by J. L. Weil
Chugging the frozen drink, I winced as the icicle sensation faded, but in its place was a blissful fuzziness. It didn’t last long. The more I sucked down, the less great I felt. The longer I sat listening to Harper and Dash, the more I drank. It was a vicious cycle I would regret tomorrow.
I was drunk.
I couldn’t handle the flirting between Harper and dickwad a second longer, especially with the room starting to spin. Not a good sign.
Boosting myself off the stool, I looked left and then right, trying to recall which way the door was. I took a gamble and stumbled as gracefully as I could to the right, running a hand along the tables as I went. It also helped me walk in a straight line.
I thought Dash called my name as I pushed the heavy oak door open, but it was hard to hear over the buzzing in my ears. A brisk gust of wind blew over my face as I stepped outside. I lifted my chin, enjoying the cool sensation on my flushed cheeks.
It was hard to judge what time it was, but from the complete darkness outside, I guessed it to be almost midnight. I didn’t think about walking alone in a strange place by myself, thanks to the aftereffects of indulging in too much of Gunner’s concoction.
I have no idea how I remembered the way back, and as I walked into the one-room lodge, the bed looked super appealing. Praying I wasn’t imposing on someone else’s bed, I plopped down fully clothed, expecting instant relief, but as I lay on the makeshift bed of fur, the room started to twirl.
Fan-freaking-tastic.
I was going to puke all over the wooden floor.
Damn Dash to hell.
I wasn’t sure what dragged me from sleep, but I woke up with a ball of icy terror low in my stomach and pulled the blankets up around me. It did nothing to chase the chill in my blood or the nightmare. This one had been a doozy. I’d been frozen in a perpetual sleep, only to wake up and find that my entire family had been killed by a toxic mist that had wiped out over two-thirds of the planet. The kicker: While I’d been fast asleep, I could hear my little sister screaming my name, over and over again. It had been a bloodcurdling sound, as if the mist had been eating away at her skin.
I’d suddenly been thrust out of the dream and into the real world, with my heart in my throat and her scream ringing in my ears.
My eyes popped open as the haze of sleep wore off. On impulse, I bit the inside of my cheek. The sharp pain was followed by the taste of blood, telling me this was real indeed and not a drunken stupor or a dream.
I really was sleeping on a bed of furs, the mist had been very real, and the world truly had gone down the crapper.
What next?
Staring at the wooden roof, a trickle of fear moved through my veins, forming a knot of unease in my chest. Would there ever be a time when I woke up without forgetting where I was? I took long breaths, but it didn’t lessen the feeling.
The start of day two was already challenging my courage and inner strength. Loneliness and hopelessness followed me from the dream, weighing heavy on my soul. I needed to find my family but knew virtually nothing of this world or where to start. Without someone’s help, I was doomed. The only other alternative was to stay put and hope they find me … assuming they were looking.
I rolled onto my side, expecting to see Dash’s sleeping body across the room, snoring and wrapped in a cocoon of fur. My stomach sank. The bed was unoccupied and looked untouched, as if he hadn’t even slept in it.
A fresh bout of panic seized my chest.
He left.
The bastard left me here. Alone. Without saying good-bye. He just took off in the middle of the night like a thief, never giving me the chance to ask him for help.
My doom-don just moved straight into catastrophic.
Chapter 7
I lay there in shock, staring at the empty bed, unable to will my muscles to move. Okay, Charlotte. Calm down. There could very well be a reasonable explanation for him not being here. Like he spent the night with Harper.
Barf.
That explanation did nothing to calm my tattered nerves, and the longer I lay there letting my mind sprint off into tangents, the deeper my worry rooted. I had a tendency to be a worrywart, among other things. I was far from perfect. I knew my flaws, and Dash had been right about one thing: I had been pampered. I grew up with a doting family and parents who had always been there for me. I grew up wanting for nothing—never hungry, never without clothing, a home, or love. I’d never truly ever been out on my own.
