The Edge of Nothing_The Lex Chronicles_Book 1

by Crystal Crawford

  The words came out so smoothly Lex almost believed it really had been a lucky guess. Almost. “No,” he said, not taking his eyes off Acarius. “You were right.”

  One of the sisters – maybe Megan? – cut in. “That’s lucky,” she said with a smile. “It’ll be perfect, then. Aren’t you taking two cart-horses down to that merchant from Lanian?” she asked Acarius. “They can each ride one, and you can take Mare.”

  Acarius nodded. “Yes, it really is perfect timing. The horses will be much easier to transport with riders. Leading them behind Mare and I would have slowed us down. Lex and Amelia will need new horses if they travel beyond Merik’esh, of course, since the other two are spoken for, but I’m sure there are some available in the city. Yes, that will work.” He smiled at his sister and she returned it. He looked back to Lex and Amelia. “You don’t mind riding separately rather than sharing a horse, do you? It would really help me out.”

  “Not at all,” Amelia said, smiling back at him. “I like horses.”

  Lex wasn’t sure whether Acarius asked if they minded riding separately because he thought Lex and Amelia might want to ride together, or if Acarius had expected one of them to want to ride with him. In no version of his plans had Lex imagined riding double with Acarius, that was for sure. Sensations of the desert, of a horse’s hot skin beneath him, whispered at the edges of Lex’s awareness. “Sure,” he said. “I can ride alone.” At least I think so.

  Acarius smiled at them both. “Great,” he said. “Then we’ll head out soon. I just need to get some things ready.” He grabbed his plate and rose, heading for the kitchen.

  Lex watched Acarius leave the table, realizing this might be his only chance to get Acarius alone before the three of them were on the road. He needed answers, and he wanted to get the confrontation out of the way before locking himself into spending a whole day or more with the guy. He pushed his chair back and stood. “I’ll help clear the plates,” he said, grabbing his own.

  The sisters looked surprised. “You don’t have to do that,” one of them said. “You’re our guest.”

  “It’s no problem,” Lex mumbled. He grabbed Amelia’s plate too, for good measure, and she stared up at him with wide eyes that seemed to say What’s going on? and Don’t leave me alone with them at the same time. Lex mouthed a quick sorry to her, then hurried after Acarius, who had already disappeared into the kitchen.

  “So, thanks for the food,” Lex heard Amelia saying from the table behind him. The voice of one of the sisters began to answer, but as Lex slipped through the door the sound faded, replaced by noises of the kitchen.

  A pot of something simmered on the stove, its bubbling hiss filling the air with a spicy fragrance. Lex looked around. It was a much larger kitchen than the one in Acarius’ house, with a wood stove and a wide array of pots and pans of various sizes hanging from hooks on the wall. There was an icebox over to one side, almost like a deep chest freezer. Lex wondered if it was simply an insulated cooler or if something powered it. He had yet to see any electricity or plugs in this place. Suddenly he wondered how he thought to look for plugs, and whether he had them where he was from. It was a strange feeling, not knowing his own past, and for a moment it threw him off. But he was in the kitchen for a reason. He shook off his question and refocused on the room before him. Large, curtainless windows spanned the wall opposite the door, giving a view of the hills beyond the ranch. In front of the windows, Acarius stood before a large washbasin filled with soapy water. He lowered his plate into the washbasin and turned around, startling as he saw Lex.

  “Oh,” he said, his voice betraying his surprise at being followed. He noticed the plates in Lex’s hands. “Here, let me take those.”

  Lex handed over the plates, his mouth going dry. How did someone begin a conversation like this? He sort of liked Acarius, or at least felt a kind of gratitude toward him. He seemed like a generous person, and Lex didn’t want to appear unthankful or combative. Lex also hated the thought of revealing just how clueless he was, even about his own life, but it was likely to come up in the conversation once he admitted how little he knew about Amelia, the pendant, or anything else. He hated feeling so helpless. But he needed answers, so what choice did he have? He decided just to go for it. “So, I found a note in my pants earlier,” he said.

  Acarius turned, hand frozen midway to dropping the plates in the sink. “What?” he asked.

