Captive Spirit by Liz Fichera

Author:Liz Fichera
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2010-10-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Honovi and I returned to the cave, exhausted, and talking very little. We built a fire, the first time we dared. Heat seemed a luxury.

Honovi used dried leaves to wipe the blood from his skin and deerskins but it didn’t matter. They were permanently stained, along with our memories of this night.

As the blood on his deerskins dried, it became easier to breathe and I was grateful for the muted light. He removed his shirt, letting it dry next to the fire, and I was relieved that he barely suffered a scratch, save the bruises from the ball court competition. Silently, I brushed my fingertips along his shoulder blades, across his chest, checking for broken bones, waiting for him to wince. He never winced once.

Instead of flinching, his skin warmed underneath my fingertips, leaving a trail of tiny bumps wherever I touched him. He let me fuss over him, saying nothing.

Finally, we curled into each other next to the fire for warmth. We shared a few sips of precious water from our pouch and the last few sprigs of berries and dried meat, eating but not really tasting much of anything.

“Tomorrow we will have fish,” Honovi said as he pulled me closer. I didn’t mind.

“Sinopa?” I said, underneath his chin.

“He’ll be fine. He wanted Diego most of all. He insisted.”

My head dropped to his shoulder, considering this.

“I miss her, too, you know,” Honovi said softly, reading my mind.

I turned sideways to look at him and my eyes welled with tears. I said nothing but Honovi turned, wrapping both arms around me. My cheek pressed against his chest. My voice cracked when I spoke. “I can’t help thinking about all the things I never said to her, all the things we never got a chance to do.” I paused, gathering a breath. “And now it’s too late.”

Honovi dragged his thumb across my cheek to wipe away a tear.

I blinked, once, and another tear landed on his finger. I pulled away and wiped my eyes.

“It’s not your fault, Aiyana.”

In a smaller voice, I said, “Why couldn’t they have just taken me and left everyone else alone?”

Honovi pulled my shoulders back, his eyes widened. Then he shook me, hard. “Don’t ever say that. Don’t even think it.” He pulled me close. “This is not your fault.”

I choked back a sob.

He rested his chin on top of my head. He held me tight until my sobs subsided. “How’s your foot?” he said when my breathing grew more even.

“Better,” I said. It was mostly true.

“Here,” he said, pulling me back again. “Let me look.”

I extended my leg and he untied the cord that wrapped the skins around my foot. His fingers gently pressed my ankle as his eyes focused on my face, waiting for my reaction. I bit the inside of my lip and fought back a grimace. I didn’t care to be the reason we delayed our journey home. I couldn’t stand to stay in the World Beyond another sun.

“Just as I thought,” he said, smirking.

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