Rex Equilibrium: Elei's Chronicles, #3

By Chrystalla Thoma

A lot has happened since Elei fled his home island with a bullet in his side and the Fleet on his heels. With the help of his friends, he's managed to disorganize the regime, run by the all-women race of the
Gultur, and he's on a mission to bring peace to the Seven Islands.
Old secrets come to the surface, friendships are forged and betrayals discovered, and a girl, Alendra, has managed to take hold of Elei's feelings.With a map that leads underground and the hope of toppling the Gultur regime, Elei and his companions seek a weapon to tip the balance of power. But unrest
within the resistance means that this time they are on their own and, as if crossing a world torn by war while keeping Rex under control wasn't enough, Elei fears that before the end Alendra might break his heart.

Novel. Around 300 pages. Some profanity and violence. For older/mature Young Adult public.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chrystalla Thoma
• Release date: Jun 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781497739215

Book preview

Rex Equilibrium

The bonding

With a map that leads underground and the hope of toppling the Gultur regime, Elei and his companions seek a weapon to tip the balance of power. But unrest within the resistance means that this time they are on their own and, as if crossing a world torn by war while keeping Rex under control wasn’t enough, Elei fears that before the end Alendra might break his heart.

Orphic Hymn to Hecate

Hecate the Beauteous, you I invoke:

You, of roads and crossways,

Of heaven, of earth, and sea as well.

You, the saffron-clad one among the tombs,

Dancing with dead souls the Bacchic rite.

You, daughter of Perses, lover of desolation,

Taking joy in deer and dogs, in the night.

You, terrible Queen! Devourer of beasts!

Ungirded, possessed of form unapproachable!

You, bull-huntress, universal sovereign Empress:

You mountain-roaming guide, and bride, and nursemaid,

I entreat, O Maiden, your presence at these sacred rites,

With grace to the Oxherd and a joyful heart eternal.

TitlePage_RE Kopie

Rex Equilibrium © Copyright 2012 by Chrystalla Thoma

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, events, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Cover design by Chrystalla Thoma, David M. Pearlman and Renée E. Zerah.

http://chrystallathoma.com

To my grandparents

For their love of the sea that we, their descendants, carry in our blood, on the shore where the ancient ships landed.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Harlow Fallon, Jean Davis, Cindy Borgne, and J. A. Beard for critiquing Rex Equilibrium. Also many thanks to Cyrus Keith, Marion Sipe, and my lovely writers’ group on Facebook for their help with brainstorming. A big thank you also goes to my group ‘Writers Cubed’ for their constant support.

But above all, I would like to thank my wonderful friends and editors Claire Bugler Hewitt and Arlene Webb for their help and enthusiasm. Ladies, I couldn’t have done it without you.

The translation of the Orphic Hymn to Hecate found on the first page is copyright 1994 by S. Eyer and published with permission.

THE SEVEN ISLANDS

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Chapter 1

Medicine time. I know you love it. Grinning, enjoying himself too damn much, Kalaes placed the cup on the kitchen table. Bottoms up, kid.

The sour smell wafted up to Elei’s nostrils, making his eyes water. He took the cup, toasted Kalaes silently, and gulped the stuff down. Bitter and acid, a combination of herbs and real medicine, available to them now they’d reached one of the resistance’s main hiding places. It was meant to strengthen telmion, one of his most powerful resident parasites — a killer he’d lived with for over ten years. He’d gladly be rid of it and not miss the cramps it sent through his insides and the bouts of fever and vomiting, but he had no choice but to keep telmion alive and kicking. Because it was the only thing that could control Rex, the king of parasites, his newest acquisition. Without telmion, Rex would surely kill him, and even if it didn’t, it controlled him like a puppet.

He’d rather be dead than played by a parasite, out of control and at risk of killing people. Killing Hera. He returned the cup to the table, grimacing.

He leaned closer to the half-open window. Below spread the small town of Dion. Aircars crowded the street below, their acrid dakron fumes nauseating.

Kalaes sank into the chair across from him and lit an ama cigarette. He lifted an eyebrow, pushing the packet forward, and Elei nodded, accepting a cig. He borrowed the lighter and lit it, drawing a long drag of its sweetness. It relaxed his muscles, and Kalaes’ presence was calming, too. The warm aura of strength that surrounded the older boy and his companionable silence set Elei at ease.

