I looked down at Sophie and rested my hand on her head. I hadn’t told her of our mother’s fate as yet.
“I’m so happy for you, Vala,” Sophie said. ‘I like Iry.”
“Iry likes you too,” Iry said from the doorway. “We are going to have a wonderful life together.”
Sophie giggled and released me.
“Sophie, you need to go practice,” Iry said. “Go on.”
“Alright.” She flashed a smile to me and ran to the door. “I’ll be back!” she said and ran out of the room.
“She doesn’t know,” I said. “She hasn’t asked.”
“It’s not yet time to tell her,” Iry replied. “She will know in due time.”
After a brief pause he said, “You look stunning.”
I bowed my head and blushed. “Thank you. You look very nice as well.”
And he did. Iry wore a cream colored suit with gold trim and buttons, and the collar was raised, similar to mine.
“Aren’t we just the dressed up twins?” he said.
“I know this isn’t something you want to do,” Iry said gently, grabbing my hands. “I promise not to make you do anything you…” his eyes shifted down. “What happened to your wrist?”
“I don’t know. I scratched myself in my sleep.”
Iry lifted my hand. “Odd.”
“Yes.” I pulled the jewelry to cover it. “I just—”
The click of the door caused both Iry and I to look up.
“My King,” Iry said, stepping back from me and bowed. “To what do we owe this honor?”
The king stared at me. “What do you know of a young man named Tanner, Mare?”
“Tanner?” I asked trying to withhold excitement. “He… is a friend from Angeles City. Why?”
“He has arrived in Akana and is en route here.”
“What!” Iry roared.
“Tanner is on his way here? I neither called him, nor did I tell him where I was,” I said in my defense, admittedly scared.
The king held up his hand. “He arrived at the gates looking for you. Savages were attacking our gatekeepers and he and the other man defeated them.”
“He saved the gatekeepers?” Iry asked in shock.
“He asked to speak to Vala. And because he did save the gatekeeper, his wish has been granted. He will be allowed to speak to Vala once he arrives.”
“And then?” I asked. “Am I to go with him?”
The king shot an almost scolding glance at me. “No. You are Intended.” He turned and walked to the door.
I breathed heavily, my chest moving up and down.
“My King,” Iry said, rushing to him.
I stood across the room, truly believing that Iry was trying to talk sense into the king. I could hear their words even as they slipped to the other side of the door.
“What are we going to do with this Tanner?” Iry asked.
“I’ve not decided. Worry about your marriage day.”
“I am,” said Iry. “That is why I am asking.”
Their voices faded too much for me to make out and I turned to face the window and looked out.
So much activity was below me. Sybaris had gathered outside in fancy dresses and suits, awaiting my marriage celebration.
I rested my hand against the pane of glass, staring out. Tanner was on his way. It wasn’t a long journey from Akana to the City of the Ancients. I knew it took shorter than the length of time remaining until I was to marry Iry.
All I could do was stare out that window and beg in my mind, Hurry, Tanner. Get here. Please get here soon.
FORTY-THREE – TANNER
“Don’t you find it somewhat disturbing?” Snake asked me. “They take over the world, treat our people like animals, and still use all the nice little gadgets and technology that man invented.”
We had traveled by way of car to an airport and flew in a pretty decked out plane to the City of the Ancients.
Snake whistled. “I’ll be damned,” he said as we flew over and prepared to land. “So this is where they went. Nice flight”
I was too engrossed in the fear of being so far off the ground to pay attention. After we landed, we boarded a long black car with another Ancient. A medical man named Alfred.
When Snake made his comment about them using the technology, Alfred finally had enough. I guess he had heard Snake rambling on the plane.
“How do you know man invented all these things?” he asked.
“Because you were stuck underground while we made them,” Snake snapped.
“Not all. There were some who managed to say above.”
“Yeah, Dracula.”
“I am nice to you because I was instructed to be,” Alfred said tightly. “Use a derogatory term again, and I won’t be so nice.” He looked down to this watch. “And don’t say a thing about my timepiece, we invented the means to keep track of time,” he said arrogantly. “And I do hope they hurry. I do not want to miss the Intention ceremony and feast. Nor, I gather, do you. Although I hope they dress you better.”
“Intention ceremony?” I asked.
“Like a marriage,” he replied.
I laughed. “Why wouldn’t I want to miss it?”
He smiled. “Because, I believe the person you are looking for is…what do humans call it? Oh yes, the bride.”
My heart plummeted. “Vala? Vala is getting married?”
His only response was a smile.
Snake saw my panicked expression and said, “No worries. We’ll get there.”
Like Alfred I wanted the driver to hurry as well, though my reasons for getting to the Intention ceremony were completely different than his.
FORTY-FOUR – VALA
“Vala!”
Tanner.
I heard the desperation in his shout and it took my breath away.
“Vala, don’t do this! Vala, please. Don’t do this!”
I looked out the window and there I saw him.
“Vala!”
“This is insane,” Iry said. “He could have made a better entrance, they were letting him in, after all.”
“I have to see him,” I said, rushing to get by Iry.
