Friction (The Frenzy Series Book 4) Page 2

  “Thank you for the food,” he said, looking up but refusing to meet my eyes.

  “You’re welcome. What do you plan to do after you leave here?”

  “If Mountainside will allow me to stay, I will do that and see if it’s a fit. If not, I’ll follow you to the next settlement and try there. I’ll keep trying until I find somewhere to belong.”

  My chest tightened. “I’m sorry, Saul.”

  “No sorrier than I am, Mercedes.”

  The pieces of fabric were small but bright red-orange, and would be an effective trail of bread crumbs as long as Porschia or Tage didn’t catch on. Hopefully Roman wouldn’t feel well enough to pay close attention to anything. I was the one who bit Saul and turned him into a monster, so I was partially responsible for the monstrous things he did and would be responsible for making sure he survived. In another settlement, he could start anew. As a human, with a new life, new prospects and possibilities, he could live out his days in peace. Saul could become anyone he wanted to be. Hovering around Blackwater was torturous to him, as it was to the Elders. Although he didn’t have much contact with them, he watched the forest closely and saw the ones who came to offer them help, his former boss included.

  I jerked my thumb back toward Blackwater. “Keep a lookout. I need to get back in case they leave soon.”

  He shifted his feet. “I’m ready and I’ll watch for you.”

  “Okay,” I said with determination, already turning my back to him and jogging back toward the river. I firmly believed it wasn’t a betrayal to my sister; it was simply helping someone who needed it. As I approached the swirling currents of the water, I saw that Porschia was waiting for me on the other side. “What are you doing, Mercedes?” Her voice wasn’t angry, just exasperated and tired.

  Pursing my lips together, I tried to think up a good lie but decided with her uncanny instincts, it was pointless. “Saul needs food so I took him some.”

  She inhaled deeply. “Was it some of what Father sent for you and Roman?”

  “Ford packed extra.”

  “Did he know who was getting the extra rations?” she bit out crossly.

  I straightened my shoulders. “He did.”

  “Why would Ford help Saul?” She was asking one question, as well as another unspoken one about why I was helping him. The answers were different and yet the same.

  “Saul wants to leave Blackwater behind. He is going to follow us to Mountainside, where he plans to start a new life.”

  My sister’s jaw tightened. “So Ford only helped so he could be rid of him?”

  Mine tightened, too. “More than likely.”

  “And you? What’s your excuse for visiting him so often? For bringing him food and helping him follow our trail?”

  “Are you jealous or angry, Porschia?” She stared intently at me, and if her eyes could have burst into flames or lit me on fire, it wouldn’t have surprised me at all. But I told her how I felt and for once she listened instead of getting angry and walking away. “I made him the monster he became, and I feel responsible for how everything happened.”

  “You feel responsible? Guilty? Good. You deserve it, Mercedes. You made many monsters and several enemies along the way.”

  “Porschia, I know that. I’ve said I’m sorry a thousand times, but I can’t apologize forever.”

  “Then don’t bother,” she said as she sped away.

  Porschia was right. I bit her, bit our mother, and bit Saul. Mother was gone, and although Saul was human again, he was an outcast because of me. And Porschia… she was damned because of my actions. I could say it was because of Pierce and how he frightened me, but the fact of the matter was that I had a choice and I chose to avoid his wrath by infecting others. I took the easy path and made the wrong choice. Porschia couldn’t be helped, but Saul still could – and I was going to help him. Everyone else, including my sister, could just learn to deal with it.

  When I caught up with her at her house, she and Tage were walking over to get Roman from his. “We need you to get the horse from the stable, Mercedes,” Tage said.

  “You want me to get it?” I didn’t mind; I was just surprised they trusted me to do anything.

  “Unfortunately,” he smiled, exposing his long fangs, “I tend to spook them. My bet is that your sister would too, so that’s why we need you to get the horse and come back for Roman as soon as possible.”

  Porschia narrowed her eyes at me in response.

  “Hurry, we’re going to bring him down.”

