by C J Singh
Chapter 27
Eden
I tried to adjust my position, to relieve the pain in my shoulders and back. Groaning with frustration, I gave the stump a good kick. That didn’t do anything but make my foot ache. I tugged my hands, trying to reach up and touch my necklace, but the rope wasn’t long enough. Cursing, I kicked the stump again with my other foot. Now both feet ached.
“You OK over there, Spunky?” Jace smirked.
“Really? I saved your life and you’re still calling me Spunky?”
He chuckled. “Just checking if you remembered how much you love it.” He examined the area. “Any idea how to get out of here?”
“No. Brian and Derek are stubborn, and my family isn’t strong enough to take them on.”
“We are.”
I snapped my head toward him, searching his face. His voice had been so quiet it was almost a whisper, but when we locked eyes, I knew he believed it.
“Now, now, don’t get any crazy ideas.” Old Bob popped his head into the tent.
I smiled at the familiar face. “Hi.” I rolled my shoulders, releasing the tension.
Kneeling in front of me, he put a hand on my cheek and asked, “How you holding up?”
“Ah, you know. It’s nothing fabulous, but it will do.” I shifted, giving the illusion that I was more comfortable than I really was.
They both chuckled, but Old Bob’s face turned serious in a blink.
“We need to talk.”
“That’s never good,” Jace mumbled.
I widened my eyes at Old Bob. “If it’s about what you just heard, we wouldn’t be that stupid to try and take them on.”
“No, no. It’s not that, although I am glad to hear that.”
“Then what?”
He took a deep breath. “The good thing is you guys won’t be executed.”
I gaped. “Executed? What the... that was really on the table?”
“Told you,” Jace said.
I rolled my eyes at him, but I couldn’t help chuckling.
Old Bob continued. “After some discussion, it was decided that you two will track and find the scourges. You’ll find out where they live and any other information we can find.”
“Seriously?” I could find them, but this was different. The scourges were relentless and who knows how many there were.
“How is this better than being executed?” Jace asked. “I mean, at least it would be quick rather than eaten alive. I prefer quick.”
Old Bob held up his hands. “I know it’s not ideal, but it was the only way. Tristan and Brian will go along as well.”
“Tristan?” I asked. “Are you sure he is up for this? With, you know, us. Jace and me?”
“Yes.” He paused, looking between us. “He has to make sure you stay on track and don’t”—he paused—“run away together. Tate and I will stay here as insurance.”
Jace laughed. “Run away... with her?”
I shot him a look, but he returned it with a wink. I rolled my eyes. “And Brian? Why is he going?”
“Well... to make sure Tristan is doing his job.”
“So, they are sending pretty boy to make sure we do our job, and then scary man to make sure he does his. Typical,” Jace said.
Brushing off Jace’s comments, Old Bob continued, “Eden, it’s also very important that you listen to Brian. You need to let him... help you.”
“Help me?”
“Yes. To help you. With your... emotions, strength, and all the things you’re going through.” He kept his voice soft, trying to keep me calm. He turned to Jace. “It probably will be a good thing for you as well since you seem to have”—he searched for the correct word—“evolved.”
Anger bubbled within me as I watched Old Bob. He was implying that I couldn’t control myself. He has known me my whole life; how could he doubt me?
“Eden,” Jace warned. “Look at me, Eden.”
I held my gaze on Old Bob. My body tingled and my fingers twitched before fisting tightly. I set my jaw and narrowed my eyes. My rage was on the edge of pouring out.
“Eden!” Jace yelled, snapping my focus to him.
He panted, pulling at his ropes, but when he saw my attention was on him, he stopped. “Hey. OK, let’s breathe. Take some deep breaths.” He sucked in a long, slow breath of air before letting it out.
“What are you doing?” I asked him, amused.
He stopped, confused. “Ummm, helping calm you down?”