A good thing, with Rex aware of the scent of two Gultur inside the apartment, trying to send his heart into overdrive. It wasn’t like they could exactly keep their distance in the space of four rooms and a kitchen, while waiting for word from the Undercurrent.

Hopefully the medicine would work and telmion would stabilize, flaring just enough to suppress Rex without landing him in bed — again. The last few days flashed before his eyes, and they were a glimpse into the nether hells. He remembered Kalaes sitting on the mattress, applying cool compresses to his hot forehead, helping him up when he had to puke. Between vomiting and fever, he’d dreamed of Pelia and the freezing depths of the ocean, of monsters lurking in the dark.

But the medicine dosing had been too high, and Hera and Kalaes had ended up in a shouting match. The dose was lowered and the queasiness diminished.

He drew another mouthful of sweet smoke and closed his eyes, rubbing his chest. Ghostly pain lingered from the near heart-attack he’d had a few days back, right after they’d retrieved the box. Rex had fixed that, apparently. Now the constant adrenaline spikes had stopped, he finally felt human again. Well, as human as he could at this point.

Have you seen— Alendra’s voice broke through the quiet.

Elei’s eyes opened in time to see her retreat from the room. It was hard to feel human with Alendra around. Before arriving at the safe house, he thought she’d gotten over her initial dislike of him, her disgust with the snakeskin visible on his neck and cheek, mark of telmion. But over the days he’d spent in bed, sick and feverish, he’d barely seen her around, and now she’d taken to avoiding him completely.

Ale, wait! Kalaes called out, half-rising, but she was gone. He shrugged and sat back down. He rubbed his tattooed cheek, the three black lines that looked like scars. So... What crawled up her ass and died?

Elei choked on the smoke. No clue.

Tell you what. Kalaes leaned forward, eyes glinting with mischief. The girl likes you, fe. I could read it on her face after we left Dakru City. Go and talk to her, hash it out, then kiss the living daylights out of her. What d’ya say?

Elei stared at the glowing end of his cig, the embers burning golden like Alendra’s eyes. She hates me.

No, she doesn’t. Kalaes glared briefly, then smiled. She doesn’t, he repeated softly, and Elei wished he could see what he saw.

Right, she pissing loves me.

Hey, wipe that scowl off your face, fe. Kalaes raked a hand through his wild dark hair and winked. Too old for you, I’ve told you this before. You’re squinting like an old hag and it’ll spoil your complexion.

My what? Elei blinked.

It’ll give you wrinkles. Kalaes waved his cig in the air, leaving red trails. The spiral tattoo on his hand seemed to writhe. And indigestion.

You sound like you’re on drugs. Elei stared thoughtfully at his cig. Tell me you didn’t add something extra to this?

What? Hells, no. We want no trouble and security’s tighter than a virgin’s— Kalaes met Elei’s gaze and snapped his mouth shut. Why you looking at me like that, fe? You’ve done it before, haven’t you?

Done what? Elei frowned, and then heat rushed up his face. Oh.

Yeah, that. The bump and grind. A gleam entered Kalaes’ eyes. So?

Elei grunted. He’d swear his face couldn’t get any hotter. Soon his skin would start to blister.

Well, shit! Kalaes smacked his open hand on the table, making Elei jump. You really haven’t?

None of your business. Elei gathered as much dignity as he could around himself. Growing up in the trashlands didn’t give him much of an opportunity to hang around others, and the monks who’d taken him in after Albi’s death kept boys and girls apart. He was pretty sure many other guys his age hadn’t done it either... Right?

The hells. Kalaes’ grin reached his ears. Of course it’s my business. You’re my brother. I have to make sure you get laid.

Elei groaned. Can we just drop it?

Kalaes stuck the cig in his mouth and smoke curled over his lips. He leaned back, half-squinting at Elei. There’re a few things I need to make sure you know. Hey, as an older brother, I’ve a responsibility. Because if you make out with Ale, I—

Drop it! Startled by his own outburst, Elei pushed back the chair and stumbled to the window to press a hand against the cold glass, resisting the urge to smash his fist through it. Look, she can’t stand me. I make her skin crawl. I can’t... He shook his head, rubbed his chest.

