Rex Aftermath (Elei's Chronicles) (24 page)

 “Yeah, why hurry?” Kalaes drawled. “Let our pursuers catch up and make mince-meat out of us.”

“If we hurry, they’ll know which aircar to shoot down,” Bestret explained, exasperation creeping into her voice. “We need to blend in.”

“Well, sorry if I don’t trust you with my life right now,” Kalaes growled. “Not after you left me at the water plant with Zoe and the kids.”

Damn Iset and Bestret. Elei forced his eyes open. “Kal, what happened back there?” He tried to sit up but Alendra was there, kneeling by his side, pushing him back down, taking his hand in hers.

“I had to take the only aircar available, abandoning them to find you, because I just knew something bad would happen.” Kalaes smashed his fist into the floor. “And look how right I was.”

“How the hells did you break into Bone Tower?” Alendra asked.

“It was a bitch, believe me.” Kalaes sat back on his heels, passing his sleeve over his face, wiping blood and grime. “Got stopped at the checkpoint. Rex did its nifty tricks, changing my smell and all that shit, giving me an advantage. I took the guards out, stole their aircar and codes and slipped into the citadel.”

Kalaes made it sound so simple, but he was bloodied. Now Elei recalled, hadn’t he been shot at, back at the water plant?
Hells.

“The gates,” Iset said, excitement rippling in her voice. “Almost there.”

The aircar shook. Elei squeezed Alendra’s hand. Her dark gold gaze nailed him to the ground. A trickle of blood ran down her temple. He wanted to ask if she was okay, but the aircar accelerated, and the whir of the engines rose through the broken windows, deafening.

She leaned close, so close her warm breath tickled his neck, and whispered in his ear, “We’re out of Bone Tower. And I don’t want to visit ever again.”

***

“Are we clear?” Kalaes scrambled up to the window and glanced outside. “Where are we?”

 “On the road to Artemisia,” Bestret said. “We managed to drop behind the patrol without anyone noticing.”

“Elei...” Gentle hands shook him until he turned his head. “You blew up the temple,” Alendra breathed. “You could have been killed. How did you survive? How did you do that?”

With Poena’s help, he thought, but if he said that he’d have to tell them about the dream and all the other crazy stuff, and he didn’t feel up to it. Didn’t know what their reaction would be.

“You...” Kalaes leaned down and grabbed the front of Elei’s shirt. “By all rights you should be dead. What were you thinking?”

Elei looked away from the anger on Kalaes’ face. “Hera. Dakru City. I had to do something.”

“Son of a bitch.” Kalaes released him. “Always full of surprises.” His eyes softened, then hardened, and he cursed. “Dammit, you’re still bleeding.”

The sound of cloth tearing, hands tugging off his jacket. Elei blinked and gripped the seat to sit up.

Whoa, dizzy
. The floor tilted. Maybe the aircar was rocking? Alendra tugged on his shirt and he let her pull it over his head, wincing.

“Indestructible,” Kalaes was muttering, tearing strips from his soggy t-shirt. His chest was covered in bruises and scars and a gash bled sluggishly down his arm. “You thought I was serious? A handful, that’s what you are, always getting hurt, always bleeding... Been through this not so long ago, and you barely made it, and now...”

Elei let him wrap the makeshift bandage around his bicep but resisted when Kalaes tried to pull off the shirt. No way was he letting Alendra see the snakeskin on his back. “I’m okay,” he mumbled.

The side of his head throbbed worse than usual. He brought a hand up and found a lump.

You’re afraid Kalaes will decide you’re not worth it. Not worth the effort.

Yeah, Kalaes didn’t seem very happy to see him. Elei stole a glance at the older boy and found him clenching the ruined t-shirt in his fists, his mouth twisted in a snarl. Was he really angry?

All Elei had done, all of it, had been because he wanted to go home. Home was Kalaes — and Alendra, and Hera, but Kalaes was different. He’d taken him in like Albi and Pelia had, as a brother.

