Intermix Nation

“We’re not going to the courtyard?”

“It’s a shortcut.”

Nazirah becomes aware of how clammy his handis, as they turn down an even narrower passageway. She stumbles inher heels, which are killing her feet, but Ramses doesn’t slowdown. Nazirah glances behind her nervously, but the passageway isempty.

Nazirah stops then. She tries to wrench herhand away, knowing in her gut it is already too late. Ramses turnsaround, facing her. He lets go of her hand. “What are we doinghere?” she asks warily. The kindness in his eyes is gone, replacedby something else, something dark and sinister. Nazirah has seenthis same look before, not a week ago.

She should have known better.

“Honoring my father’s last wish,” he says.Ramses speaks softly and then punches Nazirah square in thejaw.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Nazirah isn’t expecting the blow. She triesto dodge it, but his fist pummels her cheek and mouth, sending hersprawling to the floor. Her dress rips, tearing clean up the side,lace splitting to mid-thigh. Nazirah spits blood onto the floor,staring up at Ramses in fury.

He comes at her again. Nazirah jumps up,reflexively kicking him in the shin, spike of heel vibratingagainst bone. He curses loudly, hissing and momentarily hunchingover. Nazirah knows she can’t overpower him or wall kick in adress.

She runs.

Adrenalin pumping, Nazirah pulls off hershoes. She throws them at him, sprinting back down the passageway.The dress is too long and she trips over it, staggering. Ramsesswiftly catches up to her. He grabs Nazirah and spins her around.She tries to punch him. “Help!” she screams. Hoarse cries echo downthe empty corridor. Ramses forcefully shoves his palm into hermouth. She bites down on his hand, breaking the skin, tasting hissickeningly sweet, metallic blood.

“Intermix bitch!” he yells. Ramses slaps heracross the face with his other hand, shoving her against the wall.Nazirah thrashes, fighting to break free. But he is too strong. Heis far too strong. She tries kicking him again, but he anticipatesit this time. He pulls her away from the wall and then slams herback into it, knocking the wind out of her.

Ramses grabs her i

Using every last ounce of energy, Nazirahthrows herself forward. She slams her head into Ramses’,temporarily stu

She will not go out like this.

She is suffocating. Ramses throttles herthroat, compressing the delicate column of bones and muscle. Hervision blurs and wavers. Desperate, Ramses blindly fumbles in hisjacket pocket. He pulls out something, silver gleaming in the darkcorridor. Nazirah knows her time is up.

She can’t breathe.

She can’t breathe.

She can’t …

Nazirah collapses into a heap on the ground.She leans against the wall, encircling her hands protectivelyaround her throat. She hacks, coughing, inhaling oxygen that feelslike pure heaven. Ramses has let her go.

But why … why has he let her go?

Vision and thoughts unfocused, Nazirahwatches the knife fall from his hand, clattering to the floor.Ramses crumples before her, screaming in agony. His arm is twisted,bone cracked and protruding.

Sight returning, Nazirah peers up throughthe blur. Someone stands over Ramses, beating the life out of him.The white spots before Nazirah’s eyes give her savior a crude halo,which she finds absurdly hilarious. Because she should be surprisedthat he would be her angel. But she isn’t surprised. Not in theleast.

The look in Adamek’s eyes could send a manstraight to hell and make him want to stay. Adamek grabs Ramses’scalp and slams his head repeatedly into the floor, until his noseis busted and his cheekbones are shattered. He pulls Ramses up,tossing him like a rag doll against the opposite wall. Nazirahflinches, can hear ribs breaking, cartilage matchsticks. Ramsesmoans loudly, slumping to the ground again, too stubborn to loseconsciousness.

Adamek turns his back on Ramses, staring atNazirah still huddled against the wall. He scans the blood on herface and arms, immersed in her pain. He doesn’t notice Ramses,gripping his uninjured hand around the fallen knife, staggering tohis feet.

“Behind you!” she screams. Adamek whipsaround swiftly, the knife missing his exposed neck by centimeters.But he isn’t quick enough to dodge the blade entirely. It slashesinto his upper left arm. Adamek hisses. Nazirah can see the bloodpooling under his white shirt, staining it crimson.

Adamek grabs the knife, snapping Ramses’wrist. Ramses wails in anguish, but Adamek doesn’t let go. Nazirahcovers her ears, unable to hear that sickening noise. Ramses fallsto his knees, face nearly unrecognizable. Adamek holds the knifeagainst his throat, intentions clear.

“No!” Nazirah stumbles forward, grabbingAdamek’s wrist. He looks at her, bewildered. “No,” she repeats,more forcefully this time. “Just … don’t.”

“You want me to spare his life?” Adamekhisses. “This man who just tried to kill you and fuck your corpse?”He’s angry with her and doesn’t remove the blade from Ramses’throat. But Nazirah doesn’t waver and she doesn’t let go of hiswrist.

“Please Morgen,” she begs, “no more violencetonight.” Adamek stares at her for a long time before lowering theknife, dropping Ramses entirely. He slumps to the floor, bodymaking a somber thud as it hits the ground. A moment later, Nazirahhears someone ru

“It’s okay!” Nazirah cries, touching hisarm, hoping he understands. “Nothing happened!”

“Let me talk to him.”

Adamek speaks rapidly to Olag inDeathlandic, eventually handing him the bloody knife. Olag nods,pocketing it. He bends over Ramses’ body, preparing to pick himup.

“Wait!” Nazirah says, bending down. Shegrabs Ramses’ collapsed face, making sure he is stillsemiconscious. Adamek and Olag watch her curiously. Theirexpressions turn to shock as Nazirah delivers several excruciatingkicks to his groin. “That’s for trying to kill me, you bastard!”she screams, raw, losing control now. Ramses moans, unable to shifteven an inch. “And I’m an intermix bitch?” Nazirah reaches into hermouth, scooping some blood and saliva and rubbing it over hisremaining face and lips. “See how good intermix tastes!” She kickshim one final time before backing away, hyperventilating.

Adamek stares at her wordlessly. Olag slingsa now-unconscious Ramses over his shoulder. He walks away, leavingthe two of them alone in the corridor.

“Right,” Adamek says after a beat.

“What did you say to Olag?” she asks, wipingher bloody mouth with the back of her arm.

Adamek inspects his own arm, wincingslightly. “That our alliance with the Red Lords is too precarious,especially with us still in the Deathlands,” he answers. “Solomonwill inform them about tonight after we leave tomorrow. Also, notto tell Slome anything until morning.”

“Good point,” she says.

“Come on, Nation,” he sighs. “Let me takeyou back.”

Nazirah doesn’t pull away from Adamek whenhe wraps a hand around her waist, holding her steady. They slowlystart walking. “Shouldn’t you go find a healer?” she asks him.

Adamek shrugs his good shoulder. “I’ve hadworse,” he says. “I’ll bandage it in my room … it looks deeper thanit is.” His eyes roam over her cuts and bruises. “What aboutyou?”