Page 85 of Outcast Fae
Smoke rose from the sand and enveloped Meadow Song and Silver Bear. When it cleared, they were gone, leaving us behind.
“At least we get some grub,” Elon said, marching toward our camp. He was pale, his blond hair matted to his thin skull. He was putting on a careless façade, but he was clearly shaken.
Patricia followed him next. Gina and Henry went reluctantly, casting backward glances at us. I could tell they felt torn. They sensed something was wrong, but the idea of going back home was enough to lead them away. I resolved not to feel any resentment toward them. This wasn’t their fault, and they were only children.
Likemychildren, they had no business being here.
“We should get back,” Sinasre said. “Get out of this infernal heat. It won’t do anyone any good to die of heatstroke. C’mon, Tally.”
Both Vaughn and Sinasre helped me to my feet. Once I felt steady enough, I shrugged away their hands. Vaughn had saved my life and perhaps even Sinasre’s. I was grateful for that, but it wasn’t easy to process. I was a fighter, too. I made my own way and knew how to take care of myself. I couldn’t rely on Vaughn or even my cousin. I had a feeling that, before this was over, this place would get the best of me.
When we got back to our camp, we found Elon gnawing on a rack of ribs, sauce smeared on the sides of his mouth. In just a few moments, he seemed to have regained some of his previous bravado. He knew he would be going home soon, too, and he had never cared about any of us, after all.
Patricia was eating with more care, but still enjoying her feast with satisfaction, while Gina and Henry picked at their food shyly, their expressions worried, their demeanors caving inwardly.
Wishing for some peace and time alone, I walked past the camp and sat under the shade of a palm tree. I stared toward the horizon, unable to keep the image of Daniella’s resigned face from my mind. I should have saved her. How could I have let her slip away like that?
Vaughn and Sinasre came a moment later. They had food and water. My cousin offered me one of the plates he was carrying.
“I’m not hungry,” I said as my stomach gave a painful twist at the mere thought of eating.
Vaughn sat to my left. He had a plate, too, and three bottles of water dangling from his fingers. “Eat something, Tally. You will need your strength.” He met my gaze pointedly as if sayingyou know nothing good awaits us.
I took the plate from Sinasre. It was topped with rib meat, roasted potatoes, and a medley of cut fruit.
“Here.” Vaughn set one of the water bottles in front of me and gave a second one to Sinasre.
The males ate in silence. Their food was gone in no time while all I could do was stare at mine. After some time, the knots in my stomach loosened, and the scent of meat caused my mouth to water. I hated my body for its weakness. I didn’t want anything from our captors, but if I was to live to fight another day, I had no other alternative but to take the nourishment.
That was the last thing Daniella had asked of me, to make them pay and I intended to do just that.
“It is time you two tell me exactly what’s going on. What happened in the dome?” Sinasre said when I finished eating and drinking the last of my water.
I met his yellow, slitted eyes and nodded. “I don’t think there would be further harm in telling you. I’m sure Adaline isn’t planning to let you go home.”
“Who?”
“It’s the woman who runs New Starts, and the other prison under the dome. Cousin, I don’t know what all is going on, but you need to know because... it concerns your family somehow.”
“My family? How?”
“I don’t know that either. All I know is that they’re kidnapping Supernaturals—human and fae alike. They’re keeping them under that dome for some sort of experiment. And the people who are doing this also want to know where your mother is.”
“What?! Why?” His cat eyes flashed with fear.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. Sinasre.” I grabbed his hand, and I was sure he could see the desperation on my face. “They did take the orphans I was taking care of and brought them here. I saw one of them while they were… taking genetic samples from me.” I glanced at Vaughn, who nodded in confirmation.
“They swabbed Tally’s mouth, took some of her hair, and tried to draw her blood,” Vaughn added.
Deep lines appeared on Sinasre’s forehead as he considered this.
“They questioned me about your mother’s whereabouts. This…” I pointed toward the water where we’d last seen the sea serpent. “This was a punishment for not telling them. That’s why Daniella is dead. They’ll question you, too. I don’t know why they haven’t done it yet—maybe because I was the first one they allowed to go inside the dome—but I’m sure they’ll come after you next.”
Sinasre said nothing.
“After the others are gone,” Vaughn said, “they’ll have no more need to keep appearances. They’ll take us all in.”
“You sound as if you want to go in there,” Sinasre said.
