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Juniper bites into her fruit. “Her son was killed by Rippies.”
“Oh my God.”
“Yeah, it was horrific. He was only fifteen at the time, walking home from a friend’s house. We assume he took a trail home because they found his body near there. The Rippies had carved an upside-down U on his forehead and two bullets were found in his chest. That’s how we knew it was them. The U represents the hills where they’re from.”
“That’s awful.” And suddenly I don’t have the stomach to eat.
“It was very tragic, but surprisingly Della didn’t cry. Not right away, anyway. She came to Caz’s door and asked him to find the people responsible. Caz found them and he put them on a stake for her in the village, lit the stakes on fire, and let her and all of Blackwater watch them burn. It was all anyone could talk about for weeks.”
“Are you serious?”
“Absolutely. Why would I not be serious?” Juniper looks at me as if she’s insulted by my question.
“I’m sorry—I just mean…well, I didn’t know Caz had that much power to do something like that for the whole town to see. Aren’t there police or authorities in Blackwater?”
“Cazisthe authority here,” she says, laughing. “As well as Killian and Rowan. Sure, there are coppers around, but they work for Caz. He pays them and tells them what to do, so they can’t stop him. He rules all of Blackwater. It was handed over to him after his father died.”
“Wow. That’s a big role to take on.”
“It’s actually quite calm here until someone steps out of line.”
“So, is there anyone above Caz who can tell him what and what not to do?”
“There’s The Council, but they hardly tell him what to do. They’re just a group of high-grade Mythics who oversee Vakeeliand make sure there is more peace than chaos, I suppose.” She rolls her eyes. “In my opinion, they’re doing a shitty job. Just a group of bored, superior people.”
“Wow. Everything is so different here compared to where I’m from. There are no people with gifts on Earth.”
“How can you be so sure?” she asks. “Maybe they just hide it.”
I press my lips. That’s a possibility.
“What’s it like where you’re from anyway?” she asks, turning toward me.
“Well, there are different countries, which I suppose is similar to how every territory in Vakeeli is different. But there is more…freedom, I suppose. And way less violence. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there is still violence where I’m from, it’s just not so open like it is here. People do unspeakable things to one another there, and most times they’re not punished for it. Justice is hardly ever served. And just like there is hate for darkies here, it’s the same in my world, only we call it racism.”
“Wow. That sounds pretty shitty.”
“It is. There are police. They’re like public servants, there to protect the people…but there are some who are corrupt and do the opposite. And the food is not like the food here. Most of it is…well, most of it is unhealthier, actually.” I laugh. “But, man, would I love a cheeseburger right now.”
“A cheese-what-er?” Juniper asks, gawking.
I laugh again. “It’s like a sandwich with a quarter pound of meat. It would be easier to show you than to explain.”
She shrugs and faces forward again, using a fork to cut into her eggs. I take another bite of mine, and Juniper giggles.
“What are you laughing about?” I ask, smiling.
“Just…you.”
“Me?”
“Yes.” She sits up higher on her stool. “Caz fancies you. I’ve never seen anything like it from him.”
I look her in the eyes briefly before lowering my gaze. My mind instantly goes back to that kiss, and my heart thumps in my chest.
“He wants me gone.”
“Never in my life have I seen him carry a woman—let alone bring her into his house.Never. If there’s one thing he hates more than someone touching him, it’s touching someone else.”
