by Leyton, Bisi
“Keep moving!” Someone nudged him.
Spinning around, he found it was one of the guards. “Do not touch me.”
“Son, keep on walking,” Doc advised. “Or they’ll put you down like they did to your girl.”
Bach exhaled slowly, knowing he could not react the way he wanted to and keep Radala safe. So he quietly followed Doc into a less-trafficked area. Stopping in front of a vault door, one of the armed guards typed in a code.
As the door opened, Bach was overwhelmed by the strong and unmistakable foul odor of biters. The dimly lit room was filled with rows of glass cages containing infected humans. He glared in amazement at the sheer number of biters, thrashing against the glass. There were over three hundred in there.
A biter rammed its head violently at the glass, but kept pounding harder, even though it was bleeding.
“Stop,” Bach commanded the infected.
Obediently, the creature stopped and back away from the glass.
“What are you doing to them?” Bach asked.
“Searching for answers.” Doc touched the glass.
The biter inside charged at him.
“I said stop,” Bach muttered.
Once again, the infected paused.
“You have always had a soft spot for humans. That made you different from the other Famila we’ve had. I suppose that was why we thought you were able to bond with Wisteria,” Doc noted.
“I have no interest in humans,” Bach denied.
“You care about my daughter. In fact, you love her very much. Isn’t that why you bonded with her?”
“You do not understand anything about me, or how I feel about your daughter.”
“I was here when it all began, young man.” Doc chuckled. “Once Wisteria gets here, we’ll talk about the plan.”
“What have you done with her? If you hurt her, I will—” Bach turned to Doc.
“Hurt her? She’s more important to me than you are. Besides, I could never let her get injured. She’s my daughter and I’m the only father she knows. So she won’t go through any more pain than necessary. You, I have no qualms about torturing.”
“You experimented on her. Do you not think that hurt her?”
“I’m a scientist, not a monster. I did it because I needed to, not because I enjoy it. Wisteria’s bloodline is unique and it has properties we need to ensure that humans survive.” He stopped in front of another vault door. “We’ll talk once you’re rested and Radala is feeling better.” Doc checked his watch. “Don’t get me wrong; you won’t be able to regenerate, but she’ll have less motion sickness.”
A woman in a lab coat punched in a code on the vault door, and Doc did the same.
The door opened, revealing a colorfully decorated room.
“What is this?” Bach inspected the room.
There were four beds, a shag rug, television, and an old video game console. On the walls were posters of superheroes, and in the corner, a box of old toys.
“We thought bringing up some of your old toys from storage would help you—” the woman stuttered.
“Seriously, Maxi?” Doc picked up a toy soldier.
“I guess we can get you something a bit more a mature.” She snatched the toy from him.
Placing Radala on the nearest bed, Bach walked over to the box of toys, picked it up, and hurled it at Doc.
This earned Bach darts in his arms, legs, neck, and forehead.
“Welcome home,” Doc said, as Bach’s world started spinning.
“You are a fool to think you will ever defeat The Family. We will destroy you all,” Bach blurted out. “I will personally make sure the empirics raze this town to the ground. You will be my personal Thayn and your wife will serve me—”
Doc’s superficially calm demeanor broke and he punched Bach in the face.
Severely weakened by the poison coursing through his system, Bach fell over.
“Want to say that again?”
“No.” Bach forced himself to his knees. “But I want to say this: Elliot Coles is definitely a lot stronger than you are. He almost punches like a man.”
“Who the hell is Elliot Coles?”
“Major Elliot Coles, the man raising your son. The guy Lara married. You know, a man capable of protecting your family? Well . . . his family now.”
“Very funny.”
“Yeah, it is. I never thought Wisteria would call him Dad—”
Doc cut him off with a harder blow to the face.
This sent Bach sliding across the floor.
“Son, you don’t have a lot of energy left. I’d suggest you conserve it, because you’re going to need it.” With that, Doc and the other woman left.
Getting to his feet, Bach returned to Radala.
“You should not have provoked him.” She tried to sit up but then dropped back onto the mattress. “When I find your qwaynide brother, I am going to skin him with my teeth for getting us into this,” Radala moaned.
I hope to see it too, if we get out of here, Bach thought to himself.
*****
“She went over the wall,” someone from Jenny’s house yelled.
“I’m—” Wisteria called back, but Felip covered her mouth as she stood on the wall, bordering Alan and Jenny’s property.
“Not a good idea, Wisteria.” Felip dragged her into the dark. “I am your only friend here.”
As she fought to break free, she felt a powerful whirling wind. She realized she was on Felip’s shoulder. The next thing she knew, they were on another mountain trail. In the distance, she saw the lights from the town. They had to be a mile or so away now.
She resisted the urge to attack him when he put her down. It would only make her tired, and therefore, easier for him to do whatever it was he was planning.
“Seriously, you were calling the RZC for help?” Felip asked in disbelief.
She ignored him and darted down the trail in the direction she hoped was Franklin.
“Do you know how ludicrous that would have been?” He raced ahead of her and lifted her back off her feet. “Do you?” He placed her back down, somewhere further up on the mountain.
