"The Darkest Edge of Dawn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gay Kelly)11Through the wind and the frantic pulse surging through my eardrums, I heard Hank scream my name. There was nothing between me and the ground, except forty-six stories of air. My mouth hung open in a scream I couldn’t voice. I didn’t struggle, too afraid he’d drop me. I wanted to turn in his arms and scramble onto his shoulders, to hold on, to have some kind of control, but his embrace was bruising and unmovable. Llyran’s face was against the side of my head, pressed against my hair. His laughter rang in my ears as we shot upward. Higher and higher. And finally into the darkness itself. Into that churning, forty-mile wide mass of primeval Charbydon gray. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as the earth below me grew smaller and smaller, until it was completely swallowed up. “Beautiful, isn’t it, Charlie?!” His lips moved against my hair. We slowed, and I was stunned by the thick, dark, undulating mass and the occasional bursts of green zigzagging a thick, random path far out in the distance. Small particles swirled, glowing as though energized, as though somehow giving life to everything around us. The fine hairs on my body stood, and the hair on my head drifted out in all directions as though underwater. Awareness snaked under my skin. Power. So much power. It hummed through me. My eyelids fluttered. My vision went blurry. My head relaxed against Llyran’s shoulder as I was caught between horror and excitement, a heightened response to the arcane darkness and energy surrounding me. It was there, for me. For the taking. It wanted me to throw open my arms and invite it in. It’d be so good, so easy … “There is unimaginable power here, and the one who wields it can be a god!” Llyran shouted. I shut my eyes tightly, forcing away the fuzz, lifting my head and shaking it hard. After a false start, I found my voice. “Take me back,” I barely managed. “Llyran, take me back.” “Not yet, Charlie! I’ve saved the best for last!” We shot up once more, the force pulling my insides down. Wind broke hard against my face and those small glowing particles hit my skin like fine grains of sand. My fingernails dug deeply into his forearms. And then we burst out of the darkness. Into the light. Tears erupted behind my eyelids. Too bright, but so warm … so warm. After so long, I had the sun in my face. A shaft of darkness held us aloft, above the churning mass. The wind whipped at our hair, tangling it together. “Isn’t it a sight for sore eyes, Charlie? Blue skies as far as the eye can see. Tell me you haven’t missed this!” His arms were still around my middle. The angle at which the darkness held us aloft forced me to lean back against him, my head tucked against the crook of his neck as my face warmed under the glow of the sun. Panic had a hold on my throat, but I forced the words out. “Why are you doing this?” “Because all this can be yours. Look at it, Charlie.” He gave me a brutal squeeze. I did. I did because I was afraid, because I was desperate for the sun, for blue skies. My eyes burned at first, leaving large white dots floating in my vision. But slowly they adjusted to the brightness, and I gazed out over the horizon at the azure sky. Tears slipped down my cheeks, and I couldn’t tell if it was the sting of brightness or just me weeping for something I was afraid I’d never see again. “I can take it all away. Together, we can bring back the light.” His hair whipped around the edges of my vision, his voice manic and firm in his beliefs. “I’d do it for you, Charlie. We’d be unstoppable. You can bring about a new era, a new age in which Elysia is ruled by its rightful heirs.” “And who would that be, you?” “No, not me. The Charbydon nobles. Elysia was once theirs before they were cast out into the dark shithole that is Charbydon, just as Elysia cast me out.” “Yeah, because you’re a psychopath.” His arms released me. I fell, finally letting out a terrifying scream. He caught me by the ankle, my body whipping around like a rag doll. My entire being trembled as he righted me and held me once again. I had to stay conscious, had to fight against the fear. His mouth was low against my ear. “Careful with the insults, Detective.” “I’m sorry,” I croaked, playing his game, and willing myself to breathe even and deep. “You’re doing all this to get back at your home world?” He thought about it for a second and then shrugged. “Once the nobles are faced with the truth, that Elysia was theirs, they will strike and take it back. And with the star’s power, I’ll help them wipe out every Adonai in existence, save for me, of course.” “That’s genocide. You can’t mean to wipe out your own kind.” “I can. They cast me out, turned their backs on me, all because I discovered the proof to the truth they have been hiding for ages …” He squeezed me tighter. I glanced over to see his profile as he rested his chin on my shoulder, a wistful smile on his perfect Adonai face. “Now that I have seen inside of you, I have big plans for you. The truth is more