Afterworld

by Lynnette Lounsbury

  Dom was mortified as the ragged group of gamblers stumbled over to stare at him, grinning and clapping him on the shoulders. He saw Eduardo roll his eyes.

  ‘Do I look like I’m eight? I’m fifteen.’ He tried to keep some personal space, but the group pressed closer. One of them sniffed his hair. His desire to fight was completely replaced by his desperate need to be anywhere but here. Adrenaline and repulsion mixed in a potent cocktail as his legs poised themselves to bolt. A red-eyed woman laid her head on his shoulder, her long hair wiry and matted. Somehow, in the midst of all the caustic cleanliness of the City, these people still managed to smell of decay, of another type of death.

  They clamoured over him. ‘You going to fight at the Trials?’

  ‘I heard that. I heard that. I heard you would be fighting. That’s so cool, man.’

  ‘You look kind of like my son.’ The woman leaning on him sighed. ‘He was twelve when I died. He’s not doing so good now.’

  Dom pushed out of the group trying to make his way back to his Guardian. The group followed him, chattering and reaching for his shoulders. He turned to tell them to keep away; to tell them how disgusting and hideous they were, but as he looked back he saw such fear on their faces that he stopped. Was he really terrifying? In any way whatsoever? His anger froze instantly and the pity returned. The group cowered, but kept watching him. He felt the need to apologise.

  ‘Sorry. I just, I just . . . You guys should save your minutes. Get out of here.’ It didn’t sound inspiring even to himself, in fact it felt kind of pathetic. He turned to find Eduardo, and instead found himself staring into the chests of three Nephilim. Understanding flooded him almost as quickly as the fear. Of course the gamblers hadn’t been afraid of him.

  The Nephilim were tall, not as impressive as Satarial, and they didn’t glow with the same light, but they were bigger than any men he had seen in life. He had to tilt his head back to meet their eyes. Two of them were as pale-skinned as Satarial and Deora, but the other was ebony black with startling whites to his eyes and shining black pupils. Dom’s stomach dropped. He knew Eduardo had to be here somewhere; he peered around furtively and finally noticed the Angel in the shadows behind the bar. If it was possible, Dom’s heart sank even further. Eduardo was smiling at him. An encouraging smile that he accompanied with a flick of his hand. Dom knew what he meant. Eduardo wanted Dom to fight the Nephilim.

  He looked back at the ragged group of addicts whose fear had changed to wary excitement. The pale Nephilim on the left spoke and while he looked directly at Dominic he addressed the others. ‘This is the child who damaged the collection. He was our guest and he showed great disrespect.’

  His double smiled. He had perfect white teeth in a startlingly red mouth. ‘I hear you are going to play in our Trials soon, Dominic Mathers. Do you think you will be able to put up a decent fight and entertain us?’

  Dom cleared his throat and tried to match the resonance of their voices. ‘Yes. I might surprise you.’

  They laughed. It was a light pleasant laugh that suggested they were a group of friends chatting and one of them had made a clever joke. The lack of menace scared Dom more than if they had threatened him.

  ‘Do you need some practice, Dominic?’ The first Nephilim spoke.

  ‘You want to fight me now?’ Dom tried to sound surprised.

  ‘Oh, I didn’t mean practice fighting, I meant practice healing.’ The smile lit up his face again. It spoke of warmth it didn’t deliver. ‘I mean practice with pain. Waiting for it to stop, waiting for it to begin again. Finding a way not to run from it. That’s what the Trials are about after all.’

  Dom knew there was no way out of this. He knew by the nonchalant way Eduardo was slouched in the shadows against the wall that he was going to get no help from him. And he knew they would keep playing with him for hours if he let them. He looked at the ground for a moment, took a deep breath into the knowledge Eduardo had given him and stepped back into a protective stance facing the black-skinned Nephilim. The dark Nephilim smiled broadly, and swung a huge fist at his head.

  His own speed surprised him. It was otherworldly. He skipped out of the way and threw his own punch. The Nephilim saw it coming, raised a giant muscled arm to block it and yet Dominic was still too fast. He hit the Nephilim’s jaw directly under the chin, the highest place he could reach, and his head snapped back. The man staggered a few paces and then recovered, appraising Dom with narrowed eyes.

