It took several hours to bury the bodies of the children who’d died. It seemed cruel to bury them together in a single pit behind the Lael fence, but Shai forced herself to think of them huddled together and keeping one another company even in death.
“What do we do with the rest of them? If they stay here, they’ll die. There’s nothing for them to eat and the water in the creek will soon dry up without rain.” Shai chewed on the edge of her thumbnail. She was standing outside on the front step with Remiel after the last of the dead children had been covered over with dry earth. Her throat hurt from breathing in dust, but she never once complained. How could she when a six-year-old girl had kept twenty-three children alive with a few drops of water every hour.
“They’ll die if they don’t stay here. The Hunters are everywhere. Likely the only reason they haven’t come here already is because Kent is still standing. But once that sector’s gone…” Remiel’s voice sounded as hoarse as hers. She leaned against his side. He put an arm around her and pulled her close. The movement made the two keys shift on their chain inside her shirt.
“Couldn’t we port them all back to Kent? At least there they’d have food and more adults to care for them.”
She felt Remiel shake his head. “We’d be putting them in the Hunters’ path. Kent is their next target. Besides, porting that many children would be too big a strain. The portal can handle only two at a time.”
A few moments of silence hung between them. The air had stilled until there was no more breeze and the only sounds she heard were the ones coming from inside the house where Sasha was talking to Grunt. The usual chirping of crickets in the tall grass beneath the footbridge couldn’t be heard, and the nearly dried-up creek was silent.
“What if I gave the children my key two at a time? You could help them jump back to Kent, right? I know you can realm jump without a key. I’ve seen you.” She was grasping, desperate, but she couldn’t imagine returning to Kent without the orphans.
“It’ll take too much time, which we don’t have.”
“I can’t just leave them here. Can’t Elchai take them to the Outerlands too?” she whispered.
Remiel cleared his throat and took a long time answering. By the time he spoke, the gray sky was a deeper gray and the house inside had grown quiet.
“They aren’t Laelite, Shai. You have to remember that.”
Offense heated her cheeks. She lifted the back of one hand to cool her face and forced her tone to remain soft in spite of her guts churning with anger. “So we just leave them here because they aren’t the ones I was sent to protect? They’re still innocent children, Rem.”
Remiel said nothing.
“I just want to save them. Isn’t there anything we can do?” she said after a while.
Remiel’s blue eyes looked up into the dismal gray sky. Eventually he nodded.
“Let’s take a walk up to the Hill House and see if there are any supplies we can bring back down for them. Once the plan is complete, the Hunters will have nowhere to go but back to Gershom and Samael. These children will have a chance to survive.”
“How long?” Her question was loaded. How long would it take for the plan to work? How long until Ava arrived at the Outerlands? How long before the children ran out of water?
“That’s up to you.”
“That’s not fair.” She moved away from Remiel and immediately missed his warmth. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.
“Nevertheless, it’s true. The timing is up to you.” He took her elbow and steered her down the stairs.
“Don’t go!” Sasha’s dirty little face appeared in the doorway, where she’d obviously been listening. The candlelight behind her flickered, coloring her curls a hundred different shades of gold, obscuring her face in shadows.
“We’ll be right back, Sasha. It’s okay. We’re going up the hill to find supplies. There’s a house up there. Unless there’s still some jars of food in the Supply House.”
The little girl shook her head. “That’s all gone. Long time ago.” She took a deep breath that sounded shuddery and tearful. “But don’t go up the hill. There’s a black dog there. He won’t let anyone into the house.”
A sliver of fear wound its way around Shai’s chest. She looked at Remiel, who tipped his chin up. His eyes narrowed with fury. She saw his anger in the way he clenched his jaw. They both knew that black dog.
“Go back inside, Sasha. Rem and I know how to take care of that dog.”
The girl hesitated, one hand on the door frame, the other holding what looked like a cup. “Everyone who’s tried to go to the house up there hasn’t come back. Even when they took weapons.”
