Treat
Book Five in the Terraway Series
By
Mary E. Twomey
Copyright © 2016 Mary E. Twomey
Cover Art by www.goonwrite.com
Paperback Art by www.cormarcovers.com
All rights reserved.
First Edition: February 2017
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
For information:
http://www.maryetwomey.com
DEDICATION
For Melissa Munaco,
The Sister I Chose,
and the sister who always, always chooses me.
One.
Tell me about October Grace
The world seemed to be moving in slow motion, taking far too long for the simplest things. The drive from my side of town to Ezra’s should have taken only an hour, but the universe bent itself so that the hour felt like seven hundred hours all hooked together, stretching out longer than they should.
Von was gone. We’d had the best kiss of my life, and when we both ran from the intensity of a life neither of us were anticipating, he’d been snatched up by Ekeks – a cannibalistic people from Terraway whose favorite snack was fresh vampire meat.
I tried not to think about all the body parts they might take that could still leave Von alive. I loved every part of Von, even the childish, selfish ones, and wanted him intact.
When we reached Ezra’s, Danny had already apprised him of the situation over the phone on the drive. “Where’s the stone?” I asked in lieu of a greeting as I marched into the house on a mission.
“It’s in a lead-lined safe so it doesn’t poison the minds of any humans in my home.” When this answer wasn’t specific enough for me, he pointed to the basement. “Downstairs, but we’re waiting on Sylvia. You remember she’s the Queen of Lumipad, and she can port us down and lead us to the main well with less interference from civilians. If all goes without interruption, the whole thing could be done by tomorrow night.”
“That’s not soon enough!” I was irate, worried that no one was taking this as seriously as they should. “Every minute that ticks by is another that Von’s life is in danger. I’m not waiting around for Sylvia to manage her people. Can Lang take us? Finn? Give me a map, and I’ll go by myself. No one else has to get hurt.”
Ezra wasn’t listening. He had Bev swept up in a hug that looked like it hurt them both with the raw emotion they couldn’t suppress. “I’m so sorry you were brought in on this. I don’t want you worried.”
“My children. They’re going to do something dangerous? This is the country filled with cannibals, isn’t it?” Her voice was barely recognizable. She wasn’t brash or bossy. She sounded afraid. Actually concerned for Ollie and me. Her southern lilt came off as a delicate Belle, and not a brash, demanding woman on the prowl to manipulate men with money. I didn’t know who she was, but Ollie was right, this wasn’t the Bev I knew.
“I’ll be with them. I’ll make sure our children come home safe. I won’t leave their side.” He kissed her lips, and for some reason this made me very squeamish.
“She’s so small,” Bev whispered. “They’ll take her, and I’ll never see my daughter again! Then they’ll take Ollie and you. I can’t sit back while that happens! I’m just starting to see my family for the first time. I can’t let you all just go walking straight into danger! We’re talking actual cannibals, Ezra!”
I had to get out of there. Bev never referred to me as her daughter unless there was something in it for her. The look on her face was raw, unmakeuped and earnest, and I had no idea what to make of it. I’d never seen her sincere before, and didn’t know whether to be overjoyed or very, very afraid.
Ollie had the same reaction, though he’d spent more time with the new Bev. “It’s alright, Bev. I’ll watch October. I’ll make sure we all come home. Like Ezra said, it’ll probably be a day of traveling, and then we’ll be right back. Easy as that.” When Bev made to argue, Ollie held up his hand. “When have I ever not kept October safe?”
Bev left Ezra’s embrace to wrap her arms around Ollie, squeezing him tight and shaking in his arms. I’d never seen them hug before. My mouth went dry, and I heard everything as if my ears were stuffed with cotton. Bev shook like a leaf battered by the wind in Ollie’s embrace. “I remember the day you were born. I was so scared I would screw you up. Now that you’re perfect and I had nothing to do with it? I can’t let you die like this. You’re my only boy!”
This choked Ollie and I simultaneously, and I knew I had to leave. I ran to the conference room down the hall and shut myself inside to escape land of the body snatchers, lest they come for me next. It was a complete personality change. In passing, I’d heard Bev’s old school friends mention that she’d been a real sweetheart, but I never believed it. As soon as she’d run into them, they’d run straight out of our lives when they caught wind of Bev’s new deranged personality. This version must’ve been the one they were expecting to see. The kind of woman who hugs her son and cares if her daughter gets eaten by cannibals.
I barely recognized her.
I waited out the waves of getting everything in order, holing myself up in the conference room, since I knew this was where we would all end up when things were ready to be set in motion. I heard Mason escort Bev toward the stairs to settle her in, but they stopped just outside the conference room door. “Mason, please. You have to see how dangerous this is. A land of starving cannibals? Am I the only person who cares about my children?”
Mason’s voice was calm, and I could picture his kind eyes as he remained patient with Bev. “Ezra cares about your children, and he cares about thousands of people’s children in Terraway. And all this is for October. An Omen needs her Pullers, or she won’t live very long. Getting the stone to Lumipad is the only way to keep October safe in the long run. It’s a risk, sure, but it’s riskier not sending her.”
