Page 41 of Shadow's Chosen

Nezka glared at her then let out a hiss of breath and turned for the stair. "If there is another fight. And don't expect me to go hard like that again."

"Oh, come on! It wasn't that bad," Elise called, following him to the steps.

"Not this time maybe..." she heard him mutter. "But I won't risk it again." She thought to argue when he turned back to her. "It’s all we will do for now. It's time we started making plans."

Elise paused, gazing up at him, thinking about arguing still but deciding to nod her head instead. "Yes. I agree."

***

They returned to their room on the top level, Elise feeling a slight soreness building in her chest but nothing more. Nezka went over to the bag and took out the strange green block. He broke it in half and gave one piece to her.

"What is this?" Elise sniffed it. It had a minty, citrus sort of scent.

"Soap," Nezka answered. "Use the rest of the water in your canteen, and I'll fill it up when you're done." He picked up the other canteen that had once been filled with liquor but was now replaced with water and headed out of the room. "I'll return shortly."

Elise watched him go, curious about his reaction to their fight. She let it go for the time being and went to her chair. As she began to take off her armor and unclasp the suit, she grimaced as she smelled the inside and the stink of sweat. She peeled away the top half and shivered as the chill air bit at her. She washed quickly, scrubbing her skin with the block till she was red then washing the dirt away with cold water. When she was finished with her upper half, she risked doing her lower, assuming Nezka would warn her before he entered again. She washed and rinsed to the best of her ability, using up all the soap he had given her. When she deemed herself clean enough, she placed a little more salve on a few areas still healing. Then, with the remainder of her water, she rinsed out her suit, letting it dry some before forcing it back on. With her canteen now empty, she left the room to inform Nezka she was finished.

She walked down the hall and was about to call out to him when her eyes glanced over to a nearby room, and she saw him sitting by a faded glass window. She peered in closer, and her heart did a little flip. She slid back quietly, hiding herself by the open door. She remained still for a moment longer then slowly looked back in.

He was naked from the top, his back turned to her as he took his canteen and poured water across his shoulders. His back was filled with the same white scars as his face and arms, stretching across tight skin and sharp shoulder blades. His body was hard muscle along a slender but well-built frame that seemed larger, longer than any human’s. It was an odd yet curious melding of a man's body and a primitive, animalistic power; like he had inherited the muscular complexity of a tiger or wolf. The scars even reminded her of a big cat, though his skin seemed more reptilian in nature. The sight left her breathless when she first noticed him because, for a split second, she thought he'd begun transforming into some hybrid werebeast.

No. No, that's just...him.

Nezka didn't turn to look at her, and she wondered if he really didn't notice she was there. Feeling embarrassed for staring, Elise started to open her mouth to make herself known when he bent his back and—

Elise's eyes widened, and she had to cover her mouth to stifle her gasp. She slid back from the door again and just stood there.

He had spines.

Not just a regular human spine but sharp protruding spikes that curved along his back like quills. They looked sharp and deadly as they rose up when he had bent forward.

Elise, though shocked, was just curious enough to dare another peek. She carefully looked around the door and saw that he was now standing up, the sight of his hard stomach and broad chest exposed in the dim light. He began to take off the rest of his gear, and Elise caught a brief look at the sharp line of his lower abdomen before she quickly turned away and headed back to the room, ignoring the sudden heat that ran across her body.

Whether from the embarrassment of watching or from something else she didn't care to name, Elise distracted herself by keeping busy, readjusting her armor to her suit then organizing their food rations. When she heard him return, she didn't look up, pretending to be focused on a snag along her suit .

He didn't seem to notice her unusual quiet as he took up the empty canteens and went to refill them. When he returned again, he sat down in the chair beside her and began to repack the bag. Elise eyed him cautiously and saw him wearing the Red Blade suit once more.

"I've looked over the map a few times while you were resting," he began. He touched at his band, bringing up the map before them. He focused on where they were now and what was ahead. The next gate wasn't far, but they were off their original course and would have to find another way through. "We have a few options on getting past but none will be easy," he stated. "We can head back farther north and find the trail we used through the tram tunnels..."

"I'd rather not go down there again," Elise confessed.

"I would agree. By now, they will be swarming with Red Blades," Nezka said. "So, that leaves another gate back south that may not be as heavily guarded but will put us at least a day or two behind and would force us back into the pack of car thieves’ territory. Or there is the bridge."

"The bridge?"

Nezka focused on a part of the gate that was only a little ways east from them. There, they saw an opening unlike the others. Instead of a regular tunnel entrance, there was a bridge situated between the walls with what looked to be a building at its center. A deep river base flowed parallel to the gate at first then crossed below it, exactly where the bridge stood. "It seems that this is an old gatehouse made before the other gates were built. It could not be torn down, likely due to the river-chasm below, so for whatever reason, the drogin left it and built the new gate across the old," Nezka explained, pointing to a crossway at the top that went over the gatehouse and bridge. "The bridge is several spans long on both sides of the gate and doesn't end until the river turns off either to the north or south. It is the closest pass by far, and if we come out the other side, there is a road that can take us back to a path toward the energy deposit."

Elise observed the map carefully where the bridge and gate crossed each other. It wasn't far at all. The only thing standing between where they were now and the bridge was an expulsion plant—whatever the hell that was. After that, they could get a good look at the bridge and see what they were up against. If they could sneak past, they could gain some serious ground despite being a little off their course. Even the road he mentioned had to veer away a little before putting them back on their original path. Elise fixed her gaze on a portion of the map just past the bridge that the road went around. It was completely blank. "What's going on here?" She pointed to it.

"Uncertain," Nezka admitted. "Maybe an unmarked blockade. Or a hole."

"Hm. Too bad," Elise said. "If we could cross that particular section, it could make for a decent shortcut."

"Perhaps. But for now, I think our focus should lie on the bridge," Nezka suggested.

"Good point. I think it's a great idea. We should go for it."

"There's one issue." Nezka focused on the bridge. "What I've heard from others while out on my runs is that the bridge is owned by someone called Krow. The gatehouse now serves as both his own personal stronghold and as a sort of gambling entertainment clubhouse. They let people cross but for a price."

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