Underland(44)

She hadn’t moved in a while. Zeke stared at Kira’s limp body in the hospital bed and watched her closely, waiting for her to twitch, move—do something other than lie there helpless. She hadn’t regained consciousness since he found her in the trunk and Warrick gave her the antidote.

Her eyes fluttered. He sighed in relief and leaned back in the wooden chair.

This was a problem. She was a problem. His feelings even more of a problem.

Den entered, trying to not make any noise, but failing. Zeke’s senses were just too good. Den’s breathing sounded loud in his ears, and he could hear his quickened heartbeat. Something was wrong. Den was worried about something.

Without moving he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Den came out of the shadows. He stood by his shoulder and spoke in a low voice. “Everything.”

“Can’t be that bad,” Zeke answered. “She’s alive.” And he felt that flutter in his chest again when he thought about Kira.

Zeke turned to look Den and noticed the dark rings under his eyes, the five o’clock shadow forming. He looked like he was falling apart slowly from the pressure. His hands shook. Zeke glanced at his band and noticed the lack of money. His first instinct was to get angry. He wanted to shake Den, to ask him what he was doing gambling again. But then Kira stirred and his head snapped back to her lying on the bed.

“I’m glad you saved her,” Den said.

“Which time?” Zeke held back a pleased smile. “The time in the courtyard, the gauntlet, or when I found her in the trunk?”

Den closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “All of the above. I never imagined she’d be this much trouble.”

“All humans are.”

“Remind me the next time I see one, to stay far away.”

“This one has given us enough trouble that I think you’ve learned your lesson. So what’s the plan?”

“We leave. It’s obvious that we can no longer stay here. You and me, we stick to our plan and I train you. I’ve settled my debt with Remus, gave him everything I owe, and arranged for a place for us to hide out and get supplies.”

Guilt rocked Zeke for a minute. Den hadn’t gambled it away.

“What about her?” Zeke asked without looking at the bed.

“Not our problem.”

“What do you mean ‘not our problem’?” For the first time in a very long time he felt afraid. “This isn’t like you, Den. How about we buy her from Remus.” Zeke’s breathing became ragged with panic.

“Too risky. The Underlords have sent two summons for her. I’ve... I’ve conveniently not told Remus about their summons. It’s too late. We need to separate ourselves from her now before they come.”

Zeke’s hands clenched into fists. Anger boiled in him. “No,” he growled.

“Why not? She’ll distract them, and then we continue on with our plan. It’s a good plan.”

“Because I said NO!” Zeke hadn’t meant to yell.

Den’s face turned red, and then he looked at Kira. His eyes widened when he made the connection. “I see. So that’s how it’s going to be now.”

Zeke could only watch as his friend discovered his weakness, and he didn’t like the look in his eyes. He saw a flicker of greed and power flash across his face, and he noticed the small smile that crept across his lips. Now Den had more power over him. He wanted to cuss, throw something, but he held it together and remained silent. Because at that moment, he needed Den on his side, more than he needed Kira.

When Den said nothing, Zeke shifted uncomfortably. “You don’t know what they’re capable of. Not like I do.” Zeke moved away from the hospital bed and toward the door, trying to put as much distance as he could between Kira and himself. As if by doing that he could protect her from his friend.

“You’re right. I don’t. Because you won’t tell me everything!” Den snapped. “Our goal was to get you to the championship, a crack at the Labyrinth. Has that changed?”

Zeke swallowed. “No, but she comes with us.”

Den spun and looked back at Kira lying on the bed. “She’s dead weight now. She’s a liability.”

“We’ll keep her as back up…for me.” He hoped Den would believe that was the only reason he wanted her. “We won’t have Warrick once we leave.”

“Zeke,” Den was wavering.

“You know I’m right. I won’t leave here without her.”

“Fine, but you need to come up with a way to get Remus to release her before the Olympus Tower comes to collect her. And until then we need someone to guard her from Remus.”

“I can—”

“No. You stay far away from her.” Den pointed his finger at him.

“Then who…Chaz?” Zeke asked.

Den snorted. “Not him, werecats are fickle. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I can throw him. Besides, did you see how many freedom tokens he had today? We’ll get Alice, since she’s the one who found her. She’ll be the best to watch her. No one will even know she’s here.”

“I agree.” Zeke nodded. If it hadn’t been for Alice, he may not have found Kira in time. He knew that the ghost girl had no love for Remus or his runners. She’d followed Kira that day because she felt a connection with her. Because Alice was at one time just like Kira. Human.