Chapter Thirty-Four
"It's nice to meet you Vulpes." Evelyn told the man in front of her, with a small smile. He cringed.
"You are probably the only woman who has ever said that to me." His pale blue eyes were wide, even as his face contorted with guilt as he stared at the cave wall.
"I'm sure I won't be the last." Evelyn said, patting his hand. "How long have you been here?"
Vulpes swallowed audibly. "In this cave? I don't remember exactly. But not long." He replied. "I've been in that cage a long time. I lost track of time after four months. That was... A long time ago."
Evelyn frowned. "They dragged you and this cage around? Why?" She asked, her eyes narrowed. She felt a mixture of anger and sadness on his behalf.
"They captured me outside of a camp in Arizona. They killed the rest of my group and used me as a guide. I wish they had killed me too." Vulpes confessed, turning his face away from her. She pretended not to see the tears falling from his eyes.
"I'm glad they didn't." Evelyn whispered softly. "I'm sorry nobody helped you before now."
"You're a fool. I'm a monster and should have died like a dog in the dirt." Vulpes told her miserably, shaking his head.
"I don't think so." She said, smiling at him. He closed his eyes, as if her kindness overwhelmed him.
"Thank you." He told her quietly.
"Vulpes?" She asked hesitantly.
"Yes?" He replied, meeting her eyes slowly.
"The people that hurt you, what do you know about them?" Evelyn asked.
"They are scouts. They've already plagued our- I mean, Legion, lands. They were here to make maps and report on any defenses they saw." He told her.
"Do you know what they know? Like what they've seen? Have they reported anything back? Who are they reporting to? How big is this army?" She rattled off her questions quickly.
"I... Do not... I am not sure." Vulpes said, curling up a little more. He looked frightened again.
She backed off instantly. "Okay, okay. That's fine. Thank you for your help. Why don't you get some sleep?" She soothed, petting his hair. He drifted back to sleep after a few minutes.
"I think he knows exactly what ya were talkin about." Vincent said quietly, taking a seat next to her.
"I agree." Charon commented.
Evelyn nodded. "He's scared. He doesn't want to tell me everything he knows." She said.
"What difference does it make? Ya think he's protectin the Legion?" Vincent asked.
"He is protecting himself. He is useless to Evelyn after she knows the things she asked." Charon explained. Evelyn nodded.
Vincent nodded. "Ah, that makes sense. He dun trust ya not t'kill 'im once ya know what ya wanna know." He realized aloud. He gave her a strange look.
"I don't take it personally!" She protested.
"Well, do ya plan to kill 'im after he tells ya what ya wanna know?" Vincent asked, his blue eyes looking black in the dim light.
"Of course not!" She hissed. "He's been hurt enough to atone for whatever sins you think he committed!"
"I dun think ya understand the Legion Evie. He was right when he said he was a monster." Vincent persisted. "Do ya know what they did to women? To the old, the sick, the injured?"
"No. But I don't-" She began.
"They enslaved them Evelyn. The ones that wasn't lucky enough t'be burned, that is. I heard plenty uh stories, but lemme tell ya what I seen myself." The large man snarled. "Was makin my way here when I crossed through a destroyed village. The whole thing had been burnt t'the ground. All around me hung Legion flags an burnt bodies." Vincent stopped to compose himself. "Bodies of women, children and the old lay all 'round me. Then there was the crosses. Women lashed to crosses. Most was dead but I found one..." He trailed off for a moment.
Evelyn stared at him in horror. "What happened?" She asked, not sure if she really wanted the answer.
"She was jist a lil thing. Only fifteen years old or so. I got her down and asked her what happened. She had been up there near a week. She told me the Legion had stormed in, killed anyone who resisted em and took off with all the boys from the village." Vincent growled.
"Oh my god." Evelyn whispered. "What happened to her?"
Vincent set his jaw. "She died later that night. She'd been up there too long. There was nothin I could do. I buried her, an kept goin." He said. "Dun even know her name."
He looked at her, anger clear in his eyes. "She was lucky. The girls they take get sold into slavery. They're either worked or bred to death. A life of grueling work and rape. Ya still think he's worth savin? That's what he stood for." He snapped.
"He was taken from his family when he was nothing but a baby." She protested. "He didn't know any better."
"That's bullshit an ya know it. There's no excuse for what he did. Ya can't tell me he never questioned it, and if he didn't, he really is a monster. Ya don't treat other people like animals. 'Specially someone defenseless." Vincent growled.
"Do you really think less of me for helping him?" Evelyn asked softly.
Vincent sighed. "A'course not Evie. I jist want ya to know that some people, they dun deserve yer kindness. Ya can't redeem everybody."
"I like to think I can try." Evelyn said with a shrug.
"I used t'think Amaya was odd." Vincent chuckled. "Where'd ya find this woman?" He asked Charon.
Charon smiled. "She found me." He lifted Evelyn's hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.
A peaceful silence settled around them as Charon pulled her into his arms. He pressed his cheek to hers, sighing happily.
"Ya know? I dun think I wanna see Zion." Vincent said suddenly.
"Why not?" Evelyn asked.
"I been chasing after a woman who didn't love me fer a while now. It ain't helpin me none." He said simply. "Can't keep livin like this. Dun wanna be alone anymore."
"I understand." She replied with a sad smile.
"I'll see ya in Vegas Miss Evie. You take care of yerself huh?" He said, rising. Evelyn stood too.
She hugged the mountain of a man and after a moment, he squeezed back. "Please be careful Vincent." She said.
"Ya have m'word." He said solemnly. Then he was gone.
"Do you think he's right?" Evelyn asked Charon. "Should I just leave this guy here?"
"That is up to you." Charon replied.
"I don't think I'd forgive myself if I did." She sighed. "He's hurt, he's scared and he's all alone. Who am I to judge him?"
"He admits his wrongs freely." Charon reminded her.
"Do you think I'll regret this decision?" She asked, her brown eyes narrowed.
"I do not. I think you have shown him kindness enough that he will question returning to his past." Charon replied honestly.
"I love you Charon." Evelyn sighed, leaning against him.
"And I love you." He replied.
They both groaned when Vulpes began to scream in his sleep.