Chapter 14
Ophelia
We’ve been in the truck a few hours now, and Daisy has been even quieter than her usual taciturn self.
It worries me a little, but still, I understand how anxious she must be feeling.
I’m feeling much the same, but it must be worse for her.
At least I have my men with me, while she must trust these three men who go against everything she believes in, simply because I trust them.
She has to be so worried about her family.
This time tomorrow, the ascension will be happening, and she’s relying on us to stop it.
In the front of the truck, Malachi is controlling the music. He’s playing songs from all his favorite bands, but he only plays the first minute or so before switching to the next one.
“I swear,” Cain says from between gritted teeth, “if you do that for the next eight hours, or however long we’ve got left on this journey, you’re going to lose your hand.”
Malachi chuckles. “I get bored quickly.”
“Yeah, well, you’re boring the rest of us. Pick something and leave it, or I’ll be in charge of the music.”
Mal rolls his eyes. “All right, old man.”
Though they’re ragging on each other, the mood has been generally good. It does feel like we’re on a road trip, with Malachi in charge of handing out the snacks as well. A breakfast of corn chips, soda, and Twinkies probably isn’t the healthiest in the world, but it’s good for morale.
I nudge Daisy’s knee with mine. “It’s all going to be okay,” I try to reassure her.
She turns from the window to flash me a tight smile and a nod.
She probably doesn’t believe me, but why would she?
It’s not like I know for sure that this is going to work out.
I finger the black pendant nestled at my throat.
Even charms and magic won’t guarantee a good outcome.
One of my men, or more, could get hurt. It would kill me to see Roman in an even worse state.
It would all be my fault, too. I brought both Daisy and the Prophet into their lives.
They make so many sacrifices for me and ask nothing in return except for me to love them.
And I do love them, deeply, but I also need for them to be safe. I’d never forgive myself if they were hurt because of me. It would be something I couldn’t recover from.
Malachi pulls the passenger mirror down and checks his reflection. He blinks a few times then swipes at something in his right eye—a hair, or similar, I presume. As he lifts his hand to slam the mirror up again, his gaze catches mine.
He mouths two words. Breathe, baby.
My stomach warms. I recall when he fell to his knees on the ground for me and held my hands as he helped me breathe through a panic attack. It was barely any time ago, but it feels in some ways like years have passed. Probably because we’ve all gone through so much since then.
As the journey wears on, the atmosphere in the truck changes.
We have made two bathroom stops and been on the road for over eight hours.
I’m exhausted. My body aches, and I can’t imagine how Roman is feeling.
There’s nothing worse than having to travel when you’re sick or in pain, and bashed up ribs mean there won’t be any position he’s comfortable in.
“Do you want some more pain meds?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “I’m trying to keep them to a minimum. Need to be alert while we’re out here.”
“You can’t go in pain,” I say with concern.
He smiles softly and leans in to brush his lips over mine. “I’ll crash out once we’re back home, I promise,” he says. “I can take all the meds I need and sleep for days on end. Until then, I need to be alert. Deal?”
“Deal, but you can at least take some ibuprofen. It’s been over five hours since you last had one. And they don’t cause drowsiness.”
Sighing, he nods. “Okay, Nurse. Hand me one.”
I made sure to bring extra meds, as I was worried about him. I know he has his own, but I packed ibuprofen and paracetamol. I’ve also been keeping a running tally of what he takes and when in the Notes app on my phone.
Once he’s swallowed the meds, I sit back and try to relax.
It’s not the easiest thing to do because I can feel Daisy simmering next to me.
She’s like a pan that’s been on the stove for too long, and I’m worried she’s going to boil dry and start a fire.
I don’t know what’s wrong with her. The longer the journey has gone on, the worse the atmosphere has become.
It’s not entirely down to her worry for her family, I’m sure of it.
I asked if she was okay at the last rest stop, and she practically bit my head off.
She also shoots these scared glances at the men constantly, and she’s chewing her nails or the inside of her cheek repeatedly.
God, I really hope she didn’t hear the four of us last night.
For a girl like Daisy, with all the teachings of the commune still lingering in her mind as the truth, it would be bad to overhear us.
I was gagged, but the sound of footsteps moving around, the bed creaking and the men’s moans and curses would have been enough to alert her if she’d been awake.
I sigh and look out of the window past Roman, trying not to stress.
The landscape had changed from the mountains around the college to rolling farmland as we entered the lower part of New York state, then as we crossed into Pennsylvania, more mountains.
It’s been like entering different worlds as the journey progressed and, despite my worry, and the anxiety gnawing at my insides, I’ve been awestruck by the scenery.
God, we live in a beautiful country.
From the bright mountain light of the Adirondacks, to the softer golden farm valleys, and the rich hues as we approached the Appalachian Mountains, it’s been a visual feast. Daisy, however, seems to be so locked in her head, she’s not really taken any of it in.
Even when I’ve pointed things out to her, thinking she’d be interested because she’s not seen much of the world outside of the commune, she’s barely responded.
Now we’re approaching the outskirts of Pittsburgh. I’ve heard the view of the city is amazing, one of the best skylines in the nation, but we’re not sightseeing, and we don’t have the time to take a detour.
Maybe we’ll do a road trip after we’ve sorted out the many threats facing us all. That could be fun.
“We’ll stop south of Pittsburgh,” Cain says. “I want to stretch my legs, and I need some real food in me.”
“I can drive for a while, if you like?” Mal offers.
Cain nods. “Yeah, I’m getting fucking tired.”
We motor on for another fifteen minutes or so, and then Cain indicates to turn off the main highway to a truck stop, where he pulls in. The RV is close behind us and takes the next parking space.
