Elei's Chronicles (Books 1-3) (64 page)

She nodded and scurried along, her small face determined. “We’ll find him.”

And in spite of the gloom settling over him like a suffocating cloud, he felt his stomach unclench a little.

They searched in every nook and cranny, huddling behind dumpsters as the air crackled with the passing of aircraft, slipping in and out of shadows, skirting the pools of yellow light cast by the few street lamps. But there was no sign of any broad-shouldered, messy-haired boy. The unease returned. He finally stopped and leaned against a graffiti-covered wall, pressing a hand to the stitch in his side.

Alendra huddled close to him, closing her eyes, and for the first time in perhaps ever, he didn’t care, didn’t feel like he was freezing and catching fire at the same time at her proximity. He felt wrung out and limp, empty and lost.

Afraid
.

“We have to rejoin the others,” he said, amazed his voice sounded so steady, as if it didn’t belong to him. “Maybe he’ll find us.”

Alendra opened her eyes and gave him a long look. She nodded. “Maybe,” she said, “he was ahead of us all along.”

Elei didn’t bother replying. They both knew that wasn’t possible, that they’d been right behind the street children, and Kalaes didn’t know where they were going.

They turned around and headed roughly in the direction they had come from, silent. Elei felt as if he wore leaden boots. At one point, Alendra grabbed his arm and hauled him under a fire escape, shouting something about drones, and he let her, dazed.

The worry gnawed viciously at his insides. He shook the numbness off, realizing he might get Alendra killed if he didn’t, and set his feet in the right direction. A child waved at them from a dark spot behind a water pump and they followed her.

Then, all chaos broke loose. Loud barking tore through the air and shouting — a Gultur patrol jogged by, four guards, shields and guns at the ready.

Elei shared a wild look with Alendra. “Come,” she said, “we have to run.”

But something held him back, even as
molosse
dogs appeared, sniffing and growling, led by two Gultur. He pushed Alendra into a dark gateway.

Alendra shrank back against the house door. “Elei...”

He glanced at her white face. What was wrong with him? She was right, there was no reason to linger. “Let’s go,” he said and reached out for her hand, clasping her fingers, thin like a child’s but strong and capable of holding a gun or a knife. He squeezed them as he led her out of the gateway and down the street.

The barking behind them faded for a moment, then came back louder. By unspoken agreement, they started to run. They raced into an avenue, turned left and stumbled past shops that were closing, their lights going out.

“This way,” Alendra panted, jerking on Elei’s hand.

The barking grew louder, closer. Ahead of them, two children materialized out of the gloom and gestured for them to follow. Gasping, they ran, kids poking their heads out of the shadows of alleys and side streets to urge them along and show the way.

They burst into a yard, square and walled, with an iron gate beyond which towered storehouses. The crash of waves was loud.

“Where to now?” Elei muttered. Where were the children? Had they taken a wrong turn?

Alendra pulled her hand out of his hold and staggered toward the gate, her boots scuffing on the rough cement floor. “I think...” She gripped the bars of the gate. “I can see the children over there. We’ll fit through.”

“Are you sure?” He flinched when a dog barked outside in the street. So close.

“Sideways probably.” She poked at the gate. It creaked.

“Okay.” But he still didn’t move. He heard running steps from the street, and someone gasping, and he thought he smelled, mixed with the eye-watering stench of
molosse
dog, a familiar mist of ama cigarettes and musk.

Elei stepped backward, vaguely aware of Alendra hissing his name in alarm, and pressed himself near the exit to the street. Moments later, someone came pelting down, boots slamming on the asphalt. A face shone white in the darkness, and Elei reached out, yanking on the man’s arm.

The man yelped, struggled, then the dog was on them and they crashed down in a tangle of arms, legs and sharp teeth. Elei found himself under the dog. Frantically he pushed off the straps of his heavy backpack and swung it at the beast’s muzzle. The dog moved back, then returned, snarling over Elei. He threw up an arm to protect his face as he fumbled at his belt for the Rasmus, and teeth clamped onto his flesh. He cried out at the pain, his sight fading for a moment.

“Kalaes,” he whispered, his pulse in his throat.

