Horns and Halos, page 9
“Draki!” I whined. Instantly, I turned to look around me but doubted anyone would hear me with all of the thunder and the downpour that went on all around us. Switching from worried to angry again, I pointed a clay-covered finger at him. “I was almost done with that one. It was the last piece!” I yelled.
“I said it’s time to go,” he repeated, unbothered by my outburst.
Quickly storming around the wheel, I went to give the arrogant devil a piece of my mind. I slammed my boot down and heard a splash as it connected with the ground. The next footfall slipped on the freshly wet clay, and I started to fall. Just as I was sure I would land on the ground, I was suddenly face-to-face with Draki.
White hair fell around my form like a curtain to hide me away when he leaned forward to catch me. His bright, ethereal, golden hues made me go dreadfully still as they were inches from me. One of his hands rested on my back, keeping me from hitting the ground. The other gripped my arm. It felt painfully strange to have him hold me like that and not want to leave. After a long moment, I squirmed in his hold and looked around the room before resting my gaze on him once more.
“I can stand up, now.”
“Yes, but can you listen to me?” he asked, his eyes narrowed at me in suspicion.
I looked away and pursed my lips in thought. “Yes,” I mumbled.
Satisfied with my response, he brought me to my feet, and I took a few careful steps away from him. My first instinct when I was righted again was to thank him. Momma always said that you thank someone for an act of kindness regardless of whether or not you like them. But as soon as I opened my mouth he cut me a look, and I remembered his request from earlier. “Do you really want me to stop saying thank you?”
“You and I have an agreement, Sia. Do you want me to thank you once it’s my turn to collect?”
I shivered at the thought and whispered, “No.”
“Then I think you understand why I desire you to stop showing gratitude toward me. It’s fake.”
“It’s habit,” I mumbled defensively.
“It’s annoying.”
“Would it kill you to just let me say it?”
He looked at me and drew in a slow breath. “Very well. If it makes you happy, continue to do so.”
I nodded once, satisfied with his answer, and headed for the door.
“Aren’t you going to thank me?” he questioned, and I could hear mirth in his voice.
“No, you made a big stink out of it. Now I don’t want to.”
His chuckle made me feel better about being sassy. The last thing I needed was him angry. As I made my way for the exit, I noted the flow of water that was streaming over toward the potter’s wheel. By the time I was on the porch, I realized that everything was flooded despite the building being on a slightly elevated foundation. While I was working, the rain had been heavier than I expected it to be. The river that was now rushing through the streets was easily knee-deep. From across the way, coming from Elijah’s house, I saw the young man struggle as he pushed through the water, making his way over to me with a poncho held over his head. Water splashed as he dashed through the street that had transformed into a tiny, raging river.
“Sia!” he called to me as a gust of air rushed by. The plastic bellowed in the gale, and I could see the concern in his gaze. “It’s a monsoon!” he yelled and held out his hand to me while he continued to come for me.
There was no second thought. There was no contemplation or doubt in my mind. As soon as I saw him coming for me and I heard those words, I jumped off the porch and leaped right into the water with him. Our hands instantly grasped onto each other. A torrential downpour assaulted my skin, and I drew in a sharp breath to quiet my urge to cry out in pain. Elijah covered me with the poncho, and I didn’t mind huddling close to him under the protective covering.
“Steady yourself on me and walk slowly!” He had to yell over the rush of the water, the pelting rain colliding with the plastic of the poncho, and the rumbling of ground-trembling thunder as they were all collectively deafening.
I nodded to him. “Okay!”
Together, we turned slowly. Each step was like we had weights tied to our feet. Fighting against the current was a struggle, especially on a wounded ankle. I didn’t know that such shallow water could be so powerful. Watching a box and a barrel drift by us, I swallowed hard and held onto Elijah a little tighter. I could feel the definition of muscle under the wet fabric of his shirt. I had to steady my breathing and focus on walking because my mind involuntarily drifted for a moment. When my fingers dug into his skin, he grunted.
“I’m sor—”
“Don’t be. I much rather you hold onto me with everything you have than let you get carried away by the current.”
I couldn’t help it. I stared at him in awe while I tried to match his steps. Snapping out of my daze, I marched carefully through the water toward his house which had become the life raft amidst the storm.
Marcel ran to the edge of the porch and jumped down into the water before he trudged to us. Two strong hands reached out and grabbed Elijah and me. I could feel his muscles strain as he dragged us toward him and helped us up to safety. Janet was at our side in seconds and throwing towels over our shoulders before gently shoving us into the house.
“Hurry up, it’s not safe out here,” she said with urgency and then went to help her husband up out of the water.
Marcel gave her a half hug before visually sweeping the street for any threats or other people who might be in need. After a short pause, he nodded to his wife and ushered her inside.
Shortly after, my bandages were fresh and dry, and I was in a new set of clothes as I nursed a cup of tea Janet had made for me. Elijah had explained that his mom and dad were concerned about the weather. When I hadn’t shown up and the flash flood had started, he had grabbed the poncho and rushed out the front door. I listened to him explain everything as we warmed up by the fire.
“Thank you,” I said.