than you could ever imagine, Charlie. You have a great purpose in life, a great value, and “Is that why you’re murdering people, to protect me?” “No. I am murdering people because it’s necessary. Hold on, princess.” We dropped back. I gasped at the sickening, horrifying sensation of freefalling once more, eyes wide open, my face toward the sun as we fell, suddenly wanting those last few seconds of light before it slowly became swallowed up by darkness. All too soon, I found myself back in the swirl of primordial chaos and raw power. I couldn’t take it anymore. My heart was losing its battle trying to keep up with the shock and fear. Air was not reaching my lungs like it should. And somewhere in the back of my mind was the thought that all this willing power was mine to use and yet I was too fucking scared to even try. “Please,” I burst out on a shaky breath. “Take me back. I’ll do whatever you want. Just take me back.” And then I’d kill the sonofabitch. “Good girl.” Llyran rubbed his cheek against my hair. “You and me, we shall be a force of nature like the world has never seen. We shall raise the star and feed off the power. Only you can do that for me. You will, won’t you, princess? You want to see the light again, don’t you? The sun, the blue sky … I can give that to you, to your beloved city. Consider it a gift.” I nodded, swallowing hard and not caring what I had to say to get my feet back on solid ground. “Yes, I will. I’ll do anything.” “I knew you would see it my way.” I braced for the descent, turning my face against the sting of those glowing particles, my hair flying across my face and acting as a shield. Through the strands, I saw the entire city below me, lit with millions of lights. And then, as we drew closer, Helios Tower, and its enormous rooftop arboretum. And closer, I could pick out the individual terraces, and finally, there was Hank standing on the terrace, hands curled around the railing and looking up, his blond hair waving in the wind. And though I couldn’t actually see his expression, I sensed it—rage, horror, desperation. I blinked and he was gone, gone from the terrace as we descended rapidly. My muscles bunched and tensed. Finally after several seconds, the darkness slowed us. I had to think, figure out my next move. As soon as my feet hit the stone, I’d have to do something because there was no way in hell I was going to be Llyran’s Only problem was, the roller coaster ride through the darkness had left me a numb, trembling mass. And if we landed on that terrace, Hank was a goner and I was in deep shit. We glided toward the terrace at a sedate pace. Hank was nowhere in sight, thank God. Llyran was much stronger than the both of us—all he had to do was use the darkness to grab Hank and jerk him off the terrace, and I was doubtful my partner could survive that kind of fall despite his healing abilities. I pointed my toe, reaching for the railing. Almost there. A breath of relief slid out of my open mouth, and my body relaxed a fraction. Right before my deranged partner jumped up from behind the railing and took a flying leap toward us. “Hank! No—” His six foot four frame crashed into us, knocking us back into midair and crushing me against his chest as he wrapped his arms and legs around Llyran—me sandwiched in between them and utterly helpless. Llyran shouted in surprise, losing his command over the darkness. We fell straight down, windows and terraces flying by at incredible speed. “Hold on!” Hank yelled. Llyran cursed, struggling, trying to shove Hank off as we tumbled, going end over end. My eyes rolled back in my head, and the need to puke or pass out or both made me grit my teeth and force myself to do neither. Anytime now. We’d hit anytime now. I didn’t want to die like this. Images of my family flashed like a slide projector behind my eyelids, and a moment of calm descended upon me as the power began to coil in my gut. Screw this. I was not going to go out like this. “Don’t, Charlie!” Hank shouted. “Keep it inside! Trust me!” The power inside of me ballooned, pushing against my ribs, surging down my arms and legs. I screamed. I couldn’t control it. And then we were jerked to a fast halt. “Now! Let him go!” Hank yelled as Llyran regained control over the darkness. But he had stopped us too fast and when the darkness began to lift Llyran, his grip on me slipped. Hank and I continued to fall two stories. We nearly separated, but he pulled me close as I flailed to get my arms around him. We crashed into the flower garden in the center of the tower’s U-shaped drive. A loud “oomph” went out of Hank as his back hit first, along with my arms, which I’d somehow wrapped tightly around him. I screamed as pain exploded along my collarbone, shoulders, and back. My shoulders dislocated, and my collarbone snapped, the sound of my bone breaking stinging my eardrums. We sank ten inches into the soft soil, the crush of flowers falling in on top of us. I was immobile. And if Hank so much as twinged, the pain would be … unthinkable. “We have to get out of here,” he rasped through gritted