Looking For The Light (Book 2)

Looking For The Light Chapter 5 - Elijah

            Elijah decided, that from now on if they let him, he would try to communicate more, in whatever way he could.  Whenever he finally had a home again, he would enroll in speech therapy.  And until then he would to communicate telepathically to more people.  Of course, unless Viktoriya decided he was too dangerous to be among the public.  If she were of the MI6, it would be well with in her jurisdiction to throw him in a “retraining facility” – a polite term for prison for the gifted, or even put him down with a mind inhibiting drug for what he’d done to her.  And the Russian military, the Prizrak Rytsarya had more power than the British MI6 Special Investigation team.  She was likely allowed to kill him for unleashing his power on her.

            She hadn’t killed him yet.  Eli had made it to Paris, France alive.  It was a beautiful city.  He could barely pay attention to Vikenti or Viktoriya as they discussed plans for their stay.  His eyes were everywhere, searching for landmarks he’d only ever seen pictures of.  He was desperate to see the Eiffel Tower.  As Viktoriya gave out assignments as they walked, Vikenti took notes in a small note book, the same way Eli used to jot down Dr. Anton Utkin’s teachings during lectures.  He didn’t miss Denvellia anymore.  He didn’t need it.  He was in France.  Gregori Zolnerowich was less of a help to his captain.  He seemed to pay less attention to Viktoriya than even Elijah was.  Twice he had wandered off, trying to buy some food, only to be frustrated that the vendor didn’t speak Russian.  Vikenti always had to retrieve him.  Zolnerowich was never hard to find.  He was tall, wide and loud.

            “Don’t get separated, Gregori! I can’t lose more of my team!” Viktoriya scolded.  As Gregori was shoved back into rank, Captain Sima turned back to her lieutenant. “Did you want to sleep with me tonight, Kozlov?”

            Eli was astounded by her candor.  Perhaps this wasn’t as much of a secret as Eli thought.  After all, he didn’t spend much time with the Russians outside of work.  He had meant to, but the first night they had gone to a bar together was the night before Valentina left him.  Maybe Vikenti and Viktoriya had a very public relationship.  This could be completely normal for them.  Eli was lost in his imagination once again.

            They would come home from their day together, stripping out of their jackets and boots.  They still lived out of suitcases, traveling so much.  With so few garments, there was no use putting them away.  Hotel rooms would never be home, so there was never any point to settling in.  Viktoriya would sneak up beside Vikenti as he unbuttoned his uniform shirt, and put her fingers through his hair – it infuriated him, but he let her do it just the same.

            “You ordered dinner in the car?” She whispered into his ear.

            “I did.  They said they were busy though.  It will be forty-five minutes.” Vikenti pushed his shirt to the floor.  His arm found its way around Viktoriya, holding her to chest.

            “How about we work up an appetite?” Viktoriya playfully murmured into his ear.  She let his hair be, and slipped her hand up the front of his undershirt.  Her lips traveled over his neck, kissing and purring.  She had a serpentine movement to her body as she shed her clothes.  Temptation and grace at once.

            “No thank you, Captain.”  Vikenti replied, startling Eli out of his daydream.  “Why don’t you room with Gregori tonight?  I’ll share with Elijah.”

            Eli realized that they had been discussing hotel arrangements.  A flush of embarrassment came to his cheeks, and he hoped no one spotted it.  He was several paces behind the rest, guiding Dinah and Ceres on their leather leads.  Viktoriya had been amused after Gregori’s first disappearance, remarking that his dogs were better behaved than Zolnerowich.  Beneath the shock of Vikenti turning down a room with Viktoriya, Eli felt another confusing mix of emotions.  He was satisfied in the worst, guilt-laden way to know they wouldn’t spend the night in each other’s’ arms.  And then there was the idea of sharing his room with Vikenti.  He was worried.  What would living with the object of his envy would be like?