by J E Reed
Vixin locked eyes with him. Sadness lingered there, so deep it almost swallowed her whole. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Zak sat beside her and held his arm up. “Come here, and don’t worry, I don’t exactly have the energy to deal with a broken arm right now.”
Vixin gave him a small smile and curled her body against his, resting her head on his chest. She listened to his heart for a long while, watching the flames shift to embers. She gazed into those red coals until her eyes grew heavy and her body fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
~~~
Vixin examined their handy work from outside Zak’s hut. A barrier of trees two-foot high encircled their camp now. Trees that would contain traps for their enemies once they were fully grown.
She shouldered a pack. By the time her and Zak returned, the trees would likely be close to ten feet tall. That was her hope at least. The sooner they got a proper barrier in place, the sooner they could put the bulk of their worries behind them.
Vixin jumped when she turned to find Sam staring at her from the doorway. “I couldn’t talk him out of it,” he took several steps toward her, “and I doubt I’ll be able to talk you out of it either, so,” he stopped mere inches from her and Vixin tried not to bristle. “Promise me something. Promise you’ll take care of him and if things get out of hand, that you won’t leave him behind.”
Her lips parted. “What makes you think I’d ever abandon him?”
Sam angled his body to the side, rubbing at the back of his neck. “You just don’t—you’re kind of a hardass and if he puts himself in a situation that seems hopeless.”
“You’re afraid I’d leave him.” Vixin tried to hide her disappointment. “Despite what you may believe, I’d never abandon Zak.”
“And the rest of us?”
She tilted her head and attempted a playful smile. “No promises.”
“I still don’t agree with you two going alone.”
“We told you—”
“Yeah, yeah, it’ll be easier to sneak in, I get it.”
“We’ve done it before.”
“And gotten caught,” he reminded her. Sam took a breath. “Do you have everything you need?”
“Hey Vixin, are you—” Zak paused just inside the doorway. His gaze flickered between her and Sam and something like surprise flashed through his eyes. “Are you ready?”
She patted her bag, glanced at Sam and said. “I think I got it covered.” Then slid past Zak and into the evening.
Chapter Ten
Vixin and Zak walked for several hours, trekking across the meadow, past small clusters of trees, and finally into a thickly wooded area. The two who’d survived the scouting mission had reported a civilization beyond the trees. A place where they just might be able to tackle one last job.
Zak was unusually quiet, his gaze diverting from hers whenever she looked his way. She figured he’d just been thinking of the two young men who’d lost their lives.
With nightfall, they set up camp and Vixin fanned her magic out to set up a perimeter.
“You did it again, didn’t you?”
Vixin inclined her head. “Did what?”
“Set up a barrier. Around us.”
“Of course.”
“I could learn,” he offered, “So you wouldn’t have to do it every night.”
“You’d exhaust yourself trying.”
Silence encompassed them again. “How long have you and Sam been talking?”
“Jealous?” Zak opened his mouth and closed it again and Vixin burst out laughing. “Is that why you’ve been so quiet?”
“I just don’t want to push if—”
“He was worried about you.” Vixin folded her arms behind her head. “Asked me to keep an eye out is all.”
“So you two?”
She huffed, though still found him amusing. “I’ve never been involved with anyone.”
“Ever?”
Vixin’s face grew warm as she realized what she’d said. “I already told you I didn’t have friends, what makes you think I’d have a boyfriend?”
“Right, I forgot, you like learning to kick ass and there’s no time for anything else.”
Vixin glared at him. “Not everyone needs people to define their worth. Some of us are happy being our introverted little selves surrounded by books and music.”
“Music?”
“Contrary to what you might believe, I don’t spend all my time training.”
Zak scooted closer, the brightness to his smile returning. She vaguely wondered how hurt he would have been if she had chosen Sam.
“Do you play?”
“Occasionally.”
He cocked his head, “Are you going to tell me what?”
She sighed. “Since you’ll likely pester me until I do, piano. Since I was four.”
“And you’ve never been with a guy?”
“Not sure how that relates to music.”
“Just curious.”
She gave him a devilish grin. “I can still break your arm.”
“Trust me, I know.”
“Your turn, you ever been with a girl?”
Color rose to Zak’s cheeks and he averted his gaze. “Once.”
“Someone waiting for you back home?”
He shook his head. “Nothing like that. It was a few years ago.”
“And?”
“I was fifteen. We were stupid and after spending an entire month afraid she was pregnant; she broke it off.”
“Did you like her?”
“Not enough for that level of commitment. I wouldn’t have abandoned her, but I don’t think either of us would have been happy in the long run.”
“You guys still talk?”
He shook his head. “She avoided me after we split and then moved the following year. Something about her dad and a job.”
“What was it that made you like her?”
Zak flushed. “I don’t know. Why?”
“Just trying to figure out why you feel that way about me.”
“I, um, I don’t know. You’re easy to talk to I guess.”
“Most would disagree with you.”
