daynight

by Megan Thomason

  “I haven’t seen Bailey around. What’s she up to?” I ask.

  “Blake didn’t tell you? She got Exiled. The night we were at Headquarters for our Cleaving, she apparently snuck off and got caught in some secret area. She totally missed out, though I’m pretty sure the only one she’d want to be Cleaved to is your boyfriend,” she says. “She was super teebed and all over him the night of the party.”

  “Huh, interesting,” I grimace. “No, Blake never mentioned it.” Why wouldn’t he tell me Bailey got Exiled? And that she’d been throwing herself at him at the party?

  “So, when did you get back exactly?” Bri asks.

  “A few nights ago,” I say. “I would have stopped by but heard you guys were having ‘private time’ or something.”

  “Yeah, we’ve had a lot of private time,” Tristan says. I cringe. Whatever. That’s nothing new, apparently. Not that he remembers. Ethan rubs my back to calm my nerves. He knows better than anyone what these two did to me.

  “Where were you?” Bri pushes. “You just disappeared without saying goodbye to us. Blake was pretty freaked when he got back and you were gone.”

  “I’m really sorry about that,” I say. I look to Ethan to help me out. He can spin some sort of story that’ll fly.

  “It’s my fault,” Ethan says. “I’d been working on this project for my dad that had this huge deadline. My dad told me I could pull Kira out of school to help me out. She didn’t want to leave but it’s not like anyone can say no to my dad, right?”

  Both Tristan and Bri nod. They’re quite aware of who Brad Darcton is and had they been asked, they’d have jumped without asking to say goodbye to friends, too. “Oh yeah. I think Blake said something about you maybe being with Ethan.” Huh? Blake knew? How?

  Speaking of the literal devil. “Hello, Son. Kira,” says Brad Darcton. He appeared out of nowhere. I wonder how much he heard? His eyes are fiery and trained on me.

  “Hey, Dad. I was just explaining to Kira’s friends why she disappeared for so long and how much I appreciate you having her help me out on my project,” Ethan says.

  “Yes, Kira has been a huge help to the Second Chance Institute,” Brad says. “In fact, I wanted to discuss your work with you, Kira, if you don’t mind.”

  “Sure,” I say. Oh crap. He must have heard me interrogating them about their Assisted Pregnancies. I keep my face emotionless and avoid looking at Ethan who might invoke a reaction. My mother taught me well to control my emotions and bury them when necessary. Which on Thera—is all the time.

  “Can I join the two of you?” Ethan says, a stern glare affixed to his father.

  “Sorry, Son. I need to talk to Kira alone. I believe Councilman Hunt would like a word with you,” Brad says to Ethan and then gestures to a man a few feet away. To the others he says, “Please excuse us and enjoy the festivities. And my personal congratulations on your pregnancy, Tristan and Briella.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Darcton,” they say in unison.

  “I think we’re past the pretenses now,” Brad says to me as he pushes his glasses higher onto the crown of his nose. It took a few minutes to weave through the crowd, out the back of a booth, and to an empty bench overlooking the city canyon where we could talk. He removes a gun from a leg-holster and sets it on the bench, loosely pointed toward me. I guess he’d like me to take our conversation seriously.

  “Yes,” I say, as I study the face of Ethan’s father. He’s handsome for an older man. I don’t entirely see the resemblance to Ethan other than the dark hair. Ethan must have his mother’s general demeanor and physique. Brad has dark hazel eyes and is pencil thin, compared to Ethan’s evenly toned body.

  “I’m pleased by the reports of your progress during therapy and am counting on you to maintain an objective view of your circumstances,” he says. I simply nod. If he wants my opinions he’ll ask—and I’ll give him the version of the ‘truth’ that he wants to hear.

  “Your brother isn’t adapting as well as you and Ethan,” he says. “So he’ll be remaining with us a while longer.” I nod again. “You were very smart to play the Originals card to get Jared here,” he says. “How’d you know about it? And how’d you guess his DNT would diminish if he came over as your parents did?”

