Page 21 of The Survivors (The Children of the Sun God #4)

Serafim

“With every quiet breath she took, he held our world together, and in his arms, I learned that even the bravest dragons need a knight.”

Momma’s asleep. She’s too still. It makes my belly feel weird. Her hand is warm, but her skin’s soft like she’s not all here. I sit beside her, holding tight, waiting for her to say my name. I watch the air, like maybe she’ll wake up if I breathe just right, or if I squeeze her hand harder.

Boots crunch on the dirt outside the tent. When the man I’ve been waiting for steps in, I run to him and wrap myself around his legs. He’s so tall. I have to lean back to see his face, which is funny and makes me giggle a little. His beard is all curly and red, like fire, and his eyes are brown and warm. He’s big and strong, and he’s got muscles that look like they could stop a storm. Maybe he’s like the knights who fight dragons from Momma’s stories .

He squats down, and I look him right in the eye with a big smile. I think he needs a big smile right now. When I tell him “He told me you would come” his eyes go wide. He asks me who told me, and I try to remember. It was like someone who was all light and brightness who made my eyes squinch when I looked at him.

I shrug. “He didn’t tell me his name, but he was so bright I couldn’t look at him without my eyes hurting.”

The big man’s mouth opens a bit like he’s surprised, but he doesn’t say anything. “What else did the bright man tell you?” he asks, almost whispering. Like when Momma tells me secrets.

“That you’re my patér , and that you would save Momma.” I don’t know what a patér is, but if it’s something good, then this man can be it.

His face gets shiny in the eyes, and one tear falls out. I think it’s good tears, but I still hold his face with my hand, just to make sure he’s okay.

Georgia said something behind me, but I’m too busy admiring this patér to hear her.

“What’s a patér ?” I ask her, but she doesn’t know. How come she doesn’t know? Grown-ups are supposed to know all the words.

My patér tells me for her. He knows the word. I like his answer.

Patér doesn’t like it when I mention Poppa.

Another man, Georgia’s friend who knows about fixing people, comes in. He wants me to wait outside while he fixes Momma.

Nope, I’m not okay with that. I cling to my new patér ’ s neck like a monkey. I beg him to let me stay with a promise that I’ll be brave even though I don’t feel brave.

Patér doesn’t talk to me like I’m a baby. He explains what Frank is going to do to help Momma. Once I promise to stay still, he tells everyone I’m staying. I love my patér and he loves me. I can tell.

I hold Momma’s hand while Patér makes sure she doesn’t move. Watching Frank makes my tummy jump. I feel my grip tighten on Momma’s hand, but I tell myself I’m brave. Patér’s here, so I can be brave.

“There’s going to be blood,” Frank says, but I sit up straight and say, “I’m not afraid of blood.” Even though my hands are a little shaky.

There’s blood when Frank pulls out the bad tooth, but I just watch Patér’s face. His big, steady hands hold Momma down, and I think he must be the strongest person in the world. Every time she jerks or twitches, his face gets serious, but he whispers peaceful things to me, telling me it’s okay.

Suddenly, Momma’s whole body starts shaking. Frank is all busy, trying to help her, and I cry out, but Patér pulls me close, and his voice is muffled but strong. “It’s okay, little one. She’s fighting, and so are we.” I believe him, but it’s hard not to be scared. I clutch Momma’s hand tighter and think about how strong this man is. Maybe if he’s with us, Momma will wake up .

After the shaking stops, Patér’s face is red. “You’re so brave, Serafim. Your momma is lucky to have you.” I can’t talk, so I just nod and hug his arm.

Frank gives me things to do to help Momma. I’ll do anything if it helps her.

That was a few days ago, and Momma isn’t waking up. I keep holding her hand, watching her face, hoping she’ll open her eyes and tell me everything’s okay. I don’t like how quiet she is, lying there without moving. The people in our herd said she’s just sleeping, but it’s been so long. So long that I don’t know how many times I’ve closed my eyes and opened them again. I don’t like it. I want her to wake up.

I lean close to her, whispering, “Momma, I’m here.” But she doesn’t say anything back.

