Night World : Black Dawn Chapter 11

The bushes stirred again. Maggies searching fingers found except acorns and licorice fern, so she made a fist instead, sliding off from underneath Cady and holding herself ready.A form emerged from the underbrush. Maggiest ard so hard she saw gray dots just she couldnttell anything roughly it.T present was a long, tense moment, and past a voice came to her.I told you youd never defecate it.Maggie almost fainted with relief.At the same moment the moon came out frombehind a c flash. It shone down into the clearingand over the slender count standing with a hand on one hip. The pale silvery light turned red hairalmost black, but the angular face and narrowed questioning eyes were unmistakable. Not to mention the sour expression.Maggieletout along, shuddering breath. JeanneYou didnt take very far, did you? The roads overcompensateeousover there. What happened? Did she drop deadon you?It wasamazinghow good that irritable, acerbicvoice deceaseed to Maggie. She laughed shakily. No , Cadys non dead. Berns dead-you know, the bigslave trader guy. simply Youre joking. Jeannes voice sharpened with nonice and she moved forward. You killed huntNo. It waslook, Ill explain later. First, can youhelp me digest her to somewhere more protected? Its re all toldy getting freezing out here, and shes completely out.Jeanne leaned down, looking at Arcadia. I toldyou before I wasnt going to help you if you gotin trouble.I know, Maggie express. Can you sort of pick herup from that side? If we both get an arm under her shouldersshemight be able to walk a little. .Bull, Jeanne said shortly. Wed better chaircarry her. Link hands and we can get her up.Maggie clasped a cold, slender hand with calluses and a surprisingly bulletproof grip. She heavedweight, and and so they were carrying the unconscious miss.Youre strong, she grunted.Yeah, well, thats one of the side benefits ofbeing a slave. The roads this way.It was awkward, slow work, but Maggie wasstrong, too, and Jeanne se emed to be able to guide them around the worst of the underbrush. And it was so good just to be with another human being who was healthy and clear headed and didnt want to kill her, that Maggie entangle almost lighthearted.What aboutP.J.? Is she approve?Shes fine. Shes in a place I know-its notmuch, but its shelter. Thats where were going.You took care of her, Maggie said. She shook her head in the darkness and laughed.What are you snickering about? Jeanne paused and they spent a few minutes maneuvering arounda fallen log cover with spongy moss.Nothing, Maggie said. Its justyoure prettynice, arent you? Underneath.I look out for myself first. Thats the rule aroundhere. And dont you forget it, Jeanne said in a threatening mutter. thence she cursed as her foot sank into a swampy bit of ground.Okay, Maggie said. But she could still feel awry and wondering smile tugging up the corner ofher mouth.Neither of them had much breath for talkingafter that. Maggie was in a sort of daze of tire dnessthat wasnt completely unpleasant. Her mindwandered.Delosshe had never met anyone so confus ing. Her entire body reacted just at the thought ofhim, with frustration and anger and a longing that she didnt understand. It was a physical pang.But then everything was so confusing. Things hadhappened so fast since last night that shed neverhad time to get her mental balance. Delos and the incredible thing that had happened between themwas however one part of the whole mess.He said hed killed Miles.But that couldnt be true. Miles couldnt be dead.And Delos wasnt capable of anything like that.Was he?She found that she didnt want to think aboutthat. It was like a huge dark cloud that she didntwant to enter.Wherever Jeanne was taking her, it was a long,cold trek. And a painful one. After about fifteenminutes Maggies arms began to feelasif they werebeing pulled out of the sockets, and a calefactive spot of pain flared at the back of her neck. Her sweat wasclammy running down her back and her feetwere numb.But she wouldnt give up, and Jeanne didnt either. Somehow they kept going. They had traveledfor maybe about forty-five minutes, with breaks,when Jeanne said, Here it is.A clearing opened in front of them, and moonlight shone on a crude little shack