Awakened

by Morgan L. Busse

  Stephen thought fast. He certainly could not enter the Tower, and there was the small chance someone would recognize Dr. Latimer. But what if this young woman went up to retrieve the device? True, she was no longer a part of the Tower, but she still had access.

  “Are you here to stop them?” she asked. “After all, you were once a policeman. Aren’t you supposed to stop things like this?”

  Stephen rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand. “It’s a bit more complicated than that.” That was an understatement. He had been trying to bring these accounts to light for years. “But there is something you can do, something that might help us toward that goal.”

  She nodded, her face serious. “Anything.”

  Stephen glanced at Dr. Latimer. “Tell her.”

  Dr. Latimer studied her with a downturned mouth. “I need an instrument that I invented years ago retrieved from within the Tower. There is a possibility that it was disposed of, but considering Dr. Bloodmayne’s fascination with the machine, I am doubtful.”

  Her brow furrowed. “What kind of machine? What does it look like?”

  “It’s a cylinder, a foot and a half tall, half a foot wide. It emits electrical arcs, like lightning, around its surface.”

  Her eyes widened. “Yes, I know of a machine like that. Dr. Bloodmayne keeps it in one of his private laboratories. But it will not be easy to retrieve. Why do you need it?”

  Stephen let out his breath. “Because it might be the only thing that can cure Miss Bloodmayne.”

  She sucked in a breath. “Cure her? You mean it can stop that—that power of hers?”

  “I believe so,” Dr. Latimer said.

  The woman grabbed Stephen’s hand. “Where is she? Where is Kat?”

  Stephen took a step back and gently detached the lady’s hand from his. “We’re not sure. We believe she is back under the control of Dr. Bloodmayne.”

  “Back with her father?” The young lady’s face paled again. Now bereft of Stephen’s hand, she began to wring her own. “That’s not good, not good at all— Wait.” Her hands stilled. “Dr. Bloodmayne and some of the Tower scientists are at the Capitol building today to present a new invention to the city council in hopes of gaining more money for the Tower. That’s not Kat, is it?”

  Stephen’s face hardened. “It’s possible.” I’m almost certain of it.

  The young woman stood there for a moment, mouth open. Then she snapped her jaw shut and straightened her shoulders as if casting aside the frightened, overexcited persona from moments ago. There was strength now in her face and in her posture. “Then I will go get that machine of yours. If asked, I will say that it is one of my belongings and I am taking it with me.”

  Stephen held up his hand as the woman turned. “Wait. What’s your name?”

  The woman glanced over her shoulder. “Fealy. Miss Marianne Fealy. I was a longtime friend of Kat’s, and if there is anything I can do to help her, I will.”

  Chapter

  33

  The gentle music of a string quartet floated through Kat’s ears. Stephen appeared inside her mind, a gentle smile on his lips, his hazel-green eyes on her. He wore his usual leather duster and revolvers, but they didn’t seem out of place. He extended a hand toward her in supplication for a dance.

  Without hesitating, she took it, and he moved her to the dance floor.

  Women dressed in brilliant colors and men in dark suits waltzed around them, but they were only periphery. She had eyes only for Stephen.

  He held her close as they danced around the ballroom. Chandeliers twinkled overhead, and the marble floor was smooth beneath their shoes. His hand was firm around her middle while his other hand clasped hers.

  The room began to darken. Stephen pulled away. Kat reached for him, but he disappeared at the edge of the room. So did all the other people until, finally, she stood alone in the ballroom. Then the chandeliers went out.

  The warmth inside her disappeared, but the music continued to filter through her ears. A cold breeze swept across her body, and she shivered. Cold bands pressed against her wrists and ankles, and something hard pressed against her back.

  Kat shifted her head and opened her eyes. She blinked as the room came into view. Windows lined the far wall, filled with green foliage beneath a gray cloud-laden sky.

  She blinked again. This was not the room she had been in the last few days. Or was that weeks? How long had her father kept her in the Tower, experimenting on her?

