Halfblood Heritage

by Rheaume, Laura

“Let her stay, Auntie Lena,” the woman purred, tapping madly on her keyboard. “She can hold your hand, and afterwards, she can wipe the drool off for you.”

  “I don’t like you!” Mercy shouted.

  “You’d better control your temper, little lady, or I might hit the wrong button and fry your Auntie’s brain.”

  “You’d better not hurt my Auntie!” Her body became stiff as a board, and her eyes lit on fire. Lena suddenly sensed a trickle of power flowing through the room. It was like her brother’s power, but softer and slightly different. An icy fear spread through her.

  A few of the people in the cells sensed the disturbance and turned to stare, their mouths gaping and eyes wide. One woman grabbed her head and started to cry, turning away from the room. Another shouted, “No! Stop! Stop her!”

  The doctor barked over her shoulder, “Shut up, or I’ll have you shut up.” Her attention was caught by a third screen, in which the orange bars in a meter were beginning to rise sharply. “I know you aren’t going to do anything stupid this close to being released, Lena.” She frowned, raising her hands from the keyboard to punch at the screen. “What’s this?”

  Lena, clapped her hands and commanded sternly, “Mercy, go with your nanny, right this minute. I’ll see you later.” She called to the woman, “Take her out of here right now.”

  Mercy, her attention drawn away from the doctor, looked uncertainly at Lena. The feeling of power faded and finally disappeared, to Lena’s intense relief.

  When the Kin came over and took Mercy by the hand, Lena said, “Thank you.” The woman nodded her head and led Mercy to the door.

  “Okay, but remember that you said you’d see me. You promised.”

  “Mercy, will you relax? I’ll see you in a bit.”

  “You’d better. You promised.”

  When the door closed, Lena said, “I’d hate to break my promise.”

  “I’d hate to lose the opportunity to get in your head and see what makes you tick,” the woman responded without turning around. Her eyes left a now quiet screen and she returned to her calculations.

  “You are not going to see shit,” Lena spat.

  “I’m going to try...real hard,” the woman promised, still intent on her work.

  Chapter 27

  When Lena gave him a little shove, Scythe fell easily out of her memory and back into himself. He pushed away from the wheelchair, knocking the chair behind him down with the back of his knees and retreated from them all. He tried to back away from the truth, too, but it followed him. When he couldn't go any further, he slid down the wall and crouched on the floor; he closed his eyes and threw his arm over his face. He held himself still, to keep from shattering, and tried to slow his thoughts down. Each new piece of the puzzle seemed more painful than the last...

  Relief flooding his voice, Smoke said, “Lena, my heart...”

  “Stay back, for a minute, will you, Smoke,” she interrupted coldly.

  Her icy words shook Scythe. Why could he still hear? Sometimes, he hated being able to hear when he just needed it quiet.

  “Ian, you look like hell, but I’ve never been happier to see you.”

  A thump sounded and then small footsteps crossed the floor and stopped next to him. Mercy knelt beside him, laying her head on his shoulder and wrapping an arm around him. The tight knots began to loosen minutely in his chest, although his eyes continued to burn.

  “Damn, Lena, I’d hug you if I could; we’re just so glad you and Mercy are okay. We thought we’d lost you both.”

  Smoke’s voice was full of confusion and worry, “Lena, what is the matter? Why are you angry at us?”

  “Scythe, you need to come clean, right now, or it’s going to get ugly in here,” Lena said sharply.

  “Come clean about what?” Ian asked.

  “Mercy and I just spent the week with some twenty Human prisoners. Twenty young kids that we spent months looking for last year.”

  “What?” The bed shook, its legs scratching the tile.

  Faith commanded, “Ian, lay back! Lena, how is that possible?”

  “It’s possible because they were never dead. Scythe lied to us,” her voice dripped with venom.

  “No,” Scythe managed to croak, “I wouldn’t do that, Lena.”

  “Excuse me, I think I can quote you...”

  “I know what I said, but...” His throat closed tightly and he grit his teeth. He squeezed his eyes together, but it didn’t get any darker.

