Elei's Chronicles (Books 1-3) (61 page)

The spot between his shoulder blades itched. His nostrils flared. He heard steps behind him and cursed inwardly when colors lit up all around.

A scent like a fresh sea breeze reached him, and he slowed, surprised. He looked over his shoulder and saw Alendra, her hood drawn up, hiding her fair hair. She had her hands shoved in her pockets, a bulge at her side giving away her gun’s position. What in all the hells was she doing following him?

He waited for her to catch up. Her cat-like eyes flicked sideways at him and her lips tilted in a faint smile.

“Hey,” she said softly, warmly, as if they weren’t walking toward a blockade, in a trajectory that might get them all killed. “Smells like frost.”

But he was feeling warmer already.

He resumed walking, trying to focus on the problem at hand. Her slight form, her scent, her nearness were distracting. “Did Hera send you?”

“No, she didn’t.”

In spite of himself, he turned to her, wanting to see her expression. It was teasing.
You don’t have to help me
, he wanted to say, but that would be stupid. Now he had an idea of what to do, he could really use her help.

“Hera mentioned you had a plan,” Alendra said, gaze darting left and right at the idling vehicles. A little boy inside a small aircar pressed his face against the glass, making faces.

Elei forced his attention back to the blockade. Gultur guards were checking the vehicles, bright orange targets to his Rex-infected eye. His pulse beat too fast but Alendra’s presence calmed him; through the fog of the last few days, he remembered the trip from Gortyn with Alendra sitting beside him as he lay on the aircar floor, his chest crushed with pain. Because he trusted her; because Rex would release him sooner if he felt safe.

And it had. His lips pulled up in a reluctant smile at the thought of her bright presence by his side.

Focus on the present
. “I need a way to create a spark,” he said. “Set some aircars on fire.”

The glint of her smile drew his gaze back to her. “Sounds like fun,” she muttered and he missed a step.

“Well, then,” he said, trying for nonchalant, “can you help? With the spark?”

She tapped her hidden gun. “Unwrap the isolating layer of surin and make sure you get the bullets out. Keep the gun lid open and move it close to the reactor engine. Fire it and the spark should catch.”

He gaped. “You sound like you’ve done this before.”

“No.” The afternoon light danced in her eyes. “But once upon a time it was on my list of to-do pranks.”

Before the Asine disaster happened, Elei thought, and you exchanged childish pranks for the real war.

He nodded. “I’ll take the left side, you take the right. Three cars each.”

“It won’t blow the cars up, right?” Her worried expression made him want to reach out and stroke the line between her brows.

“Not if they put the fire out quickly.” He took a deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

She grinned at him, her gaze shimmering, and took off at a light jog. He had to shake himself out of his daze before he followed her toward the roadblock. They split before they came too close, each turning to the task at hand. He caught a glimpse of her bent head as she crouched next to a small aircar, fiddling with the lid of the engine reactor, and then he focused on his own line.

He chose at random a long, old aircar whose driver smoked an ama cigarette while waiting for the line to move. Elei lifted the lid and unlocked the panel. Then he pulled out his Rasmus and removed the bullets, letting them fall into his pocket, one by one, cold and heavy. He extracted the dakron cube from the gun’s grip, unwrapped it from the
surin
film and placed it back inside.

If only he believed in the gods enough to pray.

Releasing a breath, he moved the open handle of his gun close to the engine and grimaced as he pressed the trigger. The crack of the blank startled him even though he’d expected it, and the spark that jumped from his gun scorched his fingers. He cursed and barely avoided dropping the Rasmus.

The reactor flashed with flames and he jumped back as the driver of the aircar came down the ladder to check what was going on. Someone was shouting, and with a last quick look to make sure the fire had caught, Elei ran.

He weaved between aircars, scanning for Alendra. He crouched behind a rusty city model to catch his breath. Peering around it, he thought he saw Sacmis in the shadow of a tall aircar, talking on a mobile phone.

The sound of people running forced him to move, and he circled the aircar until he was at the front. The steps receded, a voice shouted something about checking the line of aircars, and Elei slumped in relief against the heavy registration plates.

The engine reactor lid was right there, a perfect opportunity to light one more fire. He made sure nobody was watching, and wrenched it open. This time he was ready for the noise and flames, and didn’t even flinch when they burned his fingers. He held still for one more moment, making sure the fire caught, then turned and ran back the way he’d come. Hastily he wrapped the dakron cube back in its isolating
surin
film and forced his steps to slow, trying for nonchalant as he slid the bullets back into their chambers. He looked around, searching for their aircar.

More people were moving among the vehicles, some holding guns, so Elei felt justified in not hiding his. He slowed, hoping the hood would hide his features.

