It doesn’t seem like a good idea going to Ripple Hills with Caz, but he insists, even when I tell him it may be better for me to stay in Whisper Grove.
“I won’t be able to make it back in time to Whisper Grove to get you and then return to Blackwater before the morsel wears off. Once I have my cousins, we’ll head there.” He says this as we leave Whisper Grove, both of us carrying black sacks containing water, fruit, and dry foods like nuts and berries, courtesy of Manx.
“What did the note say?” I ask as we climb a hill. I feel a cramp building in my side from all the walking. I haven’t walked this much in ages.
Caz stops at the top of the hill and looks toward the valley ahead. A forest is nearby, the leaves of the trees rustling with the wind. There’s no telling what’s in that forest.
Caz digs into his pocket, waiting for me to meet up to him before handing the paper to me.
We have the girl and the darkie. If you want to see them again, bring 600 rubies.
“The darkie?” I don’t know why I’m surprised by that word again. Darkie. It’s so…ignorant.
“They’re referring to Killian,” Caz mutters, already marching down the hill.
“Yeah, I gathered that, but why are they calling him that?”
“Why do you think?”
“So let me get this straight,” I huff, clutching the paper and following him downhill. “Even in another universe, there’s hatred for someone’s skin color?”
Caz side-eyes me before putting his focus ahead. “Unfortunately.”
“So, it’s a universal thing.” I suck my teeth. “Got it.” I glance at him before saying, “I’m glad you’re not hateful on that front.”
“Why would I be?”
“I don’t know.” And I really don’t. I just see this clear-cut white guy, and one like me would assume he has an inkling of racism buried inside him.
“Human is human. And a piece of shit is a piece of shit. If they want to hate someone for the color of their skin, that’s their problem, but I choose not to be a part of it. Makes no sense.”
“No, it doesn’t. In our world, it’s called racism, and it’s a hatred that has killed many people.”
Caz is quiet a moment, taking long strides, making it harder for me to keep up with him. “My mother was a brown woman.”
My brows tilt upward. “Was she?”
“Yes. She had nearly the same skin tone as yours.”
I don’t know why that makes me smile. “So, I remind you of your mom?”
He cuts his eyes at me. “Don’t get carried away.”
I fight a laugh, and I see his mouth twitching, like he wants to laugh too but refuses to do so.
“So, what else should I know about you, Caspian Edgar Harlow?”
“You should know that I don’t like being called by my full name.”
“Clearly. What else?”
“And that it annoys me when people ask me too many questions.”
“That’s not news to me.”
“Didn’t think it would be.”
“Are you always so stubborn, Caspian?”
He stops walking to look me in the eyes, pointing a stern finger at me. “Stop calling me that.”
“What’s wrong with your name? I think it’s a nice name. It’s unique.”
“It’s Caz.”
“Why do Manx, Maeve, and Alora get to call you by your real name?”
“Because I’ve known Manx my whole life and I have a deep respect for him. As for Maeve, she’s my aunt and she partially raised me, so she can call me a stupid asshole and get away with it for all I care. And Alora is…well, Alora. She says and does what she wants regardless of how anyone feels. I’ve only met you, so you don’t get that privilege. You shouldn’t take it personally. My cousins don’t call me by that name either, not unless they want to fuck with me. It’s just Caz, to everyone.”
“It’s weird for someone to hate their own name so much. I mean, if you do, why not just change it?”
“Names cannot be changed in Vakeeli. The name you’re born with is the name you keep. Modifications are acceptable, but changing your name amounts to an insurmountable disrespect. It means there’s shame within you, and people find that a weakness here.”
“But…you’re ashamed of your name.”
“But others outside my circle don’t know that, and they won’t ever know it.” There’s an underlying threat in his tone.
“I’m not going to run around telling people you hate your name.”
“I know you won’t.”
I roll my eyes, pushing one of my locs off my forehead. “This world is insanely complicated.”
“You get used to it.”
“I see.” I look him over again. “It seems this world makes people…hard. Are the children even happy here?”
He doesn’t respond, and if I’m not mistaken, he picks up his pace, taking a trail between a line of trees. I stay behind him this time, dropping the questions for now, not only because I know he’s done answering them, but because I’m getting tired. I’ve truly gotten lazy. My word.
I’d do anything to be home in my bed, rolling a joint, getting high, and then curling up in a blanket to take a nap. I suppose if I shut up, we’ll get there sooner, so I pick up my pace, but end up bumping right into Caz’s back.
Gasping, I stumble backwards, but he turns and catches my wrist, preventing the fall. With his other hand, he has a finger pressed to his lips, his eyes wide with warning.
What? I ask, and the thought is loud and clear in my mind, so I know he can hear it. What is it?
Something’s hunting us.
I freeze, staring into his eyes, too afraid to look around. Caz releases my wrist, and I steady myself as he pushes his jacket back and slowly retrieves his gun from the holster. I still remember how pleased he was to see his guns when Alexi dumped them outside the border. He’d even checked the bullet chambers, to make sure all the bullets were there.
Caz takes a thorough look around. Raising his gun, he points it past me, and murmurs, “Whatever you do, do not run.”
I don’t. I stay where I am, trembling as he narrows his eyes.
“Cover your ears.” He says, and I lift my hands, bringing my palms to my ears and squeezing my eyes shut just as Caz pulls the trigger.
Despite my ears being covered, the gunshot makes them ring, and my initial reaction is to duck down.
“Shit.” Caz curses beneath his breath, and he aims the gun forward again, letting off a round of shots. I hear rapid steps, the crunching of gravel, the snapping of sticks and twigs.
A beastly growl erupts in the air and a blur of white dashes past me, tackling Caz to the ground.