  “You said they were dead. We stopped the search, we told their families, we gave up on them. We abandoned them, Scythe, because of you. Because we believed you.” Lena’s voice was getting louder and louder.

  “Let him explain, Lena. It doesn’t sound right to me. Think about it, would he do that?”

  “Alright, let’s hear it.”

  Scythe swallowed, envisioning the defeated faces in the small, cramped cells in what must have been the palace of Poinsea. Months he had lived there, within minutes of them, and the whole time he had been oblivious. “I didn’t know, Lena. I swear it.”

  “Then why...”

  “I was told…by Keyrin…that their lives were ended. I just assumed that he meant they were dead. I’m...I’m so sorry...” It hurt. It hurt, and the darkness wasn’t helping.

  A gentle hand patted him on the arm. Part of him didn’t want that gentle hand touching him. He didn’t deserve gentle, didn’t deserve the relief. The rest of him didn’t want it to stop, though, because each pat settled him, grounded him when he wanted to fly. Away.

  “Yeah, well, sorry isn’t...”

  “Lena...”

  “Save it, Ian. You didn’t sit there and watch them get experimented on. You didn’t have to see their faces. It was...it was horrifying. There is no way in hell any of us can make up for it; there’s nothing we can do that would possibly make any difference to them now.” She paused, her chair creaking, “And, my skillful friend, you don’t seem surprised at all. Why don’t you explain that to me?”

  Smoke spoke quietly, “I didn’t know, but I suspected something.”

  “You suspected.”

  “I did. It was strange that he would have them kidnapped and then brought to Poinsea. The whole thing seemed weird, but we never saw them. It was not a Blade operation...”

  “Some Blades knew,” Scythe interrupted. “The ones involved in the Scere L’ Eler.”

  “I don’t know of any...”

  “There are at least two, maybe more,” Scythe said, finally lifting his head up and giving Mercy a light shove. “Go see your Auntie Lena, Mercy.”

  Mercy nodded, giving Scythe a quick kiss on the cheek before crossing the room to climb on Lena’s lap. His hand went automatically to his cheek. The tips of his fingers touched the tingling spot; then they pressed down harder and wiped his skin off.

  “What Blades are involved? You saw them?” Smoke’s sharp voice cut through the room.

  “Keyrin is involved, so it follows that some of his hand picked Blades would be. Mercy played with Yemin’s children, so he must know. Since Keyrin is, I suspect maybe Rend as well, don’t you think?”

  “Rend?” Smoke froze, and he stared at Scythe. His heart beat faster in his chest, and he tilted his head down to consider, his mind racing. “No, I don’t see how he could. We’re too close, Scythe. I would know.”

  “Maybe,” Scythe said, unconvinced.

  “No way,” his friend declared, leaning back. “He would never have allowed that to be done to Serena. Not ever.” His eyes challenged Scythe to refute his words.

  “I know...but, he is very close to Keyrin, too.”

  “No,” Smoke assured him obstinately. “I know him, Scythe.” The discussion ended, he turned to Lena, speaking in Human. “Lena, I swear, I didn’t know that the Humans were still alive.”

  Lena’s mouth was held shut tightly, her narrowed eyes darting back and forth from Smoke to Scythe. Finally, she said sharply, “I don’t have your gift for lie detecting.”

/>   “No, you don’t, but you do have another gift. Use it.” Smoke reached out, laying his hand on her arm, his face creasing with pain when her arm jerked back. “I can’t take another minute of your distrust. We can clear this up right now. Use your gift on me, Lena.” When she hesitated, he declared, “And, if you find that I have betrayed you or your kin in any way, you can use your gift to end my life.”

  Lena gasped, taking in his determination, her own heart pounding. “I could never...”

  “Lena, without you...” he shook his head, reaching forward to grasp her arm more tightly, “I have no life to live. What life is there for me, without my Lena?” Scythe could tell from her reaction that she still didn’t understand the Kin; she didn’t truly comprehend what she meant to him. Family was life.

