Discovery at Nerwolix

by C. G. Coppola

  “When?” Blovid asks, inching forward. “Today? Tomorrow?”

  “I do not know…” he hisses as Sampson releases his neck, backing up. “The Supreme has not decided.”

  “Oh, I’m pretty sure he knows,” Sampson nods.

  “He does not,” the Vermix hisses. “He will know more when we return. Only then shall he make the arrangements.”

  Sampson narrows his eyes at the Vermix. “I don’t believe you.”

  “It is the truth.”

  “No…” he shakes his head. “Reuzkimpart knows what he’s doing. He’s sent you here for a different reason.”

  But the Vermix remains silent, battling the Fychu in a lethal starring contest, trying not to give anything away.

  “Very well,” Sampson exhales. “We will bring you before Hozfin. You can tell him why you are here, although I fear he won’t be happy with any reason you have for attacking his tribe.”

  “You are not Zingfinolds.”

  “We aren’t,” he gestures to Walker and Tucker, “but they are. And if I understand correctly, that is cause for immediate death.”

  “We are dead regardless.”

  “Well, yes…” Sampson agrees. “But whose fault is that? And really,” he frowns, crossing his arms, “what were you thinking? Eight of you pitted against a Leader and myself? Not to mention the others here,” he gestures to Clarence, Qippert, Jothkore and Vix. “I seriously question the training you all have been receiving.”

  The Vermix spits another few words in his language.

  “There is no need for name calling. If you tell us what you’re doing here, we might be able to sway Hozfin into keeping you alive… for a little while longer. Your choice, of course.”

  He hisses out another few words, straining to get to Sampson.

  “Very well. Jothkore?”

  “Certainly, Fychu,” he reapplies the whip’s end around the Vermix’s snout.

  “They must be spies,” Blovid looks to Sampson. “So Reuzkimpart knows what he’s walking into.”

  “I do not think so…” he shakes his head. “He wouldn’t keep them all together—and they certainly wouldn’t have attacked.”

  “Is it because I spotted them?” Jace asks.

  “We had an advantage because you saw them,” Sampson shakes his head, strumming his green beard, “but I think they still would’ve attacked if you hadn’t. No, they weren’t sent here as spies. And Reuzkimpart could care less to know what he’s walking into. He’s still coming for the Floating Ruby, regardless of what’s waiting for him.”

  “Should we take them back now, Fychu?” Qippert asks.

  “Yes,” Sampson nods. “And we need to get Vix to some Vilbrees. Rogues,” he turns to them, “if you could assist Jothkore, Qippert and Clarence with the haul?”

  Chapter Fifteen: Forbidden Curiosity

  The king sits in his throne, eyes narrowed on the eight bound and kneeling Dofinikes before him. Warze stands to his right, Walker and Tucker to his left, the entire home filled with sharp, anxious quiet. It takes about five long minutes after the Vermix are brought in for King Hozfin to acknowledge them. He finally inhales, his dark eyes pelting the trespassers.

  “What you want?”

  The Vermix that Sampson spoke with has his restraint moved from his snout again. Glaring between all the Arizals and Zingfinolds, he looks at the king.

  “What you have.”

  “You come to steal?” Hozfin slams his furry hand down on the arm of his throne. The vibrations resound through the entire wooden abode, shaking the walls. “You want steal from Zingfinolds! You want come to our land—you want take from us?” he roars, spittle flying as his eyes throb with a hint of insanity. He settles back into his seat, strumming his fingers on the edge of his arm rest. “Who sent you steal from Zingfinolds?”

  “The Supreme,” the Vermix hisses.

  “Who this Supreme?”

  “The greatest Dellapalanian Leader—Father Reuzkimpart.”

  Hozfin glances at Sampson and Blovid before returning focus to the kneeling Vermix. “Where is this Reuz-kim-part?”

  “Dellapalania.”

  “Why he no come?”

  “He will…” the Vermix hisses, “…and he will conquer everything and everyone here, even you, Zingfinold King. You will fall at the Supreme’s feet. You do not understand his power.”

  “He will no succeed,” Hozfin’s voice strengthens, his eyes blazing. “Reuzkimpart no understands my power.”

