by LC Morgans
Thanks to a bout of rebel activity in Eastern Europe, the Besieger and his vast army of Thrakorian soldiers were busy traveling back and forth between locations across the continent. Kyra had started to look forward to his return from operations, and was always eager to sit and eat a meal with him, while he caught her up on the outside world she’d already begun to lose touch with. Thrayke often brought back oddities he found on his travels and somehow knew she’d find fascinating, like strange delicacies, souvenirs, and photographs of the ancient ruins she’d heard about but never seen. She would pore over them while he told her about the mission, and she’d given up trying to hide the fact that she truly enjoyed his company.
He remained true to his word and never pushed her, but even she could tell that they were slowly crossing that void between friends and lovers, and was surprised it didn’t scare her more. Kyra hadn’t let anyone in since Silas, and had never even considered that she might fall for a Thrakorian. Her crush on King Kronus had stemmed from a childish fixation she’d never been able to shake, but with Thrayke things were very different. He treated her like an equal, and in his company she soon forgot she was a member of the inferior race only distantly related to their highly evolved one. Thrayke regarded her as a woman, but never the weaker sex, and he’d not once belittled or tried to control or manipulate her like Silas had.
“I want to take you out tomorrow,” he told her one evening over ice cream, a welcome indulgence she’d never thought she’d have the chance to taste. “I’ve cleared your schedule, and authorized the excursion.” Thrayke seemed a little uneasy, but she decided against questioning his cryptic invitation.
“Well in that case…” Kyra left the “I have no choice,” unsaid, but watched him with a smile so he knew she wasn’t displeased with his offer. “Where are we going?” she added, but he shook his head.
“You’ll see,” was all he answered, and leaned forward to pour her more wine.
The next morning, she was woken early by one of Thrayke’s minions, and directed to a small hovercraft in the same dock she’d arrived in. She climbed aboard, and saluted both the Thrakorian soldiers and their master, who each nodded in response. In public, she and Thrayke maintained a professional relationship, and even behind the doors of his office they still hadn’t strayed out of the realms of friendship. The small craft took to the air, and within minutes they were travelling through the heavily fortified city of London and it’s numerous Thrakorian skyscrapers, and then out the other side into the fields and dense forests that’d been left to grow wild over the past eighteen years.
Kyra stared in awe, and caught Thrayke watching her from the front of the craft with a sly smile. He knew she’d love to travel the world, and even a small escape from the urban density of the city was a welcome change of scenery. Her cheeks burned as she contemplated just how well she’d let him get to know her during her time in The Tower, and she smiled to herself.
Before long the craft slowed, and they landed by a small cluster of buildings hidden amongst the trees. Just she and Thrayke disembarked, and Kyra peered up at him in surprise, but was sure to remain quiet rather than question him.
“Follow me,” he ordered, and took off towards the largest of the buildings without another word. Kyra did as he commanded, but when two human nurses and what looked like a team of Thrakorian scientists greeted her at the door, she started to panic. She had hoped Thrayke was taking her on a date, but now her elation at having left the confines of the city was quickly subsiding.
“What is this place?” she asked him quietly, but he shook his head to silence her. Kyra wanted to run, but instead her loyal bones and muscles followed his orders, regardless of her desperation for answers. While her mind tried in vain to figure out what was going on, her deceitful body walked down the corridor after the nurses in silence.
“Please undress and put on the gown provided,” one nurse said when they reached a small room, and she ushered Kyra inside. Thrayke came in with her, and when they were finally alone he wrapped her in his arms in an attempt to soothe her fears. She fought his grip though, and felt tears pricking at her eyes.
