I frown. It is difficult to deny the claim when we just saw the casualty. Even more difficult to deny it when I too think he holds some responsibility for the death. But to run away?
"Where is he going?" Penelope asks, frowning at his back.
"I do not know." I tighten my arm around Penelope. Everyone is holding someone, a friend, a lover. The grief we can all hear reminds us: death is an unexpected visitor.
The last scream tapers to a moan, and then there is silence from Otis’s quarters. Bless that woman who went to her friend.
"I will bring back what we need!" Jackson announces as he hurries out of one of the buildings and then turns away. He has a laden bag across his back. Supplies?
"Shit," Penelope mutters, taking a step towards him.
I follow her, hurrying to catch up with Jackson's fast-retreating form.
"What are you doing?" Penelope demands as we draw even with him.
"I need to fix this. Without endangering more lives," he says shortly, his face tight. "I need to show them that I can take care of them." Distraught and wracked with guilt, he is not thinking clearly. Again.
"Rethink this plan," I try again. "You will be in just as much danger—"
"I don't care!" Jackson retorts, aiming a glare my way. "I'm going in. It's not your decision."
When we reach the mine entrance, he does not hesitate. He disappears into the darkness immediately.
I clench my jaw, turning to Penelope. I know what I have to do, but I do not like having my hand forced in this manner.
"Penelope, I have to—"
"—go in after him," she finishes for me with a slight, tight smile. I can see she is as angry as I am. Rising on her toes, she kisses me hard and fast. "Be careful. Oh, and take this." She hands me a pen and a notebook. She always has something to write with. I take them from her carefully.
"You are a treasure indeed," I murmur, not referring to the objects, but to her understanding of the situation, her support.
"Just come back in one piece," she retorts, her gaze serious.
I nod, stepping towards the entrance, looking back once to burn this picture of her into my heart.
"I will," I promise. I want to linger, but there is no time to waste. Jackson will not be moving at a sedate pace, not in his emotional state.
Taking one of the discarded torches at the entrance, I light it and follow Jackson quickly. My greater stride has me upon him in little time, the light from the entrance quickly disappearing as I follow the turns. The fact that the tunnel he has chosen is blocked by a pile of rock also aids my quick closing of the distance between us.
"Come," I order Jackson, leading him in another direction. "We will need to take the smaller tunnels to avoid the collapses."
Jackson nods, more open to listening to me now that we are in the tunnels themselves. Now that the danger is real, perhaps. We keep moving. I do not want to be in here longer than necessary, but we must find a balance between speed and safety.
As we walk through the maze, we have to find new routes multiple times. Some of the collapses blocking our way look fresh, likely caused by the meteorite showers, while others appear old. I make a note of the various veins of metal and ore that we do see. More than once, I have to hold Jackson back from rushing forward and accidentally falling into cracks that have opened in the ground.
"Watch the ground," I warn Jackson yet again.
He nods, obviously shaken. Another time, I stop Jackson at my side and hold a finger to my lips, backing up slowly. The tunnel is riddled with the vampiric sismis, their silhouettes only clear once we are almost inside, the ceiling covered in them. At the entrance to another tunnel, I spy a glowing pair of eyes. I do not know which creature it is, but we may not need to take this tunnel. Better to try another and avoid a fight in the small confines of these underground paths. Without room to maneuver, we are more vulnerable than we would otherwise be.
At that point, Jackson is staying fully behind me, following my lead. At least his good sense eventually asserted itself. When we turn into one of the smaller tunnels, Jackson accidentally hits the side when he trips over a rock.
"Careful—" I start, but then push Jackson back quickly when a cracking sound comes from the rocks above our heads. The space where we'd been quickly fills with heavy rocks as the tunnel collapses. The structure was so sensitive that Jackson's fall was enough to destroy the delicate balance inside. We manage to avoid injury again.
Jackson stares as the dust starts to settle, his mouth open, eyes wide.
