Rise of the Mare (Fall of Man Book 2) (18 page)

“Yeah. We have a couple of people
that were traveling East to find civilization and ended up with us.
Now, I hear they have it together some in Angeles City. Still, it’s
nothing but fighting and defending against the black demon
birds.”

“Savage beasts, that is what they are
called. Vicious killers.”

“We don’t have them here.”

“You are too close to the City of the
Ancients.”

Burt looked at me sharply. “How do
you know?”

I hesitated in answering, figuring
I’d make something up. “I have been there.”

“Then it confirms what we thought,”
Burt said with a nod. “I think we know what happened to you.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, we know your story.”

“You do?” I asked again.

“Nothing to be ashamed of, Madge.
Really, we all kind of put two and two together.”

“Tell me, Burt. What do you
know?”

“You’ve been to the Ancient City, you
were one of them chosen women, made to be a slave, used for
feeding. Am I on the right track?”

“Yes” I said, thankful he was
devising my story for me.

“We can tell because you didn’t have
a look of struggle to you. I think you escaped, and the Mercers got
a hold of you… maybe had their way with you and left you for dead,
naked in the desert.”

“The Mercers, is that what they are
called?”

“Yep. Those dirty sons of bitches
that take it upon themselves to kill the chosen that escape. They
didn’t kill you though, so that’s a good thing. We’ve had our
run-ins with them. They are as savage as those beasts, in some ways
worse.”

“Filthy bastards.”

“Sorry for what they did to you.”

“I am a survivor.”

“You are.”

“There was a time when the world was
good.”

“Yeah, and I think we all thought it
bad then.”

The car slowed down and that was when
I noticed all the green around me. I had been so engrossed in our
conversation, I didn’t see when we emerged from the desert.

“This is where we part,” Burt said
and opened the car door, stepping out. He waited until I emerged,
and I gathered my belongings.

“You have your map and that compass.
Follow the needle west and you’ll hit one of their towns.” He held
out his hand. “Won’t say goodbye, just see ya soon.”

I stared at his hand.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

I didn’t say anything.

“I get it. Well, I didn’t want to
assume so…” Burt yanked me forward and planted his lips to
mine.

To say I was surprised would be an
understatement. His kiss took me by surprise. I had forgotten that
humans kissed. It wasn’t a long one, just enough to give me a
message that conveyed his intentions toward me. He smiled and gave
a swat to my rear end. “You be careful, Madge.”

“You placed your hand against my
buttocks in a firm, yet playful manner.”

“I did.” He raised his eyebrows a few
times. “You are such a card.”

“So long Burt from Hopeland.”

“So long Madge soon to be back in
Hopeland. Follow the path.”

I nodded, glanced at him once more,
then, walking stick in hand feeling confused, I ventured forward,
focusing on what was important, finding Angeles City.

The last of the dressmakers left the large room, and I was alone. I
stood before the mirror, and while it was still half a day before
the wedding, I was already in ceremonial attire. The dress was a
cream colored, form fitting, floor length gown with a high collar
and gold embroidery. A gold wreath rested upon my head, and my hair
was pulled up perfectly with only a few strands of dangling
curls.

The artist would come in soon and
finish the painting of my face.

I could smell the feast being
prepared for the Sybaris and the humans in attendance.

While most humans were house maidens
or workers, some were in good favor and were representatives of the
human race, all coming to attend my wedding to Iry.

My stomach fluttered in nervousness.
How had I gotten to this point? If I ended up having to marry Iry,
then what? He’d made no attempts the night before to seduce me or
repeat the kiss, which I was grateful for.

My stomach churned again, and I
honestly felt ill. Perhaps I was coming down with something. My
face was flushed and I felt weak.

It had to be nerves. Raising my hand
to push back a hair from my eye, the wrist jewelry brushed against
the scratches on my arms. They hadn’t even healed and still looked
fresh. Another sign something was wrong with me.

The only thing that made me smile was
Sophie.

The pitter patter of her shoes
against the marble floor caught my attention and I knew she was
running my way.