  “You say we’re past the pretenses?” I ask. He nods. “Blake overheard a conversation that we were descendants of the true Originals and important to the future of Thera. And then Tristan read me the story of the Originals when I was recovering from the flash flood. I made an educated guess from there that our DNT was important—and perhaps not as potent if we came over as a Second Chancer. Otherwise, why not just kill us?”

  “Why do you think you’re important to the future of Thera?” he asks, avoiding my comment about offing us.

  “Well, I assume you want more pure-descendant blood in your midst. I don’t know why, but given you’ve harvested my eggs twice now, my progeny must be important,” I say. If my bluntness surprises him, he doesn’t show it.

  “I believe the doctors told you they were removing lesions on your reproductive system,” he says, sitting a little more upright.

  “Let’s just say that’s one of the first things I checked when I went home. It’s amazing what you can learn with internet access. So, what have become of my eggs?” I say.

  “They’ve been put to excellent use,” he says. “In fact, the fruits of your labors were on stage tonight. Your friends are carrying your children.” Are you freaking kidding me? I knew something was off with the timing of their pregnancies, but this revelation shocks the crap out of me. But even though my insides are churning, I maintain an aloof appearance on the outside by digging my nails into my palms.

  “All the Cleaved couples are pregnant with my children? Forty babies?” I ask. “From what I read, doctors are lucky to get fifteen eggs during a retrieval. And, don’t doctors usually have to insert multiple embryos to get someone pregnant?”

  “We’ve had a lot more experience with Assisted Pregnancies on Thera, and thus have much higher success rates with retrieval and implantation than our counterparts on Earth,” he says, beaming with pride.

  “I’m impressed,” I say. “So, who’s the father of my children? Blake? Ethan? Or both?”

  “Ah. Excellent question,” he says. After a long pause, he answers. “Both. Whereas you will uniquely be the Mother of New Thera, we have yet to decide who will win the role of Father. That may largely depend on you.”

  “How so?” I ask. Best to keep him talking. How will I ever explain to Blake that he’s fathered half my children and Ethan’s fathered the other half? Worse, how will he feel about our friends being used as permanent surrogates? Briella will birth and raise my child with Tristan. I have no words to describe how I feel about that. At least nothing I’d say out loud.

  “There’s two ways this can play out. One, you get your boyfriend, Blake, under control, Cleave him and stay on Thera with your new extended family,” he says. I see zero chance of getting Blake to agree to Plan A.

  “And the other option?” I ask.

  “You Cleave to Ethan. You’d be trained here on Thera in the family business and to be a Daynighter and politician’s wife, and would eventually return to Earth to help him move forward SCI interests,” he says. I’m not sure Ethan would be happy about plan B, since that would keep him from the girl he truly loves.

  “Interesting,” I say, my heart being tugged in two directions. “Which plan does the Ten prefer for me?” Hmmm, which of those do I prefer for me?

  “It’s undecided,” he says. “I’m preparing you for either eventuality. Either way, you’ll have an important role in propagating SCI interests.” Ah, the Ten still hasn’t come to an agreement on my exact role, but they all agree I’m a permanent fixture in their plans.

  “When you say I need to get Blake under control, what do you mean by that?” I ask. I know very well where Blake’s allegiance lies, but I wonder how much if anything Brad Darcton knows. He shifts his head to the side
and smiles.

  “Don’t insult me, Kira. I know Blake’s father well, or did before his Exile. I’ve tracked his whereabouts and the company he keeps since. And I have some strong evidence that Blake met with the Exilers during the time he was quote-unquote “lost” during the flash flood,” he says.

  “I didn’t see him after he disappeared down the river. What evidence?” I ask. People like Brad Darcton like to hear themselves talk and show how smart they are, so tend to give away more than they intend.

  “He was treated for severe sunburn with a silver paste that is a trademark cure concocted by an Exiler named Doctor Daryn. Most of it had been removed by choice or by the saltwater, but enough was left to prove he didn’t spend his entire time paddling ocean waters,” he says.

  “Assuming you are correct, how can I affect Blake?” I say.

