9
Xia
—
When I wake up, Tess is still asleep.
She’s been out for a long time now, waking up occasionally for a brief period before falling back into the darkness.
At one point, her skin got incredibly hot and she began to sweat. Medic Olhun came by and said that it was the poison from the cuhi leaving her body. That it was a good thing.
It seems only the painful ordeals for Tess are good signs in Medic Olhun’s books. Honestly, he has the typical look of an evil character in those shows I’d watch on a console at the Andrak. Thick, bushy eye-brows, thin moustache and dark-grey eyes that gleams with intelligence or insanity. Or both. In dark amusement to pass the time, I envision he’s actually an evil medic who secretly enjoys watching his patients suffer.
I’m relieved Tess seems to be healing, but my worry for her persists. She has nightmares. Awful ones. She’ll cry out and begin to shake, kick and slap at some invisible enemy only she can see. The only thing that calms her is if I hold her and retell silly stories of past events from when we were living in the Andrak. Some of these stories hurt me probably as much as the monsters in her nightmares because they contain my dad. Memories of him when was alive and happy and there for me.
I hate this feeling pressing on my chest. This weight on my shoulders. The guilt, the fear, the fragile hope that can be so easily crushed under the boot heel of cruel fate. The constant thought circling in my head is that I don’t believe I can withstand another loss of someone I value in my life.
“Don’t you dare croak on me, Tess,” I tell her with a lump in my throat. I smooth a hand over her forehead. Her skin is at a regular temperature now. “I swear to the goddess I will find you, dad and Jogen and kick your asses for me leaving me if you do.”
With Tess asleep, I just sit there not knowing what to do. When I begin to feel restless, I get up and pace the den. It’s not made of the gleaming glass and metal like I’m accustomed to at the Andrak, but it is large and comfortable. Much more so than the cramped quarters I had to share with the others while we were all still slaves.
Smoothing my hand along the stone wall, I’m amazed that this big mountain holds a community of people. I turn, intending to have a look outside when I see a pale child bending at the waist, peering at Tes. A huge, snow-white creature that’s as tall as my chest stands beside him.
Alarmed, I’m about to ask him what he’s doing, but he straightens and turns a curious gaze in my direction. As young as he is, he’s a handsome male. No doubt when he grows older, he’ll literally freeze hearts by just a look from his silver-eyed stare.
“Is she dead?” he asks.
“No.”
“I’m glad. I thought the monster got her.”
“A monster did get her. That’s why she’s hurt.”
He frowns. “But she isn’t dead. The monster always makes sure you’re dead. It takes your blood.”
OK. Clearly we’re not talking about the same thing.
“What kind of monster is that?”
Seriously. What kind of creatures roam the north? In Andrasar, the biggest threats to us were dragons.
I approach him but come to an abrupt halt when the snow-white beast turns sharp blue eyes on me. It looks like a cat that has grown several times its normal size. I have an absurd desire to pet it. Bet I’d lose my hand in the process, though.
He shrugs. “Nobody knows. It only comes for drakila. I guess it wouldn’t come for her.” Then he squares his slim shoulders. “But my rah is strong. He is a warrior. He will kill the monster when he finds it. When I’m older I will be a warrior too.”
“I don’t think you need to if you’ve got that on your side.” I point at the big cat. “It’ll scare all your enemies away for you without you lifting a finger.”
He grins and comes forward. So does the cat. I try not to take a step back in fear. I don’t know much about large, predatory animals, but I’ve heard stories. Most of them can smell fear and most will attack because of it. Maybe that’s what happened to Tess.
“I’m Zavi and this is Lim.” He pets the cat’s head. “She likes you.”
I raise an eyebrow. The cat’s bright blue eyes are focused intently on me. I’m still not brave enough to hold its stare.
“I’m Xia,” I tell Zavi. “How do you know she likes me?”
“She hasn’t tried to eat you.”
“That’s… comforting.”
“I like you too,” he says forthrightly. “You are nice to look at even though you are not a draki. Maybe that is why rah brought you here.”
“You’re Adan’s brother?”
“The youngest one. My other brother, Dwen, is dead.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
I remember Adan’s story about his brother as he was digging around in the cuhi’s stomach. Like before, a bit of excitement races through me to learn more about Adan.
“Do you want to see the top of Vyaka?” Zavi asks.
I look to Tess’ prone form. She’s still fast asleep. I suppose a quick bit of sight-seeing won’t hurt.
“Sure, but I can’t stay away long. I need to be close for when my friend wakes up. She might need me.”
Zavi nods in understanding and turns to leave with Lim.