“You need to tell me what’s going on right now,” she snarled as quietly as she could, and pulled away from his hold. “What is this place, and why did you bring me here?” The powerful Thrak suddenly paled and sighed as though regretful, but she couldn't let herself feel sorry for him. He should’ve told her the truth the night before, and every second that ticked by in his silence was agony. Were they going to hurt her? Do strange procedures, or run tests? Kyra threw herself at him and pounded on Thrayke’s chest with her fist in her first ever show of defiance toward him. “Tell me why we’re here, dammit!” her words seemed to shock him from his reverie, and he peered down into her eyes solemnly.
“We’re here because they’re going to cure you,” he whispered. Kyra guessed her scowl must've given away her confusion, because he quickly explained himself further. “We’ve figured out how to isolate the malfunctioning codes in human DNA that make your kind weaker, and we’ve corrected them. I took samples from you, and the scientists have created a serum specifically for your genetic code. They’re going to cure you of any illnesses you might ever have developed, and stop the aging issue.”
“Aging issue?” her voice was hoarse. While she was surprised and even amazed by the wondrous scientific advances they’d made, she was still angry that he’d deceived her.
“After today you’re aging will slow, like ours,” he said, and cupped her cheek with his palm. “You’ll live for another five or six hundred years.” Thrayke leaned in and kissed her, and in her shock Kyra didn’t resist him. It’d been so long since she’d had physical affection, and she needed a show of his now if she were to even consider accepting this strange gift.
“Why me?” she asked when Thrayke finally let her go. “Are all Gentry humans getting this serum?”
“No, it’s still in the early stages. You’ve been handpicked to receive the treatment, but you’re classed as a test-subject.”
“Test-subject?” her anger was rising again, and her mind was suddenly alive with all the ways in which this might go horribly wrong. “What if something happens? What if I react badly or the serum doesn’t work?”
“You won’t. The serum is one hundred percent effective, Kyra.” She took a step back and peered out of the huge window at the lush grounds all around them. Birds were flying in and out of the bushes and trees, and they mesmerized her while she tried to process her frenzied thoughts.
“Will it hurt?” she eventually asked, and already knew she was conceding.
“No, but it’ll take a while, and you’ll most likely have a tough time while you’re body is adapting to the genetic changes. Your brain will struggle to process its organic rebirth, but once you’re on the other side, it’ll function at an even higher capacity than before.” Thrayke came close behind her and leaned down to offer her a soft kiss on the neck, and Kyra welcomed his touch again. She leaned back into him and sighed. “I’m not promising you perfection, but I can promise you’re one of very few human’s who’ve been offered this procedure. I can’t give you love, marriage or a family, but I can offer you your health and a long life. I guarantee we’ll have a lot of fun together, and I’ll never hurt you.” Kyra wondered how she’d gotten in so deep without realizing it, but also knew there was no going back. She wanted what Thrayke was offering, and when his lips pressed against her neck again to deliver another tender kiss, she knew she’d already accepted.
“I guess I’d better get dressed then?” she replied, and slowly began removing her clothes. He stepped outside while she changed and ditched her glasses, and after she’d taken a few deep breaths, she let the team of scientists and nurses back in.
Thrayke stood on the periphery while they got ready, clearly not wanting them to know why he had chosen Kyra to receive the serum, and she wondered how they’d chosen their test subjects thus far. While she pondered, a nurse instructed he
r to lie back on the bed and hold out her hand. When she hesitated, the young woman touched her shoulder with a light and clearly practiced bedside manner.
“This is just an IV. It’ll be connected to a drip so that you’re properly hydrated during the administration period.”
“What can I expect during that time?” Kyra had to ask, and the woman pursed her lips. She was clearly annoyed that her patient didn’t already know all of the facts, but they clearly weren’t about to hold-off on her treatment now that everyone was present and ready to continue—even if she wasn’t fully prepared.
“You’ll sleep a lot, and when lucid you’ll be hazy. Most patients have hallucinations and blank spots in their memory, but some others let their fears come to life and overwhelm them. Try to stay calm, otherwise we will be forced to restrain you, but I promise that by the time you come down from the final dose, you’ll feel absolutely wonderful.”