Shai stood with fear icing her lungs and throat. She could only stare at the girl in front of her. What other horrors had these children lived through?
Remiel stepped forward and placed a hand on Sasha’s head. “If he’s there tonight, he’ll be sorry he ever laid eyes on me.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. Now, go back inside and help Grunt.”
Sasha went inside, cup in hand, and closed the door.
“I was hoping I’d never have to see Zev again,” she whispered, teeth chattering.
Shadows swallowed Remiel’s face, but she knew he was frowning.
CHAPTER 41
Shai
The night felt deeper, darker than when she’d lived in Lael. The air stiller and colder. Fear clung to every crease and fold in the fabric of her clothing, in her hair and skin. She’d lived in Lael longer than anywhere else and she couldn’t remember a time she’d felt more afraid. Not even the day she’d been sent to live in the Hill House alone, chosen as Samael’s whore.
Remiel offered her his hand again, which she gratefully took as they began the climb to the Hill House. She battled memories of climbing the hill with Aliah after they’d gone berry picking. Of the sunlight in his hair and slanting across his beautiful face when he reached out to help her navigate around the muddy, slippery spots on the hill. And, of course, memories of the first night she’d come here. He’d visited her then, risking a scolding or worse from the Mothers, just so she wouldn’t have to face being alone.
“You’re awfully quiet.” Remiel’s voice rang in the still night. It didn’t matter how loudly they talked; if Zev was skulking around, they’d feel him first.
“I’m thinking.” She paused, gathering her thoughts. “Sasha found the Laelite pendants and gave each of the children one.”
“Mmmhmm.” Remiel gave her fingers a quick squeeze.
“Going to get them food is really just prolonging the inevitable unless we can save them somehow.”
“What do you mean?”
They were almost at the top of the hill, but the Hill House still hadn’t come into view. Deep darkness hung like an inky shroud around them. She clung to Remiel’s hand like a lifeline, knowing he could sense things without having to see them.
“Maybe it would be kinder to pour out the essence in the children’s pendants. They wouldn’t feel anything…they’d…”
Remiel said nothing.
They reached the top of the hill, and the dark shape of the small Hill House had finally begun to show against the dark backdrop of the trees beyond.
“Rem, just listen. I can’t bear to think that there’s nothing we can do.”
Remiel dropped her hand to run both his hands through his hair. She couldn’t exactly see him, but judging by the soft sounds, she figured that was exactly what he was doing. Aliah would’ve done the same thing.
“You are doing something, Shai—”
“No. Leaving them here means they’re waiting for the Hunters to take them. They’re defenseless. And you pointed out how we don’t have enough time to port them all back to Kent. I feel like this is our only option.” She began walking again, striding toward the house with long purposeful steps. She’d made up her mind.
“We’re giving them a chance to survive, Shai. The Borderless hasn’t be
en touched by Hunters yet. It’s possible that Grunt will take the surviving children back with him once they’re well enough to travel.”
She let him take her hand again as they crossed the threshold of the Hill House. Once they returned to the children, she decided to empty their pendants. It was more merciful than letting them die of starvation in Lael, exposure in the Borderless, or possession by Hunters.
CHAPTER 42
Shai
They lit three lanterns after stumbling around inside the dark interior of the Hill House. It took Shai a few minutes to remember where everything was. The house wasn’t large, so after a few bumped knees and elbows, she’d found the lanterns, some extra candles already attached to holders, some dried meat wrapped in layers of cloth, and a few hunks of stale bread. It seemed someone had been living here since she’d been gone.
Remiel had gone to the back bedroom to grab some blankets off the bed and hopefully a few changes of clothing the kids could use, when she heard footsteps behind her. She was on her knees, searching through a dusty cupboard for a few jars of canned fruit she remembered having.
“Did you find the blankets?” She sneezed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand.
