Chapter 20
A/N: Yes….I am still alive…just going through a lot in RL. Sorry if this chapter is short and/or doesn't flow well. I'm struggling a bit with this but really want to finish so I'm plowing forward. Will try to update soon.
Please see Chapter 1 for warnings and disclaimers.
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True kicked the dirt in frustration. "Ain't fair! The Guppy runs away and WE get grounded!"
Rhianna shook her head, but refrained from rolling her eyes at her cousin's theatrics. "We are not grounded True. You are free to do anything within in the town limits as long as you tell Mary where you are going. With everyone gone to go fetch Naomi, Josiah and Nathan just feel the need to be extra cautious."
"Still don't make no sense to me. Jest cuz Nathan had ta go deliver a baby and Josiah had ta see ol' man Rutherford home. Ain't no reason I shouldn't be able to go fer a ride."
"The obvious reason is that Josiah's hand can be plenty hard when engaged in what he considers to be a just consequence. Besides Creed will be finished with his Da soon enough and out to play."
"Well it-"
True's further complaint was interrupted by an out of breath Billy Travis, "Rhianna, Rhianna! Yer needed at the clinic. Guy rode in with his arm bleedin' an' Yosemite helped him up to Nathan's. I'm supposed ta fetch ya."
"Okay, calm down. I am coming," Rhianna stated, actually pleased to have something to occupy her time as she too had found the Sunday afternoon quite boring. Not to mention she had a very bad feeling about Naomi that she couldn't quite shake. As she hastened to the clinic, she tried to shrug off the sense of foreboding and focus on playing her role for the new patient. It could be tricky, her being a child. Those in town had come to accept, what with her helping Nathan regularly in the clinic, that she had some skill in healing, but strangers were understandably suspect about accepting treatment from a twelve-year-old.
Upon taking in the scene at the clinic, she didn't suspect the bleeding man would care too much. Though he did complain initially.
"Hey! She's just a kid! What happened to thet colored doctor that was here?"
"Nathan is away delivering a baby, but I help him out regularly, and can clean the wound and probably get the bleeding stopped. He can see to the rest when he arrives," Rhianna stated confidently and as she thought the man didn't complain overly much. Yosemite left her to it after a few minutes, seeing that Rhianna had it in hand.
"Nasty knife wound. How did you get it?" she asked as she carefully cleaned the rent flesh of the man's shoulder and arm with fresh water, offering her own brand of healing deftly, not so much as to be suspect, but enough to ease the pain and staunch the bleeding.
"Not yer concern," the man replied through clenched teeth. He couldn't deny that the girl's ministrations were helpful, but didn't care to get chatty.
Rhianna's hand paused in midair, it was second nature for her to follow up such a question with a mental query.
"You are one of the men that was with the theatre troupe," she said quietly.
"So? What if I was. Went my separate way after leavin' town."
"Yes, you did didn't you," Rhianna's green eyes hardened as she painfully dug her finger's into the man's injury, undoing any good she had accomplished. "Where's my friend!"
"God Damn! What the hell are you doin'?" the man demanded pushing her away and grabbing hold of his injured arm which was once again dripping blood.
"That whole search for an actress was a ruse. You are a flesh trader. You were taking Naomi to sell off as a whore."
"Look girlie," the man was looking scared now and coming to his feet. "Don't know where yer gettin' these ideas from but –" Rhianna stepped toward him and grabbed his arm again.
"Pain, unbearable searing pain," she stated darkly focusing on the wound. The man was brought to his knees screaming. "Where are they taking her?"
"What are you?" the man gasped, looking up in fear. "Some sorta witch?"
"Perhaps. Have you ever seen gangrene? What it can do not just to a limb, but to the body?" she asked in a deathly cold voice. "Where are they taking my friend?"
"Purgatory," the man gasped collapsing to the floor.
Rhianna took two steps back, recoiling some from what she had just done while also reading everything that she could from the man before he lost consciousness. She couldn't actually give the man gangrene, and she never knew if the pain she was able to cause was real or some type of mental suggestion. It had been some time since she had employed such methods. Maybe she was a projecting telepath after all.
Catching her breath, she reached for the pitcher but first looked at the man's wound. It wouldn't do for him to bleed out before he told his story to the others. She would not deny Buck his right to question the man. She touched the bloody arm, stopping the flow of blood once more and offering enough healing to make sure he'd be well enough to face the peacekeepers. Then she dumped the pitcher of water on his head. The man groaned. Deciding to test her theory, she said in a calm commanding voice, reaching for the man's mind.
"Wake up."
The man did, his terrified eyes looking right into hers.
"You are never going to speak to anyone about what just happened. You are going to walk over to the jail and stay there until the peacekeepers arrive. When they arrive you are going to tell them everything you know about this abhorrent flesh trading operation as well as where your friends are headed. You will not try to escape."
The man nodded and rose painfully, doing exactly as he was told. Rhianna swooned, grabbing her head. Okay, that was something completely new as was the extreme ache forming behind her eyes but she didn't have time to contemplate either. She needed to get that outlaw locked in a jail cell and find True. She had a terrible feeling that Naomi didn't have much time.
