Niccolo grabbed him by the hair and pulled him to his feet. He was poised, ready for a fight, but Adam gave no resistance at all.
“How?” he asked so softly, Niccolo barely heard it.
“Your life will serve to replenish that which you almost stole from my friend.”
“No, I mean how did you not succumb?”
He ignored the question as he drug him toward his destiny. Forcing him to his knees, he extended Adam’s throat over Pavlo’s still face. Extending the nail on his little finger, he gouged a small hole into the side of Adam’s neck, letting the blood fall in a steady stream as he held his friend’s mouth wide.
“Sadly, you’ve weakened him to the point he no longer has the strength to bite you himself,” he whispered in his ear. “So, there will be no venom to ease your transition. You will feel every moment of your life as it oozes out of you.”
“Just make it quick,” he said, his voice detached. “The sooner it’s over, the sooner I will rejoin my dear Annette in the afterlife.”
Staring down at him, he shocked by his words. He was about to ask him to elaborate when Pavlo began to move.
“Easy, friend,” he cautioned. “You’ve lost a lot of blood. You need to feed.”
Pavlo leaned up and tried to bite Adam, but Niccolo pulled him out of reach. “No, just open your mouth and swallow. He doesn’t deserve the mercy you offer.”
He complied, lying still, letting the blood rejuvenated him. As the blood flow slowed to a trickle, Niccolo dropped Adam face down onto the cave floor. He placed his foot on the base of his neck, reached down with both hands and pulled his head free of the shoulders. Gripping it by the hair, he stood straight, holding it at eye level. Adam’s eyes stared back at him, his mouth working open and closed in rapid succession. He slung the head out the mouth of the cave, watching it sail until it was lost among the trees beyond.
“I just experienced the most bizarre…,” Pavlo began as he sat up. He fell silent for a moment as he surveyed the bodies strewn around him. “Dream.”
Niccolo extended his hand to help him to his feet.
“But it appears reality was far more bizarre than even my imagination could conjure,” he said, allowing himself to be pulled up. “What did I mi… No!”
He rushed to Nessa’s side, rolling her to her back. “Nessa, wake up!”
“Pavlo,” he said, keeping his distance.
“Nessa!” Pavlo glared at him over his shoulder. “What did you do to her?”
“What do you think?” He swept his hand in front of him. “I saved you from her and her coven.”
“You killed her?” His voice was barely audible.
“She was killing you.”
“Bullshit!” he bellowed. “She loved me.”
“You can’t be serious, old friend. Look around you. They were trophy hunters. They set a trap and we fell right into it.”
“No.” Pavlo shook his head. “Adam was a hunter as was most of his clan, but my Nessa despised the idea of the lifestyle they chose for her.”
“You knew?” He was flabbergasted.
“Of course,” he said, wearing a disgusted look. “I knew his name from somewhere; it just took me awhile to place it.”
“And you didn’t feel the need to warn me?” he all but growled.
“Why? There was no danger,” he said, returning his attention to Nessa’s face, stroking it gently. “Nessa told me everything when she found me. That was why they wanted to escape Adam and the rest of his brood.”
“If she wasn’t still helping him, how did they find us?”
Pavlo ignored the question as he examined Nessa. “Her only wound seems to be the one you inflicted when you drained her like she was a mere mortal.”
“I saw no need to cause her any more pain than— What are you doing?” Niccolo rushed to his side as he slit his wrist and held it to Nessa’s mouth.
“I can save her,” he hissed.
“Why so we can kill her again when she’s strong enough to realize what we did to her coven?”
“She won’t fight us. She loves me.”
“Be reasonable, man,” Niccolo urged, dragging him to his feet. “She tried to kill you herself.”
“And I love her,” Pavlo continued, struggling to return to her side.
He held him tight. “You can’t be serious. You just met her.”
“Yet, I feel as though I’ve loved her since the dawn of eternity.”
Niccolo gripped him by the shoulders, forcing their gazes to meet. “You’ve never loved anyone like that and you know it.”
Pavlo didn’t flinch. “I loved you.”
Niccolo’s hands fell away and he took a step back as if he were slapped.
“That’s why you killed her. You were jealous.”
“Pavlo, you’re not thinking clearly,” he said in a soft voice, before extending his arm. “I speak the truth. I had no choice but to take her life. See for yourself.”
“No,” he turned away. “I am too disgusted to feed from you right now.”
“Please, be reasonable,” he said, moving to grip his friend’s shoulder.
“Leave me be,” he growled, slipping from beneath his touch. “I want to be alone.”
And with that, he bolted from the cave and launched himself into the air. Niccolo debated over whether or not to pursue him, but decided to let him have some time to sort out his emotions.
With a heavy heart, he began the laborious task of moving the bodies of his enemies out into the open so the sun could wash away any remnants of their existence come the dawn.
He patiently awaited Pavlo’s return, but nothing came through the mouth of the cave save for a steady breeze. As the sun rose, pushing him toward slumber, he slipped into the land of dreams wondering if he would ever see his old friend again.