“No, but I found something much better.” The hairs on the back of Shai’s neck stood on end. It had been a while since she’d heard that voice, but she’d never forget it.
She stood up slowly and met Zev’s yellow eyes as he leaned across the counter, sneering at her. She inhaled to yell for Remiel. Zev narrowed his eyes. “Don’t bother calling out to him. He’s out on the floor. Won’t wake up for some time, if at all.”
Fear’s cold fingers walked up her throat, filling her mouth with a sick taste. “You’re lying.”
Zev laughed, an icy sound that nearly loosened her bowels. He shrugged and drew lazy circles in the dusty countertop with his finger. “Whatever. I don’t care if you believe me or not. We’re alone, and sooner or later you’ll figure that out.”
He wore his jet-black hair slicked back, which made him look older and more menacing than the last time she’d seen him. His eyebrows arched high over his cold amber eyes when he lifted his face to look at her.
“I have a score to settle with you, Miss Eli.” Goosebumps travelled over her arms and across her neck. He licked his lips slowly like he was savoring his thoughts about her. He could’ve came to her as a black wolf like he had several times before, but the pulsing warning her mark was sending out told her he came to her in human form for a reason.
He came around the counter, the heels of his black boots clicking on the hardwood floor. She clenched her jaw and backed into a corner where the counter met the wall. She was trapped. He knew it and she knew it.
He smiled at her; his white teeth glowed in the lantern light, sending a fresh shower of fear over her.
The lantern.
She kept her eyes on him, not wanting to give him any indication of what she was thinking. The closer he got, the more her heart raced. Sweat ran between her breasts and down her back, but she forced herself to remain calm. This wasn’t the first time someone from the dark side tried to attack her. If she’d learned anything, it was that Darkness preyed on fear.
She inhaled deeply through her nose and out through her mouth, her eyes fastened on his. He came around the counter with both hands on his belt buckle. His long nails clicked against the metal clasp as he undid the belt and pulled it little by little from his waist. He took an agonizingly long time just to instill fear in her, but she remained resolute.
Without warning, he struck her across the face with his belt. Tears sprang to her eyes as her hand went to her cheek. Hot blood spurted through her fingers where the buckle caught her soft flesh and tore it open. Still, she locked eyes with him. She drew a sharp breath, but didn’t flinch.
He lashed the belt out at her again, but this time she was ready. She caught it and yanked him toward her. He stumbled, falling towards her. She let go of the belt and used the counter behind her for support to kick him as hard as she could. The heel of her boot met with his groin, and he doubled over with a loud hoot of pain. Before he could recover, she used her knee to smash into his downturned face. He fell to the floor and curled into a ball, whining like a puppy.
Before she stepped over him, she grabbed one of the lit lanterns and hit him over the head with it. Fuel spilled from the broken glass, covering Zev’s hair and clothing. In less time than it took her to run from the kitchen, he was a flaming ball of hot orange. He jumped through the closest window, and the last she saw of him was a flash of fire streaming through the trees toward the river.
She ran to the back room and found Remiel face down on the floor. A small lantern flickered on a table where he must’ve put it before Zev attacked him.
She gasped and ran to him, then fell beside him on the floor.
“Rem? Can you hear me? Remiel!” She pressed two shaking fingers to the side of his neck, then sighed when his pulse thumped strong and sure.
He groaned and turned his head. A dark bruise was already forming over his left eye and across his cheekbone.
“What did he hit you with?”
Remiel opened his eyes and blinked a few times. “I don’t know. He came out of nowhere.”
A few feet away Shai spotted a large rock the size of a man’s fist. “I think he intended to kill you with that rock over there. Lie still.” She got up, grabbed the lantern and held it close to Remiel’s face. She probed the swelling gently with a finger, but aside from a nasty bruise, his bones remained intact.