It was a scary thing.
And as much as I wanted to curl into the fetal position and pull the covers over my head, I forced myself out of bed, and the door squeaked opened. My eyes flew to the figure darkening the doorway. I didn’t pay much attention to the warmth skipping down my neck, acting on instinct, and opened my mouth to scream.
The intruder was quick, reaching me before I let my lungs sing and wrapping a hand around my waist, the other over my mouth. “Freckles, it’s me,” Dash growled in my ear.
I turned in his arms and more or less attacked him. My fists beat on his chest. “How could you do that to me!” I yelled.
Dash scowled, grabbing ahold of my wrists and tucking them against his chest. “Bring you breakfast?”
Tugging on my hands, I tried to remove myself from his clutches, but he stayed firm. “No, you, douchecanoe. Leave me.”
Confusion splashed across his striking features. “Are you still drunk?”
“Argh,” I groaned, throwing my head back.
“I was only gone for five minutes,” he reasoned, staring at me funny and releasing my wrists.
My hands fell to my sides. “I thought you left,” I whispered.
His eyes softened. “Not yet, Freckles, but I am leaving … soon.”
My temper slipped away like a melting snowflake. “How soon?”
“Tonight,” he informed me. “It’s easier to avoid the Night’s Guard at night.” He handed me something wrapped in a napkin.
I took the package, sinking down onto the edge of the bed. The sweet scent of sugar hit my senses, and I felt myself turn green. There was no way I could eat. I set the sweet roll aside on the bed and looked up. “Where are you going?” I asked, ignoring the thumping that had begun to pulse behind my eyes.
“Not hungry?” Dash responded, an all-knowing glint twinkling in his expression. He knew I was suffering.
Stupid drink.
I pressed a hand to my head. “If what I’m feeling is a hangover, I never want to touch that stuff again.”
He chuckled, leaning a shoulder against the wooden support beam in the middle of the room. “I warned you.”
That he did. “You never told me where you’re going,” or what he was searching for. I assumed it was a someone.
“To the Plains of Despair.”
Oooh. Sounded like buckets of fun. “You’re going to another holding house like where I was?”
He nodded.
“I want to go with you.”
“No,” he stated flatly, eyes crystalizing with no hesitation. Just like that, he didn’t even consider it.
No wasn’t the answer I wanted. “Why not?” I demanded, pushing myself to my feet.
He shoved off the beam, a wavy lock falling across his forehead and into his eyes. “Because I travel alone.”
“Fine, then I want to hire you.” I folded my hands across my chest, ignoring the this-isn’t-up-for-debate vibe radiating off of him.
He angled his head. “And just what do you think I do?”
“Cyan told me you’re a tracker. I want you to help me find my family.”
“I’m not your guy.”
I don’t know how it happened, but we stood toe-to-toe. “Is this about money? Because I swear I will find a way to pay you.”
“I don’t need your money, Charlotte. Like I said, I work alone.”
He said my name in the way my dad used to when he meant business—stern and serious. “Then what is it you want? I’ll do anything.” I chewed on my lip as I waited. I’d n
ever begged for anything in my life, but I was willing to do just that if it got Dash to help me. Finding my family was my only priority.
Dash took a step back, and his eyes flipped to mine before traveling over my body and then flicking back up. “Anything, huh?”
The drop in his voice did weird things to my belly, and I swallowed. It shamed me to admit the idea of giving him what he implied didn’t gross me out. Nope. I was tempted to challenge him and see if he would follow through, or if he was just trying to scare me.
My guess was the latter.
Several moments passed, and when I didn’t immediately balk at the idea, he shook his head. “This world is going to eat you alive, Freckles. You’re safer here, away from the danger.”
And that danger included him. We were still close. Close enough I could feel the heat from his body. “Okay, if you won’t help me, at least take me with you. You’re going out there, looking for people; I want to come.”
“No.”
“What bug crawled up your butt?”
