I guess I have to figure out how to accuse someone without breaking their heart. I wish it were easy to throw your emotions back into a locker once they were out. I need that superpower.
As I reach the entrance to the cave, I take stock and look over everyone to make sure they are okay.
“We’re cool, Levi,” Rez reassures me with a smile. “Nothing we can’t handle,” she says with her arm in a sling.
“What the hell?” I take a step towards her, and the air is knocked out of me as I reach for her, reminding me of the condition I have. Flexing my fist, I step back and turn to Blessing. “What medicine did you have on stock?”
“They had a healer, but the damage was too extensive, and they would have to put me under to fix all of it. I don’t have the time, Levi. I took the meds, so let’s go,” Rez urges, and when I turn to argue, she simply walks away out of the cave.
Well then.
“Sucks, doesn’t it?” JP’s smart comment isn’t lost on me as he passes.
Blessing and a few of his clan members gather at the front and beckon us to follow them out of the mountain. I tap into the Ley lines with my magic to quickly check the way they are running, and they line up, so I have no reason to doubt them.
“We observed them setting up the portal about an hour’s walk south of here,” Blessing says, leading the group. “It’s the least we can do to escort you safely.”
“You okay?” Ryker asks, coming up next to me. “You seem a little tense.” He pauses and smirks. “I mean more than normal.”
I start following the rest, and Ryker stays back with me as I try to find the words.
“To put it simply, no. I am not okay. I don’t know how to share some information I have, and I know it’s going to hurt someone in this group gravely.” I look at Ryker. “And it’s something we will definitely need privacy for,” I whisper, lowering my voice as we pass close to a knotty tree.
Now that we know what to look for, it’s a little easier to spot the cameras, or at least their lens reflections.
“I see.” Ryker plays with his lip ring for a few seconds before wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Well, big brother, two things are for certain. One, you have to share it because keeping it in will only fuck everything and everyone up. We already know keeping secrets is a no-no in this relationship.”
I sigh, already knowing that.
“And the second?” I encourage, and when Ryker gives me a knowing smile, I start dreading the answer.
“The second, big brother, is I’m certain that I’m glad my ass is not in your shoes,” he chuckles. “Because she’s gonna eat you alive.” He pats me on the shoulder and starts to move away.
“What makes you think it’s her?”
“Because I’m not stupid,” he scoffs.
We really don’t need four Horsemen, right?
By the time we stop for a quick break, it’s been about thirty minutes, and the sky is starting to lighten up.Is it morning already?Checking my watch, it is indeed close to four in the morning. We haven’t had much sleep for our first day, and I’m about to lose my mind running this information over and over through my mind. The anxiety and the guilt of just knowing about it are eating me up. I throw up a silencing shield, even though we don’t have any trees around us, where we’ve stopped by a rocky overhang. I don’t want to take any chances.
“You okay?” Knots asks, giving me a weary look.
JP simply preempts everyone.
“He has something to tell us,” he says, getting comfortable by leaning against a rock.
‘Thanks, prick,’I send to him, and he smiles wide, winking as Zeke cuddles up against him.
“Does this have something to do with the spiders’ actions?” Blessing asks, standing vigil atop a rock, surveying the area.
“It does.”
I feel as all eyes swing my way and I take in a deep breath before jumping into what Blessing asked of me.
“As you all might know, I disposed of the spiders while you all cleaned up and got your injuries tended. Blessing said theycould use the pincers. I didn’t ask what for, but separated them before disposing of the bodies,” I explain.
“The meat is delicious, and the shells are great for weapons,” Blessing provides, and some of the other gargoyles nod along with his explanation.
