Desert Shadows: A Post-apocalyptic Dystopian Novel (Desert Shadows Saga Book 2) by Melanie Bokstad Horev

Author:Melanie Bokstad Horev [Horev, Melanie Bokstad]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

The stone walls of the private meeting room seemed to absorb the distant sounds of the angry storm raging above. Nour sat at the table, laden with an array of foods – fox meat roasted to perfection, water in cans, and a variety of peculiar desert fruits she hadn’t had the last time she was there. Dried rabbit, salted and presented as snacks, adorned the spread. She bit down on one, the sharp tang of salt biting her tongue. She followed it quickly with large gulps of water.

As the storm cracked and roiled outside, the rumble of thunder reverberated through the walls. Nour felt a wave of goosebumps ripple across her skin. The foreign lamps suspended from the ceiling illuminating the room vibrated, casting a flickering glow on the faces gathered around the table.

Alexander, engaged in conversation with Opal, glanced at her, as she poured more water into her cup. In the corner stood Lion, her eyes wide with hunger, seemed to drool over the feast before her.

Just like I did when I was here.

An unfamiliar figure, a Primordial named Kemper, sat next to Nour. Clearly a warrior, with a large frame and tense muscles, she surveyed her surroundings, appearing annoyed with everyone. Drumming her fingers on the center table, she scowled at Nour.

Nour leaned on the table, rubbing her temples, her attention turning to the storm above.

Saiko’s words coiled and slithered through her mind again. ’It's not a regular storm. It's different.’

Breaking the silence, Alexander coughed. "Let's begin the meeting."

Nour, feeling the weight of isolation after her recent clash with him, attempted to lighten the mood with a joke. "Well, at least the storm's not picky about dinner guests," she quipped. The attempt fell flat, her words lingering in the air.

Why did I even bother?

“This is an amazing place,” Lion said, widening her eyes and sniffing the food in front of her, taking a seat next to Nour. “H-how is this possible?”

Nour was sure she had heard Lion’s voice shake.

“Many years of hard work; it cost us a great deal,” the one called Kemper answered. She was a tall woman with short-cropped white hair and an usually enormous nose, pointy and sticky from sweat. Nour studied Kemper’s hands. They were callus and rough, and her bulging muscles were protruding through her tight, beige outfit, making her look like the human manifestation of endurance. She had several scars running along her arms and a giant one coiling down her neck like a snake.

"Like what?" Nour asked leaning forward, almost bumping heads with her.

“Are you questioning me?” Kemper growled, her eyes flashing.

Opal interrupted, turning his gaze toward Nour, "I think we have more urgent issues to discuss."

Nour's Duets were sleeping on leftover blankets and fur in the Grand Hall, most of them exhausted and dehydrated. She had seen first-hand the weariness etched on their faces.

And now, she was in a meeting room supposed to send them to a war that nobody wanted.

Darkness clouded Nour’s thoughts as she grappled with the lack of choices.

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