‘Why are you here?’ she asked. She ignored everyone else. Their gazes met and there was silence between them for a moment.
‘I had to know that you were okay,’ he said simply.
‘How did you find me?’
We all lent forward. I was surprised that she’d asked him. Noland had his eyebrows raised as he watched the pair.
‘That’s not important, what’s important is that you’re okay.’
‘As much as you think we’re violent and evil, Perfect, we actually treat everyone as equal,’ Leon said, standing up.
‘I know. I wasn’t worried about you. The Perfect government have put out a warrant for Purple and Hope’s arrest.’
Episode Three
Chapter Eight
I was standing outside Hope’s tent earwigging. They’d let her and Jason have some privacy but I needed to know what was going on. Hope had nodded at me when she’d seen that I was following them.
‘I’m so glad you’re okay,’ Jason said.
‘I’m fine.’ I could hear the coldness in Hope’s voice. ‘Why have they issued our arrest?’
‘Hope, please look at me. I want to talk about us.’
‘There’s nothing to say, Jason, you made your choice.’
I sat on the dirty ground outside the back of the tent.
‘I had to go back. I didn’t want to cause suspicion,’ Jason huffed.
I could hear that one of them was pacing. I didn’t want to listen to their thoughts, but if he didn’t start speaking soon, I might have to.
‘Look, can we talk about that later?’ Hope snapped. ‘I need to know why the government suddenly want us arrested.’
Jason breathed out a heavy sigh. ‘Okay. William was able to get them to agree to release Sandor in exchange for you, don’t ask me how. When you refused to come back, the Perfects saw it as an insult. There was nothing William could do. He wanted you to be safe, Hope.’
‘So it’s as simple as wounded pride? Have the angels actually managed to have any influence on the Perfects?’
I had to strain to hear them. They were whispering the word angels. It was risky that they were saying it at all. I stopped myself from getting up and going in.
‘It’s not a five minute job, Hope, it takes time. What about you? Are you doing your part with the rebels? They were the ones that blew up the compound.’
I felt my skin prickle. Our kind were still so far from being accepted by the Perfects. Would there ever be peace between us? Even the angels were arguing.
‘Jason, that comment is exactly why we would never work. We’re just too different,’ I heard the tent flap being pulled open.
‘Wait, Hope, please…’ Jason pleaded.
‘I know that we’re soulmates, Jason, but I think we’ve got some growing to do right now,’ Hope said.
I listened as the flap fell back down and Hope’s footsteps faded away. I came around to the front of the tent and went inside.
‘You heard all that?’ Jason asked as I stood in front of him. He had lowered himself to the floor.
‘Yes, I did. Are you going to tell me what you’re actually doing here?’
He shook his head and narrowed his eyes at me. ‘I’m here to make sure Hope is alive and well. It seems she’s been doing fine without me.’
I almost lunged at him, but managed to stop myself. ‘Are you still engaged?’
He looked at the ground. I saw that he was clenching his teeth, making his jaw pop. ‘I tried. I spoke to William, but he told me to wait.’
When he looked at me, I saw something I’d never seen before. I couldn’t figure out what it was, but I knew he was hurting.
‘Does William care about you and Hope? Is it all just part of the plan?’
Jason nodded and looked down again. His knuckles were white as he squeezed a piece of wood he’d found on the floor.
‘Apparently so,’ he laughed, but it wasn’t a good laugh.
‘I’m no expert at love, Jason, in fact, I’m bloody useless. But if I were you, I’d like to think I’d follow my heart.’ I wasn’t sure where the words came from, but they were out there.
‘You’re right. You’re no expert at love. Not yet, anyway,’ he replied, smirking at me.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ I felt a shiver try to run up my spine but I suppressed it. I would not let this Perfect know that his words had affected me.
‘Nothing, can you do me a favour? I really need some water,’ he looked at the floor again.
I got the hint and left. He needed time to process his meeting with Hope.
‘Did you get anything?’ Deep said as I came out of the tent.
