“The dumb brute and the deceiving bitch,” the voice cackled from behind him.
Cade closed his eyes and took a deep breath, praying for this interaction to be over soon. He was by no means dumb and the three idiots approaching his workbench knew as much. He did speak, just not a lot. He didn’t see the need in opening his mouth if not for anything important. That sentiment didn’t apply to Lia though. With Lia, he spoke freely, but one could argue that it was only because she didn’t let him get away with his usual one-worded answers and quiet mumblings.
The woman in question stood up from where she had been sitting on the ground, skinning rabbits from this morning’s round.
“Reporting for duty, sir!” she barked with a hand to her head, pulling a serious face. Cade turned around, ready to watch this play out but reluctant to get involved. He knew Lia could handle herself.
“Is that so? Want to make yourself useful? Get on your knees,” Theo smirked, taking a step forward, clutching his groin. Tag and Bron laughed beside him.
“Ooph,” Lia winced, appearing apologetic. “I swear I would, but I have super strict requirements.” She gestured at her forehead before slowly drawing out her hand clean over Theo’s head. The pout she gave him was beyond patronizing. “Maybe next year. I’m sure you would have sprouted by then.”
It was all Cade could do not to smile. Lia was already a woman of tall stature, standing at five feet and ten inches. But head to head with Theo, who just barely passed her chin? The way she dwarfed him was almost comical. His best friend always chose to escalate these run-ins, but Cade remained silent as usual. He would enjoy the show, but he didn’t have to indulge her.
Theo took another step closer to Lia, face turning red, snarling. “Why don’t you go back to the forest, you foundling whore!”
Lia only smiled. She’d heard it all before. But Cade could hear something dangerous in Theo’s tone. He never took insults well.
Slightly on edge, Cade shuffled forward, ready to haul Lia into the house if things got out of hand. It wouldn’t have been the first time he had to. He was briefly reminded of an altercation that he had put a stop to a few months ago. It had started the same way and ended with Lia on top of one of the townies in the muddy grass, giving him the beating of his life. He’d promptly pulled her off him and carried her over his shoulder back into the house. Cade loved Lia to bits but her fearlessness often unsettled him; scared him, even. She could definitely hold her own against Theo, but all three of them were a different problem. Besides, he knew who would hold the blame if word got to the councilmen about another dispute.
Suddenly, Lia stiffened. Her head flew back, face to the sky, and she began shaking, eyes rolling to the back of her head. Theo, Tag, and Bron immediately began backing away, but Cade cocked his head at her in amusement. Here we go again, he thought. Cade knew what a real vision looked like, and this wasn’t it. He was well aware that Lia’s little displays wouldn’t do her any favors with the people in their sector, but he wasn’t in a rush to stop her fun. It wasn’t as if they didn’t deserve it, even if it was mean.
Moments later, Lia dropped to her knees on the grass with her head down, startling their unwanted guests. All the while, Cade leaned back on his workbench, legs crossed, observing. He wondered how far she would take it this time.
Shivering, Lia lifted her head, dark curls falling to either side of her face. “A vision…” she whispered. “Theo…it’s your mother.” Her face twisted, feigning sorrow. Had he not known Lia so well, he would have been just as anxious as the rest of them.
Theo blanched, fear leaking into his anger and shock.
“W-what about her?”
She silently beckoned him forward, a solitary tear making its way down her face. Slowly, warily, Theo made his way to her, looking more apprehensive with each step. In a flash, Lia stood up and threw out her hand. Even Cade flinched a fraction. He looked to Theo just in time to catch his yelp and watch him jump back as bloody rabbit skins splattered across his face and slid down his torso. Lia doubled over with laughter and this time, Cade allowed himself to join in, unabashed by their current company. Through their laughter, Cade heard Theo’s outraged barking as Tag and Bron dragged him away.
“I’ll fucking kill you, seer! You too, you bastard!”
When he finally sobered, Cade looked at Lia as tears shone in her eyes. “One of these days, they’ll string you up,” he said, shaking his head.
“Ah, let them,” she snorted. “At least then I could haunt you and you’ll never be rid of me.”
Cade stared at her, an easy smile falling over his face. “As if I could be rid of you now.”
He woke that night to the familiar sounds of whining and light tapping on the wall behind him. Cade swiftly drew the furs back and stood, padding over to the room that shared a wall with his. Upon entry, he didn’t startle at the scene before him. He’d seen it many times before.