“But why does it have to be her?”
“Because only your family is immune to the stone’s magic. Only you, October, Ollie and I suppose Allie can touch it without turning to stone. The tradeoff is that it warps your minds. That’s why you were the way you were, and why October is the way she is.” Mason was matter of fact about there being something wrong with me, and it made me clench my fists. I was fine. I didn’t need Bev knowing my business. It was one of the many reasons I told her next to nothing about my life. That, and she never asked.
Bev’s voice was small. “What way is she? I don’t know the first thing about her. I’m still sorting things out. For the past who knows however many years, I remember her picking me up and taking me out for the day to make sure I had food, but I don’t know anything about her.”
“Maybe you should ask her.”
“Have you seen the way she looks at me? She won’t talk to me. I’ve lost my chance to know my daughter, and it’s killing me! Ollie’s giving me a second chance, but I know that look. October Grace won’t let me in. Please, Mason. Tell me about my daughter. She trusts you.”
“Well, then you already know your daughter has terrible judgment when it comes to trust and that sort of stuff.”
“Please. Tell me anything.”
“I’m not sure I want to get in the middle of…”
Then Bev cut him off, her voice raising hysterically. “Please, Mason! Tell me about my daughter!”
The sound of h
er plea shook me up and rattled around the parts of me I assumed were untouchable. I sunk to the carpet, kneeling at the door with my ear pressed to it. I didn’t want to see or talk to Bev, but I’d never heard her want to know more about me – or anything about me, really. My fingertips hesitantly fluttered over the door as I let myself consider the painful, confusing and hopeful thought that maybe Bev actually did want me around.
“Okay, alright. Calm down. What do you want to know?”
“Is she happy?”
Mason let out a long and low sigh. “I don’t know. She’s funny, and she smiles a lot. She’s the kind of girl who finds a way to get the things out of life that she wants, and I don’t think that kind of person tolerates being unhappy for very long. She’ll be glad when this whole mission is over. I know we all will.”
“Does she have good friends?”
“No,” Mason ruled. “She hides from just about everyone. Made the job so hard in the beginning. Won’t let people she doesn’t trust help her, so she ends up doing everything herself. Von and I do our best, but she guards herself even from us, not that I can blame her. It was harder in the beginning, but I think we’re finding our way.”
“Tell me more. I hate that this is all new to me.”
“She’s kind. Too unselfish sometimes. Not to be disrespectful, but she should’ve stopped going to see you years ago. She kept it up because she’s a good person. The flipside of that coin is that she doesn’t care about her own life. A beautiful woman like that working around inmates?”
“Has she ever been attacked by any of them?”
“Do you really think she’d admit that to me? She doesn’t work there anymore, so at least that nightmare’s over.” He paused, and I wondered what his eyes were saying in that moment. If part of him still hated me, if any part of him was capable of forgiving me for all we’d put each other through. “You want to know about your daughter? She’s incredible. That’s pretty much the sum of it.”
I couldn’t believe Mason had such lovely things to say about me. He didn’t bring up my OCD or how impossible I sometimes made things for him. He was generous with my good parts and politely covered over my ugly ones. He was turning out to be a good friend, despite all we’d been through. A layer of hurt crumbled away, and I felt one degree closer to my constant protector.
“You love her,” Bev pointed out.
Mason was thoughtful as he mulled this over. “I do. I love her enough to know that I’m not good for her. Not in the way I want to be, anyway. I was married before, and I think I tried to jump back in too soon. You should know I hurt her in ways I’m too ashamed to mention to her mother.”
Bev was quiet, and I feared they’d hear my heart pounding.
Just then, I heard a commanding voice coming from the foyer, calling out for me.
Two.
Together or Not at All
“October Grace!” I heard the voice again, bellowing in earnest.
Mason hurried Bev up the stairs, giving me just enough space to sneak out. It was Kabayo, and he was in a state about something. “Where is she? I was sleeping, so I only just saw. Where’s the Omen? October!” I opened the door and moved out into the hallway.
Ezra tried to calm down the King of Silo. Kabayo had the body of a man and the head of a horse, which was freaking out Ollie. It’s one thing to have a creature explained to you, and quite another when the seven-foot tall half-horse is looming over you, speaking normally and expecting you to understand and not just stare at him like “Oh, holy crap.”
Kabayo raised his arm, revealing a glowing blackish-blue X on his forearm. Ezra whipped his head to me when he saw me standing at the base of the stairs. “How did you call Kabayo?”
“I didn’t.”
“It’s a reverse centaur!” Ollie exclaimed, unable to help himself.
Kabayo pounded his fist to his chest. “I felt her fear because I gave her my token.” He kept his forearm displayed to Ezra, whose eyes bugged. Kabayo ran to me, his hands gripping my shoulders. “What happened? I felt your panic yesterday, but it dulled quickly. Then today I felt something was very wrong, so I came here as fast as I could make arrangements for someone to handle things in Silo.”
