by L. S. O'Dea
“That explains how the Almightys and their Guards never caught you.”
“They caught some of us.” Many of the Producers who she’d freed from the Finishing Camp never made it far. Some were taken by the forest predators but more were slaughtered by the Almightys’ Guards. If she didn’t know Jackson and other Guards personally she’d hate them all. They could be vicious when traveling in packs, worse than the River-Men and Cold Creepers. The forest predators killed for food or to protect their territory. The Almightys’ Guards killed for fun.
“I’m sorry.” He seemed sincere this time.
“Yeah, me too.”
“Where do you stay now?” He stuffed another handful of nuts in his mouth.
“In small groups all over. It’s harder for them to catch us. We reserve these”—she glanced around—“places for special occasions.”
“Why? This would be perfect—”
“It isn’t. Producers are used to open fields and can’t stand being closed in for long periods of time. Add Grunts, Guards and House Servants all in these tight quarters.” She shrugged. “We considered it, but it’d never work. The different classes fight too much.”
“Guards and House Servants crammed together wouldn’t be pleasant. The two classes hate each other or just love to argue. I’m not sure which.”
“And it’d be a risk every time one of us left. There are always Guards patrolling the forest, sometimes with Almightys. We don’t want anyone discovering these places. They’ve saved me more than once.”
“What do you mean by that?” He studied her closely. “They can’t still be looking for you and the Producers. It’s been over three years.”
Oops. She knew chatting with him would cause her problems. “The forest is always dangerous.”
“Yeah, but why are there Guards and Almightys patrolling?” His blue eyes bore into her. “What aren’t you telling me?” He grinned, but his eyes were serious. “Come on. I’m going to find out what’s going on eventually. Wouldn’t it be better...safer if I knew before we left? I may be able to help in some way.”
“Dad will explain everything.” She stood. “We should get going.”
He grabbed her arm. “Not until you tell me why you rescued me from prison.” He dropped his hold and leaned against a tree. “I like this place. I could stay here...maybe, forever.” He glanced at Cack. “What about you? Do you want to live here with me?”
Cack snorted and shook his head before going back to eating.
Hugh shrugged. “Okay. I’ll stay here alone.” His eyes roamed up her body to her face. “Unless, you want to live here with me.”
“Hardly.” Her face heated. It was not a tempting offer, it wasn’t. “And you can’t stay either.”
“Oh, I think I can.” He put his hands behind his head and shut his eyes. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“Get up.” She kicked his leg.
“Ouch.”
“We need to go.” She kicked him again, harder this time.
He opened one eye and glared at her. “Don’t do that again.”
“Then get up.” She couldn’t force him to go with her. He was too big and the journey was too long.
“Tell me what’s going on.” He stared up at her.
“I’ll tell you part.” Dad wasn’t going to be happy if she screwed this up.
“Everything or I stay.”
She wanted to kick him again. Not that it’d make him move, but it’d make her feel better. She swung her leg and he grabbed her foot and pulled.
“Hey!” She landed on her butt, hard. She hadn’t expected that.
“I told you not to do it again.” He let go of her ankle and closed his eyes. “Everything. I want to know everything.”
“You’re an ass.” She stood and brushed off her pants.
“That’s true, but I’m not moving until you talk.”
Oh, she hated him. “We’re at war.”
His eyes opened. “I assume you mean someone besides you and me.”
Her lips twitched. “Yes, and I wouldn’t say we”—she pointed at him and herself—“are at war. We just disagree...on everything.”
“That seems accurate.”
As he smiled up at her, she was once again struck by how attractive he was with his blue eyes framed by thick, dark lashes and his black hair with that strand that fell over his forehead, begging her to push it back.
He sat up and cleared his throat. “So, who is at war?”
“Us and the Almightys.”
“Who exactly are us?” His tone was no longer playful.
She wasn’t going to say anything about the Allied Classes. Dad could explain all that. “Pretty much all the classes are involved in some way.”
“Holy Araldo.” He ran his hand through his hair. “You’ll never win. The Almightys have trained armies and if they ever agree to bring out the weapons...”
“Trust me, I know.”
“And yet, you’re wandering around out here by yourself.” He stood. “I’m going to talk to your father about that. You should be safe at camp with the others.”
“Why? Because I’m female?” She’d had this conversation with her mother way too many times.
“No.” His cheeks reddened.
“Then why?”
“Forget it.”
“No. I won’t forget it. Should Jackson, Dad and Curtis stay safe at camp?” She poked him in the shoulder with her claw. “If we’d all done that, you’d be dead.”
He slapped her hand away. “Fine, I’ll tell you why but you won’t like it.”
“I haven’t liked anything you’ve said since we met.” That was a bit mean but he deserved it.
He leaned forward until his nose almost bumped hers. “Because you’re an immature brat.” He caught her lips between his fingers and thumb to stop her outburst. “You may be skilled in the forest. I haven’t seen it myself, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, but”—he moved his hand and tapped her temple—“you still act and think like a child. Emotional. Reckless.”
