I want to scream it at the top of my lungs how much those three simple words have just freed me from the guilt I’ve been harboring but I don’t. I cain’t. I don’t know how. Instead, I reach for him and lay my palm against his chest. I feel his heartbeat, strong and fast, against my hand, and I realize he’s just as scared as I am right now.
“Is your ma gonna be upset?” I mutter instead of saying what’s in my heart.
The laughter in his chest rumbles against my hand.
“Most likely. And let’s just say I’d better avoid Sky’s pa for the rest of the time we’re here.”
I snort along with him. Our laughter tapers off as he lifts his hand and caresses my cheek with the softest of touches.
“Tara,” is all he manages before the sky above our heads cracks with a deafening boom so loud the ground vibrates underneath our feet. My look of terror connects with Jax’s as we both come to the same realization. He grabs my arm, but before we can make a move, a bolt of deadly energy slashes through the air and strikes a prickly tree real close from where we stand. It bursts into flame as the air around us fills with a pungent odor of burnt wood and smoke.
“Run,” he yells in my ear just as another bolt strikes to the left of us, lighting up the night with its blinding luminance. We hustle our butts, hurrying to get out of the open. My gut flip-flops in fear since only one other thing in this world terrifies me more than the Prezedant. A lightning storm.
7
Unlucky Strike
Although we ain’t that far from the village, it seems like we’re leagues away. With every crash of lightning that assaults the ground threatening to rip it apart, I fear we’re gonna be next.
“Get to the village!” Jax yells at me over the constant roar of thunder. “We’ll be protected by the lightning rods.”
Jagged light flashes right in fronta me, blinding me instantly. My feet lift from the ground, and I fly backwards through the air only to land hard on my back and elbows. Pain shoots through my body as I cry out, but I don’t hear my scream. I cain’t hear anything other than the ringing throbbing through my head.
Hands grab at me, trying to pull me to my feet. I open my eyes, blinking against the black spots swimming around like frantic tadpoles. Jax finally materializes from the fuzziness, and I can see his lips moving, but I cain’t hear him over the damn ringing.
“What?” I shout. Shaking his head in frustration, he yanks me to my feet, pushing me ahead of him with rough hands. All right then. I reckon he wants me to keep moving.
With Jax’s support, I manage to stay upright and run. I don’t think the lightning struck me. I mean I reckon it didn’t since I’m still very much alive, but the close call has my legs feeling like rubber. By the time we reach the village, he’s practically dragging me.
Vi and Mack hover outside the cabin door, their twin looks of worry changing to relief as they spot us. Mack runs to meet us, grabbing my other arm. I get dragged between the two of them so fast my toes don’t even touch the ground. We fall inside the door, and I’m dumped onto the rug in front of the hearth.
Right away Finn and Cat are by my side, fussing like a momma devil cat over its cub.
“You okay?” the boy asks, but his voice is competing with that damn ringing still in my ears.
“I’m fine,” I say in what I think is a normal tone, but by Finn’s wince, I think my hearing may be out of whack. “Sorry,” I add, and he winces even more. Maybe I best stay quiet until this ringing goes away.
I sit up, blinking away the last remaining fuzzies and whacking a hand against my ear, trying to stop the drumming. It seems to work. The ringing fades to a dull tone.
“Did you get hit
by the lightning, Tara?” Finn asks, eyes wide.
“Do I look like a scorched carcass?” I ask. He shakes his head no, and I roll my eyes at his inability to recognize sarcasm.
“No, Finn,” Jax’s answer is much more civil. “She was damn lucky. The strike just missed her. One fingernail closer and all that woulda been left of Tara would have been her boots.”
“Jeez, way to make me feel better,” I say, scowling his way as I struggle to my feet.
“Hey, I got you back in one piece, didn’t I?” He grins at me now that the danger has passed.
“Yeah, thanks for that, by the way. And for rippin’ my arms out of socket.”
“Ungrateful much?” he teases and my scowl deepens.
“Here, dear, have some tea.” At least Vi is showing a bit more concern, and I accept the tin mug thankfully.
“This came out of nowhere. Hope it doesn’t last long,” Tater mutters almost to himself as he peers through the shutter of one of the windows. The little man appears extremely nervous. I reckon he must like lightning storms just as much as I do.
“We haven’t had one for quite a while,” Vi adds, making her way around the room with tea and doing her best to calm the uneasiness. “They do tend to last a bit, but the lightning rods we have surrounding the village do their job. We don’t have to worry.”
“Famous last words,” Tater says as he continues his vigilance at the window.
The roar of the thunder increases, and the cabin shudders in protest at times. Most of us remain quiet, sipping our tea and glancing around uneasily. Finn pulls his chair closer to mine while Cat cowers at our feet, her big head resting in Finn’s lap for reassurance. Talbert and Beanie huddle in the corner, wide-eyed and visibly shaken. Mack paces the floor. None of us are enjoying this. Well, none of us except maybe Belle. She’s used the storm as an excuse to seek comfort from Ben, and they sit close together on the floor, her hand in his. I raise a brow as she catches my eyes, and she blinks at me in pretend innocence. I smother my grin. Cheeky little bugger.
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