by J E Reed
Functional, she reminded herself. They were functional and nothing else mattered. She had to survive, not worry about how she looked to others. Especially to some boy who thought he could lead his band of misfits to some kind of glory. She let out a breath. But that wasn’t Zak, he didn’t seek—Vixin shook her head. Enough.
She slowed her steps, took a breath, and shifted her attention back to the trees. Back to what she knew. Or tried to.
She’d never showed much interest in the opposite sex. Or the same sex for that matter and her father had never brought it up. She smirked at the thought. Perhaps her dad had been thankful for it. She could only imagine his attempt at the talk and how awkward that’d turn out to be.
At sixteen, she hadn’t given much thought to her future or who might be in it, but that was just it. She was only sixteen and didn’t have to. What was a relationship for anyway other than procreating? Her stomach tightened. She’d never be ready for that.
Pretty. Her face heated again and Vixin sighed. She’d always made fun of those stupid sappy love stories and the garbage they contained. Yet here she was, her heart fluttering at the simple thought of Zak’s smile.
He came up beside her like a wraith and she stiffened, suddenly aware of every movement. Her mouth went dry and Vixin swallowed, trying to calm her racing heart. She almost laughed to herself. She’d faced the wilds, animals and people alike. She’d learned to defend herself in the most hands-on way possible and yet here she was, a complete wreck because a boy had called her pretty.
“Something funny?” Zak asked.
Vixin shook her head and decided a switch in conversation was the best route. “You seem to know your way around the realms.”
“Like I said, we’ve been back and forth a few times. The first three, at least. I’ve seen the portal to the fourth realm, but we haven’t gone in yet.”
“Why not?”
Zak shrugged. “Why risk messing up a good thing? I know this area and the people in it. It’s an easy living.”
Vixin smirked. “Easy your thing?”
He cocked his head toward her. “Implying something?”
There went her heart again. That smile. “Sounds to me like you’re scared. Don’t you think the loot would be better?”
He scoffed. “Yes, but it comes with a higher risk.”
“And more fun.”
Zak paused and folded his arms. “I’m starting to think you’re crazy.”
“Have I implied otherwise?”
He shook his head and continued their slow walk. “Fine. I’ll take you to one of the hideouts and let you see it for yourself.”
“I thought you’d never been there?”
“Not in the fourth realm, but there are places here in the third we don’t hit either.”
Zak left her after that to consult with Sam about their camping arrangements. She didn’t follow. Instead, Vixin watched from a distance as two magic users struggled to start a fire.
Her gaze drifted to a trickle of water nearby. It rolled off the stones, dripped down a mossy crevice, and finally joined a stream. Vixin pulled her cloak tighter. She’d tried to ignore it, but the dampness had sunk into her bones days ago. If she had to pick a realm to stay in, it wouldn’t be here.
Zak argued with Sam for a long while and though she couldn’t hear their conversation, Sam’s nervous gestures told her enough. He didn’t want Zak to go.
She simply watched, still trying to figure out if Sam was a friend or lover.
Zak shouldered a pack and finally met her at the edge of the ravine they’d climbed into.
“Problems?” she asked.
Zak shook his head. “Nothing to worry about, let’s go.” Zak grabbed the first exposed root and hoisted himself up. She climbed after, digging her boots into the rocks to ensure she had a proper foothold. Sure, she could have lifted them both up, but she liked the climb, liked the challenge and the feel of dirt beneath her nails.
At the top, Zak turned to offer his hand again, but Vixin shooed him away.
“Is your old man a hard ass or something?”
Vixin clenched her fists, fighting the urge to plant one across his jaw. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”
“I just assumed he was the one who, well,” he looked her over, “made you the way you are.”
Vixin glared at him.
“You’re intimidating all right? You seem to have no issue with survival and I’m just asking if your dad had something to do with it.”
She cocked her head and a wry smile formed across her lips. “You find me intimidating?”
Zak shook his head and sighed. “Figures that’s all you’d hear. No, the others find you intimidating.”
She pouted. That explained why he didn’t avoid her like the rest. “You should ask Anton and Blitz just how intimidating I can be.”
“Why do you think I let you join us in that first raid?” So he had been asking about her. “You pride yourself on that, don’t you?” He laughed. “They told me the whole thing was pretty wild.”
She stepped over a rotted log. “It wasn’t anything special. It wasn’t like those boys knew what they were doing.”
“When did you start learning whatever it is you learned?”
Vixin looked to the sky. “Honestly? Can’t remember. Just grew up that way. My mom died at birth, so it’s always just been me and dad.”
Zak winced. “Sorry to hear it.”
She waved him off. “Don’t be, I never knew her. But to answer your question, yes, my dad taught me everything. He was in the military but keeps all the details to himself. He just says the world is crazy and that I need to know how to take care of myself.”
“Sounds intense.”
She shrugged. “It’s not like I’m the bunnies and roses type anyway.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Vixin gave him a sideways glance, but Zak fell silent, his eyes scanning the area for once. Vixin’s instincts took over and she did the same, crouching down to follow him with near silent steps.