He just wanted to go home. He didn’t care if it sounded childish. Wasn’t sure he could take any more of this. He couldn’t even hope it was a nightmare.

“Kal?” Alendra whispered, her voice strained.

Kalaes stood up, muttering, and began to pace.

“Sit down,” Iset called from the other side of the cabin. “We’re still not out of danger. Patrols are everywhere.”

Kalaes didn’t seem to hear. His cheekbones were flushed and sweat dripped down his face. “We’ll pass by the plant, see if they’re still there, pick them up, do you hear?”

“If the blockades let us, we will,” Iset said. “Just sit tight.”

“Damn right we will, damn you.” Kalaes drew his longgun. The sound of the safety clicking off was deafening. “You damn bitch, you left us there! I’m gonna blow your head off.”

“We left you behind thinking you’d be safe there,” Iset whispered, her face pale. “I am so sorry.”

Elei wanted to punch Iset himself, but now was not the time. Nausea churning in his stomach, he climbed to his feet. He found a wall handle, clutched it. “Kal? Put down the gun.”

“Can’t do this,” Kalaes muttered. “Can’t. Dammit.”

What in the hells was going on?

“Kalaes, sit down.” Iset got up and reached for him.

“I’m...” Kalaes staggered sideways, pressing a hand to his chest. “Shit.” He fell in a seat and slumped back, thumped his head against the backrest.

Alarms went off in Elei’s head. He pushed off the wall. “Are you okay?”

Kalaes screwed his eyes shut, his face drawn in strained lines. “Pissing parasite. It won’t relax for one second, and I’m...” His breath hitched, his hand on his chest tensed. “Ow, dammit.”

Oh shit.

“What’s the problem?” Bestret rose from her seat, a pulsing silhouette to Elei’s left side. “Is he injured?”

Ignoring her, Elei stumbled over to Kalaes, propped an arm on the seat and grabbed his chin. “Look at me, Kal. Breathe deep, okay? Ale, come here.”

She was already there, taking Kalaes’ hand, sliding the other in his hair and pulling his head to rest on her shoulder. “The heart?” she mouthed at Elei.

He nodded, letting go of Kalaes, worry like a stone pressing against his chest. “Everything’s okay, man. Just keep breathing. We’re safe here.”

Images from a trip back from Gortyn burst through his memory, with Alendra and Kalaes holding him. Apparently, too much adrenaline could constrict the flow of blood to the heart, courtesy of Rex. He hadn’t experienced it since then, but he recalled the crushing pain and breathlessness as if it’d happened yesterday.

“What’s wrong with him?” Iset spoke over Elei’s shoulder, scaring the crap out of him. “Should we stop?”

“No, we don’t stop. Just get in the back. Better yet, go sit with the driver. It’s the smell.” Looked like the faint overlay of peppery Rex scent wasn’t enough. Kalaes gasped again, arching against the seat.

“You’ll be fine,” Alendra was whispering in Kalaes’ ear. “Slow breaths.”

Damn Iset still hovered. “But what—?”

“Rex,” Elei snapped. “He’s still getting used to Rex and needs some space. Now back off.”

Alendra tugged at his sleeve and he swallowed hard. Crap, he was stressing Kalaes more. He stared at Iset until she finally stepped away.

“I said Elei is here, he’s okay, He’s right here. We’re both okay.” Alendra stroked Kalaes’ sweat-drenched hair back.

“Can’t, dammit,” Kalaes wheezed. “Can’t protect you.”

“Shut up.” Alendra wrapped her arms around him. “Do you think we can protect you? Can we stop bullets from hitting you or memories from hurting you? Stop thinking you can save everyone.” Pale-faced, she looked up at Elei, as if asking what to do.

He wished he knew.

“Like Dain,” he found himself saying, hoping this was the right topic, that it might convince Kalaes everything was okay — because Dain had survived, hadn’t he?

“Dain. That was my mistake,” Kalaes said, each word squeezed out between gasps. “I can wallow in it if I like.”

“You shouldn’t wallow in mistakes you can fix,” Alendra said softly.