  He spoke with the deepest voice Dom had ever heard, soft and rich. ‘You are nothing if not brave.’ He smiled slightly and then jumped forward and kicked at Dominic’s chest.

  Dom’s body reacted instantly, leaping back and catching only the slightest force. It still caused him to stumble a little as he landed, but he felt Eduardo’s knowledge coursing through him. Knowledge wasn’t the right word. It was instinct, an understanding and reaction that he couldn’t get his mind to grasp properly, but which took over when required.

  The two blond Nephilim stood aside, allowing their companion space to fight. The huge figure circled Dom, leaning forward and down awkwardly, as if fighting such a small figure confused him. Dom knew it was all or nothing, and if he didn’t attack he was going to be attacked. He threw himself forward and swung his leg, aiming for the Nephilim’s ankles. He connected and threw him off balance, but the Nephilim was ready by the time Dom kicked at his other ankle and simply leaped over the top of him, swinging his fist downwards like a hammer at Dom’s head. Dom shifted slightly to the side and rolled towards the Nephilim’s knee. Using the tip of his elbow he smashed the kneecap with a sudden sharp movement and he felt it crack under his blow, a sound that nauseated him. In the same moment he threw his fist upwards into the groin. The Nephilim folded, his knee splayed out to the side and his hands grasping his groin, a bellow of pain escaping his lips as he fell. Dom slid backwards out of the way and used the momentum to flick himself back to his feet. He watched as the Nephilim lay in pain on the ground. It seemed they didn’t heal as quickly as Satarial and he breathed a short sigh of relief. It was short-lived solace however, as he saw the other two advancing on him. He fell into a protective stance, his hands raised in front of him, palms facing outwards. They watched him cautiously, but without fear.

  From either side they leaped at him, their lithe limbs twisted to kick him as they jumped. Dom dropped to the ground again, allowing them to tangle with each other as they spun, and he rolled using his open hands to find a point on the inside of their ankles that plunged them both to the ground. As they righted themselves and tried to stand they looked at him with confusion. Dom didn’t wait, he jumped over their prone figures, finding places on their bodies his hands seemed to know instinctively and applying pressure. They fell back onto the ground, unable to move and yet completely conscious. The confusion was replaced by furious fear. He stood over them for a moment and relaxed a little.

  ‘Dominic.’ He heard Eduardo’s voice and turned slightly, but before he could locate his Guardian, a violent force hit him. The foot of his first attacker kicked into the side of his neck. As it connected he heard his bones break, the crunching of his spine as it ripped away from his skull. There wasn’t any pain, but his body immediately crumpled, landing in a soft heap. His head bounced on the smooth stone. Pain shot through his head and he lost vision in his right eye. The tattered group of addicts and gamblers watched from a huddle. They looked at him with pity. A woman reached a hand towards him, but none of them moved to give him any help. He tried to move his head to see the Nephilim, but he was paralysed. He sensed a giant form looming over him, but couldn’t even turn his head to see what was coming. The pain in his head intensified, blinding waves of it making thought impossible. There was only pain, washing and spiking into his brain. He wanted to grasp at his head, to cradle it with his hands to stop the pain, but he couldn’t move. Finally he gave in to it. He stopped gasping for breath and embraced the pain. The moment he stopped fighting it, it seemed to lessen, and he took a
nother slower breath. His first lucid thought came to him. He couldn’t believe he had forgotten about the first Nephilim attacker. Of course he had healed. It would have only taken him a few moments.

  The pain in Dom’s head faded and his neck twitched, the bones finding their places with the softest of internal sounds and suddenly, as though with a tiny light-switch of electricity, he could move his limbs again. He rolled into an upright position and pulled himself into a crouch. There was no pain or stiffness, but the exhaustion was intense. He felt as though he could sleep for a month. He forced his eyes open. The blond Nephilim were still inert and the darker one was pulling them to their feet, his great arms holding them upright by the waist.

  Eduardo stood slightly to Dom’s side, his curved knife drawn, but his form human. The Nephilim seemed unperturbed by him, but were watching Dom warily.

  ‘That was not human fighting.’ One of them spoke, sounding almost petulant. ‘How did you learn that, boy?’

  Dom was silent.