“Where should I begin?” Dash stepped to the side.
“I need to find my family,” I insisted. “I won’t be any trouble, I swear.”
He stopped in his tracks and spun around, brows raised. “Trouble? You? Are you forgetting our trip here? If that is your idea of no trouble, then let me rephrase it: Hell, no.”
I flipped him off. “Does this hand gesture still mean something?”
Dash tipped back his chin and laughed.
I’d take that as a yes.
How could someone be so nerve-wracking and stimulating at the same time?
The little room was suddenly too small for the both of us. No matter where I moved, it felt as if Dash and I would constantly be brushing elbows. “I’ve spent twenty-four hours with you, and I can’t count how many times I’ve almost been killed. What does that say about you?”
“You made it here, didn’t you? That’s all that counts,” he barked.
He made me so mad, I wanted to scream or kick him in the gonads. The second might be more satisfying. Clenching my jaw, I blew out a hiss between my teeth.
“Trust me, Freckles, you’re better off on your own or finding someone else to help you. I’m doing us both a favor by leaving.” Then the coward stormed out the door he came in.
Ten seconds went by, and that was all I could stand before I ran out after him. No way was I letting Dash get off the hook that easily. He was the only person I knew here, and I understood he had his reasons for not wanting me tagging along like his little sister—not that there was a moment I thought of him as brotherly—but I was determined. That had to count for something.
Whipping the door open, my eyes searched the multiple paths. “Dash!” I called, jogging to catch up to him.
His steps faltered before pausing, but he kept his back to me. “Don’t ask again,” he said with a compressed jaw.
It was at that moment I knew I was weakening his resolve. He might want everyone to think he was the big bad wolf, but I was starting to think that no one really knew Dash. If they did, they might not think he was so callous.
I placed my hand on his forearm and looked up into his silver eyes, pleading with him. “Please.” My voice quivered. “I have to find them. I can’t stay here. You’re the only one who can help me.” Tears stung my eyes. I didn’t know a guy who could resist a weeping, helpless girl. Yep. I had resorted to the oldest trick in the female book.
He stared at my trembling bottom lip, and his shoulders dropped. “Fine,” he agreed, sounding anything but happy about it.
I started to grin, but he stopped me with his next words.
“But I’ll just track them on my own. You stay here and out of the way. That’s the deal.”
Well, that backfired. He wasn’t supposed to offer to help but still leave me behind. “No deal.” The tears dried up.
“Look, I can’t be responsible for you.”
“Who is asking you to?” I argued. “I can take care of myself.” Truth or not, I was too heated to care.
He snorted.
Gah. That was it. I’d been pushed to the limit. He didn’t want to help; well, I didn’t need him. I would find them on my own. Starting right now.
Without another word, I spun around, flipping my hair in his face, and took off in the direction I was pretty sure was the exit. I didn’t have a single thing to my name, and unless Dash stopped me, I would be doing some bartering in the market before he left. It was a gamble—leaving—but it was one I was willing to take. If I was wrong about Dash, he would just let me go. But if I was right. …
“Charlotte,” he called, but I ignored him. “Charlotte, where do you think you’re going?”
I made my feet keep going, regardless of the fact that my pulse skipped. There was a guy with a heart in there after all.
“Goddammit,” he grumbled.
His feet hit the ground behind me, and I picked up the pace, but I didn’t get very far. A pair of strong arms swept around my waist, lifting me off my feet. I squealed as Dash hauled me over his shoulder, dragging me back into the cabin kicking and screaming. No one bothered to check out the commotion.
“Stay put,” he growled, dropping me down. “And stop being a pain in my ass.”
Like hell I would. Shoving my hair out of my face, I glared. “I’ll just leave again as soon as you’re gone.”
A frown pulled at his lips. “Then I’ll hogtie you to a tree.”
“Why do you care what happens to me anyway?”
“What makes you think I care?”
