Rivals (7 page)

He sat down beside her and finished the last bit of granola. He didn’t want to admit that it was the best-tasting granola bar he had ever eaten. After he finished he started to get up. Cori pushed him again, making him land on his butt. He stared at her, flabbergasted. “What the hell?”

“I am willing to do anything to avoid walking again, including pick a fight with you.”

“I’m not fighting you,” he said firmly.

“Okay,” she said.

He started to get up again, but she hooked his ankles with her feet and pulled him down again. He glared at her, but she just laughed.

“Cori! This is childish.”

“I know, I know, but this walking is so boring. I think I have ADHD.” She crawled toward him.

He jumped to his feet before she could stop him. “No, you’re just spoiled.”

She knelt before him, grabbing his shirt. “Wait, wait, wait, I have an idea.”

He pulled away and started walking.

“It involves taking our clothes off.”

He couldn’t help but be intrigued. He stopped and looked back at her. She smiled mischievously and tipped her brow.

Cori ran through the trees ahead of him, giggling like a schoolgirl. Ethan struggled to keep up, ducking the evergreen branches she left swinging in her wake. It was late afternoon, and he expected another hour’s worth of walking before they reached the caves, leaving them just enough time for whatever Cori had planned.

“Come on,” she called back to him.

“Where are you going?” He didn’t really know why he had followed her so unquestioningly. Actually, he did.

“Come on.” She giggled.

He popped out of the trees just as Cori started removing her clothes, starting with her shoes. She smiled at him, hopping on one foot to get her shoe off. Behind her in the clearing was a serene lake. The water mirrored the blue sky and late-day sun.

“You want to swim?” he asked, reasonably disappointed.

“No,” she said, moving to him. “I want
us
to swim.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him closer to the water. “Take your shirt off.”

“How did you know this was here?” he asked slipping his t-shirt over his head.

“I saw it from the cliffs last night at sunset. I made a mental note of the surrounding landscape.” She continued to remove her own shirt and pants, leaving only her underclothes.

He turned away, making an excuse to survey the area, so he wasn’t tempted to openly gawk at her. “We are putting ourselves in a vulnerable position. This is foolish and dangerous.” Even as he said it, he started to pull off his shoes.

“Dangerous, and we get to take our clothes off. I can’t believe I have to talk you into this.”

He looked back at her, shifting his eyes in every imaginable direction before he could focus on her face. “Maybe I should stay out here and keep a lookout.”

“You can watch out for me, in the water,” she said, backing off the shore into the shallow water. She kicked water at him. “Come on, where's that blind dedication that earned you a scar yesterday.”

Ethan grumbled a cuss under his breath and slipped out of his cargo pants. “Okay, but we have to be quiet,” he said right before he yelled and charged in after her. She squealed and dove in. After a bit of splashing they settled into the cool water and floated around.

Ethan had forgotten how freeing swimming was. It was like being a kid again.  

11

The remaining walk to the cave, Cori didn’t lag behind, nor did she complain about the walking. She kept a strange little smile on her face that Ethan couldn’t help but be amused by.

He chuckled to himself after one particular glance.

“What are you laughing at?” she asked.

“You,” he said. “Who knew swimming would put you in a sane state of mind.”

“Well, what do you expect? We live in Siberia. We don’t have a pool, at least not one that isn’t filled with sea creatures. When else are we going to swim?”

“That’s true. I never thought of that,” he said.

“See, you should thank me for providing you with a long-overdue pleasure.”

“Thank you.” Ethan took her hand and brought it to his lips for a chaste kiss. It was a gesture he had seen Danato do many times with her. He couldn’t think of a better way to express his thanks for such a liberating afternoon.

Unfortunately, his gracious gesture was spoiled when she yanked her hand back. She must have seen the shock in his face, because she looked away. He wasn’t sure what was more offensive to him: that she pulled away from him, or that she looked away.

He couldn’t understand her. One minute they were friends, skirting the options of being more, and the next they were complete strangers to each other. This was why he couldn’t seek her out. This was why no matter what he felt for her he wouldn’t push a relationship with her until she asked for it.

He walked on ahead of her, no longer wanting to observe her smile. He heard her mumble “you’re welcome” from behind as he distanced her.

When they finally reached the cave, Ethan started a fire and lay straight down to sleep. Cori sat across the fire, poking at the wood with a stick. Sparks glittered out from the wood as she did.

“Are you awake?” she finally asked.

“That depends on what you want.” He had sensed a shift in her demeanor. She was unsettled. He wasn’t sure if it was in regards to the awkward hand kiss or just frustration over the lack of entertainment. Either way, he wasn’t committed to playing the role of the concerned friend.

“Nothing, I guess,” she said.

“You definitely have ADHD,” he grumbled and rolled over, putting his back to her.

“I just…” Cori trailed off. A few seconds later he heard a stuttered inhalation.

He looked back and saw tears in her eyes. He sat up. “What is it?”

She shook her head vigorously, trying to get herself under control before speaking. “I don’t want to fall asleep,” she blubbered.

“Oh, crap.” Ethan chastised himself for being so blind. He crawled over to her and held her in his arms. She tensed at his touch, but he didn’t release. “I’m so sorry. I forgot about the dreams. They are wicked.” He rocked her slightly, while she gulped in breaths. “That bad, huh?” he whispered in her ear.

“Yes.” She nodded. “It’s just my memories, but with more violence, and in vivid Technicolor. Those stupid assholes! I hate them so much for doing this to me.”

