Page 31 of Elanie & the Empath
“I imagine that will always be there,” I said. “That balancing act of love and heartache.”
“You might be right.” Then his expression turned light. “But, bloody hell, Sem. I’m so excited to meet him I can’t sleep at night. I’m going to have a son.” His eyes misted. “I’m going to be a father.”
Holding my glass out to him, I said, “Congratulations.”
He clinked my glass with his. And yes. There were definitely good things about living on this ship.
12.SEM
After a few too many beers,I tiptoed carefully over the diamond-patterned carpet, trying not to touch any of the lines on the way back to my pod. This was surprisingly difficult, because I was fairly drunk. But I enjoyed the distraction. Until loud, determined footsteps thumped down the hallway in front of me.
I raised my head and rubbed my eyes. “What the…?”
Elanie, clad in pink silk pajamas, marched toward me, stepping on all the lines and looking too gorgeous to be real.
“Elanie?” I said, rubbing my eyes again.
She didn’t respond. Just kept walking.
“Hello!” I waved my arms above my head. “Elanie, hello!”
Ignoring me like I wasn’t even there, she picked up her pace, her expression alarmingly blank. I’d seen that same dead-eyed gaze once before on the ship’s Vlog, on another bionic who’d been marching silently toward the docking bay.
Darius.
“Elanie, where are you going?” I asked, my heartbeat lurching to a gallop as she bolted past me.
Spinning on my heel, I followed behind her, fueled by a sudden and knee-buckling fear. Something was wrong. Her eyes weren’t her eyes. Her steps weren’t their usual smooth glide but a swift and jerky stomp. Her shoulders were hunched, drawn forward like she was a puppet attached to a string yanking her onward.
I commed on his private channel.
Declan’s voice was stern.
I was about to explain the situation when Elanie broke off, rushing full speed toward the elevators. I had to sprint down the hall so I could jump inside with her before the elevator doors slid closed.
“Elanie, what’s happening?” I asked, breathless and terrified. “Where are we going?”
She said nothing. Her face was set hard as stone, her eyes boring holes into the elevator door.
Declan demanded.
I commed. I watched her press the button for the docking bay. I shook her shoulders and snapped my fingers in front of her face. Panic skyrocketed inside me when nothing worked.
It was Co-Captain Isla Jones this time, her voice calm but grave.
I promised, even though it was a losing proposition. One Portisan who hadn’t done a single push-up inmonths against a bionic wouldn’t be much of a fight. But then I remembered Darius’s bruised and swollen skin, his rigid body and irradiated eyes, and adrenaline flooded my bloodstream. I’d push planets out of orbit with my bare hands to make sure that wouldn’t be her.
Isla commed.
The elevatordinged, and Elanie burst through the open doors.
“Elanie, please stop!” I cried, grasping her arm, her hand, anything I could cling to while she sliced like a knife down the hallway.
When she turned the corner toward the airlocks, my heart plummeted.
“Elanie!” Digging my heels into the carpet, I leaned back, pulling on her so hard something in my elbow popped. “Stop!”
She slowed, turning back toward me.Thank the Saints.
