by S. C. Green
Red’s blackened mouth set in a line, almost as though he were annoyed by our interruptions. “Ssshall I continue?”
“By all means.” Harriet tipped her hand toward him.
“Sssome workersss at the plant had been placed in a ssspecial team, tasssked with working on a government project. No one team member sssat across all partsss of the processsss, ssso we could not know exactly how the chemical wasss made. But we were sssure it wasss a weapon.”
“What did this weapon do?” I asked.
The wraith shrugged. “I remember … people on my team ssstarted going misssing. We were ssscared. We met in sssecret in the underground room. We were going to go to the presss with what we knew, but then...” He passed his hand through his stomach, to indicate what had become of him.
“What are you saying, Red?” Raine demanded.
“I’m sssaying, we made the wraith at Sssunn, usssing a chemical called immortium. The government intended to do it all along. The wraith are no accident.”
What? My nails dug into the wooden sill at my back. Had he just said what I think he’d said?
The wraith were created? Some arm of the government deliberately set out to make these ghouls from the spirits of the already-dead? The chemical that leaked into the graveyard when the plant had the explosion was designed?
The full ramification of the wraith’s statement washed over all of us. No one spoke. The room spun around me, and it was all I could do to prevent myself sliding down the wall. How was it possible that a country’s own government had orchestrated this disaster, had deliberately destroyed our city, and brought ten years of misery down upon her residents?
Alain rubbed a hand down his jaw and shook his head. May’s eyes gleamed with murder. Harriet looked strangely pleased. Judging by the deep crease on Raine’s otherwise perfect face, she hadn’t known this particular nugget of information, either. But then, she might just be a very good actress.
Alain turned to Raine. “This is the truth?”
“I’ve never had any reason to doubt him,” Raine said, her voice soft.
“And how is this weapon going to save us?” I asked. "We've just destroyed all the wraith. The last thing we want to do is make any more."
“It givesss you a bargaining tool,” the wraith explained.
“When the government put down the dome, they also probably lost access to this chemical.” Alain talked fast, his long fingers drumming against the back of the sofa. “If we take the immortium out of the dome, we will be able to make them listen, to show the government the great danger. We’ll able to demand the release of the Reapers held captive.”
“Woah.” I held up my hands. “Hang on a minute here. I’m in this to save my family. That’s you and May and the little peanut here, nothing more. Once I’m outside the dome, our business with the wraith is over. I’m not embarking on some crazy crusade to bring down the government. That’s not the deal.”
“Sydney, this is the same government who trapped us all inside the dome,” Alain said. “Isn’t it our duty to protect the rest of the world?”
“No way.” I touched my stomach, and the image of that tiny egg against the side of my womb filled me with fierce determination. “They’ve already had ten years of my life. They’re not getting any more. I’m not a superhero or a martyr. I’ve destroyed the wraith. Isn’t that enough?”
Alain touched my elbow. “These are the Reapers we’re talking about. These are my people, and they’re being held prisoner and pumped full of drugs. You are a valeda, and that should mean something. If we have the chance to save them, we should take it.”
“Yes.” Raine’s eyes blazed. “I’ve been there. I’ve experienced the horrible things they’re doing to our people. If we can free the Reapers, we may have a force strong enough to overthrow—”
“Is anybody listening to me?” I snapped. “Now we’re talking about a revolution. Where did this come from? All I want to do is get the fuck out of the dome before the Dimitri gang put a bullet through my skull or your friend there sucks out my soul. I’m tired. I’m fucking pregnant—”
“You’re pregnant,” Raine whispered. She blinked rapidly as if processing this news, her long eyelashes beating against her cheeks at the same tempo as the little stabs of guilt through my heart. Her face emptied of all color, and she dragged in a loud breath as her hand fluttered to her chest. “C-c-congratulations.”
“Say that like you mean it next time,” May retorted.