  “I mean, your pants. That I borrowed,” Lex said. He gestured to his legs. “These pants. And not in them, really, more like on them.” I’m making it worse, Lex thought, heat flooding to his face.

  Acarius raised an eyebrow. “Okay,” he drawled. He lowered the plates into the soapy water and then turned, drying his hands on a nearby towel. “And the note said what, exactly?”

  Though Lex wasn’t thrilled with his awkward opening, this was the part he was really dreading. Would Acarius deny it and pretend he knew nothing about what was going on? Or would he admit to leaving the note and reveal dark secrets about Amelia? Lex wasn’t sure which would be worse. “It said not to trust Amelia.” He spit out the words before he could change his mind.

  Acarius’ eyes widened, then focused on Lex with an eagle gaze. This was not something Lex had expected; Acarius had looked genuinely surprised. He took one step toward Lex, his posture stiff. “When did you find this note? Where?”

  Lex instinctively took a step backward, bumping into part of the kitchen counter. His anxiety flared at the aggression in Acarius’ posture, igniting his desire to run, yet at the same time, something deep within him stirred. Something the opposite of flight. Lex straightened, standing tall. “It was inside the folded clothes one of your sisters brought me,” he said. “Why? What does it mean? Didn’t you know about it?”

  Acarius’ gaze flicked to the open kitchen door, where his sisters could be heard still chatting at the table, then back to Lex. “No,” he said. “I didn’t know about it; I didn’t leave it, and I’m not sure who did.” He turned back toward the sink. “But I wouldn’t let it bother you,” he said with a sudden lightness. “Probably just one of the girls trying to mess with you.” He grabbed a cloth off the edge of the basin and buried his hands in the suds, scrubbing at the plates.

  Lex’s thoughts spun. Why does everyone here act like they’re hiding something? He stepped forward, unwilling to let this go. “Then what about the pendant?” he asked. “Are you going to pretend you didn’t give me that, too?”

  “Of course not,” Acarius said, turning. “We were both there. Why would I deny it? Whatever you might think, I’m not your enemy.”

  But someone is. Lex could feel the meaning hanging behind Acarius’ statement. Lex swept his eyes over Acarius, evaluating him. Acarius seemed nice enough, kind, and his sisters clearly adored him. He had helped Lex and Amelia when they had nothing and nowhere to go. But… like everyone and everything else, Lex knew nothing about him. I’m so tired of being ignorant, Lex seethed. Frustration roiled within him, a distant, churning fury. He pushed it down. “The pendant,” he said again, withdrawing it from beneath his tunic. His voice came out hard, cold. “What does it mean?”

  Acarius sighed and his shoulders slumped a bit. “It’s something I’ve had for a long time,” he said. “Think of it as a good luck charm. I thought it might help you.” He paused. “It used to be my mother’s.”

  “Oh,” Lex said. A wave of pity swept over his anger and suspicion. “Then I can’t–”

  Acarius grabbed Lex’s hand partway through pulling the necklace off to return it. “No,” he said quietly, not quite meeting Lex’s eyes. “I want you to have it. Please.”

  Something in his expression made Lex slide the leather cord back around his neck and tuck it back into his tunic. “Thanks,” he said. He scanned Acarius’ face. There had been a look there, for a moment, which Lex couldn’t interpret. But now it was gone.

  Acarius stepped backward. “I should finish up the dishes,” he said, “so that w
e can get ready to go. Will you go grab the rest of the plates?” His demeanor was suddenly casual, back to the neighborly horse rancher.

  Lex was halfway back to the dining room before he realized Acarius had intentionally sent him away to distract him. The sisters hushed as they noticed Lex’s approach, all five glancing at him. What is going on with these people? Lex wondered. Amelia sat stiffly at the end of the table, looking uncomfortable. Anger simmered in Lex’s chest. Did they say something to her? Lex had suspected from the time of their arrival that Amelia and the sisters didn’t quite approve of each other, but was something more going on? Lex felt a familiar awakening, something belly-deep unfurling with a low growl. He turned back toward the kitchen, determined to get some answers from Acarius, whether he liked it or not.