“Seriously?” Turning back to Old Bob, I said, “You both think I have an anger management issue?” I shook my head. “And next time you think you need to calm me down, let’s think of a different way other than deep breaths. That’s so... boring.”
“Yeah, sure... but I could feel you. You were crazy angry. Like I haven’t felt that much anger... ever.”
“I’m angry, but I can handle it. Why don’t you take a few deep breaths? You seem upset.”
“Look, Eden,” Old Bob continued before I could argue with him, “I understand you don’t want help, but you’re not the same as others. You never have been. We always kept it quiet because we didn’t think it was important, but when I saw you the other day, when we arrived. I realized that you do need to learn how to harness it. Derek and Brian can help you. You just have to let them try.”
“You’re telling me that you have always thought I was... different?”
Old Bob closed his eyes. “I’m saying that you are special. You have always been special, and Ellie and I knew that. Your mother, she knew that and it’s the reason she asked me to make sure nothing happened to you if anything ever happened to her.”
He rarely, if ever, brought up my birth mother. I could feel his sincerity and see the truth behind his tired hazel eyes. He was doing this because he loved me. The least I could do was listen. “Yeah. Sure. I’ll try.”
“Good. Good,” he said, squeezing my shoulders. “I’ll see what I can do to get you both a bath. You leave tomorrow, so good to at least leave clean.” He stood, smiling at us both.
Jace cleared his throat. “Any way you could see about us getting a little more comfortable as well? Not sure I can stay like this all night and walk normal tomorrow.”
“Yeah. I’ll see what I can do.” Old Bob moved to the tent’s entry. “Night.”
Jace and I both nodded. “Night.” I watched the flap fall and my stomach tightened. Old Bob was my family, my home. The thought of leaving him and Tate here was hard.
“What a nice guy,” Jace said. “Hard to believe he kidnapped me not too long ago. And for the record. I think you’re special too.”
“Oh shush.”
Jace’s laughter filled the tent as I closed my eyes to rest.
Chapter 28
Jace
Being able to stretch out my neck and crack my back felt like heaven. We stepped out of the tent into the cool, bright morning. I pulled in a long breath of dewy air and smiled. Old Bob came through on his word and got both Eden and me a bath last night. Being the gentleman that I am, I let Eden go first, but that didn’t mean I hurried up when it was my turn. My skin smelled like fresh roses from the soap. Any other time, I would have complained, but my clean, fresh smelling self never felt better.
Eden followed me out of the tent, doing her own stretches and groans of appreciation. Her apricot hair shone in the sunlight as it fell over her shoulders. She is the first girl I have met with that hair color, making it hard not to stare. Her eyes met mine, and I quickly looked away. I didn’t want her to get the wrong idea. I had a few girlfriends growing up in the city, but it was hard work. I prefer keeping it light and fun. Eden didn’t seem like the light and fun kind of girl, she was... a serious relationship kind of girl. I met one of those once, and she was scary. Not sure I wanted to try that again.
“Good morning. I hop
e your lodgings were sufficient.” Derek strolled toward us with Brian and Sarah in tow. He smiled up at the morning sky and the breeze moved through his salt and pepper hair. The faint smell of wood smoke filled my nose and my stomach grumbled. The fish we had last night wasn’t enough to satiate this growing boy.
I smiled. “I have been in better, but considering your situation”—I motioned to the woods and tents surrounding us—“it was fine.”
He narrowed his eye. “You’re a funny boy, aren’t you?” I smirked in return.
Careful.
The voice rang through my head, making my heart pump. I kept my face stone, didn’t want to look crazy, hearing voices in my head, but he gave me a knowing smile. Unsure of how that was possible, I made a note to ask Eden if she had that kind of... side effect.
“You two will be traveling with Brian and Tristan. They’re going to make sure you do what you are tasked and you bring back all the information.” Derek led us toward the entrance of the camp. Our display the day before had brought out the onlookers. We were the camp celebrities by the look of it. Scared, curious, and even some sympathetic eyes watched us.