  The dark Nephilim studied Eduardo with a calculating gaze. His eyes narrowed. Finally he spoke. The word twisted and rolled out of his mouth, a word in a language Dom did not recognise. Eduardo tipped his head to the side and smiled slightly. He responded in the same tongue.

  The blond Nephilim, whose limbs were finally beginning to twitch, looked at their counterpart in alarm and then back at Eduardo with agitation. Without any further conversation they turned and left the dim light of the courtyard, their lithe figures gliding despite their limps.

  Dom looked contritely at Eduardo. ‘I know. I forgot he was there. Stupid.’

  Eduardo laughed softly. ‘No harm done. You fought well; you gave in to it and used the best techniques possible. It is always better to disable your opponent than attempt to block every blow. And you learned what it means to heal. And to feel pain.’

  Dom shuddered. ‘It takes too long for me to let that happen again, though. He could have done a lot worse while I was lying there.’

  ‘Ah, but you can hasten the healing.’ Eduardo inclined his head. ‘You already know how. I saw you.’

  Dom thought about it. ‘By relaxing? Breathing?’

  ‘Those were your actions. The thought is surrender. As with everything in life and death, the only true meaning is ever found in surrender. Stop fighting and you will heal.’

  Dom laughed wryly. ‘So I can keep fighting?’

  Eduardo’s roaring laughter filled the square, startling the addicts into a scatter. ‘Surrender and fight. That’s what it’s all about in the end, isn’t it? Everything is surrender and fight. Even love.’

  He swung an arm around Dom’s shoulders and held him in a brief brotherly hug.

  ‘I am proud.’ He smiled.

  It was a simple gesture and there was only casual emotion in it, but Dom was overwhelmed. He was tired and his mind overwrought, but more than that, no one had ever said those words to him. His father hadn’t given him anything but cursory attention since he was a child and the last time he could remember his mother being proud was when he had learned to ride a bicycle. His eyes clouded and his throat closed. He took another deep breath. Surrender. He waited for the emotion to pass and then looked up at Eduardo’s strange golden eyes.

  ‘Thanks.’

  The Angel nodded.

  ‘We’d better hurry. You’ll need to sleep off the healing. And besides,’ he snorted, ‘you’ll want all your energy when you tell Eva and your sister that you are going to fight for Satarial. I don’t know what will be worse – the Trials or Eva!’

  2

  Dominic’s Hourglass

  13 Minutes

  It was a short night; an exhausted blink. Dom faded immediately into his pillow, his thoughts jumbled in a melange of supernatural creatures and experiences that were not his own, that were Eduardo’s. He felt an equally jumbled fusion of emotions, from the adrenaline rush of the fight to the exquisite strangeness of being in the presence of the Awe’s energy. It all collapsed in on him as he awoke to find he couldn’t breathe. Rousing himself from his fatigue he discovered the flat, tough pillow was over his face, pushing his nose and mouth shut. He instinctively shoved upwards, sending a laughing Kaide onto her knees on the floor.

  ‘What the hell are you doing?’ he asked, rubbing his eyes. Glass eyes.

  She sat cross-legged and laughed again. ‘Well, you’re already dead. I was just seeing what happened if I tried to kill you.’

  ‘How is that funny?’ He twisted his head to the side. ‘You’re weird.’

  ‘It’s very funny. Apparently death kills the sense of humour.’ She tipped her head towards Eva who was watching without even a hint of a smile. Eduardo snored in the corner, but Dom knew he was not asleep.

  Eva forced a tight smile. ‘We need to see Enoch this morning. Find out what’s going on. He might also know a way we can get you out of here, or at least get you more minutes.’

  The snoring in the corner stopped, and Dom swallowed. ‘You know I was thinking last night . . .’ He trailed off into silence.

  Eva watched him carefully. ‘Yes?’

  He couldn’t meet her gaze. He glanced at his sister instead; her eyes were wide and shone with intelligence and amusement. Kaide glanced at Eva and then back at Dom and grinned again. Dom wanted to punch her in the arm, the way he would have back in life when she did her unsubtle matchmaking. Eva noticed and blushed.

  ‘What were you thinking, Dom?’ she prodded.

  Dom rubbed his forehead. ‘That maybe, maybe I shouldn’t run away. Maybe I should stay.’

