Dirt (The Dirt Trilogy) (14 page)

The sound of his moaning wakes me from my sleep, his hand
still clutched in mine. Arcos has gone to his quarters as did the rest
of the crew except for Alder, Coll, and Ruis.

“
Ashe,” he groans and touches my cheek bringing with it the
warmth I’ve missed.
“What happened, Rowen?” Alder questions.
“He
wants everything.
Both keys, Ashe…and the yellow
serum. He knows about the serum. He won’t quit until he has
everything. He thought I had the key. When he found out I didn’t
…well, you see what he did. He said this was a warning. He was
here, at the celebration. He dropped me in the field behind the
dormitories, but I made my way to the ceremony.”
“Do you know what his plans are? Did they say anything else
you overheard?” Alder asks.
“No, I don’t know how they have so much information.” His
voice is a little stronger now. Apparently, Coll’s healing touch
made some improvement.
“Did you see
anyone
who might be
giving
him
inside
information?”
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
“My art assignment. Bran. He was my art professor at the
University of Montana. He had me paint some pictures, and while I
was held captive, I saw them hanging on the walls of the caverns.
They did something to them. They could see my father and me in
the pictures. Like some kind of security system.”
“We’ve got to get those painting…and the sister key,” Alders
says with worry. “Then we’ve got to get you out of here and back to
Montana.”
“I’m not leaving him. I refuse,” I spout.
“First things first, Ashe. We’ve got to get those paintings and
find that key.”
“I will go,” Ruis offers, his face cloaked in trepidation.
“You can’t go alone.” Alder isn’t about to let a rookie take this
on.
“I am the only one that’s expendable and I have a plan.”
Alder shakes his head dismissing the youngster’s eagerness and
places his hand on Ruis’s shoulder in reassurance. “You are not
expendable. They’ll eat you alive, Ruis.”
“I have a plan that will work. They can’t know I’m the enemy.
They have to think I’ve turned to their side.”
“They will never believe you. It’s too risky.”
“I’ll go to Straif and tell him I’ve left the brethren. I’ll win his
trust, find the key and the paintings.”
“Ruis, I appreciate your intent.” Alder’s attitude is saturated
with condescension.“Straif is much smarter than that. He’ll know.”
I can tell by Alder’s tone he doesn’t believe the boy has much
wisdom about him.
Suddenly, Ruis’s eyes intensify with a metallic glow and he
straightens his shoulders. “Watch this,” he says. He waves his hand
over his face. His clothes turn to black, his nails crusty and yellow.
He reeks of rot and decay as his skin darkens, losing its beauty in
seconds. He looks exactly like one of The Thorn.
“I don’t have much time. I can’t stay in this body long or I’ll
change permanently. My thoughts will become depraved and evil
will be engraved in me.” He brushes his palm over his face again,
returning to his natural state of youth and vigor.
Alder and Rowen look at one
another with awestruck
expressions. “No one from Congramaid has ever carried this gift.
It’s only been seen in those of The Thorn,” Alder says.
“I’ve known for a while, Alder. I knew what you would think.
It’s
not something I’m proud of.”
His expression falls
with
disappointment.
Alder cannot hide his apprehension, but forces an effort of
support. “This is out of your control.” He rubs his forehead as if
deciphering a complex puzzle.
Rowen falls back to sleep and Coll slumbers on another bed on
the other side of the room. Alder and Ruis discuss the plan. They
aren’t going to tell the others at Congramaid. The less others know
about the plan, the better. Ruis is to leave in the evening and
infiltrate The Thorn. If they find him out, it’ll be the death of him.
On the other hand, because his gift is one of evil sorts, they
probably won’t question his presence. As I listen, I remember the
enormity of the Caverns and the masses of artwork that scattered
the cave walls. I realize I am the only one who can help. I will have
to leave Rowen to save us all.
“I should go with him,” I interject.
“I can do this without you,” Ruis says. “It’s too risky.”
“There are thousands of pictures in the caverns. You’ll never
find my paintings.”
“I know what to look for.” Ruis seems certain. His secret is out
and he’s determined to make his mark as part of the brethren.
“Have you been down there? You have no idea how big and
confusing that place can be,” I explain.
“She’s right,” Alder says.“If she comes along things will move
much faster, limiting the amount of time you’ll have to stay in that
state, but I’m going with the both of you. We have to get in and out
of there fast. Ashe, do you remember how to get to your paintings?”
“Yes, I think I can find them. I remember most of the artwork
on the walls of the cave. Unless, they’ve moved everything, I’ll be
able to find my way around”
“We’ll leave at dawn.” Alder and Ruis appear relieved and
disappointed at the same time. Ruis will get the opportunity to
make his mark. I hope he doesn’t lose himself to a world of
darkness.