  “He says he loves you. Wouldn’t he rather live out his life with his true love than die fighting a battle that can’t be won? Surely, you could help him to see things more clearly,” he says. As if. I have tried to persuade him to abandon his ideals for a chance at a life with me, but have been entirely unsuccessful.

  “What happens should my clarity and his clarity fail to converge?” I ask.

  “Nothing good, I’m afraid—for Blake or the Exilers,” he says. “You see, I think people underestimate the strength of the Second Chance Institute, both here on Thera and on Earth. One might incorrectly assume we’re weak since our cities are small and spread apart. Our security force appears to be limited and our only defense from outside attack seems to be the Eco barriers. I’m afraid those same people may delude themselves into thinking they could succeed in an attempt to overthrow or undermine our efforts. Unfortunately, we’ll be forced to reveal the full extent of our capabilities if and when attacked.” He could be bluffing. Or not. Probably not. They killed off an entire party full of kids to get me here. And executed my parents in front of me to get me back. Why would they be any less ruthless with the Exilers?

  “I can see your point,” I say.

  “I’m afraid I need to get back to make an important announcement about a huge threat to our beloved city. We have intelligence that deranged Exilers have plans to harm our fair citizens. They need not fear, though, because their government will protect them,” he says. So, this entire ‘celebration’ has been a ruse to spread ill will about the Exilers—so that if and when they attack—sympathy will be with the SCI and not the Exilers. Smart on the Ten’s part. “But, before we convene, I have one more piece of advice for you.”

  “Yes, what’s that?” I ask.

  “I strongly recommend you don’t mention our conversation to anyone—especially Blake. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to guarantee the safety of Jared, or of Blake, if you were to discuss these highly private matters,” he says. “And I will know if you do, no matter where the conversation occurs. Understand?”

  “I understand,” I say. Jared and Blake die if I warn Blake. And Blake and my canyon time has never been just ‘ours.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Ethan

  “You locked me up like a caged animal. No, I’m not going to forgive you,” I tell my father. After spending my childhood as Heart Defect Poster Boy in a room-shaped bubble, I vowed never to allow myself to be confined again.

  “Given the circumstances, it was quite necessary. And, I locked you up with the girl, so what’s the problem?”

  “She went back to him,” I say, more to myself than to my father. “All because she thinks I love someone else. And I can’t tell her otherwise, since I haven’t been given the go ahead to freely pursue her.” I’ve been going crazy the last few nights. I kissed Kira and she responded with enthusiasm. It felt different from the passionate, lust-filled embraces we’d shared back in San Diego. There was no ‘audience’ (e.g. Jared) to impress or cover to support. No, this was so personal, so intimate, so full of love. Dropping her back with Blake and her reaction to seeing him… heartbreaking.

  My father puts a hand on each shoulder and looks me squarely in the eye. “Forget about her. She and the boy are liabilities and as good as dead. We have what we need from them. Anything more is too risky.” My heart beats erratically and vision blurs. ‘Dead’ and ‘Liability’ are not acceptable descriptors for the woman I have fallen so deeply for.

  I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath. Contemplating making a deal with the devil brings on sharp sinus pains. “I’ll do anything to keep her alive. I won’t fight you any more on your plans for me. Just don’t have her killed. Please. Blake either. She cares about him.” I can’t bring myself to say or admit she loves him, even though I can tell she does.

  “You’re more of a sap than I thought. Fine. I’ll protect the girl. In return for your ‘cooperation’ in our plans for you. I cannot, however, guarantee she ends up with you. And you are not, under any circumstances, to share anything with her that would put me, your mother, the rest of the Ten or Grand Council at risk, including the events of your childhood. Understood?”

  A small price to pay to keep her alive. And besides, I can feign my compliance and enthusiasm. At least I hope I can. “Understood. And Blake?”

  “I’ll do my best. He’s not exactly a friend to the Ten,” he says. This, I’m well aware of thanks to Jax, but I don’t let my father know it. “He may be able to be… persuaded… to come around.”

  “How?” I ask.

