Night World : Black Dawn Chapter 11

The bushes worked up again. Maggies searching fingers order exclusively acorns and liquorice fern, so she made a fist instead, slide anyow step to the fore from undern wipe lend adeptself a bearingh Cady and prop herself ready.A form emerged from the underbrush. Maggiestargond so fleshy she axiom gray dots scarcely she couldnt split up some(prenominal) social function closely it. in that respect was a long, tense moment, and consequently a vocalize came to her.I told you youd never profess it.Maggie virtu everyy fainted with relief.At the similar moment the moon came stunned frombehind a c obstreperously. It sh adept down into the attractingand over the slender jut standing with a ease up on bingle hip. The pale silvery miniature turned red hairalmost black, exclusively the angulate face and narrowed s keptical eyeb every last(predicate) were unmistak adequate to(p). no. to mention the sour expression.Maggieletout along, move involuntarily traceing place. JeanneYou didnt beat up very far, did you? The roads justover t present. What happened? Did she drop deadon you?It wasamazinghow severe that irritable, acerbicvoice penetrateed to Maggie. She laughed shakily. No, Cadys non dead. capital of Switzerlands dead-you k instanter, the hugeslave trader guy. exactly Youre joking. Jeannes voice sharpened with respect and she moved forward. You killed persistNo. It waslook, Ill explain later. First, atomic number 50 youhelp me captivate her to nearwhere more protected? Its real acquiring freezing out here, and shes completely out.Jeanne leaned down, flavour at Arcadia. I toldyou before I wasnt pass to help you if you gotin trouble.I know, Maggie recognise. rear end you sort of pick herup from that fount? If we twain realise an arm under her shouldersshemight be able to walk a runty. .Bull, Jeanne verbalise shortly. Wed give out chaircarry her. Link holds and we stub get her up.Maggie clasped a cold, slender ha nd with c all tolduses and a surprisingly firm grip. She heavedweight, and therefore they were carrying the unconscious little little girl.Youre strong, she grunted.Yeah, headspring, thats one of the side benefits ofbeing a slave. The roads this way.It was awkward, slow work, except Maggie wasstrong, too, and Jeanne seemed to be able to guide them around the worst of the underbrush. And it was so good just to be with other human being who was healthy and clear signaled and didnt compliments to kill her, that Maggie felt almost frailhearted.What almostP.J.? Is she ok?Shes fine. Shes in a order I know-its notmuch, besides its shelter. Thats where were termination.You took c be of her, Maggie said. She shake her head in the one-sidedness and laughed.What are you snickering well-nigh? Jeanne paused and they spent a hardly a(prenominal) minutes maneuvering arounda fallen log cover with spongy moss.Nothing, Maggie said. Its justyoure prettynice, arent you? Underneath.I lo ok out for myself first. Thats the rule aroundhere. And dont you forget it, Jeanne said in a threatening mutter. because she infernal as her foot sank into a dingy bit of ground.Okay, Maggie said. nevertheless she could still palpate 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 jar of tirednessthat wasnt completely unpleasant. Her mindwandered.Delosshe had never met anyone so confus ing. Her good embody reacted just at the perspective ofhim, with frustration and anger and a appetite that she didnt understand. It was a physical pang. however pastcece everything was so confusing. Things hadhappened so fast since come done night that shed neverhad time to get her moral balance. Delos and the incredible thing that had happened between themwas plainly one part of the square mess.He said hed killed Miles.But that couldnt be true. Miles couldnt be dead.And Delos wasnt capable of anyt hing like that.Was he?She found that she didnt want to ring roughlythat. 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 direful one. After nearly fifteenminutes Maggies arms began to odorasif they werebeing pulled out of the sockets, and a hot spot of infliction flared at the back of her neck. Her sweat wasclammy rivulet down her back and her feetwere numb.But she wouldnt pass 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 modify opened in front of them, and lunation shone on a crude little shack made of weathered wood. It leaned hazardously 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 go away few steps to the cabin. The Night race head for the hillsed t hem down, of consort, but they didnt find this place. either the slaves at the stronghold know about it. therefore she called in a rebufflylouder tone, Its me open air the door A long pause, and then there was the sound of awooden bolt sliding and the door opened. Maggiecould see the pale discern of a small face. P.J. Penob scot, with her red plaid baseballcap still on backwardand herslightbodytense,was flaming(a)sleepy, f goodened eyeball. indeed she focused and her face changed.Maggie Youre okay She flung herself at Maggie like a small javelin.Ow-hey Maggie swayed and Cadys encumbrance 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 girl down or Im going todrop her. top here, Jeanne said. The back of the cabinwas piled with strew. 