Chapter Twenty
Selu stood, bent at the waist, hands on her knees just a few steps away from the front porch. She wiped her mouth with the back of a trembling hand. Her morning started out the same way it had every day for the last week. She wasn’t sure what illness had afflicted her, but she wished it would hurry up and run its course. The vomiting was the only symptom, but it no longer contained itself to just a waking routine. Now certain smells in the house would trigger the reaction. When she turned to reenter the house, Taima stood in the doorway, a thoughtful expression on her face.
“I’m fine,” she assured her quickly.
“Come,” she gestured with her head. “Let’s talk inside.”
They had just sat at the kitchen table when Kanati emerged from the bedroom and joined them. “I think we should take you over to Tonden’s and let him have a look at you.”
“Let’s not be hasty,” Taima said, patting his forearm as he took a seat beside her. “Selu darling, when was the last time you experienced moon sickness?”
Kanati’s face scrunched up in a show of disgust about a topic he clearly wasn’t comfortable with discussing.
Selu was quiet as she thought back to the last time she had her period. Her heart began to beat faster as she reached farther and farther back. Dawning crept along the edges of her searching mind.
“The moon has completed more than two cycles since last it affected me,” she said, her voice rising in a mix of anxiety and excitement.
Wearing a confused look, Kanati was clearly at a loss as his gaze shifted between them.
“You don’t think…?” Selu began to ask.
“I do,” Taima confirmed with a nod.
Selu rubbed her stomach absently as she digested the idea. When she looked to Kanati, he was staring at her moving hand.
“You’re pregnant?” he asked, eyes widening as they met hers.
She merely nodded, too choked up to speak.
“I’m going to be a father?” he pressed.
She nodded again.
He was on his feet in a flash, engulfing her between his arms, crushing her to his chest. “We’re going to have a baby!” His voice broke a
s he made the exclamation.
“Easy, Kanati,” Taima cautioned. “We’ll need to treat her gently, especially in the early stages.”
He released her with such reluctance; she could feel it in his arms. When she stared up at him, tears were streaming down his face. It wasn’t until he reached down and rubbed her cheek with his thumb that she realized she was crying too.
“I didn’t think it would ever be possible, but you managed to make me even happier than I already was,” he gushed before kissing her tenderly.
When he finally pulled away, a look of sorrow had replaced his joyous visage.
“What’s wrong?” She was suddenly afraid he wasn’t ready for the responsibilities that come along with fatherhood.
“I have to go to work,” he said, his face totally ravaged. “But I don’t want to leave your side.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “What? Did you plan to spend every waking moment with me until the baby comes?”
“If I could,” he nodded solemnly. “But I promised Acabo I’d be there today. He has a wagon full of wares coming in and he needs my help to unload it.”
“Go,” she said, pushing gently on his shoulders. “I’ll be here when you get home.”
He rose slowly, his stare revolving from the door to her and back again.
“Seriously, honey. It’s not like I’ve become fragile over night. I think I can manage for a few hours without you.”
Sucking in a deep breath, he let it out slowly before nodding his ascent. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
Rising to her feet quickly, she kissed him again before sending him on his way.
“That boy is liable to be a nervous wreck by the time you actually have the child,” Taima said after the door shut behind him.
Selu giggled. “It’s possible, but I think once he’s had time for the thought of fatherhood to fully sink in, he will be just fine.”
Taima shrugged, then drug herself to her feet. “You should probably go lie down while I make us some breakfast.”
“Oh please, Auntie. I’m pregnant, not paralyzed. Besides, you’re still on the mend,” she said, pulling her into a warm hug as their paths crossed. “You rest and I’ll make us something to eat.”
Her face puckered in mock consternation, she nodded slowly. “Fine, but don’t wear yourself out. You have the baby to think about now.”
“Deal,” Selu said with a snort. She wondered how many more times she would have to hear that during her gestation period.
* * * *
Kanati wiped the sweat from his brow, the wagon was unloaded and the supplies were stacked along the back wall of the store. He’d told Acabo that he would help him stock the shelves then he needed to get home to his expectant wife. The old man was ecstatic about the news and had offered to let him go early, but the warm day had brought people out in droves and he was doing such a brisk business, he didn’t feel right about leaving Acabo alone to tend to the store and put away the shipment.
The bell over the front door rang out and he glanced up. He nearly dropped the box of mason jars he was holding when he recognized the group of men that traipsed up to the counter. Quickly placing the box on the floor, he was about to warn Acabo that they were the same ruffians who passed by his favorite fishing hole when the leader began to speak.
“Hey, old-timer,” the one Kanati remembered they called Rich began. “Do you happen to know where we might be able to find a young man named Koonatty, do you?”
Is he trying to say my name? Kanati wondered. It’s too close to be a coincidence. How do they know me?
Acabo cocked his head sideways and pursed his brow. “I can’t say as I do.”
“You sure ‘bout that?” Sean asked. “We had ‘er on good infermatin’ that he homed ’round these parts.”
“I assure you, I’ve never heard that name before,” he answered with a shrug.
Horace stepped up with a fierce look and opened his mouth to speak, but Rich silenced him with a wave of his hand.
“No, matter,” he said. “We were just in Durant not long ago and when we mentioned we might be heading here to Tahlonteeskee to do some bartering, a young man asked us to pass the other fellow a message.”
