Warrior Beautiful (18 page)
Authors: Wendy Knight
The sun was up when Scout opened her eyes. The valley was silent, and it took her several minutes to remember her conversation with Iros the night before. Swearing, she leaped to her feet, tripped over her blanket that was still tangled around her legs, and fought her way free. Then she hurried out the door. “Iros? Iros?” she whispered loudly as she approached his hut. It looked exactly like hers, which meant there was no door and no glass on the windows. She couldn’t hear snoring, and there was nowhere to knock. She stuck her head through the doorway, scratching uselessly against the wood. There was no answer, and she couldn’t quite drum up the courage to go inside without being invited, so she turned away.
Not knowing what else to do with herself, she wandered the valley, finally thunking herself down on a thick tree root. It had been a long time since she’d had nothing to do. No homework, no physical therapy, no college applications or obligatory social crap. So long since she’d been free to do… what? What did she want to do? She tipped her head back, letting her hair fall and the sun warm her face.
Dance, big sister. Remember when you used to dance for me?
Scout wondered if she would ever get used to hearing Lil Bit’s voice in her head, but she wanted to grab it and cling to it and never let it go. She froze, willing her to speak again, but there was nothing. Scout brushed away tears that escaped, clinging to her lashes and soaking her cheeks. Dancing had always been her escape, but Lil Bit had never liked to dance. She spent her time trying to hide from the spotlight, but she had always loved watching Scout.
Scout hadn’t realized how much Lil Bit needed it until she couldn’t do it anymore — after the accident.
“
Hey little sister. What
’
s wrong?
”
Lil Bit scrubbed at her cheeks, trying to hide tears.
“
They laughed at me today. When I drew a picture of my unicorn and said she was my friend. They pu-pushed me down. Mom made me come home.
”
Scout knelt next to her, pulling her close and stroking the silky black hair.
“
I
’
ll—I
’
ll stuff them all in a trash can. Or no! I
’
ll make them clean up dog poop for a month. With their hands!
”
Lil Bit didn
’
t even giggle, which told Scout how much she was hurting.
“
Lil Bit,
”
she pushed her tiny sister back just enough so she could peer into those big brown eyes.
“
What can I do that will make you feel better? Tell me, and I
’
ll do it.
”
Lil Bit sniffled and bit her lip, looking shyly at the ground.
“
Can you dance?
”
Scout sat back, startled. She hadn
’
t danced in months. The doctors were amazed that she could even walk. Dancing wasn
’
t an option. But the hope on Lil Bit
’
s face nearly broke her heart.
“
Of course I can, sweetheart. Let me grab my music.
”
It had hurt, dancing for Lil Bit that first time. Oh, it had hurt. But Lil Bit had smiled. The light came back to her eyes. Lil Bit was the reason Scout hadn’t quit drill team altogether. And when Lil Bit had her really hard days, when Scout couldn’t get the light to come back with teasing and hugs, she would dance for her sister.
She pushed herself to her feet. There was no music here, and she didn’t have dance shoes, but it didn’t matter. The ground was soft and the breeze brushing through the trees was melody enough. She glanced around self-consciously, but there wasn’t anyone to see her. She pulled off the soft cotton long-sleeved shirt and dropped it at her feet, feeling the moist air trace across her bare stomach as she stood in her sports bra and the soft leggings. “Lil Bit, I’m dancing. Just for you,” she whispered. She slid easily into the ballet routine she’d been practicing before the accident. It had been choreographed just for her, but she hadn’t dared try it since she got hurt. The wind whispered in her ear, humming gentle notes, and she swayed and leaped with it. There was pain, but there was also healing, a little, for her aching heart. She felt her muscles stretch, protesting at first, and then embracing the movement. The entire valley floor became her stage as she danced across it, praying the music in her head was her sister humming along, and that she could feel Scout’s love wherever she was.
****
Trey eased away from Kylin, who had sobbed herself to sleep in his arms. He hadn’t slept at all — that tiny cot wasn’t big enough for both of them. His entire body ached, and he welcomed the pain, hoping it gave him some semblance of penance. He covered Kylin with the warm blanket he’d just abandoned and stood back, watching her sleep. He couldn’t do it anymore. He couldn’t pretend to love her. Even if Scout never wanted him, never even spoke to him again; he couldn’t pretend to be in love with someone else. When Kylin woke, he would tell her. But for now, he would let her sleep.
He stretched, facing the window, and movement outside caught his eye. He leaned on the ledge, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
Scout.
