Vanquished Page 7

  Breaking the hold, Kat stepped forward to stare down into the deep crevice. It looked like the Earth had just cracked open. This was not produced by wind and water, since there was no water for miles. It took thousands of years or a devastating earthquake to produce a canyon like this.

  “Can we jump it?” Kat asked.

  “Alone maybe. But with two riders on a bike…not likely.”

  Kat looked sideways down the ravine. It stretched for miles. “Do you think there’s a bridge?”

  “Maybe, but how far is it? We could drive for hours and not find one,” Hades replied.

  Kat kicked at the dirt. Rocks tumbled over the edge. She glanced behind her at Damian and Darquiel. Darquiel was lying on his cloak, cradled in his lap. He stroked her sweaty brow, but met Kat’s gaze.

  “Ask her if she’s seen this ravine before?”

  Leaning close to Darquiel’s ear, Damian spoke to her. He looked up and shook his head. “There wasn’t a ravine when she escaped the city. But she doesn’t know how far along this way that she escaped.”

  Kat peered in both ways down the canyon. “Well, we know this way will eventually take us to the ocean. So the ravine can’t go on that way long, or there’d be water rushing at the bottom, and there isn’t. And the other way…”

  “Could go on for miles. More miles than we can risk.” Hades glanced up into the sky. The sun was moving.

  “We could go back,” Damian suggested. “Start again at dark.”

  Kat glanced at Damian’s hope-filled face. She shook her head. “No. I won’t go back. Let’s follow this down toward the ocean. It can’t be more than a three hour drive.”

  “In three hours, we could be crispy critters,” Hades pointed out.

  “I’d rather ride with smoke trailing off my ass, then quit.”

  Hades nipped her around the waist and pulled her toward him. Bending down, he smashed his mouth to hers. He kissed her thoroughly, urging a small moan from between her lips. He let go just as suddenly and took a distancing step.

  “Me, too.”

  He winked then turned toward his bike, glancing down at Damian and Darquiel. “Time to get moving.”

  Kat stood still and watched as Hades took a swig of water from his canteen. He then offered some to Damian who took it and poured water into Darquiel’s thin mouth.

  The kiss had stunned her. It had been fierce and smoldering. As his tongue had parted her lips, she could feel the heat between them sizzle in her mouth. She’d been kissed a million times before but never with such determination. Bringing a shaky hand to her mouth, she tried to rub away the feelings that the kiss stirred inside. Except the feelings had stimulated something deep that no amount of rubbing could erase.

  Chapter Eight

  For the next two hours, they raced along side the ravine searching for a bridge or a pass. With the sun near its zenith, lethal rays glared down on them like laser beams. Although Kat had covered up as much as possible, she could still feel the exposed skin on her face redden. The dark goggles protected her eyes, the hood of her cloak protected her head, but her cheeks and chin were still bare. Her lips were beginning to crack from the extreme heat.

  Glancing over at Hades, she spied duplicate red patches on his face. Behind him, Darquiel could barely hang on. She was completely covered, but Kat could plainly see the sweat pour off her. Her cloak was sodden right though. Hades had tied her hands around him, for fear that she could not hold on any longer. By the looks of her slumped head, he was right in doing so.

  “I can’t hold on.” Damian’s voice was low and hoarse, barely audible over the din of the engine.

  Kat swallowed as she heard the defeat in Damian’s voice. “Yes, you can. Wrap your hands under my knife strap.”

  “If I fall I’ll pull you off.”

  “Just do it, damn it!”

  She could feel Damian slowly work his hands around the leather strap wrapped around her waist and over her shoulder. He was right. If he fell, he would pull her off. But she wouldn’t allow him to give up, not yet. Not when there was still some fight left in her.

  Staring ahead, she squinted and willed something to appear in the horizon. They couldn’t go on much longer. The sweat that ran off her face stung her eyes. She could feel her throat constrict, feel the flesh inside begin to wither and wrinkle from lack of water. Her canteen was empty. The water that had been left evaporated in the stifling heat. When she had last popped the cap, steam rose from inside.