Hey, relax. I bet she’ll get over it. Kalaes shifted, his chair creaking. I mean, she went with you into the Palace, had your back, didn’t she? Maybe it’s that special day of the month—

She doesn’t need a special day. This, Elei touched his marked cheek, is enough reason. He forced the bitterness down. Don’t worry. I’m used to it. Thought I was. Maybe most boys his age had gotten laid. Dammit. It’s okay.

A rustle, footsteps, and Kalaes stood next to him, looking out into the evening, the cig forgotten between his fingers. He was silent for a while, just standing there, the tattoo of the three black lines on his cheek stark and vibrant, like war paint. The smudges of a bruise on his jaw and others circling his wrists were the only visible reminders of the torture he’d endured from the Gultur, along with the deeper darkness in his eyes and the uncharacteristic silence.

Elei touched his own cheek, where Kalaes had drawn three lines in blood, marking him as one of his own, one of his gang. The lines had washed away, but he almost thought he felt the drying blood pull his skin.

Sorry, fe, Kalaes said. Didn’t mean to upset you.

No, you... Elei looked for something else to say, but found nothing, so he stuck the cig between his lips only to discover it’d gone out. You didn’t.

I’m not much of a brother. Hells, I lost everyone placed under my care.

Startled, Elei turned to stare at Kalaes who was rubbing the back of his neck, a sheepish expression on his face. You didn’t lose me. You’re not such a bad brother.

The gloom lifted from Kalaes’ gaze and he flashed Elei a smile, reaching out to ruffle his hair. Good, because you aren’t getting rid of me that easy, kid.

I sure hope not. Though the fear lingered, waiting to pounce again.

Now that you’re better, I think it’s time we all had a meeting to decide what to do next. Kalaes frowned. We should go through the box again. Not that Hera hasn’t been through the documents ten thousand times already and then some.

Hera. Elei’s gut clenched in reaction — Gultur — and he hoped Rex would behave. Hera’s asleep.

It’s about time she woke up, then. She’s recovered, her wound’s all but healed, and her chick’s here. She can’t spend the whole day sleeping.

Her chick? Sacmis?

Who else? Kalaes grinned and winked at Elei. A nudge in the right direction, and they’ll jump each other’s bones, I’m telling ya. I can already feel the heat.

A snort escaped Elei and he turned away. He could feel the heat all right; it licked his skin with fiery tongues, wrapping his body in flames. He could see them, Hera and Sacmis kissing... Alendra holding him, kissing him... Damn the images. His body reacted, tingling, tightening, a maddening pressure that suspended him between pain and pleasure with no way out.

Stop it. He shifted uncomfortably.

Kalaes clapped him on the back again, snorting. I told ya you need to get laid, fe. And he left the room, chuckling.

Chapter 2

Elei returned to the low table and dropped the cig into the ashtray. Now he was lucid and out of bed, he needed to take stock of everything once more, from his body to his memories and plans for the future. He’d seen the contents of the box they’d stolen only once, and he’d been too wrecked then to fully grasp what they meant. The box must be important if Pelia had wanted them to get it.

‘If’ being the operative word. Dreams. But like Kalaes’ nightmares, they had a good deal of memories thrown in. And it had all panned out. They’d gotten into the Gultur Palace, opened the safe, found and taken the box.

He eyed the chairs but felt too nervous to sit. He heard low voices in the other room — Hera’s, quiet and lilting, Kalaes’, vibrating, teasing — and the scent of ripe fruit and como flowers reached him, challenging his control. He clenched his hands, grateful for the sting of his nails digging into his palms. He hadn’t endured these last days for nothing. Rex was weaker, had to be. But the scent brought on a horrifying memory of pain tearing through his chest, the world spinning and time stretching like elastic—

He drew a deep, calming breath. I’m fine. He uncurled his fingers, splayed them against his thighs. It hadn’t been a real heart attack, only restricted blood flow to his heart because of all the adrenaline Rex had pumped into his veins. Or so Hera had said.

Then Hera walked into the room, heart-wrenchingly beautiful in her gray suit of polyesthene, her dark hair coiled at her nape, as it had been the first time he’d seen her. Rex stirred at her proximity and started the hammering inside his possessed eye. 