I shook my head as he fell into step beside me.
‘Brother, let’s do something we’ve not done for a very long time,’ he grinned at me as I turned to him.
‘Chat up a woman and get them to decide which one of us is better looking?’
He laughed and clapped my back.
‘I’m a married man now. Besides, I know I’m better looking,’ he said, turning me and pointing to the top of the mountain.
‘I’m not so sure about you being better looking, but I’m certainly up for what you’re hinting at,’ I said, racing after him as he took off towards the edge of the camp. We slowed down as we came near the entrance. Deep nodded at the rebels that stood guard there and they let us through without a glance. Once outside, we went around the bottom of the mountain. Deep let out a boyish laugh as he stripped off his shirt and let his wings unfold from his back. They were purple and shimmered as the light from the sun hit them. I grinned and ripped my shirt over my head, pushing my wings out of my back and stretching at the weight of them.
‘Even your wings are bigger,’ Deep said, staring at me. ‘I thought you were supposed to stop growing at eighteen.’
‘I was always going to be better looking than you,’ I replied, laughing as he shook his head.
‘Nah, you’re more of a pretty boy. I’m the rugged, handsome type.’
The echo of our laughter bounced off the mountain wall as we jumped into the air and flew directly up. The top of the red rock came into view. The wind whipped my loose hair back from my face. The rush felt amazing as I stretched out my wings and flapped again. Deep was slightly ahead of me. We’d always started a race this way. He was much quicker at take-off then I was. I flapped again and felt the push of wind rush by me. Slowly I inched forward and overtook him. He glanced over at me and winked. I smiled in return. We were getting nearer the top. Yes! I was going to beat my brother for the first time. But then Deep snuck in a last flap of his wings and edged just in front of me to land on a ridge near the very top of the mountain.
‘Yes!’ he exclaimed as I dropped next to him a second later.
He started to do a victory dance as I stood there with my hands on my hips. ‘Aw, sister, you make a very pretty girl,’ Deep laughed.
I couldn’t help it, I joined in with him. ‘I thought I had you!’ I said, folding my wings away and sitting on the ridge. The view from here was part glorious, part depressing.
‘How is it in Lower Side? How’s dad?’ Deep lowered himself next to me as we looked over to the city in the distance.
I turned away from that view and took in the landscape of the wilderness. The red dirt went on for miles and miles. There were other mountains dotted here and there, but the rest was basically desert land.
‘It’s the same as always. Some Avoidables try to go about their day. Others kill and steal. Dad…’ I struggled talking about our father.
Deep put his arm over my shoulders and looked back out to the city. ‘I missed you both so much. There were times when I wanted to come back, but I knew that the pair of you were probably happier without me.’
I glanced at my brother out of the corner of my eye. His gaze was set ahead, but his thoughts were somewhere else. ‘I joined Artie not long after you left because dad and I fell out.’ I was tempted to rip away from my brother but he took his arm awa
y before I could.
‘Why?’ he said, turning to me.
‘Because I wanted to become a warrior like you and he wanted me to be a doctor.’
Deep shook his head and sighed. ‘I’m sorry, Purple, I should’ve come back for you.’
‘Forget it, we’re together now,’ I said, putting my arm over his shoulder. ‘Anyway, I needed to come here so I could steal all the ladies from you.’
‘I’m married now, brother, you have an unfair advantage,’ he said, standing up as I rose.
‘Doesn’t matter, as long as I can beat you at something, I will,’ I grinned, unfurling my wings and jumping off the ridge.
Chapter Nine
‘You want us to let you go back to the Upper Side?’ Leon said, laughing as he spun away from Jason.
The other rebels laughed with their leader. We were gathered in the centre of the camp. Jason sat on a wooden bench as we all stood around him.
‘I’m actually on your side, believe it or not,’ he said, rolling his eyes.
Leon came to stand in front of him. He narrowed his eyes as a small smile pulled at the corners of his lips. ‘Prove it,’ he said.
