by Tracey Ward
“Is that better?” Crestin asks.
I tear my eyes away from the painting to face her.
She’s older than I thought she’d be. Probably in her sixties, maybe seventies. Her curling hair is a maze of silver strands in all different shades, her eyes a piercing blue, her skin a creamy pallor.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Fuller grunts.
He’s tall and thick with short shaven hair that’s probably brown, maybe black. There’s not enough of it to know for sure. His face has a scar on one side that runs from his jaw up to the corner of his eyes. Halfway up the scar his mouth sits tight in a stern line. He’s wearing all black clothes, different from the woman who’s dressed in shades of lilac and oatmeal. Everything about him is brusque and brutish.
He reminds me of my father.
The man in the middle, the Mayor, is the oldest of them all. Easily over seventy. His face is wrinkled, his hands gnarled, but his brown eyes are kind and keen. He’s watching me as I adjust to the new brightness. As I take them in. His clothes are more like robes that hang off his body and I wonder if that’s a sign of his position or his age. The pipe I could smell before sits smoking patiently on the desk in front of him.
“You’ll stay in the hospital for now,” he tells me. “You’ll be safe there. If you go anywhere, Grayson will go with you. I’ll ask you, for your protection as much as for the safety of Gaia, to not wander, definitely not alone. Let Grayson do his job.”
I clench my hands anxiously at my sides. “Do you really think someone would try to hurt me?”
“I honestly don’t know. I don’t want to believe anyone would, but like I said; we’ve never had an Eventide here before. Any outsider causes at least a small stir, but you, we really don’t know what to expect with you. I vote we hope for the best but prepare for the worst.”
“I second that,” Crestin agrees heartily.
Fuller softly pounds his fist on the desk twice in accord.
I would voice my opinion about the handling of my own fate, but seeing as they dismiss me immediately after their vote, I assume they don’t want it. They don’t need it. They’ve already got me and my future all sorted out.
And isn’t that painfully familiar?
Chapter Thirteen
Gray
I’d give just about anything for this day to be over. I’m hoping they get this girl sorted out so I can go back to work. I’ve got a command for the first time in my career, coordinating with Easton and his team on sealing the doors, and I can’t do it if I’m babysitting. Nothing undercuts authority like a tiny Posher on your hip.
My radio snaps to life at my belt. “Grayson.”
“This is Grayson.”
“I tried to get the Captain on his private channel. He’s not answering.”
“He’s in a meeting. What do you need, Fren?”
“He wanted us to tell him when we were done clearing up the beach.”
“You’re finished already?”
“Nah, not even close, but another storm is rolling in. If we stay out here much longer we’ll lose what we’ve salvaged in another surge of the tide. And I’m not just talking about supplies.”
I close my eyes, trying to stop the image of the bodies lining the beach from making it to the front of my mind. Too late. They’re there even in the dark. Maybe even more present than they’d be in the light.
“Ok. Do we have time to get the digger out there?”
“Mayor already had it sent out. He gave orders to bury the dead before we leave.”
“Good. I’ll tell Captain Fuller you’re starting that now.”
“Thanks, Grayson. Out.”
“Out.”
I feel tired as I clip my radio back on my belt. I lean back against the wall, closing my eyes, feeling my ribs ache dully as my weight shifts. The pills the doc gave me are making me drowsy. They’re another weight I need to drop before starting my command.
“There you are.”
It’s amazing what a single sound can do to you. You’re bombarded by them all day every day, even in your sleep, but when one stands out, it can change everything.
The sound of my brother’s voice has that power over me. It makes me forget that I’m an eighteen year old man and not a seven year old kid, but that’s where he takes me. That’s when I needed him most, when he was there for me, and that’s where we’ll always stay.
Easton closes the distance between us to embrace me carefully, pulling me in close with his hand on the back of my head and his other on my back.
“Hey, brother,” he says gruffly.
I slap his back hard twice before he releases me, my entire face stretching to accommodate my smile.
“You’re late.”
He chuckles as he runs his hand over his short hair. “Yeah, I know. We waited for the Eventide to show up, everyone at the souk did, but eventually we gave up.”
“You weren’t there when they passed by?”
“Nah. Nona told me she wired to her sister in the city, though. They’ve passed by now, one Dasher short.”
“Yeah, it’s on our beach.”
His tone turns solemn. “I haven’t seen it yet. How bad is it?”
“Considering the size of the ship we’re not getting that much of it. Most of it probably sank.”
“Bodies too?”
“Probably. We’ve seen about a tenth of the people on board.”
“Has Liv been out there since she woke up?”
“Is that her name?”
He scowls. “You didn’t know that?’
“No,” I answer blandly. I nod to the door. “She’s inside with the Elected. They’re talking about what to do with her. She hasn’t been anywhere but here and the hospital.”
“Is she gonna stay?”
“I have no idea.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
I shift on my feet. “Nothing.”
“Bull,” he calls me out immediately. He’s watching my face, reading me. “There’s something wrong. Something about her.”
“No, there’s not.”