  Warze moves behind the Vermix and, placing his hands on both sides of his head, twists hard. The Dofinike slumps over, crashing to the floor, his blank yellow eyes staring at nothing. The other Vermix squirm, trying to free themselves, but Warze does the same thing, dropping them one by one. Once all eight lay on the ground, unmoving and stiff, Hozfin pegs Sampson with a hard look.

  “Reuzkimpart will no succeed.”

  “I agree, King Hozfin,” he steps closer, “but please, let this be the proof you need that there will be an invasion. Reuzkimpart will bring his forces here. He will try to steal the Floating Ruby. It is his only aim in assaulting your land.”

  “Floating Ruby well hidden. He will no find.”

  Sampson exhales. “I sincerely hope not.”

  “Warze,” the King looks to him, “remove trespassers.”

  Warze nods and starts dragging the Vermix corpses from the king’s home as Sampson approaches Vix, eyeing her shoulder.

  “You need Vilbrees,” he turns to Clarence, “we’ll bring her back to my home for now.”

  “Thank you, Fychu.”

  “Fychu,” King Hozfin calls. “You know this Reuzkimpart?”

  “Not well.”

  “I do, your Majesty,” Blovid steps forward. “What would you like to know?”

  King Hozfin shifts in his throne. “I seek private audience with Arizal Leader and Fychu,” he gestures for the rest of us to leave.

  “I’ll tend to Vix,” Clarence whispers to Sampson, holding back the curtain. We all file outside and releasing the curtain, Clarence motions to the nearby homes. “It’s been quite the day so far. Let’s retire for the time being. Everyone relax, rest… we can reconvene in Tucker’s home for dinner later.”

  Pratt and Mae immediately fly to my side, surrounding me like a bubble as we make for my home. We’re just about there when Reid calls behind me.

  “Remember,” Pratt turns. “We’re having girl talk. No boys.”

  “I know.”

  “He’s always trying to make out with you.”

  “Fallon?” he jogs up to us, glancing at the other two. “Hey girls.”

  “We’re having girl time,” Pratt crosses her arms. “No boys.”

  A shadow of a frown crosses his face but he wipes it clean. “Yeah, sure. Just uh… give me a second alone with Fallon?”

  Pratt raises a brow.

  “It’ll be quick,” Reid smirks. “I promise.”

  “Fine…” she lets out a deep sigh, spinning on her heels, “but after that, no more boys!” She pushes past the curtain and Mae quickly follows.

  He rolls his eyes, moving closer. “So,” he’s serious now and crossing his arms, he stands with legs apart. “How’re you doing? You’re okay from earlier?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Jace said he saw you and Mae on a branch with a Vermix?”

  “Yeah. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing to go up. But I didn’t know what else to do. The Vermix were all around us and—”

  “How’d you get away from him?”

  “Walker swung me onto another branch.”

  Reid winces but the expression washes away quickly. “And you’re feeling better today, about… everything else?”

  “Yeah, actually. I am.”

  “Good,” he steps even closer, nearly pinning me to the wall. “I was hoping we could have a minute alone, but uh,” he glances at the curtain over my shoulder, “I guess I was beaten to it.”

  I blush. “Sorry.”

>   “Um…” he laughs, planting a hand on the wall next to my head as he uses his free one to scratch the back of his neck. “You uh… you think girl talk’s going to last all afternoon?”

  “Why?”

  He grins, his eyes falling to my lips as he leans in. My heart takes off like it normally does and slowly, Reid kisses me. It’s soft, hot and completely melts me to my core. My knees start to go but I keep myself up, using the wooden wall behind me for support. Cradling my face in his hands, Reid holds me to him, prolonging the kiss and gently tugging on my lower lip. I’m about to fall when he pulls back but keeps our mouths touching, “How soon’s girl talk going to be over?”

  “Later. I don’t…” I’m out of breath, “…I don’t know when.”

  He shuts his eyes, his breath quickening. Leaning in, he claims my lips again, more urgently this time. I’m growing dizzy as he moves from my mouth to my jaw, working his way lower.

  “I can’t…” he’s kissing down my throat, “…not right now.”

  His hands slip down my hips to my thighs and my body jerks.