made of weathered wood. It leaned dangerously to one side andseveral boards were missing, but it had a ceilingand walls. It was shelter. To Maggie, it looked beautiful.Runaway slaves built it, Jeanne said breathlesslyas they took the last few steps to the cabin. The Night People hunted them down, of course, but they didnt baring this place. All the slaves at the castle know about it. Then she called in a slightlylouder tone, Its me Open the door A long pause, and then there was the sound of awooden bolt sliding and the door opened. Maggiecould see the pale blob of a small face. P.J. Penob scot, with her red plaid baseballcap still on backwardand herslightbodytense,wasblinkingsleepy, frightened eyes.Then she focus and her face changed.Maggie Youre okay She flung herself at Maggie like a small javelin.Ow-hey Maggie swayed and Cadys limp bodydipped perilously.Im glad to see you, too, Maggie said. To herown surprise, she found herself blinking back tears.But Ive got to put this young woman down or Im going todrop her.Back here, Jeanne said. The back of the cabinwas softwoodd with straw. She and Maggie eased Arcadia down onto it and then P.J. hugged Maggie again.You got us out. We got away, P.J. said, hersharp little chin digging into Maggies shoulder.Maggie squeezed her. Wellwe all got us out,and Jeanne helped get you away. But Im glad everybody made it.Is sheall right? P.J. pulled back and lookeddown at Arcadia.I dont know. Cadys forehead felt hot underMaggies hand, and her breathing was regular butwith a rough, reedlike undertone Maggie didntlike.Heres a cover, Jeanne said, dragging up a pieceof heavy, incredibly coarse material. It seemed asbig as a sail and so rigid it hardly sagged or folded .If we all get under it, we can keep warm.They put Cady in the middle, Maggie and P.J. onone side of her and Jeanne on the other. The cover was more than big enough to spread over them.And the convert smelled nice. It was prickly, butMaggies long sleeves and jeans protected her. There was a hostile comfort in P.J.s slight bodycuddled up next to herlike a kitten, Maggiethought. And it was so blessedly good to not bemoving, to not be carrying anyone, but just to sit still and relax her sore muscles.There was a little food stashed here, Jeannesaid, digging under the hay and pulling out a smallpacket.Dried meat strips and oatcakes with salalberries. Wed better save some for tomorrow,though.Maggie tore into the dried meat hungrily. Itdidnt taste like beef foolish it was tougher and gam ier, but right at the moment it seemed delicious.She tried to get Cady to eat some, but it was nouse. Cady just turned her head away.She and Jeanne and P.J. finished the meal offwith a deglutition of w ater, and then they lay back onthe bed of hay.Maggie felt almost happy. The gnawing in her venter was gone, her muscles were loosening up,and she could feel a warm heavinesssettlingoverher.You were going to tell me about Bern Jeanne said from the other side of Cady. The wordstrailed off into a giant yawn.Yeah. Maggies brain was fuzzy and her eyeswouldnt stay open. Tomorrow And then, lying on a pile of hay in a tiny shack ina strange kingdom, with three girls who had been strangers to her before this afternoon and who nowseemed a little like sisters, she was fast asleep.Maggie woke up with her pry cold and her feettoo hot. Pale light was coming in all the cracks inthe boards of the cabin. For one instant she stared at the rough weathered-silver boards and the hayon the floor and wondered where she was. Thenshe remembered everything.Cady. She sat up and looked at the girl beside her.Cady didnt look well. Her face had the waxyinner glow of somebody with a fever, and there were little tendrils of dark hair curled damply onher forehead. But at Maggies voice her eyelashes fluttered, then her eyes opened.Maggie?How are you feeling? Want some water? Shehelped Cady drink from the leather bag.Im all right. Thanks to you, I think. Youbrought me here, didnt you? Cadys face turnedas if she were looking around the mode with herwide, unfocused eyes. She spoke in short sentences, as if she were conserving her strength, but hervoice was more gentle than weak. And Jeanne, too.Thank you both.She must have heard us talkinglast night, Maggie thought. Jeanne