  I took off running as fast as my legs could carry me. They were infinitely better now that the Infection was gone, but weaker than I’d been before the illness took hold. Sometimes I envied Porschia. Once she fed she was so strong, even stronger than Tage and twice as strong as Roman had been as a night-walker.

  Ford was already waiting at the stable, saddling a beautiful dark brown mare. He smiled as he saw me approaching. “Cedes, you’re just in time. This girl is ready.” He patted her back and stroked her mane.

  “What’s her name?” I looked at her, her eyes as dark as freshly turned soil.

  “Her name’s Lady. Take care of her, and –” He approached to whisper, looking around to make sure no one was listening to our conversation. Satisfied that no one was around, he continued, “Don’t let Porschia get too close to her. Tage, either.”

  “They frighten you, Lady?” I said, stroking her mane. I wasn’t scared of horses. I’d ridden before, although not nearly enough to be considered good at it, and a spooked horse might be more than I could handle.

  “That…but also, Porschia likes meat and I like Lady—alive.”

  I swallowed. She wouldn’t eat the horse. At least, I didn’t think she would. I saw Porschia eat raw meat once, and it was enough to make me never want to see it again. Nodding to Ford, I took her reins and he eased a stool over to help me climb on. “There are apples and oats in the bags behind you. Feed her well and stop for water as often as you can.”

  “We will. I’ll see to it that she returns to you in the same shape she’s in now.”

  He looked away. “Take care of Porschia, too. I know no one thinks she needs help, but I think she needs it now more than she ever has.”

  My brows touched one another. Why would Porschia need anything from me or anyone else? She was the most powerful thing around here. She had nothing to fear because everyone feared her. That included me. Most days I didn’t know if she wanted to hug me or strangle my neck. I wouldn’t have blamed her for either one. Once the dust settled and after the cure was found, things between the pair of us had changed irrevocably.

  I thanked Ford again before Lady trotted out of the stable and I guided her toward Roman’s house. When I approached, Tage was supporting Roman’s weight, Roman’s arm draped around his shoulder, but he was still standing in the sunlight, draped in a thick, woolen coat.

  Porschia flanked his other side, her dress also hidden by dark wool, wearing the coat that used to be mine. Lady whinnied when we got too close to the pair of predators, but I kept her calm as Tage helped Roman onto the saddle behind me. It wasn’t the most comfortable situation.

  “I need to hold on to you,” he said, wincing. He squinted his eyes against the bright sunlight.

  “That’s fine.”

  He groaned and held on tightly to my stomach as Porschia spoke up. “We’ll meet you at the crossing downstream.”

  They sped away, setting Lady at ease once more. The thing about prey? They knew what to be frightened of. Perhaps we should all be wary of the night-walkers. Even Porschia could be dangerous if provoked, and provocation seemed to be my strong suit lately.

  “What’s wrong, kitten?” I strained to keep up with her.

  Porschia growled as she ran harder and faster alongside the twisting, angry river. I was losing ground as she yelled, “My sister is an idiot.”

  “We know that already, but why are you so upset right now?” I knew she was glad Mercedes was healed, but their relationship mig
ht never be if Mercedes kept pushing Porschia away. Most people thought Porschia was the instigator, but Mercedes had picked fights lately to purposely distance herself from her sister.

  “She’s going to leave a trail so that Saul can follow us.” That statement stopped me in my tracks. This might be the most brazen thing Mercedes has tried yet. Porschia slowed and then stopped ahead of me, hands on her hips.

  “Why is she helping him?” I asked. The woman might be Porschia’s sister, but sometimes she acted like their mother. And despite what Mercedes said, she didn’t do anything purely out of the goodness of her heart. What was in it for her?

  “Guilt.” Porschia accepted the excuse her sister gave. Me? Not so much. I wasn’t sure guilt was an emotion Mercedes was capable of feeling. As far as Saul, I had smelled his scent for the last few days but assumed Porschia was the one with the charitable heart. It should come as no surprise that a sense of relief washed over me. “She’s been helping him lately?”

