Chapter 17 #2
In being with her, I’d begun to realize that the boy who’d been crushed by loss hadn’t been lost, nor had the emotions instilled in me by my parents.
They’d been loving and romantic, both now attributes infrequent and often used as a weakness.
Seeing the tears in her eyes, the fear and the concern for the people she cared about was monumental in ways I couldn’t understand.
“Did anyone ever tell you that you’re extraordinary?”
Her surprise was evident, every muscle tensing at first, but she tipped her head as if requesting I cup her face.
And I did, taking my time to roll my thumb across her cheek. Her soft cheek.
“I’m just a girl searching for her way in the world.”
“Yes, but you are as intelligent as you are beautiful.” We both tensed a few seconds later, uncertain of what we were feeling.
“Thank you. I don’t know what’s happening, Rage.
I just… I can’t imagine leaving this place even if Peter is used to hearing me talk about wanting to travel the world.
” She laughed, less freely than before and more as if confessing a sin.
“I know. Silly. Right? The world is a dangerous place, yet something inside of me is still hopeful.”
“That’s the yearning to live, Star, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’ll keep you safe and we’ll face whatever is out there together.”
“But why? What is the point? Why are you so insistent on taking me from the only family I’ve ever known?”
“If I knew the complete answer, I would tell you. I know you’ve placed your faith in Peter all these years.”
“He likes you. It’s as if he’s known you all his life.”
“He has, Star. He was with my father in the beginning. I didn’t remember until a couple hours ago.”
“Wow. What is this all about?”
“I think the point is that we’re supposed to figure that out together.”
Her shudder encapsulated her entire body. “If I told you I was afraid, would you think me weak?”
“No, princess. I’d believe you’re stronger than almost anyone.” Maybe she truly was a princess.
I leaned further in before I realized what I was doing, feelings things I’d never felt before. So much was physical attraction, yet there was more, a deeper connection and the reason I was chosen for the mission.
“Rage, I…”
“Shhh… You don’t need to talk.” Our lips were closer, my mind still trying to process the way I felt about her.
I could easily tell she had a quick rebuttal, but footsteps interrupted us. I pulled away, curling my fingers while she stood.
“Maggie?” Her voice was hopeful even in sadness.
“Your mother is asking for you. And Wren is slowly recovering. Come. I’ll show you.” Maggie appeared relieved.
Before Star reacted, she glanced in my direction. I nodded in return, trying to ensure she knew I’d follow her.
People in the bunker were waking up, some moving through the corridors, dressed as if they had work to do. Perhaps nothing had really changed from a time before, only situations altering to fit the chain of events.
She moved past them in a hurry, never stopping, not even looking any of them in the eyes.
She was completely focused on getting to her mother.
And to the little girl. How the hell were we supposed to take a child with us?
Something in the back of my mind suggested Wren was a part of the prophecy.
My father had told me once that there were things of this world that were unexplainable but to always have faith.
I’d thought he’d meant in God, but maybe in more than one.
I’d already begun to wish I’d grilled John before agreeing to the mission.
The additional passenger hadn’t been on the radar but was a part of a growing list of demands made by the princess. Although even I could admit that in watching her over the last few hours, the term warrior certainly suited her much better.
To say she was a goddamned vision was significant.
There’d been female fighters, including a few Verndari, although they’d been sent away on missions never to be seen again.
I’d also run into female first-generation Savages and had to admit they were much better fighters than their male counterparts.
Even those in the street gangs and Borgata were stealthy, but most utilized their skills of seduction instead of weapons. Star was the entire package. Gritty as fuck and yet sultry when needed.
She could make any man weak in his knees.
Her face was pinched as she rushed into the medical facility and I sensed she was doing her best to hold it together, fearful in showing weakness even to the people who cared about her.
Over the years, she’d tried to maintain a stance as their leader.
I couldn’t lie and say I didn’t value her chutzpa.
“Mama.” Carrie was sitting in bed, her skin no longer gray and translucent but a healthy pink instead. She seemed dazed, but I had a feeling the reason was because of losing the burden of the disease. And that’s what had occurred, a healing that transcended all understanding of medicine.
