Read Online Crux (The Aurora Lockette Series) by Miranda Kavi - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Miranda Kavi
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human-looking looking Shyama has been talking about. They’re rock demons, and we’re in a desert near ancient rock formations. That’s not a coincidence. It can’t be.”
He was quiet for a few moments. His eyes snapped back to mine. “The Valley of the Fire. It’s an ancient red limestone rock formation around here.”
“ Really?” I sat down next to him. “Maybe they live there or something.”
“ What else do you remember?” His voice was a little slurred. He needed more rest.
“ Asag is the son of An, who is the like their primary god of heaven and stuff. Asag had two wives, one who was the goddess of the earth, and the other who was the goddess of the underworld. I don’t remember their names.”
His eyes were closed, now. “What does it mean? All this time, the Shyama are ancient rock demons? You have to tell the others. It could be a big breakthrough for us. This knowledge can’t die with us.”
I wrapped my fingers around his. “Rest now. We’ll figure it out.”
“ Okay.” He squeezed my hand. He drifted off, and his breath evened out. I thought he was asleep, but words came out of his mouth, so soft and weak I had to lean forward to hear them. “If they’re demons, so are we.” Then he fell asleep, leaving me alone with the obvious truth in his words.
My heart clamored in my chest. Is that what I was? A demon?
I slipped off the bed slowly so it wouldn’t squeak and wake him up. I watched his chest rise and fall in an even, strong rhythm before I tiptoed back to the window. The SUVs were still parked outside.
I leaned against the board, staring at the little tiny crack.
Demon.
The word ricocheted through my mind, raising with it the images from popular culture —horned beasts of evil, spiritual beings that can wreak havoc and possess humans.
I closed my eyes, trying to remember more about Asag. I didn’t understand what it all meant. Why does he want me? And Keith? Why do they hunt us?
My mind refused to surrender any more information, the specifics of my anthropology class were so far in the past, and I couldn’t remember more.
I stepped away from the window.
I dropped to the ground, then started push-ups, lightly touching my chin to the ground with each rep. I kept my breath even and held back the grunts that wanted to escape. I didn’t want to wake Keith, and I didn’t want to alert Mr. X to my level of fitness.
When I was up to thirty reps, I switched to crunches, then squats.
Each rep I chanted a manifesto to myself: Escape. Live.
CHAPTER 11
AURORA
Keith had gotten worse overnight. He was paler and weak, barely stirring to drink water or eat food before he went back to sleep. I worried he wouldn’t have long.
Mr. X had made no appearances except to escort me to the bathroom and back to the room.
I saw the light around the boarded window, and I wondered what time it was.
The door to my room opened, revealing a tall muscular man with a shaved head. He smiled. “And how are you doing this fine morning?” His voice was monotone, but I recognized something about the cadence of his speech. That, and my body was screaming he was a Shyama.
“ Outfit change?” I sat on the bed, very deliberately putting myself between him and Keith.
He laughed in his odd way. “You’re very smart. The old body gave out, but this new one should last a bit longer, I think.” He flexed his biceps. “See, this one’s strong.”
“ I don’t care what mask you wear. Keith needs antibiotics. Presumably you want him alive or else you would have killed him already.”
He came closer to the bed. I didn’t move an inch. He peered down, staring at the weak white figure in the bed. “Yes, he appears to be very sick, near death even. I’m quite curious to see how long he will live without a handler.”
“ Enough,” I said impatiently. “Did you get antibiotics?”
“ Mr. X has a shot of broad-spectrum powerful antibiotics that he will administer on my command.”
“ Do
He was quiet for a few moments. His eyes snapped back to mine. “The Valley of the Fire. It’s an ancient red limestone rock formation around here.”
“ Really?” I sat down next to him. “Maybe they live there or something.”
“ What else do you remember?” His voice was a little slurred. He needed more rest.
“ Asag is the son of An, who is the like their primary god of heaven and stuff. Asag had two wives, one who was the goddess of the earth, and the other who was the goddess of the underworld. I don’t remember their names.”
His eyes were closed, now. “What does it mean? All this time, the Shyama are ancient rock demons? You have to tell the others. It could be a big breakthrough for us. This knowledge can’t die with us.”
I wrapped my fingers around his. “Rest now. We’ll figure it out.”
“ Okay.” He squeezed my hand. He drifted off, and his breath evened out. I thought he was asleep, but words came out of his mouth, so soft and weak I had to lean forward to hear them. “If they’re demons, so are we.” Then he fell asleep, leaving me alone with the obvious truth in his words.
My heart clamored in my chest. Is that what I was? A demon?
I slipped off the bed slowly so it wouldn’t squeak and wake him up. I watched his chest rise and fall in an even, strong rhythm before I tiptoed back to the window. The SUVs were still parked outside.
I leaned against the board, staring at the little tiny crack.
Demon.
The word ricocheted through my mind, raising with it the images from popular culture —horned beasts of evil, spiritual beings that can wreak havoc and possess humans.
I closed my eyes, trying to remember more about Asag. I didn’t understand what it all meant. Why does he want me? And Keith? Why do they hunt us?
My mind refused to surrender any more information, the specifics of my anthropology class were so far in the past, and I couldn’t remember more.
I stepped away from the window.
I dropped to the ground, then started push-ups, lightly touching my chin to the ground with each rep. I kept my breath even and held back the grunts that wanted to escape. I didn’t want to wake Keith, and I didn’t want to alert Mr. X to my level of fitness.
When I was up to thirty reps, I switched to crunches, then squats.
Each rep I chanted a manifesto to myself: Escape. Live.
CHAPTER 11
AURORA
Keith had gotten worse overnight. He was paler and weak, barely stirring to drink water or eat food before he went back to sleep. I worried he wouldn’t have long.
Mr. X had made no appearances except to escort me to the bathroom and back to the room.
I saw the light around the boarded window, and I wondered what time it was.
The door to my room opened, revealing a tall muscular man with a shaved head. He smiled. “And how are you doing this fine morning?” His voice was monotone, but I recognized something about the cadence of his speech. That, and my body was screaming he was a Shyama.
“ Outfit change?” I sat on the bed, very deliberately putting myself between him and Keith.
He laughed in his odd way. “You’re very smart. The old body gave out, but this new one should last a bit longer, I think.” He flexed his biceps. “See, this one’s strong.”
“ I don’t care what mask you wear. Keith needs antibiotics. Presumably you want him alive or else you would have killed him already.”
He came closer to the bed. I didn’t move an inch. He peered down, staring at the weak white figure in the bed. “Yes, he appears to be very sick, near death even. I’m quite curious to see how long he will live without a handler.”
“ Enough,” I said impatiently. “Did you get antibiotics?”
“ Mr. X has a shot of broad-spectrum powerful antibiotics that he will administer on my command.”
“ Do
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