Demon Ember (Resurrection Chronicles Book 1)

by M. J. Haag

  “Not yet. Who’s out there?” I asked, looking into the darkness again.

  A distance ahead of us, a shadow moved, steadily growing bigger. Big like Drav, confirming my suspicion.

  “Is he going to want to kill me?” I asked, unable to stop myself.

  “No.”

  Drav looked away from me and spoke to the approaching figure. I heard my name thrown in with the gibberish. When Drav quieted, the shadow answered in a growly voice. Drav listened then looked down at me.

  “Ghua good. Ghua family.”

  Ghua? Based on the tone of their conversation, I didn’t feel reassured.

  The new shadow man had finally walked close enough that I could see the subtle differences between the two men. While the dark loose shirt and pants seemed similar in style and color to what Drav had worn when I’d first met him, this shadow man’s skin shone even darker than Drav’s, almost black. The same reptilian like eyes blinked at me. However, Ghua’s seemed more yellow than green and much creepier because of the coloring. His long black hair hung in a single braid that didn’t quite match Drav’s in length but still extended well past his shoulders.

  Ghua said something more then started to crouch. Drav laughed, a first. The deep, soft sound unnerved me.

  “What’s going on?” I asked quietly.

  “Mya, stay,” Drav said, taking my shoulder and guiding me back a step. He let go and turned back to Ghua, whose white teeth flashed in the dark as he grinned. Drav crouched low and tensed. My stomach dipped and twisted sickeningly as I grasped what was about to happen.

  They flew at each other. The impact made a deep thud in the dark. A growl escaped one of them as they grappled. Seeing the way Drav’s muscles bulged in effort made me swallow hard. In all the head ripping he’d done, he’d never exerted himself the way he did now. Just how strong was he?

  I had my answer when he laughed and flipped Ghua over his back. Ghua landed with a thump. Drav reached out with one hand and picked him up by the neck. Ghua punched Drav in the ribs, drawing a pained grunt from him. Drav didn’t let go, though. With his other hand, Drav gripped the top of Ghua’s head in a familiar move.

  “Drav, no,” I said, far too loudly for my own comfort.

  Drav paused, and Ghua stopped trying to hit Drav to look at me.

  “I thought he was your family. Family don’t kill each other.”

  Drav grunted, let go of Ghua, and said something I didn’t understand. Ghua laughed in return.

  Drav started talking again, and Ghua stared at me the entire time, his gaze shifting from my face to my hair then back to my face. His barely discernable brows started to sink lower on his forehead the longer Drav spoke. I didn’t like not knowing what they were saying, but I wasn’t kept wondering for long. Drav said a familiar word, and Ghua’s gaze dropped to my chest.

  Ghua made a noise of disbelief and tore his gaze from me to stare at Drav. When Ghua spoke, the tone seemed rough and demanding.

  Drav began speaking once more and gestured with his hands near his chest. When he said “boobs,” I cringed but kept quiet. My difference had kept Drav from killing me. If being an oddity kept me safer with Ghua, too, then Drav could explain away.

  Ghua said something and they stopped talking. Both turned to look at me.

  “Ghua want Mya to show boobs.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest.

  “I am not showing my boobs to anyone, Drav. I told you, it makes me uncomfortable.”

  “Yes,” Drav said before speaking to Ghua.

  Ghua listened quietly until Drav gestured between his legs. Ghua made a choked sound, grabbed at his package, and spoke a few syllables. Drav grunted acknowledgment, and my cheeks turned red when Ghua’s attention whipped to me. His gaze swept my face, then my chest, and finally he ducked his head a little as he tried his best to see through my pants.

  Even clothed with jeans and a hoodie, I felt completely naked and exposed to his inquisitive gaze.

  “Yep. No penis,” I said.

  Ghua started talking fast to Drav, who started talking just as fast back. Both fell completely silent again. Then, Ghua moved toward me.

  “Ah…what’s he doing?” I stepped behind Drav and kept him between me and Ghua when Ghua tried to follow.

  “Mya, Ghua smell you.”