“It’s Von!” I wanted to cry, but knew I couldn’t break down and still be respected by the gruff ruler. “He’s gone. The Ekeks kidnapped him to make sure I took the stone to Lumipad next. We’re dropping someone off here, picking up the stone and leaving.”
Kabayo’s wide nostrils flared. “Where’s Mason?”
Mason’s feet pounded down the steps. “Danny, Bev needed to see you about something. We’re ready to go as soon as Sylvia gets here. She’ll help us get through the land without interference from civilians.”
“How can I help?” Kabayo asked as Danny jogged up the stairs to go see to Bev. It was a steep difference from the last time I’d seen him, where I had to basically bully him into being a decent guy. Now that his head was screwed on straight, he was thinking about the greater good for Terraway.
“Find Von!” I begged. “If we don’t make it there fast enough, who knows what’ll happen to him!”
Kabayo looked down at my face, taking in the state of things. “I can’t exactly go roaming about your world. I don’t look like you.”
I closed my eyes, nodding in defeat. “Okay. That’s fair. Then any way you can help us get the stone to Lumipad’s main water source would be great.”
Ezra rubbed his temples. “I summoned Sylvia over an hour ago, and she’s not answered.”
“That’s not like her. She’s Mrs. By the Book.” Kabayo frowned, his arms akimbo. “You want me to go see if I can find some of her spies to check on her?”
“That would be wonderful,” Ezra replied, relieved.
Danny’s voice was pinched and came from the door to the basement, which was around the corner. “Before you go, I need a word, King Kabayo.”
“Sure.” Kabayo trotted down into the basement with Danny.
Mariang’s arms wrapped around me. “It’s alright. We’ll find him. King Kabayo’s well respected everywhere he goes. Whatever’s holding Sylvia up, he can handle it.”
I waited until the hug ended and then threw out my arms. “Really? No one’s going to state the obvious? No one’s going to say it?”
“Say what?” Ollie asked, unsure on the politics of everything.
“Hello, the Ekeks have Von. Sylvia’s land is the one with the Ekeks, and she’s not answering Ezra’s call. She’s in on it!”
Ezra shook his head. He was probably expecting something that didn’t make him question his belief system that the rulers were good, that he was still in charge, and that Santa Claus was real. “No, dear. Sylvia is the Queen of Lumipad. If she had a problem with the order the stone was to be handed out, she would have simply voiced her concern to me.”
“And you would have done what?” I challenged.
“I would have put it before the council again and taken a poll.”
“Which would have gotten her exactly nowhere. My point’s still valid. I don’t think we should wait for her.”
“Porting into a land that’s riddled with starving Ekeks is dangerous. Sylvia might be able to fly you to the well so you don’t have to walk the countryside.”
That one took me a second, but then I remembered she had bat wings. I’d never been in an airplane before, and something told me soaring with Sylvia would be even scarier than nervously chomping on airline peanuts in coach.
“No,” Mason ruled, his arms crossed over his wide chest. “Out of the question. I’m her Reaper, and I say no. Sylvia drops her grip on October midflight, and she’s dead before anyone can save her.”
Ezra leaned against the wall of the foyer, and then realized he had couches a few yards away. “Shall we wait in the living room? Things are getting more complicated than I was prepared for.”
“Lang!” I belted out, unable to control my volume or my nerves. “Ezra, can you summon Lang? Maybe he can help Danny a
nd Mariang. They were going to go looking for Von.”
“Absolutely not,” Ezra replied, sitting on the white leather couch in the living room with too much exhaustion weighing him down. I felt awful for him, and saw the tired lines around his eyes that were usually so good at smiling. “I’ve already got one daughter running headfirst into danger. I’ll not suffer the other to do the same when it’s not necessary.”
Mariang stood in the archway that separated the living room from the rest of the house. “Dad, I’ll be with Danny. If anything, I’ll make good bait since they’re looking for people close to October. We can draw them out this way.”
Ezra pressed his hand to his chest and closed his eyes in sadness. “Not another word, dear. My heart can’t take it. No daughter of mine will be bait.”
I knew Von would laugh at the irony of that statement, since Bait was my nickname. Something told me Ezra wouldn’t be a fan of that if he knew.
Ezra stepped in with a plausible solution. “I can summon Prince Langgam, if he’s not too busy with things in Sakuna. He can at least lend us the use of his minions to help find Von.”
“Yes!” I slapped my hand to my forehead. “I was only thinking of Lang in terms of another body to help look. I totally forgot about his minions! You’re a genius, Ezra. Dad of the century, right there.”
Ezra glanced up at me curiously as I paced the archway next to Mariang. “I’m pleased to hear it. Though I haven’t earned that title tonight. I want to keep you here, but the sole plan is for me to let you go into a dangerous country with only Mason and Sylvia for protection.”
“And me,” Ollie said, his hand on my shoulder to still my pacing. “I’ll go. October can stay here. They don’t know me, so they won’t be expecting I have the stone.”
“Obviously not,” I ruled, my tone sharp. “You know less about Terraway than I do. This whole thing is my responsibility.”
Treat (Terraway Book 5) Page 1
