Quarantined in Chaos (Nova Nocte) (11 page)

             
Our travelling detail has grown to fifteen people, a German Shepard, and a toddler. We found the little boy in our sweep of a little white house in Ridgeland. Poor kid was barricaded inside the place with a maggot-ridden corpse and nothing else. Chase and Victor led the search and came out carrying this half-starved child covered in filth; he can’t be more than three or four. Sunny and Nurse cleaned him up, gave him water and food, and haven’t let him go.

             
“I think the body in the house must’ve been his father or something; looks like the guy had a heart attack.”

             
I looked at the Nurse and adjusted the flue on the fireplace.

             
“Wonder if the kid has anyone out there looking for him.”

             
I glanced at Sunny rocking the sleeping child in her arms.

             
I guess she’s a Mom a little early. I pray that we got to him in time.

             
“Not likely. He’s been in that house across the street for a few days at least. I think the little guy will be okay, but he’s gonna need a name soon.”

             
“Do you think that was his home? We could go check it out for clues. Or maybe...” I felt my voice waver “his dad’s wallet.”

             
Bubba tiptoed past Sunny and her bundle.

             
“We got that feller buried. Even said a couple of prayers fer him. How’s the little one doing?”

             
“Nurse says he should be fine, just really needed food and water. And he’s got a serious rash from that mess.”

             
He plopped onto the futon and kicked off his boots.

             
“Well ain’t that a prayer answered.”

             
I listened to the child’s breathing and Sunny whispering soft lullabies.

             
Reggie and Margot came in and got a stern glare from her before they walked more softly.

             
“Sorry.” They whispered. I stifled a laugh at the sight of Reggie being so fearful of the hormonal woman. He sat down his growing bundle of gold jewelry behind her chair.

             
She gave them a satisfied smile and the pair turned to those of us near the hearth.

             
“What’s up?” I asked.

             
Reggie handed me a picture. It showed a happy family: mom, dad, and a baby at a party. The father wore a yarmulke and a shawl, the mother a simple dress. I turned it over and found words scribbled in blue ink.

             
Chaim’s Bris.

             
“His name is Chaim.”

             
The room echoed with the announcement.

             
Hebrew for life. Appropriate. I wonder if the universe laughs at little things like this.

             
Sunny stroked the child’s forehead.

             
“Hello Chaim. I’m going to take good care of you. I promise.”

             
###

             
We’re on our way again now that Chaim is better fed and rested. The triplets took the lead on the road march, Reggie and Daemon flew ahead marking a path for us, Cal and I took up positions at either end of the line. Sunny, Chase, and Chaim were the only ones walking without their weapons drawn; they didn’t have to, all of us stood prepared to protect them. Nurse kept close and carried Sunny’s spear while Sindbad stayed on their heels. Chaim pointed out animals and chattered to his new foster parents from time to time. It was uplifting music for all of us.

             
Around ten we stopped so Chaim could be put into a stroller we scrounged from the back of a wrecked Durango. He fell back asleep with a gentle whimper. Sunny stretched while her husband rubbed her back and shoulders.

             
“He’s heavier than he looks.”

             
Chase’s lips curled at the edges.

             
“Kid’s always are. He’s adorable though. And he’s finally gaining some weight.”

             
We circled up on the highway with our backs to the broken down traffic to block the wind. I gathered a little of the long tan grass and some twigs.

             
“Anyone got our flint kit?”

             
Pockets got patted down and bags got searched. The howl of the wind nearly drowned out the distant groans of the Dead. Sindbad growled but stayed put. Vincent handed the sandwich bag full of dryer lint and a flint bar.

             
“Here you go. I’ll grab some more wood and set up a guard while we grab a nap and a bite.”

             
He tipped his hat and set off on his mission. The lint took to the flecks of heat instantly, to my eyes it was an explosion of fireworks at my fingertips absorbing and evolving the energy trapped in the discarded multicolored lint into a burst of dancing light.

             
This must be what it’s like to see a sun born from space.

             
I ignored the impulse to fixate on the magic before me. The more I pushed aside the tug from within, the better grounded I felt. My reverie was shaken by Hannah.

             
“The fire looks good. Do you want me to set up a little wall to keep the light from attracting fleshies?”

             
“Yes. That’s a good idea. I’ll get some panels and bumpers for the wall. Can you tend the fire for me?”

             
“Sure.”

             
I stripped a couple of loose bumpers and some front panels; the racket was louder than I’d intended but it was nice to see progress as the tin barrier grew. A moan wafted on the air like a falcon, causing my ears to twitch.

             
That one is getting close.

             
Lips kissed my earlobe and whispered.

             
“How about a stroll in the woods?”

             
I spun to find Daemon smirking.

             
“To deal with that zombie or to do something dirty?” I teased.

             
He put a hand on my waist.