Kneeling beside Tess to make sure she’s comfortable, I’m surprised to find her eyes are open.
“Hey, you,” I say smiling. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’m more dead than alive,” she says hoarsely, wincing.
“At one point you were, but I know you’re too stubborn to die.”
She laughs softly, the sound scratchy and weak.
“I’m glad you’re alive, Xia,” she says. “I’m sorry for what I said before I left.”
“I’m sorry for being a bitch.” I grimace. “You’re right that I’ve been taking out my anger—”
Without warning, Tess reaches a hand around the back of my head and pulls me down into a kiss. My eyes wide with shock, I briefly acknowledge her lips are soft against mine before I pull away from her hastily.
“What the hell, Tess?” I splutter, pressing my fingers to my mouth. “Why did you… what was that?”
“Something I’ve always wanted to do. Just that Jogen got there first.”
How do I respond to a statement like that? Glancing in Zavi’s direction, my face burns as he watches us quietly. He saw everything. My stomach churns that he will tell Adan too. But then... so what? It’s not like I kissed Tess or wanted it. As a matter of fact, it’s not like I should fear Adan’s reaction to this.
We’re not together.
“We’re in Seca.” I smile tightly, desperate to change the subject. To pretend what just happened didn’t. “The dragons here seem to be a lot kinder than those in Andrasar. Their Konai found us and brought us here so you could get better.”
She nods quietly.
“I... I was going for a bit of sight-seeing with the Konai’s brother.” I indicate Zavi at the den’s entrance. “But I can stay here now that you’re awake.”
“No, it’s fine. You should go. I’m still pretty tired.” She smiles, but it’s forced. There’s this awkwardness between us now and I hate it.
I stand. “I’ll let the medic know you’re awake and bring some food for you.” She nods quietly and I turn toward Zavi. “Can you take me to the medic first?”
With a few soft pats on Tess’ shoulder, I hasten to follow Zavi as he leaves with Lim. I can’t wait to leave behind all that awkward energy that has developed between me and Tess. We just got through one hurdle and now we’re going through another one. Probably would have been better if we’d remained mad at each other once she’d woken up.
Thankfully, my journey outside the den immediately distracts me. Zavi leads me along and I try to keep up with his quick pace while taking in my surroundings. It’s really a work of art in here even though the lighting is not the greatest, and shadows lurk everywhere. It must have taken hundreds of years to carefully build each circular level while making sure Vyaka remained structurally sound.
“The infirmary,” says Zavi, leading me into a huge den. Clustered near the entrance is a group of Secan people in their primary form. Many of them wearing expressions of grief, dismay and anger.
At the center of the group stands Adan, speaking with them in a calm, firm tone. I sense his frustration even though he’s doing an excellent job at hiding it.
I haven’t seen him since last night after the commotion outside the den.
The commotion that interrupted our kiss.
Heat rises to my face from the memory. What was I even thinking? After spending the day convincing myself that what Adan and I had was a singular occurrence never to be repeated, all those firm beliefs fell to the side as soon as he showed up.
It was such a long and awful day. Adan was the strong and capable pillar I leaned on, and it made him incredibly appealing. It also didn’t hurt that when he looked at me I felt like I was the only thing he wanted in life.
“Like I said before, we don’t know yet what is harming our children. But we are working hard toward finding the threat,” he says.
“It’s Kahafura punishing us!” says a male at the front in anger. “She takes the lives of our children because you have not taken the oath, Konai!”
Adan frowns at the male. “That is an argument founded in superstition. Whether I have or haven’t taken the oath cannot physically steal the blood from the children’s bodies. We face a tangible threat and we will act accordingly to find and destroy it.”
Lying on beds behind Adan are three young children. They’re so pale, they’re almost as white as the snow outside. An older Secan female dressed in black bathes their skin with a cloth. She looks up at the sound of the accusations being flung at Adan with a frown.
“Then it is the steel!” says the male, persistent in his irrational mindset. “It is a gift from the enemy. The Andrasari has spilled the blood of so many Secan people. We must destroy it all!”
It’s none of my business and I’m a stranger here, but the urge to defend Adan is stronger than the voice cautioning me to keep my mouth shut.
“Accepting the gift from Andrasar isn’t killing your children,” I say. “The steel is a good thing. It’s useful. It can produce weapons and fortify your homes. Have faith in your Konai that he is doing his best to protect you and those you love.”
By the time I’m done, everyone is silent and looking at me. Including Adan. I bite my lips together, embarrassed that I’ve put my mouth where it doesn’t belong.