“What’s the matter?” asked a burly man with a handgun.

Elei pointed vaguely over his shoulder. “I think there’s a fire.”

“Is it an attack?”

Elei shrugged. “Hard to know these days.”

The man left to investigate, followed by others. A Gultur marched toward them and Elei sidestepped into the shadow of a hulking passenger aircar.

“All done?” murmured a woman behind him and he whipped around, raising his gun, red flashing on the target’s center. The body was slim, the stance relaxed. His hand shook. 

Dammit
. It was Alendra. She grinned at him, her small face streaked with burnt dakron. He lowered his gun and they skulked around the aircar to check if the other side was free.

“How many did you set on fire?” she asked.

“Two. And you?”

“Three.”

He wanted to laugh at her self-satisfied tone, but she was already stepping out into the open, and he followed, gun at the ready. She pulled her hood over her face as she walked past the idling aircars, a slender shadow in the brightening light of day. Although the colors of dawn had long faded, the sea reflected the silver sky and the towering buildings seemed to burn.

He jogged to keep pace, and she gripped his hand in her smaller one.

“Come on.” She tugged. “They’re moving.”

Before he had a chance to ask who was moving, he saw that the two neat lines of aircars were breaking up and people were shouting and running. A gust of wind sent thick, curling smoke over them and they started coughing.

“This way.” He pulled her toward their aircar. The door was ajar and someone stood, waiting —
Hera
. They threw themselves up the ladder and Hera hauled them inside as the aircar lurched sideways, bumping into the next aircar. Another lurch, and the other aircar slid forward, gliding on its cushion of air.

“Hold on!” Kalaes called from the cockpit and threw the aircar into the gap that opened, heading to the emergency lane.

The aircar crashed into something, knocking them to the floor, and Kalaes cursed.

“Where’s Sacmis?” Alendra asked.

“She said she would find a way to get us help from the resistance,” Hera said.

“I thought they were corrupt.” Elei hung onto a wall handle as the aircar backed a few feet, then moved forward again, scraping against another aircar. Shouts rang and smoke swirled outside the windows.

“I thought so too,” Hera muttered as they passed a throng of panicking people and reached the emergency lane. Shots rang out but nothing hit them as Kalaes sped up.

“Sobek’s tail, Kal, slow down!” Hera staggered to the cockpit door. “Sacmis is still out there.”

“Then get her back in,” Kalaes snapped and the aircar slowed.

Through the window Elei saw her sprinting toward them, her sandy ponytail swinging. “She’s coming.”

Hera opened the deck door and crouched as Sacmis covered the last ten feet and launched herself at the ladder. Hera grabbed her hand and heaved her up.

“What kept you?” Hera muttered, and Sacmis just grinned.

“Hera!” Alendra leaned outside. “What are you waiting for?”

Hera dragged Sacmis by the hand into the aircar. “All clear,” she called out, and Kalaes pressed down on the accelerator.

They barely had time to brace themselves as they raced into the city of Calydon.

Chapter Seven

T
he streets
were broad. Shiny buildings streaked by the aircar, all glass and steel, as if recently built or heavily renovated.

“Everything’s so new.” Alendra breathed.

“Calydon is the biggest port after Artemisia,” Hera said, “and the port closest to Torq, our mother island.”

The feeling that they’d been herded there for a reason was like an icy kiss on the back of Elei’s neck. “Where are we going?”

Alendra pointed behind him. Sacmis stood at the cockpit door, talking to Kalaes who was driving.

“I saw her calling someone,” Elei muttered, using one of the seats to get to his feet. “On a cell phone.”

“I stole it,” Hera said matter-of-factly, her gaze challenging. Then she grinned. “From a Gultur patrol aircar. The driver went out for a smoke. She really should be more careful with her things.”

His lips twitched. “Who did Sacmis call?”

“She said she could find us a safe place and maybe a boat.” Hera shrugged. “I think—”

A familiar hum came from above, setting his teeth on edge. “Seleukids,” he whispered. He lurched to his feet and shoved past Sacmis into the cockpit. “Kal, we’ve got pursuit from the air. Where are we heading?”

Kalaes looked up from the driving panel, his eyes bloodshot and overly bright. “What?” He seemed to have trouble concentrating and Elei’s stomach clenched harder with a different kind of fear. What was wrong with him?

First survive this mad flight. Then Kalaes. Priorities
. “Move over.” When Kalaes didn’t move, Elei grabbed his arm none too gently and dragged him aside. He took the pilot’s seat. “Sacmis, where are we going?”

She leaned closer, her sweet Gultur smell sending Rex into a frenzy. He blinked at the flashing colors around him. Damn parasite, now was not the time for this. The rush of adrenaline helped when he was running, but sitting at the aircar controls, he feared he’d break something; his hand gripped the steering lever so tight it creaked.