“If he’d wanted to kill me, he wouldn’t have used a rock. He would’ve used a knife. He was trying to get me out of the way to get to you. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Can you stand?” She offered him her arm, and with a slow awkward gait, they made it to the kitchen, where the fire was spreading.
Remiel’s eyes grew wide. “What—”
“If we don’t put this out, it will spread! There’s not enough water!” She left Remiel standing there dazed with pain and confusion while she raced back to the room they’d just left. The blankets Remiel had gathered were still folded neatly on the bed. She grabbed them and ran back to the kitchen, handing Remiel the lantern she still held.
As quickly as she could manage, she unfolded each blanket and threw them on the fire. It wasn’t too large that it couldn’t be smothered. When the last blanket had been added to the pile, all that remained was a charred pile of smoldering fabric.
“What happened here?” Remiel’s eyes darted between the smoky mess and the broken window.
“Zev thought he had me cornered. But I’ve never let myself be vulnerable to that beast, and I won’t start now. You’d think he’d learn.” Now that the adrenaline rush was over, she was left shaky, out of breath and slightly nauseated. She laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks while Remiel stared at her. If she didn’t laugh, she’d cry, and that would be worse.
Her cheek stung, and when she lifted a hand to her face, she found a wound with crusted blood.
Remiel wrapped both arms around her and kissed the top of her smoky head before holding her at arm’s length to examine her.
“You did it.” He grinned so huge she could see his back teeth. The scar on his neck gleamed like a war wound in the flickering light, reminding her of his own sacrifice he’d made to save her life.
“What?” She rested her hands on his forearms, his hands gripping her shoulders.
“You beat him.”
She shrugged and stepped out of Remiel’s half-embrace to gather the meager supplies she’d scavenged from the kitchen before Zev arrived.
“It’s not the first time.” She didn’t mean it arrogantly, only that she’d faced the wolf of Gershom before and lived to tell about it.
“No, but it’s the first time you did it unafraid.” Remiel took two lanterns from her so she could carry the rest of the candles and the last two lanterns.
She shrugged. “I was afraid, Rem.”
/>
“But fear didn’t paralyze you, did it?”
Shai looked up at Remiel, his light eyes danced with pride, and her mark surged with heat. “I guess it didn’t.” She returned his smile and walked to the door.
“Shai?”
She turned around. “Yeah?”
Remiel’s eyes fell on something near her feet. She followed his gaze and found something glinting on the floor. He set down a lantern and bent to retrieve the small treasure. She shifted her items to one arm, then cupped her hand around the fist he held out to her. He dropped something small and cool into her palm.
She opened her hand. “How’d this get here?” She recognized the small silver cap from Sileas’s wooden pendant as it winked in the lantern light.
“Remember the night I appeared to you when you’d thought I’d gone?” Remiel grinned again and Shai bit her lower lip. She wished he didn’t look so much like his brother.
“How could I forget?” Her tone was teasing, but her cheeks flushed at the memory of how she actually did forget about him. Everyone did. It was part of the pendants’ magic that Aliah used after he’d thought he killed his own brother. Aliah couldn’t live with the guilt and regret, so he’d made everyone forget Remiel ever existed instead.
Remiel laughed. A sound that momentarily lifted the crushing weight off her chest she’d been living with for months. “You dropped it outside that night. It must’ve found its way inside on the bottom of a boot.”
“Where’s the rest of the pendant?” She tucked the silver cap into the front pocket of her trousers and looked around her feet.
Shai sighed and opened the door. She looked back at the small house she’d lived in for a short time before she’d left Lael.
“You’re thinking about him again.” Remiel touched her shoulder. The gentleness jolted her.
She tried to smile. “How’d you know?”
Remiel shrugged and took her hand. “You’re always thinking about him. You know you’ll see him again soon, right?”
“You mean in the Outerlands?”
Remiel nodded as they made their way back down the hill, a single lit lantern swinging from Shai’s hand.
“You know it won’t be the same. We won’t remember each other.”