  “Kat! Look!” Hades pointed to the horizon.

  Trying to clear her sight, Kat blinked several times. She could make out a clump of green peaks. She thought they looked like tall trees. She sighed and glanced at Hades.

  He was grinning like a lunatic. “We’re going to make it!”

  Steam rose from his gas tank. A squeal erupted from within the metal basin. Hades swore and pulled on the brakes. He skidded to an abrupt stop. Dragging Darquiel with him, he got off the bike. He disengaged her hands from his belt and laid her down on the ground. More vapor and smoke erupted from the machine.

  Kat stopped her vehicle ahead of him. Turning it around, she sped back to where he had stopped.

  “Fuck!” He kicked the bike. It fell over on its side with a metallic whine. “Fuck!” He kicked in the gas tank. The cap exploded into the air with a distinctive pop. Steam blew out like a whale blasting water out its blowhole.

  “What do we do?” Kat asked.

  Hades looked at her then glanced at the rising peaks in the horizon. “Take Damian, drop him off some place safe, and come back and get her.” He motioned toward Darquiel who was lying on her back, her arms out and legs spread. Her chest didn’t rise with breath.

  “Take her first,” Damian croaked.

  “Damian, she’s done…” Kat pointed out.

  “Take her.” He unhooked his hands from Kat’s strap and fell over sideways off the bike. Hades caught him and stood him up. His knees wobbled and Hades had to hold him up.

  “Fine, put her on.” Kat shook her head. A fool’s errand. The girl was dead.

  Hades let Damian slide to the ground. He grabbed Darquiel’s arms and dragged her over to Kat’s bike. Picking her up, he set her on the back of the bike. She sagged sadly like a rag doll against Kat, so Hades wrapped her arms around Kat’s waist and tied her hands together.

  “She has no pulse,” he whispered to Kat.

  “Damian’s delusional to think this girl’s going to survive. The sun’s fried his brains.” She glanced at Damian. He was slumped over on his side and watching them intently. “It’s his funeral.”

  Hades packed the rest of the supplies behind Darquiel, squishing her up against Kat. He took a step away and surveyed his handiwork. The motorcycle looked ready to topple over.

  “If you make it, I’ll be surprised,” Hades remarked.

  Kat looked at him then. His face was red, and sweat soaked his shirt and the bandanna he still had on his bald palate. He grinned. It was lopsided as if he no longer had the strength to lift the other side on his upper lip.

  “You better hope I do, or your head will be a fried egg.”

  “Hey, I never had much upstairs anyway. It’s down below where all my talent lies.”

  Kat laughed. “If we make it out of this…you can show me that talent of yours.”

  Hades moved up next to the bike, placing his hand on her cheek and rubbed a thumb over her sore lips. “Now that’s something to live for.” He leaned in close and pressed his mouth softly to hers. “Hurry back.”

  Awkwardly, Kat turned the machine and revved the engine. She pulled away, careful not to kick back dirt or to topple the bike. Shifting gears, she raced toward the growing peaks.

  As the front wheel hit small rocks, she almost lost control, but managed to hold on. Out of desperation more than any skill. She could see the points soar before her. They were green. A beautiful, deep green. The color of newly budded leaves.

  She drove for no more than a half-hour, when she saw a clu
mp of lush trees looming in the distance. The image wavered, and she wondered if it was a mirage. She heard of these phantom images coming to men and women in dire straits, their brains fried from too much sun. As she grew closer, she could see flourishing green grass beneath the tall trunks. Tilting her head up, she could almost feel a cool breeze on her face and smell salty moisture in the air. If this was a mirage, it was pretty awesome, she thought.

  The closer she got to the oasis, the greener the colors seemed. She stopped and marveled at the refuge before her. Propping the bike up, she dismounted, grabbing Darquiel’s arms as she swung her leg over. She pulled the girl across the dirt and onto the green carpet of grass to lay her down in a circle of shade. Kat brushed her hand over the grass. It felt soft like velvet under her palm. She ripped out a handful and shoved it into her mouth.

