Chapter 30: Chapter Thirty--My Demons Have Come Home To Roost

“Shut up, I know that.” Whiny Woman paced in front of me, scuffed runners squeaking on wet wood. “Let’s get to the beach, act apologetic and concerned, then ditch the kid. Every moment we stand here like idiots, we risk too much. I didn’t come back to Hell’s Gate after all these years for nothing. Do you have any idea what will happen if anyone recognizes me? They’ll run and tell my husband, or maybe my daughter. They can’t know I’m still alive.”

“We’re miles from that one horse town you once called home,” Gruff man said. “Your perfect little normal family will never know.”

My breath hitched. No, no, no. I refused to accept this possibility. How much of a shitstorm was I supposed to survive in the space of week?

“She’s awake,” Hero boy nudged my leg, hard. “And bleeding more than before.”

Whiny woman’s runners clomped in front of me. She went on a bended knee. I peered up at her long brown hair and cold, hard hazel eyes, the exact shade of my own, of grandma’s. Clara was a lot more wrinkled than my childhood memories informed me, though she didn’t have a single laugh line. She’d lost a lot of the weight, but none of these small changes altered her undeniable likeness to me.

My mother.

Her gaze searched my face for a long time, I froze. No parental love appeared. No instant recognition erupted. Good. Very good. Maybe I could get out of this somewhat emotionally unscathed. Barely.

“Hey, kid. We’re real sorry. You came out of nowhere.”

I’m not a kid, bitch.

“I wasn’t paying attention.” The script fell from my lips with amazing acting skills I hadn’t possessed yesterday. Granted, my vision fizzing in and out and nausea helped. “It’s really my fault.” Yeah, right. Whatever. I’d suck it up until I got back to stable ground. I would’ve drowned if they tossed me over the edge.

She nodded in grave agreement. “So, we’re all right then, you and I?”

Had I had any strength in my limbs, I would’ve backhanded her.

All right? Not by a long shot.

“Just peachy. Can you take me back to the beach, please?” My breath hitched. Keep voice calm. Do not clench fists. “Or close enough that I can wade in?” Get me off of this boat! “I’ll go get my umm…brothers and friends.” Yeah, that didn’t sound suspicious.

“Is that who’s on the beach?” Hero boy said.

“Seems like it. They’re gathering a small army pretty quick. Look none to happy. Think they saw something?” Gruff Man whispered.

Did he think I was deaf?

“Get closer. If they’ve seen her and us, it is better to get rid of her. Smooth any ruffled feathers, then get back to the hills before anyone else comes.” Gruff man said.

“We’ll get you back to your family in just a few minutes, okay?” Whiny Woman—nope, she doesn’t deserve the title of mother—said.

“Yeah, sure.”

The motor ground sand as they half beached. Kalvyn popped out of nowhere, followed by Syber and Quinn, all who jumped onto the deck. All three were soaked. Had they gone swimming?

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Kalvyn leapt onto the deck, collecting me from the floor. The jostling had me spinning. I gagged as I slid my arms around his neck.

Syber snarled, advancing on Hero Boy, as Quinn cornered Gruff Man.

“Shut up and go,” I hissed. Kalvyn’s blazing gaze collided with mine, raging to argue. To draw first blood—ahh, no, I’d bleed first. So, second. He barely resembled a normal, rational being. I needed to get him out of here, before these people shifted focus from me to him. “Do not question me. Thank the retards, get off the boat and get back onto the beach, now.”

He didn’t. I sent the hazy outlines of my “rescuers” a fake, watery smile. “Thank you so much for bringing me back. We’ll be fine now.” Quinn growled and I kicked him weakly. “I am fine.”

Kalvyn vibrated, then jerked his head. Quinn and Syber went without another word.

“You be careful the next time you go swimming,” Whiny Woman said sternly, sickeningly parental sounding. I almost choked.

“Watch where you're fucking going next time,” Kalvyn snapped.

I ignored him. “Yes ma’am.” Kalvyn stiffened. Despite my warnings, he’d still kill them. Only my emotionless voice gave him pause.

He jumped into the water. My stomach rolled with the movement. I needed a doctor, pronto. I must’ve blacked out. We were out of the water, the boat speeding away.

Over Kalvyn’s shoulder, I tracked the general direction they headed, branding my mind with their faces, their voices and the probable location of where they were staying. No doubt, we’d see each other again. Clara and her crew approached the far dock, nearly out of sight. Hadn’t mattered. Only two options out that far. The small campground for people who really wanted to rough it, or the hunting cabins Summit Lake rented out.

“Do you want to tell me what your animosity was about?” Kalvyn said, silk covered steel threaded through his voice.

I surveyed the little group. Lexi and Carmen stared back at me. No Lola? “Those four people are hunting you.”

“I knew it!” Carmen yelled so loud my ears might’ve bled.

I closed my eyes, and breathed through my nose, out through my mouth. Every time I spoke bile rose. But I needed to say this while I was still conscious. “While they thought I was out, they talked about how urgently they needed to find the jaguars.” I gagged. Cold sweat broke over my body. The trembling worsened. My subconscious rose, trying to steal me away.

Carmen winced in repentance, studying me. “Kalvyn, we need to take her somewhere I can treat her.”

Five pairs of eyes asked questions. If they were spoken, I wouldn’t have heard.

I struggled in Kalvyn’s arms, but he refused to let me go. At the last minute, I bent over and threw up what little remained in my stomach.