was sitting up, straw in her red hair, her green eyes narrow and alert instantly. P.J.was stirring and making grumpy noises.Morning, Maggie said. Is everybody okay?Yeah, P.J. said in a small, husky voice. Therewas a loud rumble from her stomach. I guess Imstill a little hungry, she admitted.Therere a couple oatcakes left, Jeanne said.And one strip of meat. We might as well finishit off.They made Cady eat the meat, although s he triedto balk it. Then they divided the oatcakes solemnly into four parts and ate them, chewing dog gedly on dry, flaky mouthfuls.Were going to need more water, too, Maggiesaid, after theyd to each one had a drink. The leather bagwas almost empty. But I think the first thing is tofigure out what were going to do now. What our plan is.The first thing, Jeanne said, is to tell us whathappened to Bern.Oh.Maggie b cerebrate, but she could see whyJeanne would want to know. Well, hes definitely dead. She sketched in what had happened aftershe and Cady had started running through thewoods. How Gavin and Bern had chased them andhad finally driven them into a corner on the bowlder pile.How Bern hadclimbedup andchangedHe was a shapeshifter, you know, she said.Jeanne nodded, unsurprised. Bern means bear.They usually have names that mean what they are.But youre proverb you tried to fight thatguy off with a drive? Youre dumber than I thought. Still,her green eyes were gleaming with somethin g likewry admiration, and P.J. was listening with awe.And then-there was this lightning, Maggiesaid. And it killed Bern and Gavin ran away. Sherealized, even asshe said it, that she didnt wantto tell everything that had happened with Delos.She didnt think Jeanne would understand. So she left out the way their minds had linked when theytouched, and the way shed seen his memories-and the fact that shed dreamed about him beforeever coming to this valley.Then I filled the water bag and we heard Sylviacoming and he went out to make for certain she didntfind me or Cady, she finished. She realized thatthey were all staring at her. Cadys facewasthoughtful and serene as always, P.J. was scaredbut interested in the story-but Jeanne was rivetedwith disbelief and horror.Youre saying Prince Delossaved your life? Withthe morose fire? Youre saying he didnt turn you overto the hunting party? She said it as if she were talking about Dracula.Its the truth. Good thing I didnt tell her aboutthe kiss, Maggie thought.Its impossible. Delos hates everybody. Hes themost dangerous of all of them.Yeah, thats what he kept telling me. Maggieshook her head. The way Jeanne was looking at hermade her uncomfortable,as if she were defending person unredeemably evil. He also said at one point that he killed my brother, she said slowly.But I didnt know whether to believeit.Believe it. Jeannes nostrils were flared and herlip curledasif she were looking at something disgusting.Hes the head of this whole place and everything that goes on here. Theres nothing hewouldnt do. I cant believe he let you go. She considered for a moment, then said grimly, Unless hes got something special in mind. Letting you go and then hunting you down later. Its the kind ofthing hed enjoy.Maggie had a strange feeling of void in her stomach that had nothing to do with hunger. She triedto speak calmly. I dont think so. I think-he justdidnt care if I got away.Youre fooling yourself. You dont understandabout these people b ecause you havent been here. None of youhave been here. Jeanne looked at P.J.,who was watching with wide blue eyes, and atCady, who was listening silently, her head slightlybowed. The Night People are monsters.And theones here in the Dark Kingdom are the worst of all. Some of them have been alive for hundreds of years-some of them were here when Delossgrandfather founded the place. Theyve been holedup in this valley all that time and allthey do ishunt.Its their only sport. Its all they care about. Its all they do.Maggies skin was prickling. Part of her didntwant to pursue this subject any further. But she had to know.Last night I noticed something weird, she said.I was standing outside and listening, but I couldnthear any animal sounds anywhere. None at all.Theyve wiped them out. Alltheanimalsin the wild are gone.P.J.s thin little hand