The Silentless

Chapter 33

"One." The voice echoed through their room accompanied by the rising cacophony of animals outside. Jamie wasn't sure how the small woods could hold that many skinners, by the sounds of it the whole pack was there.

"No, you can't do that! You said three last night!" If a silhouette could look smug, this one did. Melodie-Jane scrambled out of the warmth of the covers, he bright hair was messy and her crumpled top was actually Jamie's slightly too small crop top - it was even shorter on Melon. The shadow moved it's head to the side as if it was considering the new arrival. Then it started to laugh.

"I'll see you in battle." This was the first sentence that the shadow had said.

"Where?" This was something that had worried Jamie since the battle had been looming. Judging by what she knew of Aamon's tactics there were two places that it could be; the small abandoned industrial estate on the other side of the woods or by the water tower behind the hospital. Jamie was sure it would be her old haunt; he would enjoy ruining a place where she had once found solace into a battle zone.

"The water tower."

"Mel. Mel, there's no point. Just leave it." Jamie scrambled to comfort her girlfriend as the spectre faded. Holding her face and stroking her hair seemed to help; she had stopped hyperventilating. "How can you reason with the devil?"

"It's not the devil. It's just James trying to mess with us." She snuggled her face into Jamie's shoulder and inhaled her comforting smell; vanilla, honey and coffee. It reminded her of being in America and doing her art with a honey tea.

"I wasn't talking about him." Aamon. Melon knew about how he haunted her dreams. He probably was the devil incarnate come to think of it. She sometimes felt his eyes on her or the caress of his wandering hands. Shivering, she buried deeper into her girlfriend's comforting embrace.

"Oh," her eyes were glistening with tears. When she looked at Jamie they were threatening to fall. "I'm scared."

"I know. I - I am too." That was the first time she had admitted it to herself, let alone her unflappable Melon. Someone who was the chain that kept her anchored to reality.

Their lips met hungrily. They were the only ones in the world. The only two in an unsure world. The future was shaky. Their future.

"I love you. So much." Jamie told her when they paused to breathe.

"I love you more."

"Prove it." She smirked at her girlfriend, who responded by tackling her, landing on top of her on the bed. Melodie-Jane kissed her passionately.

"Oh, I will."

Not even the threat of the upcoming fight could ruin this moment.

*•*

On the way to the tower they were followed by a pack of wild animals. Most of the recruits were looking shaken and unready as they walked into their first battle. They all wore their school PE kits - it was the only thing that all of them had and Tatty refused to let them face The Silentless without a uniform. She had changed her purple leather to green lycra, she was 'supporting the team'. Jamie had laughed about that for hours before being locked away in her cadge.

The sky was black with anticipation, the sun had fled behind the dark clouds that roiled like the angry sea. Wind howled and blew freezing air at the soldiers, tousling their hair and stealing their warmth.

At the water tower, the trouble lurked. The ground Jamie had spent so much of her time had been taken over by an impromptu camp; tents and sleeping bags crowded around a pit of charcoal. All of the plants had withered and died around that area - courtesy of the phytokinesis Erös.

The army stood around the supports, hands resting on their weapons. The sea of purple looked at them with distain. When they arrived the skinners went to meet them; transforming into humans before their eyes.

The lieutenants had the better seat; surveying Tatty and her army in anticipation. There was Emelda with her sickly sweet smile and a hand resting on her leader's shoulder, looking in disbelief at the traitor; how could she want to oppose the perfect ruler. James stood proudly in his new uniform and daggers strapped to any available space. And Aamon, standing where Jamie had sat hundreds of times. He surveyed her as if he knew what her counterpart had done there.

"I was almost hoping that you wouldn't show up. Then we'd have been able to storm your house. Maybe kill a couple of your cousins whilst we were at it. Such a shame." His voice was the same as it had been the day he took Melodie-Jane. It made her insides burn with hatred.

"Isn't it just." Her reply dripped with malice.

"I see you've brought along the hippies. How are their art classes going now?"

"Actually, better than ever. Namaste, kumbaya, praise the lord and all that shit." Melodie-Jane cut in before Tatty could reply. "Why are we wasting time? I thought you wanted a fight, dickhead."

Aamon smiled sarcastically and stepped off the water tower. Some of Tatty's army gasped, no one else blinked an eye; he was prone to being ridiculously extra. As he did Emelda started climbing down the rusty ladder and pushing past the assembled Erös so as to arrive at the front before her leader. He floated down slowly, passing over rows of soldiers who drew their weapons at his signal. Finally he settled down at the front of his forces where Emelda was waiting, slightly out of breath from her escapade.

He laughed and drew his dagger in a lighting quick movement, throwing it into his enemy's crowd before they even had time to react. Tatty ducked and pushed Melodie-Jane with her. When they got up again, Anita had the small sword impaled above her right eye.

Tatty swore as their first soldier fell. The people around her roared in fury and charged without a second thought. Anita died before any of it started. Perhaps she was lucky.

"Stay here and look after the body." Tatty screamed at her girlfriend over the clashing of swords.

"No, I want to help."

"Fine! Do what you want. I can't stop you!" With that, she disappeared in the throng of battle. Not looking back to see what Melodie-Jane had decided to do.