Page 81 of Ashes of Gold
We move through blocks of buildings, deserted parks, and rows of high-rises. Windows stare like eyes down at us, but we push, all silent. The ivory tower is closer, lights glowing on its highest floors.
“A little farther,” Grag says from somewhere in the back. And in what feels like forever, Zora rounds on a brick building and we come to a circular door in the ground. I slide it aside and we hurry inside. We descend a narrow ladder, followed by a staircase that goes deeper underground. I conjure a fireball to light the way and with my free hand help each person down. I’m careful with my footing because between my throbbing feet and the ache from carrying that girl so far, twisting the wrong way feels like my insides are being wrung out like a sponge. Julius eases past me, carrying Taavi’s mother in his arms.
“We should have a few on watch overnight.” Zora stands in the doorway, favoring one leg. “I can take first if you want.”
“You’ve done so much, Zora. Rest, please. Julius and I will take first watch.”
She tries to come down a step but winces. I rope her arm over my shoulder, and we take one step at a time.
“Bri,” I say, my voice echoing down the stairwell, but when I look up she’s already beside me.
“I have a paste I can rub into the wound to help it heal faster,” she says as I hand Zora off to her.
Zora nods, swallowing each wince as the two disappear down the steps. I ease the door closed up above with a grunt.
“Yo’lis,” I say, and fire dances on my fingers. Not exactly a flashlight, but it works well enough for me to see each step better. I reach the bottom and find an expanse of dirt floor with a broken glass ceiling above. Cool air whistles through the ceiling towering above.
Two Macazi hover over a bed of rocks, a spark glinting between them as they try to make a fire. Others bandage one another, make pallets on the floor, and pass around the water canister. Everyone’s covered in soot and scratches.
“Mosh, your brother, where is he?” Joshi asks someone wrapping his own leg.
“Over there, grabbing some water.”
“Good to hear it,” Joshi says, jotting something down. “Use a little salt on that, and the blond girl with the red glasses has something she can put on that to help, I think.”
The man waves his hand, and I spot Bri nodding in his direction as she heads my way.
“I’ll need some time before we get going in the morning to make some more of this, she says, with a glass jar in hand. “I’m running low.”
“These tunnels might connect to the larger Web. We may not have to go up to the ground again. I’ll see.”
“That would be good,” she says before weaving back through the masses, passing out pills, vials, and dollops of her minty potion.
A hand presses the small of my back and I don’t have to turn around to know who it is. I’d know that touch anywhere. I meet Julius’s cinched expression. His hand moves to my hip as I turn in his grasp, and his hazel eyes flicker with gold in the firelight. I should tell him to move his hand….
“I got the ole lady set up comfortable,” he says. “She’s had water and I gave her some food. Made sure she took a bite before I walked away. Big Momma used to pull that stuff on me. Saying she gon’ eat, but then not when I leave. I made sure she had a little something before I left her there.”
Oh, Jue.Always looking out for the old ladies on the block. No surprise the Seer’s worked in a soft spot with him too.
“Her daughter was nearby, so I think she’s good,” he adds.
“Thanks,” I say, and my ribs poke me, sharp pangs ringing through my words. Images of Yiyo on fire, warmth down my throat, my burning arms claw at me. But I blink hard, forcing myself to stay in the present.
“You good?” He touches something on my cheek and it burns. I don’t know if it’s the dim light in here or knowing everyone’s too busy with their own thing to be worried about me right now, but I lean into his touch. And for a moment I let my eyes close, imagining I can wish away the throb on my right side.
“Rue…” His words are a whisper and I smell him. He smells like a Saturday on the stoop, jamming with the homies, like a big dinner with everyone I love sitting ’round, like Ms. Leola’s hug, like morning dew, fresh linen, and that wave cream he uses under his du-rag. I inhale and for a moment I don’t feel the ache on my side. I don’t feel anything throbbing or stinging.
“I-I just don’t have time to be hurt,” I say. “I can’t afford injury. We’re so close and yet… it feels so far. Ineedus to make it back.”
He takes my face in his hands, making me face him. “We will, Rue.”
I nod but keep silent, because giving space to any of the wordsdangling on my lips will break me. And right now I need to be resolute. Strong. I press my shoulders back and pull my chin up, remembering Moms’s words. Julius winks at me as I pull away from him.
“I’m going to go check on the Seer, then you and me on first watch, yes?”
He rubs his hands together. “Let’s do it.”
Julius plants on the steps, and I make my way across the dirt pit to the corner where Taavi is. Her mother should be close by. I haven’t forgotten the words she told me. The way she dug her nails into my arm to make sure I understood the gravity of the situation. In some sort of way… it almost feels like she’s looking out for me. There’s a seed of some type of loyalty there. I don’t understand it. But I sense it. And where I’m from, we reciprocate loyalty ten thousand percent. I want to lay my eyes on her myself, make sure she’s good.