“Did Fuller say something?”
“Like what?”
“Like that we should kick her out.”
“No.”
Easton takes a step closer, lowering his voice. “Look, Gray, I know you like working for him, but you have to be careful. He’s good at his job but he’s got a lot of prejudices.”
I shake my head, backing away. “Stop. He didn’t say anything about her.”
His eyes dart to the door, then back to mine. “Okay. Good. Just be careful, alright? He can tell you how to do your job, but don’t let him tell you how to think.”
“Okay.”
He stuffs his hands in his pockets as he leans back on his heels. “So, did I hear the story right?”
“Depends on what story you heard.”
“About you rowing out there to save Liv.”
I lower my eyes, my voice. “I don’t know.”
This is it. The moment I’ve been avoiding, the reason I avoided him. This is when he sees me. When he knows that I didn’t do – why I couldn’t do – what he would have done.
Or worse…
He claps his big hand on my shoulder. “I’m proud of you.”
…he thinks I did.
“No,” I mumble, my eyes on the ground.
“Come on, Gray. You did a good thing.”
“I went after a boat.”
“You brought back a life.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t know what?”
I shrug, taking a step back until his hand falls away.
“Gray?”
I didn’t know the boat would drag me out. I didn’t know she was there. I didn’t know what I was doing.
The door opens abruptly.
There she stands, small and dark and fragile. Alive and a lie I have to live with.
I didn’t know being a hero could make you feel like such a coward.
Captain Fuller appears in the doorway behind her. He frowns when he sees Easton.
“Miss Pamuk is going back to her hospital room. You’ll stay there with her,” he instructs me.
“Yes, sir.”
“She’s going to be with us for the year, until her people come this way again.”
My stomach drops. “Am I—you want me to stay with her for the whole year?”
“No.”
“For how long?”
“Until I tell you otherwise,” he replies briskly.
I nod stiffly, my entire body going rigid with annoyance. “Fren radioed. He said there’s another storm brewing. They’re pulling up stakes on the beach.”
“Perfect. It’s senseless having that many bodies out there. Tell them to come in with the cleaning crew.”
“It’ll be a while. The digger is out there. Mayor’s orders.” I pause, my eyes flitting to the girl uncomfortably. “They’re starting the graves.”
Her eyes go wide. “You’re burying them in the ground?”
“Where else would we bury them?” Captain Fuller asks impatiently.
“The sea.”
He barks an incredulous laugh. “Did you hear Grayson? The storm is strengthening. I’m not sending anyone else out there. Your people will be buried in the ground or they’ll wait out the night with the wolves. Your choice.”
She stares at him hotly, a fire in her eyes I haven’t seen before. Even with as cold as I’ve been she hasn’t risen to me the way she does to Captain Fuller in that moment. The sight surprises and worries me.
“Liv,” Easton says gently, putting his hand on her arm.
She jolts, pulling away from his touch as she takes a half-step behind me.
“Sorry,” she breathes. “You surprised me.”
“That’s okay.” He holds up both of his hands like he’s calming a cornered fawn. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“I’m just… I don’t want them fed to the animals.”
“They won’t be.”
“Then they’re being buried in the ground,” Captain Fuller reiterates sternly. “End of story.”
“Can she see them first?”
He glowers at Easton. “Why would she want to do that?”
“Because her mom and her brother were on the boat with her.”
The Captain’s face falls, almost softening. “Yes. I’ll have the beach cleared of all non-essential personnel. Grayson, you’ll take her. Keep her out of sight as much as you can. I don’t want her parading around town causing a ruckus.”
“Yes, sir,” I agree.
He eyes Easton for a second too long. “Once my men are off the beach I’ll have them waiting for you at the doors.”
Easton nods once. “I’ll be there.”
“Do you have a plan?”
He smiles. “I always have a plan.”
“It’s not a time to be charming, son. Do you have a plan that will work?”
“Yes.”
They stand there staring at each other. Neither moves. Neither speaks. Not until Captain Fuller can’t take the obstinacy anymore. He grumbles something under his breath, turns his back on the three of us, and slams the door to the office behind him.
I sigh. “Do you have to do that?”
“Do what?” Easton asks innocently.
“Never mind.” I look down at the girl, at Liv. “Are you ready?”
She attempts a smile. It fails. “No, but yes. I guess. Is it far?”
“It’s on the other side of town.”
“Are we going to jog the whole way again?”
“We can if you want.”
“I think I’d rather walk.”
“Whatever you say.”
Easton nods to her wrists. “Are those helping?”
“Yes, they are. Thank you,” she tells him, risking a shot at another smile. For him she succeeds.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad to see you feeling better. Don’t let him wear you out.”
“I don’t know if I have a lot of say in it.”
“Promise you won’t shout in my face anymore and I’ll do just about anything you want,” I tell her dryly.
“Take him up on that,” Easton advises. “I’ll be your witness to the terms when you cash out.”
She looks at me sideways, her expression utterly serious. “But what if I like shouting in his face?”
“You wouldn’t be alone,” I admit.