  She looked around again. The room was bare and small, its only notable feature the row of windows across from her.

  Glancing down, she found herself dressed in a light white gown, the type that patients were usually dressed in before surgery. Metal bands held her wrists against a tilted table. She tried to move her legs, but they were also bound to the table with only a small shelf on which she could stand.

  An airship slipped across the upmost part of the windows, blocking the sky for a moment.

  She wasn’t in the Tower anymore but somewhere on ground level. Where?

  The door opened to her right. A young woman walked in with auburn hair piled on top of her head and a pristine white lab coat over her dress.

  Kat did a double take. Nicola? Her old schoolmate and rival?

  Nicola stopped in front of Kat. She looked every inch like Dr. Bloodmayne’s apprentice, contrasting sharply with Kat’s own situation and appearance. Nicola continued to stare at her, her gaze trailing over Kat’s body until Kat wanted to curl up into a ball to hide. Instead, she lay on the table with her hands and ankles bound, and her cheeks flushed.

  “So you’re Dr. Bloodmayne’s special presentation for the World City Council.” Nicola let out a quiet laugh. “I must admit I’m a bit surprised. There wasn’t much to you at the academy. To think that during all that time you were something special.” She tapped her lower lip with a perfect finger. “I look forward to seeing what you can do today.”

  Special presentation? Kat balled her hands into two tight fists as her heart beat faster. “What do you mean?”

  Nicola smiled that not-so-nice smile. “Why, you’re the guest of honor for the private exhibition the Tower is holding for the World City Council. Not since Dr. Bloodmayne presented the healing serum has the council been this excited about the Tower’s research.”

  Kat recoiled as she remembered her father’s last words. She is ready. Did he mean to push her to her limits in front of the council? Did he really think he had mastered her power? “Nicola, you can’t let him do this!”

  A scowl soured Nicola’s expression.

  “Please! My father has no idea what he is doing!”

  Leaning forward until her face was inches from Kat’s, Nicola spoke in a low, confident voice. “I know exactly what kind of man Dr. Bloodmayne is, something you never seemed to realize. He is a genius. The fact that he was able to break the barriers surrounding matter and unlock the power of the universe only proves it. Pity that power was wasted on you.”

  Kat lunged forward as far as her binds would let her and felt a flicker of satisfaction when Nicola took a hasty step back. “That power you speak of? That power will be his undoing! I have held back as long as I could, but it almost has me. Don’t you understand? One more push and I will crack. You do not want to see what lies inside of me!”

  Nicola’s face grew hard. “You were always dense, Kathryn. Too thick to see beyond the simple science we were taught at the academy. There is so much more out there, but antiquated morality always held us back. Until now. At least Dr. Bloodmayne had the courage to test the limits.”

  “Some lines should never be crossed!”

  “That’s what you think. But you will see.”

  “You don’t understand! If Father unleashes the power inside of me, I might . . .”

  “Might what?”

  Kat swallowed, an image of a large room filled with people going up in blazes filling her mind. It would happen, she knew it. “I might kill everyone here.”

&n
bsp; Nicola laughed. “No, I don’t think so. Do you think Dr. Bloodmayne is a fool? He has precautions set up. And I heard he stopped you every time at the Tower.”

  “Don’t you understand? I helped! He never stopped the power fully. I did that!”

  Nicola crossed her arms. “You do not have enough faith in your father. I do. That is one reason he chose me to work with him, not you.”

  “Is the specimen ready?” a gruff voice asked behind Kat. She craned her neck to look back, but could see only the edge of the metal table to which she was strapped.

  “Yes,” Nicola uncrossed her arms, almost purring as she gave Kat a long look. “Dr. Bloodmayne will be pleased. She is already moving toward the emotional state.”

  A figure came around the table.

