Iris

by Yolanda Sfetsos

  Fox gritted his teeth. It annoyed the hell out of him that so many people knew how he felt when he’d never gone out of his way to let his personal opinions become public knowledge. Maybe his actions spoke louder than words, and since he’d spent the majority of his life trying to undermine his father, others probably noticed.

  He shrugged. “It’s all hearsay. I wouldn’t believe everything I hear.”

  “Don’t worry, I don’t. Still, it’s hard not to believe what I see right before my eyes.” Ed hitched a thumb in Iris’s direction. “You’ve kept this woman safe and under your care, and you’re even willing to help her find her lost memories. All of this despite you probably seeing what she’s capable of. That’s very noble of you.” She lowered her eyes, slowly scanning his body from top to bottom and back again.

  He turned an accusing glare to Spalding. “What the hell are you doing telling others my business?”

  “I didn’t—”

  “Fox, he didn’t need to tell me anything. In fact, the only thing Spalding has told me is that you two were here.” Ed stopped, keeping her distance. “He had to do that, since we’re business partners.”

  Had he fallen into some sort of trap with these two? He gritted his teeth. “Who else have you told? My father?”

  Spalding shook his head. “I washed my hands of your father a long time ago. I’ve already told you that. He’s mad and only wants to make himself stronger, bigger, and better. You don’t know half the things he’s done or is capable of doing to get there.”

  “All I know is that you happily worked beside him, eager to carry out experiments on innocents for many years.” He crossed his arms over his chest. I’m not going to let this old man forget what he did to so many. Spalding might have chosen to move on and leave it all behind, but Fox would keep reminding him.

  “Don’t be so hard on Spalding. He hasn’t taken part in any of those monstrosities in a long while, and he has done everything he can to make up for those many years of mistakes. It’s why he’s working for my family, now. Besides, we needed someone on the inside, even if he did sway for a while.”

  “What business would that be?” he challenged.

  “We’re in the business of looking out for people. Unlike your father, we believe in equality and seek to shelter as many of the less fortunate as we can.” Ed’s smile never left her lips. Her angular face matched her muscled upper body but was softened by her curves and pretty features.

  Fox snorted. “Looks like Spalding will need to keep doing these apparent good deeds for a long time, yet.”

  “If I could spend a thousand lifetimes trying to redeem my evil deeds, I would.” Spalding looked at the monitor before striding over to Iris.

  “Okay, that’s the second time you’ve mentioned lifetimes, as in more than one. What the hell do you mean by that?”

  Spalding opened his mouth to answer, but his response was cut off when Iris simultaneously snapped the restraints on her ankles and wrists, then smashed her forearm against the professor’s chin. The impact sent him flying backward across the room, his spine hitting the wall with an audible thump.

  Ed ran to his side. “Restrain her!”

  Fox couldn’t move. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the darkness in Iris’s eyes and the way she panted for air as if there wasn’t enough oxygen for her lungs. He couldn’t move.

  “Fox, get her strapped in before she comes back for more. You know how dangerous she is by now.” Ed barked orders as if she were in charge.

  “You did this to me!” Iris yelled. Her eyes were on Spalding when she jumped off the chair in one fluid movement. Her hair looked wild and hung over her face, but Fox could hear the crackle of electricity building up.

  It took him a few more seconds, but he eventually snapped out of his paralysis and made his way toward her. “Iris,” Fox whispered.

  She turned to face him, twisting her head into that unnatural angle he’d seen before. “Fox...”

  Her eyes widened, and all the darkness seemed to bleed out of them, until they were back to green. She opened her arms for him, and he didn’t hesitate to step into her embrace.

  Fox held her close and took most of her weight into his arms when she wrapped her legs around his waist. She sobbed against his neck.

  “He hurt me, and he hurt you, too.”

