Flood

by Brennan McPherson

  She squinted and said, “After she told me that story, I got sick just like you did today.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She sniffed and gave him a half smile. “You didn’t do anything.” Then she stood and said, “You forgive me?”

  Noah nodded, not knowing what else to do.

  She took a deep breath and left.

  Noah laid and tried to quell the cold, oily sensation spreading through his abdomen. If Elina truly had done such terrible things, she was just as bad as any of the Others.

  Had she really murdered her entire family and tried to kill Jade? An innocent baby?

  A thought struck him like a hailstone, and he whispered to the burnt mannequin, “Does Father know?”

  Chapter 41

  When Lamech returned home, he found Methuselah and Elina arguing in front of Jade and Noah.

  “Stay your words,” Elina said, “before—”

  “Before what?” Methuselah’s eyes gleamed like quicksilver amidst brush.

  “Don’t test me,” Elina said. “You will leave, and you will take your fear with you.”

  Lamech tapped the wall to gain their attention. Methuselah noticed Lamech and said, “Your woman disapproves of me.”

  Elina’s eyes narrowed to viper slits. “I am no man’s woman, least of all Lamech’s.”

  Methuselah bent back and laughed.

  “She speaks truth,” Lamech said. “She is not my woman.”

  Methuselah smirked at Lamech, then at Elina. “Then what is she?”

  “She saved my son’s life,” Lamech said.

  “We are family,” Elina said. “Noah needed someone to spend his life with.”

  “So my son found a woman who wouldn’t bear him children,” Methuselah said.

  Elina looked ready to unsheathe her dagger, so Lamech grabbed Methuselah by the arm and pulled him out of the shelter.

  Methuselah glared and jerked himself out of his grasp. “What?”

  Lamech hushed him and spoke quietly so Elina couldn’t hear. “Stop making her angry.”

  “She physically pushed me out after you left. When I resisted, she commanded me to leave and said I was not welcomed back.”

  “That’s just Elina. She means no harm.”

  “Means no harm? She nearly cut me last night. The more time I spend here, the more I question where your mind has been. The way she looks at me makes me nervous.”

  “So you mock her?”

  “I’m not leaving. Not unless you come with me. If she needs to stay and can’t abide me, then maybe you and I should leave.”

  “I built this home with my own hands,” Lamech said. “I’m not leaving.”

  “Then fix her.”

  “Fix your manner.” Lamech took a step back and thought about the dream. “Why have you really come here?”

  Methuselah frowned. “I already told you.”

  Lamech took a deep breath and cycled back through everything Methuselah said since arriving. He couldn’t imagine how the man before him could be anyone but his father. He sounded like Methuselah, looked the same, moved the same, thought the same. He even smelled the same beneath the layers of grime. He had certainly been thinned by starvation and weathered by abuse, but his identity was unmistakable.

  “Your actions are driving a wedge between Elina and me,” Lamech said.

  “All I want is to be with my son and grandson.” Methuselah’s voice shook. “To do what I can to keep you safe.”

  “And if Elina refuses to abide you?”

  “She can leave.” Methuselah’s eyebrows bristled. “Or does she hold greater allegiance than the blood that flows through our veins?”

  Could the dark dream simply have been a nightmare? Some strange vision brought on by anxiety and the upheaval of change?

  The shadow had told him to flee, that someone was coming. If that were true, maybe Methuselah really had led the enemy to them. But Lamech couldn’t just take Noah and leave.

  What of Elina and Jade? Elina would never be convinced by something so vague as a dream under a gophar tree. He could convince Methuselah to leave, but if the dream was real, then he couldn’t trust Methuselah.

  “Son,” Methuselah said, “why are you looking at me like that?”

  Lamech rubbed his face and said, “It’s nothing. I think . . . I think it would be best if you stayed away from Elina.”

  Methuselah spat on the ground and said, “My pleasure.”

  Lamech held up his hand. “I will speak with her. Elina has had a hard life, and she distrusts men because of it. But if you have spoken the truth at all points—”

  “Of course I have spoken the truth!”

