Beasts and Savages (The Beastly Series Book 1) (27 page)

As he pulled me to the stairs, I took one last look at Beth. Her eyes were dull, accepting of her situation. I mouthed to her, “I’ll be back. I promise.”

She nodded, laid her head on the floor, and closed her eyes.

When we reached the top, I took a last look at the room. “What about them?”

“It’s almost dusk, and you haven’t stopped or eaten all day. If you want to help them, you need food and rest.” Tanner grabbed my hand and squeezed. “I’m sorry, but we need to go.”

My stomach growled in response. I waited in the kitchen while Locke and Tanner spoke to Anderson in another room. Neither said a word to me when they were finished. I followed Tanner out the door and stayed right at his heels while Locke was close behind. This time, I wasn’t afraid to look up as I walked. There were fewer boys out than there were this morning, and they all stopped and stared as I went by. I tried to make eye contact with a few closer ones, but they all looked away.

The path in the woods was much darker and menacing than it had been that morning. Locke carried a lantern to light the way. We walked closer together, and I tried to concentrate on the ground in front of me.  Every once in a while, I’d look into the darkness and Beth’s sullen face would flash across my mind. I’d shiver and force myself to watch the path.

“You cold?” Tanner began to unbutton his jacket.

I shook my head. My jacket was buttoned all the way up, and the tips of my ears and nose were cold, but I was numb to any real feeling. I didn’t even notice if we were walking any faster or slower than before, or if I was winded. I just wanted to sit down and cry.

An owl hooted from a nearby tree and I jumped so hard I tripped. Locke offered me his hand and I took it. Despite the temperature, it was still warm and dry. He pulled me up easily, and waited while I brushed myself off.

“You need to calm down. It was just an owl.” It was too dark to see the expression on his face, but Locke sounded annoyed.

“Dad, lay off. She’s had a rough day.” Tanner wrapped his arm around my shoulder and guided me along the path. He smelled like blood and the stench of that basement. I imagined I smelled the same.

“I want to go back tomorrow.”

Locke muttered something indistinguishable before he answered, “Absolutely not. I can’t take you there and Tanner can’t protect you alone.”

“Hey!” Tanner called out.

Locke snapped the lantern to his face and turned to Tanner. “What if a group of boys attack? How many can you take at once? Two? Three? Ten? You won’t take her anywhere without my permission.”

I faced Locke. “Those girls, they’re starving. They’re sick! One died today. They need someone to take care of them.”

Finally, Locke had heard enough. “Don’t you think I know that? Why do you think I took you there? But these other girls, they aren’t like you. I know they need to be kept better, but until the council comes up with a decision, they are the property of whoever’s basement they’re in.”

My heart jumped to my throat. “There are more?”

Locke judged my stance before he continued, “Yes. Three more. About eighteen girls total. As far as we know, all with child.”

I dropped to my knees and groaned. My head swam. I had spent an entire day trying to help those girls and there were so many more I didn’t even know about. So many that still needed me.

Locke crouched and lifted my chin. His eyes were soft in the glow of the lantern. “Tanner told me everything you did today. I’m very proud of you.”

“I watched a girl die today. I couldn’t help her,” I croaked.

“You took lead of a group of boys and got them to carry out your orders.” Locke stood and motioned to Tanner. This time, it was Tanner that helped me up.

“Because I didn’t want to see them like that. It isn’t right.”

“Sometimes being virtuous is the same thing as being brave.”

“Those boys only listened to me because I told them it’d kill their sons if they didn’t. One even called me a name- royalty.” I didn’t understand the word, but I’m sure it was an insult.

Tanner’s laugh shook his entire body. “Royalty isn’t name calling. It’s from children’s stories. You know: kings, knights, princes. Stories of brave leaders who sleigh vicious beasts in honor of their family.” He picked up a stick and swung it at an imaginary foe.

Locke playfully punched Tanner in the arm. It was the first time I’d seen them like this. Usually, Locke gave orders, and Tanner followed them. This was different, this was familiarity, family. For a moment, I felt like an outsider getting a glimpse of a world not meant for me.

“The boy meant you were from a royal bloodline. The relative of someone in a powerful position within the clan.”

I locked eyes with him. “You mean like the daughter of an elder?”

“That’s exactly what I mean.” There was something in the way he said it, some deeper meaning I didn’t understand.

Tanner spent the remainder of our walk recalling his favorite children stories of kings and knights. When I asked him if the vicious beasts were really a reference to women, he finally stopped. By the time we reached the warm, bright kitchen of Locke’s house, I was exhausted.