  Fox didn’t know what she meant. All he cared about was having her back—awake and herself, again. He peered over his shoulder and found Ed had an arm around Spalding. She’d gotten him off the floor, but his lip was busted open. Blood dribbled down his chin and onto his shirt, and he looked a little dazed.

  “What the hell’s she on about?” Ed asked.

  “Iris, what happened? Did you remember what came before the basement?” He spoke against her hair, hoping she at least remembered something new.

  She shifted in his arms, leaned back enough to meet his gaze, and nodded. “I saw the tree, and the place I was locked in for so long…but mostly, I remembered you.” Her cool fingers pressed against the sides of his face. “I remember you being the only friend I’ve ever known, and how Spalding helped separate us. A man called Kingsley Wentworth—the one who thinks he owns me—was angry with both of us.”

  Fox felt as if he’d been punched in the stomach and had to wrap his arms tighter around her to keep steady. What was she talking about? His father being the one who wanted her back didn’t surprise him, because he’d figured out as much. What did she mean about remembering me, us?

  “That man, he called you his…”

  When her voice trailed off, Fox figured she’d worked out a few other things by now. “What’s wrong?”

  Tears spilled down the sides of her eyes and stained her cheeks. He made a move to kiss them away, but she held her palm against his chest. “He’s your father, isn’t he? The man who thinks he owns me is your father.” Iris untangled her body from his and slid from his arms. She took several steps back, until her butt hit the damaged chair and she couldn’t go anywhere.

  “Iris, I’m so sorry.” He took a step toward her, wishing he hadn’t been a damn fool and told her the truth himself. His initial intention of using her as a pawn against his father had died the moment they’d made love the night before.

  “Don’t.” Tears continued to spill from her eyes, but she wiped them away as quickly as they fell. “So, he didn’t make you forget? How many lies have you told me? Are you trying so hard to get me back to him, because you wanted to take the credit, rather than let all of those bounty hunters get it?” The accusation in her voice stabbed him in the chest. No weapon could’ve hurt as much as the glare in her eyes.

  Fox shook his head. “I don’t remember you before the basement. I’m not even sure I know what you’re talking about.”

  “You’re lying!”

  “No, Iris, he’s not lying,” Spalding said. Pain contorted his face as Ed held the majority of his weight up, and he struggled to take a step. “You two knew each other from the time you were kids. Kingsley didn’t find out until it was too late, but I knew. I watched your interaction for many years, never once interfering.”

  Ed whistled. “No wonder this guy’s so pissed off at you. You really did some screwy things in your time, didn’t you old man? I like you better this way, Grandpa. I’m glad you eventually found your way.”

  Fox’s head spun. “He’s your grandfather?”

  Ed shrugged. “Well, maybe calling him grandfather is stretching it a bit, but it’s close enough. Trust me, I was as shocked as you when my mother told me we were related to the infamous, mad Professor Spalding. I mean, why would he work for the enemy for so long when we were just across the city? I guess Wentworth knew how to entice him. Not to mention, he stole the only cloning machine in the city. No, make that the world.” In spite of what she was saying, she held the old man tighter.

  Maybe she’d forgiven him, but Fox wasn’t sure he could.

  Not only had this man conducted experiments under Kingsley’s watchful directions
, but he’d just admitted he knew things about Fox’s childhood he didn’t even remember. When had he been friends with Iris? No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember. The first time he’d ever seen her was in the basement. Also, what cloning machine? His head ached. With so many revelations and confusing accusations, Fox felt as if his head would explode any minute.

  He sucked in a deep breath and exhaled it just as something suddenly clicked. “Oh, my God. You keep mentioning lifetimes, because you’ve literally lived them, haven’t you? You also said my father was trying to make you clone Iris. How could we have known each other since we were kids? I don’t have any recollection of her.”

  Iris glared into his eyes, and although she was still keeping her distance, it looked like a bit of the raw anger had faded. “Answer him. I would like to find out why you watched us interact for years, yet Fox claims not to remember me.”

