Intermix Nation

Nazirah enters a clearing, a ring of purewhite trees before her. She recognizes them instantly, immortalizedin the tattoo that marked Kasimir’s arm. She squeezes through,ru

Nazirah walks to the edge of the pool, itsfluorescent water glowing in the dark. She always thought theelectric blue water was one of Kasimir’s tall tales, but it reallydoes exist.

Nazirah glances across the pool, finds sheis not alone. He stands a few yards away, barefoot, jeans rolled atthe ankle. His eyes are closed, head bent in prayer. “It’s rude tostare, Nation,” Adamek says plainly, looking up.

“How did you know it was me?” she asks.

“How could I not?”

“Did you offer any names?”

“What do you mean?”

Nazirah bends down, unlacing her boots andpulling them off. She rolls up her jeans. Retrieving the daggerfrom her back pocket, she scrapes some bark off a nearby tree.Returning the knife, Nazirah steps into the kinsa and wades over tohim, water splashing her calves.

“Give me your hands,” she says. Adamekslowly holds them out, black scratches visible in the blue light.Nazirah turns them over gently. “This side,” she whispers. Nazirahrubs the ivory bark over his palms, diamond dust on skin. Then shedoes it to herself.

“How do you know to do this?”

“Kasimir,” she replies simply. From herjacket, Nazirah pulls out four black stones she took from the masonjar before the bonfire. She places one in his hand, keeping therest.

“What do I do with it?”

“You’re curious today,” Nazirah sayspointedly. She turns the three rocks in her hands. Crumbled whitebark meets black stone. Nazirah picks one up. “Aneira,” she says,before gently skipping it across the pool. It makes a soft splashwhen it finally sinks. Nazirah closes her fist around the remainingstones. She kisses her knuckles twice, two teardrops fall. “Riva,Kasimir,” she says softly, skipping them as well.

The waters below dance across the planes ofAdamek’s face. He turns the final stone in his hand. “Is this forher?” he asks.

“I thought maybe you would want to saygoodbye.”

He shuts his eyes, closing his fist. Kissinghis hand, he whispers the name before skipping the stone. Hewatches it sink to its final resting place. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I loved her.”

“I know.”

“My father may have pulled the trigger,” hesays, “but I sealed her fate. It was my karma, for thinking I couldplay God with no consequences. It seems He isn’t so forgiving afterall.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Would it matter if I said no?”

“Yes.”

“Fine, then.”

“How do you deal with the guilt?”

He laughs bitterly. “Isn’t it obvious,Nation? I don’t.”

“Then what do you pray for?”

Adamek seems conflicted, unsure. Nazirah isreminded of how young he is, only nineteen. He is still a teenager,a kid forced to grow up too soon.

Like her.

“Salvation,” he says candidly. “Redemption,forgiveness.” He shakes his head. “Take your pick.”

“And you think you deserve these things?”

“I pray for them,” he answers, “despite whatI think.”

“But you have the dusza,” she says. “Itshouldn’t matter.”

“There are many ways to break the soul.”

She hesitates. “Do you regret any ofit?”

He looks at her, steady. “I regret all ofit.”

It is the answer she has been seeking formonths, since she first met him in the prison, since before that.Nazirah believes every word, but feels absolutely no different. Shewhispers, “I think I knew that already.”

Nazirah has kept something locked away deepinside. She never pla

“Show me.”

It is a plea, a command, a desire, anapology.

Adamek wrenches his hands away. He begs,“Don’t ask this of me.”

Her mind is made up. “I need to see it,” shesays. “Please.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

They sit on Adamek’s bed, still barefoot,nestled high in the treetops. His room at the lodge is isolated,probably by request. They had to walk across numerous bridges andclimb several sets of stairs to get here. Nazirah’s own roomresides much closer to the ground and civilization. There are nowindows here, but one of the walls is entirely open, providing abreathtaking view of the forest. Nazirah leans against theheadboard, watching tree branches sway in the breeze. Adamek sitsacross from her. The silver briefcase rests i

He traces the steel. “I knew this day wouldcome,” he says. Nazirah doesn’t respond. She reaches between themand enters the code, unlocking the case. Adamek only shakes hishead. He removes two filled syringes and the glass cube, thenslides the case under the bed. Adamek sticks Nazirah in the vein,then himself, and discards the syringes. “You injected yourself?”he asks curiously. “When you looked into my memory?”

“It’s not like I could exactly ask Niko todo it for me.”

“What about Caal?”

“Of course not,” she retorts. “He doesn’teven know. That was private.”

“Yes,” he says. “Itwas.”

“Why do you replay that memory over andover?” she asks, watching him clear the Iluxor. Adamek touches thetop, concentrating. It fills with the familiar, swirling mist,glittering in the darkness.

“For the same reason you need to see thisone,” he answers. “For closure … for a reminder.”

“A reminder?”

“To that doubtful part inside of you,” hesays darkly. “How much you really do crave vengeance.”

Adamek reaches for her hand but Nazirahpulls it away, suddenly afraid. She feels completely unprepared. Hesighs, grabbing the rungs of the headboard on either side of herhead.

“Is it really bad?” she asks softly.

“That’s an impossible question.”

Adamek rests his forehead against hers,closing his eyes. Nazirah shuts hers as well, inhaling his scent ofcardamom and sage. She whispers, “Nothing has to change.”

Adamek waits another moment before pullingback. His eyes flit over her face, memorizing every last freckle,fleck, and hue. He takes her hand in his, places them both onto theglass.

“Everything has to change.”

#

Something is burning.

Nazirah opens her eyes and pulls her handaway from Adamek, who stands before her silently. She’s in thefront garden of her cottage, which is blossoming with gardenias andjasmine. Riva opens a window, scowling in frustration as she clearsout smoke from the kitchen. Nazirah watches Riva relocate to theliving room. Kasimir follows her, laughing. Nazirah’s heart swells,practically bursting at the sight of them.

Something creaks to her right. Nazirahturns, watches Adamek Morgen stroll through the rusty gate and upthe porch steps. He’s dressed exactly like she expects, all inblack with fingerless gloves on. A luxury car is parked out front,still ru

“I can’t believe I forgot about the bread,Kas,” Riva says faintly.

“Your mind is preoccupied,” Kasimir replies.“She’ll be home soon.”

“Idiots,” Adamek says. He retrieves aforeign device from his pocket, waves it over the door. The doorunlocks instantly. Nazirah is propelled inside by the memory. Shecan hear her parents talking, out of sight, mere feet away.