  Lamech nodded. “Then she will understand. I only ask that you give me time to convince her. Until then, avoid her.”

  Methuselah looked around. “Where do I sleep?”

  “I will give you bedding and erect a shelter.”

  “You think this is going to take a while.”

  “I’m certain of nothing anymore,” Lamech said.

  Chapter 42

  Noah watched Elina touch the hilt of her dagger as Lamech spoke with Methuselah outside the shelter. He could hear Father’s voice rising against Methuselah’s, but could not make out what was said.

  Finally, Lamech returned and made for Elina, but Noah seized his wrist.

  “Father,” he said, “can we speak?”

  “Wait until after I’ve spoken with—”

  “No,” Noah said.

  Lamech raised his eyebrow.

  Noah lowered his voice. “Before you speak with her.”

  Lamech glanced at Elina and seemed to weigh his options. “Very well.”

  Noah led him out to the stream, far enough from home that no one would be able to overhear. Lamech placed his hands on his hips and looked at Noah. “What is it?”

  “First, a question.”

  Lamech nodded. “Ask.”

  “What do you know of Elina’s past?”

  Lamech stared at the rushing water, pursed his lips, and said, “Why do you ask about Elina?”

  “Jade came to me after we returned from the forest and told me about Elina. That Elina’s brother had violated her, and that Jade was born because of it. She said Elina had murdered her family because of it, then tried to kill Jade. She failed, so Jade survived. But it’s not true. Is it?”

  Lamech’s face looked as pale as the afternoon clouds. “I . . .” He scratched his temple and shifted on his feet, swallowing hard. “It is true, I think. Though I did not know that she had tried to kill Jade. That surprises me.”

  Noah felt his innards compress. “So, it is true. Elina is a murderer.”

  “You must understand, son . . . Elina’s life is more complicated than most.”

  Noah turned from his father.

  “Elina’s past is not her present,” Lamech said. “She has grown past much of the pain of her early years.”

  “Then why does she treat her dagger with more affection than her own daughter?”

  “Elina is not perfect. I knew this when she agreed to care for you. But we had no other choice.”

  Noah took a shallow, shaky breath. “What have we been doing all these years? You said the Others were violent. Evil. How is Elina any different?”

  “Sometimes, when people suffer much, they do terrible things.”

  “What about the Others? Is that why they kill people?”

  “No,” Lamech said. “They are different.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Elina is no longer who she was. When a person is pushed to do evil things out of passion, sometimes those evil actions don’t permanently damage the soul. She loves Jade, and though she doesn’t always show her love, you cannot deny that truth.”

  “Then why doesn’t Jade believe it? She doesn’t feel wanted. She even told me so. How could Elina try to kill Jade if she loves her?”

  “I don’t know, son. There is much I do not know.” Lamech’s eyes reddened and glisten
ed. “I am sorry. If you only knew . . .”

  “Knew what? Have you lied about even more?”

  “None of this may make sense to you now. But I hope one day you will see why I brought you into the wilderness. More than ever before, I question everything. Maybe it seems I have deceived you out of spite, but that is a lie. Since the moment you were born, I have loved you more than anything else.” Tears fell from Lamech’s cheeks, and he wiped his eyes. “I should not have kept you from knowing the world. Just remember that any failure of mine was an attempt to love you gone wrong. I . . .”

  Noah glared at his father, hearing his words, yet trusting none. “You’ve lied to me about everything.”

  Lamech wiped his face. “Not everything.”

  Noah turned away and said, “I never want to see you again.” Heat singed his cheeks as he walked through the woods, leaving his father behind.

  As he went, he tripped on what seemed a jutting root and fell on his stomach. Coughing with the air expelled from his chest, he grunted and spat out the dust his fall churned up. As he looked up, he saw a boot connected to a leg towering upward.

  “What—”

  A hand grabbed the back of his neck, yanking him up so that he could see the light of a burning torch glistening off marble eyes and two spiraling horns.

  Chapter 43

  Lamech watched Noah leave and, for the first time, sensed the shadowy haze of the dark dream obscure his vision while he stood awake.