My patér is here still. He’s tall—so, so tall that he’s like a big tree, and his hair is kind of like fire. It’s bright and different from mine, and he’s strong. I can tell just by looking at him. I bet he could pick up the whole tent if he wanted to. His arms are big and hard, like rocks, but he’s soft too. When he talks to me, his voice is warm, like when the sun shines.

His eyes are dark brown and deep, yet gentle. I like his eyes—they make me feel calm. His name is Isaak, but I call him Patér .

He doesn’t care that I ask a lot of questions. Poppa would slap me across the face when I asked him too many things .

“Are you very strong?” I ask. He looks like he could lift anything, and maybe if he’s strong, he can take us far away from here. He chuckles and sits down on the floor next to me.

“Very strong,” he says, flexing his arm so I can see his muscles. “Like a bear, but also very careful.”

I like that answer. I can’t help but smile a little. “Thank you for staying with me. Momma doesn’t like it when I’m alone.”

“I wouldn’t like it if you were alone, either.” His deep voice is hushed, like he’s telling a secret just to me. I scoot a little closer to him, because he feels warm and safe, and I have a million questions.

“Why is your hair red?” I ask, reaching out my hand to touch it. “Did the sun make it that way?”

He grins, and his eyes crinkle in the corners. “Maybe it did. Maybe the sun kissed my head when I was little, and it never went away.”

I giggle. “Does that mean you’re made of sunshine?”

“Could be,” he says, his eyes twinkling. “Maybe that’s why I’m here—to bring a little sunshine to help your momma.”

That makes me feel better. I glance at Momma, hoping she can feel the sunshine too. Then I look back at Isaak. “Can you tell me a story? Momma tells me stories when I’m scared.

He nods, settling beside me. “Of course. I’ll tell you about a brave knight and a fierce little dragon who were the best of friends.” I’m excited. He’s going to share a story like the ones Momma shares.

As he talks, I listen with my whole heart, forgetting for a moment about the quiet around us. The knight is strong, like Isaak, and he promises the dragon that he’ll protect him forever, even when the dragon’s scared. My patér’s voice makes me feel like I’m right there with them, like the knight and the dragon are here to help keep Momma safe too.

When the story ends, I have another question. “If you’re the knight, am I the dragon?”

He nods, smiling. “Yes. You’re very brave, just like that little dragon.”

I puff up a bit. “Do dragons get sad?” I whisper, looking down at my lap.

“Yes,” he says quietly, resting a big, warm hand on my shoulder. “Even the bravest dragons get sad sometimes. But that’s okay, because their knight is there to watch over them.”

I lean against him, feeling his warmth and strength, and I look up at him again. “Do you love Momma?”

His smile changes, a little softer now. “Yes, Serafim. I do. Very much.”

“Like how I love her?” I ask, feeling my chest tighten. It’s scary to share Momma with anyone else, but he makes me feel safe, and I want Momma to feel safe too .

“Maybe a little like that,” he says, his voice is kind. “But in a different way. I want to take care of her, just like I want to take care of you.”

I think about this, trying to understand. I look down at Momma’s hand, still holding it tight. “Will she wake up soon?”

He’s quiet for a moment, but he doesn’t lie to me. “I hope so, Serafim. And if we keep hoping together, I think she’ll feel it and come back to us.”

I hold on tighter to her hand and lean my head against Isaak. Even though she’s still asleep, it doesn’t feel so scary anymore. My patér is here, and he’s strong, like a real knight, and maybe... maybe Momma will feel that too.

“Will you stay with us forever?” I whisper, looking up at him one last time.

He wraps his arm around me. “For as long as you both need me,” he promises. And I feel safe, even as my eyes start to close.

For the first time, I feel like it’s okay to sleep too, because Isaak is here, and he won’t let anything happen to Momma or me. The bad guys aren’t coming back. Even if they did, my patér would stop them from hurting either of us. I let my eyes close, holding onto the feeling of his warm strength beside me. I dream of knights and dragons, and of sunshine, and Momma waking up with a smile.