“I could murder a burger,” Mal says yawning and stretching his arms above him.
There’s a variety of signs for various food establishments and stores. I want a salad, or maybe a wrap. The idea of a burger and fries after all the junk I’ve already eaten makes me slightly nauseated.
We pile out of the truck as the RV side door opens and three men spill out. The two in the front don’t move.
“You don’t want to stretch your legs?” I ask them through the partially open window.
“No, ma’am,” Felix replies. “I’m good. I did that at the last stop. We’ll stay here and just make sure the RV and truck aren’t tampered with.”
I realize then that at each stop, at least two of Cain’s men have stayed with the vehicles.
I nod. “Do you want anything?”
“Wouldn’t mind a smoothie,” the guy next to Felix says.
He’s young and really muscular.
“Something with high protein content.” He makes to pass me some money, but I shake my head.
“It’s fine. I can get that. Nothing for you, Felix?”
“Nah, I’m good. Thanks.”
I’m so grateful to Cain’s father for lending us these men. As well as clearly knowing their roles and being very alert to threats, they seem nice, too.
“I need to hit the restroom,” I say, “before we grab food.”
“We’ll guard the entrance,” Malachi offers.
I roll my eyes because they’d sit and watch me pee if they could. But I must admit their protection makes me warm inside.
“Daisy, you coming?”
She looks between me and the men and trots after me, glancing behind her as if Malachi bites. Perhaps wanting to prove her point, Mal flashes his teeth at her.
The place is empty, which is crazy considering it’s such a busy route, but I’m grateful for it.
Pulling Daisy to one side, as she’s about to enter a stall, I sigh. “Okay, what gives? You’ve been squirrely ever since we left.”
“I’m worried about tomorrow.”
But that’s not it; I can tell.
Or I should say, that’s not only it.
“Of course you are, but there’s something else going on. I can sense it. Daisy, please tell me what’s going on in your head.”
Tears gather in the corners of her eyes and my heart clenches.
“Come here.” I try to hug her, but she freezes and steps back.
What the hell?
“Daisy?”
“I saw that room.” She glances at the door as if the men can hear.
“What roo—oh.”
“Yes, oh. You are living with three men, Ophelia, who are doing very bad things, and now I find out they have that room. It was… satanic.”
“No.” I hold my hand up at that, angry. “It’s not satanic, Daisy. Not at all.”
“What is it, then?”
I sigh. “It’s a longer conversation than we have time for now, but Roman believes in more than one god, but he still is spiritual and a good man.”
She puts her hands on her hips as she stares me down. “There is only one God, Ophelia. The Devil himself has put these ideas into your head, trying to lure you to him. I’ll pray for your soul.”
Turning from me, she walks into the small cubicle and shuts the door firmly. Crap, this is not going well. I don’t want my friendship with Daisy to be over, but I also won’t take her being so dismissive of my men and their beliefs. It’s not okay for her to be so judgmental.
Then I think back to my own initial thoughts. I’d been the same way, hadn’t I?
Scared. Confused, but also, if I were being honest, I’d judged, too.
I pee, and as I’m washing my hands after, Daisy comes to join me at the next sink.
Meeting her gaze in the mirror, I say to her softly, “I will do all I can to help you and your family, Daisy. I know you need time to get your head around all of this, so I won’t push, but I really hope we can still be friends. You mean a lot to me.”
She listens and nods once but turns away without answering to wipe her hands on the paper towels.
I leave her to do a run of the fast food choices on offer, and buy what we need from the small store at the rest stop.
Returning to the vehicles, we carry all the food we’ve bought.
Mal with a burger, fries, and lemonade. Cain with a chicken wrap.
A smoothie for Felix’s friend, and the same for Roman, and two mozzarella, tomato, and pesto paninis for me and Daisy.
She hadn’t been speaking to me, so I bought her the same thing I ordered.
As we settle into our seats, Mal diving ravenously into his burger, eating fast so he can get back onto the road. I hand Daisy her sandwich.
She pulls the paper down, bites into it, and chews. Her eyes widen and she turns to me, her cheeks puffed out like she’s a gerbil. It’s cute and I laugh.
“You look so funny,” I say fondly.
“Oh, my word,” she mumbles. “Oh, wow.”
I grin at her. “Good, huh?”
I recall only too well how amazing food outside of the commune had tasted.
Meals there had been basic and fairly bland—meat, fish, potatoes, rice, and bread.
Of course, there were things I’d remembered from childhood, and I’d eaten those with relish, but then I’d discovered new foods, things I hadn’t tried as a small child and had no opportunity to once in the commune.
“It’s amazing.” She smiles for the first time.
“It’s the pesto,” I say. “And the cheese, of course.”
We had cheese in the commune, but not stringy, hot, delicious mozzarella.
Daisy beams at me, and I feel we’re back on more even footing, but then Mal opens his mouth.
“There are so many amazing things you can try in the outside world, Daisy. So many delicious temptations.”
I get that he’s being playful, but it’s totally the wrong thing to say because she stares at the panini and her face clouds. Her shiny eyes dim, and her mouth turns down. Mal has just turned her treat into a sin, and he doesn’t even realize it.
“You need to eat, Daisy,” I say softly. “Finish it.”
Nodding, she continues to eat, but I can see that unbridled joy is gone.
Hatred for the Prophet thunders through my body like a heavy, roiling storm.
He’s ruined so many lives. Made so many people feel that the tiniest moment of happiness or enjoyment is a sin. That fucking bastard.
Finishing my panini, I collect everyone’s wrappers and put them all into one bag, tying a knot in the handle and placing it by my feet to dispose of later.
Then I sit back and let the hatred of that man fill me and turn my blood molten.