  “Later…” I’m whispering, holding him back by his shoulders. “Not now…”

  “Later?” he looks up, hunger blazing from his eyes.

  My pulse is pounding, my blood boiling from his touch. I’m not even sure I’m able to stand at this point and with that look he’s giving me, I’m completely paralyzed. I don’t know what to do. But he’s waiting for an answer.

  I gulp. “Later.”

  He rests his forehead against mine, panting. Another beat and he leans in, kissing me again. “I guess I’ll see you later, then,” he withdraws with a wink. “Enjoy girl time,” he spins with a smirk, jetting back down the bridge.

  Still trying to catch my breath, I allow my body a minute to cool down. Every time Reid touches me, I’m on fire, lost to this reality and trapped in his. Nothing else exists except the way my body feels, the sound of his voice, the scent of his skin. And his eyes… I’m a slave to them. When my heart is back to its normal rhythm, and I’m confident my legs will support me, I push past the curtain and head inside. Pratt and Mae are sitting on the edge of my bed.

  “Told you he wanted to make out,” Pratt huffs.

  “Wow…” Mae blushes. “Sorry we had to steal you from that. If you want, we can reschedule—”

  “No!” Pratt gripes. “This was supposed to be girl time!”

  “And it is,” I plop on the bed between them, “and it is much needed. Believe me, I need a break from testosterone.”

  “And you’re constantly surrounded by it,” Pratt laughs. “With Walker and Reid vying for your attention. And every once in a while Able and Clarence.”

  “How are you doing with that?” Mae keeps her voice soft.

  I shrug.

  “My mind would be exploding,” Pratt says. “But it’s really kind of cool, you know. You’re like, an alien mutt. I think it’s awesome.”

  “Thanks,” I laugh. “I’m getting used to the idea. It’s just a shock,” I glance between the two girls. “I missed you guys. I feel like we haven’t gotten to talk a lot since I’ve been back.”

  “That’s because we haven’t.”

  I let out a deep breath. “How was the week I was gone?”

  “Uggg…” Pratt falls onto the red linen. “While you were off gallivanting with the Rogues, we were stuck here with Perry. I hate her.”

  “Oh yeah?” I brush a lock of blondish-brown hair from her forehead.

  “She has a comment about everything and it’s ninety-nine percent bitchy. It’s like, if you don’t have anything nice to say, just shut up. God,” Pratt swears, “I had to force myself not to punch her every day.”

  “But Hozfin wanted us constantly near each other,” Mae crosses her arms as an unsettling frown forms. She stands up and paces the room, her head down and her voice low. “It was really tough. She reminds me of those girls in high school that were so mean.”

  Mae never talks about her life before Harrizel. I turn to her, my interest piqued.

  “But she’s worse,” Pratt huffs. “She says doesn’t take any fault in the whole-Reid-Ansley-Walker thing, but I think she actually enjoys it. It’s like she gets off on seeing people upset. What is that?”

  “It’s just so hurtful,” Mae sits down beside me. “And there’s no reason for it. I don’t understand… if someone’s not bothering you, why go after them? It’s cruel and there’s no reason for it,” she wraps her arms around herself. “It just makes no sense.”

  Pratt sits up and we exchange glances before I look at Mae.

  “Were you…” I keep my voice fragile. “Did someone…”

  “Not someone…” her voice is soft, her eyes still on the floor. She inhales a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “The five most popular girls in the school. They would…” she shakes her head, tears misting her dark eyes. She hiccups a cry and suddenly, a giant sob breaks free, wracking her body with uncontrollable shakes.

  “Hey,” I throw my arms around her in a hug. “Hey—it’s okay.”

  “No,” she shakes her head, wiping her hands down her face. “No, they left me. They left me out there.”

  “Out where?”

  She sniffles, crying harder into her hands.

  “What happened?” I turn her toward me. “Mae? Mae, what happened?”

  She sniffles again, wiping her eyes. Her mouth drops but no words come out. Not at first. She gulps and after a moment, tries again. “They stopped me on my way home and they,” she quivers, “they… dragged me out of my car,” she tries regulating her breathing, but is having difficulty, “and through the trees. They… they meant to just leave me out there, steal my car and leave me. And then… and then one of them…” her lip quivers, her red eyes focused on the memory, “she pushed me. And then they all took turns. They kept pushing me over and over and—and—there was a cliff…”

  “Oh God,” I find myself whispering.

