Apocalypse

Chapter Seven ~ Uncomfortable Encounters

After eluding Koren and Wes for the better part of the day while I harvested wheat, I finally collapsed behind a grass mound, my hand thrown across my eyes to block the afternoon sun.

I heard footsteps approaching and I groaned internally. If Martha, the head harvester (and slave driver I preferred to call her), caught me here I was dead meat. I rolled to my knees, prepared to look somewhat busy when I realized that the footfalls didn't belong to dear Martha. In fact, I would have preferred Martha at that moment.

Koren was striding purposefully towards me, two flasks of water in his hand. I cursed myself for not moving earlier. His presence confused me and left me with a tingly feeling whenever he looked at me. I inconspicuously glanced around for Wes, but he was uncommonly absent.

I slowly got to me feet when Koren reached me and awkwardly head-nodded-greeted him. He cocked his head to the side with a half smirk on his lips and offered me a flask. I had half a mind to refuse it, but the sun was ruthless, so I gratefully took it and gulped down half in a single breath.

"So who are you?" Koren questioned as soon as the flask left my lips.

"Aren't you straightforward." I said, capping the bottle.

"I don't like mysteries," he shrugged, his eyes glinting and his eyes swept up and down my body, calculating.

I shifted uncomfortably and took another swig of water before finally replying, "Asia."

His brows furrowed and I could practically hear the gears in his head turning. "Wasn't that some kind of place before?"

Wow. Not much people recognized the name. "Yes. It was an Old World continent. My parents were pretty fascinated by the Old World." I snapped my mouth shut before I told I story I would not remember later on to back up.

"Interesting... and where are you parents?" He spun around, looking around lazily. I don't know whether he was playing with me or not. He didn't sound as though he believed my story.

"They're dead." I said dully. I kept my face as blank as possible while I stored that information away, and tried to make sure I covered my basics of the story, so I won't be caught red-handed in my blatant lies.

"Oh, sorry." His half smile disappeared and he looked down uncomfortably. After a few seconds his head whipped back up.

I sighed internally, sensing the onslaught of more questions.

"So is Wes your brother? He doesn't look like you much."

"Er, n-no. Wes is m-my cousin," I said quickly, hoping he didn't notice my stuttering. Crap. I never used him as a cousin in any story I fabricated before. He was always my friend. Now I need to remember that and tell Wes. He would not let me off lightly on this one...

I needed to turn the tables, or something will slip that will ruin me. "So why are you here? We're you one of those people on the carriage this morning? What happened? Is the queen okay?" I blurted out anxiously.

Koren seemed overwhelmed by my sudden interest and frowned momentarily. "I was an escort for the queen. Yes. We were attacked, and I don't know." He grinned crookedly and my heart jumped.

He just answered all my questions... well he was efficient. I cursed him mentally as I attempted to find an escape route. This conversation was going on too long for my comfort and Koren made me feel angsty.

A hand suddenly came down on my shoulder when I was trying to put my jigsaw puzzle of a mind together and I instantly reacted. I dropped lower, my knees bent, and grabbed the hand over my shoulder. My body turned with enough force to flip the person over my shoulder and onto the hard ground.

Wes groaned as he rolled onto his knees, his back now covered in grass and dirt and the wind knocked out of him.

Koren barked a laugh until he doubled over, tears streaming from his face. "How could you let a girl defeat you so? And your cousin for that matter?" He gasped for air at the startled look on Wes' face.

Wes' eyes darted up to mine and I quickly avoided them, staring intently at my shoes. Wow, they were really covered in dust. I should probably wash them. Was there always that indent in my shoe? Cool, it looks like a crescent moon.

Wes returned to his feet and patted me on the back, just enough for me to have to catch myself before I stumbled forward.

"Cousin dear, I need to take you home. It is getting late," Wes' smile was light on his face but I could see the annoyance beneath it.

I opened my mouth, but Koren beat me to it. "If you want, I could take her home. Don't you have a shift tonight?" Koren smirked and held out his hand.

Chills shot down my spine. I absolutely did not want to spend anymore alone time with him.

I needed an excuse. I glanced up to Wes, my eyes widening.

"No thanks. I feel responsible for her, since she is my cousin. So I've got it." His fake smile widened before he grabbed my hand and hauled me away from Koren.

I glanced back at him standing alone in the field, his head cocked to the side, watching my departure. The sun created a red halo in the background. Somehow, that scene gave me chills. I shuddered and focused on my footing before I fell onto my face.

Wes was striding purposefully ahead of me, irritation written on his face.

"Wes?" I timidly prodded him.

He looked down at me, his eyebrow arched. His eyes were stormy green. I gulped and shut up.

In case Koren had followed, Wes took me to my cover house that sat just beyond the edge of the castle's garden. Once inside he spun to me and growled, "Cousin? What is wrong with the normal story? Not interesting enough for him?"

I flinched. It felt like he was screaming, but his voice was barely more than a whisper. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

He slammed his hand into the wall beside my head and I jumped. I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes. I knew I should have stuck to the original story, now Wes had to play a part alongside me.

He seemed to deflate for a second, but his arm tensed immediately. "Fine I don't care about that. But why did you avoid me? I promised to look after you," his voice lowered and I squeezed my eyes shut. Then he was growling again, angrier than ever, "but that is pretty hard to do with you avoiding me!"

Suddenly his presence wasn't there anymore and I heard the door slam on his was out. My back slid down the wall and I was on the floor and I rested my head on my knees. What the hell was I doing?