He had the canteen firmly between his hands, which were bright red and glowing slightly.
“Yeah, it’s steaming. Should be good to make tea. So did you tell him you lost this canteen and were trying to weave one out of leaves?” Armaan asked as he handed her the water.
She would have been embarrassed in any other situation, but seeing the slight smile that Armaan had put on Cole’s face was worth the humiliation. “I would have made a beautiful water basket if you had let me finish,” she said, though she knew it was a lie. “Anyway, I’m not sure I’m skilled enough to get Madgie to drink this without choking her. Will you try to get some in her once the tea is done, Cole?”
“Sure, where are you headed?” he asked as she made her way across the room.
“I’m going to sleep. I’m exhausted,” she said, making his face fall a little. Amanda turned around, making her way back over to him, and whispered in his ear, “I know you won’t sleep tonight. You don’t trust Armaan enough to, but after you get some fluids in Madgie…” She paused as her stomach did a back flip. “You can come and lay next to me if you like.”
Amanda turned around quickly before she could see his reaction. What if he didn’t want to? Why did she have to ask him that? Things used to be so easy with Cole, but now she second- guessed everything she should or shouldn’t say. She was tired all over, and her body begged for rest, but she couldn’t stop tossing and turning with worries about Madgie, Kaedin, and her newfound love life. One of these worries was calmed as Cole snuggled up next to her.
“Madgie drank almost the entire canteen, so stop worrying and get to sleep,” he whispered into her hair.
She didn’t need any more coercing. The steady rising and falling of his thick chest had her sent off to sleep in seconds.
18
It was a beautiful day in Shanghai, but Nell couldn’t bring herself to enjoy it. She had strategically perched herself on a large grey rock that overlooked the border of New Hovel. The Healer’s city was nestled in the middle of Century Park. She smiled at the people walking by the border, wondering how they didn’t notice the twenty acres Shiphra had hidden from them. Everyone here thought it was funny to go unseen in one of the most populated cities in the world. However, Nell just thought it was sad that they didn’t get to enjoy New Hovel.
Century Park was long ago modeled after it. Both had beautiful streams and ponds, spectacular topiary hedges clipped into all different shapes, but as beautiful as Century Park was, it had nothing on New Hovel. She had never seen anything like its green hills or cobblestone pathways. Even the sunlight seemed more concentrated, reflecting on the water in golden pools so rich she couldn’t stop herself from jumping into them the first time she’d passed one by.
It felt right; it felt like home, unlike the place she was brought to as a child that was cold and dark. She had grown to love it but not like New Hovel. This place made her forget the only home she’d ever had. Unfortunately, even the beauty of this place couldn’t make her forget how much she missed Armaan.
He’d kept her company the first day she arrived but had gone off on some important mission. She tried to make other friends, and there were plenty to be had. The children were especially friendly. Nell was shocked and amazed the first time she saw a small child run by, but New Hovel had them running everywhere. At her old home, there were no children younger than ten. The kids followed her like a shadow through most of the day, but Armaan was just such a fun person to have around. She had never felt someone’s absence like she felt his, which confused her. She loved Amanda’s company and Madgie’s too, but she never wallowed in their absence. So many things were changing for her and not just location.
Nell hadn’t ever had a thought about her appearance but suddenly couldn’t stop fretting about how she looked. The morning after getting to New Hovel, she had sat in front of the mirror in her small bright bedroom for at least an hour scrutinizing her hair, which, for the first time, Nell noticed was quite unmanageable. Then when she was finally happy with the way a side swept braid looked, Armaan wasn’t even around to see the trouble she had gone through.
He had been gone for two days now, and she was frustrated at herself for keeping an eye on the clock and frustrated at it for not ticking by the minutes faster. She was going crazy wondering where he was, when he’d get back, and if he was okay.
Nell stood up suddenly and scanned the horizon. A cool breeze sent her long hair into a dance. She didn’t find what she was looking for, so she jumped off the rock, stealing just one more backward glance. Nell ran down the grassy slope until she came to one of the cobblestone pathways that led to the city. One foot after the other, she tried to out run her thoughts. She didn’t even feel like herself; she had never obsessed over some guy. Nell wished Amanda was there to talk to her; she was just so confused. She picked up her pace and jumped the low rock wall that surrounded a deep cool pond. Running hadn’t helped her escape her thoughts, so she leaped into the pond, breaking its peaceful gold surface. She hoped that the water would wash away her uncharacteristic thoughts.
19
Grey-cloaked figures surrounded the small hill where a dead tree perched. Amanda pressed herself against the white trunk, attempting to use its cover to get some relief from the downpour. The twisted leafless branches did little to shelter her already soaking body. She was cradling a small shaking child. Putting a hand to her face, she wiped away the water cascading over her eyes and gazed at the child.
Kaedin looked up at her, clutching her arm desperately. “Help me, Amanda. I’m right here. Don’t leave me again!” the small quivering voice begged.
A face materialized in the wall of grey, a face she hated. She couldn’t believe the physical need she felt to watch him die. Baal’s distorted face wore an impish grin as if he could read her thoughts. Only an Ancient can kill you. His deformed head nodded, and his smile stretched wider, revealing row upon row of sharp yellow teeth. A shiver rippled through her body as remembered words played in her mind.
‘Baal loves the sight of blood.’
“You share my enjoyment Amanda. You have blood on your hands as well. You can try to hide it, but I see the spot there.” He quoted Shakespeare as Carter’s walking corpse appeared at his side.
“Murderer!” he screamed. An explosion of sound ripped open the silence as a bright flash of light split the dead tree down the middle, tearing Kaedin from her arms.
Amanda jerked awake, knocking heads with Cole in the process. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she sat up, cursing her mind for giving her such dreams. Was it not painful enough to leave her once? She hoped she had gotten enough rest to function. Amanda didn’t want to attempt to sleep again. The dreams were too real to brush off. She could still feel the chill on her skin where Kaedin’s cold hand had grasped her. Pulling up her sleeve showed the red outline of a little hand. Sleep was overrated anyway, she told herself though she wasn’t sure Cole would agree.
He sat up as soon as she did, heavy eyes full of confused concern. “Are you okay?” he asked through a yawn. His eyelids looked like they weighed ten pounds each, and she guessed she’d been right in assuming he wouldn’t sleep as long as Armaan was around.
“Yeah, just another bad dream,” she said, rubbing the fading red skin on her arm. “They seem so real.”
He straightened and pulled her closer to him. “Don’t worry. When all of this is over, the dreams will stop. I used to have terrible dreams but eventually they died down. Minds tend to work out all of the fears we try to suppress once we close our eyes, playing out the most painful scenarios.” Cole’s eyes fogged over for a moment. “The more terrible your nightmares, the more active your mind. We must both be geniuses.”