  “I can answer all of your questions, but if you two keep pushing me, you’re going to drive me insane. Let me collect my thoughts for a moment, and I’ll tell you everything.”

  “Don’t take too long trying to fictionalize the truth,” Fox spat.

  “Man, you really shouldn’t have pissed them off so much, Spalding. Why didn’t you just tell them right away? All this stalling can’t be good for anyone. You know Kingsley’s got something planned for tonight, right? Some of those large screens have already clicked into motion.” Ed helped deposit Spalding onto a leather chair.

  The old man sucked in a breath and seemed to have aged decades. “He won’t be able to do anything without Iris. I’m sure of it.”

  “None of us know why he wants her.” Ed eyed Iris quickly.

  “Kingsley has been trying to clone Iris since he found her.”

  “Why?” Fox asked, pressing his back against the cool wall.

  “She’s important to our world’s recovery. Nexus City hasn’t seen the sun in several centuries, because the rain has fallen nonstop. There isn’t enough plant life around here to sustain the oxygen intake we need. Well, not until your father found the tree and Iris. By keeping the tree inside that building, he can keep the Tower alive while everyone else suffocates.” Spalding’s eyes were focused on the floor in front of him, his hands on his lap. “Iris was part of a secret government organization, back when governments actually had power over the people.”

  Silence filled the room when he paused.

  “The Demeter Project enabled scientists to genetically engineer and enhance a higher grade of human—a human who could control and manipulate their natural surroundings, no matter what was happening in the rest of the world. With global warming and everything else humans did to mistreat this planet, it eventually revolted. Rising sea levels, earthquakes, tsunamis, and severe storms wiped out 80% of the population. We don’t even know if there is any other place on this planet capable of sustaining human life. We could be it, and Kingsley wanted to rule supreme. By finding Iris, he ensured no one would ever be able to stop him reach his goal of total domination.” Spalding looked pale and frail. As if every bit of information pushed his mortality a little more.

  “What am I?” Iris’s bottom lip quivered.

  Spalding turned his head to meet her eyes. “You’re a Nymph. There were four Nymphs made, and you were project Dryad.”

  “In mythology, a Dryad was a tree nymph, right?” Ed asked, curiosity coloring her cheeks.

  He nodded.

  “Are you saying they created magical beings?” Fox asked, astounded.

  “Well, not really. Iris can’t wield magic, but with the scientific applications applied to her brain she’s able to tap into and use most of her brain’s capacity.”

  Ed gasped. “My mother used to tell me stories about the ongoing human quest to understand how to use more brain power. Are you telling me they were able to do it?”

  Spalding nodded. “These four Nymphs are connected to nature in every way. Each has their specialty, but together, they would have enough power to help heal the world. They can use their brains to 95% capacity.”

  “So, we’re all capable of this?” Fox asked. “All humans have the capability, but just don’t know how to access it?”

  “Not all of us. Only the Nymphs. They were altered in so many ways. These four girls are the strongest human beings in the world.”

  “Are you telling me I have three sisters out there, somewhere?”

  Spalding shrugged. “Maybe you do. They could all be lost. You were. Kingsley stumbled onto you by accident. Each of you were scattered around the world until all the tests had been conducted. It was just too risky to unleash you into the population, but the world decided to die a month before the project was to be unveiled. I tried to locate each of you before the storms, but I failed and was forced to take shelter in this city.”

  “How could you have looked for them before the storms? That would make you…” Fox stared at him. Was it possible that this man had been cloning himself for centuries?

  “Yes, son. I’ve cloned myself over and over again for years. I remember what the world was like before any of this darkness engulfed us. I remember the beauty of birds and grass and the sun. Now, I will live with this last body until it withers away. I’ve escaped death for too long.” He pressed his head against the chair and closed his eyes.

  Iris stepped closer to Spalding. “You’re the one who designed where I was living, weren’t you?”