“It was nothing. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
I remembered how his body felt under my grasp. I remembered how strong his embrace felt as he held me. Worst of all, I felt my gaze lingering on him in the long stretch of silence. Again, my cheeks became heated with embarrassment.
“I need to rest my ankle,” I shot out, and I made a mad dash for my bedroom.
Within seconds, I was in my room with the door shut and locked. In the safety of my personal space within the home, I let out a loud sigh and shut my eyes. A braid of mine was played with, bringing me out of my daze. My lids opened, and I locked gazes with Draki. The single, woven lock slipped from the devil’s grasp as he loomed over me.
“So tough, isn’t it? Trying to control everything inside of you, hmmm?”
I slapped his hand away. “It’s not that deep.”
“Oh,” he whispered and practically pressed me against the door. His face inched closer and closer to my own. “But it could be.”
Tripping over my breathing, I felt my stomach flip, and I pushed the devil away from me. “Not unless I say so.”
Draki pushed me hard in return, and my back slammed into the door loudly. “And what do you say, Sia?” he growled at me, lips dangerously close to my own.
Once more, I floundered for a reply. The look in his eyes reminded me of melted gold, but in the depths of that beautiful color were spirits of anger and darker things. Things that fed your nightmares and stole all of your hope. It was a look that promised you every pleasure right before you would have every pain unleashed upon you. It was the sort of look that could make you contemplate making the wrong choice. It called to you ... and I almost answered.
Freeing my mind from the thoughts swirling around, I opened my mouth and closed it a few times. Nothing came out. I didn’t know if I should reach for a lie or an exaggerated truth.
The knock on the door made me jump out of my skin. Draki didn’t move. Neither did I.
Elijah’s voice came from the other side. “Sia?” He knocked again. “Everything okay?”
Like a snake, Draki slithered closer and moved the braids behind my ear so that his words could caress my skin without any barrier between us. “Saved by the hero, again.” I could feel his smirk as he withdrew from me and disappeared from sight.
Steadying myself had never been so hard. “I-I’m fine,” I stuttered and pressed a hand against my chest. “I’m messed up in the head, but I’m fine,” I whispered to myself.
“What was that?” Elijah asked.
“I’m okay,” I explained.
“I heard a loud bang from your room ...”
I smiled and shook my head, even though he couldn’t see it. “I tripped and caught myself on the door,” I lied.
“Oh.”
“I’m tired. It’s been a long day.”
“Right, right. Get some rest, Sia. I’ll help you bring the clothes to the river tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to,” I yelled. But only silence greeted me in return. Elijah had once again made a choice and nothing was going to sway him from it. Deep down, I was thankful for it. The less time I spent alone, the better. Alone meant I was more likely to be around Draki. No matter what choice I made, I was going to be burned. A very ugly truth was starting to show itself to me, and I was starting to accept that the choice I was going to make was going to be the best option. But it was going to hurt like hell.
Chapter 8:
Carried Away
The next morning, I woke up and stretched. I could smell cornbread and fried eggs, and my stomach let me know that it wouldn’t stand for me skipping breakfast. I had made the choice to eat before I would work today. Yesterday, not eating and having poor sleep made handling my tasks a lot more difficult and did absolutely nothing for my attitude.
Stepping out into the kitchen, I saw only Elijah. “Morning,” I mumbled as I went to sit at the table.
“Morning.”
“Where’s Marcel and Janet?”
“Mom went to bring a few things to the river. Dad went to tend to the animals.”
“Oh, others are going to wash clothes, today?”
He shook his head. “No, we have to spread out with as few people possible so that the job gets done but we don’t get branded with an extra link. She’s just taking some stuff there so we make fewer trips.”
Now that made sense. “Right.”
“You won’t need to bake the pottery from yesterday. The whole place will most likely be flooded for a few days. Don’t worry about chores right now, though,” he ordered with a smile. He then brought a plate of scrambled eggs to the table. Pointing to the cast iron pan in the center of the table, he said, “Help yourself to the cornbread and butter.”
“Thanks.” As I fixed my meal, I spoke to Elijah. “And thank you for yesterday. I should have known better, and I should’ve been keeping an eye on the storm.”
“We all should have. I’m just glad that you’re safe.”
There was a pause in the conversation as I dove into the plate. After a few bites, Elijah cleared his throat and sat at the table across from me. “Sia,” he started, and I gave him a quick look to silently tell him he could talk away while I ate. “I was wondering ... how difficult is it out there, in the Wastes, by yourself?”
Choking on my bite, I gasped and smacked my chest while I reached for my glass of water. He didn’t say anything, he just waited for me to catch my breath and answer him. I didn’t meet his gaze and pushed my eggs around on my plate. “It’s not easy,” I replied in a scratchy voice. A short coughing fit followed soon after, and I drank more water to fill the silence.
“I was just curious,” he half-whispered and looked out the kitchen window.
I thought about all the things that he had told me over the short time that we had known each other. The signs all pointed to him wanting the opposite of what I had wanted. He wanted to leave the village. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but that’s what it came across like. “Are you thinking of running away?” I whispered.
He shot me a look and then searched the empty home. “Shhh ... don’t say something like that.”
