Hydra Heart

Chapter Twenty

Chapter 20: Back to the Drawing Board

Shay barely made it out of the house in time to meet Vesta's deadline. She packed her stuff onto the back of Vesta's bike, and they sped off as soon as they had gotten through the thick brush. Neither of them spoke on the drive, Shay didn't even ask where Vesta was taking them. For over an hour, she simply sat in the back and dwelled on how hungry she was, and how she could have not noticed it before.

They finally stopped at Demeton, after a long and roundabout route. Shay was finally awake, despite the sun setting to the west of them. Vesta quietly acknowledged that Shay might not want to return to the Tavern, and steered them to the outskirts of the town. They kept eager eyes open in search of a place to camp for the night. Soon, they found what they were looking for.

The pyramids were far enough away to be only barely visible in the twilight. They settled in a clearing along the riverbank, where the fast-moving current roared if one got too close to the shore. It was murky and rich with fish and crustaceans that fed Demeton. There was more life beneath the surface than for miles above.

Shay and Vesta's baggage was scattered on the floor. Stretching took up a few minutes after parking.

Shay finally had to know. "So, why are we here?"

"Well, I've been thinking." Vesta chose her words carefully. Thinking instead of obsessing. "Did I tell you about what was said to me, in my head that day?"

"No, I think we've both been too busy to talk about it." Shay responded.

Vesta gave a singular laugh. "Busy, huh? Well, the voice in my head said something about the connection working directionally. Which, I don't really know how..." She trailed off, still unable to solve the mystery that had been plaguing her.

"So that's why you brought us to Demeton. Center of the continent."

"Yes, I-"

"WAIT. I need to think about something." Shay sat down. She wanted to get up and pace, but she found the thought embarrassing. Instead, she anxiously rubbed her finger in the dirt, trying to focus on what she remembered happening.

"On that day, a few minutes after the first gunshots, I was really focused on getting in to help, but..." Shay noticed that, despite the woman's apparent coldness, her laser focus and quiet nature made Vesta a good listener. "I think something passed through me. It felt like a... like a buzzing. Like electricity using my head as a conduit." Vesta's eyes widened, but she didn't interrupt Shay from asking, "You said that the message is supposed to send directionally right?"

Vesta nodded slowly, amazed, and intently listening still. "Wow. It passed through me." Shay heaved a deep, relieved sigh to mask her excitement.

"This means... this is it." Vesta exhaled. Her mission was still up in the air, but she was starting to see how the dice could fall.

Shay had other ideas. "Alright, cool, we have plans for the next few days." She leaned back on the outdoor cloth she'd brought for the occasion. "Oh, man, now I just need to learn how to fight. Too bad he, I mean..." Shay nonchalantly and quickly cleared her throat. "Sucks that nobody ever taught me." Then, she reclined on her mat, lounging luxuriously. She finished her thought, "I guess I'll just deal with the hand I was given. Night."

Wait a minute... Vesta ran the calculations in her head. Does she want me to teach her my hand-to-hand combat skills? Wow, I am getting way too good at reading people.

She finally asked what Shay had been hinting at. "Shay, would you like to spar with me?"

"Huh? Would I like to--" Shay got up. "Ah, sure, why not?"

Vesta smiled, just a little. "Alright, so, should we just start?" She was stretching her arms. "Can you block a punch?"

"Can I--" Shay scoffed loudly. "Please, can I block a punch? Go on, hit me good." The girl put up her dukes and bounced from one foot to another.

Vesta slid her feet into a wider stance than Shay had anticipated. "Alright, here I come..." She shifted her weight onto her back foot and then came swinging, her fist set to collide with Shay's forearms, which were held up parallel to block the blow.

Vesta couldn't see it, but Shay winced in anticipation of the pain.

Luckily, Vesta reeled back the intense momentum of her punch as quickly as she had begun her swing. Shay was amazed at Vesta's control over her own movements.

"I, uh... I think I would have broken your wrist. Maybe you should come at me first."

Shay obliged, and began to realize that her arms... didn't really do shit. Vesta had obviously maintained her strength even as Shay was rendered immobile from grief. Shay was embarrassed now, but was determined to push through and learn.

She jabbed with her left, aiming for Vesta's stomach. She made contact, right on the mark. But...

Vesta failed to stifle her laughter. Shay's flimsy blow had been stopped instantly by Vesta's solid stomach.

Still trying to conceal laughter, Vesta told the girl, "How about we head into town tomorrow and find a punching bag for you. Just, uh, get some rest for now."

Not another word was said between them that night. Shay's cheeks burned as she rushed off to get some sleep.