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When Rhianna found True she was with Creed. The blond explained exactly what she had learned as well as the horrible sense of urgency she felt. "I cannot explain it, True, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Naomi does not have much time. They are going to hurt her and," Rhianna paused, swallowing bile, "Violate her beyond belief."
"Then we best get to her first," True stated her voice rough with emotion. She might have her own issues with Naomi but she wouldn't wish this on anyone and certainly not her clan member.
"I'm comin' too," Creed stated resolutely.
"Me too," a deeper voice stated from behind them.
Rhianna spun to meet Connal's gray eyes. "This is not your fight. True and I know what we are doing, the two of you do not."
"But you don't have time to argue so we're coming just the same," Connal replied with a smirk.
"He's right," True stated then looked up at Rhianna's beau. "Just keep in mind, ya might be surprised by what ya see an' not in a good way."
He nodded and the four headed to the stables. The kids going out for a Sunday afternoon ride, even as cold as it was, was not so unusual so Yosemite didn't comment as the children set out, the each of the boys taking his father's horse. Rhianna had left a note on the desk at the jail, and the injured criminal was sitting locked in the cell waiting to tell his tale as well. She had sent one of the townsmen to fetch Josiah, saying that he was needed in town and should go to the jailhouse as soon as possible. Though she felt bad about not leaving one for Mary, they were rather pressed for time.
They had to pace the horses so they rode hard in the direction of Purgatory and then allowed the horses a chance to rest at a walking pace. True sent winged scouts ahead to search for those they were after, much to Connal's amazement.
On one of these walks Rhianna filled Connal in on her and True's past as well as some of their abilities. On another, she reasoned through their strategy.
"Okay, according to the map and compass we are headed directly towards Purgatory. They met up with the troupe wagons just about half hour out of town and took off around 7:30 or so. Naomi's getaway attempt slowed them down some and they are supposed to stop to pick up some more girls on the way. They will have a wagon of nearly ten girls and women so they cannot travel as fast as we."
True looked at the sun as she listened to her cousin. It would be dark in another hour and they would have some decisions to make. Probably would depend if she heard anything back from the birds she had sent ahead to scout for her. She looked over at Creed and could see the concern on his face. She knew he was thinking about his Pa and how worried the man would be. He was a great friend and had been pretty excited about the adventure to boot, but despite all the trouble he and True had gotten into, he'd never done anything like this. True took a minute to think about Chris and Vin's reaction and winced.
There had been no question or consideration for either her or Rhianna. Despite a healthy respect for their caregivers, there was no way they would hesitate to help their clan member, especially with Rhianna's premonition of doom. True didn't really question the truth behind Rhianna's words. If her cousin said she knew, then she knew. Her own abilities had grown by leaps and bounds and she expected Rhianna's had been growing as well, even if the other girl had been unaware. The elder's had always been certain that Rhianna's telepathy would grow as she aged. True rather believed that was one of the reason's that they administered the growth inhibitor, hoping to slow what they knew was coming. They might have wanted to exploit her cousin's abilities, but they were also scared of them. Just as they had been of True's. The girl gave herself a shake. This train of thought was not going to help them rescue Naomi.
"Time to ride again," she stated, encouraging Eavan into a trot.
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Careful to stay in the dark and avoid the firelight, True and Rhianna crawled on their bellies as close as they dared to hear what was happening in the camp. They had convinced the boys that someone needed to stay with the horses and it would be far riskier if they all tried to sneak a peek. Conall argued vehemently that as the oldest he should go, but Rhianna managed to convince him otherwise. True had smirked at her cousin's methods but they had no time for teasing so pocketed that for later.
"Listen hear, girl, I've had more than enough trouble outta you." They heard a loud smack and managed to gain enough of a vantage point to see their dark-haired clan member crumple to the ground and then get up slowly.
"She's not contagious. She just has a breathing problem, but if you leave her out here she'll surely die."
"She ain't gonna make a decent whore if she's sickly anyway, even if she ain't contagious. None o' yer concern. I'm a thinkin' though that we might jest need ta make an example outta you so those other gals don't get no ideas." The bearded man spit off to the side. "Might indulge myself in some company tonight."
"Fitz, we get extra fer every one of 'em thet's untouched. Gold's more important. Side's we meet up with that rich gent tomorrow mornin' and he said he'd pay extra for a young one like her. You know his picks never last more than a month anyways. Use the sickly one fer yerself."
"Yeah, yer right. But what's a little girl know? Could be it's consumption, don't fancy catchin' nuthin'. I kin wait 'til we reach Purgatory tomorrow.
"I'll tie the trouble maker up agin and we'll leave the sickly one out for the wolves tonight."
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"We should kill 'em all," True stated blackly once they girls had retreated a ways from the camp.
"Though I agree completely with your sentiment I am not sure we can do that without putting the lives of those other girls at risk. There are too many of them. That asthmatic girl will be dead tonight and Naomi's time is up tomorrow. We need to get them out now, then we can focus on the bastards and the other girls."
Rhianna's slip in language let True know how upset her cousin was by what they had seen and heard, and she knew the older girl was probably right. As much as she wanted those ruttin' bastards dead she didn't want those innocent girls to pay for it with their lives. "Okay, but in the end I get ta gut at least a few of 'em."
TBC…