  Kat felt like she had been dumped into an icy river. That couldn’t be Blaylock Sterling! But she knew it was. Those familiar blue eyes, those high cheekbones, that blond hair. Only now rearranged in a grotesque way to cover the ruin of his face.

  His eyes lit on her and the blue color turned to a wintery chill. “Kathryn Bloodmayne. I wondered what it would be like to see you again.”

  “Blaylock Sterling,” she whispered, unable to take her eyes off the damaged right side of his face. As if the skin had melted off, leaving behind mottled, distorted flesh. She’d done that to him, the night of the gala. She had burned half his face off.

  Kat’s hands began to shake. She couldn’t stop the growing power inside her any more than she could that night. More people were going to burn. More people were going to look like Blaylock if someone didn’t stop this madness.

  “Blaylock, I’m sorr—”

  He grabbed her by the throat, choking off her words. “Don’t say those words to me! Don’t you dare say those words to me! The only conciliation I have is that you are already paying for what you did.” A grin spread across his face, with terrifying effect, as it only let the left side of his face and lips turn upward. “I’ve enjoyed watching Dr. Bloodmayne experiment on you. Every cry, every scream—” He stroked her jaw with his thumb. Kat turned away, revolted by his touch. “Almost as if I were the one eliciting them from you.”

  The shaking moved from her hands to the rest of her body. He moved in closer, his smell a mixture of decaying flesh and antiseptic. “Make sure you show the city council what you can do. Dr. Bloodmayne needs the funding so he can start on me next.”

  Kat stared at Blaylock, a cold chill erupting across her body. He couldn’t be serious. At least she fought the power every time it rose up. Blaylock would do no such thing.

  Something like muffled applause came through the walls. Blaylock stepped back and looked beyond her. “It sounds like the council is ready.”

  “Then let’s prepare the patient,” Nicola said, pulling out a long white cloth. “We can’t have you screaming and disturbing the council, not when Dr. Bloodmayne needs them to allocate more funds for the Tower.”

  As Nicola leaned over, Kat jerked her head back and forth and yelled.

  “Blaylock! Hold her still!” Nicola barked.

  Blaylock came around and gripped her cheeks, digging his fingers into her skin. Kat yelled again as Nicola thrust the cloth into her mouth. Blaylock pulled her head forward and Nicola yanked the cloth so tight around her head Kat felt like her jaw would be dislocated.

  “There.” Nicola stepped back and admired her as if pleased with a painting. “Now the earphones.”

  Blaylock reached behind the table and a moment later, held up a steel rod shaped like wishbone with small, rubber-covered metal balls at the end of each branch. Kat watched with wide eyes as he placed the device beneath her chin and inserted the balls into her ears.

  Nicola nodded, and her voice sounded muffled. “She’s ready.”

  Blaylock stepped back and the two of them disappeared around the metal table. A moment later the table jolted, then began to move. The wheels beneath gave a muffled creak as they turned her toward the exit. Blaylock reached over and opened the door.

  Beyond the door stood about thirty men gathered in a large hall beneath a two-story glass dome. Pillars stood throughout the room, supporting the crisscross of beams two stories up. Leafy plants were stationed beside the pillars. String music played a soft melody on the other side of the room. The outer walls were lined with a handful of guards dressed in dark navy suits with long metal batons and pistols strapped to their sides. A strange scent filled the air, the same one from her father’s secret labs back at the Tower. A smoky, sweet scent that seemed to be coming from the long, thin candles set across the front of the platform.

  If it were any other time or place, she would have been awed by the architecture of the meeting hall inside the Capitol building. Even in an age of emerging equality, very few women were privy to the inside dealings of the ruling council of World City.

  A dozen heads turned her direction. She only recognized a few of the men. John Ashdown, the head councilman, William Sterling, Blaylock’s father. A couple more from pictures in the Herald.

  There was no unease on their faces at the sight of her strapped to a table, no propriety or turning away. Instead, the men studied her with outright curiosity and intellectual aloofness as Nicola and Blaylock wheeled her past them.