Zak directed her around a pair of crooked trees and crawled toward the moss-covered outcropping ahead. She examined their surroundings, instincts telling her to avoid the too open area ahead, but Zak flattened himself on his stomach and crawled toward the edge.
Vixin followed, feeling the moisture from the rocks seep through her clothes as she inched along. Zak pointed and Vixin followed his finger.
A high wall wrapped around the entire perimeter of a much larger civilization. The towers, nine in all, were a far cry from the pitiful structures she’d seen at their first hit. These were sturdy, ready for the rain and storms and raids. And the guards. All on point, all ready with weapons that looked worn from use.
“They’ve reinforced themselves.”
So they’d been hit too. Just like the first one. Someone else was prowling through their territory. Someone less merciful. Someone willing to take more. What did that mean for Zak’s future? Would Zak join them if he weren’t given another choice?
Vixin’s eyes flashed between the entrances. One at the front, one at the rear, both equally guarded. From up here she could see the extra guards who’d been stationed on the inside of the gate. The extra boards they’d put in place to hold it tight.
A wagon was parked just inside the rear entrance and three men carried boxes from its almost empty interior. They walked toward the center, then veered left, leaving her line of sight for only a moment before popping out again. The door to their warehouse sat open and—every hair on Vixin’s body stood on end and her adrenaline spiked. Quicker than her mind could process, Vixin twisted the arm that had reached for her, crushed his face into the dirt, and pushed her blade to his throat.
“Shit, Vixi—”
“Talk.”
“What do you mean—” She pressed the blade into his skin and a bead of red rolled down his neck. “Easy,” he winced, “I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”
“Then what were you doing?”
He stammered and she pulled his hair, making him wince again. “Just trying to hold your hand.”
Vixin paused, her blood racing through her veins as though she’d just sprinted through the forest. After a moment she released him and backed away, her body still crouched with the knife poised.
Zak sat up slowly and rubbed his elbow before wiping the blood from his neck. “Jeez, haven’t you ever had a guy flirt with you before?” She blushed but when she didn’t respond Zak continued. “You haven’t. Have you even been with kids your own age?”
“Of course I have, I’ve just never gotten close enough to…” Her heart pounded and those weird feelings were stirring again.
“Don’t you have any friends?”
The pity in his gaze fueled her temper. “Does it look like I have friends?”
He continued massaging his elbow. “No, I guess not.”
For the first time in her life, she regretted. Regretted her reaction, her reflexes. It wasn’t her father’s fault she didn’t socialize. He’d tried time and time again, but all she wanted to do was impress him with her skills. Anything more was just a distraction, including friends.
Vixin slid the knife back in her boot and turned from him. “Sorry.” She stood and wiped the dirt from her pants. She could have killed him. Maybe that was why she didn’t have friends. If she treated them like this…
“Where are you going?”
She shrugged. “Don’t know at this point.” Had she ever felt worse than this?
Zak sighed. “You know, I’m not that easily scared off either.” She tilted her head toward him. “You don’t have to leave just because of a little slip up.”
“Little?”
Zak gave her that sideways grin that sent her heart pounding. “How about we start over and try the whole friendship thing first?”
“You and I?”
He shrugged. “Why not?”
Vixin chewed her lip. “I don’t know if—”
“Come on, what do you have to lose? Just think of it as another skill to add to your arsenal.”
Another skill. Yeah, she could do that. She’d read enough books to know how friendships were supposed to work, she’d just never applied that knowledge. Never wanted to.
Vixin offered him a small smile. “Friends then.”
Zak turned toward the barricaded village below. “Maybe you can start by teaching me a thing or two about what you know.”
A devious smile crawled to her lips. “I’ve found experience to be the best teacher.”
~~~
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Zak whispered.
Vixin pressed her back against the nearest house, peering around the corner in search for the guards.
“Stop complaining.” Vixin noted the tracks in the dirt, then pointed. “That’s where they were loading the supplies earlier.”
Zak peeked over her shoulder, close enough she could feel his breath on her neck. She bristled, her instincts telling her to step away, but she also noted his careful movements. He wasn’t touching her without permission a second time.
“And how, exactly, do you expect us to carry it all out?”
“I don’t. You wanted to learn.”
“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
Vixin glanced both ways again, then darted across the expanse and pressed her back against the next house. She paused to listen, waited for a passing guard, then gestured Zak to follow. He didn’t hesitate.
“Your footsteps are too heavy. Run on the balls of your feet.”
“I’m sorry, not all of us are featherweights.”
She rolled her eyes at his tone. “My father isn’t either.”
“Your father was trained—”
“What do you think we’re doing?” She shuffled along the wall and Zak kept close. His eyes darted back and forth, but he was examining all the wrong places. He didn’t notice the subtle shift in the guard’s routine, or the one who’d been drinking too much and would have to relieve himself at—ah, perfect timing.