“Elei?” Kalaes swore from somewhere on Elei’s right, and did something that freed Elei’s arm from the dog’s teeth. “Damn it, fe.”

“Stand back,” Alendra said, taking aim.

Kalaes pulled Elei back as the dog growled so deeply the fine hairs on Elei’s arms stood up.

A deafening shot rang, and Elei saw the
molosse
dog sprawl in a pool of blood, a hole in its massive head.

Barking sounded from the street, and Alendra paled.

“Let’s go!” She grabbed Elei’s uninjured arm and started running without waiting for an answer.

“Kal,” Elei muttered, trying to see over his shoulder as they went.

“I’m right here.” Kalaes was on their heels, his submachine gun drawn. “Keep running.”

The gate loomed over them, rusty iron bars and padlocks. Hera called his name from the other side.

“Here.” Alendra gestured at a couple of bars that had been twisted and broken. “Quickly.”

He followed her through, hot blood trickling down his arm, dripping off his fingers. “Kal, come on.”

Kalaes shimmied through, the bars scraping his shoulders. Barely on time, too, as two
molosse
dogs launched themselves at the gate, snapping and barking.

“Damn, let’s move!” Hera pulled Alendra toward a tall, dark building by the wharf. Kalaes gave the massive dogs a disgusted look, then started when a bullet hit the gate.

“Frigid hells.” He gestured with his gun. “After you, fe.”

Elei didn’t need an invitation. He ran.

Chapter Ten

T
he boat waited
for them as Mantis had promised — long and broad, with a tall prow to cut through the waves and a blue tent stretching over two benches. A boatman stood at the stern, still as a statue, gazing at them from under his cap as they descended the slippery, concrete steps. Elei gazed back at him, reminded of the night he’d fled from Ost in such a boat, the night Pelia died.

Mantis stood on the wharf, arms folded over his chest. His fair hair whipped in the icy wind. “Mech here will take you to Ert,” he said against a clamor of barking, shouts and gunfire. “If you make it out of Dakru fast enough, that is.”

“Run, Mantis.” Hera had drawn her longgun and held it loosely at her side. “They’re almost here.”

“Don’t worry.” He flashed her a brilliant smile. “My army will distract them.”

“Army. You mean the little children?” Hera asked, voice clipped. “You should not lead them into such danger.”

“We do what we have to do,” Mantis said without heat. “For peace.” He raised his hand as the boat engine revved. “I’ll be waiting for your good news, a cache of weapons or vehicles on Dakru we can access, so we can end this war.” He glanced over his shoulder, eyes narrowing. “I have to go. Tefnut sends her love.” Turning about, he headed for the shadows of the empty building.

Hera drew a sharp breath. She staggered to the benches and sat down heavily. Sacmis took a seat next to her.

“To Ert it is,” said the boatman, his voice rusty and sharp like an old blade. “We’re off.”

The boat lurched, then accelerated. Elei stumbled sideways and steadied himself on one of the poles that supported the flapping tent. They shot away from the coast of Dakru. Shots rang from the shore, and bullets hit the water beside the boat. He knew he should lie low, not give them a target. His bitten arm throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the vise around his head.

A bullet slammed into the boat near his feet, and he still didn’t move, until Alendra took his hand and guided him toward the benches. Kalaes stood there, looking back at Dakru, his dark eyes like chips of night.

Sudden fury raced through Elei. It was as if all his fear and worry turned into a bright flame of anger inside his chest.

“Damn you, Kal,” he muttered, marching over to Kalaes and shoving him backward. “What were you thinking?”

Kalaes stumbled and caught himself on the starboard side. He made a choking noise in his throat and took a deep breath to say something, but he never got the chance. Elei drew back his fist and punched him in the stomach.

Kalaes doubled over.

“Elei!” Alendra held him back, her fingers clamped like steel bands around his biceps. “Stop it.”

“Where did you go?” Elei demanded, shaking himself free, anger heating his neck. “We looked everywhere for you, almost didn’t make it, worried ourselves sick. You bastard!”

Kalaes straightened slowly. He swallowed, the knot in his throat rising and falling. He looked away.