My little sister was back.

She had no recollection of the Savage
attack or what had happened to our mother.

The door burst open and she flew in.
She was wearing a similar dress to mine, only her dress billowed
out and her hair had flowers interweaved with in her braids.

“Iry is coming!” She ran to me. “You
look like a princess!”

She wrapped her arms around my waist.
“I wish Mother could be here and didn’t have to stay behind.”

I looked down at Sophie and rested my
hand on her head. I hadn’t told her of our mother’s fate as
yet.

“I’m so happy for you, Vala,” Sophie
said. ‘I like Iry.”

“Iry likes you too,” Iry said from
the doorway. “We are going to have a wonderful life together.”

Sophie giggled and released me.

“Sophie, you need to go practice,”
Iry said. “Go on.”

“Alright.” She flashed a smile to me
and ran to the door. “I’ll be back!” she said and ran out of the
room.

“She doesn’t know,” I said. “She
hasn’t asked.”

“It’s not yet time to tell her,” Iry
replied. “She will know in due time.”

After a brief pause he said, “You
look stunning.”

I bowed my head and blushed. “Thank
you. You look very nice as well.”

And he did. Iry wore a cream colored
suit with gold trim and buttons, and the collar was raised, similar
to mine.

“Aren’t we just the dressed up
twins?” he said.

“
I know this isn’t something
you want to do,” Iry said gently, grabbing my hands. “I promise not
to make you do anything you…” his eyes shifted down. “What happened
to your wrist?”

“I don’t know. I scratched myself in
my sleep.”

Iry lifted my hand. “Odd.”

“Yes.” I pulled the jewelry to cover
it. “I just—”

The click of the door caused both Iry
and I to look up.

“My King,” Iry said, stepping back
from me and bowed. “To what do we owe this honor?”

The king stared at me. “What do you
know of a young man named Tanner, Mare?”

“Tanner?” I asked trying to withhold
excitement. “He… is a friend from Angeles City. Why?”

“He has arrived in Akana and is en
route here.”

“What!” Iry roared.

“Tanner is on his way here? I neither
called him, nor did I tell him where I was,” I said in my defense,
admittedly scared.

The king held up his hand. “He
arrived at the gates looking for you. Savages were attacking our
gatekeepers and he and the other man defeated them.”

“He saved the gatekeepers?” Iry asked
in shock.

“He asked to speak to Vala. And
because he did save the gatekeeper, his wish has been granted. He
will be allowed to speak to Vala once he arrives.”

“And then?” I asked. “Am I to go with
him?”

The king shot an almost scolding
glance at me. “No. You are Intended.” He turned and walked to the
door.

I breathed heavily, my chest moving
up and down.

“My King,” Iry said, rushing to
him.

I stood across the room, truly
believing that Iry was trying to talk sense into the king. I could
hear their words even as they slipped to the other side of the
door.

“What are we going to do with this
Tanner?” Iry asked.

“I’ve not decided. Worry about your
marriage day.”

“I am,” said Iry. “That is why I am
asking.”

Their voices faded too much for me to
make out and I turned to face the window and looked out.

So much activity was below me.
Sybaris had gathered outside in fancy dresses and suits, awaiting
my marriage celebration.

I rested my hand against the pane of
glass, staring out. Tanner was on his way. It wasn’t a long journey
from Akana to the City of the Ancients. I knew it took shorter than
the length of time remaining until I was to marry Iry.

All I could do was stare out
that window and beg in my mind,
Hurry, Tanner. Get here. Please get here soon.

“Don’t you find it somewhat disturbing?” Snake asked me. “They take
over the world, treat our people like animals, and still use all
the nice little gadgets and technology that man invented.”

We had traveled by way of car to an
airport and flew in a pretty decked out plane to the City of the
Ancients.

Snake whistled. “I’ll be damned,” he
said as we flew over and prepared to land. “So this is where they
went. Nice flight”

I was too engrossed in the fear of
being so far off the ground to pay attention. After we landed, we
boarded a long black car with another Ancient. A medical man named
Alfred.