  “I wanted it to feel as natural to you as it could. The tree that keeps calling out to you—the one inside the building—still stands. You and it are responsible for everything that flourished in there. Without you, it’s dying, and if it dies, it’ll take you with it. Each of the Nymphs is intimately connected to their source. It was where you were hidden when Kingsley found you—in a tiny tree in the middle of the city where a large park used to exist. You were just a baby in hibernation, and Kingsley decided to build a skyscraper around both of you.”

  “That’s why you insisted I get Iris over there and forget about everything else?” Fox’s heart sped up. All the horrible thoughts he’d about this man and the terrible experiments he’d conducted flooded his mind’s eye. How could someone who appeared so heartless and had done so many bad things be willing to look for those innocent girls years ago and now help Iris? Something about this story still bugged him. “Tell me, Spalding. How did you know about any of this, anyway?”

  “I worked on the Demeter Project, but when I found out they were sourcing much of their techniques with the aid of extraterrestrial technology, I left. It was too unstable, of unknown origin. Anything could’ve gone wrong.” At that moment, his eyes opened and flashed with fear, when he looked at Iris. “I tried to keep tabs on the girls but lost them. Each was preserved in the infant stage, in a state of cryopreservation, until it was time to release them.”

  Her head snapped up. “It’s why I black out, isn’t it? Why the rage consumes me when I’m threatened or angry? I’ve slaughtered people with my own hands.” Iris stared down at her palms, turning them over and unable to hide the shame.

  Fox wanted to go to her but willed himself not to move. “Iris, you’ve also healed.” Maybe reminding her about what she’d done for White would help her understand the risky balance within her. If what Spalding was telling them happened to be the truth, it explained her unusual talents and the fascination she had for the outside.

  “Of course she can heal someone’s injury. If she finds her sisters, she can heal the world.” Spalding coughed.

  “Can you help me control the violent side of me?” She’d stopped looking at her hands and now held them closed into fists, at her sides.

  Spalding shrugged. “It’s worth a try. If I can collect some blood samples from you, maybe I can try to work on something while you two make your way to the tree.”

  “What are we supposed to do when we get there?” Surely the professor wasn’t suggesting that Iris reach the tree and remain locked inside a building for the rest of her life, or until the othe
r Nymphs were found.

  “When you get there, you two can live a happy life inside.” He paused, coughing again, and looked at Fox. “When you were both kids, you would visit Iris every day. She learned about Nexus because of you. It’s also why she was able to connect to her humanity. Your father wanted her isolated and treated like a machine, not a person. He’d routinely unleash animals in there for her to fight. ‘Survival of the fittest’, he called it, but tinkering with her mind is what opened her up to the violence.” He turned his gaze to Iris. “The farther you are from your source, the more volatile you become. I’m so sorry for the part I played in this cruelty.”

  Fox scratched his head. “Why don’t I remember any of it?” He suspected the answer but wanted to hear it from the source. After spending so much time seeing the effects of forced amnesia on Iris, he had no doubts about what had probably been done to him as well.

  Spalding took a deep breath and released it. “You don’t remember, because every memory you had of Iris was erased—every single one of them. I know, because I did it myself.” His dark eyes welled up. “I didn’t want to perform the procedure and was going to fake it, but your father was right there. He watched me do it. He forced me to make you forget, and you lost so much more than just Iris.” He rubbed his eyes. “I’ve got a lot of your interaction on disk. I’m sure your father found the originals and destroyed them, but I took copies with me.”

  Fox didn’t know what to say. He’d actually known Iris as a kid. They’d practically grown up together, but he couldn’t access a single thought of her before he found her trying to crawl out of a window inside a dark basement.

  His heart ached, because now he knew exactly how she felt every waking moment. What else had been stolen from him? Even then, he was better off than Iris because at least he still had enough personal memories to join the dots of his horrid life. That his father had forced someone to remove his memories didn’t surprise him, but it did sicken him. It made his rage burn with determination. I’m going to make him pay for everything.