“As ludicrous as being with you? Once again you’re here when things are turning bad for me.”
“You have not changed at all, Wisteria. You still will not thank me for once again saving your life.”
“You didn’t save my life. I know you did this to me.” Somehow, that had to be true.
If Felip was here, then Bach was in danger. His demented cousin hated him.
“You have not seen me in almost two years. I had hoped you would be a little happy to see me.”
“Felip, if you want me to be happy, leave me alone, but do invite me to your funeral.”
“Ouch.” He clutched her before she could walk away. “Sorry, beloved; we live until we are over four hundred and fifty years old. You will be dead long before I get my first wrinkle.”
“What do you want?”
“Wait, Bach never told you about that? Imagine you being a crinkled old woman and him still looking like he is eighteen.”
Getting up, she started to leave.
“I told you, we are leaving.” He took her arm.
“You know I won’t go anywhere with you.”
“I am being nice by asking you, but I do not have to.” He squeezed her arm with a tight grip. “And I will not ask again, but first thank me for saving you life.”
“Stop, Felip.” She winched in pain. “You told me you’d never hurt me. Did you forget that?”
“I did not forget.” He released her. “I have been keeping you safe, and protecting you for years.”
“You haven’t seen me in over two years.”
“No Wisteria--you have not seen me. I have been very much aware of what you have been doing.”
“You were watching me?” The piron net should’ve blocked the island from his memory.
He seemed to know what she was thinking. “I was on the island before you set up
the net.”
“And how were you able to leave Jarthan? Alba was the only person helping you cross the threshold, and she’s in the bridewell. “
“Wisteria.” He ran his hand down her arm. “I will give you the answers you want and get your friends out of Zone Eleven, but you have to give me something,”
“The first rule of dancing with the devil—is don’t.” She shrugged him off. “Because I know whatever is going on there, you set it up because you want something.”
“If you leave with me, I will have it.” He leaned toward her. “I just need you.”
“You need me to open another door for you?”
“No.” Felip kissed her.
Wisteria punched him in the face. “Ah,” she cried, bruising her knuckles.
“Come, let me see.” He reached for her fist.
“Stay away from me. You’re a fool if you think you love me, and you’re insane if you think I’d ever want to be with you.”
“I do not love you, but when we’re done, you will love me.”
“Felip—”
“When Doc is done, there will be nothing left of you. I cannot have that. That is why I want to get you out of here.”
“And Bach?”
Felip grimaced. “Tell you what--give yourself to me and I will get make sure Bach is returned to his realm.”
“You want me to sleep with you?”
He was making less sense that he’d ever done before.
Felip laughed. “No, not now. I am going to renew you, and then you are going to let me.”
Her Mosroc bond with Bach made it impossible for members of The Family to renew her, unless she opened up her mind and let them. “If I do this, what happens to Bach?” Wisteria couldn’t believe she was even considering this. She wasn’t even sure how to willingly allow a Famila guy to take her mind.
“He will be returned to his realm.”
“In one piece?”
“Sure.” Felip sat down on a large rock. “But I will take you before I do anything.”
“And he will be—alive?”
He paused. “No.”
“You think I’m going to let you take my mind if you don’t save his life?”
“Yes, because you still need to find that kid, right?”
“What do you know about that?” She squinted at him.
“You come with me. Let me do my thing and I swear your child will be returned to your mother in one piece, and alive.”
“I’ll let you take my mind, after you’ve got my child, and Bach is safe.”
“Wisteria, I am not going to lie to you. I will kill him, because even if I renew you and you serve to please me, you would never be this devoted. I hate that; it is not personal.”
“What? That is very personal. You’re going after him because I obviously care about him and hate you. This is only going to make me hate you more.”
“I know it is confusing, but one day all you will ever want is to please me.”
“Why? You don’t even love me.”
“Like I said.” He studied her eyes as he released her long braids from the ponytail. “Not yet, but soon.” Taking her neck in his hands, he took out his faycard. The eight of spades. The card started to glow, and soon, turned into the image of a joker.
“Help me first and then I will let you do—whatever.” Wisteria felt hot tears escape her eyes. “But if you try now, you’ll lose your mind like Benet did.”
Benet had been an empiric Felip had tricked into renewing her, and subsequently he went insane.
“Or I will beat you until you agree to it.” He seemed in a way, to struggle with that. “Break every single bone in your body until you beg me to stop.”
“Then—then…” She tried to control her stammering. “That’s what you’re going to have to do.” Backing away, she bumped into Ollie.
“You guys left without me,” Ollie pouted.
“Come on, Ollie.” Wisteria took the girl’s hand.
“No, Wisteria, this was the person I was taking you to meet.”
“You know him?”
“Felip? Sure, he’s lived in Franklin forever, or at least as long as I remember,” Ollie continued. “If you tell him what’s going on, I’m sure he’ll help get you out of the trouble you’re in.”
“Come here Ollie, I want to show you something.” He signaled the girl.
“Sure.” Ollie moved toward him.