“We need to go toward the port,” Sacmis said. “Continue down this avenue, then turn left at the first opportunity.”

“The first opportunity has to be now, or we’re all dead.” Feeling the hum of the seleukids in his bones, he jerked the lever to the left and sent the aircar hurtling into the next street. The rat-tat-tat of artillery tore through the air and bullets smashed another of their windows.

Sacmis stumbled forward. Elei gripped the lever in both hands, navigating around parked aircars and fire escapes. Bullets zipped by, hitting walls and breaking windows. They were a glaring target, even in the shadow of the buildings.

“Kal, check the map, see if there’s any place to hide.” He got no reply and turned to see Kalaes lying limp on top of the console. “Kal?”
Oh shit, oh shit
, his mind chanted, and he just couldn’t breathe from fear. “Kalaes!”

Sacmis moved forward, pulled Kalaes back. Blood dripped from a cut on his cheek. “He’s breathing. Keep driving.”

Elei’s heart hammered. He’d thought Kalaes was tired, had some headaches, hells, he’d caught a bug, but to pass out?
Priorities, dammit
. “Sacmis, check the map.”

She leaned over Kalaes and spread it on the control panel. “There’s a covered fish market not far. Continue to the end of the street, then go right and then left.”

Elei nodded, swallowing hard, trying not to stare at Kalaes’ bloodied face or the way he slumped bonelessly, his head lolling on the backrest. He accelerated, barely missing a group of rusty dumpsters. Two cats shot out between the buildings. He swerved right, bumped into another aircar and sent it crashing into a shop window.

Pulse jumping in his throat, he spotted the turn and swerved left when the seleukids sent another volley, striking the right side of the vehicle. The aircar lurched and hit the wall. The engine sputtered and smoke billowed.

“Goddammit. The reactor.” A sort of divine justice, perhaps, for what he’d done to those aircars in the blockade line.

“There must be something we can do,” Sacmis hissed. “Elei.”

He scowled at the swirling wisps of smoke. “I’ll cut off the main engine, use the side thrusters,” he said, “and hope they don’t blow or we’re dead.” He was already shutting off the main reactor, switching to secondary.

“We’ll be dead in any case,” Sacmis grumbled.

The aircar sputtered and swayed as if drunk, and only Sacmis’ quick reflex saved Kalaes from banging his head on the panel again.

A missile struck the wall ahead, and Elei swore as he switched all systems to emergency, the lights dimming to a bare luminescence. The hum of the enemy planes vibrated through the hull of the aircar. If he didn’t move, they’d go up in a ball of flame.

He hit the accelerator and held his breath.

The aircar moved, thank all the gods. He brought it into the side street a moment before the explosion shook the avenue. Pieces of concrete crashed into the asphalt, raising clouds of white dust, and a pillar of flame rose above the buildings.

“The entrance with the blue sign on top,” Sacmis said. “Hurry.”

The suspension protested as he spun the aircar in a tight turn and drove into the market. People dived out of the way as he hit a stall and sent it flying. He slowed in the narrow passages meant for pedestrians. “Now what?” he snapped.

“Stop and wait.”

He slowed to a halt near an area with tables and chairs where a man still sat with a plate in his hand, gaping.

“Elei?” Hera’s voice came through the cabin door. “What’s happening?”

“Waiting for the fleet to move on.” He glanced at Kalaes. “Sit tight.”

He hoped the secondary engines wouldn’t fail or blow up. He hoped Kalaes was okay.
Hells
.

“Let’s move,” Sacmis said and, despite his misgivings, he appreciated her decisiveness right then.

He strained his ears for the hum of seleukids but heard nothing. “Where?”

“That way.” She pointed. “Now, before they sweep back.”

They shot out of the market onto another busy avenue. Sacmis pointed to the left and he turned, telling himself Hera trusted her. Sacmis had saved their lives before and had no reason to betray them now.

Are you sure?

He told the objecting voice in his mind to go screw itself and drove on. Right, left, left, right — he lost count of the turns and twists in the older part of town, sick with worry for Kalaes, jerking every time he thought he heard the seleukids.

“Here.” Sacmis pointed past him to a black gap in the row of crumbling buildings. A gate large enough for an aircar to pass.

Without hesitation, he turned into the darkness and drove down a ramp into what looked like an underground parking lot with faint orange lights. Another aircar was parked there and Elei halted at a distance. He powered down the engine and uncurled his fingers from the steering lever.

He turned to Kalaes and clasped his shoulder. “Hey, can you hear me?” He shook him. “Kal!”

Kalaes blinked slowly and winced. “What happened?”