The rain hits the window hard, determined to let me know the
skies are gray. I can’t tell if dawn made its way through the night.
During the night, someone brought my bag and added three
more beds to the room. It is crowded in here, but Alder wants us to
remain together. Rowen is looking much better, as is Coll.
I watch him sleep and Rowen’s wounds are fading. I am so
thankful to have him
back. I enjoy
watching his body move
rhythmically with each breath. I cannot resist the urge to touch him
and I move my hand across his forehead.
He is my Montague. I remember the moment he first spoke to
me. I was reading Romeo and Juliet. Our relationship has taken on
the same ironic twist; our love is forbidden for irrational reasons,
and I am determined our ending will be much different. I don’t
want an ending at all.
I pull myself away from him. Alder and Ruis are gone, so I
figure this is a good time to get a shower. The bathroom attached to
this room has a door. I’m learning to value little things like privacy
now that I’m running around with a bunch of guys. I’m sure if
Taylie knew what was going on she would love to switch places
with me.She’s probably worried sick about me right now.
After my shower, I pull my jeans out of the bag. The stone
necklace that was hidden away in my mother’s drawer falls out. I
trace my finger across the image etched in the stone. Suddenly,
images of Nuin surge through my mind as Ivy’s gift of memories
surfaces. A vivid vision of my mother running toward an enormous
oak tree erupts in my brain. Nuin is frantic and has the necklace in
her hand. She places it in the knot of the tree and a burst of light
emerges. When the vision leaves me, I’m shaking. There’s
something
important about this
necklace, something
I
don’t
understand. I put it around my neck, to keep from losing it.
I come out of the bathroom and I notice Rowen and Coll’s beds
are
empty. “Rowen?
Rowen?”
I’m concerned I’ve
uncovered
something and I don’t know what to do with it.
I open the door leading to the hallway and the same huge guy
blocks the entrance, so I tuck myself back into the room and leave
the door open behind me. It’s weird being alone. I’m usually okay
with it,
but for
some reason solitude is
starting to feel
uncomfortable.
I hear Alder’s voice coming down the corridor, when the
bodyguard moves aside and the four brethren walk in. There’s
obvious distress on their faces.
“We have to find Henry,” Rowen demands.
When I hear my father’s name, my nerves are zapped again
with worry. “What’s wrong with my father?” I ask as fear creeps
into my throat.
Alder looks at me reassuringly. “Nothing. He’s fine. We are
running out of serum and…well, right now we cannot risk bringing
your father out into the open, but still, we need more.” Rowen sits
on the bed with his face in the palms of his hands.
“I knowwhere to find it. But… you’re not going to like this.
It’s in…”
“Stop! Don’t tell us where it’s hidden!” Coll yells with his
hand in the air. “He could be watching us. That’s why we left to
discuss our plans. Wherever you are,” he gestures toward me,“he
can see. Remember, your paintings.” His distaste for me grows each
time he looks at me.
“We’ll have no more discussion in your presence. Not until
those paintings are destroyed,” Alder says. “It’s too risky. We’re
not sure when Straif is watching.” Alder is flustered, which is
totally out of character for him. Right now, it appears he’s losing
control.
I’m sick of being in the dark about everything. Seeing my
apparent discomfort, Rowen walks over to put his arm around me.
His body feels so wonderful up against mine. I stagger from his
hand on my back. Coll fumes, irritated by our public display of
affection.
“I’m so glad you’re better. I was so worried,” I say.
“Coll pulled through for me, but it took everything he had.”
Rowen looks down and notices the stone hanging from my
neck. “Where did you get this?” he asks lifting the pendent from my
chest.
“From my mother’s dresser at Ivy’s house.” His eyes gleam as
he ogles.“What is it?” I ask.
His hands tremble as he holds the pendent gently in his palm.
“This is one of the keys, one of the keys to the doorway of Feda.”
Alder walks over and his face beams with intrigue.
Excitement surges through me. “We don’t have to worry about
Straif now. We still have what we need.”
“Remember, there are two keys. Straif still has the other one.
We’ll have to have the other key, as well, in order to have full
control of the Doorway of Feda. And the pictures…” Rowen lifts
the necklace from around my neck and he puts his forefinger gently
over my lips. “Shhhh. You stay here,” he whispers as if someone is
listening.
For some reason, I still want to keep the key. It was my
mother’s and I feel closer to her than ever. I want anything that
belonged to her.
Moments later, Rowen
returns. “Until
those pictures are
destroyed, you can’t have that thing around you. I hope he doesn’t
already know.” If Straif can see me, he can see the key hanging
from my neck making me even more his target.
Alder leaves with Ruis, who appears scared and unsure, to
another room to discuss the mission. Coll follows them infuriated
by our embrace, slamming the door on his way out.
“I guess he’s going to have to get over it,” I say.
Rowen peeks into my eyes and kisses me soft and warm, as if
he has been holding it in. His lips wrap around mine with perfect
design. He was made for me. I can feel it.
After his lips slowly pull away from mine, I see a bit of sadness
in the beautiful blue of his eyes.
“What is it?” I ask. His hands still perched around my waist as
I surrender to the shape of his fingers.
“Coll will never get over it…but that doesn’t really matter
now.”
I hug him tightly, my cheek pressed up against his chest. “Are
they going to let you go?”
“I’m not officially apart of the brethren anymore. I’ve spoken
to Arcos and he knows where I stand and I know where he stands.
I’m not leaving you. Not now. Not ever.” He smiles with a bit of
mischievousness; he has broken the rules and somehow he doesn’t
care.
“Alder realizes they need me. I may not be of the brethren, but
I am still your protector. They will see their options are limited. I
won’t have it any other way.” He leaves me to sit on the bed.
“Things are so different now, for me, for you, for Durt.”
Because of the spies who watch from a canvas of magical oils,
what I’m allowed to know is limited. For now, I’d have to go along
with things.
“Ruamna will be here soon.”
“I thought only brethren could ride.”
“Leprechauns have their ways with horses. Marvin especially.
Lucinda on the other hand, she’ll do well by staying on.” He smiles.
“They’re bringing her here.”
“Does all this mean we can be together? So, my grandfather
approves?”
“He approves of you. He does not approve of us, but that really
doesn’t matter. Without you nothing else really matters.” Taking
my hand, he gently pulls me onto the bed and I lay there beside him
thankful and worried all at the same time.
“But what about my father?”
“He’s safe. We shouldn’t discuss that right now. Straif might
be watching.”
We lay on the bed, my head on his shoulder and his arm around
me. It’s wonderful being alone with him, without having to please
anyone else, without having to abide by some unreasonable law. I
could be in love with him, and no one can stop me. No one except
for, Straif.