“I’ve protected this conversation. Only because I have interests of my own that I’m protecting. I suggest keeping the chatter far away from the topic of him leaving this place,” Draki’s voice invaded my head, and I made sure not to give any indication that I heard anyone other than Elijah speaking.
I sighed loudly, sat back from the table, and pushed my almost finished meal away from me. “What is it like?” I repeated quietly. He nodded to the question with a hopeful gaze. I took a moment to recall. Big mistake. The world around me faded, and the memories flashed through my head like a choppy reenactment of that night. Pieces in time were shifted and in different placements but they all happened, and I was mentally reliving them. I must have drifted off. Because as I saw each snippet, remembered every scratch and bite, and saw the battle ensue in my mind, I went still. Only my breath gave away that I was still living.
Snapping his fingers in front of my face, Elijah broke my trance. “Sia! Are you okay?”
Drawing in a breath, I searched the home and reminded the chaotic melody of my heart that I was safe and no longer trapped and alone out in the Wastes. “I’m sorry. I got lost in thought.”
He looked worried as he asked, “Is it that bad?”
“Worse,” I admitted and took another sip of water.
“And ... you’re going back out to it?”
I twisted the cup on the table and watched the contents slosh about. “Yeah.” Then looking up to him, I continued with, “This isn’t my home. I’m not even sure if the faith city will be. But I know that once I go there, I’m going to be pointed in the right direction.”
When our eyes met, I could see an ocean of questions swirling in his vision. He opened his mouth but slowly shut it. He trapped behind his closed lips every free thought that he denied himself to announce. He looked to the back door and sighed. “Ready to go to the river?” he asked.
We rose to our feet and cleaned up from breakfast before gathering all the laundry and heading for the river. But I didn’t feel good. There was a growing danger in the air. I denied sensing it when I first came to this place, but—as each moment passed—there was no denying the subtle hints that had been fed to me. Elijah had a daring spirit tucked away in his eyes. It was the kind of look that a wild animal gives you after being freshly caged. They are looking for the first chance to escape. No thought. No plan. There was only the desire for freedom ... even if it meant that they’d be harmed in the process.
The river had grown twice its usual size. The slow, steady churning of water was now frothing and rapid. We stood at the edge with the buckets and basins and stared in awe of the treacherous waters in front of us. Wild waters washed over the smooth rocks lining the banks as I mentally weighed our options.
“I’m not sure that I feel comfortable doing this,” Janet whispered to herself.
“We can just gather water and bring it over here to wash them in one basin and rinse them in different buckets. It might take a little longer, but we are already here,” I said.
Elijah made a sound that expressed he wasn’t completely sold on the idea. “Mmmm ... I’m not sure.”
“Come on. We just need to be careful. The river was dangerous before, too.” They both still seemed to contemplate the idea. “Come on. We knock this out and it’s one less thing to do,” I expressed with a smile and a thumbs-up.
Janet sighed and then gave a nasally laugh. “Such a charming child. How can I deny you?” Still shaking her head, she started to set everything down.
I tossed my jacket on the ground behind me and Elijah stared at it with a questioning look. “You sure you don’t want to wash that with everything else?” he asked, walking over to it and plucking it up between pinched fingers like it was contaminated. He pretended to sniff it and waved his nose with a Cheshire grin. “Phew!”
“Ha, ha!” I said, swiping it from his grasp. But it did have a bit of a foul odor coming from it, and the dark splashes of blood all over the army design were making it look rather gross. I pursed my lips to the side just as Janet snatched the jacket from me.
“Let’s give it another thorough washing, shall we?” Janet smiled at me and placed it into her pile of dirty clothes.
“I’ll go grab the last of the laundry,” Elijah said and ran off on the fifteen-minute hike back to the village.
Draki was sitting in a gnarled tree rooted near the water’s edge. He plucked a thin branch from the limb and brought it to his face. Within seconds, the wood smoked and then burst into flames. I turned away from the view and focused on Janet. She was already gathering water from the river, so I focused on putting soap in the larger basin.
As the moments passed, Janet filled various buckets full of water for us to rinse the clothes in and filled a larger one to use for washing. I started to grind the laundry over the washboard and scrub them free of dirt and grime. It wasn’t until we had started to ring out the garments that Janet looked around us with her brow creased in confusion.
“Did you see a string in one of the buckets or baskets?” she asked.
I looked around and tried to see if I could locate it while remembering everything I had taken out. Shaking my head, I said, “No. I haven’t.”
She sucked at her teeth and draped the recently wrung clothing over the edge of a basket. “Well, this won’t do.” She propped her hands up on her hips and then snapped her fingers. “Drat. I left it on the kitchen table.”
“Do you think Elijah saw it when he went to grab the clothes?”
She thought for a moment and then huffed, defeated. “Best be sure. I’ll go and meet him halfway. Worse case, I will send him and those youthful legs back to get it,” she giggled with a wink.
I laughed, knowing my mother would have done and said something similar to me. “I can go,” I offered.
She shook her head. “No, dear. You’ve done far more than you should have. I could use the exercise. Stay here and just rinse the clothes.”