“Won’t you say something?” Alendra’s voice was tight, a metal coil. “He’s right, you know. We went back almost all the way looking for you.” She cocked her head to the side. “And how the hells did you manage to get the police and the dogs after you?”

Kalaes staggered to one of the benches and sank down. He scrubbed a hand over his face. “There was something I needed and it was my only damn chance to get if before we left.”

Elei wiped a hand over his mouth and tasted blood. He’d bitten through his lip. “You could’ve told us.”

“It was supposed to be a grab-and-go,” Kalaes muttered. “You wouldn’t even have noticed. But the damn owner started shouting, and a Gultur patrol passed by.” Kalaes snorted. “Just my luck.”

Elei let himself down on the bench, breathing hard, and dropped his backpack to the deck.

“What was it you needed so badly?” Hera asked.

“Nothing important,” Kalaes said quietly, and that sent another stab of anger through Elei.

“It was important enough for you to risk all our lives,” he said.

Kalaes looked stricken. “I told you, it wasn’t meant to be like that.” He stared down at his hands.

“Then tell us. Are you sick? Was it medicine you needed?”

“Yes, it’s medicine, and I’m fine,” Kalaes said.

“Fine?” Elei shook his head. “You passed out in the aircar!”

Kalaes winced. “I have it under control. I didn’t mean to worry you to death.”

Elei’s anger faded. “I thought,” he ground out, “that was what family does.”

“Worrying to death?” Kalaes’ teeth flashed in a quick, crooked smile.

“Yeah. Among other things,” Elei was suddenly on unfamiliar ground. “I’m sure.”

Kalaes looked up then, his smile widening, and he reached out to ruffle Elei’s hair.

Elei ducked half-heartedly. “So you’ll be okay now?”

Kalaes’ gaze slid sideways at Hera who was watching him intently. “Yeah, I’ll be just fine.”

“Next time,” Elei said, “tell me when you’re about to take off like that. When you need help. Okay?”

Kalaes raised a hand, fingers pressed together, and intoned solemnly, “I swear.”

“Good. Now...” Elei winced, brought his hand to his forearm. His fingers came away streaked with blood.

“Hells. Damn dog got you good.” Kalaes leaned forward, his mouth compressed in a narrow line, and he pulled his backpack onto his lap. “We need to clean and bandage you.” He fished out a medic-kit.

“I’ll do it,” Alendra said, reaching for the kit. “Give it here.”

Kalaes handed the black box over and watched as Elei held the mangled sleeve of his shirt and let Alendra clean the jagged wound.

“I’d worry about rabies,” Hera said, her eyes scanning the coast of Dakru as it receded, “but I’m sure even rabies is scared of Rex.”

Sacmis grinned, and it was startling on her usually grim face. The rain of bullets had stopped, and they were all relaxing by degrees.

Well, all except Hera. The line of her shoulders remained tense, and her jaw was clenched so hard it had to hurt.

“Why do you think the fleet isn’t flying over us now, trying to sink us?” Elei asked as Alendra wound a bandage around his arm. The pink tip of her tongue stuck out between her teeth, and he blinked, momentarily distracted.

“Mantis. He said he’d lead them away from us.”

Alendra went white. “So they’re killing others to let us live.”

“Life is like that.” Sacmis scowled. “We are born out of the death of others. We have to survive, even if others die for it.”

“What an awful thing to say.” Alendra tied off the bandage and sat back. “And it doesn’t make it any better.”

“Nothing can make it better,” Sacmis muttered, her eyes looking black in the near-darkness, broken only by the setting moon. “Our mission is important. If we make it, we’ll save many lives.”

“Sounds so self-righteous,” Elei mumbled, his head heavy. “Like the gods chose us for this.” He leaned back against one of the tent supports and closed his eyes. Their fleeing and worrying, all that exhaustion finally caught him in one massive blow.

“I thought we volunteered,” Kalaes said. “You know, to die saving the damn world or something like that.”

“You never take anything seriously, do you?” Hera snapped.

“Why,” Kalaes said, and Elei could hear the smirk in his voice, “you hurt my feelings.”

“You have to have feelings for those to be hurt.” Hera’s voice cracked like a whip.