The rest of the boys were asleep, so Locke allowed me to eat in the kitchen before going to bed. The three of us sat at a rough wood table, each with a bowl of rabbit stew. We ate hungrily, and the only sounds were our spoons clanking against the bowls.

When I finished, I watched Tanner and Locke. They continued to eat, Tanner slurping straight from the bowl, while Locke scooped spoonful after spoonful of broth to his mouth.  Their elbows touched as they ate, though neither seemed to notice. They looked nothing alike, but the similar movements and closeness that they shared said more about their relationship than any family resemblance.

Sitting here, in this small kitchen with my father and his son, I felt almost normal. Not quite as if we were a family, but close. I wanted to close my eyes and pretend that the day didn’t happen, that the hunt never happened, and this was my family. That my mother was here, a part of this, and always had been.

Tanner stood up and set his bowl on the counter behind him. He took mine, and placed it in his. Locke grunted a reminder to him about locking the door in between bites. Tanner just shrugged at me, took my hand, and led me through the darkness. He stopped at a table and lit a lantern before I followed him up the stairs.

Once inside my room, I released a haggard breath. Now that I was warm and fed, all the emotions of the day settled heavy on my heart. I sat on the edge of the bed and let all the tears I had fought back come in waves of sobs.

Tanner sat down and wrapped his arms around me. He sighed; “I suppose I’m your crying post again?”

I pressed my head to his chest and sobbed harder. He kicked off his boots, and slid himself back until he was propped up on my pillows. I slid out of my boots and nestled myself in the crook of his arm.

“I’m sorry.” I looked up at him through wet eyes. “It’s just those girls, and I’m here, and she died… I couldn’t save her,” I blubbered.

He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. “It’s okay. You did what you could. You’ll get to do more. I’ll help you. Right now, let it all out, and rest.”

CHAPTER 16

~ The Bunker ~

Light was streaming brightly through the window when I woke. My limbs felt stiff and heavy. Tanner sighed in my ear, startling me. He lay on his side, an arm and leg strew across me, and I wrestled my arms out from under his and rubbed my eyes. Everything from the day before came rushing back. I slid off the bed carefully.

Tanner stirred, but didn't wake. A lock of his hair had fallen over his brow and the rest stuck up at odd angles. His face was relaxed, and he resembled a small child. For a moment, I longed to brush the hair out of his eye. I put my knee on the bed and leaned over, reaching for the misplaced hair. Green eyes flashed and his hand shot up and grabbed my wrist, yanking me onto the bed.

Tanner pulled me close to him and snuggled his face into my neck. “Can I have five more minutes?” Hot breath sent little sparks down my body. “What were you doing, anyway?”

I looked up at the ceiling and concentrated on keeping my voice calm and even. “You look different while you sleep. Peaceful. Like a little boy.”

He propped his head up on his elbow. “You look different too. Not peaceful. Just more... ” He shook his head. “And you talk in your sleep, too.”

I gave him a sideways glance. “You could’ve left.”

He shrugged with one shoulder. “Didn’t want to.”

I sat up. The weight of reality bore down on me, and he seemed way too content pursing whatever was happening between us. “Tanner. Those girls. They need me. Last night before I...”

“Cried all over me until you fell asleep?” He moved to the edge of the bed and rubbed his hands on his face.

“Sorry.” I scolded myself for needing him so much last night.

“Hey,” he said as he put his hand on my shoulder. “After you fell asleep, I cried too. And then I thought of a way to help you. Help the girls.” He put on his boots and started for the door. “I'm going to talk to Locke. I'll bring some food when I come back.”

I reached for my boots. “I want to go with you.”

Tanner held up his hand. “No. Being Locke's daughter may keep you safe, but it doesn’t give you freedom. Let me talk to him. He’ll call for a vote from the other council members. Trust me.”

Before I could answer, he was out the door, and I heard the familiar rattle of a key in a lock. I paced. Last night, I didn't feel like a prisoner. I felt like I was a part of something, like I was depended on and my decisions and actions mattered. Today, I felt more like a caged animal than ever.

A few hours later, Tanner returned with apples and some coarse bread. He didn't stay. When I asked him what was going on, he told me that he had to collect votes for Locke and he needed to hurry. He promised me that he would explain later. I couldn't eat. I paced some more, thinking of those girls. If I was here, who was going to make sure that they got food and water?

Finally, I gave in to my hunger and ate an apple and half the bread. I studied the sky to figure out the time, made and remade my bed, and then searched the room for a book, some paper, a pencil, anything to keep me occupied. Nothing. The room was bare. The next time I looked out the window, the sky had darkened. It was almost evening.

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