  “I don’t want to be smelled. You’ve smelled me enough for both of you.”

  Drav caught me in his arms and pulled me to his chest. I struggled to push away from him, but he held firm.

  “Drav, let me go.” My words were muffled but still clear. He didn’t release me, though.

  Something brushed against my back. My face pressed into Dad’s old shirt, I listened to Ghua get a good whiff of my hair. Anger boiled inside me. Drav held me still so his friend, who’d just wanted to see my boobs, could smell me. Hell no. I opened my mouth and bit Drav’s chest. He grunted and abruptly released me. I surged back and solidly collided with Ghua. His arms came around me, and his hands landed just above my boobs.

  Eyes wide, my mouth dropped open as his hands drifted lower and he thoroughly groped me.

  Before I could yell, Drav stopped rubbing where I’d bitten him and growled. For a heartbeat, I thought he meant the growl for me. But when Ghua immediately let go, and Drav silently opened his arms for me without looking away from Ghua, I launched myself at Drav. He caught me, and his hand gently settled on the back of my head as he held me close.

  He spoke to Ghua briefly in their language. When they quieted, I lifted my head enough to look up at Drav. He stared down at me in his unblinking way.

  “Don’t ever do that again. I’m not a toy. You don’t get to share me.”

  “I won’t share you. Ever,” he said.

  Not quite the reassurance I’d wanted. The way his hold had tightened on me just a smidge when he’d spoken didn’t reassure me either. I eased myself from his arms and put some distance between us. He looked me over before focusing on Ghua, who watched us closely.

  I studied the darkness around us while they started yet another quiet conversation. Not only were we wasting precious travel time, we weren’t being quiet.

  “Is it smart to be out in the open talking like this?” I asked, interrupting them. “How well do your hellhounds hear? I really don’t want to get bitten by one.”

  Drav grunted and Ghua spoke briefly, gesturing back the way he’d come. Drav turned to me.

  “Ghua go home with me and you. Keep Mya safe.”

  I didn’t want Ghua traveling with us. He was still trying to see through my hoodie and my pants. But, standing in one place served no purpose.

  “Fine. But no touching me.”

  “Yes,” Drav said. Ghua answered with a clear, “yes” as well before he turned and headed back the way he’d just come.

  Drav nudged me to follow.

  “How are you learning my language so quickly?” I asked, walking.

  Drav tapped his pointed ear.

  “Just by listening?” I said.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  Since Ghua was leading us, I moved closer to Drav.

  “Do we have to stay with him? He’s giving me the creeps with all his staring.”

  Ahead of us, Ghua grunted, which made me worry.

  “Does he understand me?” I whispered to Drav.

  “Yes.”

  After that, I kept quiet.

  We didn’t walk very far before Ghua veered into the trees. I kept close to Drav and tried to walk and breathe as quietly as possible while what little light the quarter moon provided faded even further under the barren branches.

  When we stepped into a clearing with a house, Ghua headed straight for it. I tugged on Drav’s arm.

  “I don’t want to go in there.”

  “Mya not stay outside.”

  The familiar phrase he used to get me inside for the day worried me.

  “We’re done walking for the night?”

  “Yes.”

&n
bsp; “But why? We have hours of dark left yet.”

  “Drav listen to Ghua for the night.”

  I frowned trying to understand what he meant by that.

  “He’s your boss for tonight or you want to talk to him tonight?”

  “I want to talk to Ghua tonight. We’re walking”—he said something I didn’t know—“night.”

  “Tonight we’re going to talk with Ghua and tomorrow night we’re walking again?” I guessed, hopefully.

  “Yes.”

  “Without Ghua tomorrow night?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fine. But no killing anyone in that house unless they’re infected.”

  Drav grunted and spoke to Ghua who waited several yards away. Ghua answered then started toward the already broken in front door, and I realized whoever had been in there was probably already dead.