“Besides which,” I said, trying to ignore Raine. “I don’t think this plan will work. What you’re talking about is the chemical that makes wraith. You want to bring it outside the dome in the hope you make some kind of a point? If that chemical gets into the wrong hands, we're going to have more than just Petrified City. It will be an ossified state, a fossilised nation, an entire fucking sacrificed world.”
“So you don’t care about what’s happening out there?” Raine’s eyes flashed. “You’ve got your freedom and your...baby, and you don’t care about the Reapers?” She spat the word baby with disgust.
“That’s not what I’m saying!” I protested with a warning finger. Even though that was kind of what I was saying.
Alain and May exchanged glances, unspoken words passing between them. Usually, I was in awe of the close bond they shared, how they were able at times to complete each other’s sentences as though they thought as one. But now, their closeness annoyed me. The open air at my back annoyed me. Basically, everything pissed me off. This whole pregnancy business sure had its ups and downs.
Alain placed a hand on my shoulder. “We have to think about our people, Sydney. If this is what they do to Reapers, then what do you think they’ll do to us once they learn we got out of the dome?”
He had a point, but I wasn’t ready to concede it. I jabbed a finger at Raine. “She’s doing perfectly fine. She’s not in jail or on drugs, so score one for her. She has all the freedom in the world to make friends with wraith who come in here spurting cockandbull stories.” I glanced to Harriet, who had her gun resting on her shoulder. “You agree with me on this?”
Harriet shook her head, her blonde curls bouncing. I glared at her in surprise.
She shrugged. “Sorry, Syd. I’m a rebel. I’m all for more weapons and killing and overthrowing of the patriarchy. It’s a good time.”
I glanced around the group. Every one of them leaned forward, muscles tensed, gazes leaping between the wraith, Raine, and me. The air fizzed with apprehension. Everyone seemed ready to go into battle once more. All I wanted to do was take a nap.
“We can’t rush into anything,” I said. “We need to think really carefully about how we do this. Otherwise, we’re going to cause more trouble than we solve.”
Harriet yawned. “Whatever we do, can we do it tomorrow? I’ve barely slept in the last forty-eight hours.”
As soon as she said it, the same weariness crept into my limbs. Forget a nap; I wanted to sleep for days. Instinctively, I placed my hand against my stomach, getting a shock as another weird internal view of my womb flicked across my vision. I had to think about our child, too … If it even was technically a child right now. I didn’t know anything about babies, and I couldn’t exactly ask a midwife.
“Yes,” I said. “ Some sleep would do us good.” I turned to Raine. “Will this wraith truly not husk us?”
She shook her head. “Red is different. He’s hungry for justice, not souls.”
The wraith inclined his head.
I turned to Alain, indicating Raine with a derisive flick of my wrist. “And you trust her?”
Alain’s gaze ticked to Raine. I wanted to shove her aside, to take that intense look he was giving her and keep it all for myself. This is stupid, I told myself, even as I felt a knife twisting in my gut. You have much more important things to worry about than the return of Alain’s ex.
He turned away abruptly. “I trust her.” he said softly.
“Fine,” I said. “But we’re still keepin
g a watch.”
“I’ll go first,” Harriet volunteered.
“I thought you were beat?”
“I can stay up a couple more hours.” She nodded at Red. “I want to keep an eye on that wraith.”
“All right.” I stifled a yawn. “Wake me when it’s my turn.”
May slumped down on the couch, arranging the pillows around her head. I dragged Alain off to my room and shut the door. As for Raine and her pet wraith, I didn’t care where she slept.
I fell down on the bed beside Alain, the tiredness creeping behind my eyes. He whispered something in my ear. I opened my mouth to speak. We had so much to discuss. We’d barely had a moment to ourselves since Raine had shown up. I needed to know what he was thinking, how he felt about her being here. In a moment ... just as soon as I opened my eyes again ...
8
Raine
My first night under the dome, in the same room as my daughter. It felt so surreal.