  Porschia nodded. “She said he wants to start a new life somewhere else, maybe in Mountainside.”

  It made sense. He wasn’t welcome here, and living like a hermit in the woods didn’t seem to be Saul’s cup of tea. Porschia was all he wanted, Blackwater be damned, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was using this as an excuse to get into her good graces again. If he got close enough to her along the journey... “You can’t blame the guy.”

  “You want to help him?” she asked, one brow quirked.

  “No, but if getting him to Mountainside gets him out of my hair, I’m good with that.” Not to mention that it would get him away from Porschia. I’d just have to withstand him for this leg of the journey. If puppy stayed behind like a good dog and just followed along after us, it might not be so aggravating.

  “She could have asked first,” Porschia fumed, pacing back and forth.

  “She could have,” I agreed with her, smiling. Watching her get all worked up was hot.

  “She shouldn’t have been sneaking around behind our backs.”

  “Or behind yours. You’re her sister,” I said, grinning wider.

  “Why are you... You’re enjoying this!” She tackled me to the ground before I knew she’d even moved. Porsch was that fast and that strong.

  I chuckled as she straddled me and then realized she was straddling me. Her body was warm and perfect and... “Kitten, if you wanted me for breakfast, all you had to do was ask.” I made my voice gravelly, the way she liked it.

  Her long, dark hair cascaded from either side of her face, tickling my neck and driving me up the wall. She pursed her lips, not in a pout, but in aggravation. “Kitten needs a kiss.”

  “What?” she scoffed, easing away from me.

  “Don’t play with me. You do. You need a kiss to erase all of this bullshit from your mind. Let me help for a minute. We’ve got plenty of time before they catch up, thanks to your super speedy self.”

  She wasted no time, melding her mouth with mine. Warm and wet and soft. She used her fangs to bite my bottom lip, making it bleed ever so slightly. The scent of iron filled my nose as she continued her assault. And I loved when she assaulted me. Pulling her waist closer, I couldn’t get enough.

  In the distance, the sound of hooves beating against the earth could be heard. She pulled away with a frustrated groan and believe me… I felt the same frustration. Everywhere.

  Mercedes guided the horse along the opposite bank. Roman clung to her as best he could, but his posture was slack and I wasn’t sure he’d be able to hold on the entire way. “Is he okay?” I shouted over the roaring water.

  “I’m okay,” he slurred. “Just tired.”

  Mercedes nodded and yelled, “I gave him peppermint and catnip. I saw Maggie before we left and she said they’d take the fever down.”

  Groaning, I felt bad for the guy. Herbs in general were horribly bitter. Willow bark and I had an unfortunate history, one I wouldn’t soon forget. The river crossing, which wouldn’t be easy for the mare because the water never dropped too low, was only another mile ahead. “We’ll meet you at the crossing,” she yelled, kicking the horse gently to spur her on.

  Tage’s hand found my waist. “Ready?” he asked.

  “Want to race?” I said with a grin.

  “You’re on.” And with that, he ran ahead. I laughed and chased after him, easily overtaking him and smacking his butt as I passed by him.

  At the crossing, he caught back up and looked at me with awe. “I can’t even win when I cheat.”

  “Cheaters never prosper,” I teased, but the sound of splashing and my sister’s frantic voice caught my attention.

  Mercedes eased the mare into the water. “Hold on, Roman. Tightly.”

  He sat up straighter behind her and tightened his grip, though he was paler in the sunlight and his dark hair flapped about in the breeze. Tage started toward the river. “He’s faltering. He’s going to slip into the water.”

  “Don’t!” I whispered forcefully. “You’ll spook the horse and then he’ll definitely lose his grip.”

  Muscles tense, we watched as the mare navigated across the rocks on the riverbed, finally making it through the deepest part, soaking the legs of her riders. I watched as the bag of food Father and Ford sent for the journey came loose and sank into the churning water. Mercedes didn’t know it yet, but we were now at Mountainside’s mercy in more ways than one. With a nicker, Lady trudged forward, pulling them from the dark water where we stood back to give her a wide berth. “Good girl,” I whispered. The horse’s eyes snapped to me.