She danced across the valley floor — so beautiful, so free. She’d always been an amazing dancer, but he hadn’t seen her dance like this before. She danced with so much passion, he could almost see her tears from where he stood, and he ached to hold her, to soothe the pain, but he didn’t dare even move, afraid she would stop dancing. So he held his breath and watched her sway and spin, leap and slide. Her arms seemed to be graceful wings; her feet didn’t even look as if they touched the ground. Like she flew. An angel. His angel. She’d always been his angel.
She came closer and closer to his hut. He could see the sheen of sweat now, tracing her arms and the hard lines of her flat stomach, and the tears he’d sensed before were visible, soaking her cheeks. Without realizing it, he found himself outside, standing in the grass. She leaped, landed gracefully and sank to one knee, folded herself in half and then rose to her toes again and whirled into his arms. Catching her felt so right, that was where he was supposed to be. He held her tight against him and listened to her sob as her entire body shook. He pulled her sweat-dampened hair away from her neck, running his fingers through the tangles, pressing his cheek against the top of her head. And he prayed that this moment would never end, that he could hold her forever.
She slid out of his arms, her face turned away from him.
“Scout,” he whispered, reaching for her, but she shook her head and spun away with the same grace she’d danced with. Without a word she fled to her hut, and it took everything he had not to follow her.
****
“You’re losing it, girl. You can’t let him in. Remember what he did!” Scout muttered angrily as she paced around and around her little hut. Her shirt was out there, clear across the valley, but she didn’t dare leave to get it. She couldn’t face Trey. If he said her name, she didn’t have the strength to refuse him again. It took at least a half hour of wearing a trail in her roughly hewn wood floor before she finally risked looking out the window. Trey was nowhere in sight, so she darted through the door, about to sprint across the valley for her shirt. But it was folded neatly, sitting right outside her hut. She picked it up, cradling it to her chest. It smelled like him. Her eyes unwillingly searched for Trey through his hut window.
“No. No, Scout.” She tugged the shirt over her head and spun on her heel. Iros had given her information the night before. She wanted to know what to do with it, and this time she wouldn’t let him sleep through her knocking.
“Iros?” she called from the doorway, but again there was no answer. She straightened her spine and peered inside.
“Iros?” she asked, louder this time. His hut had two cots, and she could just make out the shape of him lying in one. She bit her lip and frowned. Would it be rude to wake him? Was it completely inappropriate? Ashra would just go in and probably kick him. Scout straightened her spine and marched over to the cot. “Iros.” She nudged the wooden leg and the blanket fell away.
It was not Iros in the bed.
It was a beautiful girl with long black hair. She glowed faintly, like Trey and Torz or Havik and Iros did when they were together. Scout stumbled back, beyond mortified.
And slammed into something big and solid. She squeaked and whirled around. “Iros! I’m so sorry! I didn’t know—”
His eyes didn’t leave the girl in the bed. “Please leave, Scout.”
“Of course.” She ducked her head and escaped around him, running for the door. Safely hidden in the darkness of her hut, she thunked onto her bed, her entire body trembling and her cheeks flaming. Scrunching up her eyebrows in concentration, she searched for Ashra. It was like a phone call, right? “
Ashra.
”
If it was like a phone call, Ashra wasn’t answering and she didn’t have voicemail. Sighing, Scout pushed herself to her feet and paced. “
Who is that girl? What
’
s wrong with her?
”
She couldn’t go ask Iros. Clearly, he hadn’t been a fan of her knowing. Trey and Kylin wouldn’t be any help whatsoever. Scout crept to her window peering out and praying Iros wouldn’t see her.
There were no unicorns outside. She could go looking for them, but since the space was infinite, the chances of her finding one that didn’t want her to die wasn’t good. “Argh.” She shoved a hand through her hair and paced some more before giving up and going in search of a toothbrush. She was in the midst of trying to scrub all the ick off her teeth when she felt a presence in her hut. She whirled, brandishing the toothbrush like a weapon.
“You know, you’ve got a scepter that you seem pretty sufficient at using for protection.” Iros raised an eyebrow, wiping toothpaste off his broad cheekbone.
“Iros!” Scout exclaimed. She held up a finger. “Wait. Jus a secon’“ She spun around and spit the toothpaste out, muttering about how long it took to rinse her toothbrush before she turned back to him. “Sorry.” She bit her lip sheepishly.
“I owe you an explanation.”