  Though it was midday, stars flickered in the sky, and he saw his body wraithlike on the ground before him. Approaching the projection of himself on the ground was the shadow he’d grown so familiar with, only now Lamech saw the shadow held the form of a man with sharp features and dark skin.

  The shadow dipped, laid a hand across Lamech’s face, and said, “The enemy is upon you!”

  The deadly, alien chill returned, sweeping across his neck like a lightning storm that tingled his skin from the top of his head to the bottom of his back. With it came that groping, invisible hand, and it clutched his side, its nails like firebrands digging through his flesh.

  He screamed, and the sound ripped the dream-veil away. Lamech’s throat throbbed. Warm wetness stuck his tunic to his side, and a surge of heat shot down his limbs as he looked down at his side torn open, pouring blood.

  He stumbled toward their home, calling for Elina as he noticed isolated flames moving at the forest edge.

  No, not flames. Torches in the hands of warriors.

  He rounded the corner of their home. Elina was staring at the forest edge, her gaze skipping left, right, behind, forward. Lamech followed suit, struggling to deny what he already knew.

  They were surrounded.

  Methuselah returned to the building, his eyes wide beneath thistle eyebrows. “I swear I did not bring them.”

  Elina’s hand was wrapped around the hilt of her dagger, and the blade glinted in the light of the setting sun as she approached Methuselah with eyes aflame.

  Lamech caught her by the arm, but she struggled against him, nearly driving the blade through his arm before her eyes caught sight of Lamech’s tunic and she stopped with a gasp.

  “Lamech? You’re bleeding!”

  Lamech did not let go. “Give me your dagger, Elina.”

  Her eyes darted to his side, then to the armed warriors emerging from the forest. Her grip tightened, and she shook her head. “It’s his fault, and I’ll kill him for it!”

  “Where is Noah?” Lamech said.

  “I thought he was with you,” Methuselah said.

  “You lost him?” Elina’s voice betrayed concern.

  “He must have gotten away,” Lamech said, and prayed that it was true.

  “Mother?” Jade said, her voice shrill with panic. “Who are those men? And why are they here?”

  A one-armed giant entered the copse, yellow horns above yellow eyes downcast, and Lamech felt his knees nearly buckle. What little color remained in Methuselah’s face bled away.

  For they recognized that demon, the same one who had set their mountain home on fire.

  A familiar, boyish cry struck the air, and Lamech swallowed hard and clenched his teeth, fighting a surge of bitter anger.

  “What are we going to do?” Elina said.

  “Nothing,” Methuselah said. He was grabbing nervously at his matted beard, his gray eyes more uncertain than Lamech had ever seen them. “Son, I swear I did not—”

  Lamech held up his hand and said, “It doesn’t matter.”

  “What are you saying?” Elina’s eyes narrowed. She stepped from one foot to the other, looking like a cornered bull.

  The one-armed giant stopped, and his soldiers stood in a circle about the home. The giant opened his mouth, his voice an earthen quake. “We have the boy.”

  Elina went motionless. Jade clutched the hem of her garment. Methuselah passed a hand over his eyes.

  Lamech swallowed the bile that crept up his throat and said, “We must hurry to meet them.”

  Chapter 44

  The one-armed giant dug his fingers into Noah’s neck, forcing him to kneel in the grass beside their garden. At first, when the Others caught Noah partway through the forest, he’d tried to fight. But a single kick to the abdomen and he’d stilled like a trampled leaf.

  Now the Others stood in a tight circle around his home, holding torches in gloved hands, despite the sun hovering midway through the sky. The horns on their heads reflected the flames as if their heads were ablaze.

  The one-armed giant inhaled, and yelled in a voice so deep Noah’s body shuddered, “We have the boy.”

  Moments later his father exited the house, followed by Elina, Jade, and Methuselah.

  The giant’s fingers tightened around Noah’s neck until his sight dimmed and his body slumped. “Try anything and your son dies,” the giant said. “You, woman. I see that knife. Drop it on the ground before you take another step.”