clutched at Maggies armnervously. But then what do they hunt?Animals they breed and release. Ive been a slavehere for three years, and at first I on ly saw them breeding local animaLs-cougars and black bearswolverines and stuff. But in the last couple ofyears theyve started bringing in exotics. Leopardstigers and things.Maggie let out her breath and patted P.J.s hand.But not humans.Dont make me laugh. Of course humans-butonly when they can get an excuse. The laws say the vampires cant hunt slaves to death because theyretoo precious-pretty soon the food supply wouldbe gone. But if slaves get loose, they at least get to hunt them down and bring them back to the castle. And if a slave has to be executed, they do a death hunt.I see. The void in Maggies stomach had travel a yawning chasm. But-2If he let you go, it was so he could come backand hunt you, Jeanne said flatly. Im telling you,hes bad. It was three years ago that the old kingdied and Delos took over, okay? And it was threeyears ago that they started bringing new slaves in.Not just grabbing people off the mountain if theygot too close, but actuallygoing down and kidnapping girls off the streets. Thats why Im here.Thatswhy P.J.s here.Beside Maggie, P.J. shivered. Maggie put an armaround her and felt the slight body shaking againsthers. She gulped, her other hand clenching into afist. Hey, kiddo. Youve been really brave so far, sojust hang on, okay? Things are going to work out.She could feel Jeannes mordant eyes on herfrom beyond Cady, daring her to explain exactly howthings were going to work out. She ignoredthem.Was it the same for you, Cady? she asked. Shewas glad to get off the subject of Delos, and shewas remembering the strange thing Cady had saidlast night. I was coming here for a reason.No. They got me on the mountain. But the wayCady spoke alarmed Maggie. It was slowly and with obvious effort, the voice of someone who had touse all their strength just to concentrate.Maggie forgot all about Delos and the slave tradeand put a hand to Cadys forehead. Oh, God, she said. Youre burning up. Youre totally on fire.Cady blinked slowly. Yes-its the pois on, shesaid in a fuzzy voice. They injected me with something when they caught me-but I had a bad reaction to it. My system cant take it.Adrenaline flicked through Maggie. And youregetting worse. When Cady nodded reluctantly, shesaid,Right. Then theres no choice. We have to getto the castle because thats where the healingwomen are, right? If anybody can help, they can, right?Wait a minute, Jeanne said. We cant go downto the castle. Wed be walking right into their arms.And we cant get out of the valley. I found the passbefore, but that was by accident. I couldnt find itagainI could, Maggie said. When Jeanne stared at her, she said, Never mind how. I just can. But going that way means climbing down a mountainon the other side and Cady cant make it. And I dont think shell make it if we leave her alone hereand go look for help.Jeannes narrow green eyes were on her again,and Maggie knew what they were saying. So wevegot to give up on her. Its the only thing thatmakessense. But Maggie bu lldozed on in determination. Youcan take P.J. to thepass-I can tellyou howto get there-and Ill take Cady to the castle. How about that? If you can tell me how to get to it.Itstinks,Jeanne said flatly. Even if you makeit to the castle with her hanging on you, you wontknow how to get in. And if you doget in, youll be committing suicide-She broke off, and everyone started. For an instant Maggie didnt understand why-all she knewwas that she had a sudden feeling of alarm andalertness. Then she realized that Cady had turnedsuddenly toward the door. It was the quick, instinctive gesture of a cat who has heard something dangerous, and it triggered fear in the girls who werelearning to live by their own instincts.And now that Maggie sat frozen, she could hearit, too, faraway but distinct. The sound of peoplecalling, yelling back and forth. And another sound, one that shed only heard in movies, but that sherecognized instantly. Hounds baying.Its them, Jeanne whispered into the dead silence of the shack. I told you. Theyre hunting us.With dogs?Maggie said, misfortune tingling throughher body.Its all over, Jeanne said. Were dead.