teeth; I knew he was injured, too. “No. Don’t move.” He groaned, his heart pounding hard against my temple as I lay there completely still and trying to breathe through the pain. “Charlie. He’s coming back.” “I can’t move,” I muttered, mouth squished against his chest and hot tears wetting the fabric of his shirt. “I’m broken. I can’t.” “Heal. And heal fast. Right the fuck now.” “What the hell were you doing— “Trying to prevent it, actually.” He hissed in pain. “The only way was to get out of that tower fast and there was no other way but down. I knew he wouldn’t let himself hit, and that he’d try to hold on to you.” He straightened his leg and winced. The movement sent a hot jolt through my shoulder blades. “Stop it!” “Sorry, kiddo, but we’ve got to go.” I braced as he drew in a deep painful breath and sat up with me on top of him. “I know,” he whispered as though it hurt too much to speak louder, grabbing my arm. “You’re about to hate me even more.” I gasped, realizing what he was about to do, right before he twisted my arm and shoved the first of two dislocated shoulders into place. I was passing out, but I held out long enough to slur, “You’re right …” And then blackness took me. I woke to my forehead slapping against my partner’s lower back as he carried me like a sack through the Underground lobby and down the well-lit tunnel that led to Helios Alley. My arms dangled, the jarring movement threatening to send me right back into oblivion. My shoulders were useless and limp, and radiating such agonizing heat that my insides had shriveled. Each jab of Hank’s shoulder into my gut pushed a little bile up my throat. “Start healing yourself, Charlie,” Hank said in ragged breaths, apparently sensing that I was conscious, moving as fast as he could down Helios Alley. “Go to hell,” I snarled, blinded by pain so bad I couldn’t think straight. Hank turned into the entrance for The Bath House, fishing in his back pocket for his wallet and then finding his membership card to slide through the access panel near the large wooden doors. It clicked open, and he hurried inside the massive space built to resemble the baths in Elysia. The air was warm and humid. The sounds of birds echoed in the main entrance area, but all I could see were the blurry mosaic tiles and the edges of palms and containers. A moan rumbled in my sour throat amid the sound of Hank’s low voice and that of another. I was going to puke. We swung left, went a few more steps, and then entered another room. Hank laid me on a wide chaise lounge; the jolt of sharp pain that shot through me was the last straw. I turned, my collarbone screaming, and vomited on the tile floor. After I was through, I laid my head back on the soft white cushion, gasping for air and realizing I was completely alone, left with just the potted foliage and the piped-in flute music that was barely audible over the sound of a fountain. Now that I wasn’t being bounced on Hank’s shoulder, I attempted to heal. I regulated my breathing and opened myself to my Elysian power—the side that responded so well to those thoughts, emotions, and images of my loved ones. I healed quicker that way; my Charbydon power was also able to heal me, but hell if I had figured out how to access it for that purpose. It started small, but built until the energy hummed inside of me, the familiar, cool vibration like a welcome island breeze. Beyond my relaxing mind and body, I heard movement and felt a wet cloth being placed on my forehead. Murmured words passed between what I guessed was a Bath House attendant and Hank. Then all the outside stimuli fell away as I withdrew into myself and let the healing energy take over. I had no idea how long I laid there in a semi-conscious state as my body healed, but when I finally roused and turned my head to the side, it was to see Hank sprawled out on the twin lounge set against the opposite wall. We were in some sort of private massage or meditation room with its own bath, one of many within the complex. The rectangular walls were inlaid with mosaic tiles like the rest of The Bath House, and four columns rose from the corners of the long rectangular pool. Iron sconces held fat-burning candles and two large basins in the far corners held open flames. The faint scent of citrusy herbs made the warm air seem thinner, fresher, and easier to breathe. The only light came from the soft glow of the candles and fires, giving the place a dark, aged feel as though I’d stepped back in time to ancient Babylon. My arms and shoulders still tingled with healing energy, but I was unsure if I’d healed completely, so I used my stomach muscles to rise and get a better look at the surroundings. Hank was flat on his back, hands resting on his stomach, his breathing deep and even. There was a gaping hole in his pants leg and blood surrounding it, some deep scratches still on the sides of his arms from where some of the stiffer, thicker stems must have cut into his skin, but other than that he appeared okay. Gently, I swung my legs over the cushy lounge and very gingerly tested my