  Lena clutched onto Mercy, who reached up to stroke her Aunt’s cheek. “I’m afraid,” Lena breathed, “I’ve been terrified...that you knew, that you might have planned this whole...”

  “I didn’t,” he said firmly, “and neither would Scythe ever betray you. Now, no more delaying, or my heart will burst and it will have all been for nothing.” He risked a quick joke in Kin, “You are going to feel really guilty if I die waiting for you to decide.”

  “No, me first,” Scythe interrupted, his eyes burning.

  Lena frowned down at him silently for a moment. Finally she nodded and said reluctantly, “Okay.” Still, she didn’t move.

  “Mercy, come sit with me,” Ian said, reaching out his arms. “Daddy missed you so much.”

  “I missed you, too, Daddy!” Mercy jumped down and bounded over to the bed to hug her father.

  Lena closed her eyes and Scythe could see the blue flames spread across her skin. She lifted her hand and the flames jumped across the small space between them.

  Scythe was surprised at the gentle warmth of Lena’s power. It flowed over him soothingly, not unlike Harmony’s healing touch. His body relaxed and he felt his frantic thoughts slow down. Then, quicker than he could react to, her power slid under his defenses.

  Scythe expected to be drawn into her mind, so he was bemused when nothing changed. He looked around the room, meeting the eyes of his friends who were watching closely. The only difference that he could detect was that Lena was somehow right there with him. Then he realized that the him that was there was completely open to her, like a map laid out on a table: an intricate map of his soul, one on which his fears and dreams and thoughts were all clearly marked. There was no pretending or hesitation. There was only what he was. In an instant, she had seen it all.

  Scythe. Upon hearing her call his name, his soul jumped forward on its own, like an eager puppy, nearly crashing into her. He could feel her surprise and joy at his love and adoration of her. I see you, her thoughts brushed up against him, and you are not a monster.

  But, I saw what you thought of me...The angry faces of the people who were dear to him, the bodies, and his gruesome arm still shone brightly at the front of his mind.

  No, that was not your power reading my mind, it was my power showing you what lies in the corners of your mind. You fear yourself, and your painful experiences have warped your perception of yourself. Scythe...she laughed when his soul embraced her again...look here.

  Scythe was gently guided to focus on certain points of interest on the map of his being. He saw his devotion to his friends and family, his deep acceptance and love of others, his determination to work hard, to persevere, his desire to do the right thing by people, his feeling of wonder at all there was to learn about people and about the world and his longing to make a place for himself somewhere.

  Can’t you see over there? His attention was riveted on a jagged section that made his stomach twist, but he was pulled away before he could see it clearly.

  Yes, there are other sides to you, and, when you are older and wiser, you can examine more of them. For now, I want you to see your natural gifts, and know how amazing you are.

  She slipped away from him, smiling at the way he reached out to her, reluctant to let go of the warmth and the connection between them.

  “I’m sorry, Scythe, I should have never doubted you,” she said earnestly.

  Scythe felt a backlash of emotions flowing over him. He bowed his head, nodding, and began to breathe slowly and deeply, letting the tears that had been burning behind his eyes finally come. Heavy lead weights pulled his head down until his forehead rested on his arm. He was so tired.

  “Now me, my Heart,” Smoke insisted.

  A moment later, Scythe heard Lena gasp and he looked up to see the two in a tight embrace. Smoke, his face pressed against her neck, pulled in the scent of her with a deep breath and made a small choked noise in his throat when he breathed out. “Lena,” he whispered, “be my wife.”

  Her blue flames still surrounding him, she leaned into him, apparently giving her answer to him privately, because he suddenly squeezed her more tightly, pulled her off the chair and onto his lap, and brought his lips to hers.

  Scythe looked over to gauge Ian’s reaction, smiling through tears when his friend said, “I guess that’s a ‘Yes.’ ”

  Faith, slightly teary eyed herself, hugged her husband and daughter close, and laid her head on Ian’s shoulder.

  Mercy was smiling, too, but in a surprisingly knowing way. She leaned over and poked her brother, “Willie, wake up! You’re missing it all, as usual.” Will didn’t stir.