  “Good girl, Lady,” Mercedes cooed, stroking her mane.

  Roman slid down and Tage ran to catch him. Looking back at me, Tage held him upright. “We have to hurry.”

  Roman’s head lolled against Tage’s chest.

  “I’ll carry him,” I said. Running was easy for me, and Roman didn’t weigh too much.

  Tage began to protest in that manly way of his. “I’ve got him.”

  “I’m stronger.”

  “You’re a girl.”

  I took Roman from him. “Girls are stronger,” I said sweetly. This girl was going to show the guys exactly how strong a woman could be. Sweeping his legs off the ground, I held him against my chest tightly. “Roman?”

  He blinked up at me with tired eyes and I asked, “Which way to Mountainside from the crossing?”

  “To Mountainside from the crossing?” he mumbled and then answered, “Due east.”

  “Thank you. Hang on, Roman. I’ll find help.” Somehow, someone would help us, right? They had to be nice in Mountainside. It was the safest place to start, Roman had said adamantly, repeatedly.

  “Porschia?” he asked. His dark eyes were like glass.

  I smiled down at him, trying to hide my fear. “Yeah?”

  “Compel them to let you in or they won’t,” he rasped, his lips sticking together like paste had been applied to them.

  “I don’t know how to use compulsion.”

  “You look in their eyes and tell them what you need. Don’t look away. Be confident.”

  “You didn’t look at me when you compelled me.”

  He tried to smirk. “That’s because I was awesome at it.”

  And always so humble. “I’ll try.”

  “Do it, or they won’t open the gate.” With those words, he finally lost his battle with consciousness and I envied him. I had to figure out how to compel someone, and I had thirty miles to learn. I’d also have to compel them to help him, heal him if they could. The humans would fear the illness and might not help willingly.

  I took a deep breath, repeating to myself that I could do this. Turning to Tage and Mercedes, I said confidently, “We’ll see you soon.”

  Tage nodded once. Carrying Roman was as easy as I thought. I raced through the forest, past stone and fallen tree trunks, over limbs and burrows. Roman needed help. He would die if he didn’t get it. And Mountainside would give it to us—one way or another.

  East would have been e
asier to navigate if we’d left Blackwater early, but I ran fast and hoped I’d find a giant stone wall at some point. In my mind, I pictured a waist-high wall of cobblestones cemented together. What I found when we did almost literally smack into the wall was an enormous structure; two stories tall and made of thick, rectangular slices of stone, mortared together to make it impenetrable and guarded closely. Within seconds, two guards with sharp, flint-tipped spears approached. “What business have you here?”

  I stared at the closest one. “My friend needs help. We’re asking for refuge until he is well.”

  One of the men, the tallest of the pair, grabbed his spear and cursed, “Night-walker.”

  Damn my fangs. Even if they were itty bitty.

  I looked at the man. “I will hunt for you and provide meat, but you will let us in and you will ask someone to provide us shelter and medicine to help him.” I looked intently into his eyes, and then I said the exact same words as I held onto the eyes of his shorter friend. Their jaws went slack.

  “Let them enter!” the shorter one yelled up to the wall behind us. A gate began to raise just a few hundred feet away, and then we were led beneath the cross-hatched iron and into Mountainside.

  The settlement was literally one enormous mountain. I looked up toward its summit and saw the sides sparsely dotted with pine trees and a few maples. The others had been cut down, probably for firewood and building materials. No doubt they were going into the forest for those needs now, and the rock for the wall had to have been quarried from somewhere nearby.

  The men led us up a stepped path past several round doorways and paused at one half way up the hillside. Citizens stopped to watch our assent but otherwise didn’t bother us. Their whispers were filled with concern, but who could blame them? It must have been a strange sight; a woman carrying a sick man into their stronghold, their safe haven. It was frightening.