Theia Duology

Chapter 5

Tenebris and Solskine have each taken one end of Theia and she feels torn apart. Her head rests in Solskine's lap and her feet in Tenebris's. She closes her eyes, but she can still see the spiders scrambling over the top of Salixa's lifeless head.

Theia's the one who's supposed to kill the spiders and rats. She's supposed to be able to at least do that. She rolls onto her side and stares at the grey wall. She couldn't help Mistura and now Salixa. Was Mistura still alive, or was she dead too because Theia didn't act?

Theia kicks herself free of Tenebris's grip and slams her feet into the wall. Kicks at the scuff marks from avopits they'd throw at it as kids, when Tenebris made it a contest to see who could throw the farthest when Malum wasn't looking. Theia kicks harder until she makes a hole. Wants to kick the wall right down.

Malum's footsteps echo down the corridor. Theia's stomach bubbles with loathing. Solskine scoops Theia up under her arms and plunks her on her feet, placing a hand at her back.

"What the hell happened?" Malum asks.

"Spiders swarmed Salixa," Tenebris answers. "She's dead, Matta. Theia tried to save her."

"You two were supposed to finish and get inside before the storm hit," Malum says. "You," Malum points at Theia "are supposed to stay with Solskine, not go running off. Salixa was not your concern. You are supposed to protect Solskine. A killer isn't meant for saving." Malum shakes her head at Theia, purses her lips like she's eaten a rat turd. "We work in teams here. You should know that means you think of more than just yourself."

"What team did Mistura belong to when you took her brother away?" Theia seethes. Solskine pats her back hard as a warning, as if he's trying to swat her words away.

Theia continues, "What team did Salixa belong to since Mistura's gone? You told Salixa to take baskets of avos to the storage bins. No one wanted to work with her. Not even me!" She looks down at her water-logged boots. Then she raises her eyes and meets Malum's gaze.

Malum pulls Theia closer by her neck, squeezing until she has no breath left. Leans close and whispers, "You wouldn't want to end up like Mistura or Salixa, would you? Keep this up and you just might." Malum releases her, stepping back. Theia coughs. Wants to ask exactly how Mistura ended up. Was there a fate worse than death?

"Really, I'm fine, Matta." Solskine says, stepping between them. "I wasn't in danger." He crosses his arms. "Theia, just, well, she wanted to save Salixa."

Malum smiles wide for the boys. Theia rubs her neck, still tender with the impression of Malum's nails on her skin.

"Of course it's sad that we've lost one of our own." Malum spits the words at Theia. "But Salixa couldn't pick or protect to save her life. If she'd followed my orders to get inside, she'd still be alive. And maybe if you'd all gotten inside instead of playing in the rain, we wouldn't be having this conversation." Malum inhales deeply, and then exhales as if she's run all the way to Slag and back.

"I told Theia to go back for Salixa." Tenebris takes a step back from Theia towards Malum. "She was closer than me."

Malum turns to Tenebris and slaps him lightly on the cheek, trailing her fingers down the cleft in his chin. "You should know better, Tenebris. I told you this storm would blow in fast, could wash the cadoyard away. I expected better from you, especially after what happened to Mistura. We have to be careful. We pick and get inside. No heroics."

"I'm sorry, Matta." Tenebris looks away.

Malum pats him on the shoulder. "Fine, no dinner for you three, but I expect to see you for tea, and Theia, I expect you to drink it all. We don't want you up in the night, do we."