Page 4 of A Rose Among Snakes

“Shut up!”

The hysteria only increased.

At that moment, I remembered Taz was with me, so I craned my neck further and found her still standing in the road, appearing to be frozen in shock.

“Taz, go get my mother. Tell her we need help.”

Taz didn’t move.

“Hurry!”

My shout broke through and she spun on her heels and took off down the road. I faced my brother and shoved a finger into his mouth, sweeping the remaining gritty powder out and wiping it on my dress. My mind raced trying to think of what else I was supposed to do. The girl’s laughter paused and the sound of chirping birds and a babbling creek reached my ears.

Water… Maybe water would help him? My only instinct was to wake him up, and I prayed the shock of the cold water would do that. I got to my feet, then grabbed his hands, and pulled him forward. I was taller than the average woman, but Jehiam still had several inches on me. He was heavier than his willowy frame made him out to be, and it took a great heave to get him up and away from the tree. Once his body slumped forward, I slipped behind him and rested his back against the front of my legs, hooking my arms underneath his armpits. I gripped his shirt for extra leverage and started hauling him across the road.

My muscles protested with every step backward, our progress impeded by my impractical boots. With a growl of frustration, I paused in the middle of the road and dropped Jehiam on the ground, hoping the jarring movement would wake him. Chest heaving, I bent over and ripped at the laces. My fingers were stiff from gripping Jehiam’s shirt and I struggled to remove the boots, but eventually, they loosened enough for me to kick them off to the side. Feet flat on the ground once more, sweat dripped into my eyes as I stood back up, stinging and blurring my vision. As I wiped it away and took several deep breaths, I heard a different gurgling sound; something that was not from the creek.

Through my blurred sight, I saw vomit dribbling out of Jem’s mouth, but he did not turn on his side. A new wave of horror hit my chest and I flung myself to the ground, rolling him to his side and holding him as his body convulsed, trying to rid itself of the wine. I was vaguely aware I was crying and mumbling his name through my tears. I had never felt so helpless in my life. He still couldn’t get a breath in, and his head thrashed from side to side in an instinctual fight to survive. Despite the chaos in my head, my father’s last words to me drifted through my mind.Help your mother and look out for your brothers and sisters.

Pushing aside any feelings of disgust, I shoved my fingers into his mouth and swept out the vomit obstructing his throat. He took a shuddering inhale and coughed, the action projecting theremaining vomit onto the ground. He groaned and rolled onto his back, and I let out a cry of relief.

“Jem!” I sobbed.

His eyelids fluttered for a moment as he groaned again.

“I’ve got you, Jem. Don’t worry.” The pounding of my heart disguised the rumbling of approaching horse hooves until the rider was directly behind us. A man, hooded and cloaked, pulled the dappled gray horse to a stop and swiftly dismounted.

“Are you hurt?” His voice was deep, rich, and unfamiliar. He crouched by me as I shook my head.

“No, I’m fine. He’s…” I trailed off. Ziffem may have been common enough, but it was still illegal. I had no idea how this strange man would react, and I couldn’t take any chances. “He’s had too much to drink, that’s all.”

The man drew back his hood and examined Jehiam with a hard-set jaw and furrowed brow. With a gloved hand, he reached forward and lifted Jem’s lip, revealing the purple gums. My mouth went dry as he scrutinized Jehiam’s condition. He cast me a sidelong glance but didn’t comment on it.

“Is he stable enough to move?”

“I… I think so,” I stammered.

The stranger removed his glove and placed a broad hand on Jehiam’s forehead, his frown deepening. “Has he woken up at all?”

I swallowed. “Not entirely. He was choking on his vomit and seemed to hear me once he recovered, but that’s it. I was trying to get him down to the creek.”

Jem groaned and rolled his head to the side.

The man nodded as he stood.

“Good thinking. I’ll grab his arms, and you grab his legs.”

With shaking limbs, I rose onto my feet and wrapped my stiff fingers around Jem’s ankles. We carried my brother the rest of the way across the road and down the embankment to the creek. Sweat dripped down my back and my arms trembled, but I wouldn’t let go, not until we reached the water. It was cooler down there, and while the damp smell of mud stuck to my nostrils, it was a welcome reprieve from the stench of vomit. I dropped his feet with a grunt and flexed my aching fingers.

The stranger flipped Jem over with ease, and before I could object, he gripped Jem’s hair and dunked his head under the water. I held my breath and wrung my hands, but when he pulled my brother up a second later there was still no reaction. Again, the man pushed his head under the water, and this time Jehiam jerked. His arms flung forward, pushing himself off the muddy ground, and the man pulled him up.

Spluttering, Jehiam coughed out a mouthful of water and scrambled away from the man. He fell backward into the shallow creek and gasped, a ragged, wet sound rattling up his throat. I lurched forward and clutched his arm, unable to bear watching him struggle further. He turned his wide, wild eyes to me.

“Mihrra,” he croaked.

Tears welled and I pulled him to my chest, wrapping my arms around him. Jem’s chest rose and fell rapidly against mine and I sat back on my heels to get a better look at him. His eyes werebloodshot, but the same familiar gold-brown of our father’s shone back at me.

“Here, come rest,” I said, guiding him forward and placing him against a tree trunk. He winced as his head hit the bark with a thud. I hadn’t noticed the stranger disappear, but he came back down the embankment, leaves and rocks scattering with every footfall. He carried a flask and knelt by the creek, filling it. Standing up, he brought it over and offered it to Jehiam, whose eyes were closed once more. I took it instead and lifted it to my brother’s lips, tipping it forward. They opened partially and he took a few sips before his mouth stretched into a grin, the water dribbling out the sides. Any hope I had that the Ziffem would be canceled out by the wine dissipated as rough laughter bubbled up his throat.

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