Jason looked directly into his eyes and cocked his head. ‘How…?’
‘I’ll let you know,’ Leon replied, spinning and leaving. Deep and Noland followed him.
I was just about to step forward when Alia sat next to Jason. I glanced at Hope, who was a few steps behind her soulmate. She blinked when Alia laid a hand on Jason’s arm. I looked at Alia and noticed that she was trying to read him as they spoke. She smiled at something Jason said and Hope stepped forward. I walked to my best friend and steered her away from them.
‘No, I need to watch them,’ she said, lowering herself onto another bench nearby.
Alia’s hair grazed Jason’s arm as she lent in and whispered something. I shivered and then shook my head. Why was I reacting?
‘Hope, what’s going through your mind?’ I sat next to her and watched as she took in the scene in front of her. Her eyes were clear, yet I could feel the slight shaking of her body. I put my arm around her and she rested her head on my shoulder. Jason was in deep concentration with Alia so he wouldn’t notice Hope right now.
‘I’m so torn,’ she paused as Noland came back and glanced over at us. She pulled away and looked at him and then at Jason.
‘Noland…?’ I whispered as Deep approached us.
‘No, I meant my feelings for Jason,’ she whispered back, grabbing my hand with her good one. ‘Purple, I…’ Her whole body started to shake and I realised she was fighting her angel urge to allow her wings and arm to come out.
‘Sorry, Deep, Hope’s feeling unwell. I’m taking her to the bathing cave.’ I jumped up and pulled her past everyone as my brother nodded at us. Hope stumbled beside me and I squeezed her hand as I led her through the tents. ‘It’s okay, we’re almost there and you can just let go.’
I stopped still when Noland stepped out from behind a tent in front of us. ‘Where are you going?’ he drawled looking at Hope from under heavy eyelids.
‘Move, Noland, she’s feeling sick,’ I said, pushing past him.
‘Wait, I can take her to the bathing cave. We had a great time in there before you arrived, didn’t we Hope?’ His deep voice had Hope’s whole body shaking even more.
‘You wish,’ she called back over her shoulder as I dragged her into the cave.
‘Everyone out!’ I shouted as the dark enveloped us.
There were a handful of woman in there and they gasped when they saw me. There were set times for males and females but I didn’t care. They hurried out and left us in peace.
‘I’ll go and stand on guard,’ I said, turning to leave.
‘No, Purple, please just stand by the entrance but don’t leave me.’ Hope said, not letting go of my hand. I kissed the top of her head and nodded. The candle flames caused shadows to flicker across her face. I could see the tears as they started to escape her eyes.
‘What is it Hope?’ I pulled her against my chest and wrapped my arms around her.
‘I can’t fight these feelings. I love Jason so much and yet I feel rejected by him. Something in me wants to forget it all with Noland for just one night…’
She grunted as her wings sprouted from her back causing her shirt to rip apart and fall away. I let her go and looked down. She just managed to cover herself up but I swallowed as I caught sight of her nakedness.
‘You had a great time with Noland?’ I asked.
‘Don’t be stupid, Purple, he…’ she stopped talking.
I knew her well enough to know that she was attracted to him. It was obvious to me that she was fighting a battle within herself.
‘It will work itself out, Hope, but I don’t think Noland is any good for you,’ I replied, moving toward the entrance as she went into the water.
‘You’ve never been in love, Purple,’ she stated, ignoring my comment. I heard the splash of water as she washed herself.
‘Yes, so I keep getting reminded.’
‘They say that love makes the world go round, but I think I was happier before Jason came into my life.’ The splashing stopped and I heard her drying herself on one of the towels left behind.
‘Were you, Hope? I’m not so sure.’
‘Yes, there was just me and you. It was easy then.’ I felt her hand as it lay on my back. I closed my eyes and felt a shiver run through me.
‘Do you not think he has proven himself by risking his life to come here?’ I didn’t know why I was defending Jason.
‘Maybe. But why didn’t he tell me about his fiancé?’