shoulders, starting with a slow roll. Lots of heat and pain. My hand felt along my clavicle and the tender spot where the bone had snapped, but was obviously now mending. What was even more amazing, besides sheer luck in landing where we had, was that Hank’s insane escape plan had worked. We’d gotten away from Llyran and the darkness. We’d survived a fall from forty-six stories up—a nightmare that would forever join a few others in my subconscious. And then he’d tossed my broken body over his shoulder like I was some crash-test dummy. The pain had been unbearable. I let my gaze scan the room once more, pushing the memory into the back of my mind. There was a small pitcher of ice water and two glasses sitting on a table in between the lounges. I poured a glass and gulped it down, much thirstier than I’d realized. I wanted a second cup, but sacrificed the rest for payback—I stood with the pitcher, pausing a second to let my wobbly legs regain their balance and for my head to stop spinning, then walked over to the peaceful form of my partner and dumped the entire contents onto his face. His arms flew up and he jerked upright, sputtering and taking a moment to realize where he was. Slowly he wiped a palm over his wet face. Then his gaze found mine and went sapphire hard. “What the hell’s the matter with you?” “Don’t you He wiped his face again and then dragged his damp hair back from his forehead, the muscle in his jaw twitching. “What? Save your ungrateful little ass?” “Yes.” I cocked my head, feeling rank and stubborn. “I had things under control.” “Yeah. The Oh-fuck-I’m-going-to-pee-myself look on your face really said ‘control’ to me.” He swung his legs off the bed, and then rubbed his hand along his shin where the hole and the blood on his pants were. “Now you’re going to have to get me some water. I’m thirsty.” My hands squeezed the pitcher handle. “Get your own stupid water.” He stilled. “No. I will not get my own water. I didn’t back down, either, willing myself not to blink, even as my conscience began to feel guilty for what I’d done. He “Fine,” I muttered. “I’ll get your stupid water.” “Fine.” I let the door bang shut and then marched down the hallway toward the concierge desk, hoping to hell that Zara was off today. Hank’s on-and-off-again girlfriend was the last person I wanted to see. But, of course, there she was, sitting behind the desk, her perfect blue eyes staring at her computer monitor, and her long, strawberry blond hair tucked behind one ear and falling in a sheet of glossy satin that pricked my envy. I slammed the pitcher on the counter. “Mister High and Mighty wants water.” Zara jumped. “Charlie.” She stood, smiling in greeting, rising to her glorious supermodel height, and took the pitcher. “You guys have been out for”—she glanced at her monitor—“an hour and a half? I take it you’re feeling better.” “It feels like I just fell forty-six stories. It hurts, and I’m … not happy.” I turned, leaning my back against the counter as she went to the water cooler and filled the pitcher. She chuckled. “Don’t be too mad. Hank carried you here with a cracked skull, a broken kneecap, and a few internal injuries if I had to guess. And he cleaned up your … mess … on the floor.” “Oh.” All of my ire deflated with that one word. “I thought someone else did that.” Once the pitcher was full, she turned to me and held it out. “He really cares about you, you know.” Heat crept into my cheeks as I took the pitcher. She glanced down at her feet and then back up at me, giving me a small shrug and a half-smile. “I don’t know if he told you … I broke it off with him. For good, this time. I’d been thinking about it for a while anyway.” I set the pitcher on the counter, still holding on to the handle. “But, why?” “It’s hard to explain. I like him. I really do.” She leaned closer to the counter, looking like she could use someone to talk to. “Honestly? It’s the voice-mod.” Hank’s words from earlier came back to me. I shook my head. “I don’t get it …” Her perfect gaze fixed on a point beyond my shoulder for a moment as she decided how to explain. “With it stuck on his neck … certain My brow lifted high in realization. “Oh. Okay. I see …” She breathed a sigh of relief. Her smile was so pretty it made me cringe and want to be her devoted best friend all at the same time. “Yeah,” she said. “Sirens … well, we Just the idea of a male siren using his voice during sex—I was red-faced just thinking about it. “Mott Tech will find a way to remove it.” “I know. And Hank’s a great guy and everything. I’m just not sure we were meant for each other. It’s all awkward now and …” She laughed, shaking her head. “I don’t know what I’m saying.” “It’s okay,” I muttered. “If anyone knows awkward, it’s me.” She sat in her chair. “Make sure you guys use the healing pool. It’ll speed your recovery.” Her fingers tapped against the keyboard keys, her gaze returning to the monitor. I slid the pitcher off the counter and muttered a lame goodbye, walking a lot slower down the hall than I had a few minutes ago. Hank’s irritability, his reaction to