“I just mean you’re real. You don’t try to be something that you’re not. I guess I just...like that.”
Vixin curled up next to their small fire. She stared at Zak and Zak stared at her. Two kids thrown into the trenches of hell and expected to survive. Together. They could tackle anything as long as they were together.
A tug on her magic jolted Vixin awake. A stick cracked, someone cursed, and Vixin was on her feet, daggers drawn before Zak even registered there was a threat.
Vixin wrapped her magic around their bodies and lifted them into the treetops. She slowed her breathing, straining to listen. Dawn approached, but she didn’t have enough light to see the features of the men who stomped through their camp.
One of them kicked the fire, sending embers soaring through the air. “We know you’re out there,” he called. “We’re not here to harm anyone.” He paused, waiting for a reply. Vixin held still as his eyes scanned the trees and passed right over their hiding place.
“We saw the fire,” he continued, “and thought you might need help.” Another pause. “You’re welcome to come with us. We have food, water, shelter.”
This might be easier than she thought.
Vixin let a few seconds pass before she responded in the feeblest voice she could manage. “Do we have your word? That you won’t hurt us?”
Zak gave her a desperate, confused look, but she winked at him and he nodded his understanding.
The man lifted empty hands. “You have my word.”
Vixin grabbed a vine and slid from the tree with Zak following suit. She ducked behind him, placing her palms against his back.
The bastard fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
“Just the two of you?” She nodded. “You’re lucky to be alive. You have magic at least, right?” Fishing for information already.
Vixin
prodded Zak’s back and Zak replied. “I have a bit.”
The stranger peeked around Zak as if he were trying to get a good look at her. “There’s no reason to be scared. Come with us and we’ll get you settled in.” Vixin eyed their wrists, but they’d hidden their stones from view. “What’s your name?”
“Zak.” He took a step forward and shook the stranger’s hand. “And this is Vixin.”
“Sister?”
“Friend.”
He smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “She’s very lucky to have found you. Well, it’s best not to linger. A hot meal is waiting if you care to join us.” She gave Zak an affirmative squeeze.
“That sounds wonderful.”
Their leader, Rolfe, bombarded Zak with questions as morning shifted to afternoon. He lied with ease, forming a story that even she might have believed. When Rolfe directed the questions at her, Vixin dodged with the guise of a shy demeanor. A lamb who’d scarcely missed the slaughter.
The group of nine stopped for lunch and Rolfe kindly shared meat from his pack. She devoured it as if she hadn’t eaten in days, as did Zak. It was part of their story. Two lost souls wondering if they’d ever be safe again.
Just before nightfall, Vixin spotted their camp. A wall surrounded it, like many others, and sentinels patrolled the exits. She hadn’t been worried until now.
They were too alert, just like their last hit. And if their last encounter was anything to go by…
Vixin exchanged a nervous glance with Zak whose gaze lingered on the guards stationed by the front gate.
“Slim pickings this time?” A man called from the top.
Rolfe shrugged. “They can’t all be winners.” What the hell did that mean?
The heavy gate closed behind them and Vixin followed Rolfe through the town. Zak kept close, the nervousness in his gaze far from faked. She took in details, labeling each landmark as something that might help or hinder.
Rolfe led them into a three-story house and headed straight for the stairs. Her stomach grumbled with the smell of food. Hopefully they’d live up to that promise at least.
He opened a door on the third floor and gestured them inside. The smell of musty sheets hit her and Vixin resisted the urge to recoil.
“Weapons.” Rolfe held out his hand.
“Why?” Zak asked.
“We can’t have armed strangers in our midst.”
She took a tentative step behind Zak and pulled a dagger from beneath his shirt. Vixin stuffed it up her sleeve. “Will we get them back?”
“Not my call.”
Zak unbuckled his sword belt. “I thought we were coming here as allies, not prisoners.”
Rolfe smirked. “You’ll have to prove yourselves first. Obey and we’ll see about letting you walk around freely.”
“Obey?”
“You’ll have your orders shortly.” Vixin handed Zak her weapons and, in turn, Zak handed them to Rolfe. He eyed the two before slamming the door. A click followed a second later.
Zak threw up his arms. “Well that could have gone better.”
Vixin shushed him and pressed her ear against the door. She waited until Rolfe’s footsteps retreated.
“I assume you have a plan?”
Vixin shrugged. “No need for us to sneak past the guards now.”
“Right, did you intend on getting our weapons taken too?”
“No, but we have other weapons they don’t know about.”
Zak crossed his arms. “So. The plan?”
“We buy in and play the part. I’ll locate their warehouse then tomorrow night we’ll be out of here before they even knew what hit them.”
“And how do you plan on sneaking out with the supplies?”
“You just let me worry about that.”
~~~
Rolfe came for her and Zak before sunrise. Neither had slept and though she’d given Zak all the assurance she could offer, he still didn’t like the idea of them being separated.
It was inevitable.
