THE CALM BEFORE

POV: Darrell Williams

The evening seemed to be thick and stifling, pressing in from all directions. Standing at the mouth of the cave, I peered out into the inky blackness past our small campground.

Callum plotted and schemed somewhere out there, definitely preparing his forces for the unavoidable collision. At the idea, I shivered as my muscles tightened, coiled like a serpent ready to strike.

" Cannot sleep?"

I started but turned not looking at the quiet voice behind me. A second later Ivory dropped into step next to me, her sharp eyes easily searching the darkness.

"You could say that," I said, allowing the age's understatement some voice. Relaxation? With so many lives underweight and so much at stake hanging on my shoulders? Simply thinking about it was ridiculous.

Out of the corner of my eye, Ivory nodded, as though she knew the currents of uncertainty and fear churning inside me. After all, we had traveled a long, violent path together. Maybe she did.

We slipped into silence, e