  “I saw them,” she finally looks up. “I saw them looking down at me,” she sniffles, “but they didn’t help. They just ran. They left me out there.”

  A quiet moment passes when I realize what Mae must’ve endured. What she must have felt. And the fact that she’s a five-percent means the impact of the fall…

  “Those bitches,” Pratt glares. “I’d kill every one of them.”

  “Get in line,” I mutter, deadly and low.

  Mae sniffles again. “I just don’t understand. I never did anything to them. I wasn’t anyone!” she looks between us. “I was invisible!”

  “They’re just mean bitches who had nothing better to do,” Pratt growls.

  “And then,” Mae hiccups, “and then I saw Clarence. It was the first thing I remember. He was helping me up and telling me about the war. He told me I was out there because I was probably searching for food. When we got our memories back…” she lets out a trembling breath, “I remember what happened.”

  “Jesus,” I rub my hand down her arm, soothing.

  “I just…” she shakes her head, “I don’t understand why they did it. I was nobody,” she whispers. “Nobody.” She stars crying again and I pull her into another hug.

  “It’s okay,” I hold Mae as her body begins quaking against mine. Pratt frowns, rubbing her hand up and down her back. We exchange looks again, anger and surprise reflecting. To know that Mae went through that, not only the physical torment, but the bullying as well... Rage like I have never known grows inside me. I want to hit something. Hard. And then again. And again and again until I can undo what she’s been through.

  “I’m sorry,” Mae pulls back with a sniffle. She runs her hand under her nose. “I didn’t mean to get into all that, but being around Perry just reminded me. If she went to my school, she would’ve been one of those girls. I know it.”

  Neither Pratt nor I know what to say.

  “Anyway,” she wipes the tears from her cheeks and looks between us, “let’s change the subject.”

  But I d
on’t know what to talk about. Everything fails in comparison to what was just admitted. How could we gush on something trivial after that? A quiet moment passes and then Pratt speaks up, breaking the hard tension. “Where do you guys think Ariana is?”

  Another beat of silence.

  “I don’t know,” Mae mumbles, her voice soft and low. “But I hope she’s alright. I miss her.”

  “Me too,” Pratt slumps over. “Stupid Perio. But she’s got to be safe, right?”

  They both look to me for an answer. Honestly, I believe that she is, but since I don’t know for sure, I hesitate. A tremor of fear reflects at my pause, so I nod quickly, trying to reassure them. “Perio wouldn’t hurt her. Wherever she is, she’s safe.”

  “You think Tucker’s losing his mind?” Pratt frowns.

  “Probably. Queen Ravan too. I wish… I wish we could find her. Get her back from him. He’s probably treating her fine but she doesn’t belong with him.”

  “Maybe after this invasion…” Mae mutters.

  I’m trying not to think about the upcoming battle or the Vermix or anything that has to do with the war. But it’s hard. It seems my entire life—and everything before I awoke to Clarence—revolves around it, revolves around the prophecy that started this whole thing. Shrugging, I fall back to the bed and stare up at the ceiling. “We’ll get her back.”

  Mae leans back with me, Pratt quickly following so that we’re all looking up to the wooden ceiling. A silent minute passes.

  “We need to do girl talk more often,” Pratt decides.

  “I agree,” Mae nods.

  “Me too.”

  “Reid’ll probably hate it,” the little Roguetta grins. “He wants all your time.”

  “Him and Walker,” Mae laughs, turning her head towards mine. “Jeez, Fallon you are quite popular. Do Jace or Able have any secret crushes we don’t know about?”

  I snort. “Uh—no.”

  “Nope,” Pratt agrees with a grin. “It’s just Reid and Walker in love with her.”

  The comment stirs the familiar ache deep in my chest, but I ignore it. Like I’ve been ignoring it, every time I want to tell Reid those three words and every time I wish he would say them back and doesn’t. But I don’t want to think about that. They don’t need to know how—