Friction (The Frenzy Series Book 4) (19 page)

She brushed her hair from her shoulders. “Yeah. That would be great,” I answered. “He needs water and grass, and a shady place to rest.”

Unhitching him, I watched her take his reins and lead him away. Lucky horse.

My sister was beside me in a minute. “What did she want?”

“To help with the horse.”

Porschia narrowed her eyes, watching Delilah lead Boots toward the well. “She sure recovered fast,” she muttered.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing. Just be careful around her.”

“She’s human, Porschia.”

“I know.”

“Then why should I worry about a tiny girl who’s my age?”

“She’s manipulative.”

“And you know this how?” I crossed my arms, waiting for more paranoia to spew from my sister’s mouth.

“I brought her here with a broken foot. It’s healed nicely in the few days since.”

“Maybe it wasn’t broken? Maybe it was just sprained.”

“You and I both know that even a sprain doesn’t heal in a day or two, Ford. Don’t be stupid over a pretty face.”

I scoffed. “Oh, but it’s okay for you to lead Tage and Saul around like dogs with their tongues hanging out after you?”

“I don’t,” she growled.

“You don’t lead? Well, they sure follow. Both are watching and probably listening to my every word,” I said, realizing that the brother card would only take me so far with those two. Saul chewed something as he continued cultivating the plants, but he stared at me angrily. Roman laughed. Tage was around here somewhere. I searched the area. “Where’s Tage, anyway?”

Porschia swallowed. “I don’t know.”

Ford and Roman set off that afternoon with a wagon full of people, carrying baskets and containers of harvested plants on their laps. Some strapped containers to their backs as well. Roman would guard from a distance so the horses wouldn’t spook, and before he left I thanked him for watching over my brother. Fortunately we were able to take Lady home. The people of Mountainside hadn’t eaten her as threatened.

Roman’s eyes became sad. “It’s the least I can do,” he answered. I knew he missed Pierce. There was just nothing I could do or say to take that ache away. When someone you loved died, they took a piece of you with them, a piece you couldn’t get back. But it didn’t matter, because you’d gladly give them any part of you, the best parts, just so they could keep you with them always.

I’d started to tell him a hundred times, but couldn’t get the words off my tongue… I killed his brother. Eventually he would find out, and when he did, he would kill me or die trying. Roman was loyal to Pierce in a way that I understood all too well.

Tage had been distant, mostly avoiding me and it was my fault. Part of me ached because he did. I wondered if the bond was mutual now, that maybe I felt his emotions as much as he felt mine.

Ford would be back tomorrow for more people. We would keep gathering the plants and shuttling people to Blackwater until no one remained. But in the back of my mind, I wondered about Saul. What would happen to him? Would the council reconsider his banishment? Could they show mercy when the wounds were still so tender and swollen?

If they wouldn’t let him stay, would he live in the forest, always on the outskirts? Would he leave?

That was probably what I would do. Why stay where you weren’t wanted?

I walked toward the well. We needed water to keep the roots and soil around the plants moist. “Penny for your thoughts?” Saul said, falling into stride beside me.

“I was just thinking about how everything is about to change.”

“It always does. Change is the only thing life guarantees.”

It was so true. “What about you?” I said, giving voice to my inner fears.

He rubbed the back of his head. “I guess I’ll make sure everyone gets to Blackwater safely. After that, I might drink some Infected blood and become human again. Funny how that sounds,” he said, nudging my arm. “How simple the solution was.”

“Yeah, but what then, Saul? What if you can’t live in Blackwater?”

He shrugged. “Then I’ll find somewhere else; somewhere there aren’t freakish women who trap humans for food and throw their bodies in moats around their houses.”

“If you’re human, you’ll be vulnerable.”

He smiled, glancing my way. “We’re all vulnerable. Even night-walkers can be killed. Even you, a hybrid, can be taken down by a simple plant toxin. We lie to ourselves, telling ourselves that we’re stronger than everything else out there, but we aren’t. It’s an illusion. Control. Power. Strength. It’s fleeting. All of it.”

“Why don’t you stay a night-walker if you leave? You’ll be better able to protect yourself.”

He slowed his steps. “I’ve thought of that, but I don’t know.”

“Just until you’re safe,” I urged.

“Maybe.”

My legs began to quiver as I lowered the bucket down into the dark water, black and glassy and reflecting the light sky above me and the crows that flew overhead.

“Are you okay?” Saul asked, grabbing the rope from my hands.

“Yeah. I just need to feed.”

“I can look for meat,” he offered.

