FLOOD

A Fever Within

The fever broke sometimes in the morning, I think, I wasn’t sure of the time. I was so exhausted that I didn’t move when the lights finally flickered on. I stayed where I was, curled up in the corner, my eyes shut. I wanted to sleep longer, to sink back into the soothing blackness of unconsciousness. My entire body was aching and my head throbbed in time with my heartbeat. Footsteps echoed around the room, growing louder as someone approached my cage. They stopped just in front of me, and I stayed where I was, pretending to be asleep.

It was Cain. Somehow I knew it was him. Maybe it was the way he shifted impatiently, or the sound of his deep voice muttering curses to himself. Maybe it was the light scent of cologne even.

The idea of recognizing his scent made me feel ill. Thinking of him in that way, in the same way that Kalda and I had talked about boys back home – how they sounded, how they smelled – made me want to throw up.

Kalda. Oh, Kalda. My Kalda. Like a chant in my head, pulsing in time with my heart. Her face kept swimming behind my closed eyes. Even Cain’s presence couldn’t distract me from thinking about her constantly. I kept denying it, over and over, I told myself that Cain had lied. That the blood on the table hadn’t really been her blood. But it was no use, I could lie to myself all I wanted, but I knew the truth.

A second set of footsteps made me flinch, almost blinking, but I forced myself to stay still and keep my eyes shut. I didn’t want anyone to know I was awake.

The footsteps stopped.

“Is the fever broken yet?”

It was a man’s voice, low and scratchy. Not Cain’s. I didn’t recognize it.

“I think so. She was thrashing earlier, she seems more peaceful now.”

A long moment of silence followed. I could almost sense the tension hanging in the air between Cain and the newcomer.

“You know she’s not human, don’t you?”

“Of course I know that.” Cain’s voice was rough, defensive.

More silence, and someone shifted with a rustle of fabric. I could feel my muscles tensing as anger crashed through me, but I forced myself not to react. They would talk more if they thought I couldn’t hear them.

“I know she looks like a girl, a beautiful one at that, and I know you’re her handler and it’s easy to get…attached. But Jotun aren’t human, and she isn’t a lost puppy you can adopt.”

“Why are you telling me all this?” Cain snapped. “You don’t trust me all of a sudden. Do you know the things I’ve done for you lately?” A short pause, and I could picture Cain, his dark features twisted in anger, facing off with the stranger. “Oh, no. You don’t, do you? You sit in your ivory tower, in your office in the city, and you manage you employees. You don’t get your hands dirty.”

“You’re changing the subject.” The stranger’s voice was cool, hard as iron. “I can see you’re getting attached to the girl. You’re weak, Cain. You’ve let yourself start to care about what happens to her. Don’t think that the others don’t see the things you do and report back to me—”

“I know you have spies in here, yes.” Cain’s voice shook with fury. “You don’t have to tell me that. I know you don’t trust me.”

“I don’t trust anyone, least of all the Jotun. You must trust me, boy. I know the species, she will kill you the moment she gets the chance.”

The stranger was right about that. My fingers were practically tingling. I longed to feel the crackle of ice at my fingertips. If just the stranger would come closer. Place his hands on the box. If I could get up fast enough, I might be able to freeze him at least partially.