“You can stop the dreams. If you…”

“What?” She sniffled.

“It took me a few nights to get the hang of controlling them. It just takes mental preparation, and a safe place in your mind.”

“Nothing I could learn in under an hour.” Cori laughed through her tears.

“No.” Ethan grimaced.

“I hate this. I thought I was over this. The fear.” She pulled away from him. He released her, feeling the sting of rejection again. She turned to face him. “I didn’t mean to pull away like that this afternoon. The dreams have put me on the defensive.” She leaned down and shook her head. “The stupid sorrow demon is latching onto them too. I feel like I’m being pulled in two different directions.”

“What’s the other direction?”

She looked back up at him, and he wasn’t sure what she saw in his face, but she stopped crying and the sadness in her eyes was replaced with fear. “What?”

“You said two different directions.”

Her mouth gaped as she stared at him. “Will you sleep with me tonight?”

It was Ethan’s turn to play the slack-jawed idiot. He knew she was just trying to get out from under her fear demon, but if she was reliving the traumas of her captivity, it was even more important that he not indulge her vacillating attentions. He frowned and gave her arm a gentle rub. “Cori, we talked about that.”

“Beside me,” she clarified.

“Oh.” He cleared his throat and let his disappointment, relief, and embarrassment out with a cathartic chuckle. “You should have said that last part a little quicker.”

She ignored his quip and continued to plead to him with her eyes. “You can wake me up when I start to have the nightmares?”

“I’ll be ready to slap you awake at a moment’s notice.” He smiled.

Her eyes flickered over him, just as his had flickered over her a moment earlier. She seemed to pose a question or statement that sat on the edge of her lips waiting to be spoken. She opened her mouth, taking in the breath she needed for her words, but she stopped, her eyes hardened and she gave him a forced smile.

She lay down next to the fire. He scooted up next to her, trying to find the balance between protection and propriety. She fell asleep faster than he expected. Each time she started screaming, he woke her, subdued her, and lulled her back to sleep.

At some point in the night, he stirred to her heavy breathing. She was grunting and groaning and her face showed pain. Instead of waking her up, he caressed her face. “Cori, it’s me. You’re safe,” he whispered. Her face relaxed slightly. “No one can hurt you. I’m watching over you. I’ll protect you.” His face was so close to hers. Her eyelids quivered, triggered by her dreams. The soft curve of her cheek glowed against the dying fire. Her lips were a rosy pink that hardly needed lipstick. He wanted to kiss her.

“I love you, Cori,” he whispered into her ear. The nightmare passed. Her chest rose and fell with slow, shallow breaths. Her face no longer cringed and her muffled nightmare screams ceased.

He was so close to her now. He couldn’t leave her, not yet. He lowered his face to hers. He was terrified she would wake and accuse him of molesting her.  

Ever so slightly, he touched his lips to hers. Her lips were soft and warm. Without the return from her, it was hardly more than a peck, but Ethan felt better somehow. He could at least say he hadn’t passed up the opportunity.

12

Ethan woke up late the next morning. The spot where Cori had slept was empty and already cold. “Damn it.” He forced himself up and went outside to look for her. As he stepped out of the cave, he caught sight of a wizard within earshot. He ducked back in and peeked out at him.

The wizard was leaning against a tree, shining his gold medallion necklace with his long dark beard. The chain held five thick gold coins with obscure markings. His long gauzy robe was covered in blood. Ethan got the impression his necklace was newly acquired.

Ethan searched for a weapon. The rocks were all either too big or too small, and the sticks were kindling at best. He peeked back out of the cave entrance. The wizard had settled against a tree for a standing nap. His head was back and his eyes closed. Whatever he had just done to get his necklace must have taken a good deal of his energy.

Ethan cursed silently.

A pink flower fell from above the entrance to the cave. He looked at the bloom and picked it up. He looked up. Cori leaned over the cliff’s edge above.

She motioned to the flower he had pinched between his fingers. She cupped her hand and put it over her nose and mouth. She took a deep breath in and pretended to fall asleep. She then pointed at the wizard.

He examined the flower. There didn’t appear to be any particulate on it.
Are you sure?
He mouthed to her.

Yes,
she mouthed back.

He shook his head and sneaked out of the cave. He didn’t have far to go. He debated whether to accost the wizard or simply push the flower up to his face. He slipped into position behind the tree and simply reached the flower over, dangling it over the man’s nose.

The man was already snoring. Ethan wasn’t sure if he would know the difference if he did pass out.

After a few snores, the wizard slumped and fell over. Ethan relaxed.

Cori raced over. “Holy crap, it worked!”

“You said you were sure!” His voice was pitched high.

“I was mostly sure.”

“How did you know in the first place?” he asked.

“The Demnok wizard said not to smell the flower, or else I would sleep a long time.” She stood over the wizard. “Now what? Do we leave?”

“No, I think we can drag him into the woods, far enough away that he’ll be a little lost. He will have to assume another wizard did it to him.”

Ethan picked up the wizard’s torso, while Cori helped with his feet. They took him several hundred yards north, away from their camp. Ethan would have preferred to take him farther, but he didn’t know how long he would be unconscious.

They dropped him and Cori headed back right away. Ethan hung back. He looked at the gold medallion necklace and decided that if a wizard had attacked, they would likely have taken the jewelry.

He ripped the necklace off him and shoved it in his pocket. It kind of felt as if he was pilfering, but it’s not like Danato would let him keep it anyway.