Marked by Death by Kaje Harper

Author:Kaje Harper
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Darien gripped the sink, his arms tensing as he swayed, and stared into the mirror. He wanted the bed— Jesus, gonna be heaven to lie down— but he couldn’t fight the need to look again. What the hell happened to me?

Stupid question, right? You gave up a bunch of life force, and now you look like an old troll and who knows what else changed?

Objectively, he had to admit Silas was right. He looked like a man in his thirties. In fact, he looked freakily like his father, and that wasn’t helping his gut settle down. I’m twenty-one motherfucking years old! He wanted to scream that at the top of his lungs, but it would change nothing and he didn’t have the energy.

Maybe a nap will help. Maybe some food. That was energy, right? Maybe there was a cure, a reversal potion that healer-woman knew. Maybe someone can fix this.

That idea settled into his rolling gut with a hollow thunk that showed how little he believed it, but he was going to try. He was going to put on the ridiculous striped pajamas that Silas’s hand had deposited around the door, and stagger to bed, and pretend things would be fine when he woke up. It was a plan.

The putting on part meant getting to the door. His legs shook and letting go of the sink wasn’t happening until he eased himself to the floor. Once down, he butt-scooted over there, wincing, and wrestled himself out of his filthy socks and muddy-bottomed plaid pants. It was harder than he expected— his brain so cotton-wooly that he sobbed in frustration as he tried to skin the damned pants off his legs. The fresh pajamas were ugly and also too long, but they were clean and soft and warm.

He was struggling to button the top when Silas tapped on the door, then stuck his head around. “Are you all right? Can I help? You got quiet.”

It was too much effort to tweak at Silas for listening at the door like a creeper. Darien just leaned against the wall, waved a hand, and was glad when Silas came and crouched down by him. “What can I do?”

Darien tugged at the buttons fretfully. “They won’t go.”

Silas gently pushed his hands aside. “Let me.” Either he was a super-fast buttoner or time got glitchy because next thing Darien knew, the top was buttoned snug to his chin. Silas gave his front a little pat, and said… something Darien didn’t make out. Next thing, he was being lifted and carried over to the big bed. Silas laid him on the heavenly, amazing, soft mattress, but when he would’ve backed away, Darien grabbed his arms and pulled.

The unexpected move put Silas off balance and he fell heavily onto Darien. Darien huffed as the air was driven from his lungs, but it was a safe, good feeling, to be pinned to the bed by Silas. It steadied something he thought might detach and float away from inside him.

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