  “You leave that to me. In the meantime, I’m going to arrange for you to shadow some Council and Ten members for the remainder of your Internship. To further your education and preparation to take your rightful place in the affairs of the SCI. Henry’s arranged for you to work on his campaign during the school year as well.”

  I groan. So much for free time to visit Kira. He sneers. “If it’s a problem, we could annul our agreement.”

  I’m quick to respond. “It’s fine. I’ll do what’s required to keep Kira safe.” Why do I get the feeling I’ve been manipulated? I have to wonder if he threatened Kira’s life solely to gain my cooperation.

  “Excellent,” my father says with a wicked grin. “I’ve got to leave for the Festival, as do you. It’s going to be an exciting night for Thera.”

  “I’ll never find her in this crowd. It’s a regular clone-fest,” I complain to Jax. Seeing Jax in Festival attire is jarring. He rarely wears color. Lots of heads turn our way as we push through the hordes of people here to celebrate the messed up institution of Cleaving.

  “That’s why you have me with you,” Jax says. “I’ve got my Kiradar on since she’s just entered the premises with one very suspicious looking Blake Sundry.” Would it be too much to ask for Blake to make himself scarce for a bit?

  “Well, then, by all means. Lead the way,” I say, eager to find her. It feels like an eternity since I’ve seen her. Jax takes his time meandering, our progress slowed by Council members and other acquaintances who want to exchange small talk.

  My father’s on the podium driveling on about the Originals. I’m only marginally paying attention, but then he introduces ‘Garden City’s newest Cleaved couples’ and my head snaps up. Kira better not be up there.

  “Kira remains as virginal and nearly as pure as when you last saw her,” Jax says. I clench my fists, ready to mar Jax’s pretty face when he adds, “Fascinating. Forty newly Cleaved couples. Pregnant. That’s a lot of babies. Magical, don’t you think?” Jax double-speak for ‘I’ve got information that you don’t.’

  “What do you know?” I ask.

  “I know the tide’s a’changing and this is history in the making and the Ten’s playing with fire,” he says without answering my question. Typical.

  “Why must you always speak in riddles?” I ask.

  “To keep your brain from atrophying,” he says with a chuckle. “Looks like your love interest’s a little shocked by the news.” He points to a crowd twenty feet away and I immediately see her. She’s a vision. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Her
hair’s in perfect ringlets and cascades down her back. The Festival dress clings to her curves. She looks to be deep in thought and has a slight scowl directed at my father.

  “Wow,” I say.

  I glance at Jax and notice him salivating at Kira. When his eyes darken with lust and he licks his lips, I re-clench my fists and prepare for a fight. But then he slaps his hand on my back and says, “I’m not fighting you, Ethan. Despite the fact she’s breathtaking. Positively glowing. And alone. Chop, chop. No time to waste. Get over there.”

  “Want to meet her?” I say without thinking and then mentally berate myself.

  “In due time. But not tonight. I have business to attend to. Enjoy your evening. And the girl… while you can,” he says with a smile. When I scowl at him, he adds, “Blake will be back for her eventually.”

  I waste no time, leaving Jax behind. Has she even thought about me? Will she be excited to see me? Has she missed me a fraction as much as I’ve missed her? I tap on her shoulder.

  She turns around. “Ethan,” she says as she embraces me and lands a huge kiss on my cheek. I flush red as she holds on, staring at my lips with such desire that I’m tempted to pack her over my shoulder and back to my house. “I was hoping I’d see you tonight. You haven’t come by even once. I’ve been going through major withdrawal.”

  Oh, Kira. Me, too. Me, too.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Blake

  The moment I see the Ten all on stage, I know I’ll never have a better opportunity to explore SCI headquarters. I’d been hoping this would be the case. Although I don’t want to support my father’s plans, I figure I may be able to find something to help Doc Daryn. And, if my dad and his men do need to escape and I can figure out how to turn off the Eco barrier, I’m saving lives. Lives spared, even if they are Militant lives, is still a good thing. Avoiding the situation altogether would be even better. Doc promised me that he’d continue to work on my father and see if they can come to an agreement that will stall or avoid the invasion.