“God, you’re such a tool,” I snapped. “Leave, then. I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone.” The words just flew from my mouth like verbal diarrhea, even though I didn’t mean them. The last thing I wanted was for him to go.
My eyes stung again as he turned to leave, and before I knew it, the tears were streaming down my cheeks once again. There was nothing I could do to change his mind, but I needed to say good-bye. “Dash,” I called out with a big sniffle.
He surprised me by stopping.
I walked up to him and placed my lips on his stubbly cheek. He smelled like autumn mornings, crisp and warm. I told myself not to get carried away about him or the tingling of my lips. It was probably best for both of us if he left before my heart became entangled, because looking up into his face, there was more than one reason I didn’t want him to leave. “Thank you for saving my life … more than once,” I whispered.
Bright silver eyes bore down on me. There was a sound at the base of his throat—part growl, part moan. “I knew you were going to be a problem the moment I set eyes on you. You’re carrying your own shit.”
Stunned, I blinked, and then my heart swelled to the point of bursting. I smiled broadly at him, and before I thought about what I was doing, I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you,” I whispered against the space between his shoulder and nape.
A shiver rippled through his body, and he stiffened. Dash placed his hands on either side of my hips, pulling me away. “Don’t thank me yet, Freckles. I can’t guarantee we’ll find them.”
Color brightened my cheeks. I couldn’t believe I’d just thrown myself at him. What was wrong with me? “I know. It’s enough that you’re helping me.”
“Be ready to leave at sundown.” He sighed.
I grinned.
Our journey was only beginning. Certainly, it would be eventful, but something told me we’d be lucky to come out with a pulse. Who knew? Dash and I might kill each other before either of us found what we were looking for.
Packing for vacation was something I knew how to do. Preparing to backpack through a world where nothing made sense and everything was a new experience—simpler for sure, considering I owned nothing, technically, not even the clothes on my back.
I spent the rest of the day perusing the dirt streets of the market. My eyes took in all the sights and colors, listening to the busy chatter. There were handwoven rugs, fresh produce, and clothing. Vendors
called out with enticing words or sales of the day. I weaved in and around the crowd, unable to believe I hadn’t stepped back in time, instead of being propelled into the future.
It boggled my mind how a mist could do so much damage, but even as the thought flittered through my mind, I remembered vividly the crippling pain of the mist when it attacked my lungs, a horror I’d prefer to forget. What I needed to do was keep my mind focused.
There was a stand selling a variety of swords, daggers, and knives that caught my eye. It was the gleam of metal reflecting off the sunlight. Now that’s a necessity. I thought back to the snyker and how helpless I’d been without a weapon to defend myself. Or what if we ran into more Night’s Guard? It was apparent the world was wild and abandoned, and everyone here was packing.
I ran a light touch over the hilt of an intricately laced sword with decorative vines etched down the blade. With my fencing experience, a sword would have been ideal if it weren’t for the weight. I could barely lift one. What I needed was something small, light, and deadly. As I was admiring the range of daggers, an older woman with long, stringy gray hair stepped out of the shadows. Her back was slightly hunched as she walked, but her light blue eyes were sharp and filled with keenness. The cloak that she wore dragged over the ground, kicking up dust in her wake.
“You’re Dash Darhk’s girl. The one he saved,” she croaked, eyeing me with interest.
I wasn’t precisely his girl, but he had saved me. I nodded. What harm was it in letting this little old lady think what she wanted? “Charlotte.”
A crooked smile lined her pale pink lips. “You’re very pretty, but the pretty ones always seem to be drawn to darkness.”
I didn’t know what to say, partially because I had no clue what she was talking about.
“Come.” She waved with her hand, beckoning me forward with nails pointy enough to draw blood. “You see something you like, yes?”
“They’re all beautiful,” I said, smiling. “But I’m just looking.”
She clucked her tongue. “Nonsense. I insist. Pick one that speaks to you. Surely there is one that sings to your heart.”