The guards ushered them out the door, gruff, but not violent. It was there that one took her by the arm and led her right, while Rolfe escorted Zak to the left. He gave her a worried glance, but all she could offer was a shy smile in return. It was only until tonight.
Vixin allowed the guard to escort her by the arm, playing the ever-submissive female. She’d like to find him later and give him a friendly reminder to keep his hands to himself.
Calm. Focus. Control.
She could do this. Less than twelve hours and she’d be free to do as she pleased.
Vixin’s stomach grumbled as they passed the bakery, but her appetite quickly disappeared when they entered the next room and the smell of days old sweaty clothes hit her full in the face.
She coughed and struggled not to gag.
“Maria, find her work to do.”
A woman in her thirties took Vixin by her other arm and guided her to a washtub. Maria gave her a quick rundown of her tasks and disappeared behind a line of hanging garments.
Vixin stared at the dirty water and the things floating within.
One day.
She took a breath, grabbed a brush, and pinched the ends of a soiled shirt. This had to be the worst day of her life.
~~~
Vixin peeked her head from behind the doors. Most of the other women were cleaning up and she’d finished an hour ago. She eyed the fresh bread and stew next door.
After a quick glance, Vixin snuck from the room and grabbed a bowl from the large serving table. She stuffed a piece of bread in her shirt and another in her mouth. It melted and she couldn’t stifle the moan that escaped her lips. Sam needed this recipe.
Vixin scanned the area, looking over each person, trailer, and box. A man opened a large swinging door and she glimpsed weapons lining the walls before he closed it again. Bingo.
“Hey, what are you doing out here?” The same guard from earlier ripped the bowl from her hands. She stared at the ground even though every instinct in her wanted to claw his eyes out.
“I’m sorry. I was hungry.”
“People who leave early don’t eat.” She didn’t respond. “You’ll work twice as hard tomorrow, then we’ll talk about food.”
Asshole.
Despicable lowlife, picking on a seemingly innocent girl. If Zak weren’t somewhere in the compound, she might have blown their cover right there.
“I’m sorry.” She donned the face of a meek girl. The very girl her father had trained out of her. She’d never be weak, never be like the woman surrounding her.
He grunted and led her back to the room without the offer of a bath. Zak was already pacing by the time she arrived.
He let out a long breath upon seeing her. “You all right?”
Vixin nodded and let the guard leave the room before looking him over. His boots sat in the corner, covered in mud and the redness in his hands told her they’d assigned him to hard labor.
“What’d they have you doing?”
“Cutting logs to reinforce the wall.” His gaze roamed over her. “And you?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She reached inside her shirt. “But I did steal you a present.” Zak’s eyes lit up upon seeing the loaf.
“Did you find anything else?”
“Yep.”
“And?”
“I’m not staying to work double duty tomorrow.”
Chapter Eleven
Vixin slipped the knife in her boot and climbed out the third story window. She shimmied along the narrow space and heard a string of curses as Zak followed.
Both froze when a pair of guards passed below, then Vixin dropped herself onto a beam and slid to the ground. She pressed her body against the nearest wall then whistled the all clear for Zak to follow.
They could do this. She’d snuck into a hundred places even before being pulled into this crazy world and she hadn’t had magic back then.
The pair of them rounded another building and Vixin stopped dea
d. Two guards stood before her, both with their backs turned. She shifted her gaze to her feet and took two silent steps backward before Zak yanked her behind a wall.
They waited and after what felt like an eternity, the men moved on. She crawled toward the main door to inspect the lock.
Chains. They’d make too much noise and she couldn’t afford to get caught.
Vixin pointed toward the back and they crawled along the border. She checked the first window, then the second. Nothing.
Plan B then.
She knelt and pulled at the plants below the surface, shifting the dirt to the side so they could jump through.
Vixin took a final glance at their surroundings then jerked her head toward the hole. Zak gave her a ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’ look as he sized up the hole and then himself.
She repressed the urge to giggle as he lowered himself down, then followed, shifting the dirt back in place to cover their tracks.
Inside, Vixin stood, made an attempt at wiping the dirt from her clothes and gave up upon smearing mud across her pants.
“Please tell me your escape plan doesn’t involve going underground.”
“Brilliant idea, right?”
“And if I’m claustrophobic?”
“Then I guess it’s the hard labor life for you.”
“You promised Sam you wouldn’t leave me behind.”
“I won’t, but I’d prefer not to waste energy dragging you either.”
Zak grimaced and Vixin went to survey the warehouse. She waltzed over to a box and removed the lid to find several high-quality swords and daggers. Perfect. Too bad they couldn’t take everything.
She tugged a large blanket out from under a stack of boxes and began lining up everything they could carry. Clothing and weapons were all they needed to ensure a comfortable start. They were so close now.
Vixin rolled the items up and tied a rope around its center.
“You realize that’s going to be heavy.”
“It’s fine, I’ll be dragging it with my magic anyway.” A hole opened up between them, large enough for Zak and the pack to fit in. Zak’s face went white.
“Are you really scared of small spaces?”