"Be careful where you step," I say. It’s something of an understatement, but if being nearly crushed by unknown tons of rock won’t make him slow down and watch the ground, what will? I leave the tunnel to find another to search now that that direction is also impassible.
He nods, closing his mouth and swallowing. He's more careful after that. Slowly but surely, we start to map out a way to the main veins.
One that will not get anyone killed.
Chapter Fifteen
Penelope
I sniffle, wiping at my nose. Picard mewls next to me, licking at the tear tracks on my face, the tiny wet tongue tickling me. I chuckle, gently pushing her small face away.
"Enough crying, huh?" I ask, my voice hoarse. Sitting up, I settle her onto my lap, taking solace in her soft fur and warm body. She's helped me through more than one crying jag. "You're right. It isn't accomplishing a damn thing."
I know that, but I keep succumbing anyway. Bashir and Jackson have been gone for too long. Long enough that I've gone through every possible scenario that could end up with them hurt. Or worse. The first time I finally gave in to my need to cry, Picard showed up, big eyes watchful as she crept closer. Maybe it was stupid to project feelings onto an animal, but I couldn't help but feel that she was concerned for me.
If nothing else, her presence had forced me to get up and scrounge up some food for her and distracted me from the ever-constant worry that has plagued me the whole time Bashir has been gone.
When did I become this dependent on him? Become this attached? I don't know, but there's no denying the depth of feeling I have for him after my reaction to his absence. He could hurt me. Really hurt me. It frightens me to think about it, but not seeing him again scares me more.
"Thanks for taking care of me, Picard," I murmur, rubbing her small back. "What do you say we go check on the mining entrance again, huh?"
Maybe it's stupid to constantly go check, but I can't help myself. The best I can do is limit it to a few times a day, when what I really want is to camp out in front of it. Maybe I would if Tajss was a safer place, but staying out there alone at night would be like dangling bait out for sharks to chomp on.
I get up, put on my shoes, and head out of our quarters, Picard on my heels. I'm getting used to her being there. People call out their greetings, and I raise my hand in response, but that's all. I don't have it in me right now to make small talk, to pretend that I'm doing okay. I can't take the sympathy either. I can see it lurking in everyone's eyes. It's well-meaning, but it still grates.
You have to come back, Bashir. That's our deal.
I hold on to that promise as the hours and then days pass. I know Bashir will do everything in his power to make sure he doesn't break a promise to me. He's honorable down to his very bones, a gentleman in the truest sense of the word.
When I reach the mining entrance, Tessa is already out there waiting too. She gives me a wan smile, shrugging.
"Figured I may as well check again," she explains sheepishly.
I smile back, my own expression just as lackluster.
"Yeah," I agree, leaving it at that.
I sit down next to her. Picard roams the area around us, checking back in when she feels like it. Time passes without any kind of sign that Bashir and Jackson are anywhere near coming back out.
Tessa finally gets up to go take care of duties that have fallen on her now that Jackson isn't there any more to oversee things. She gives my s
houlder a comforting squeeze as she leaves.
"Don't stay out here alone too long," she warns. "Or I'll have to send someone to get you."
"I won't," I promise.
I wait a little longer. Until it’s time to eat again, my stomach rumbling in complaint. I sigh, standing up. I'll just grab a quick—
I hear a scuff of sound. Nothing loud, but different enough that I turn, my heart beating fast.
Is it...?
Picard runs mewling across the mine entrance, something she hasn't done before. Her tail stands straight up, and she stares into the darkness.
I freeze, my eyes trying to make out something, and then I see the most beautiful sight in the world.
Bashir carefully walks out of the dark mine, his eyes squinting to adjust to the bright suns.
He looks tired and dirty. But he's in one piece. That's all I care about.
Before he can fully acclimate to the change in light, I'm wrapped around his tall, strong body, my arms and legs hugging him close as I pepper kisses on his face. His arms come up to cup my backside, hold me up.