Screw this. Elei focused on her familiar face, her look of concern. Screw you, Rex. She’s my friend. She’d stayed away from him these past days, to calm Rex and let him rest. Maybe she’d also been afraid. After all, he’d pointed a gun at her. Not something you could easily forget.

Good evening, Hera said, her voice soft. She held the long, flat box they’d retrieved from Dakru City. She didn’t wear a bandage on her arm now, and her face bore only a faint scar from the bullet. Regina had sped up the healing process. I see you’re feeling better.

He nodded, forcing his face to relax, his shoulders to straighten. At least he didn’t feel the need to slit her neck and taste her blood, watch her die. Good enough.

Sacmis appeared at the door, sandy hair framing her clear-eyed face, and he tensed again. Her lip curled a little, not so much a smile as a sneer, and she followed Hera inside to stand by the door.

Sit, Kalaes growled and nodded at the seats around the table.

Or what, you’ll shoot me, mortal? Sacmis breathed, the sneer turning into a smirk.

Do you want me to? Kalaes’ smile was all teeth.

Elei’s pulse thundered in his ears and he took a step back, trying to compose himself. His hands twitched into fists.

You’re stressing him, Hera snapped and dragged Sacmis to the table. The other Gultur’s eyes widened, but she sank obediently into a chair. Hera kept a hand on her, as if to keep her down.

Well then, now that issue has been settled... Kalaes turned to Elei. You sit down too, fe. We’re all friends here. His hand settled on Elei’s shoulder, its weight comforting. Though one of us is missing.

Alendra asked to be excused. Hera avoided Elei’s gaze. She’s cooking us some dinner.

Better so, Elei told himself. At least he wouldn’t have to see her frightened face. It’d give him time to recuperate, raise his defenses.

Hera and Kalaes exchanged an undecipherable look, and then she leaned over and placed the box reverently on the low table. Do you remember my dreams? Her gaze slid toward Elei. About the Seven Islands?

Nightmares, Elei corrected absently, his nerves raw. Rex’s reaction, not his own. Fight it.

Hera had dreamed of the islands rising like naked blades, impaling her. Of course he remembered. He thought of his own dreams, of himself shooting Pelia, of children killing him, of people dying over and over again. Just dreams. He clenched his teeth. Yeah, right, like it was ever that simple.

You never told me of any nightmares. Sacmis’ voice ended on a soft exhalation. Hera tensed, her lips pressing together.

There were probably many things Hera hadn’t told the other Gultur. Hera hadn’t talked to Sacmis in years, not until her sudden appearance a few days back at the hospital, while she and Elei were breaking Kalaes out. What did she expect? Although looking at the way Sacmis gazed on Hera, her gray eyes warm, she seemed to expect a lot more. And wasn’t it the wrong thing to imagine again, their beautiful faces bent together, their slender bodies naked, touching... Gods, mercy.

Kalaes’ hand on his shoulder tightened a fraction. Why are we talking about Hera’s dreams? He leaned forward, his voice turning into a low purr, and the sweet scent of ama cigarette filled Elei’s nostrils. Did Pelia force info into your subconscious like she did with Elei? Any other safety box we need to break open?

Sit down, pet. Hera pointed to an empty chair. Then I’ll explain.

Kalaes snorted, patted Elei’s shoulder and folded his arms across his chest. I’d rather stand. Not so good at taking orders from you, or anyone, for that matter.

Hera’s lips twitched and Kalaes grinned. Typical. A glance told him Sacmis was scowling. What the hells did she think, that they all obeyed Hera’s every word?

Come to think of it, maybe she did. Elei forced his hands to unclench. He knew close to nothing about Sacmis or her sudden appearance, her claim that she wanted to help, that she belonged to the resistance, that she’d missed Hera. Unless she’d explained herself while he’d been tucked away in bed, sick like a dog.

All right then. Hera cleared her throat. Forget the dreams. Let us focus on the documents.

She knelt down by the table and unlatched the box. She pulled and spread out a big square paper, a map Elei fuzzily recalled examining while leaving Gortyn. He braced his hands on the table and studied the complex geometrical web stretching around and, apparently, below the Seven Islands. There were crosses marked on certain locations, some on the islands, and some in the sea.