  He had barely made it two steps when Acarius barrelled out from the kitchen, nearly slamming into him. His eyes were wild. “We have to go. Now!” he yelled.

  The sisters erupted in a flurry of scooting chairs, footsteps racing in all directions, cabinets and bedroom doors being slammed or flung open. Outside, Mare gave a shrill whinny.

  Amelia was the only one still sitting, eyes wide, staring at Acarius. “What?” she said dreamily, as though in shock.

  Lex turned back to Acarius, heart pounding. “What’s going on?” he demanded.

  But Acarius was pushing past him, toward Amelia. He grabbed her arm, hauled her to her feet, and shoved her none-too-gently toward Lex. “We have to go,” he said again, heading for the front door.

  Lex followed, anxiety invading him as Acarius flung the front door open. “Go where?” Lex spit out. “Why?” He stopped and Amelia bumped into him, sending a jolt through him.

  But Lex’s attention was on Acarius, who had just slammed the front door shut again and spun around, his face alive with panic.

  “It’s too late,” Acarius said, his back pressed to the front door. “They’re here.”

  CHAPTER 5

  “Who’s here?” Lex demanded, stepping toward Acarius. “What’s going on?”

  A sister rushed in from the kitchen. “What about Mare?” she asked, looking at Acarius. Her voice trembled.

  “She’ll be fine.” Acarius was pale, his eyes scanning the room. “Side door?”

  “Already blocked,” she answered.

  Outside, Mare whinnied.

  “Back window?” Acarius asked.

  “Blocked too.”

  “How many?”

  “At least twenty and more on the way,” she said.

  “Megan!” One of the other sisters called from the hallway.

  “Coming,” she called out. She glanced at Lex, then back to Acarius. “The front’s the only way.”

  Acarius nodded. “Get them ready,” he said.

  Megan took a deep breath. “Please be careful,” she said.

  Acarius smiled. “Aren’t I always?”

  “Megan!” the voice from the hall called.

  The girl rushed to Acarius and threw her arms around him.

  “Megan!” another voice shouted, sounding panicked.

  “You know what to do,” Acarius said, placing his hand on her face.

  Megan nodded, then raced off toward the hallway.

  “What’s happening?” Lex demanded again.

  Acarius turned to him. “Give me a minute,” he said.

  Amelia placed her hand on Lex’s arm. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Who’s coming?”

  Lex felt a tremor in her touch, a high-frequency vibration.

  “Let me think,” Acarius answered. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.

  Lex and Amelia waited, unsure what else to do.

  Acarius’ eyes snapped open. “Get down!” he yelled, launching himself at them.

  All three tumbled to the floor as the room exploded around them.

  Lex coughed and sat up, blinking through the dust in the air. His lungs burned. He was still in Acarius’ living room, debris filtering down from a large hole in the roof above him. The edges of the hole were smoldering, sending out flutters of ash. The frame of the house was intact, but Lex sat in the epicenter of a large, charred circle which spread outward across the whole front room. Anything within that circle’s radius was either singed, destroyed, or covered in ash from the damaged roof. Lex moved his arms and legs, checking for injuries. He was sore and his skin felt hot and dry, like he had been too close to a fire, but otherwise he was unharmed. What happened? Lex wondered, looking around the room. Where were Acarius and Amelia and the sisters?

  “He’s still in there.”

  “Get him!”

  Lex leapt to his feet at the sound of voices outside. He glanced around. Should he run? Hide? He wasn’t sure; he didn’t even understand what was happening.

  He jumped as a hand grabbed his shoulder from behind.

  “This way,” Acarius hissed.

  Lex followed him down the hallway and into the last room on the left.

  “What’s going on?” Lex whispered. “Where’s Amelia?”

  “Shh.” Acarius signaled Lex to kneel down just inside the room, then eased the door to the room shut and knelt beside him. “They’re coming,” he whispered.

  Lex couldn’t take it anymore. “Who’s coming? Tell me something!” The words hissed out more loudly than he’d intended.

