Rex Rising (Elei's Chronicles) by Thoma Chrystalla

Author:Thoma, Chrystalla [Thoma, Chrystalla]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Amazon.com
Published: 2011-08-11T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Draped uncomfortably on the armchair, Elei closed his eyes and tried to catch another wink before dawn broke. Then the sunlight from the window hit him square in the face and he gave up. He stood and tried to work out the kinks by stretching his arms and walking up and down. His body still wasn’t very happy with him, but Elei couldn’t complain. He’d brushed by death close enough to believe there would be no return this time — yet here he was, alive and kicking.

Elei rubbed the side of his neck and up his cheek, feeling the new tel-marks, rough snake scales that had spread there. His skin felt hot, like burning dakron. He stood at the window and gazed over the mountain slope at the scintillating rocks and a hint of the plain below, the light spreading wide like water.

Water. Poena’s words echoed in his head. Spill blood in the water. The fountainhead and the temple. What a weird dream.

Then he remembered Maera and Kalaes. Embarrassment fought with unease, hot and cold rushing through him. What in the hells is wrong with me? He raked his hands through his hair and spun around. He’d take a shower. Celebrate his survival.

Scratching at the maddening, all-consuming itch on his arms, he entered the bathroom. A rusty showerhead jutted from the wall, and in a corner of the concrete floor was a drain. A stained curtain hung from hooks in the ceiling, but otherwise the room was clean. Good enough. A cracked mirror was mounted on the wall and he consciously opted not to look. He didn’t need to see his own accusing glare. He noticed a stool underneath the sink with a stack of folded towels. What else could anyone ask for?

He shut and locked the door, placed his gun on top of the towels and stripped. Carefully, he unwound the bandage from his waist. The wound was healing, red and tender. He stepped underneath the showerhead and turned the faucet on. Pipes creaked and groaned, then came a rushing noise and water gurgled. He let out an involuntary cry as the cold water hit him, a rain of razor blades. In his limited experience with washing, he’d never been drenched in such icy water and with such pressure. The wet rags he’d normally use to clean up just didn’t compare.

Teeth chattering, Elei scrubbed himself with his hands the best he could and washed as thoroughly as possible without a soap. Well, at least his skin was now numb and the burning sensations ceased. He hissed when he turned his face into the icy spray, and his fists clenched in reaction. Oh, gods, the things one did to get clean.

He bowed his head under the spray, letting it drench his grimy hair, and passed his hands through it, dislodging dried blood and grit. He rubbed his neck, his shoulders, his stomach. The image of Maera’s naked breasts flashed through his mind briefly, teasingly, and despite the cold he ached with desire.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.