Page 71 of A Silence So Divine

Veda turns to me fully and grips my shoulders. Her eyes are burning with something I can’t place. Gone is the woman who offered up waffles. With a squeeze of her fingers, she begins speaking in a hushed tone.

“She is not built for this. She has incredible power, but she is afraid of it. If you care for her at all, you will be gentle. Do you hear what I’m saying to you?”

Her words strike a cord, and I’m left breathless. It’s not exasperation that I feel, or outrage, or even annoyance. It’s much, much worse.

Helplessness. Deep and unyielding.

Veda spoke aloud what I’ve been warring with since I found her tied to that pole in the Sanctuary.

“Yes,” I rasp. “I hear you.”

Twenty Nine

Eden

Creed and I sit crisscrossed in a patch of grass, knees touching. We watch on as men take turns tossing each other around. “Hand to hand combat training”, Veda had called it. It’s necessary, I suppose, for everyone to practice defending themselves. But every time a back hits the ground, I flinch.

Creed, however, watches with awe, eyes glued to the scene like he can’t miss a second of it. It’s ironic, considering he gagged when I got a paper cut from turning pages in my sketchbook too quickly.

The two men sparring look a bit older than Cecil. Both sport a fair amount of facial hair, and the few lines in their forehead are deep with permanence. The one winning has vibrant red hair and color painted all over his arms. It’s beautiful, but odd, and I make a mental note to question Creed about it later.

The red haired man swipes the legs out from beneath the other, closing out the battle. There’s a few cheers, but most everyone is silent. Half of the camp is on the other end of the clearing, anyway, loading and unloading guns. Sylvie is with that group, and I try desperately to keep my gaze from that direction.

Once the men are seated, it’s Jaspers turn to step into the ring. Out of everyone, Sylvie included, he makes me the most uneasy. I’ve seen the way he watches Cecil—like a predator waiting for their prey to turn their back.

A volunteer steps up to Jasper, but he waves them away dismissively.

“I want the new kid,” he calls out, pointing in Creed’s direction. “I bet he could use some pointers, couldn’t ya?”

My gaze shifts nervously to the side. Creed looks on with confusion, trying to decipher Jasper’s words. A smile is still in place from the last battle, but his brows quiver with confusion.

There’s a churning in my gut.

Taking pity on him, I translate the words to Creed. His face blanches, and the grin on his face fizzles out.

“Come on, I’ll be gentle,” Jasper goads. There’s a twinkle in his eyes, and I see it for what it is. Not kindness, but mockery.

A shadow falls over me, and I crane my head over my shoulder. The tightening in my chest unravels minutely when I see Cecil standing at our backs.

“Not today, Jas, and not with you,” he replies firmly. His arms are crossed over his chest, chin held high. The embodiment of confidence, I don’t understand how anyone would ever challenge him.

Jasper does, of course. As I’m learning, men are egotistical creatures.

“You can’t keep baby bird under your wing, Cece. That wasn’t the deal.”

“It’ll be a cold day in Hell before I let you put your hands on my brother,” comes Cecil’s icy reply.

Those of us sitting around the makeshift ring shift uncomfortably, waiting with bated breath.

Jasper puts his hands up defensively. “Fine, fine. No baby brother,” he concedes. “You can take his place.” Flippinghis palm skyward, he crooks a finger towards Cecil. The mischievous smirk on his face remains, but his eyes hold only fury. Hate.

I stare forward, too nervous to turn and spare a glance in Cecil’s direction. When his voice finally comes, the promise of pain is rolling off of the words like waves.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

The sun is warm on my back, but a chill rolls down my vertebrae. The other matches were friendly enough. No one appeared angry, and the winner always helped the other back to their feet. But this… I have a sinking feeling this will be different.

Cecil rounds the group and goes to stand in the center with Jasper. There’s a girl to my left, and she knocks her shoulder into mine.