“No.” Scout shook her head. “You don’t. I shouldn’t have been in your hut…”
Iros rolled his eyes, the first sarcastic thing she’d ever seen him do. “If I truly didn’t want anyone in my hut, it would have a lock. Or at least a door.”
Scout tipped her head, twirling a curl around her finger nervously. She didn’t know what to say, so it seemed smartest to keep her mouth shut. He sighed and ran a hand through his short, cropped hair, and her eyes were drawn to the well-muscled bicep. Realizing he watched her with the barest hint of a smile, she squeezed her eyes shut tight and willed her cheeks not to flame scarlet for the second time in ten minutes.
“She was my betrothed. Hundreds of years ago.” Iros looked away, out the window toward his hut. Scout felt her jaw drop but couldn’t will it shut. “After my brother was cast out, he sent his soul stealers after her. She was his first victim.”
Scout muffled a cry against her fist. “Iros.” She shook her head, resisting the urge to physically comfort him. That would make an awkward situation so much worse. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say.”
Iros gave her a sad smile. “I can’t give up on her. The unicorns keep her alive. Until I can… until I can let her go.”
Scout dropped her fist. “Why can’t you save her? When we save Lil Bit, we can save her, too! We can save them all!”
Iros opened his mouth like he would say something, but instead just sucked in air. Several deep breaths later, he finally spoke. “Scout, he’s building an army by tearing apart the good souls to build evil. She’s…” he clenched his fists at his side. “She’s gone. Excuse me.” He whirled and practically ran from the hut. Scout watched him go as her heart broke for him.
****
Avoiding someone when he couldn’t leave his cave-like home was difficult, but Trey tried his best, hanging out at the far end of the valley near the forest. He saw Iros rush away from the huts and straight toward Trey, his shoulders tight, but Iros was staring at the ground and didn’t see Trey until he nearly ran him over. “You okay, man?” Trey asked, blocking him with his hands.
Iros jerked his head up, blinking rapidly like he was trying to bring himself back from somewhere far, far away. “Yes.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Yes, sorry. I didn’t see you there.” He glanced back at the huts before returning his attention to Trey. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were hiding.”
Trey kicked at a root, trying to think of something clever to say to this man that was his nemesis and un-hate-able all at the same time. Iros chuckled. “Wait one second. I’ve got something that might entertain you.” He turned and jogged back toward his hut. Seconds later he reappeared with something tucked under his arm. Trey squinted, unable to make it out until Iros got within hearing distance.
“A football? You have a football here?”
Iros grinned like he’d won a trophy. “There’s a flat, grassy area not far. I haven’t had anyone to play catch with for decades. The unicorns just impale and destroy it.” He looked hopefully at Trey.
What choice did he have? The man was too nice, and he’d presented one of Trey’s two weaknesses. Football. “I’m in. Forge ahead, fearless leader.”
Iros chuckled. “This way.”
They played catch as the sun moved across the sky. It felt good to have something familiar in his hands, something concrete; something he could feel and touch that reminded him his previous life was still there. He hadn’t realized he was scared of losing it all until he caught that football and felt some of the fear melt away.
Iros, for his part, had a strong arm, which wasn’t surprising since he was the leader of a unicorn battle army and all. “How do you even know about football? I haven’t noticed any TVs in the area.” Trey quirked an eyebrow and Iros laughed.
“No, no TVs. Before the soul stealers escaped, we had a lot of free time roaming the world, watching for threats. A lot of time to watch games when no one in the stands could see us but the little innocent ones.”
The ball sailed back and Trey caught it easily. He felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck and looked around quickly, but they were the only ones in the little meadow. He threw the ball back, glancing over his shoulder. Nothing.
The next time he felt it, he jerked around fast enough that he just caught site of the glowing horn in the darkness. “Aye. They’re watching. Waiting to see if they have to rush in and rescue me.” Iros grimaced as he caught the ball. “Don’t worry. They’re just watching.”
Trey found it difficult to concentrate when he could feel them at his back. His skin crawled while he waited to be impaled or burned with unicorn fire. He missed the next two throws and the third one caught him in the face. Iros jogged over, trying to smother his laughter. “Had enough for today?”
Trey rubbed his cheekbone, where he could already feel a lump forming. “I guess so. Will they ever stop hating us?”