At first, I tried to sleep in my bird form on the windowsill, but it was difficult to get comfortable. My talons couldn’t fit across the whole width, and every noise that penetrated the silence of the city outside made me jump. I gave up, settling in for a night of watching May sleep on the couch, her sleek black hair resting on her bony shoulders.
Watching me watch May was the Harriet girl. She sat in front of the door and glared at me, her fingers tapping against the barrel of her gun. Red had retreated into the walls, so his presence wouldn’t cause any more chaos.
My eyes flicked from May to Harriet, trying to understand. My precious daughter, what have you endured since I last held you in my arms? What has driven you to seek solace in this hard woman? What I wouldn’t give to make up to you what you have lost ...
There was that old guilt again, flaring in my veins. I searched May’s sleeping face for a hint of how I could atone, but no ideas came to me. My vigil must’ve been more obvious than I realised, because after an hour or so of tense silence in the room, May sighed and sat up.
“Sleep here,” she said, jabbing her finger at the couch.
I transformed into my human form with a faint ruffle of feathers. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to give up your bed.” You’ve already given up so much.
“It’s not my bed. My bed is back at the Compound, but we can’t go there anymore. I’ll sleep on the windowsill.” She raised a finger. “On one condition – you have to roll over. Having your eyes on me is getting really creepy.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to frighten you. It’s just so amazing seeing you after so many years. I want to drink it all in.”
“You sound nuts.” May pulled her coat around herself and transformed into her raven. She soared across the room, landed gracefully on the windowsill, and tucked her wings over her body, her head nestled under her wing.
I lay down, turning away from her, as she’d wished. It may have been less than a hundred words long, but I’d just had my first real conversation with my daughter in ten years. She’d given me the couch. Maybe all was not lost.
As I fluffed up the lumpy cushion, I caught a glimpse of Harriet watching me from her position in front of the door, her frown deepening. Her arm muscles twitched. The gun in her hands jerked against her shoulder, reminding me that at any moment my brains could be splattered all over the wall.
Than again, maybe all hope was lost, after all.
9
Sydney
Something warm brushed against my lips. Fingers trailed over my neck, leaving lines of fire against my skin. My eyes fluttered open, my vision swirling as I fell into the icy pools of Alain’s irises.
I returned the kiss, allowing his lips and his hands to tug me gently from sleep. My body responded gleefully to his touch. Warmth rushed through my limbs, reaching all the way down to my toes. A familiar, pleasing ache spread across my belly.
Alain pulled away, his gaze perusing my face. “Hey,” he whispered.
“Hey yourself.”
“How are you?” His eyebrows inched together as he frowned. “I asked you yesterday, but you fell dead asleep as soon as your head fell against my shoulder.”
“Oh, you know. Your ex and her pet wraith are hanging out in my living room. Everything's just peachy.”
“Raine’s presence hasn’t changed anything,” he said firmly. “I still love you. I still want to be with you. I still want”--he placed his hands against my stomach--“to be a daddy again.”
A pang speared through my gut, a weird mix of relief and doubt. “Don’t lie. Her coming here has changed everything. She wants her family back. Her love for you hasn’t stopped, not for all these years. I don’t blame her. You and May are pretty special. I would pine for you, too.“
“Raine and I were over a long time ago,” Alain said, his warm fingertips tracing my cheek. “We were over even before she left. I’ve had ten years to mourn the death of our relationship. If she feels that way, her love will go unreturned if she’s clinging to something that’s dead.”
I placed my hands on his chest right over his heart. “One thing I’ve learned in this city it’s that what’s dead and buried doesn’t necessarily stay that way.” I spoke it aloud, that terrible, nagging fear that gnawed inside me. “You still have feelings for her. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have run away when she first showed up.”