“You think you’re so superior to me, to all of us, but you’re not.” She shoved his hand away from her face and took a step backward. His words stung. Gaar had told her the same things too many times to count.
“See, there you go again, striking out with the first words you find.” He leaned toward her. “Just like a child.”
Her claws popped out. She wanted to scratch that smug look off his face. “You’re an Almighty and let me tell you a secret.” She glanced around as if there were others nearby and then whispered. “Being an Almighty makes you inferior to all of us. You’re a liability in the forest not an asset. That’s why you’re with me. I’m the best trained of our group except for Gaar.” It was a half-lie. She was the most skilled in the forest, but he’d been supposed to travel with her dad. However, right now she didn’t care. He needed to stop treating her like a child. She’d changed a lot since his arrest.
“Trained?” His voice was incredulous. “Is that why we almost drowned in the river?”
“That wasn’t my fault.” She glanced at Cack who had an ear tipped in their direction, listening to them as he ate. If it hadn’t been for Hugh, she’d have lost the Grunt.
“You’re right. It wasn’t.” He leaned against the tree. “I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. The apology rankled because the disaster in the river had been her fault. She shouldn’t have forced Cack into the deeper water so soon. “I’m not perfect. I am the best trained but you can never be prepared for everything. Gaar has been teaching me since we met, but I still need lessons.”
“You’ve been training for five years and you still need lessons?”
“Yes.” He was such a jerk. “In the forest, you always need improvement. I doubt that you’d do as well as I have after ten years.”
He snorted and when she glared at him, he held up his hand. “No offense, but you probably did better on day one than I would have after five years. You’ve already
saved me how many times today?”
“Oh.” She didn’t know what to say and that almost never happened.
“Thank you,” he said softly. “I owe you my life. My freedom.”
This he meant. She smiled crookedly. She had him now. “Then we should get going.”
“We’re not done with our conversation.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You haven’t explained why you and the others rescued me.”
“You said you owed me.” She tipped her head. “I didn’t think you were the kind to renege on your debts.”
“I always pay my debts.” His eyes were brittle. “Always.”
She stepped forward until she was only inches away from him. “Prove it. We’re even if you come with me. As soon as I drop you off with Dad, your debt to me is paid.” Plus, she’d be free of his annoying, arrogant presence.
His eyes narrowed and it was like a cloud passing over the sun. “You win. This time.”
She grinned at him as he pushed past her and walked over to the entrance between the two rooms.
“Have you heard any Guards?” He picked up his shoes and socks from where he’d dropped them. There were holes through the soles. He shrugged and sat, sliding them on.
“Earlier. They passed by on the shore. I doubt that they even looked at the island.”
“How do we get to land?” He turned toward her. “Please tell me we don’t have to get back into that water.”
He didn’t seem angry which was odd. He’d just lost their fight. She’d be furious if it’d been her. “Kind of. As the day ends, the water recedes. There’s a cavern underneath. We need to go through there. The water is never completely gone, but it should be about knee to thigh high by now.”
“That’s better than swimming.” He stood.
“Follow me.” She stopped in front of the path that led out of the cave. “Cack, this is how you’ll get out. Leave before dawn, no later. You know the way to camp, right?”
Cack nodded and went back to his original spot, picking at some fruit.
“Shouldn’t we stay together?” he asked.
She met Cack’s eyes, giving him a half-smile. The forest was dangerous, especially for those who traveled alone, but the city was more dangerous for the Grunt. “He’ll be fine. He’s young and strong and he knows how to navigate the woods. Don’t you, Cack?”
The Grunt snorted and continued eating.
“We should wait and all go together.” He sat back down. “It’ll be safer that way.”
“Of course it’d be safer, but we aren’t going to the same place.” He was so bossy and stubborn. She fought the urge to kick him again. “Now, come on.”
CHAPTER 9: TRINITY
TRINITY STEPPED BETWEEN THE rocks and into the passageway, water slipping into the holes in her shoes. It was narrow and dark. It’d be much darker soon. Hugh had better follow her because if she had to go back she’d strangle him.
“Where are we going? Where’s Cack going?” he asked, still by the opening to the cave.
“He’s going back to camp. We’re going...somewhere else.” She wasn’t sure that he’d be willing to go into the city and she didn’t want to have to force him.
“Enough with the secrets. Tell me where we’re going.”
He was angry and she couldn’t blame him. She hated secrets. “I told you. Dad will explain everything.” The water was past her ankles now. It was going to get deeper the farther they went.
“Are we meeting Tim and Jackson?”
“Yes.” That wasn’t a lie.
“Why didn’t you want to tell me that.” He jogged until he was right behind her, splashing water up the back of her legs.
She spun around. “Hey! Watch it.”
“Sorry.” He shrugged slightly. “Where are we meeting them?”
“Hold on a minute.” She continued down the path, biding her time.
He followed in silence for quite a while and then said, “Answer my question.”