my using the word When I returned to the room, he was lying on the lounge, one arm thrown over his face. I picked up the second glass, filled it, and held it out to him. “Here … sorry about earlier … it just hurt.” Tears stung my eyes. “Really bad.” He turned his head slightly and opened his eyes, staring at me for a second before sitting up and taking the glass. “Thanks.” With a heavy exhale, I sat on the lounge across from him, my attention riveted on the tile floor. “No, I should be thanking you. For saving my life and getting us out of that tower.” I glanced up. “And, for the record, I was Hank finished off the water and then one corner of his mouth lifted into a shadow of a smile. “I was scared, too. Seeing you go flying backward off the terrace and up into the clouds … I thought he was going to drop you. On purpose.” “He showed me the sun,” I said quietly. “He believes the Char nobles were once Elysians who were cast out. Llyran’s got it in his head that I can help him return the nobles back to Elysia.” Hank nodded thoughtfully, leaning his elbows on his knees and rubbing his chin. “How does he think you can help?” “Hell if I know. He’s grandiose, wants more than power. He wants to be in control, of everything and everyone. He mentioned the star, raising the star, just like Daya said. Thinks I can make that happen for him.” I rubbed a hand down my face and let out a long, tired moan. “You think he’s still looking for us?” “No. I think he’s fucking with you. Maybe he wants to do to you what he’s been doing to the others: take your power.” Hank stood and held out his hand to help me up, but I just sat there looking up at him. “Then why hasn’t he?” I asked lamely. “I don’t know. Seeing what you’re made of? Testing your power? We knew this would happen once news got out about you, what’s been done to you. You’re going to be a lure, a beacon to anyone searching for a leg up, for power.” “Yeah, and I can’t even summon power when I really need it. I can’t control it.” “Eh, don’t worry about that, Charlie. You’re a newborn. The rest of us have had ages to learn how to focus, for it to finally become natural, even in the most hectic, unsettling moments.” Aaron said the same thing every time I got frustrated during a lesson. And it was true, I knew, but when it counted the most, when I needed it the most—sometimes, I failed myself. I could have prevented Llyran from taking me on the joy ride from hell. Theoretically, I was more powerful than he was. I had the genes of all three worlds and access to more power than any being on this planet. For all the good it did me. “I’m sorry about the water,” I said again, trying to think of a way to explain. “Sometimes … pain, or the reminder of it, makes us do rash things. Call it payback for me ditching you the other day.” He gave a crooked grin. Spoken like someone with a ton of experience in the pain department. Curious. “Come on, we should get into the water. The next time I face Llyran, I want to be completely healed.” Hank grabbed the end of his shirt and began to pull it up. My face went hot. He froze, seeing my look. “You know, sooner or later, you’re going to have to get used to the Elysian way of things.” I turned my back to him and let out the breath I’d been holding, not bothering to respond. Not sure I’d ever get used to the nonexistent modesty held by the Elysians. In the baths, in this part of their culture, naked was the way to go. I had a healthy appreciation for the male form and had my share of lusty fantasies, but that didn’t equate to the reality of standing in an indoor nudist colony and being completely at ease. Hell, even baring it all with the object of one’s desire could be a bit nerve-inspiring at first. Hank’s soft chuckle issued behind me as I heard his zipper slide down. “Relax, Madigan. Every private room has the clothing option. I’ll wear a shenti. There should be a gown on the chest at the end of your lounge.” I still didn’t turn around, though I did cast my eyes toward the lounge and the thick pile of towels and the neatly folded gowns. The clothing option had been made available to the small number of human bath house members and those who had adopted human ways. Once I heard Hank’s footsteps retreat toward the pool, I went for the sheer curtain that hung between two of the columns. I pulled each cord and let them swish closed. I changed quickly, wincing as I pulled the short, Greek-style gown over my head, and leaving on my bra and undies since the material would become transparent in the water. Hank was already sitting on a mat by the pool’s edge, his back to me. I squared my shoulders, drew in a deep breath, and walked forward. As I drew closer, I dropped my towel onto the nearest table, noticing Hank was cross-legged, posture straight, eyelids closed. I’d seen him half naked in a shenti before, at this same bath house, but it still did nothing to calm the girly spike of awareness at seeing his perfect form, all tanned and hard, and unavoidable, wearing only a linen loincloth. |
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