“And you can, but here is the deal. He’s out there shouting like a fool. He could have just walked in. While he brings not rebellion to our door, he certainly is presenting it. And… you are not trusted enough as it is. Let me try handling it first.”
“But, Iry—”
“Show everyone that you can be trusted, Vala. You letting me approach him first is the way. I will bring him to you.”
I nodded.
Iry turned and walked out of the room.
“Vala!” Tanner shouted. This time his voice was closer. “Let me go!”
Even though I told Iry I’d let him go first, I raced out of the room. Iry was descending the stairs, and I froze. Tanner stood by the doors with two guards.
I kept my distance as I moved behind Iry, not wanting Iry to know I was there.
“Tanner,” Iry said, “please calm down.” He motioned to the guards. “He’s fine, you can let him go.”
“Where is she?” Tanner demanded.
“She’ll be right down. Stop this, okay? Vala is fine.”
“I know you,” Tanner said. “I know who you are. You’re the educator.”
“Actually, Tanner,” Iry said, “I am the husband now.”
All color drained from Tanner’s face and I moved farther down the stairs.
“No.” Tanner shook his head. “No, it’s a lie.” Then Tanner saw me. “Vala? Is it true? Did you marry him?”
Iry looked over his shoulder to me.
“Tanner, listen, I—”
“No, Vala. Did you?” Tanner repeated.
After a moment’s hesitation, I answered, “Yes.”
Iry smiled, then looked at Tanner.
The expression on Tanner’s face said it all. Hurt, shock, and anger all at once. His eyes closed briefly, he shook his head, and then Tanner turned away.
“Ta
nner!” I shouted.
Saying no more, because no more needed to be said on his part, Tanner walked out.
FORTY-FIVE – NITO
My mind stayed focused on my task, and I knew where I was. I wasn’t far from the road that I took when I led the Day Stalkers to that field for the attack.
The narrow path grew wider the longer I walked, and it was evident that humans had made their way down the path. The leaves were squashed, trees cut out. I stopped once to eat some of the food that Claudette had given to me. I rehashed in my mind my simple story: I had moved to the Straits and was chosen.
No long after my post-meal leg of the journey, I heard yelling and shouting. I was approaching a segment of their civilization. The edge of the path opened to a wide area not far ahead of me.
And then I heard something else.
Gunshots.
“Get down!” someone yelled far in the distance.
Were they talking to me? Were they shooting at me? Fear filled me that they knew who I was, and then I remember I barely resembled Nito the Ancient. However, to be cautious, I dropped to the ground.
The male voice shouted again to ‘get down’ and that was when I realized they were not yelling at me. Relieved, I lifted my head and started to get up. The second I drew to my knees I felt a hand on my shoulder and then I caught the odor of rotting flesh.
My head cocked and there above me was a Day Stalker. He snarled and lunged my way. Quickly, I grabbed my walking stick and struck him. It wasn’t enough to kill it, though it did stumble back and afforded me the chance to stand. When I did, another emerged from the woods. I swung out at him. I may have lost my Ancient powers, but I did know how to wield a sword and I used the stick to my best advantage.
Two I could handle, but when a third emerged, I knew my best option was to run. Hopefully, I would not get shot by the humans.
What poetic justice it would be for me. To return to the same place and be killed by the same monsters I was responsible for.
I headed toward the openness of the path’s end and as I reached it, another Day Stalker surged towards me. Again, I struck out, but as he fell, he grabbed hold and pulled me to the ground.
I kicked and fought, diligently trying not to get bitten or torn apart. I even screamed out in my struggle. It was no use, despite how hard I tried to keep the Day Stalker from me, I was losing strength.
Blood and saliva poured from its mouth and my arms weakened. I was ready to lose that battle when a single pop of a gunshot rang out close by and the Day Stalker’s head exploded.
Its carcass fell on me, and I shoved it off in a panic.
Another shot. Then another.
I was trapped beneath the Day Stalker until I felt a hand reach down for me.
“You okay?”
I couldn’t breathe, a wheezing noise was the only sound I could make.
“Hey, are you bit?”
“No. No.” My hands shook and the man helped me to my feet. I looked at the bodies of the Day Stalkers. “You saved me. Thank you.”
“That was pretty close,” he said. He was a tall man, and fit. He placed his weapon behind his shoulder. “We don’t get people coming in this way. You’re pretty lucky we were fighting these things. If not, they could’ve got ya.”
I picked up my belongings.
“Can I ask what you’re doing out here?” He helped me gather my things from the ground.
“I traveled far. I want to join the rebellion.”
He handed me my walking stick and grinned. “Then you came to the right place.”
“I am Madge,” I told him, and then did the human ritual of extending my hand.
He took and gripped it with a shake. “My name is Davis. Nice to meet you, and even though you’re at the outskirts, welcome to Angeles City.”
I smiled. I had arrived.
About the Author
Jacqueline Druga is a native of Pittsburgh, PA. She is a prolific writer and filmmaker. Her published works include genres of all types, but favors post-apocalypse and apocalypse writing. Currently, she resides in a small town south of Pittsburgh, where not only is she a writer, but devotes a good bit of her time enjoying her grandchildren.
Rise of the Mare (Fall of Man Book 2) Page 14