Iros nodded, the light fading from his eyes. “Yes. But it will take time. All forgiveness takes time, but it happens. It’s a healing process, if you think about it.” Iros tossed the ball into the air and caught it in his big hands before he started for the trees. “You have a wound, you keep picking at it — it will never heal. It just gets worse. But you start nurturing it, bandaging it, cleaning it, examining it — it starts to heal. The wound will never be completely gone — the worst wounds always scar — but it will heal.” He shrugged, glancing at Trey out of the corner of his eye. “They all heal eventually.”
They walked in silence until they were within sight of the valley. “You are free to resume hiding. I—” Iros was cut off as a bright green unicorn sliced through the trees and landed in front of them. His coat was lathered with foamy sweat and his breath came in ragged gasps.
“
Iros. We have a problem.
”
Iros glanced at Trey. “Excuse me,” he motioned at the football and smiled, but it didn’t chase away the worry that bloomed in his eyes. “We’ll play again soon, right?”
“Right.” Trey nodded slowly as Iros whistled.
Trey could hear Havik coming long before he could see him — the thunderous hooves nearly shook the ground as the mighty unicorn came into view. “We’ve got trouble, Havik.” Havik lowered his head. His horn glowed briefly, and the trees shook as more giant hooves — many more, roared through the forest. Trey immediately recognized Torz; he felt him coming closer without even needing to see him. Ashra was with him, darker and sleeker than the others, like she had Ekse blood in her as well as Irwarro. The other hundred or so that materialized out of the trees or dropped from the air all looked very similar. Trey inched away, settling himself on a gnarled root away from the mighty warriors, but Torz still managed to situate himself between Trey and anything that might want to attack his rider. At the front of them all, Iros and Havik stood silently, waiting.
When it seemed they could fit no more gigantic unicorns in the clearing, Iros turned to the Ekse who waited next to him. “What did you see?”
“
The Taraxippus have already begun the Corruption.
”
The many unicorns in the meadow squealed, snorted, tossed their heads or stamped their hooves, leading Trey to believe that this was a bad, bad thing, but otherwise he struggled to figure out what the Ekse was talking about.
“
You know the Taraxippus as soul stealers,
”
Torz’s voice said quietly in his head. “
The Corruption is the rending of innocent souls and rebuilding them as an evil soul for the Taraxippus. So that they can march on Paradesos.
”
“
They don
’
t march.
”
Ashra snorted, turning her graceful neck to roll her big eyes at Torz. “
They have no feet.
”
Trey missed her sarcasm, so overwhelmed with horror that it felt like acid ate away at his heart. Innocent souls?
Liam. Tate. Lil Bit.
Those were the most innocent souls he knew. He couldn’t imagine them being a part of something so evil.
“
What can we do?
”
“
We must attack immediately.
”
“
Kill the Taraxippus before they can enter Paradesos!
”
So many voices in Trey’s head, bouncing against his skull, but the meadow wasn’t silent even with the telekinesis. The unicorns made horse sounds when they spoke, whinnying, neighing, whatever they called it. They stomped a lot, and slapped their tails even though there were no bugs to bother them.
Ashra and Havik seemed to be the only ones still calm. Torz shifted uneasily next to Trey, watching and waiting. “
I don
’
t like what
’
s coming
,
”
Torz said, his voice quiet in Trey’s head, but somehow drowning out everything else.
At the front of the makeshift assembly, Iros leaned his head against Havik’s, and seemed to ignore the commotion around them. When Iros stood up, he faced the unicorns, one regular-sized man against a whole army of gigantic horses with sharp hooves and dangerous horns. “We will close the gate to Aptavaras.”
Absolute silence.
No one moved. Trey felt his jaw drop. “But if you close the gate, how will we rescue the souls?” he blurted. At least a hundred pairs of eyes turned to glare at him. He swallowed hard but didn’t take his eyes off Iros.
Iros’ face was grimmer than Trey had ever seen it; the sadness in his eyes was nearly overwhelming. “They will be lost.”
Trey burst to his feet, his sudden movement startling the unicorns closest to him. They rounded, horns glittering with fiery magic and pointed at his chest, but he barely noticed. “How can you even think of doing that?” he exclaimed.
“Trey, you have to understand, billions of souls are at stake here versus a few thousand. We have no choice.”
“There’s always a choice,” Trey yelled.
Iros shook his head. “Not this time. If the Taraxippus — the soul stealers — attack Paradesos before we can build an army, the entire world will be lost. I’m sorry, Trey.”
Trey wanted to punch the thick tree next to his head. He wanted to yell about broken promises and false hope. But there was nothing he could say or do that would change Iros’ mind; he knew that. Instead he did the only thing left to do.
He went to warn Scout.