Page 61 of The Heir
The sliding door unlocks with a heavyclunk, and Elliott sweeps it open. The sunlight shines brightly into my eyes, and I have to blink a few times before I can see what awaits us. But honestly? I'm just happy I get to see the sun. After all that time—three goddamn months—holed up in the prison, away from myhusband and friends… I don't really give a shit if The Eligos is setting us up in a ramshackle lean-to. I just want to see the sun, feel the wind, and experience life.
Dante lays a gentle hand on the small of my back, guiding me to the door. "Let's go, love."
He hops down first, then turns to me and extends his hand. I take it and heft myself down from the armored vehicle. It's a little bit taller than I was expecting, and I let out a tiny "oof" when I make contact with the ground.
God, theground. I'm only wearing some cheap flip-flops from the hospital, but I can feel the soft sponginess of the dirt. The trees tower above us in all directions, and the smaller plants sway in the gentle breeze. There's lush green everywhere I look. It's a verdant fuckin' paradise.
"Are we really safe?" I whisper, keeping my eyes trained on the motion of the branches.
"To the best of The Eligos's abilities, yes," Elliott announces. "I believe your friends are being unloaded currently."
"Really?" I whip around, and relief melts through me as I watch Helena hop down from an identical vehicle. She watches intently as the medical team hefts Melnyk's stretcher down. He winces as soon as the wheels hit the earth, and I can practically feel the sharp inhale from Helena. She glares at the men handling Melnyk.
"Ma'am, we need to fully examine him—"
"That's fine! I'm coming with you!" Helena interrupts the medic.
"Hell's bell," Melnyk croaks softly. "It's okay."
My eyes practically bug out of my head until a hand taps my shoulder. I whirl around, ready to fight—but it's just Elliott. "What?"
"Hands off, Elliott," Dante warns.
The man sighs. "You both have a meeting with The Eligos. Follow me."
Without another word, he turns and walks with purpose towards—oh, wow. Somehow, The Eligos has built a fortress that perfectly melds into the jungle. I mean, it's just paint and green siding, but the effect is striking. Massive elephant ear plants reach toward the sky, and vines climb up the siding, edging their roots into the ridges and grooves of the structure. It has to be at least two stories high, and while the architecture is pretty utilitarian with its boxy shape, I have no doubt it's incredibly well-appointed.
Elliott presses his thumb to a tiny notch next to the doorknob, and a number panel appears beside the door frame. He quickly punches in a flurry of numbers. A tinybeepsounds, and he pushes the door open.
As I walk inside, I could almost cry. I know The Eligos values efficiency, but she sure asshitdoesn't value fluorescent lighting. No high-pitched whining. No retina-searing brightness. The entryway is illuminated, of course, but it's gentle. Everything is clear and there are no massive swaths of shadow, butgodI am so fucking relieved.
My flip-flops slap against the tile floor. The entryway opens to something resembling a military rec room but with civilian comforts. Overstuffed chairs surround a massive TV, and I notice a game system resting on the entertainment stand. The walls are a crisp yellow, which complements the light gray of the tiled floor. There are a few sectional sofas on the other side of the room—I guess for when the crew feels like quiet time?
It's all very impressive, but Elliott ushers us onward down a short hallway. There are a few unlabeled doors lining the hall, but he doesn't explain what anything is. He opens the single door at the end of the hall, which leads to what looks like a conference room.
"The Eligos is in here?" I ask.
"No. The Eligos is in an undisclosed location. However, we have a video call set up. Please, sit." He gestures to executive-style chairs arranged on either side of a whitewashed table. There's a projector screen mounted on the wall, and the projector itself hangs from the ceiling. A camera stares at us from above the screen. It looks almost like a high school classroom, but fancy.
Dante pulls a chair out for me—my sweet gentleman—and settles in next to me. His hand lands on mythigh. I love the warmth of our connection—it feels possessive and protective. I huff out a contented sigh, smiling at my husband.
"Welcome, Dantalion." The projector whirrs to life, and The Eligos's face fills the screen. She looks sleek and polished, as always, not a single platinum blonde hair out of place. "Your journey was uneventful, I trust."
She doesn't phrase that as a question, more like a demand. It's more for Elliott than us, I assume. Dante nods anyway. "Yes, thank you. I—we—appreciate your assistance."
"Of course. I must say, during your absence, I did… absorb, we'll say, many of your employees. With you being so occupied on freeing your wife, and then keeping her safe, and then your unfortunate capture…." She trails off. "Well, it seemed they were on a ship without a captain. I assumed the role."
"Fuck," Dante groans, rubbing a hand in his beard. "I… didn't think of that. And my company?"
"I won't say it's thriving without you at the helm, but your civilian employees are paid, and they continue to operate within the existing portfolio."
"No Seraph attacks?" he presses.
"No. I restructured your guard, and all of your civilian employees are safe. They're a bit on edge, considering yourabsence—and Melody's news appearances—but I believe you'll find less than ten percent of turnover."
"That's all well and good," I interrupt. "But what about now? What do we do now?"
The Eligos smiles, which I don't think I've seen before. It doesn't reach her eyes, and she looks a bit like a shark. "Until now, we have been purely reacting. We have been on the defensive, of course, responding to shows of force. With Ella as the Nephilim, it is time for us to beproactive. She is angry. She is injured—again, thank you for that, Mrs. Lyons—and she is dangerous. However, she is new to her position. She does not automatically gain the respect and trust of the other Beacons."