Wisteria grabbed her arm. “No, you can’t trust him. You have to believe me!”
“What? Why? I’ve known him like forever.” Ollie pulled away.
“Believe me, because I’m your mother. I’ll explain everything, but not now and not while he’s here.”
“You have figured it out.” Felip applauded. “I thought I would have to spell it out for you. It is these things you do that make me know that one day, I will love you.”
“I’m too old to be your daughter, Wisteria. You’re what—eighteen? You’d have to have been pregnant when you were two!”
That was true. Wisteria couldn’t account for Ollie being so old, but when they returned to Smythe, Silas Cheung might be able to explain it. Aside from the age, Ollie was the perfect fit. Her eyes were gray, like Bach’s had been, and were starting to turn green. She’d displayed acute hearing when she heard the three Famila people arguing at Marble House. The fact they were most likely speaking the Dialect and Ollie was able to understand, proved her mind was hardwired to understand the Language. Added to that was the girl’s speed.
Wisteria hadn’t wanted to see it before, but Ollie looked like a lighter skinned, silver-eyed version of Lara. Ollie’s instant obsession with Enric was probably because he was the only Famila guy she wasn’t related to in miles and therefore, on some level, she was attracted to him.
“Answer me, Wisteria. If you’re my mother, how come you’re so young?” Ollie trembled.
“I don’t know. We’ll get answers.”
“Oleander, I told you a while back the lower castes of The Family used to be slaves?” He walked up the girl. “You know, before we started making Thayns?”
“Felip, don’t come any closer,” Wisteria threatened.
He lifted her up and moved her aside. “Calm down, Peeka.”
“By the Dy’obeth, right?” Ollie now climbed on the rock where Felip had been seated. “They used to build their other realms for them, right?”
“Please, don’t listen to him. He’s lying. Everything he says is a lie.” Wisteria hurried toward the girl.
“I’ve known Felip for years, much longer than I’ve known you. He was the one who explained to me what I was.” The tips of her fingers turned blue. “He isn’t dangerous.”
“Yes, at one time, the Dy’obeth used us to build their cities,” Felip continued.
“No, humans built Jarthan.” Wisteria recalled her mother telling her.
“The First Pillar, right?” He chuckled. “No, the humans designed a lot of the artifacts and the castle of Jarthan, but only The Family was strong enough to actually build the cities. The Dy’obeth had no use for slave children, so they found a way to grow them faster.” Felip took out a vial of black liquid. “Sinion proteins. Your grandparents used this to age you, Oleander. You are only six.”
“What? No!” Ollie shook her head. “I remember a lot—I think.”
“And you didn’t help Doc at all?” Wisteria accused.
“I am not a monster,” he informed her.
“Are you sure, Felip?” Ollie examined Wisteria with some degree of doubt. “She doesn’t look like me at all.” Getting up, Oleander walked over to her and studied her face.
“Really, Oleander?” He laughed. “Even a blind man can see how much you look alike. Sure, your mother is shorter and darker, but you have her face.”
Ollie still didn’t look convinced, but she nodded. “You were right. She did come back for me, but not how I expected.”
“You knew I’d be here?” Wisteria turned to Felip.
“We
ll, eventually, and the prodding I gave Nular to make sure you came after the child helped.”
“Prodding? You set a draug after her.”
Felip frowned.
“If you needed information from her, how was killing her going to help you?” Wisteria demanded.
“I am serious when I said I will never do anything to hurt you. I would not have let the draug hurt you. They were half-dead when I set them on you both.”
“You knew?”
“Sure, and if they had gotten out of control, I would have killed them long before Bach arrived and—”
“This is a game to you? You watched us fight those creatures and you stood by?”
“If you needed me, I would have stepped in.”
“You say that and I still ended up hurt pretty badly.”
“Bach left you to fend for yourself and you clearly got hurt. Therefore, I do not understand why you are mad at me?”
“What are you talking about?” Ollie grabbed him. “You two have met before?”
“Felip, what do you want from me? Answer me!”
“Nothing; just you. I can protect you from Doc, if you let me.” He came closer to her, ignoring Ollie. Tenderly, he rested his hands on her stomach. “I hurt your earlier. I am sorry.”
“Just let us go, Felip.” She smacked his hands away.
“Wisteria, listen, your father needed her, because she was the closest thing to you. Now that you are back, your father will not need her around.”
“Doc wouldn’t hurt me?” Ollie asked.
“He will kill you,” Felip responded.
“Felip—”
“He will kill her and continue where he left off with you. Let me renew you, and I will protect you and your daughter.”
“Then save Bach!” Wisteria pleaded. “Help us get out of here and—”
“No. I will help you, but my way. Now, let me renew you.”
“You’re crazy, Felip, and you always have been. You’re not going to help me and you’re sure as hell not going to help Bach. Whatever you’re doing is about you and your bloody agenda!”
“Why are you being so difficult?” He shook her. “Maybe if you were a prettier girl I could understand where your arrogance comes from. Can you not see I am your only salvation? If I have to, I will make you.”