Shadows (The Rephaim) by Paula Weston

Author:Paula Weston
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9781921921407
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Published: 2012-06-02T04:00:00+00:00

DROWNING

I fade in and out. I’m rolled onto a stretcher and carried from the cage. I catch pieces of conversation.

‘Just let me shift with her.’ Daisy’s voice, tight and angry.

‘No.’ Definitely Daniel.

‘But she’ll take weeks to heal from these injuries. I don’t understand why you’re being so—’

‘Daisy, go to your quarters and stay there until you’re summoned.’

If Daisy argues with him, I miss it, because I pass out again.

When I next come to, I smell antiseptic. My body feels cased in cement and the skin on my neck stings like a bastard. Even through closed eyes I can tell the room is brightly lit.

‘I’ll guard her.’

‘No, Taya, you go.’ Daniel’s voice is close. ‘Tell the Council I’ll be there shortly.’

‘But there are no cameras in here. What if—’

‘Gabriella isn’t going anywhere.’

‘But Daisy—’

‘Won’t disobey an order.’

Any further exchange is silent. The air beside me stirs. Taya is gone. The only sound now is the faint buzzing of a fluorescent light. Daniel must be alone.

Fingers gently move hair out of my eyes. Daniel sighs. ‘I wish I knew what you did.’

I don’t have the strength to move my head away.

‘I just…I can’t take the risk.’ He strokes my cheek with the back of his finger, slowly, softly. ‘If you really betrayed us, and I show you mercy…’ Another sigh, and then the touch is gone. A door opens and closes. As usual, Daniel leaves the old-fashioned way. Maybe shifting creases his shirts.

I prise open my eyes. I’m in a treatment room. Stark white. Clinical. I touch my side, gingerly, to find that the jumper’s gone and the wound is bandaged. There’s a dressing taped over the bite on my neck. The pricks haven’t even given me fresh clothing. I’m sticky with my own congealing blood. And I stink of hellion.

There’s a door across the room. A plain door, no locks or keypads. No voices or footsteps on the other side. If I can get over there…Can I even sit up? I grit my teeth, try to lift myself on my elbow. A thousand knives twist below my ribs. I whimper and sink back to the bed, wait for the waves of nausea to pass. My eyes close and I let sleep drag me back into the comfort of oblivion.

I wake with goosebumps. My aching skin tingles. I’m not alone.

‘I’m so sorry, child.’

The voice behind me is rich, masculine. Nathaniel.

I stay on my side, my pulse quickening. The air in the room is cooler now.

‘This was not the path meant for you.’

I swallow loudly, letting him know I’m awake.

‘Be still, Gabriella. Submit to me.’ His voice is like balm. ‘Let me see if anything has changed.’

I should fight him. I should make this hard. But the memory comes, unbidden.

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