“I already did.” He was getting angrier but she didn’t care. Her ploy had worked. They’d come too far for him to go back by himself in the dark. She stopped at a fork in the path, sniffing for the fresh air. “Hold on to my shirt. It’s going to be pitch-black in here soon.”
“Not until you tell me where we’re headed.”
“Suit yourself.” She started walking again. “I hope you can find your way either forward or back because this passage will fill with water by noon.”
“I’ll wait for Cack.” He didn’t sound too sure.
“He’s not leaving today.” It was a lie but a necessary one. She smirked at the sound of splashing water.
He grasped her shirt. “Once we get out of here, you will tell me where we’re going.”
She almost said or what, but this was not the time nor the place to argue. Gaar would be proud of her for biting her tongue.
The passage slanted downward and the deeper they went, the darker it got. Soon, the air was moist and stagnant. They were underground, underwater.
“I can’t see a thing.” His grip tightened on her shirt.
There was a hint of panic in his voice and her stupid heart softened. She could never turn away from a scared or injured creature no matter how irritating it’d be when it was once again strong.
“You’ll be fine. Keep a hold of me.” She reached back to pat his arm and he latched onto her hand, lacing his fingers with hers.
“In prison they shut off all the lights at night. It was like this.” His hand squeezed hers.
The first night after she and the Producers had left the Finishing Camp many of them had panicked in the dark. Some had taken off in a blind run. Others had cried and a few had become violent, striking out at anyone who’d approached. She couldn’t afford for anything like that to happen down here. They didn’t have time. Annoying him seemed to take his mind off his fears. “That must have been unpleasant with your crappy, Almighty eyesight.”
“I spent most of my time in prison wishing I was anything but an Almighty.” An edge of fear lingered in his tone. “Our abilities, the little that we have, aren’t very useful in there. The noises,”—his grip tightened even more—“the scurrying and scraping. I never knew what was in the cell with me.” He laughed. It was a harsh sound. “Rats and mice, I’m sure but when you can’t see...it sounds like something else, something bigger.”
Insulting him wasn’t working this time, so she’d try another approach. “I can see perfectly in here.” That was mostly true. Her night vision was better than it used to be. “And there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Okay. Good.” His grip didn’t loosen but his voice was calmer.
They walked in silence for several minutes.
“Could you loosen your hold a little?” She glanced back at him. His eyes were wide in the dark. “Don’t let go, just don’t squeeze so tight. My hand is getting numb.”
“Sorry.” He relaxed his hold a bit and she wiggled her fingers. “Sometimes in prison I dreamt that the noises were Conguise’s experiments coming for me.”
“There’s nothing down here but us and a few fish.” She’d forgotten about those creatures. Her dad’s stories were the stuff of nightmares. There was a slight splash up ahead. She stilled.
“What is it?” He moved closer until his front brushed against her back and his other hand clasped onto her waist.
“Nothing.” She started moving again. Great, now her imagination was running wild. She’d been through these passages many times over the years and there was never anything down here. She wanted to snap at him for setting her on edge, but this wasn’t the time. The scent of his fear filled the air but even if she hadn’t been able to smell it, she’d have known by his unsteady breathing and his grip on her waist and hand. She understood this all-encompassing fear. She’d lived it too many times to count.
They trudged along, the water getting deeper with every step. Soon, it was lapping at her knees. She squeezed his hand, finding comfort in the connection. Sh
e hated going through these tunnels. It was almost like being caged again but in some ways worse. If the river rose off schedule or they got stuck, they’d drown and although she’d never encountered a River-Man in any of these passages, they could get inside. She took a deep breath, clearing her head. Gaar had told her that the River-Men didn’t enter the tunnels because they were too narrow and too much like a trap. That she understood. Too bad she and Hugh couldn’t have waited another few hours. These passageways weren’t as bad closer to dawn. The water would be almost gone. It’d slowly rise with the sun, but they had to arrive at the city when it was dark.
“We’re heading upward.” Hugh let out a large sigh as if he’d been holding his breath. “Please tell me we’re almost out of here.”
She nodded and then realized that he couldn’t see her. “Yes.” Her voice was hoarse. She was more nervous than she’d admit. “We’re a little over halfway. All uphill from here.”
He was close behind her, his chest brushing against her back and his unsteady breath ruffling her hair.
“It’s getting lighter.” His words tickled her ear.
She nodded and swallowed hard. She could smell him in the darkness, and beneath the fear was clean, warm male. It was almost like they were the only two in the world, alone in the dark and linked together by touch. She must be going mad down here. This was Hugh. She dropped his hand. “It’s light enough now.”
“Wait, I can’t see.” His fingers brushed against her back and then shoulder, grasping.
“I always forget how useless an Almighty’s senses are.” She pushed his hand off her shoulder, but entwined her fingers with his. She couldn’t deny that his touch comforted her, but it was only because she hated being in this dark, wet tunnel.
“I never forget how limited I am compared to you and the others. Not anymore.”
His humility surprised her and she squeezed his hand. “Let me know as soon as you can see.” She shouldn’t have been so harsh. It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t see in the dark.
