Page 50 of The Wolf and the Chimera
Chapter Fifteen
Elle
“C’mon, Ella-Bella,” Dad teased and knocked over my knight. “You’ll have to do better than that.”
We sat below the deck of the ship that had been home for the last three years. Being constantly on the run was part of my existence, but I didn’t mind life on the ocean. At our little fold-out table, I sat across from Dad and bit back a smile. He was an excellent chess player, but his fatal flaw was consistently underestimating me.
I feigned disappointment. “Man, I thought you would miss that.”
Over Dad’s broad shoulder was the petite galley. Freshly brewed coffee and sea salt scented the air. We hit a big wave, and the light above us swung. Dad reached out to steady its wire. He wore one of his tacky, floral-printed shirts that I hated and that Mom teased him for relentlessly. As if my thoughts summoned her, she descended the spiral staircase and headed toward the pot of coffee.
Her blonde hair was coiled into an impeccable bun, and she wore her usual nylon battle suit. Unlike Dad, she didn’t believe in leisure.
A pang of longing struck me so violently, I gasped.
“What is it, honey?” Dad asked.
An image of Mom—bloody and broken and surrounded by snarling wolves—flashed back to me.
“This,” I whispered, “this isn’t real. You guys are…you guys are…”
They’re out of your reach,the sorceress whispered,but I can take you to them.
When I had been forced to leave him, Dad had been so terribly outnumbered. No one could’ve survived such an attack.
Could they?
I had harbored hope that they had survived, but…
Memories of the sorceress’s promises from her last possession hurtled back to me. I couldn’t believe I had forgotten.
It was the damned sedative,she cooed.It made you forget, but I’m here to help you remember.
From the galley, Mom set down her coffee mug and stared at me.
“Find us,” she said. “We’ll be in the meeting spot.”
Call out to me,the sorceress whispered,and I will come. I will help you reach them.
Dad clutched my hand. Tears brimmed in his angular eyes.
“Find us, sweet girl,” he said. “We’re waiting for you.”
???
I hurtled back into consciousness and clutched my heaving chest. From the couch in front of me, Ryder’s soft snores hiccupped, and he jerked upright.
“Elle,” he whispered. Glowing amber eyes met mine. “Elle, what is it?”
I couldn’t bring myself to speak. Tears swam in my vision, and Ryder rushed to my side. With a click, he turned on the bedside lamp, as if chasing away the darkness in the room would ease the weight in my heart.
“They’re waiting for me,” I said. “All this time, they’ve been waiting. I have to get to them.”
I had already forgotten the sorceress’s promise once. I wouldn’t forget it again.
“Who?” Ryder asked. “Who’s waiting for you?”
I took a deep breath. “My parents.”