  ‘Stay? Stay and what? Earn your minutes? You’ll be here longer than ten days. We have to get you out of here before then.’ Her eyes were piercing, as if she were anticipating his response. Baiting him.

  ‘I was thinking I might compete. In the Trials.’ He said it softly and ducked his head and winced, waiting for her attack.

  Kaide jumped up first. ‘Really! Awesome. Let’s go and tell Ariel.’

  Eva and Dom both glared at her. Dom shook his head. ‘It’s Satarial. Go tell him? Like we’re all friends? Are you insane? I know you go crazy for older guys, Kaide, but this is not someone to fall for. Remember what I said? Bad guy. He is planning to torture me in front of thousands of people and lock me in a cage for all eternity.’

  ‘I’m not crazy for him. I just . . .’

  ‘Are you listening to yourself, Dom? You know exactly what is going to happen and you’re still planning to do it? You’re the crazy one.’ Eva’s voice rose. ‘What made you decide this? You didn’t talk to either of us about it.’

  There was a cough from Eduardo and he rolled over and sat up stretching theatrically. ‘Are you speaking of me while I am asleep, young Eva?’

  She snapped at him, ‘You’re not asleep. Don’t waste my time with your bad acting anymore. You need to tell him that this is a dangerous, suicidal idea.’ She looked back at Dom and he saw a sudden desperation that made his heart jump. She wasn’t just angry; she was worried. About him.

  Her voice was under control again when she continued speaking. ‘You don’t have to do it. We’ll work together and find another way. He’s an Angel after all – he can just get rid of the Nephilim.’

  Eduardo stood and towered over them. ‘It’s tempting I admit.’

  Kaide frowned. ‘You are too harsh on these guys – they can’t be that bad.’

  Eduardo sighed and said seriously, ‘With no disrespect, you do not understand. They are ruthless and cruel and have the greatest contempt for mere humans. Slavery was conceived by the Nephilim.’

  ‘Plenty of bad things have been done by humans too,’ she countered. ‘I’m sure you Angels are no . . . angels.’ She smirked. ‘You can’t write off an entire race . . . it’s . . . racist. That’s exactly what it is. You are racially biased against the Nephilim because they aren’t as pure-blooded as you.’

  ‘No, I am not.’ Eduardo frowned at her, and he turned quickly to Eva. ‘He spoke with the Awe. He doesn’t have a choice
.’

  Her shoulders slumped. ‘The Awe? You saw the Awe. Why would the Awe bother with something at this level?’

  Eduardo shrugged. ‘I don’t understand it either. But I was given a particular mandate with Dominic. I was told to facilitate his journey. He has some special purpose here.’

  Dom sighed. ‘I don’t want to do it, Eva. I don’t want some special mission and I really don’t want to go anywhere near that Arena, but it’s something I have to do. I can’t explain it. She told me it’s important to all of us.’

  ‘She?’ Eva looked at him suspiciously. ‘Who’s she? Deora?’

  ‘Deora? What? No. The Awe. She told me this was important.’ He wondered why Deora had come to Eva’s mind.

  ‘What is the Awe?’ Kaide asked.

  ‘Some sort of “everything”. Energy. Like a god.’ Dom stumbled around his brain searching for an explanation.

  ‘It is the source of all life,’ Eduardo said from his place in the corner of the room.

  ‘Oh. I’d never really thought about it before.’ Kaide was silent for a moment. ‘Will I get to meet her too?’

  Eduardo said in a kind voice, ‘The Awe is always everywhere, so yes, but you are not physically dead so you can’t make the journey to the source yet. That’s all I can tell you.’

  Kaide sighed. ‘I wish I was dead.’

  ‘Don’t say that,’ Dom said, anger fuelling his response. ‘Don’t. We’ll find some way to get you back there, and healed, and you’ll get to keep living. You don’t want this, Kaide. You don’t. It’s being dead. Dead. There’s no going back from here. Don’t wish for it.’

  She said nothing, her face blank.

  Eva stood. ‘Fine. Dom, I can’t stop you competing in the Trials. You choose your own path, after all. I’ll help you get ready, but I’m not going to the Arena to watch.’ She paused, pointedly. ‘And I won’t be able to help you if they cage you.’

  Dom smiled. ‘You’ll have plenty of time to visit me.’