“I tried, didn’t I?” Kalaes grunted. “Damn. He didn’t seem forgiving.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. Give him time to process everything, yeah?”

“And Elei... shot in the back...”

Shit, he was about to tell Alendra about the snakeskin. Elei grabbed Kalaes’ wrist, checked the racing pulse. Still too fast. “We all have our fears,” he muttered. “I promise I won’t die on you.”

Kalaes snorted. “Just like that?”

“As long as...” Elei looked away, warmth rising in his neck.

“As long what, fe?” Kalaes sat up a little, his pulse settling in a slower rhythm.

Elei released Kalaes’ wrist. “As long as you keep me.” He shrugged. “Despite the trouble I cause.”

There it was, his own fear, spelled out and laid in the open like never before. He was aware of Alendra watching him, and his neck grew warm.

“Keep you?” Kalaes groaned and gripped Elei’s arm. What was it with everyone taking hold of him today? “Dammit, was there ever a doubt, fe?”

Elei’s head was full of doubts, but he said nothing.

“Keep us both?” Alendra whispered and her gaze moved from Kalaes to Elei, so bright.

Kalaes gave a breathless laugh and dragged Elei down to sit by him, then slung his arms around both of them. “Silly kids,” he wheezed. “You’re my family and I wouldn’t trade you for anything in the world.” He closed his eyes and leaned back, grimacing. “Let’s just hope my heart can take it.”

Chapter Nineteen

Sacmis had turned on the communicator. Jumbled transmissions came through, snatches of voices, shouts and questions.

Hera raised her head. She had no idea how much time she’d lost, curled behind the navigation chairs in the cockpit of the war machine. She was so cold her teeth chattered, but she could see again. She could think.

“Status,” she barked and Sacmis jerked and glanced back.

“We’ve entered Dakru City,
hatha
,” she reported, her voice breathless.

“Nearing the Palace,” Mantis added.

No elation or relief in their voices. The price had been too heavy.

Hera heaved herself to her feet, leaning against the metal wall. “What about the Seleukids?”

“They’ll send more soon. We should hurry.”

It was damn weird, watching the buildings of the Gultur capital roll by as they advanced on the central avenue toward the Palace they’d broken into not so long ago to steal the maps of the underworld.

Hera swallowed past the hard knot in her throat.

The speakers kept spewing bits of information, confirming that the Bone Tower fleet was decimated and Rex was dead.

Elei was dead.

She stared ahead, at the looming Palace with its gleaming whale-skeleton structure, her eyes strangely dry when she felt the tears gathered behind her brow, burning like fire.

She’d do this for him, for Kalaes, for Ale and for everyone. She’d bring the regime to its knees, and then she’d crush it so that nothing remained but burning ashes.

***

Even from afar, the smoke spiraling over Dakru City was visible against the dawning sky. Seleukids flew over the buildings and helicopters poured water. The city was burning.

Hera, Sacmis, Mantis
. Had they won? Had they survived?

“We need to find a transmitter. Contact Hera.” The words came out slurred and Elei touched his jaw. One side of his face was swollen and tender to the touch. The shock wave must have sent him into the side of the urn, and it had packed a wallop. No wonder he was dizzy. Iset had spoken of concussion and the need for a hospital.

Again.

Pissing circles
.

But Kalaes had to see a doctor, Rex or not, to make sure his heart was fine, and they were all the worse for wear. Slumped on the seat next to Kalaes, Elei had to clench his teeth not to groan with every bump and bounce of the aircar on the uneven road, which wound among algae ponds and hamlets. He was sore to the bone and way too dizzy to move.

Got to stop falling on my face all the time.

Alendra was wiping the blood dripping down her temple with a piece of Kalaes’ ruined shirt, and her golden gaze caught his. She didn’t seem mad at him for leaving her with the two Gultur without a promise to return.

But he couldn’t read people well. Maybe her lifted brow meant she was in fact flaming pissed.

He ducked his head. The headache was killing him. Maybe Iset had some of those painkillers left. He looked up and saw Bestret fiddling with a glitcher. “Any news?” he asked instead.