I turned to her and took her hand. She pulled away and went to sit on the carved stone seat at the side of the pool. I stood next to her in the shadows. ‘William told him not to do anything about the fiancé for now.’
‘Really…?’
‘You need to talk to him and tell him how you really feel. It’s about your heart. Forget your head,’ I said, looking up as a noise from the entrance echoed into the cave.
Alia walked in. She grabbed the hem of her long dress and pulled it up and over her head. She wore nothing underneath it. She was looking at the water as she headed towards it. I swallowed as her long legs stretched out one in front of the other. Her rounded stomach had me break out in a sweat. Hope pulled in her wings and arm as quietly as she could but Alia stopped and turned to us. Luckily the shadows had hidden Hope.
‘Sorry, I didn’t see you there,’ Alia said, looking at us both. She stood tall and proud and made no attempt to cover herself.
‘We’re sorry,’ Hope said, standing. I stepped forward.
‘Please don’t go. I’d like to talk to you both.’
She turned and walked into the water. I watched the deliberate slow steps as she lowered herself into the steaming liquid.
‘As you know, I’m Noland’s sister and I’m struggling to read our guest. Hope, you’ve also got an odd aura and I think I know what it is that is so different about you. I was educated you see. My parents sneaked me into a Perfect school when I was young. Like my brother, the Perfects tried to persuade me to go to their side. They are unaware that we both have gifts. Of course, I refused when they asked me to stay. I was a teenager when they approached me, so luckily I already had a good education. I read all the time, Hope, and know of certain things that the Avoidables are not aware of.’
Hope stood and went to the side of the pool. She crouched and let her hand play with the water.
‘Will you tell me?’ Her voice was low.
‘I’m not stupid, Hope, you know what I’m talking about.’
‘Maybe I don’t know as much as you think. I’m an Avoidable after all,’ Hope said.
‘Are you…?’ Alia was still. I couldn’t see her expression clearly but saw her smile slightly. ‘It’s okay. Your secret is safe with me.’
Alia stood up and the water ran down her body. I couldn’t take my eyes away as she stepped out and came over. She reac
hed towards me and I started to feel light headed. Her hand brushed past my body as she took a towel from the seat beside me. The corner of her lips sunk into her cheeks and I smiled in return. Shaking my head, I felt a chuckle escape me. Alia laughed with me and pushed my chest. I looked over to see Hope leaving the cave and Layla come in.
‘What’s going on here then?’ Layla said, coming over and running a hand up my arm. Alia shook her head and started to dry herself. Layla watched her friend and then grinned up at me.
‘Do you need to bathe, Purple?’ she said, grabbing at her clothes and pulling them off. She then took the bottom of my t-shirt and lifted it over my head. Alia bent to pick her dress up and I found myself watching her move.
‘Have fun,’ she called as she dropped her dress over her head and walked out of the cave.
‘Good, I have you all to myself,’ Layla whispered into my ear. I looked down at her. Three naked women in the space of twenty minutes. I could certainly do with what Layla was offering. I ran my hand over her hair, but stopped myself when she giggled and covered herself up.
‘Come on, let’s get into the water.’ She grabbed my hand and tried to pull me.
‘Sorry, I can’t, I’ve got to get back. Another time though.’ I let go of her and left her standing there. These females were getting to me.
*
‘You do know she’s in love with the Perfect, don’t you?’ I asked Noland as he stood watching Hope.
It was later in the day and the women were washing clothes in a metal tub.
‘You really think it’s real? He’s attractive, I’ll admit, but he seems so…’
‘I used to think the same, but I have a feeling he’ll prove himself.’ I folded my arms across my chest. Noland did the same as the women laughed between themselves.
‘There’s something about her,’ Noland said. His husky voice was low. I glanced at him and saw that he was intensely focused on my friend.
‘Let me warn you now. If you hurt her in any way, I will kill you.’ I felt the hairs on my skin rise as Noland turned and looked me in the eye. The corners of his lips dipped into his cheeks and I had to roll my eyes.
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