I’d been one of the lucky few to experience a healer in action, something I wasn’t certain how to articulate. If it hadn’t been for the healer, I wouldn’t be standing here.
Yes, I owned John everything I had and everything I was. Even if at that point in my life, I’d thought nothing of dying. It had been for a cause, and one I would tackle again.
“Star. What happened?” Carrie opened her arms, already crying as her daughter sat on the bed for the hug.
Maybe I was jealous of their closeness. I tuned out what was being said between them. It was none of my business. Plus, I had a puppy clawing at my boots. I scooped him into my arms, pressing my face into his fur.
“You’re good people, Rage.” Star’s father walked closer, his hand out.
“I should have formally introduced myself before. “I’m Tom Collins. Thank you for everything you’ve done, including protecting my daughter.
” His eyes clouded over. I’d seen the look before so many times when someone was facing the loss of someone else they loved.
The pain was interminable. Never ending. While he could take comfort in that Star was young and healthy, having her leave the immediate area likely meant she would never be seen again. Certainly not in the immediate future.
Why I stared at his hand I wasn’t certain, other than that there was no doubt who and what we were, even if unaltered humans didn’t understand the difference in the Verndari. Kindness wasn’t typically afforded to us. When I shook his hand, he visibly relaxed.
“How is the child?”
“Her body is absorbing the cancer,” he answered while shifting so I could have a direct line of sight.
“It’s a miracle that I don’t understand, but her body is so little, so frail from lack of nourishment that she can’t do this again for a long time.
Something for you to keep in mind. I assume she’s going with you and Star on your trip. ”
“I assume.” The words were offered through gritted teeth.
He chuckled, his exhaustion easy to read. “My daughter is hardheaded. I like to think she got her defiance from her birth mother.”
“I think Star takes after your wife.”
The puppy wiggled in my arms, determined to free himself. As soon as I let him down, he rushed toward Star.
“I only ask one favor, Rage. We’ve been preparing for Star to leave us for a couple of years. That doesn’t make losing her any easier. We did our best to protect and educate her as required of us. It was a such a joy.”
With a deep breath, I sensed he didn’t realize I hadn’t been provided with every detail of the story. “She will be protected at the expense of my life.”
He touched my arm, almost surprising himself in doing so. “I certainly hope it doesn’t come to that. Even with her stubbornness, I can tell she likes you.”
With a snort, I shook my head. “I wouldn’t try and tell her that. How long until the girl will be ready to travel?”
A heavy sigh was followed by Tom rubbing his jaw. He appeared much frailer than his years would indicate. “A day. Maybe two. You have a long journey, but Peter has two vehicles he’s prepared for you.”
“Vehicles.” You bet I was shocked.
He nodded, smiling as he did. “Yes. I know it’s unusual, but the old vehicles without computers weren’t affected by the EMP. They were quite special finds, two Hummers that certainly had seen their share of battle but are perfect to face insurgents along the way.”
Insurgents. He spoke like a man who’d been in the military.
There were hundreds of car remains used for housing and nothing else.
Hunks of metal that over time had corroded, but managed to provide some protection from the elements.
Anything of value had been stripped from them years before.
They didn’t work. Plus, any gasoline had turned to sludge soon after the initial blast. “The fuel?”
“There are many benefits to having a select group of people brought together. We have two mechanics and two chemical engineers along with a few other specialists. There sole purpose has been to refine gasoline and oil for use. We use the product throughout the compound. They are ingenious individuals.”
The news was something else I hadn’t anticipated. With gasoline-powered transportation, the journey would take days instead of weeks. At least without any interference, which was highly unlikely. “We can’t take your generosity.”
“Son, why do you think all this is here? This bunker? All these people? Why? We were all assigned to raise and protect Star. That’s what we’ve done.
As a unit. As a family. We’ve been preparing for this very moment for years.
From just after she was born. We knew. And we’ve been preparing for your arrival as well. ”
“For what reason?” My voice was a little louder than I’d intended. Star threw a look over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes. I offered a nod of assurance and backed into the corridor.
Tom was frustrated but followed me. “You don’t know. Do you?”