Elei's Chronicles (Books 1-3) by Thoma Chrystalla

Author:Thoma, Chrystalla [Thoma, Chrystalla]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-11-11T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Pelia held him in her arms. He must have fallen sick, but he couldn’t remember. He didn’t mind, because she was there, holding him, warm and cool, soft and solid at the same time. He wanted to stay like this forever.

She stroked his temples. Her caress tickled.

“What happened?” he asked.

“A parasite,” Pelia murmured. Her breath ruffled the top of his head. “Very strong.”

Ah yes. “I’ve had others,” he said.

“Never like this one.” Her hand cupped his cheek. “And you’re not fighting it.”

“It’s too strong.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “Besides, I need it to live. Can’t get rid of it.”

“But you should try to contain it. Control it.”

“You should’ve thought of that before you gave it to me,” he said, surprised she’d forgotten that small detail. “Now it’s too late.”

“Don’t give up. I put my hope in you.”

“And that was a mistake,” he said bitterly. “I let you die and can’t even control my own body.”

“Just...” She leaned over him, kissed his brow, soft, feathery lips. “Fight. Remember the number, Elei. Unlock it, find the information.” Her voice changed, became that of a child, and Afia said, “I believe in you.”

“That makes one of us,” he said, wishing he believed in himself too, and opened his eyes.

He lay in a narrow bed, in a room lit by a window set high up in the wall. Hairline cracks spread like spiderwebs across the ceiling. Where was he?

It took him a moment to remember. The safe house. This had to be the bedroom where he’d changed his bandages. Someone sat on the bed, a dark figure in the low light.

“Elei? You awake?”

“Yeah.”

A smile tilted Kalaes’ lips. “How do you feel?”

Good question. Elei lifted his head from the pillow. The world turned in lazy circles. He fell back with a groan. “What happened? Did I...?” Dear Gods, did I really down a whole bottle of liquor?

Kalaes ran his hands through his mass of matted hair. “Survive it? Looks like it. What the hells were you thinking, fe?”

“It was the smell. It was sweet and I needed...” Elei sighed. “Rex needed sweet. It makes me crave the stuff.”

“And you just do it?” Kalaes rolled his eyes. “Hells, Elei, you’re letting the damned parasite get stronger. It could kill you.”

“Eventually something will,” Elei said and shrugged. “I survived all else.”

“What else?” Kalaes blinked. His eyes were bloodshot. “What are you talking about?”

Elei shifted, uncomfortable. “The bullets. The explosions.”

“Where are you seeing the explosions, in your sleep?” Kalaes snorted.

Elei shook his head slowly. Did Kalaes really think it was funny? “I’m talking about the hospital,” he said. “I can’t help thinking about it.”

Kalaes frowned. “What about it?”

Elei’s pulse pounded behind his eyes. “It wasn’t easy for me to kill all those Gultur. I didn’t live in a gang, like you, I didn’t—”

“You should count yourself lucky you didn’t have to kill until now.” Kalaes’ dark eyes burned. “You think living in a gang makes killing any easier?”

Elei swallowed hard. “That’s not what I meant.”

“You have no pissing idea what it’s like, what I’ve had to do.

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