The man stumbled from his post, waving to another who only nodded, though she could have sworn he was shaking his head in disapproval. A night guard drinking on the job. She’d have skewered him if she was in control.
Vixin counted the seconds until the drunkard rounded a corner, then darted toward their target. The warehouse these people had moved their stash to. She crawled toward the side with a window, the side the drunk had been posted to watch, and Vixin gave it a quick look through before shoving her knife into the windowsill. The glass popped out easily and she lowered it before letting her plants grow into a woody stalk that would give them a nice lift. Once inside, she sank her plants back into the ground.
Vixin pointed toward the door and pressed a finger to her lips.
Zak whispered, “I still don’t see how this teaches me anything.”
Vixin huffed. “Because you aren’t paying attention to what I’m doing.”
“I don’t know what you’re doing if you don’t tell me.”
“You have to watch people. What side are their weapons on? Are they drinking? Do they favor a leg? The guard who left his post did so because he had half a bottle in his hand.”
Zak crossed his arms and a smirk played on his lips. “You’d make a great government spy.”
“My father would string me up himself before he’d let me work for the government. He claims they’re all corrupt assholes.”
“What do you want to do with your life then?”
“Asking me what I want to be when I grow up?”
“Maybe.”
Vixin shrugged. “Haven’t really thought about it. Dad asks me the same question all the time.”
“You can’t live with him forever.”
“Why not? Who else is going to cook for him?” She shook her head. “He’d eat beans straight from a can if I let him.” Vixin shuddered. “Men.”
“Hey, I’ve never been known to eat anything straight from a can.”
“Probably because your mom cooks for you.”
Zak made to protest, and his face went red. “Yeah, well, she seems to enjoy it.” He scratched the back of his head and Vixin smiled at him and the shame now playing on his face. At least he’d appreciate his mother more when he returned home. Not that Zak seemed the type to take his mother for granted.
Vixin refocused her attention to the task at hand. They couldn’t sit here all night. Boxes lined the building and weapons hung along the walls. A lot of weapons. And armor. One would think these people were preparing for war. Is that what it’d come down to eventually? One faction fighting another?
Vixin crept toward the leather and carefully picked through it. She tugged on a piece, twisting the material in her hands before setting it down to examine another.
She donned a pair of forearm guards, then eyed some long knives hanging against the back wall. The craftsmanship was exquisite. Far better than what she carried now. Someone here knew what they were doing.
“Find anything worthwhile?” Zak eyed her weapons but made no move to reach for them.
“Yeah.” She tossed him a vest. “And this ought to fit you.”
“Thanks.” He glanced around. “So what now?”
“What kind of weapon do you prefer?”
“A sword.”
She clicked her tongue. “How typical.” Vixin ignored his ‘what did you expect’ smile and studied the weapons around the room until she eyed one suitable. She picked it up, tested it then, handed the blade to Zak.
He swung it once. “It’s light.”
“Speed is your friend in a fight. That other one you carry is too heavy. Just leave it here.”
“You sound like some old war veteran from the mid-century.”
“I’ll try to take that as a compliment. Friend.”
“Of course it’s a complement. How many girls do you think would even have a clue—”
“Shh.” Too late. She’d noticed too late.
>
Vines crawled up their legs, twisting themselves around both her and Zak’s limbs. Thorns grew from the stems and leaves unfurled in a pattern she recognized. Nothing deadly, but they pinned her arms before she could reach for her new weapons.
Both were lifted from the floor and five guards entered the room, each eyeing them with disdain. The vines holding them captive brought them forward, as if they were floating across the room.
A burly man with a receding hairline lifted his chin to examine them. He stood with one arm draped over his sword and knees bent. Ready. He wouldn’t go down easily.
“Looks like we’ve caught a couple of thieving rats.” He glanced her over and then eyed Zak.
Zak struggled and the vines clamped down on him, thorns digging into his flesh until he winced. She remained perfectly still.
Vixin cocked her head. “I wasn’t taking anything you’d miss.”
He stared at her for a moment, then a smile broke across his pockmarked face. “And you think that somehow justifies your actions?”
She tried to shrug. “I hadn’t planned on getting caught.”
He shook his head, still laughing. “Well, now you have been, and I don’t think you’re going to like the consequences.”
Vixin jerked her chin toward his guards. “If they were better at their jobs, I wouldn’t have been able to sneak in. Honestly, you should be thanking me. Or better yet, why not offer me a job? I’m sure I could teach your men a thing or two.”
He marched right up to her, the vein in his forehead bulging. She’d take a slap to the face for that one, but Zak’s voice broke the tension first. “Get away from her!”
The man paused, glanced at Zak, then gave him the most sickening smirk she’d ever seen. “Don’t worry, you can have her after she’s learned a lesson.” He licked his lips and lust-filled eyes ran along her body. “Or two.”
Just like that, her playfulness vanished. Despicable. The men behind him no different. She remembered a time when her father had warned her about such men. About how dire circumstances could change a person. How power could alter their core values, turn them into monsters or cowards. It was a rarity that people remained who they claimed to be.