Elei fought the urge to shake him harder, fought the irrational anger he knew was born of fear. “How do you feel?”

Kalaes sat up, throwing out a hand to the backrest to steady himself. “What the hells happened?”

“You passed out.” Sacmis glared as if Kalaes could’ve done it just to spite her.

A shadow of fear went through Kalaes’ eyes. “I must’ve fallen asleep,” he said and stretched as if to prove it, teeth glinting in a grin. “A cat nap.”

“A cat would have run screaming when the explosions began,” Sacmis observed drily and stepped out into the cabin. “Maybe you need food.”

Kalaes frowned and opened his mouth to say something when Hera stepped into the cockpit. Her gaze raked Kalaes from head to toes, her mouth in a grim line.

“Come,” she said. “This is the safe house Sacmis found. We need to discuss many things.” She held Elei’s gaze a moment longer than necessary, as if trying to tell him something, and then she was gone.

The cut on Kalaes’ cheek was an angry red line. Black tears of blood had run down to his collar.

“You’re sick, aren’t you?” Elei forced the words out. His voice was hoarse. “Is it something the Gultur did to you at the hospital?”

Kalaes didn’t answer. Instead, he pushed himself upright, swaying a little, but when Elei reached out to help him, he shoved past and stumbled out of the cockpit and through the aircar cabin. Elei followed him out to the deck and down the ladder.

When Elei came down in the dark, echoing space of the parking lot, Kalaes shrugged. “I’ll be okay,” he said. “Don’t worry about me.”

“Yeah, right.” Elei could barely breathe past the knot in his chest. “You passed out, Kal. You pissing passed out.” He clenched his fists. “In the middle of a chase. The Fleet was after us. We barely made it. And you were out for the whole of it.”

Kalaes bent his head. “The Fleet?”

Elei tried to calm his ragged breathing. “Yeah.” The fear wouldn’t let up, a fist around his heart.

The others were heading for some rickety stairs. Kalaes started after them, and Elei had no choice but to fall in step. They climbed up together.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” Elei said.

“Listen to me.” Kalaes turned and clasped Elei’s shoulders. His gaze was clear and honest. “Calm down. I’ll be okay. I’ve had this before, and I’ll take care of it.”

“What is it, then? Tell me.”

Kalaes waved a dismissive hand. “I just need some vitamins.”

Elei gave him an incredulous look. “What in the hells? Vitamins? That’s all?”

“It’s nothing,” Kalaes said firmly. “I got dizzy and must’ve hit my head on the panel, got knocked out for a while. I’ll be fine, okay?”

Elei swallowed back the worry and managed a nod. Kalaes sounded so sure, so in control. “You’d better,” he muttered.

Kalaes grinned. He reached out and ruffled Elei’s hair, forcing him to duck. “Come on, fe,” he said cheerfully. “Let’s go see what Hera’s girlfriend wants from us.”

And he resumed climbing as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t fallen head-first on the control panel, as if he hadn’t slumped on the seat, blood running down his cheek, while the seleukids fired at them, as if...

As if he was trying to protect Elei from an ugly truth.

That couldn’t be. Doubt made Elei stagger, and he slowed down. He stared at the back of Kalaes’ spiky head. What if he was hiding something? Given Elei’s almost heart-attack of a few days back, maybe he was afraid of stressing him.

Dammit
.

They reached the top of the stairs and Elei jogged to catch up as they wound down a dark corridor. He had to talk to Hera. There’d been something in the way she’d looked at Kalaes. Perhaps she knew more than she was letting on.

***

A dirty lamp set on the table bathed the room in yellow light. Alendra sat, her hair a mist around her head, her eyes transparent. She turned them on Elei as he entered, pinning him, examining him. He halted.

“Elei?” Hera’s face was in shadow and her hair shone like polished iron. “Everything okay?”

No
, he wanted to shout.
What’s wrong with him?
But Kalaes sat next to Alendra and poked her in the ribs, a lopsided grin on his face. She giggled. He looked almost normal.

Sacmis stood by a tall, shuttered window, looking down at the street through a crack. Cold air passed through the grilles, smelling of exhaust fumes, blowing her hair back. She’d redone her high ponytail so it swung jauntily when she turned and folded her arms under her breasts.

“Take a seat.” Her cold gray eyes regarded him as he obeyed. “I promised Hera to talk, so that’s what I’ll do.” She raised an eyebrow. “If I let you in on what I know, will you listen to my suggestions?” Her gaze focused on Hera, who was glaring.

“If you’re talking about me calling Nine,” Hera grated, “by Nunet’s snakes, I swear—”

“Hear me out, Hera,” Sacmis said, her gaze oddly vulnerable. “Just for once.”