“He will be what he was destined to be,” he goes on as if he didn’t hear a word I said. “A weapon. As will his child.”
He pauses as if he’s waiting for his words to sink in, but I have no reaction. I don’t react to anything anymore, especially the words of a madman.
“I know you don’t know yet but you will. Soon enough. Wudak acted shocked when he saw the results on the analyzer. You were already carrying an embryo, one with human, alien and Sliman markers. But we both know that he knew. And now so does your young champion here.”
My cheeks burn up. I look at Finn and I see death on his ghostly face. His noble features, his calmness, his composure are all but gone. He stares at me as a trapped animal would. I turn my eyes away. He knows I can’t tell him that Zolkon is lying. He knows there’s a possibility his words are true. He knows.
“It’s a lie. Why would you ever offer the truth to me?”
“My dear girl, there are three things that I would never do. Tell the truth when nobody wants to reward me for it. Lie when I can’t benefit from it. Pretend I care about the difference between the truth and a lie.”
Finn staggers back and leans against a table.
“This is what I propose,” Zolkon says. “If you let me go, I will contact my connections within the alien network and have them kill this Damian before he is tortured and brainwashed. What do you think? Isn’t it a fair deal?”
“Shut your filthy mouth,” Finn yells as he pounces on Zolkon and beats down on him with all his force.
“Finn,” I say but he doesn’t listen. He punches Zolkon repeatedly until the old Sliman tumbles down to the ground, bloodied and half-conscious.
My best friend comes to me and takes me in his arms. His warmth soothes my aches. He kisses my forehead quickly, but then he lets go too fast.
He grabs Zolkon by the hair and drags him out of my room.
* * *
Gritu and Malzod take us back to the base. They think we will be safe here for a while. Finn found Shy Boy hiding in the garden at the fortress, shaking with fear at the loud racket of the drones and the battle. We think he will be okay. He carried me for most part of the journey.
I lie on my bed and stare at the ceiling. I have been in this position for two days. I have found that I can block out thoughts by concentrating on a small detail for hours. It numbs my brain to oblivion. I close my eyes and I see his face again. Why did I forget that I am not allowed to close my eyes anymore?
I make the decision in an instant. I get up, put my boots on, walk down the hallway until I reach his door. I open it cautiously as if I could disturb him somehow with my indiscretion.
I bury my face in his pillow, I smell his scent, I think of all the times I told him to stay away from me and my tears flow freely finally. I can’t keep the pain inside any longer. I know the truth now. I know that I don’t want to live without him in my life. I can’t live without our arguments. I can’t live without hating his brute manners. I can’t live without loving him.
But I have to live in darkness now. And I have to live knowing that I will never be able to tell him that I love him. My knees buckle under me. I fall to the floor holding the pillow. I cry with loud sobs, I cry like it is the only thing left to do in the world.
“Freya?” Pip says.
I turn, startled, and see her standing in the doorway.
“It’s okay,” I say, wiping away tears and snot. “I am fine.”
“Freya. I know where they have taken him.”
My senses get alerted all at the same time. “How could you, Pip?” I say.
“It’s all in my head again,” she says. “I remember everything.”
THE SHADOW EMPIRE
Book 3 of The Plantation
UK Link: The Shadow Empire
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