“Whatever, Hera.” Kalaes said, his tone sharpening. “You being the expert on feelings and all.”

There was the sound of a scuffle, and a sharp inhale.

“Ow,” Kalaes said mildly. “Dammit, Hera. I liked this t-shirt.”

“Hera,” Sacmis said, “calm down.”

Elei pried his eyes open with an effort, wondering what was going on, but he only saw Kalaes and Hera glaring at each other. “What is it?” he mumbled.

“Sleep, fe,” Kalaes patted Elei’s shoulder. “Everything’s fine.”

Hera struggled in Sacmis’ hold. Her eyes flashed, dark jewels, and her long hair flew in the salty breeze. Elei knew he should ask why Hera was acting like that. Somewhere at the back of his mind he remembered Regina. Hadn’t Hera said her parasite was maturing?

But Kalaes was there. He’d watch Elei’s back. It was safe.

And in spite of the rocking boat, Hera’s glare and the possibility of the fleet rising out of the blue to riddle them with bullets, Elei nodded, reassured, and sank into the darkness.

***

Kill him. Kill them all. Worse than insects crawling on your skin, worse than vermin
. Hera tried to draw her longgun from its hip holster, but something held her fast, restraining her movements.
Nothing can stop you. Take them out
.

Yet she could not reach her gun, and the sweet scent of fellow Gultur enveloped her, calming her. She bit her lip hard, letting the pain center her and chase away the screeching voice from her head.

Sacmis held her.

Kalaes watched her warily, brows drawn together. The neckline of his t-shirt was ripped, revealing an array of bruises and scars.

He zipped up his hoodie and turned his gaze away.

Why was Regina reacting to him even worse than to Elei’s Rex? It made no sense. He teased her a lot, for sure, and yet... He was a mortal male, useless and bothersome as far as Regina was concerned, pitifully weak, not evolved like the Gultur, and not needed for reproduction. All good reasons, but she managed to keep from hurting Elei and Alendra, neither of whom Regina particularly liked for the same reasons.

“Hera?” A voice behind her. Strained. Scared. The arms around her tightened, and a rapid rhythm beat against her back — Sacmis’ heart.

Hera took a deep breath and forced herself to go limp, relaxing in the gentle hold. “It’s okay. You can let go now.”

Sacmis hesitated, then released her, and Hera slumped on the bench, feeling the rocking of the boat as it sped through the waves. Horror was trying to break through the cold mantle of numbness that had fallen over her. Her body and mind were out of her control. Sacmis. Sacmis had held her back, as Hera had asked. Maybe she could trust her after all; maybe everything would be all right.

But the image of Kalaes’ ripped t-shirt, his scared gaze kept replaying in her memory. Holy Nunet, how long before Regina took over completely?

***

Elei slept, and a landscape emerged from the darkness, rising around him.

He sat on a low bench looking at the vast, heaving sea, listening to the waves crash on the cliffs below. He was in the trashlands of Ost, he knew, and didn’t wonder how he’d arrived there. Heaps of rubbish surrounded him, familiar as the rooms in one’s own home, but something was missing — the stench. The air smelled clean, with a tang of sea breeze and the perfume of a woman, fine musk laced with sugar.

A shadow walked on the cliff’s edge, outlined in golden light, a female form made of curves and hollows. She approached, hips swinging in a slow rhythm he could almost hear, her hair a fine mist around her face. Her eyes were cat-like, yellow and bright, her skin shimmering, the arch of her throat fine and white. She was so beautiful Elei’s breath caught in his throat.

“Alendra,” he whispered. She was close, so close her scent curled around him tight, and he reached out to touch her, his blood burning with desire.

But she stopped and pulled a gun from her belt, long fingers caressing the barrel. She pointed it at his chest. “This won’t hurt,” she said, her voice a low hum, raising goosebumps on his skin. “I promise.”

“Why now?” he asked, confused. “You can do it later.” They had time, didn’t they?

“You don’t know what later can bring,” she said. She gestured with her free hand at the sky and it swarmed with aircraft. They didn’t move, but they blinked like watchful eyes.

“All right then. You should kill me before they do.” So nice of her to think of that. But something else bothered him. “How can I kiss you if you kill me now?”