  Lamech nodded at Elina, who grabbed the handle of the knife and stared at Noah.

  “Drop it,” the giant rumbled, and his fingers tightened again, forcing a groan from Noah’s throat.

  She obeyed, and the giant let up.

  “Now kneel ten paces from the boy. All of you.”

  Noah watched as they did as they were told, and the Others bound Elina, Lamech, and Methuselah’s wrists and ankles with rope. A fifth grabbed Jade and forced her to kneel beside Noah, though he did not bind her.

  Noah met Jade’s gaze and mouthed, “I’m sorry,” but her cheeks reddened as she averted her gaze. Methuselah’s mouth hung open, his hair and beard blowing in the breeze that cut through the copse and rattled leaves.

  Father’s murderous gaze was set on the giant, and the fire in his eyes struck Noah with momentary pride, though that too was soon swept away by the sound of slow footsteps crunching to Noah’s right.

  Lamech, Methuselah, and Elina’s gazes re-centered on the approaching figure. Methuselah’s eyes widened, while Lamech’s and Elina’s narrowed. Noah tried to look, too, but the giant’s fingers held him fixed.

  The giant rumbled, “Do you want your family to live, or not?”

  A leather-clad man passed by Noah and stopped, facing Lamech, Elina, and Methuselah. Out of the corner of his vision, Noah caught massive black horns sprouting from the newcomer’s head, curving two entire revolutions before ending in spines that pointed skyward.

  “Well,” the newcomer said, his voice low and smooth. “We finally meet.” The man turned and looked at Noah with silver eyes set in a dark face. “And for the first time I can examine the child who has caused me so much trouble.” He crouched and smiled, his teeth stained as if by wine, breath smelling of copper. “Hello, Noah. Do you know who I am?”

  Noah grit his teeth and fought the tears that threatened his vision. He felt like a fool. Like a weak little boy. “You’re the devil.”

  “Yes. That’s right. I’m the devil. But my servants call me the God-King.”

  Noah’s eyes wide
ned, and his pulse hastened.

  “You should hate me,” the God-King said. “Do you know why?”

  Noah glanced at Jade, felt the one-armed giant’s grip tighten, and looked back at the God-King, who leaned in until his nose touched Noah’s forehead.

  The God-King’s breath stabbed his eyes as he whispered, “Because I killed your mother.”

  Hot coals rolled from Noah’s chest down to his fingers, curling his fists tight and pressing his feet to the earth.

  The God-King pulled back to Methuselah. “If only you would have done what was expected, old man. Then I wouldn’t have had to come at all.”

  Noah’s grandfather refused to meet the God-King’s gaze.

  Elina clenched her fists and jumped to her feet, struggling to stand with her wrists and ankles bound. “I knew it. You sold us to these demons!”

  The God-King approached and struck Elina in the face, knocking her flat on her back, bringing a thin trail of blood from her nose. “Wrong. He was supposed to bring Noah to the city. He did not. It’s a pity Lamech didn’t listen to the warnings he received. Maybe then you all would have survived.”

  Elina moaned and rolled to her side, searching Lamech’s face. “What is he talking about?”

  Lamech’s cheeks lost their color. “You know about the dreams? So they’re real?”

  The God-King grabbed Elina by the hair and dragged her screaming to the space between Noah and Lamech. “Of course they’re real.”

  “Stop!” Jade said, but the soldier behind her smashed his palms into her ears.

  “Now we must begin,” the God-King said, his silver eyes so cold as to be inhuman. His stained teeth flashed in the light of a day too normal to contain such horror. “You hate me, boy, but not enough. You must hate me more, and more, until hatred is all you know.”

  “No. Please, don’t hurt her,” Jade mumbled, lips thin and shaking.

  “Oh, don’t worry,” the God-King said. “I’ll only hurt her a little.” He motioned toward the giant and the soldier who held Noah and Jade. “Release them.”

  Noah felt the giant’s hand withdraw and saw Jade’s captor release her. Neither Noah nor Jade were bound, and he began to wonder if they might be set free.