  Black spots appeared across her vision. No, there was no one here who would help her, no one who would stand up for her. It was like a nightmare, the kind where she couldn’t move, couldn’t run away. All she could do was watch images unfold while hoping to wake up.

  Only this was not a dream, and there was no waking up.

  Past the crowd of men was a raised platform on which stood her father and two other men dressed in lab coats. Her father wore his deep green Tower uniform trimmed in gold threading, something he only wore on special occasions. His hair was brushed back in that perfect manner she always remembered. His eyes glowed and a hint of a smile touched his lips as he looked over the men. This was his crowning moment. She could almost read it across his face, and it made her sick.

  As Nicola and Blaylock wheeled her around the platform, her father stepped forward. “Welcome, councilmen of World City.”

  His words were muffled by the earphones, but Kat had no trouble making them out.

  “Not too long ago I stood before you and revealed my latest invention, the healing serum. As you know, this serum has already saved many of our soldiers on the battlefield. But what if I told you we could end the war permanently and bring our people back?”

  There were whispers among the men. Blaylock and Nicola stopped the table beside Father and his other assistants.

  Kat ducked her head, wishing with all her might that she could hide. Instead, she was on display for the elite of World City to see. Her bottom lip trembled beneath the gag and her body broke out in uncontrollable shuddering.

  “As some of you know, I’ve spent over twenty years looking for a way to unlock the power to control matter. Some of you even gave me private funding because you understood what that kind of power could do for World City. No longer would we need factory workers. A handful of people could accomplish what it takes a hundred to do now. We could power our factories simply by moving or combusting matter. Fewer people would mean less labor costs and less coal would mean less smoke hanging over World City.

  “Beyond our borders, we could end the war with Austrium. Yes,” he said with a nod, “with this kind of power, we could pull airships from the air or crush the enemy lines by manipulating the matter around them. Within days, we could see Austrium retreat and a final victory for World City.

  “But let’s talk about how this would benefit you personally,” he said, raising his hands as a few men starting clapping. “We could change the medical frontier. We could heal bodies by expunging harmful germs or heal broken bones with a thought. Who knows—” He raised his other hand, passion in his voice. “We might even be able to bring the dead back to life.”

  “So what exactly is this matter you speak of, and how does it work?” one of
the men near the front asked, his arms folded.

  Father lowered his hands. “Everything around us is made of matter—the air, this building, even our own bodies. Whoever controls matter controls one of the greatest powers in our world. And whoever controls the controller, well . . .” He laughed and motioned toward Kat. “I think a demonstration is worth more than a thousand words, so let me show you.”

  He stepped back, his face still toward the crowd. “This woman is my first success in controlling matter.”

  “Why is she strapped to the table? And gagged?”

  Her father glanced back at her. Kat tried to swallow but the cloth stopped her. Sweat beaded her temples, and a cold wave washed over her body. Please, Father, don’t do this!

  “We are still working out some of the complications that come with controlling this kind of power. The woman you see here is strapped to the table for her own safety, but don’t be alarmed, we have safeguards ready. The contraption around her head helps us keep her under control, along with the medicine I brought with me.” He motioned behind him. “She is the proof I will show you today that a human can possess power over matter, and if I am given more funding, I have more volunteers ready to undergo the treatment . . .”

  Kat swerved her head and looked toward the back of the stage. She could barely see the table that stood behind them. The light from a nearby gas lamp glinted off several rows of glass syringes.

  The sedatives. Or were they the hallucinogens?

  She breathed through her nose as a red haze spread across her vision, almost obscuring the councilmen and all but silencing her father’s speech. How could these men be a part of this? How could they let her father do this to her?

  Because they didn’t see her as human.

  They were here for a means to an end. They had goals for this city, and, if her father were right, what he revealed today would help them further their agenda, including the war with Austrium. As long as it didn’t hurt them personally, they were willing to do anything—expend anyone—to achieve those goals.