"Penelope," he murmurs, moving his face until he can catch my mouth in a proper kiss.
Gripping his head, I pour all my worry, all my relief into that kiss.
He's back.
He's okay.
Everything is going to be fine. The relief sends a trembling wave through me. I break the kiss as Bashir starts to walk with me still in his arms.
"What took you so long?" I demand, wiggling down. I don't know if I want everyone in the village to see us like that, even if they know we're together.
"We wanted to get an accurate map, one that the future miners could depend on," he murmurs, his eyes devouring my face. "It took some time to get through all the tunnels. There were a lot of dead ends and a lot of backtracking involved."
I don't know if it's possible to be more impressed than I am. They came back in one piece. And they have a map?
Jackson grins at my shock. It's the first time I've even noticed him.
"Mission successful," he says with a grin.
Before I can ask any more questions, my alone time with the two of them is over. Someone cries out, alerting the whole village that Jackson and Bashir have returned, safe and whole. The entire population of the place rushes out to greet them. The cheering is loud and boisterous, Jackson soaking it in with a big smile.
"Thank you!" he cries out. "Let's have a feast to celebrate!"
A little self-aggrandizing, but okay. Preparations immediately start for a hearty dinner, the New Village alive with purpose again.
It comes together quickly, and I don't get a chance to be alone with Bashir beforehand. Too many people want to talk to him. I feel my frustration rise, but I also understand. I'm proud of him too.
At the dinner, Jackson stands to give another speech, his glowing face giving away how successful he was in his endeavor.
"I am certain you are all wondering what Bashir and I found down there in the mines," he starts, acknowledging Bashir with a nod. "Well...it's everything we could have hoped for. And more." He pauses as people start clapping and stamping their feet, smiling at the gathered crowd. He's practically glowing with his victory. When the noise dies down a little he continues. "The ores and metals we've found are, indeed, valuable. Valuable and useful." The crowd goes wild again. "This is a new day for the New Village!" Jackson cries out over the roar, which only increases with that proclamation. "Let's eat!" he yells, throwing a hand up in the air, and deciding that's enough speechifying for the dinner.
Hmm.
As I dig into the food, I can practically feel the renewed faith in Jackson as a leader. The mood is happy, with people finally looking to the future with bright spirits rather than the desperation, mourning, and fear that has colored their mood every day. This means more than the actual find in the mine. Jackson has managed to give them the priceless gift of hope.
Though, practically speaking, much of his success in that arena is owed to Bashir. I doubt he would have made it back out alive if Bashir hadn't run in after him. Though I suppose I'm thankful Jackson gave him a chance to begin with. That was no guarantee. He could have completely rebuffed us both. Still...
Bashir’s face appears pensive too, despite the celebration going on around us. I lean in closer, keeping my voice low.
"I'm worried what will happen here when we leave," I whisper.
Bashir nods slowly, looking over at me.
"I am too," he murmurs.
That's...unusual. He hasn't admitted concern until now. Now I know I should be worried. Bashir leans even closer to me, turning his head so his lips brush my ear when he whispers. I shiver at the touch.
"There are more veins that lead towards the Tribe. I didn't put them on the map. Whether the New Villagers agree to co-ownership or not, Rosalind can have access."
Oh. Secret veins? I look back at Jackson, still soaking in the glow of his success. I'm even more worried now. If he doesn't have sole control of the mine, this isn't nearly the coup he believes it to be.
I sigh. That isn't something I can control. We can only do so much. At the end of the day, our loyalty isn't to Jackson or the New Village. Not when push comes to shove. Still, I can't wait to leave the dinner. So I sit just long enough to be polite, eat my food. And then I take Bashir's hand.
He looks over at me, a question on his lips.
"I want to be alone," I whisper, tugging him to his feet. "Come on. Let's get out of here."