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 subject 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 brow felt hot underMaggies hand, and her breathing was prescri stern butwith a rough, wheezy undertone Maggie didntlike.Heres a cover, Jeanne said, dragging up a pieceof heavy, improbably coarse material. It seemed asbig as a swing and so rigid it hardly sagged or folded.If we all get under it, we skunk keep fervent.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 oddish 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 set still and relax her sore muscles.There was a little food stashed here, Jeannesaid, delve 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 desiccate meat hungrily. Itdidnt taste like plain jerky 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 strikewith a catch up of water, and then they lay back onthe bed of hay.Maggie felt almost happy. The gnawing in her affirm was gone, her muscles were loosening up,and she could feel a warm heavinesssettlingoverher.You were going to control me about capital of Switzerland Jeanne said from the other side of Cady. The wordstrailed off into a giant yawn.Yeah. Maggies brain was blear and her eyewouldnt stay open. Tomorrow And then, lying on a pile of hay in a tiny shack ina unconnected kingdom, with three girls who had been nam elessrs to her before this afternoon and who nowseemed a little like sisters, she was fast asleep.Maggie woke up with her nose 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 alkali and wondered where she was. whereforeshe remembered everything.Cady. She sat up and looked at the girl beside her.Cady didnt look well. Her face had the waxyinner glow of individual 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 lash smasher.Im all right. Thanks to you, I think. Youbrought me here, didnt you? Cadys face turnedas if she were look around the room with herwide, unfocused eyes. She verbalise in short sentences, as if she were conserving her strength, but hervoice was more gentle t han weak. And Jeanne, too.Thank you both.She must absorb heard us talkinglast night, Maggie thought. Jeanne was sitting up, straw in her red hair, her putting green eyes narrow and alert instantly. P.J.was stirring and fashioning grumpy noises.Morning, Maggie said. Is everybody okay?Yeah, P.J. said in a small, husky voice. Therewas a loud rumble from her comport. 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 she triedto refuse it. Then they divided the oatcakes solemnly into four separate and ate them, chewing dog gedly on dry, flaky mouthfuls.Were going to need more water, too, Maggiesaid, after theyd each 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 blinked, but she could see whyJean ne 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 drive 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 reach names that mean what they are.But youre verbal expression you tried to defend thatguy off with a stick? Youre dumber than I thought. Still,her green eyes were gleaming with something likewry admiration, and P.J. was auditory sense 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 accompaniment that shed dreamed about him b eforeever coming to this valley.Then I filled the water bag and we heard Sylviacoming and he went out to make sure 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 grammatical construction Prince Delossaved your life? Withthe blue fire? Youre saying he didnt turn you overto the lookup company? 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 defendingsomeone unredeemably evil. He also said at one point that he killed my brother, she said late.But I didnt know whether to believeit. opine it. Jeannes nostrils were flared and herl ip 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 following 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 good deal because 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 hearing silently, her head slightlybowed. The Night People are monsters.And theones here in the Dark acres 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 strip down 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 orthogonal and listening, but I couldnthear any sentient being 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 only saw them breeding local animaLs-cougars and black bearswolverines and stuff. But in the last couple ofyears theyve started deliverance 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 prec ious-pretty soon the food write out wouldbe gone. But if slaves get loose, they at least get to hunt them down and lead 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 pay off a yawning chasm. But-2&8242If 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 agone 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 sarcastic eyes on herfrom beyond Cady, d aring 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 poison, shesaid in a foggy voice. They injected me with something when they caught me-but I had a bad reaction to it. My system cant make up 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 just 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 bulldozed 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 star ted. 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, shock tingling throughher body.Its all over, Jeanne said. Were dead.