Page 55 of Shadow's Chosen

A bullet hit the back of the two-wheeler, and smoke hissed out from the wound. Elise called out to him as another sharp crack sounded, and her shout turned into a sharp cry. They exited off the bridge and flew down the road, Nezka determined to get as far away as possible.

The bullets ceased as they raced on past crumbled and burned-out buildings. When they came to a large city square, a wall met them ahead, forcing Nezka to decide whether to go right or left.

Before he could choose, Elise's grip on him loosened, and she began to slip. Cursing, Nezka skid to a halt and grabbed her arm just before she fell over and hit her head on the road. He let the two-wheeler drop on its side as he quickly pulled her up.

"Elise?" he said as he grabbed her waist. Her head fell back, face pale, sweat beginning to break on her forehead. Cursing again, Nezka hooked his arm under her legs and carried her quickly over to a broken statue of some drogin general on top of a horned beast, carefully lowering himself below it. He sat her up and examined her back.

She had been hit. He tugged off the now cracked armor plate and tore the hole in the suit wider so that he could better see the broken skin. The wound wasn't deep at all, but that wasn't what concerned him. What concerned him was the shade of purple and black spreading around the wound and across her back.

The bullets held poison.

Elise moaned as Nezka shifted her to lay against him with his back to the statue. "Elise, stay awake," he said softly, wiping away damp hair from her face. "Stay awake." He searched frantically around, as if he might find something that could help, but the square held nothing but broken statues and uprooted trees. He wrapped his arm around her and brushed his hand along her head as her body began to shake. If he didn't find help soon...

Elise's chest fell as she shook, each breath a low, gurgling wheeze, her head falling back on his shoulder. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

"Just breathe, Elise, breathe." Nezka held her close, knowing his only options were to either carry her until they found help—if they ever did and if she could make it in time—or to leave her momentarily so that he could find aid on his own. He hated the idea of leaving her, especially with Krow's men not far away, but he didn't think he'd have a choice. Closing his eyes tight and baring his teeth, he prepared himself to lay her out in order to start ahead and find an antidote—anything—that might save her.

As he opened his eyes and began to lift her up, Nezka looked across the square near to the wide, vacant wall and saw a hooded figure. They locked eyes, and the figure lifted their hand. Nezka tensed, ready to place Elise on the ground beside him and fight if need be. The figure was small in size but could be armed. They took a step toward him, and Nezka growled.

They both stilled in surprise.

"I mean you no harm," came a gruff, low voice from under the hood. "My name is Worik. I am merely a watcher of the wall, and I saw you drive in."

Nezka brushed his knuckles across Elise's cheek, studying the figure carefully. "Show me your face, and maybe I will believe you harmless."

The figure lifted their hood, and Nezka saw it was just another drogin only older, with long shaggy hair growing on their head and face. He looked innocent enough, though he might be hiding a weapon under his robes. But with Elise, Nezka had very little time to gauge whether the man was truly honest. They had nothing of value now, and if he had wanted to kill them, he would have already attempted it. Nezka decided the risk was worth it. "Can you help us?" Nezka asked before lifting Elise up again.

"I can," Worik said. "But the poison takes her fast. We must act quickly. Follow."

Nezka pressed Elise close as he lifted her up and carried her across the square to the wall. The drogin went over to one side of the wall where a control box stood and opened it, turning on several switches. He closed the box then walked up right next to the wall and looked back at Nezka. "Follow." He stepped through the wall and disappeared.

Nezka hesitated for only a second before he stepped over and cautiously crossed through. There was a flash of darkness before he found himself standing on the other side. He looked back at the wall. A few feet away, the drogin closed up another control box then gestured for him to follow.

They had come into some sort of forest or park. A path stretched across an open field with sections of trees along both sides made of white bark and dark blue leaves. Several marks ahead was a large, ancient looking building. There were no bridges or railways that crossed overhead like in the rest of the undercity. Here, not even the massive towers blocked the sunlight. It was open and bright, and Nezka wondered how no one from the high city wouldn’t have noticed it.

Time for answers later. Now, he only cared for Elise. They raced down the path and came to the doors of the ancient site which opened at their approach. Inside was dim and warm, with lanterns guiding their way. Other robed drogin walked past, hardly noticing them. Worik took him into an inner chamber where a large female drogin sat beside two basins of water.

"Modella." Worik bowed. He went up to the woman and whispered in her ear.

She looked over at Nezka and waved him to come closer. "Lay her out. Worik, get the others, and make sure they bring my mixing kit."

Worik bowed again and left as Nezka laid Elise out beside the woman, who gave him a tight glare.

"Did you do this to her?"

Nezka glared back. "No."

"But you are not so innocent as you claim, are you?" Modella shifted forward and placed a hand gently on Elise's brow. "You are one of those Red Blades."

Nezka was uncertain at first whether to be honest or not but, judging by how different they seemed to the others he had encountered, he chose to trust them. "I am not. I stole this gear so that I could get past the gate."

"That so?" She eyed him curiously. "Your voice reads truth enough. You will reveal yourself more to me in time." Her hand lowered to Elise's neck. "She is waning." Modella touched last at Elise's chest. "Where are my maids?" she shouted.

The door to the chamber opened, and several other women scurried inside. They circled around, and Nezka stood aside. As they crouched around Elise, placing several jars on the ground, they rolled her over and began to unclasp her suit. Elise's eyes were shut, but Nezka could still see her chest rising and falling. He closed his eyes and could see that the colors of her spirit had not entirely faded but they were dimming.

"Now get out," the older female snapped at Nezka.

Nezka opened his eyes. "I'm not leaving until she is well."

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