  Ian said, pulling his daughter away and kissing the top of her head, “Mercy, let him sleep.” He looked over at Scythe. “You look worse than I feel. When was the last time you slept?”

  Scythe, scrubbing his face, answered, “A while, and it doesn’t look like things are going to get easier any time soon.” He thought of moving his heavy limbs, but a second was all it took to convince him that he wasn’t ready for that yet. He leaned his head back against the wall again. “We need to decide what to do next.”

  “Wait,” urged Lena, leaning her head against Smoke’s. “There’s one more thing I need to tell you about the Human captives.”

  “Yeah? What?” asked Scythe, but silently, he yearned, No more things, please.

  “They all have gifts. They all have power, to some extent. The experiments they’re doing on them are all related to that. The Kin are trying to find a way to duplicate their gifts somehow. They’re doing brain mapping, gene mapping, and genetic manipulation, as well as a couple of truly frightening transplant procedures, trying to find a way to harness the power for themselves.”

  Lena nodded at the reaction to her words by the adults in the room. Anticipating her brother’s question, she interrupted when he began to speak, “I know. Only one of the kidnapped children had record of a gift. The only thing I can think to explain this is the superstitious distrust of people with gifts that dominates the bordertowns. To be honest, I never even considered it as a connection.”

  “Well, who knew that so many children were born with power? Thirty-five? That’s...statistically, that’s unheard of, even if you consider the population of all the bordertowns together. In the city, the rates are way less than one percent, and that’s all age groups. Thirty-five, all within the same generation in the same region? It makes me wonder how many of the border folk have hidden their gifts.”

  “Yeah, and how the Kin were able to locate the ones they kidnapped, when we didn’t even know about them.”

  After Scythe finished helping with the translation for Smoke, he added, “Is it even possible for the Kin to somehow...what?...become gifted? How would you even do that?”

  “I don’t know, but they’re trying,” Lena answered. She asked Smoke, “How many Kin have gifts?”

  Smoke shook his head, “None that I know of. It’s a Human trait. Most Kin think Human powers are a myth, a fairy story. I’ve never heard of a Kin with power.” He shook his head again, looking over at Scythe, and commenting in Kin, “This...this feels wrong. Not just the experiments, but trying to make the Kin more...”

  “More Human. I
know. It doesn’t sound like Keyrin at all. He thinks they’re dogs, and,” he added, voicing his fears about the captives, “totally expendable.”

  Smoke nodded in agreement, turning to Lena, “We are worried about the safety of the prisoners. Keyrin wouldn’t hesitate to kill them.”

  Lena pursed her lips, “I can believe that, after meeting the real him, not the show pony he brought out for the political events. He’s a real bastard.”

  “He might not be that willing to throw them away,” Ian interrupted. “If these experiments are important to him, he is going to want to see some results.”

  At a quiet sound from behind him, Scythe stood, his position next to the door making the man who stepped through it without knocking jump at Scythe’s proximity. He glared at Scythe, trying to regain his composure. Grant spoke from the hall behind him, “Excuse the interruption, but I think you’ll agree that it is time we made some plans for what to do next. This is Neville Fa. He works for the Department of Defense.”

  “I am the Department of Defense, Mr. Wells,” the man said, looking around the room. His eyes lingered, eyebrows drawn together with disapproval at the way Lena and Smoke sat in a comfortable embrace on the floor. “It is time to put a stop to your activities, Lena and Ian Young.”

  “Our activities?” Lena scoffed, her temper rising. “I’ve been held in a Kin laboratory for a week!”

  “I’ve been lying in the hospital,” laughed Ian. “Peeing into a bag is the most ambitious thing I’ve been involved in.”

  Scythe, having experienced the way the Young brother and sister reacted to self important authority figures, let a grin cross his face and enjoyed the moment’s diversion from their increasingly complex and dangerous lives.

  Lena waited until Fa opened his mouth before speaking over him, “Ian, you should know better than to stir up trouble by getting yourself beaten and shot and left for dead. Maybe you should have just died; it would have been much more thoughtful.”