  Chewing quickly, she sucked on the liquid that erupted from within. The taste was tart but pleasant. Kat thought she had never tasted anything so good. She moved to the bike and unpacked the gear. Grabbing her canteen, she scanned the surroundings. There had to be water nearby. She could smell it in the air.

  Kat crouched down at the base of one of the trees, digging at the ground around it. When she pushed down, her hand came away damp. She dug deeper into the dark soil. Soon a little pool of water rose to the surface. As she dipped her canteen into it, dirt and little bits of grass went in with the liquid. It didn’t matter. Only the water mattered.

  As fast as she could, Kat returned to her bike, removed all the gear, and turned it toward the way she came. Speed was integral. Hades and Damian would not last long out in this heat. Damian, she was certain, was on his last legs.

  When she came upon them, Hades had Damian slung over his shoulder, slowly staggering forward. She raced to him, spinning the bike around at the last moment. Hades set Damian down behind her on the seat. Damian was barely able to lift his arms around her.

  “Wrap his hands around my holster.”

  Hades did as she asked.

  Opening her canteen, she took a swallow and handed it to Hades. He took it and put it to his lips, taking a small swallow. Dirt and debris stuck to his mouth. He smiled. Green pieces of grass stuck in his teeth.

  “You’re brilliant.”

  “You can call me whatever you want, after I save us all.” She held out her hand. “Give me your canteen.”

  Hades untangled the cord from around his neck and gave it to her. Stumbling to the right, Hades had to grab the bike for support.

  “I’ll be back,” Kat promised. “Don’t die on me.”

  “Die? Damn girl, I don’t even know what that word means.”

  Kat managed a smile. The man was relentless. They were the same in so many ways. More than she ever thought possible. Before she revved the bike and sped to the oasis, she glanced at him, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time.

  The bike sputtered once before they reached the refuge. Damian was barely hanging on when she stopped on the green. After dismounting, she helped him lay down next to Darquiel. Kat noticed that the girl had not moved while she was gone.

  Kat rushed to the tree, and dug out more water, filling the canteen. She hunkered down next to Damian and lifted his head. He drank a little, and then gulped more. “Not so much. You’ll get sick.”

  She took the canteen back and filled it again, then got on the bike. She glanced at Damian. He was watching her through thin slits of his eyes.

  “Hades…” Damian croaked. “He’s a good man.”

  “So are you, Damian.”

  “But just not the right man.” He closed his eyes, rolling over to put an arm across Darquiel.

  Kat watched him snuggle close to the girl. She sighed and kicked over the bike. There would be time for regrets, but now was not it. She turned the bike and raced back into the wastelands.

  She had another man to rescue.

  * * *

  Hades stumbled along the dirt path. The bandanna covering his head was no longer blocking out the sun’s rays. He could feel the skin on his scalp redden. Soon it would blacken and begin to crack, like roasted pig too long on the spit. Putting up the hood on his cloak, he slumped forward. To avoid the blazing rays, he would have to watch his feet. He hoped he didn’t stumble into the ravine.

  This was not the way he thought he’d die. He’d been in so many knife and gunfights that he was certain that he would die riddled by bullets, or from a gut wound he couldn’t sew up. Burning to a crisp and dehydration were not on his list of cool ways to kick the bucket.

  He blundered over a small rock and nearly fell. As he put his hand out to steady himself, he started to laugh hysterically. Irony sucked. He was going to trip over some insignificant piece of gravel and topple head first into the chasm like a bumbling idiot.

  Glancing up toward the wavering horizon, he wondered if Kat would make it back to him. Chances were slim to none. But if the girl had any fight left in her, he knew he would see her again. What she lacked in brutal strength, she made up for in cunning and determination.

  Hades raised his goggles and wiped the sweat from his stinging eyes. He set them snugly in place, and then took a sip from his canteen. The dirt and debris had settled on the bottom, so the water was nearly clear. It tasted like ambrosia as he filled his mouth. He had never tasted anything so refreshing, except for maybe Kat.