“So, you’ve come to trade?” Acabo asked. His smile looked false even as far away as Kanati was standing. “What do you have to offer?”
“Actually, we come with needs and money,” he answered with a wink.
“Well, you are in luck, we just had a fresh shipment of goods arrive this morning.”
“That’s all well and good, but we’re looking for some items that are a bit more indigenous. Leather goods, blankets, jewelry and the like. Do you have any necklaces made out of beads or maybe some buffalo bone?”
“I have both at the moment. Everything our tribe has to offer is either on the shelves or handing on the racks in the back,” he said, sweeping his hand to gesture further into the store. “Gather what you need and I’ll set you a fair price for the lot.”
The bell above the door rang again and all heads turned to stare at the woman who stood frozen in the doorway, mouth agape, eyes wide with shock.
“Weeell naw, what’d we got hir?” Mickey asked before licking his lips. “Hello purdy lil’ thang, don’t be shy, come on in.”
Selu only hesitated for a moment then she turned and fled from the store. Mickey, Kurt and Horace hurried out the door after her.
“Selu!” Kanati shouted, startling the remaining men. They clearly hadn’t spotted him yet.
He rushed through the store at a sprint, jostling Gordon on his way out. He leapt from the porch, clearing the steps and landed smoothly on the road still at a run. The ruffians had already converged on her and she was trapped between them. He could hear their taunts as he drew closer.
“Aww, suga…ain’t no need to be like that. We just wunt a talk at cha fer a minit,” Mickey was drawling.
“Leave her alone,” Kanati growled, skidding to a stop when he reached them.
“Who the fuck are you?” Kurt asked, squaring off on him, his hand resting lightly on the pistol strapped to his hip.
“I’m her husband,” he replied, eyeing the sidearm warily.
“What’s your name, boy?” Horace asked, looking at him over his shoulder.
“I’m…” He hesitated. “My name is Acoma.”
Selu shot him a puzzled glance and pleaded with her using his eyes to stay silent. The exchange didn’t go unnoticed by Kurt, who studied them both, his eyes daring quickly back and forth before a smile broke across his rugged face.
“That a fact?” he said. “Well, I guess it would be nothing short of uncivilized to continue to woo this woman seeing as she is already hitched.”
“What?” Mickey shouted, finally tearing his attention from Selu’s breasts.
“I said, we are going to leave her be, Mickey,” Kurt said.
Mickey turned to look at Kanati for the first time. He spit on the road between them. A long brown line of tobacco stained saliva stuck to his chin and he wiped it with the back of his hand.
“Shit, I don’t see how his bein’ hir changes nuttin. This un’s a real looker.” He jerked his thumb at Selu. “Hell, he can come alon’ to watch if’n he wunt to. Maybe he’d learn himself a few poin’ers. We can shows him how real men please a squaw.”
Kanati drew his work knife from his waistband with a growl and dropped into an attack crouch. “Come on you, cur. If you want her, you’ll have to deal with me first.”
Mickey threw back his head and laughed before pulling his pistol out and leveling it at Kanati’s chest. “Init just like an injun to bring a knife to a gun fight?”
“Easy, Mickey,” Rich cautioned as he and the others joined the party.
Kanati started edging back so he could keep them all in his line of sight.
“Come on, man,” Mickey whined. “It’s one kid ginst six of us. You don’t thank we can take ‘em?”
“I’m sure you would do just fine eve
n by yourself with him, but what do you propose to about them?” he asked, spreading his hands to gesture at both sides of the street.
A crowd had gathered. Both men and women had picked up arms to come to the young couple’s aid. Rifles pointed from windows or rested on the shoulders of spectators as they gathered between the buildings. Others brandished bows, arrows notched and strings drawn tight, ready to be loosed if the situation didn’t diffuse quickly.
“Awww, fuck,” Mickey said in a surprised voice, lowering his pistol. He turned back to Selu with a smile. “Perhap, we can talk more some uther time.”
“Let’s go,” Horace said, grabbing Mickey by the arm and steering him toward their horses.
“Did you get yer tradin’ dun?” he asked.
“No, but thanks to your little head thinking for your big one, I don’t think they are willing to business with us here anymore. So, saddle up. Maybe we can make it to the next town by nightfall.”
Sean stared at Kanati as he pulled himself up on his steed. “That boy has balls of steel.”
Rich followed his gaze and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then urged his horse forward. “Move out!” he called to the rest of his men.
Kanati stood in the middle of the street, his body still trembling from the encounter as he watched them ride out of town. Acabo slung his rifle over his shoulder and marched out to join him just as he pulled his wife into his arms.
“Perhaps you should take Selu home,” he suggested. “You can finish stocking the store tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” Kanati said, still hugging her tightly. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”
“And by the Gods, I hope you never will again,” he said, gripping him on the shoulder.
He led Selu home with his arm wrapped around her shoulder. She held her head against the side of his chest as she sobbed gently. He could only imagine how frightening the whole ordeal must have been for her. Sure, his life was in danger, but his pain would’ve ended quickly. There was no telling how long her torment would’ve lasted had they made away with her.
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