Heat immediately replaces the question in his eyes, and then he’s the one pulling me along back to our quarters. Neither of us can get back fast enough.
The celebration is great, but it keeps me from showing any of my true emotions, keeps me tethered to a polite face when that's the last thing I want to adopt right now. As soon as the door closes, I push Bashir farther into the room, and then onto the bed. I'm straddling him in the next instant, ripping off his clothes and smoothing my hands over his body while he lies there and allows me to do whatever I want, his eyes heavy lidded.
I don't have the patience to wait. Maybe later, when I don't feel quite so desperate to reconnect. I yank my own clothes off as he watches, his eyes raking down my naked body. His desire for me is clear. It always is. I never doubt his attraction to me. Getting back on top of him, I immediately grab hold of his thick cock and point it straight up. I don't need any preliminaries.
"I want you inside me," I mutter, hovering above him.
"Then do it," he says, his voice raspy as his eyes meet mine.
I moan and he groans as I take him into me in one fell swoop, wanting him deep inside as quickly as possible. It's a tight fit. He's long and thick and I'm tight, but we manage it, until I feel so full, I can feel his pulse deep inside me. Then I brace my hands on his strong shoulders, my eyes on his, and ride him. My hips move hard and fast, the need inside me not anything soft and gentle. My anxiety and worry doesn't leave room for that.
I cry out with a sharp orgasm. Bashir makes a hoarse sound under me as he follows me, but then he immediately flips us over, and his second cock slides right back into me.
"Everything is fine," he murmurs, kissing me gently now, smoothing my hair back from my sweaty face. "I am whole."
I squeeze my eyes shut tight at the soothing murmur, the gentle way he's touching me, until I feel myself start to believe the words he's saying, until I'm calming, despite myself. Only then does he start to move inside me, the rhythm of his hips as soft and slow as mine was fast and hard. The explosive sex gives way to a comforting meeting of bodies. They meet my needs in different ways. Help me connect and ground myself.
"I will keep you safe," he whispers in my ear, his body rubbing against mine as he moves inside me. "Trust me."
I shudder, my hands tightening on his hips. I believe him. I believe him. That trust helps me sink deeper into the pallet, calms me even more, until I feel something...him. I feel Bashir. But it isn't his body. Not his body alone anyway. It's more th
an that...his...spirit?
I don't know what else to call it, this hazy taste of him that I can sense inside me. Whatever it is, I can feel it mingling with mine. With the me inside my own body, merging even as our physical bodies are merging. It feels surreal, supernatural.
I trust Bashir. I trust him with more than my body. So I yield to it, ready for whatever he has to give me. I'll take it all, take all of him. I kiss the side of his neck, pushing my face into the sweaty hot skin there that smells like him.
"I'm yours, Bashir," I murmur, taking in a shuddering breath as another orgasm sweeps through me, tingling and gentle as well. I am sure of my words. Surer than I've ever been of anything in my whole life.
"But don't scare me like that again," I add, a warning tone in my voice. "I won't stand for it."
He chuckles, nuzzling my throat.
"I will not."
And then he proceeds to love me until I don't have a stiff bone in my body.
Well.
Not counting his anyway.
Chapter Sixteen
Bashir
The next day, it is finally time for us to leave. A great deal has happened in the time we've been here. I do not know how much actual progress we have made, though we are coming away with valuable information.
Penelope and I pack quickly, our belongings sparse, light enough to travel with. Jackson and the New Villagers all gather to wish us luck, and I do not doubt their dismay at seeing us leave. Though how much of it is personal to us and how much is their knowledge that they have no way to source food without us is up for debate.
"You are welcome to stay as long as you would like," Jackson reiterates, even though Penelope and I are ready to go, our belongings with us as we say goodbye at the edge of the village.
"Thank you," I respond gravely. "Your hospitality will not be forgotten."
"We appreciate it," Penelope agrees. "But we do have to get back to the City. Then back to our home."
Dragon's Claim Page 12
