Earthrumbler

Chapter Twenty-Three: In Motion

When I’d tried to inquire what “reacting” entailed, Alph had only told me to act natural. When I’d asked when anything would happen, Alph walked away and called to a small group, “We’ve much to plan. Meet me in the forges to discuss the matter further.” When I tried to follow them, Alph pushed me backward. “Not you, Genevieve.”

I huffed. “I came to help.” I clenched my hands into fists, frustration welling up inside of me. Confusion lingered there too. There’s something they aren’t telling me.

“And I told you to stay here. You look exhausted. I think you should rest.” He patted my head and galumphed off. “We have things to discuss that do not concern you.”

My shoulders slumped. As my head fogged and my limbs grew heavy, I admitted that Alph was right. I asked Lareskita where I could sleep for a while.

She led me to a dark area away from the commotion where smaller Cyclopes had already begun to drift to sleep. Detecting my sullen mood, she said nothing and walked off, leaving me alone in the dark with my thoughts.

A chill ran through me as I sat on the cold stone. I set my bag beside me and dug through it for my sweater. Once I pulled it over my head and placed my dagger at my hip, I laid down. Why are they hiding secrets from me? Lareskita said I spoke frankly; they’re afraid I’ll blather their secret to everyone? Who would I tell? Dejection nestled into me; ignorance wasn’t a position I accepted easily. Pinching my eyes closed, I ignored the stinging in them. “You’re a child if you’re crying about someone not telling you about something that they’ve been planning for years,” I muttered. I curled onto my side.

Questions fired in my mind, flicking the inside of my head to torment me. I flipped, rolled, tucked, and sprawled, in a vain attempt to find comfort. When I slipped into a thin sleep, awareness lingered in the back of my mind. As sleep thickened, the world dimmed until a hand wrapped around my arm. Terror wrapped around me.

“And what do you think you’re doing, sneaking your way back into his lord’s castle?” The voice was a growl. He ripped me up to my feet.

I gasped and my eyes opened as sleepiness was yanked from me. “What?”

“How are you hiding amongst us, you disgusting mortal? Wait until my lord hears of this!” Maches pulled me by my arm. “Thought you’d come back for your mother?”

I kicked out my legs, still shaking off the tire weighing me down. “Let me go!” My voice was rough with sleep.

“How did you get in?” he barked.

“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about!” My voice was shaking.

“You’ll remember when your head’s under the surface, or maybe, all it takes is the crack of a whip.” His fingers wrapped in my hair.

My breathing hitched. “Let me go!” The dim lighting hurt my eyes as Maches dragged me out of the sleeping room. “Please.”

By my hair, Maches pushed me to my knees and shoved my head forward. “You’ll beg to him for mercy.” His voice prickled my skin like ice.

Expecting to see Poseidon, I hesitantly lifted my gaze upward. “Alph.” My heart relaxed a little bit. “Alph, please, explain to hi—”

Maches kicked me in the ribs. “You’re to shut that stupid mouth of yours in the presence of your superiors.”

I clutched at my middle. My breath pushed up my throat.

“I’ve seen you before, mortal,” Alph snarled at me. “In the western hall, then you’d escaped. You thought you’d come back, eh? Looking for your mother?” He slapped me, and I slammed into the ground, my whole body stinging. “I’ll bet his lord can’t wait to see you, crawling back to try to save your mother.”