Elias sits on a log by the fire watching the flame flicker and stretch up for the greasy meal turning over the flame. A young man on the other side of the fire turns the spit. The gutted Mistwraith drips hot grease into the flames making them sputter and sizzle. The smell reminds Elias of the expensive carnival food he could never afford.
Rex and Tyrese had started the fire and gutted the creature but now both were decidedly absent from the task. The skinny young man they had forced to take over had not looked up from his duty since they had placed him there.
Daniel plops down beside Elias on the log. “Man, did you see the blonde?” He shivers, “Bet she never seen the captain’s cabin before. You should show her the controls.” He raises his eyebrows and smiles a well-practiced confident grin.
“Maybe you should,” Elias replies dryly. He turns back to mulling over his thoughts. He should be exhausted. How did I do that? This vial has to be the most precious thing in all the Nevers. He ponders whether there are more vials out there. Are there different vials? Are there vials in the other cities? He imagines superhuman men. What would they do with their power? Are they evil? He shivers.
“What? You don’t like women?” Daniel looks at him incredulous.
“Yes. They don’t like me.”
Daniel looks him over. “You just need a shave and some new duds man. A bath over there in the sea might help. You gotta show them you care for yourself. That and smile a little. You look like someone shot your dad or something.” He mocks a sulky face at Elias.
“Maybe someone should,” Elias mutters.
“That’s dark man.” Daniel laughs. “He gave you life.”
“Then he beat it out of me,” Elias growls under his breath.
“My dad ran off when I was ten.” Daniel says, “But I don’t want him dead. Maybe kick his ass but not dead. I kinda wonder about him from time to time. Is he handsome like me? Where did he go? Did he find a way to the other cities?”
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“You think people make it to the other cities?”
Daniel nods a few times. “I bet they do. I mean Terre Goth sucks. You know half of what they tell us is propaganda. You think the other cities spread the same kind of garbage over there? What do you think the women are like over there?” He looks out across the Nevers. The black sea stretches out into the distance until it touches the stars. “I heard they are taller than the Goths with tan skin like cherry-stained wood.”
Elias absent-minded watches the dark waves and fiddles with the vial around his neck. Maybe that is what I need to do, go to the other cities. Start over. Not be the neglected, abused Valley kid that everyone likes to torment. Maybe I could have a normal life. A family. He thinks.
“What is that thing?” Daniel reaches up to touch the vial and a jolt of pain runs up his arm. He snatches his hand back and yelps in alarm. “What is that thing!” He shoves his finger into his mouth.
“Just a family heirloom.” Elias lies. “Something my mother left me.”
“How the heck are you touching it?” He pulls his finger out of his mouth to examine it. His fingertip is charred and blistered.
Elias leans closer and looks at his finger. Is there some kind of protection spell on this thing? He shrugs. “I guess I’m just used to it.”
Daniel scoots away a smidge. “Well, that thing is dangerous you should warn a guy first.”
Elias smiles, “Maybe you shouldn’t reach for other people’s things.”
Daniel smiles back, “Bad habit. I see something pretty and I go for it. Speaking of which if you aren’t gonna talk to her, I’m gonna go introduce myself. Mind if I show her the captain’s cabin? I could tell her you made me first mate or something.”
“Go ahead.” Elias rolls the vial between his fingers.
Elias listens as Daniel approaches a young blonde woman standing outside the firelight. She is hugging herself and casting looks back at the dark forest at every rustling sound. “Captain says I’m to take all the beautiful women to the cabin for protection since you are the only one that qualifies...” She flashes a glance at Elias then smiles when she makes eye contact with Daniel. “Yeah, you have that effect on me too. Listen we have some big shoes to fill if we are to be the first mates to the captain. Technically it’s a one-man job but maybe he could make an exception if you are unable to leave my side.”
She mutters something back to Daniel and he laughs. Then he takes her arm in his and begins to walk toward the catamaran.
Elias looks out at the Nevers again crashing onto the beach. An image of the pale man in the shadows sends a shiver down his spine. It is as if he was destined to get on the catamaran, he looks up at the Triad mountains looming overhead, either that or doomed to get on.