One Day in a Small-Town Desert, chapter 10, page 7

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Vata Kılímí bent over and scooped the knife off the dirt floor, deftly wiping it on her skirt. Hopefully the blonde’s pepper spray would pacify Zhíno. Vata needed to get him relaxed and on the altar before she could heal him. One way would be to tranquilize him with the drug Vata used on the horse and the dog, but she’d never used it on a human being before. That serum was intended for sacrifices, not recipients. If only he felt the same overwhelming grace from Névazhíno as Vata did, the young man would practically float onto the altar.

Vata reached out a gentle hand toward Zhíno, but stopped short when he lowered his hands from his face.

He straightened up and faced Fírí with a serene expression. The whites of his eyes had turned red, but he held them open as if he felt no pain. Névazhíno’s healing hands were already upon him.

“That was good, babydoll, but you’re ten years too late. You’ll never make up for your betrayal tonight.”

Vata didn’t know what betrayal he referred to, but didn’t care much either. She just wanted to heal him. Her head buzzed with the essence of the God of Animals.

Fírí backed away two wobbly steps, her eyebrows creased with worry and confusion. It didn’t appear as if the girl understood Zhíno any better than Vata did.

The horse kicked at the dirt, neighing softly, as if to remind Vata that she was waking up. Vata needed to give her a new dose or else she’d be wandering around the chapel. With the police mucking about outside, taking the horse back to her stable would be impossible.

Zhíno’s injuries--two injured arms and now irritated eyes--were obviously not life-threatening enough to require the sacrifice of the horse, but no other options presented themselves to Vata. With Névazhíno already present, time was of the essence. He certainly wouldn’t enjoy being kept waiting. O Névazhíno, what should I do?

Zhíno glanced down at his feet, then to the knife in Vata’s hand. “Give me that back, you sneaky hag. I have unfinished business with it.”

The god did not answer Vata. He was prepared to do His part, but first Vata had to figure out her problems on her own. She had to concentrate through the fog of elation caused by His proximity.

Before Vata could answer, Zhíno turned his attention back to Fírí and waggled his bandaged hand at her. “It’s too late to change your ways now, so just lay down on the altar and we’ll get this show started.”

Fírí stepped backwards again. “Don’t give him the knife, Vata. Please.”

Vata blinked. Somehow, the blonde had seen through her charade. Fírí knew she wasn’t intending to sacrifice her, and probably so did Zhíno. At least she was able to disarm him while the ruse lasted.

Vata held the knife far from Zhíno. “Don’t worry, dear. I won’t let him hurt you.”

Fírí frowned, as if she didn’t expect that response, after all.

The horse nickered and pushed herself to her feet, looking around to inspect her surroundings.

Zhíno spun on Vata, murderous rage burning in his eyes--or maybe that was just a combination of the pepper spray and torchlight. “Give me the knife, you Nuví hag! I have to punish the Tara-fucking twin of Vítí for what she’s done to me.”

Vata smiled. There he goes again, associating me with the wonderful High Goddess of Earth, as if it’s an insult. The horse whinnied, staring at Vata. I need to do something about that horse.

Fírí’s jaw dropped, her eyes focused nowhere but Zhíno. “What have I done?” She shook her head, a smile growing upon her pale face. “You’re not talking about earlier tonight, are you?” She laughed sharply. “It wasn’t me who shot at that truck without provocation. It wasn’t me who killed a policeman. It wasn’t me who made a deal with murderous thugs, smuggling weapons that will be used for a Nunıta-knows-what nefarious purpose--probably to attack the government or--”

“You betrayed me,” snarled Zhíno, as if that explained everything.

He made a swipe for the knife but Vata jerked it out of his reach, stepping away from him. She rubbed her temples with her empty hand. She had to ignore these squabbling kids and concentrate on her own situation. The swirling spirit of Névazhíno made logical thought most difficult, however.

The horse neighed again and began circling the altar towards the young blonde’s back.

Fírí snapped, “I didn’t do anything to you,” waving her hand wildly and not noticing the approaching animal.

Zhíno jabbed his index finger at her. “You Névo-brained whore of Rana, you don’t get it! You abandoned me when I needed your help the most. I was injured and hunted and in a hurry and you just left--”

“You’d gone insane!” Fírí screamed, her hands clenched in fists.

The horse sniffed at the back of the girl’s neck. Fírí swatted absentmindedly at it, her attention fixed upon her ex-boyfriend. Vata clicked her tongue to draw the horse away. It swung its head and took a step Vata’s direction.

One way or another, Vata had to re-tranquilize the animal. She began shuffling over to the shelves where she kept the serum and the syringes. The horse followed her.

In a lofty voice, Zhíno replied, “Oh, I’m insane, am I? Insane like Rékaré, you mean. I’m insane enough to hunt you down and trap you in this hidden chapel, you mean. Insane enough to kill you and heal myself at the same time.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I’m not the Névo-brain who led her hunter to the only place in all the worlds where he wouldn’t feel pain. I’m not the one who can’t even hide her tracks!” He laughed maniacally. “Who’s insane now, bitch?”

Vata concentrated, furrowing her brow, blocking out all else but the problem at hand. Would Névazhíno object to the sacrifice of a horse when it wasn’t completely necessary? He was here. He knew the situation. He knew the horse was the only animal available.

Vata sighed. She knew she couldn’t waste one of His most glorious animals for a scumbag like Zhíno. Some way, somehow, Vata would have to retrieve a smaller animal from the back yard without the police spotting her.

If only that seemed at all possible.

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