  When he kissed her, it was like taking a breath of clean cool air. She tasted like a spring breeze on the cusp of summer. If he got another chance, he wondered if he could turn that brisk taste into something warm and liquid. If he could turn her rigidity into surrender.

  He desperately wanted that, wanted her. He’d never met another woman he found to be his equal in every way. Actually, he had never met a woman that he would have made much effort for. He had his share of sexual liaisons. The prostitutes of various townships knew him well. Those women were good at what they did and carried no complications like loyalty or friendship. Feelings he was starting to harbor for Kat.

  Just as strong-willed, disciplined, cunning, and determined as he, Kat was ever his equal. Possibly even more. He could have easily dropped his guard for her, to take her. And although he could feel her want, feel her desire for him, she held back. She kept those needs in check. He admired her for that.

  Her relationship with Damian was confusing, but Hades knew it was also part of the walls that she had constructed around her. He was part of her protection. Both physically and emotionally. She could use him as an excuse to not get close to anyone else. She could feign love for Damian, but he knew their relationship was based on mutual necessity. Damian needed her like a pet needed an owner. For care and affection. And he figured Kat needed him for the same reasons. So, she could care and feel.

  He hoped he’d have the chance to make her feel something for him. He knew she desired him. In the anticipation of mutual pleasure, he knew she would spread her legs for him. But Hades wanted more. Surprisingly, he wanted much more.

  Hades stumbled once more and went down to a knee. While he pushed back up and righted himself, an angry roar sounded all around him. He squinted into the horizon. He could see a black wavering figure moving toward him. A cloud of dust sprayed up behind the shape.

  Kat.

  She was here to rescue him. Hades laughed. How absurd to have to be rescued. Never in his fifteen years of hunting had he needed to be rescued. Now a woman, another hunter, once his sworn rival, was racing on her steel horse to save him. He laughed hard again. The laughter turned to hoarse coughs and he stumbled. This time, he went down hard on his hands and knees.

  He crawled forward then scrambled to his feet. His head spun, and he thought he might throw up. Except he knew there was nothing in his stomach except bile. His throat began to burn as his gorge rose. Closing his eyes in earnest, he took several wobbly steps forward.

  Just as he took another step, he felt a hand on his shoulder. There was no ground beneath his foot. He reeled forward, and then felt himself pulled backwards. He fell on his ass
. Opening his eyes, Hades saw the canyon spread out before him, and his feet near the edge of the cliff. He shook his head and glanced over his shoulder. Kat sat upon her bike, her hand still gripping the collar of his cloak, her knuckles white with strain.

  “Were you going to fly across to the other side?”

  Hades tried to smile. His lips were sore and cracked, but he managed to lift the corners. “Maybe.”

  “Get on this damn bike.”

  “Happily.”

  Slowly, Hades pushed himself up to his feet. He held on to Kat, or she hung on to him, he wasn’t sure which. After straddling the bike, he pushed himself up close to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He squeezed her tightly. She felt like heaven in his arms.

  “Sorry, am I squeezing too tight?”

  Kat’s mouth twitched at the corners. “No, not at all.” She revved the bike and raced toward the shelter.

  Chapter Nine

  Hades had almost died. She’d been certain that she couldn’t get to him in time.

  When she saw where Hades had been walking, Kat lost all her breath. She had pulled on the gas but doubted she’d make it before he stepped off the cliff. She got there just in time, grabbing him roughly by the collar. As she felt him fall forward, she thought that he would pull her off with him. Then she yanked back with all she had.

  When he had glanced at her, with a stunned and giddy face, she had felt like crying. She had not felt that sensation in more years than she had fingers. The last time she had cried was at the bedside of her dying sister; the last one in her family to succumb to the deadly Ovarian Flu.

  As they raced along to the refuge, Kat attributed these feelings to her baked brain. The sun had a powerful affect on one’s thoughts. Heat stroke, which she was sure they were all suffering from, could produce hallucinations and feelings of panic and sorrow. She hoped, once they were safely in shade and re-hydrated, that the feelings would dissipate. She had gone on so long without any emotions that she would be at a loss at what to do with them.