It wasn’t meat that I needed. Not now. My body needed human blood, but thus far, I’d made it days without it. I didn’t want to scare any of the people here. They had been through too much lately.

“Oh, I get it,” he said. “Ford will be here soon.”

I hated feeding from my brother, and he would need his strength to keep driving the horses back and forth. It wasn’t a crazy long journey, but made often, it would seem like it after several days.

“Stop overthinking it. Either feed from him or ask someone else for help. You can’t push it too far. You’ll snap.”

“You’re handling Frenzy well.”

“Am I?” he asked, pulling more leaves from his pocket and placing them on his tongue. “I feel like all I do is chew this stuff, and while it makes me not want to eat the entire town, I’m always hungry. It doesn’t erase it or even hide it.”

“That’s why you want to change back so quickly? Mercedes did, too.”

“I’m not your sister, and I want to change because I have no reason to stay a night-walker. When I leave, I’ll leave alone. I’ll be alone. And I’d rather be me, the real me, than be anything else when I go.”

What could you say to that?

Garreth approached, his heavy steps displacing more gravel than those of non-giants. “Thank you for everything, Porschia. Saul, how are you?”

I nodded and Saul answered for me. “She needs blood.”

Garreth’s eyes widened. “You’re hungry?”

“I’m okay.” It was a lie. My fingers trembled, so I tucked them behind my back, lacing them together to steady them.

“She’s lying. She thinks it’ll scare everyone if she feeds.”

Garreth shook his head. “I’ll feed you. We can go into your dwelling if you’re shy.”

“I’m not shy, I just don’t—”

Garreth held his meaty hand up to stop my mouth. “This is why you feeding wouldn’t scare anyone. You don’t feed for sport or to frighten people into submission. You simply satisfy a need. Like drinking water or eating food. Your body needs blood and you take only what you need.”

I nodded. I didn’t like blood, but had to consume it or else sickness would consume me. Taking too much made me just as ill.

“Thank you,” I whispered, following him up the hillside toward my temporary dwelling.

“It’s the least I can do,” Garreth said sincerely. Saul stayed at the well. I knew his control was a fraying rope and the scent of blood could snap it entirely. He would stay and see that the plants got watered.

“Could I take a little more than I normally would, Garreth? Not too much, just enough to feed Saul?” I asked as I stepped into the room behind him. “You’re a large person, so you won’t feel strange from me taking a little extra.”

“It’s fine, Porschia. Do what you need to. You’ve earned my trust. And I’ll help you – any time, for any reason. Understood?”

I nodded, swallowing back the tears that clogged my throat. “Thank you.”

I drank fast and only took enough for both of us.

Garreth stood, ducking to avoid scraping his head on the ceiling. “Do you want me to go get him?”

“Please.” I watched him duck outside, the light of day filtering into the room.

Tage was going to kill me, but Saul needed to be fed and Ford was gone. Mercedes left with Ford on the wagon at his side, clutching a basket in her hands and one between her ankles.

She thought I was angry with her for leaving.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t remain a night-walker,” she said as I handed the second basket to her.

“Why would you apologize for that, Cede? No one wants to be a monster.”

“I didn’t mean it that way. You’re not a monster.”

I smiled slightly. “I know you didn’t, and I don’t blame you for wanting to feel normal.”

She swallowed. “I wish things were different and that you could be healed. I know you probably know that already, but it’s true and I want you to hear the words directly from my mouth.”

I inclined my head. “Thank you.”

“I love you, Porsch.”

I pursed my lips. “I love you, too. And you, Ford.” My brother was staring forward, pretending not to hear our conversation. A blush crawled up his neck as he nodded.

“You too,” he answered. “Take care while we’re away.”

Laughing, I told him, “I think I should warn you, not the other way around.”

His eyes found someone behind me and he waved for a moment, offering a smile. When I looked over my shoulders, Delilah’s hand was raised, waving back.

Ford stood. “I have to go and harness Boots. She’s holding him so you can say goodbye.”

“It’s not goodbye,” I growled.

“Not a final goodbye, but it’s goodbye for today. I’ll see you tomorrow. Everyone should be in Blackwater within the week. We’ll all be together soon.”

I knew it, but ‘goodbye’ was too final a word. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I vowed; moving away before he could say the awful word again, so he could harness up Boots without me spooking the animal.

I watched Garreth leave the house and walk straight to Saul, leaning in to whisper something to him. The giggling children nearby were too loud for me to filter them out and let Garreth’s words in. Saul, ever the Boy Scout, made a beeline to Porschia, who was still inside.