  Following Drav into the house, I stepped into a neat and cozy living room. Drav closed the door behind me and started talking to Ghua. Unwilling to stand there and listen to a meaningless exchange, I went to the couch, turned on the lamp next to it, and sank into the comfy cushions with a sigh. Having a moment to just relax seemed surreal, and I soaked it up. Who knew what would happen from one moment to the next in this new world. I needed to start taking what I could get.

  When the conversation stopped, I glanced at the pair and found them watching me.

  “What? Am I not supposed to sit? We’re staying the rest of the night, right?”

  “Yes,” Drav said, walking toward me. He looked at the couch then sat beside me. He studied the cushions a moment before running a hand over them.

  “Comfy, isn’t it?” I said.

  “Yes.”

  Ghua went to a chair and sat as well.

  Staying here with Ghua made me anxious. He still seemed too interested in the fact that I had boobs and no penis. Ignoring Ghua’s stare, I turned to Drav.

  “So what is he to you? Your brother? Cousin? Uncle?”

  “No.”

  “Dad? Grandpa?” Ghua didn’t look old enough to be either. “Nephew?”

  “No.”

  “Oh, come on. I don’t think I missed any…unless he’s some kind of in-law.”

  “No.”

  “You’re annoying me,” I said, with a flat stare.

  “Ghua is family, but not family.”

  “He’s a friend?”

  “Yes,” Drav said happily.

  I made a sound of disbelief. But, I didn’t say anything more. Soon the two of them started talking, mixing English with their words. The more Drav said, the more Ghua started to say.

  “Hold up,” I said, interrupting them. “Do you really only need to hear a word once to understand it?”

  “Yes,” Drav said.

  “Holy shit.”

  Fourteen

  I tried to wrap my head around the concept of instant learning while the two of them continued their conversation. It made sense why Drav spoke such limited and broken English since I was the only one talking to him. Fear of being discovered by something that seemed to want to kill all humans had kept me from saying a lot.

  Quietly, I considered the implications of their ability. That Drav could understand when I explained something could work in my favor.

  Since their conversation contained only a few words of English, I lost interest in it and decided to go search for food. They stopped talking as soon as I walked into the hallway. Knowing Drav’s concern, I peeked my head back into the room.

  “Just going to the kitchen to find food.”

  Ghua’s yellow eyes watched me intently, making my skin crawl. Drav grunted, pulling my attention to him. He stood and came toward me, which didn’t bother me until Ghua stood as well.

  “You can stay in there and talk.”

  “No, go to kitchen with Mya,” Drav said, slipping past me to head down the hallway. I followed, not wanting to be left alone with Ghua.

  The kitchen looked as if the world hadn’t been upturned. Cozy and clean, it seemed like a place where someone’s grandma had baked countless cookies.

  Drav opened a cupboard door, and Ghua watched him while I continued to look around. My eyes caught on a dirty plate beside the sink. I stepped closer and saw one side of the double sink half filled with water. Clean dishes occupied the drying rack on the other side of the sink. A towel draped over one plate like it had just been set down. I couldn’t look away from it.

  “Were there people here?” I asked without looking at Ghua.

  He spoke in his language, and Drav answered.

  “There were infected outside.”

  I sighed and rubbed my face. It didn’t mean anything that the people here hadn’t escaped infection. They were close to the city. In the more rural locations, like our cabin, there would be less risk. My family would be fine.

  Determined not to worry about what I couldn’t control, I went to the pantry door as Drav searched in the cupboards. The closet was much bigger than I expected, and I tugged the string for the light in order to see.

  There were cans of fruits on one shelf, boxed food on another, jugs of water and vinegar and jars of homemade jelly and pickles on another. The selection made my mouth water. Since Drav enjoyed the peaches and pineapples we had before, I grabbed those then stared longingly at a box of mac and cheese. It hadn’t been that long ago since I had a hot meal, but it felt like years. If we were staying the night, I didn’t see why I couldn’t eat more than canned fruit. I snagged the box and came out.

  Ghua stood with his back against the fridge, arms crossed. He and Drav were speaking again but more quietly this time.

  “Do you guys want to try some mac and cheese?”

  They stopped their talking and glanced at me.