He raised his eyes to Hera who was unfolding more documents. What did you find out? he asked. The map was complex, and some of the lettering was in a strange alphabet. What do these say, can you read them?

Hera spread out a densely written manuscript, curlicues jutting up and down, a bramble of a text. I’m no text specialist, she said drily, and this looks really old. But this, she unfolded another document, printed in black ink, might help. It was the last item in the box.

They bent over it.

Vocabulary lists? Kalaes said after a few beats of silence.

Interpretation lists. Sacmis tapped a forefinger against a column. Of symbols.

Symbols that resembled the ones Elei had seen inside the sewer tunnels. A key to the map? he suggested.

It seems like it, Hera said.

They looked up and exchanged puzzled glances.

So... Kalaes straightened, one dark brow raised in question. Gotta ask, are we any pissing wiser? Because I sure don’t feel like it.

You would not, in any case, Sacmis said, and Hera winced.

I see your lips movin’, honey, Kalaes drawled, but I seem to have tuned you out. Sorry. His grin was nowhere near repentant, though.

Sacmis growled deep in her throat, and stretched back on the chair like a dangerous cat. Elei could see why Hera had fallen for her. She was beautiful, all frosty perfection with her full lips, bright eyes and slim body. He saw Kalaes’ eyes glint appreciatively as they followed its lines.

Hera rapped her knuckles on the table and cast a dark look on Kalaes, whose grin widened even more. Was she jealous? If you two are finished, I’ll tell you what I’ve gleaned from the map and documents.

Silence settled like a thick blanket over the room.

Kalaes, distracted, sat in the chair Hera had indicated and forgot to argue about it. So? Will you tell us anytime today?

If you stop talking, Hera said sweetly. Look here, and here. She touched a symbol on the island of Kukno, and a similar one on Ost. The symbol means ‘below’.

That’s the word Pelia used, Elei said.

Yes. Hera consulted the lists, then tapped another spot. Now look here. It was a rectangular shape that seemed to be beneath Dakru. Similar symbols were inked below the other islands. Hive.

Bees? Kalaes scratched the back of his head. That cannot be the mighty secret. A hive for what?

Hera licked her lips. Her dark eyes caught the last rays of light as evening fell, gleaming like crystals. I have an idea. Look here. She traced Dakru, then the other islands. In the center of each Island, below its name, stands the word for garden.

Garden? Elei reached out to touch a symbol he thought he recognized from the sewer tunnels. An oval cut by two parallel lines. And what’s this?

Dakron, Hera said, checking her list.

Deposits? Elei touched slid his finger down the left, to a shape in the sea. And this?

That is... Hera’s slender brows locked. Mouth. Probably an older term for a mine entrance.

So, this is... what, a geological map? Kalaes stifled a yawn. He still had nightmares, and on top of that he’d been taking care of Elei for the past couple of days.

Elei looked away, guilt a weight in his belly. He should look after Kalaes, especially since the older boy’s capture by the Gultur, who had put him through the nether hells and back.

Have you ever seen a geological map where natural formations are so perfect? Hera waved a hand as if trying to capture a word from the air. So symmetrical, so geometrical.

Actually, I’ve never really seen a geological map. Kalaes grinned. So what are you saying?

Yes, what was she saying?

‘With a clap of thunder and fast as lightning, seven islands rose from the ocean deep’, Hera whispered. ‘Ker, Torq, Ert, Aue, Kukno, Ost, and rich Dakru.’ So wrote Sarpion three hundred years back.

Sarpion, whoever the hells he was, sounds like a pretentious prick, Kalaes declared and grabbed another cigarette from the package lying on the table.

He was an historian, Sacmis snapped.

Oh yeah? Not looking impressed in the least, Kalaes lit his cig.

Do you have any idea how little is known about the Islands? Hera frowned. "Apart from the belief that they rose simultaneously and the fact they’re similar in geography and size, information is scarce. We only know that each island’s surface is about five hundred square miles, composed of steep central mountain massifs, which are surrounded by lowlands stretching down to the coast. Fresh water springs from the mountains. Yet the Gultur system