A ghost of a grin touches her pink lips. It lightens her eyes. It’s the first time I notice them. The almond shape and deep brown hue that’s almost golden under the bright lights of the hallway. They’re practically the same shade as her hair that hangs long and loose in waves around her oval face, down her slight shoulders. Everything about her is small, delicate. Pretty.
I take a deep breath, turning away from her. “E, I’ll see you at the doors later?”
He nods once. “Yep. Hey, you should swing by the L. See if Karina can scrounge up a heavy coat for her. Something with a hood.”
“Good idea.”
“Karina,” Liv pipes up. “Is that the girl who has my dress?”
“Yeah, she took it down to be cleaned.”
Along with my underwear.
I feel my cheeks go red at the reminder.
“She has your necklace too,” Easton tells her. “But she’s keeping that quiet.”
“Why?” I ask.
He looks at Liv as he answers me. “The jewels in the necklace, I’m pretty sure they’re worth a fortune. I didn’t think it was smart to broadcast word about them around town.”
“What are they?”
“Zealand diamonds,” Liv answers softly.
I gape at her. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“More than one?”
“More like seven.”
“Six smaller stones,” Easton explains, “with one large one hanging from the middle.”
I don’t know anything about jewelry and even I understand the magnitude of that. I couldn’t tell you how much that necklace would be worth in Porton, but I can say it’s a lot. Easton is right; if word got out about that necklace it’d disappear before the frost. And someone would probably be willing to kill this girl to make that happen.
My job just got so much harder.
“Do any of the Elected know about it?” I ask Easton.
He shakes his head. “Karina says just her and Abby know. She told me they found it in the dress tangled in the fabric. The clasp was broken.”
“You can’t keep that with you,” I tell Liv firmly. “If word gets around that there’s an Eventide in town and she’s carrying around a mint in jewels, you’ll get us both killed.”
She shakes her head ardently. “I don’t care about it. I trust you to do whatever you need to do with it.”
Her trust stops me cold. Any more admonishments that sat waiting on my tongue are instantly washed away.
“Give it to Crestin,” Easton tells me. “Have her lock it up in the treasury.”
I chew on the inside of my lip. “But what if they decide to keep it?”
“They won’t.”
“They might.” I lower my voice, painfully aware of the door behind me. Of who is behind it. “If Captain Fuller hears about it he’ll want to keep it for the city.”
“My mother was wearing one too,” Liv whispers. She’s still standing partially behind me, using me as a shield from Easton. From everything.
“Is it the same?” Easton asks her.
“Identical.”
“Wow,” I breathe. “Was it a special occasion or is that what you wear to bed?”
She glares up at me. “Yes. I wear six pounds in diamonds when I go to bed every night. It helps me sleep.”
“Six pounds? How did that not sink you instantly?”
“I was kept buoyant by the emeralds in my corset.”
“I honestly don’t know if you’re being sarcastic or not.”
“This is fun,
but I have to get back to work,” Easton reminds us. He starts backing down the hall, pointing at Liv. “Get her a coat. Take the rocks to Crestin. Visit the beach. I’ll see you at the doors when you’re done.”
I wave to him silently. Liv does the same.
When he’s gone she steps around me, staying close. “Is that what you think we should do?”
I breathe out roughly, running my hand over my mouth. “I don’t know. If you were a Gaian I’d say yes. They wouldn’t try to take them if you were one of us, but because you’re an outsider and you’re going to spend the year here I worry they’d take the necklace as some kind of payment for housing you.”
“They said I have to work. I agreed to it.”
“That’s another reason I don’t want to risk them being taken. You’re already going to be paying your way.”
“So you think we should hide them?”
“Easton thinks we can trust Crestin to be fair.”
“But what do you think?”
I blink, surprised by the question. Usually you tell someone ‘Easton thinks’ and that’s the end of the discussion. That’s what’s going to happen. I seriously don’t know if I’ve ever had anyone defer to me over him before. It feels weird.
And good.
“I think we should hide them,” I tell her firmly. “I would lock them in the gun case in my apartment and not mention them again until you leave at the end of the year.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“You’re sure?”
“If you are.”
I hate to think my own people wouldn’t be fair. There’s a part of me that feels like a traitor telling this Eventide she can’t trust us, but if I go with my gut I know this is what we should do. Whether it goes against Easton, goes against the Gaians, it doesn’t matter because when I think about it haven’t we already told her she can’t trust us by assigning her a guard?
If she should fear for her life why shouldn’t she fear for her fortune?
Chapter Fourteen
Liv
The city is insane. I can’t stop looking up, searching the ceiling of the cave with awestruck eyes. We take the back roads, darting through alleys the way we did when we went from the hospital to the cathedral building. Twice Grayson has to reach out to grab my arm as I stumble over nothing. Over my curiosity. He grumbles the second time, something about learning to walk. His words bounce off the walls with our footsteps. With our everything, but I barely listen. To him or anything else. My eyes don’t care about his tone. They only care about the impossibly cool, smooth stone under my fingers. Against my bare feet.