  “Never mind.” I’d make it and if they wanted some, I’d share.

  Setting the fruit and the box on the table, I turned toward the fridge.

  “Excuse me. I need to get in there,” I said, pointing at it.

  Ghua moved to the side, and I stepped forward and pulled the door open. The homeowners might have had a stocked pantry, but the items in the fridge were on the light side. The half-gallon container of milk and the half sticks of butter made me think again of someone’s grandma alone during that first night the hellhounds had appeared. Anger welled up inside of me. Why had this happened? I glanced at Drav, wanting to ask questions. Could I trust him to be honest? I just didn’t know. Yes, he’d kept me safe. But, he admitted he’d only spared me because of my gender. What if my questions made him mad? Would his consideration for my gender go out the window?

  “Mya?” Drav asked.

  I realized I was just standing in front of an open fridge, staring at nothing, so I grabbed the milk and butter then turned around.

  “You guys might as well sit,” I said with a gesture at the table. “This will take a while.”

  While I searched for a pot, the guys took seats around the table. They continued to speak softly and I tried to listen to see if I could learn anything more about why they were here. However, I really couldn’t understand much of what they said.

  Filling the pot with water distracted me with a more pressing need. I had to pee. Ignoring it, I brought the pot to the stove and switched on the burner. However, the urge didn’t go away. But, I didn’t want the two of them hovering outside the bathroom door.

  In an attempt to sneak out of the kitchen, I roamed the room until I reached the opening to the hallway.

  “Mya, no.”

  Of course Drav had noticed.

  “Just going to the bathroom. Can you keep an eye on the stove?”

  Drav didn’t say anything else so I swiftly retreated.

  I found a half-bath tucked under the stairs leading to the second floor and quickly stepped in and shut the door. Unbuttoning my pants, I sat on the toilet placed under the sloped part of the ceiling.

  I was finishing up when the doorknob twisted.

  “Drav, I’m still in here.”

  It didn’t s
top him. The door swung open before I had my pants all the way up. Instead of Drav, Ghua stood in the doorway, watching with rapt interest as I finished yanking up my jeans. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment and anger.

  Where the hell was Drav?

  “Ghua.” Drav’s voice came from the hall as if my thoughts had brought him.

  Ghua flinched as Drav’s lighter gray hand landed heavily on his shoulder with a loud clap. Ghua was pulled backward out of the doorway and replaced by Drav. His gaze swept over me from my head to my toes, and I hurriedly buttoned my jeans, grateful that my underwear had at least been up before Ghua had barged in.

  Drav reached out and touched my cheek where I could feel the heated stain of embarrassment the strongest. His gaze held mine as his fingers smoothed over the spot. Abruptly, he turned and left me staring at an empty doorway.

  Shakily exhaling, I went to wash my hands, but a thump of flesh meeting flesh in the hall interrupted me. Wiping my clean hands on my jeans, I cautiously peeked out the door.

  Drav and Ghua stood near the base of the stairs. Ghua reached up and touched the blood dripping from his nose. He looked at his wet fingers then at Drav, who threw another punch. Ghua grinned, his smile bloody and his eyes sparkling with delight.

  Drav drew back for another punch that Ghua didn’t even try to block. Ghua’s head snapped back, but he still didn’t retaliate. He just stood there happily letting blood drip onto the floor while Drav beat him.

  What was wrong with these two?

  Drav took a step back just then.

  “Friend,” Ghua said.

  Drav nodded and stuck his arm out. Ghua clasped Drav’s forearm tightly, pulled him in for a quick hug, and released him with a shove.

  Seriously? We had to stop walking for this?

  Ignoring the pair, I stalked back to the kitchen and poured the noodles into the now boiling water. I felt a stab of betrayal that Drav had already forgiven Ghua for coming into the bathroom to sneak a peek. How ridiculous. Drav had done the same thing to me when we’d met. In fact, he had been much more forward than Ghua. I shook my head and stirred the noodles.

  A chair scraped against the floor behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to see the two of them in the kitchen. Ghua sat at the table, and Drav moved near me.