“Only static.” Bestret scowled. “From the whole Gultur system connected to the glitchers. Nothing.”

Sounded like good news.
Maybe.
“Hera? Mantis?”

Iset shook her head.

Kalaes gripped Elei’s shoulder and sat up, his other hand still held to his chest. “No news?”

Alendra pulled him back. “Stay still. Is it getting any better?”

“Don’t know,” Kalaes said tightly and Elei had to swallow his worry. “What’s going on?”

“Shush,” Bestret said. “We have a transmission from Dakru City.”

Jumbled whispers came over the glitcher with a howling in the back that had to be the wind.

“Do you make out anything?” Alendra asked.

“Dakru City has been breached,” Bestret said, her voice low and kinda sad. She was a Gultur, after all. She raised wide eyes at them. “The gates have fallen.”

Elei opened his mouth and closed it again, not knowing what to say. So was that it? Was the war over?

“What does that mean?” Kalaes whispered, grimacing, leaning back. “Damn.”

“It means the seat of the regime is gone, and Bone Tower cannot help them.” Iset suddenly grinned, showing perfect white teeth. “It’s more than we ever expected.”

“Oh yeah, because you were going to sacrifice us all for your cause.” Kalaes gritted his teeth, his face pale. “How far are we from the plant?”

“Just relax, man.” Elei patted Kalaes’ arm. “You need to relax.”

“Can’t,” he wheezed, closing his eyes. “Not until Zoe and Dain and the others are here. I had to leave them. Couldn’t take them to Bone Tower, they’d get killed.”

“You did the right thing,” Elei muttered. 

“We’ll retrieve them.” Bestret put down the glitcher. “I owe you that.”

Yes
, Elei thought,
you do
. He understood why Bone Tower had been so important. He only wished Bestret and Iset hadn’t used people like pawns.

The glitcher came back to life, a voice speaking loud and clear. A man’s voice. Elei leaned forward. It sounded familiar.

“Citizens of Dakru and the Seven Islands,” it said. “Bone Tower has fallen and Dakru City is now under the control of the resistance.”

“Mantis!” Alendra’s wide eyes glinted in the faint light of the aircar.

“Don’t be alarmed,” Mantis went on, calm and collected. “This is good news. Centuries of injustice and poverty will give way to equality and a better life.” He paused. “To information. To joint decisions. To a better management of our resources. To free water for everyone.”

Cheering went on in the background.

“Holy gods.” Kalaes opened one eye. “That boy went and did it.”

“They did it! Mantis, and Hera and Sacmis.” Alendra hopped to her feet, then sank back down. “That was because you blew up the temple.” She tilted her head, eyeing Elei. “You gave Mantis a chance to win the war.”

He squirmed, feeling like a sample under a microscope. Did that mean she wasn’t angry with him?

“We’re approaching the plant.” Iset got up, her longgun held at her hip. “Better be ready for anything.”

Right on cue, an impact hit the aircar, jarring them. They lurched sideways.

“Down!” Iset yelled as the window across from Elei exploded into a rain of shards. “They’re shooting at us.”

No shit.

He dragged Kalaes to the floor with him. Alendra swore as she crawled on all fours to pull a gun from a duffel bag. She cocked it.

“A blockade?” Elei found and drew Kalaes’ longgun. Gods, he missed his Rasmus.

“Cannot see them,” Bestret huffed. “They must be hiding.”

Hiding?
Elei frowned. This made no sense and damn, everything hurt. His head... He wanted to wrench it from his shoulders, get rid of the pain.

Rex swept the aircar, as if that was any help. It only worsened the headache and made him want to puke his guts out.

What a sucky day. Night. And morning
.

It was quiet.

“They’ve stopped shooting,” Iset said.

“Stop the aircar,” Elei said.

“We cannot,” Iset hissed. “That’s what they’re waiting for.”

“Stop.” He rose unsteadily, his bad leg barely holding him. “We can’t leave without Zoe and the others.”