When Snake made his comment about
them using the technology, Alfred finally had enough. I guess he
had heard Snake rambling on the plane.

“How do you know man invented all
these things?” he asked.

“Because you were stuck underground
while we made them,” Snake snapped.

“Not all. There were some who managed
to say above.”

“Yeah, Dracula.”

“
I am nice to you because I was
instructed to be,” Alfred said tightly. “Use a derogatory term
again, and I won’t be so nice.” He looked down to this watch. “And
don’t say a thing about my timepiece,
we
invented the means to keep track of
time,” he said arrogantly. “And I do hope they hurry. I do not want
to miss the Intention ceremony and feast. Nor, I gather, do you.
Although I hope they dress you better.”

“Intention ceremony?” I asked.

“Like a marriage,” he replied.

I laughed. “Why wouldn’t I want to
miss it?”

He smiled. “Because, I believe the
person you are looking for is…what do humans call it? Oh yes, the
bride.”

My heart plummeted.
“
Vala?
Vala
is getting married?”

His only response was a smile.

Snake saw my panicked expression and
said, “No worries. We’ll get there.”

Like Alfred I wanted the driver to
hurry as well, though my reasons for getting to the Intention
ceremony were completely different than his.

“Vala!”

Tanner.

I heard the desperation in his shout
and it took my breath away.

“Vala, don’t do this! Vala, please.
Don’t do this!”

I looked out the window and there I
saw him.

“Vala!”

“This is insane,” Iry said. “He could
have made a better entrance, they were letting him in, after
all.”

“I have to see him,” I said, rushing
to get by Iry.

“And you can, but here is the deal.
He’s out there shouting like a fool. He could have just walked in.
While he brings not rebellion to our door, he certainly is
presenting it. And… you are not trusted enough as it is. Let me try
handling it first.”

“But, Iry—”

“Show everyone that you can be
trusted, Vala. You letting me approach him first is the way. I will
bring him to you.”

I nodded.

Iry turned and walked out of the
room.

“Vala!” Tanner shouted. This time his
voice was closer. “Let me go!”

Even though I told Iry I’d let him go
first, I raced out of the room. Iry was descending the stairs, and
I froze. Tanner stood by the doors with two guards.

I kept my distance as I moved behind
Iry, not wanting Iry to know I was there.

“Tanner,” Iry said, “please calm
down.” He motioned to the guards. “He’s fine, you can let him
go.”

“Where is she?” Tanner demanded.

“She’ll be right down. Stop this,
okay? Vala is fine.”

“I know you,” Tanner said. “I know
who you are. You’re the educator.”

“Actually, Tanner,” Iry said, “I am
the husband now.”

All color drained from Tanner’s face
and I moved farther down the stairs.

“No.” Tanner shook his head. “No,
it’s a lie.” Then Tanner saw me. “Vala? Is it true? Did you marry
him?”

Iry looked over his shoulder to
me.

“Tanner, listen, I—”

“No, Vala. Did you?” Tanner
repeated.

After a moment’s hesitation, I
answered, “Yes.”

Iry smiled, then looked at
Tanner.

The expression on Tanner’s face said
it all. Hurt, shock, and anger all at once. His eyes closed
briefly, he shook his head, and then Tanner turned away.

“Tanner!” I shouted.

Saying no more, because no more
needed to be said on his part, Tanner walked out.

My mind stayed focused on my task, and I knew where I was. I wasn’t
far from the road that I took when I led the Day Stalkers to that
field for the attack.

The narrow path grew wider the longer
I walked, and it was evident that humans had made their way down
the path. The leaves were squashed, trees cut out. I stopped once
to eat some of the food that Claudette had given to me. I rehashed
in my mind my simple story: I had moved to the Straits and was
chosen.

No long after my post-meal leg of the
journey, I heard yelling and shouting. I was approaching a segment
of their civilization. The edge of the path opened to a wide area
not far ahead of me.