I could sense Eden searching in the crowd. Probably for her brother, Old Bob, and the wolf. I hoped she wasn’t looking for that guy, Tristan. He reminded me of a buddy I once had who had some security issues. Needless to say, we aren’t friends anymore.
We arrived at the entrance. Tate and Tristan pushed through the crowd. Tate went straight to Eden, smiling, and gave her a big hug.
“What about Ash?” she asked.
“He’ll stay with us.” Derek turned to her. “It’ll be safer for him.”
“Safer? He’s a wolf,” she barked, glowering at Derek. My neck hairs tingled with the pull of dominance in the air... from them both.
He took a step toward her. “All right then. I don’t want him to go. He’ll be collateral, just like your brother and Old Bob. Better?”
Eden’s rage was building, making it harder to breathe. Their eyes locked and she bared her teeth. Rolling my head in a circle, I fought the urge to bow down. Tate slowly moved to her and tugged slightly on her elbow. Reluctantly, she looked away and followed Tate to the entrance. I followed along behind them.
“You’ll be fine. Just don’t wander off and try to be a hero. Stay with the group,” Tate told Eden. She nodded in understanding, but she didn’t fool me. I could feel her defiance stirring under her surface. Defiance and sadness. She didn’t want to leave them.
Old Bob pushed through the crowd, moving to Tristan. I stifled a low growl that built in my throat as Tristan stepped toward us. His blue eyes and blonde hair shone in the sunlight. He was handsome, and he loved Eden, but I know his type and it wasn’t good for her.
“Here are your packs.” Derek handed us backpacks. “They’re filled with food, a blanket, a change of clothing, and water. This has to last you the whole trip, so portion it out carefully.”
“And if we run out?” Eden asked.
“Then you’ll be at the mercy of the woods.”
Tristan and Brian moved next to us, packs loaded on their backs. I ignored Tristan’s eyes on me, keeping my focus ahead to the trees outside the camp. I didn’t need to start the trip off with a confrontation.
I got to the open gates when the sound of screeching had me whipping around and in a fighting position. I knew that sound, the scourge. It sent every nerve in my body on edge. My tense body relaxed when I saw three men dragging one of the scourges, hands tied behind its back and another rope around its neck. The smell of sweat filled the air, and I moved my hand to my nose. The crowd turned silent, watching the scourge with disgust and fear. Many clutched each other, jolting away at its every move.
“This is our guide,” Brian stated, taking one of the ropes from the men. He glanced between Tristan and me, motioning to the remaining two ropes. “Care to join me?”
I cleared my throat, taking a rope from one of the men. “Do we expect this to pull us like a dog to its home?”
“When we get further into the woods, we’ll let it loose and track it,” Brian replied, rolling his eyes at my comment.
“And if it attacks us?”
“Then we kill it.” Tristan gave me an intense gaze. Ugh, he was trying to be a hotshot. I really would hate to hurt him.
“There isn’t going to be an issue with you two?” Derek came between us, sensing our silent power play.
I shook my head, still keeping my eyes locked with Tristan. “No. Not at all.”
“Good, then you should be on your way.”
I held the rope tightly as we left. Brian, Tristan, and I stayed near each other to keep the scourge in control, but as far as the ropes would go. My ears rang with the constant high- pitched screeching that echoed between the trees. When it would lunge toward one of us, the other two would pull back quickly. I slipped on the dewy wet ground too many times when I had to brace myself for a pull. My pants were already wet and covered with leaves. I quickly glanced back at Eden sadly walking behind us. Her emotions flowed thick through the air, anger and worry. Ash’s howl echoed after us. I felt bad for her, but I was clean this morning. Clean and feeling great, now I was sweating with wet, mud-caked pants. Not to mention my aching shoulders from being tied up were now being pushed to the brink as I tugged at the scourge. She had every right to be sad, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t be annoyed with her.