  Acarius glared at him. “The men from Dalton. They must have tracked you here. Now hush, before you get us killed.” He crept across the room and inched the curtains open to look outside.

  Lex sank back against the wall. The burnt, destroyed house; the men outside – it was all because of him? “Why are they after me?” he whispered. “What did I do to them?”

  Acarius turned, his face solemn. “I don’t know,” he said. He paused as though he might say more, but then turned back toward the window.

  Lex moved toward him in a crouch. “What about Amelia? Your sisters? Are they safe?”

  “My sisters are fine; they know how to handle themselves,” Acarius answered, not moving from the window.

  Lex felt a cold sliver of dread worm through his stomach. “And Amelia?” he asked. She had been standing right beside him when the explosion happened, but he had seen no sign of her when he woke up.

  Acarius turned toward him. “I don’t know,” he said. “When I woke up from the blast, she was gone.”

  Lex thought back to what happened. “You jumped at us,” he said, “a moment before the explosion. You yelled ‘Get down.’ How did you know?”

  Acarius ran one hand across his forehead and sighed. When he lowered his hand, his forehead was smudged with sweaty soot. “I can –“

  The glass of the window exploded inward, showering Lex and Acarius with shards.

  “Go. Go!” Acarius shouted, shoving Lex toward the door.

  Blood ran into Lex’s eyes and his arm stung where a piece of glass had sliced him, but he obeyed, rushing for the door to the hallway. As he pulled it open, he glanced back to see a boulder had been thrown through the window. Acarius was a step behind him, grimacing as though in pain.

  “Go!” Acarius urged again, pushing Lex forward.

  Lex pulled open the door and rushed out into the hallway, where he collided with someone.

  “This way,” Amelia said, grabbing his arm.

  Buzzing heat flooded through him, making the cut on his arm and forehead throb. “Amelia?” Lex asked. “Where were– “

  “The back’s clear,” Amelia urged. “Let’s go.” She pulled him down the hallway and toward the kitchen.

  The scene in the kitchen stopped Lex at the doorway. The window was completely busted out, jagged remnants of glass edging its frame. Glass fragments covered the entire floor, sparkling beneath the pool of soapy water and broken dishes from the tipped-over washbasin. The rest of the kitchen looked as though it had been ransacked – food spilling out of the overturned icebox, pots and pans scattered around the room, cabinet doors standing open
with the contents strewn across the shelves, counters, and floor.

  “What happened?” Lex asked. Had looters overtaken the house? It looked like it had been robbed, or… maybe not looters; maybe people looking for something specific. But why, and how had it happened so quickly? How long was I unconscious? he wondered.

  “I’ll explain later,” Amelia said, pulling at his arm. The glass on the floor crunched beneath her boots as water soaked their leather. “We have to go now.”

  Lex looked at Amelia and again at the room, trying to process everything. “Where were you?” he asked.

  Acarius slid into the room behind Lex, his steps hardly making a sound. His eyes locked on Amelia with laser-focus. “Yes, Amelia, where were you?” he asked again. His tone sliced the air like a knife.

  Amelia went pale. “I came to and you were both still unconscious.” The words came in a rush. “I checked you; you were both okay – still breathing – but you wouldn’t wake up. I came in here to look for something to wake you – smelling salts or something, I don’t know. I sort of made a mess with the cabinets.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing a bloody gash on the side of her face.

  Lex rushed forward. “You’re hurt,” he said, tipping her face up toward him. The gash ran from her jawline up to her cheekbone. It was shallow, but still trickling blood.

  Amelia removed Lex’s hand from her face. “I’m fine,” she said. “Just a cut from the glass. I was in here when the– “

  Acarius stepped toward her. “What did you do?” he asked.

  Amelia held up her hands in a plea. “The cabinet mess is my fault, but the rest of this wasn’t me, I swear. I was right in the middle of searching when the window just exploded in, and that’s when I saw a whole group of people outside running past, toward the front of the house.”

  “And you just stayed here, after seeing people run past? Why didn’t you try again to wake us, or try to find my sisters for help?” Acarius’ words slid out with icy fury.