             
“Who says we can’t do both?”

             
“What a romantic date you have planned.”

             
I put my hand over my heart and batted my eyelashes pantomiming being swept off my feet.

             
“Ahem. Do you mind if I intrude on your little tryst?”

             
We both separated and our hands went to our sides; we were school children caught by teacher. Reggie stared at us and chuckled.

“Hands in the cookie jar, huh? Looks like Caelinus was right to have me check in on you two lovebirds.
”

             
“No, yes...” I stammered and the moan repeated a little louder. “...we were just about to go put down that fleshie.”

             
“I’m sure you were. Doesn’t need both of you though.” He looked back at the others huddled around the blossoming fire. “Of course, if the two of you wanted to take an hour and clear the area thoroughly, I think Cal would understand.”

             
He winked and strolled away.

###

              Daemon and I cleared the area of Dead in ten minutes. We went in opposite directions and circled around until we met a few miles ahead of our camp. I fell into Daemon’s arms and we lay back on the hard earth near an overturned ambulance. He trailed kisses over my neck and collarbone; each kiss was a buffet for my newly heightened senses.

             
I pulled him down on me and moved my fingers from his lapels to his chest; his hair gave my cheek its own gentle caresses. I felt my hunger rise with the arousal as our mouths found each other. Daemon slid out of his jacket and shirt like it was on fire. I gave his nipples playful bites while I scrambled out of my shirt.

             
He sat over me on his knees; I ran my hand along the tightening front of his pants. Daemon leered at me and bit his bottom lip. His fingers deftly opened my jeans and slid inside. I gasped as the rolling sensations took over and grappled with his belt buckle. As I pulled him free of the pants, his enthusiasm reached for me.

             
“Commando, huh?”

             
I licked the tip and was rewarded with a groan. He shifted his index finger and ring finger and I found myself echoing his response.

             
“Ohhh, mmmm...”

             
My lips ran over the shaft and dragged my tongue back up to the tip before wrapping my mouth around his trembling member. I rolled my tongue and hummed gently while I sucked. His fingers entered me while he kept circling his thumb on my clit. I opened my eyes and was mesmerized by the shifting waves of particles; I timed my movements with the rotations of the energies.

             
“Oh, god yes. Whatever you’re doing, don’t stop.”

             
Exactly what I was thinking.

             
I gradually increased the suction and drew my lips from the base to the head, while I rubbed Daemon under the base with my fingers. Gripping his sack, I massage it and arched my hips for him to penetrate deeper. I released my mouth and flicked the end with the tip of my tongue.

             
“Daemon, I need you.”

             
I kicked out of my damp jeans and he inserted himself with another moan. I rode him in time with the waves of light dancing on his skin while he thrust into me. The asphalt beneath us cracked, causing an abandoned El Camino to roll into the ditch. I clung to him at the waist with my legs and sank my fangs into his neck to stop the escaping screams.

             
Daemon’s fangs locked onto my left breast and he drank to the rhythm of our lovemaking. The ground began to move and sink from the impact of his plunges. I close my eyes and sank into the cresting passion. He released my breast and brought my face to his with his fingertips. Our eyes locked and the world felt light as air. I kissed him and kneaded his tongue with mine as we came to a mutual climax.

             
“I love you, Squirrel.”

             
I held him tight to me.

             
“I love you, too.”

             
“Are you going to let us drop?”

             
I tilted my head at him.

             
“What?”

             
Daemon chuckled and kissed my cheek. He looked beyond me; I turned my head. We were hovering a foot over the fractured road.

             
“Oops.”

             
We crashed back to the earth and laughed.

             
“I’ve never had sex in the air before; we should try that again on purpose one night.”

             
“You’ve only had sex once before.”

             
He helped me up and handed me my wranglers.

             
“And that was good, too. We should do it that way as well. Pretty much we should just keep doing it.”

             
I pulled my clothes on and tossed his shirt at him.

             
“No objections here. Probably shouldn’t do it near anything breakable though.”

             
Daemon stopped me as I pulled my shirt over my head and kissed my stomach. Lingering tides of desire stirred.

             
“We should go back to camp soon. I think we are way over our allotted hour.”

             
He stood and placed his jacket on my shoulders.

             
“You’re welcome.” He brushed crumbled stone from my hair.

             
“You, too.” I joked back.

             
We strolled back down the road and talked about the future we could have outside of the quarantine.

             
###

             
Our return wasn’t commented on, by Cal or anyone else, but we did come back to a wall of smirking faces. Except one: Margot. Daemon and I joined the others for a few minutes before the next portion of our journey commenced. Chaim snoozed, blissfully oblivious to the world around him. Chase tucked another blanket around him and adjusted his beanie. The rest of the night passed uneventful except for a few remarks about the mysterious damage to the highway we passed twenty minutes later.