Keeping his steps soft, he walked to the edge of Lia’s bed and gently cradled her shaking body, maneuvering himself so that she laid back into his chest, before sinking onto her mattress. He absently noticed that this one lasted longer than usual but made no move to get up. Just slowly rocked her, looking over her glazed, white eyes, murmuring into her ear as a bead of sweat dripped down her forehead. After some time, she woke, blinking groggily, drawing herself from Cade’s gentle hold. He gave her a second to catch her breath and refrained from asking questions, allowing her to fill him in when she was ready.
A lot of the time, her visions didn’t seem to make much sense or she deemed them irrelevant, but Cade was always there if she wanted to talk about it or needed help interpreting them. After several deep breaths, she sat up and looked back at Cade apologetically.
Sensing what was on the tip of her tongue as she opened her mouth, he shook his head. “Don’t.”
She nodded absently, visibly trying to piece together what was going through her mind. Many people in their sector believed that seers manipulated the future through their visions to bring harm to others, and if he had never met Lia, Cade probably wouldn’t have known any better either. But he’d watched his best friend over the years, plagued by these visions, tormented by the guilt of not being able to prevent some events. He’d witnessed the hysteria and the confusion that followed the visions. He knew that they were far from voluntary or malicious, and would never allow her to be sorry for something as menial as checking on her when she was in distress.
Tension began to wind up in Cade’s chest as Lia’s eyes began widening, darting around the room. Patience forgotten, he softly asked, “What is it?”
She looked up, finally meeting his eyes with an urgent look in hers. “Enforcers from the Dome,” she hissed. “Maybe a dozen, headed for the Western Council lodge.”
For goodness’ sake. Cade stood immediately and made his way to his room, knowing Lia would probably follow him.
“Where are you going?” she demanded as her feet slapped unsteadily across the wooden floors behind him.
He was right. If she hadn’t sounded so drained he might have ignored the question considering his mood, but tonight of all nights, she deserved some grace.
“Council lodge,” he replied, slipping a shirt over his head.
Lia sighed, digging her fingers into the band of her nightcap. “You don’t think it’s time for them to quit this stupid game?”
“Of course, I do,” he snipped back, dressing as he made his way around the room.
“Then let this run its course. For whatever they’ve done this time, I’m sure they have it coming,” she stressed.
He knew who she was talking about without her having to utter their names. For many years, his father and brother had been at work, finding new ways to get themselves killed. While he didn’t know the details, he was sure that the desired result was to take hold of the power and riches coveted by anyone unfortunate enough to be born on the outside. He understood their frustration. Of course he did. The Dome was a hub of wealth and technology thriving right in the middle of Terra. Meanwhile, the surrounding sectors grew poorer by the day and were forced into manual labor in hopes of bartering with the Dome to get by.
Everyone knew that the trading officials from inside The Dome were nothing if not greedy. Taking advantage was a strong suit of theirs, and there wasn’t much that Cade or anyone else could do about it when they needed money more than the officials needed resources. Especially since The Dome was swimming with the gifted. Seers, witches, psionics, empaths, azraels, and all of the like. This was exactly why he needed to stop his father before he did something that he couldn’t take back this time.
“You know, you can come with me if you want,” he tossed over his shoulder placatingly, heading for the door.
Lia narrowed her eyes. “Have you heard a word I’ve said?” she asked, voice growing dangerously high in pitch.
“Each one,” he said dryly.
“Then why is your hand on the fucking doorknob?” she exclaimed, cutting through the relative calm.
She was agitated now, but he knew that it was fear behind her words rather than malice. Lia was well aware of the state of Cade’s relationship with his father, so it was no surprise that she would be reluctant for him to go back to the Council Lodge. Back to his childhood home.
He walked back toward her and framed her face with his hands, speaking softly. “I know that nothing good will come from me being there, but at the very least I have to see what’s going on. They’re my family.” Only family, he added mentally. “Come with me.”
Though her face hadn’t changed, he felt the moment she conceded and fought the smug curve his slips tried to free.
After a few seconds, she rolled her eyes, blowing out a breath. “Fine, but I swear to the Gods we are not staying for more than an hour. No offense, but your father makes me want to take up murder as a hobby.”
His smile beamed from ear to ear, masking his own anxiety. “Me too.”