“Feelings about her, sure.” Alain shifted his head, the ends of his hair dragging over my neck. “May has missed so much, and I’ve tried to give her all I could. I spent so much time lost in grief, rooted in place, unable to move, to breathe. I finally feel as though I have the wind under my wings again, and then she just shows up. To suddenly see her again … I’m angry, at the authorities for taking her, at Raine for not trying harder, at myself for being mad at her, and for not giving May everything she deserves.”
“I know. I saw that in your eyes. But behind all that anger, all that rage …there’s hope. I can see it.” My voice cracked, and I forced a swallow.
“That hope is for May, not me.” He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. “She has been robbed of her mother for the last ten years, and I haven’t always protected her the way I should. It’s a wonderful thing to be given a second chance, especially before May’s birthday. I hope May will be able to overcome her own anger, and she and Raine might have some kind of relationship.”
“And what about you and Raine?” I asked softly. I had to know, but I feared the answer more than anything I’d feared over the last couple of weeks. “If there was a chance it could work with the two of you, would you take it? I have to know the truth, Alain. I have to know, because our baby—”
He kissed me, as fiercely and passionately as ever. It was the kiss that was meant to seal his devotion, to wipe away all my fears and doubts. I sank into him, pressed my hands against his chest, and ran my fingers over his shoulders, enjoying the warmth of his body.
He cupped my breast, rubbing his thumb across my nipple, while he seared my lips with his kiss.
My breath hitched as the nipple hardened beneath his touch. My skin danced with desire. “Alain, please—”
“Mmmm?” His lips devoured mine.
“Your daughter is right outside. And your old girlfriend. They might hear us—”
In response, Alain rolled me onto my side, wrapping his body around mine, pulling down my underwear with one finger. His hardness pressed against the back of my thigh. “There’s only you and me in this room right now,” he whispered against my ear.
I relaxed against him, forcing all remaining thoughts of Raine out of my mind. I remembered the tiny baby growing inside me, and as Alain entered me, my body swelled with love for him, and for the little person he’d planted inside my womb. A beautiful miracle, a second chance at happiness with Alain.
We moved together, our bodies melding as one. His scent enveloped me, like wandering into a blooming forest in spring. He darted his fingers between my legs, seeking that one little spot that drove me mad. His fingers danced there, t
wirling over that spot and hundreds more. I sank deeper into his entire body, revelling in the sheer joy of him, in letting go at last of everything that kept me tense and guarded.
His strokes became harder, more powerful. His fingers danced faster, his rigid muscles rubbing against my skin. As he dragged his teeth across my collarbone, I fell over the abyss, descending into pleasure. My body quivered as an orgasm rippled beneath my skin, warming me from toe to head.
Alain gripped my thighs, slamming me back against his shaft. He cried out as he came, his body stiffening, his lips pressed to my cheek. After a few moments, the tension evaporated, and his muscles relaxed. He sank against my back, draping one arm across my chest to hold me against him.
“We should get up,” I said, although my body longed to remain curled up against him forever.
“Mmmm,” Alain mumbled, his breath hot against my neck.
I lifted his arm from my shoulder and wriggled out of bed. He made a sound of protest but didn’t move to stop me. As soon as I stood, my mind whirred with the current situation, all the dangers that now hung over my tiny family like a storm cloud. My stomach churned as the baby’s presence threatened to deprive me of what little food I’d managed to eat last night.
I pulled on my torn jeans, a black T-shirt and leather jacket, and ran a comb through my tangled hair. If Raine could show up looking like she stepped off a Suicide Girls photoshoot, then I could show her I was qualified to stand beside her. Or maybe not. I frowned at my reflection in the cracked mirror beside the window. My eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with dark circles. Dirt smeared my skin, my hair, my clothes. A pillow crease ran across my cheek.
Well, at least my dashing wit and charm were still intact.
I sighed. There wasn’t much I could do about it. I scrubbed at the dirt on my cheeks, then I pushed open the door and stepped into the living room. What I saw there made my pre-planned greeting die in my throat.