After twenty minutes of dragging and dodging the scourge, I asked, “Why didn’t we... put this thing in... a cage and drag it?” My shoulders ached and my arms shook from fatigue. Every time I had to lunge back to yank the scourge from attacking Brian or Tristan, my knees gave out. I feared when we stopped, if I had to run, my legs would collapse under me like paper, and I wouldn’t be able to get up.
Brian stopped. “We don’t have a cage,” he panted. “I think we have gone far enough. We might as well set it loose.” He let out a grunt as the scourge lashed out toward Tristan. “Eden, ready your bow. If it attacks, kill it. Understood?”
“Understood,” we all muttered in unison. I begged for her to hurry. I don’t think my arms can take much more.
Eden pulled out her bow, nocked in an arrow, and aimed at the scourge. She gave Brian a nod.
“Let’s go.”
We all dropped the ropes, and my arms fell in relief. As quickly as I could, I put a hand on my knife, preparing for anything, but with my feeble arms, I didn’t think my fight would be much help.
The scourge stood, shocked almost that we released it. It looked between us, pondering if attacking was a good idea or not. It studied Eden too long, so I shuffled a step toward her, ignoring the burn through my legs. I would protect her if needed. After a few quick breaths, it turned and dashed into the woods, ropes flapping behind it. I let out a loud breath and fell to the ground. My hair and shirt dampened on the wet leaves and dirt. As I stared up through the twinkling green leaves of the trees, my entire body throbbed from the exhaustion I had put it through. I cursed myself for not staying in better shape.
“All right, now we track.” Brian started forward after the scourge. “Be on alert. It could double back to us or there could be others.”
I slowly turned over and groaned my way to a stand. The first few steps were the worst, but once my body warmed up, the pain numbed and I was able to get a good steady pace.
We followed Brian. Tristan moved up right next to Eden. I didn’t want to start a fight over a girl I barely knew, so I sped up, passing them and taking a spot right behind Brian. He could be in charge of protecting her; I wanted to keep myself alive. I didn’t need any distractions. Pushing down my pain and exhaustion, I continued on behind Brian through the thick woods.
Chapter 29
Eden
We trudged through the woods, following Brian’s lead. Tristan stayed close to me, very attentive.
Ash had finally
stopped howling, or we were so far that I couldn’t hear him any longer. My heart hurt from the sound, but I know Tate would watch over him.
My foot hit a log. I threw my hands out as I fell forward, anticipating the wet, leafy ground only to be caught around the waist by Tristan.
“You OK?” he asked.
Shrugging out of his hold, I said, “Yeah.”
The ground was still slippery from the overnight dew and the canopy of leaves made it hard for the sun to dry it up. The leaf and twig litter on the ground made it difficult for traction. Brian was keeping a quick pace, and even though I have been doing well with my conditioning, the awkward day and night sleeping while tied up left cramps throughout my body. Tightness in my thighs made it hard for me to stay upright when I slipped.
Brian jogged down a foothill, and when I followed, the heel of my foot caught a tree stump. Managing to lean back enough so I didn’t fall forward, I landed on my behind and slid down the wet ground, soaking my pants in dew and mud. Tristan ran after me, grabbing my arm to yank me up before I could try to raise myself. Snapping my arm back, I brushed wet leaves off my pants.
He stepped back, hurt. “I was just trying to help.”
I continued walking. “Yeah, well don’t. If I fall, I’ll get back up. I don’t need you to rescue me.”
“Eden.”
“What?” I faced him.
“I’m just looking out for you.”
“I don’t need my brother to hover. All right? Remember, I can handle myself.”
His eye widened and he took a small step back. “Brother?”
“Yeah, we may not be by blood, but you are my brother. I love you, Tristan, but I’m not five anymore. I can handle myself.” I softened my voice. The hurt that flashed through his eyes gave me a twinge of guilt, but I knew him. If I wasn’t direct, he wouldn’t get it. I gave his arm a soft squeeze and continued on.