Only problem was his balance wasn’t good. He’d fall on his face if he stormed the cockpit and that went against his new not-falling-on-my-face mantra.

That left few options. He leveled the gun on Iset. “Tell the driver to stop. Now.”

“You would not...” Her eyes widened. “You would.”

“And my patience is all up,” he ground out, finger caressing the trigger.

“Fine.” Iset kept her gaze on him as she stepped back and knocked on the driver’s door. “Stop the aircar.”

Elei braced himself against the wall, grabbing a handle. His head spun. He glanced at Kalaes who was curled on the floor, panting, and Alendra who held her gun like a pro, scowling at Bestret as if daring her to object.

The aircar slowed. The illuminated fence of the purification plant loomed not forty feet away. Behind the building, the eastern sky was breaking into red and pink swirls.

Elei released his death hold on the wall handle and staggered to the door. A nudge on the opening lever and the door slid open.

Alendra squeezed next to him, leaning on the door frame, and lifted her chin. “Ready.” She stepped outside, gun gripped in both hands.

Wisps of mist curled on the ground. The building rose from the gray haze like a battleship. Elei imagined cannons pointing at him from every side.

Rex told him two targets were hidden behind a fence post to his left. He turned, taking aim.

“Wait!” The woman’s voice came from his right, and Rex jolted him so badly he almost dropped the gun.

Yeah, looks like you missed one, buddy.

A silhouette emerged from the shadow of a burned aircar.

Ally
, Rex whispered in his mind.

You don’t say.
Elei squinted at the silhouette and Rex deigned to pull back a little, allowing him to see a girl with a head full of braids and a cocky attitude.

He blinked. “Zoe?”

“I’ll be damned. Elei? Oh gods,
soomi
, it
is
you.” She waved her hands, at the other two, Elei supposed. “Hey. Put away your guns!”

“Is that Zoe?” Alendra frowned. “Zoe, did you just shoot at us?”

“We thought you were a patrol.” Zoe grinned. “Can’t tell you how glad I am to see you,
pooskers
. The explosion destroyed the vehicles, except for the one Kalaes took.” She gestured at the aircar. “Is he with you? Is he okay?”

“I think,” Elei holstered his gun as Dain and another kid approached the aircar, “he’ll be okay when he sees you.”

“He’ll be? What the hells happened to him?” She stormed past him and grabbed the ladder to board the airship. Alendra hastened after her.

Elei turned to look at the two boys who halted a few feet away.

“It really is you,” Dain said, pushing blond hair out of his eyes. Elei couldn’t decipher the look in them. “I thought you must be dead. Is it safe? Can I tell the others to come?”

“Yeah.” He glanced at the aircar, then back at Dain, the plant, and the skyline of Dakru City, spewing flames and smoke into the morning sky. “Better hurry.”

***

Elei climbed back onto the aircar, the world swimming in his eyes. Concussion sucked.

 He found Zoe helping Kalaes up to the seat. Alendra was explaining about Rex. Kalaes shushed her, sprawling and propping his head on the backrest.

“Hey, girl.” He smiled at Zoe, then frowned. “Where’s Dain?”

“Here.” Dain stood at the aircar door, his blue eyes looking everywhere but at Kalaes. “So you’re back, huh?”

Elei told himself that punching the guy wasn’t a good idea. It certainly wouldn’t help Kalaes relax.

Dammit
.

Kalaes straightened and nodded at Dain. “Come here, fe.”

Dain sighed, looked down at his feet, then shuffled over to Kalaes. Alarmed, Elei saw Kalaes push to his feet, but Zoe gave him a hand up.

He wanted Kalaes resting until they found a hospital. Before he could take one step, though, Kalaes had mock-punched Dain and they were doing a complicated handshake that involved slapping their hands and pumping their fists together.

Gang stuff, probably
.

And then Kalaes put an arm around Dain’s shoulders and pulled him in a Kalaes-hug — bone-grinding and all-encompassing, leaving you no leeway, no way to escape.

Elei saw Dain’s eyes over Kalaes’ shoulder and he could swear they had tears in them.