House of Vultures - Maggie Claire (epub read online books .TXT) 📗

By sunset, my ragged clothes aresoaked with sweat. It is precious fluid that my body cannot affordto lose. My throat burns with desire for a thirst-quenching drink.Neither Panther nor I have the energy to speak anymore. Even myeyes feel raw, as if my tears have been redirected to combatdehydration. When I blink, it feels like sandpaper rubs myeyeballs.

The sound of the Housedoor creaking open pulls my dwindling attention as the stars blinkawake. Footsteps crunch on the gravel as someone approachesus. Please, not Falcon, my mind weeps. I don’t want togive her the satisfaction of hearing me beg for death.The image of my fallen friend Hawk appears to me,a haunting smile on his face. His voice is just as clear and deepas I remember when he speaks to me, “Ironic, isn’t it, littleMynah? You’re prepared to seek a mercy killing for yourself whenyou’ve lived with the guilt of my death all this time.”

“I’d rather die quicklythan face this torture,” I reply as a pair of worn leather bootsappear in my line of sight.

“I’d prefer you didn’t dieat all,” an infuriating voice retorts.

It is a struggle to lift my head up tosee who stands before me, sneering when his dark mask comes intoview. “Still seeking my gratitude? Or are you just enjoying theview?”

“There is nothing aboutthis situation that brings me joy,” Condor whispers as he stepscloser. He places the rim of a chipped cup on my lips. Gentlypushing my head back, cool water rushes into my mouth. It is likefinding an oasis after spending a week wandering in the desert. Idrink greedily, not caring that it is Condor I owe for thiskindness.

“Give some to the boy,” Igasp when I have had my fill. Without a word, Condor follows mywish. He only returns to my side when Panther has finished. A fitof coughing overpowers me, and Condor grabs my waist, holding mybody steady so I do not strain my shoulders by hyperextendingagainst the binds. “Why are you helping us? Why aren’t you insidecelebrating with the others?” I wheeze when he carefully lets mego. “I’m sure Falcon is throwing a killer party.” A giggle eruptsfrom my mouth at my unintentional joke.

“You must be hungry,”Condor mutters, ignoring my questions as he lifts a crust of drybread dipped in stew. The savory aroma tantalizes my senses evenbefore the food reaches my taste buds. I scarf down every scrap,begrudging each morsel handfed to me as if I am a helplessbird.

“I suppose I should begrateful,” I admit bitterly. “If you care so much, why won’t youlet us go?”

“Mynah.” Condor closes hiseyes as he whispers my name in a sigh. He raises his mouth to brushthe edges of my mask near my left cheek. “I know you don’t see itright now, but I am doing everything in my power to free you. Icannot just undo the traitor binds; everyone in the House would behunting us. They would be calling for my death too. And despitewhat you might be thinking, that would not benefit you. Right now,I am the only thing keeping you and the boy alive.”

“Seriously? You’re goingto leave us here because you’re afraid the House will forsake you,and you expect me to be understanding?”

“I just need you to trustthat I am still working in your best interest. When I calm Falcon’sbloodlust, you and the boy will be released,” Condor pleads, hisfingers brushing my wrists with a soothing salve that numbs thescrapes around the cuffs.

“How long do you think wecan survive out here? Rather than stand up to Falcon—”

“I don’t cower to thatmonster, Mynah! I keep her leashed! Do you not see that if she hadher way, you would already be dead? She would not have stoppedwhipping you until your body was nothing more than a formless lumpof bloody meat! The only reason she stopped is because I told herto give you time to think.”

“Oh, so now I’m supposedto believe that you’ve been my savior all this time? Everywhipping, every harsh beating I have endured at her hand—you werethere to keep her from going too far?” I roll my eyes at theludicrous idea.

“She would have killed youfifty times over if I had not made her see reason. Everything Ihave ever done has been….” Condor stops suddenly, his handstightening around my waist as he holds me close to hischest.

“Let go of me!” I growl,using the only weapon at my disposal. Biting hard on Condor’s chin,the surprise of the attack forces him away from my side. “If youdon’t intend to free us, then go back inside. I have nothing moreto say to you.”

With a hand on his chin to stop thebleeding, Condor turns to go back inside the House. When he speaks,his voice wobbles as though he is on the verge of tears. “I hopeWolf comes for you soon, Mynah. I truly don’t want to see youdead.”

Puzzling over his words, Ilisten as Condor disappears. The taste of the stew and bread stilllingers on my tongue. How can he be soharsh one minute and gentle the next? How can he justify everything thathe’s done? Wasn’the always the one sanctioning Falcon’s attacks? Hasn’t he always made my lifemiserable? He’sjust as bad as Falcon, isn’t he?My mind grapples with Condor’s behavior long intothe night, struggling to determine just exactly what his motivesare.

It is well past midnight when our nextvisitor approaches. “Lupe, what have they done to you now?” Wolfcries as he scuttles along the trees. He stops directly in linewith me, his eyes glittering against the dark foliage surroundinghim.

“Wolf! Get out of here!” Ihiss through my pain. “You aren’t so stupid that you don’tunderstand what’s happening. They are using me as bait, and it’sluring you right into a trap. Go back to your pack,Wolf!”

“How are you planning toget out of this exactly?” He asks, sidling closer to the fencing,eyes watching the House for any signs of movement. I hold mybreath, waiting for someone to shout in warning that their prey hasfinally arrived.

“I’ll figure somethingout,” I answer feebly, trying to rattle my binds, but only succeedin reopening the wounded, chafed skin