Without another word she pushed the needle into Kyra’s vein and connected her to the IV. Another needle was then pressed into her neck via a pressurized gun, and she knew the first dose had already been administered.
Within seconds, her vision started to blur and her body ached from head to toe. The twinge started dull, but then radiated outward from inside her bones, and she began to fidget. The nurse wrapped the hand with the IV needle inside in gauze, and then secured her arm in place using a thick belt. It reminded Kyra of an old horror movie she’d watched when she was younger, in which a young woman went crazy and was strapped to a table, while doctors gave her a lobotomy.
The men and women watching over her didn’t move or speak while the nurse completed her initial treatment, but she watched them in fear, scared they might be about to do the same to her as the doctors had to the poor girl on the old screen. Kyra forced herself to calm down, and let the sane part of her still barely conscious mind rule her body. She followed the advice the nurse had just given, and refused to let her fears overwhelm her.
“Very well, there’s been no adverse reaction,” one of the Thrakorian scientists told the nurse with a nod, and she hated how cold he seemed towards both her and his human employee. “Administer the doses as per the schedule until all have been absorbed. We will check back periodically.”
“Yes, Lorde Greegis,” she replied, and Kyra watched through heavy eyes as he and his team left. She was glad. Having them stood staring at her was intimidating, and now she would be free to give into the drugs so they could do their work to her body. Thrayke took her hand as she was about to fall into a dopey sleep, and she forced herself back awake.
“Don’t fight it. The serum is basically breaking you apart and then putting you back together again, but it’ll be easier on you if you don’t resist. I’ll stay as long as I can, but I’ll never be far away. I promise,” he said, and kissed the back of her hand.
“It’s okay, it was just the roses hugging too tight,” Kyra mumbled, and he laughed. She smiled, and knew she’d just spoken what he would’ve considered to be gibberish, but she didn’t care to tell him why she’d said it. She was staring down at her bare arm at the scar she bore there, and her mind was alive with hallucinations that she was up on that rooftop again. This time, unlike in her dreams, it felt so real. She could smell the flowers and felt the chill of the night’s air on her skin. “I know you aren’t real, but I’m glad you're here,” she said to the fantastical King, and he grinned down at her.
“You’re just a child, Kyra. I don’t know why you’d ever think I could love you.” When he spoke it was with such a kind expression, but nasty words, and she shook her head.
“A child can love as deeply as an adult, perhaps even more so because they don’t fight their feelings. Be kind or leave me alone,” she replied, and then groaned as a wave of nausea hit. The dull ache in her bones was radiating outwards again, but now the pain was escalating. Kyra felt like she was tearing apart from the inside out, and could feel herself going from hot to cold and back again in quick succession. She felt the sting of another needle in her thigh, and within seconds, blackness enveloped her. She welcomed it, and let herself fall deep into the forced slumber in the hopes that it’d be over by the time she awoke.
Chapter
Twenty
“There are bugs all over me, help me get them off!” Kyra screamed, and the nurse flew to her side. She grabbed Kyra’s free hand and held it away from her arm, somehow having known she was about to scratch her skin clean off.
“There’s nothing there, see…” Kyra looked down, and sure as she’d said, there was nothing. “You need to rest now, we’re almost done,” the nurse assured her with a warm smile, but Kyra wanted to scream at her that rest was impossible with all the horrific side effects the serum was causing.
“How many doses left?” she forced herself to ask instead. She was coming around, but hated the lucidity, because she knew it simply meant the next shot was imminent.
“Not many,” Thrayke’s voice answered her from the doorway, and the nurse backed away from Kyra’s bedside. He took his usual seat by her and tried to hide his grim expression.
“What’s the matter? Isn’t it working?” she asked, suddenly afraid that all the hard work was going to be for nothing, but he shook his head.
“I need to go to The Tower, but I’ll be back in two days—I promise. You’ll have finished your treatment by then, so I want you to rest up and wait for me, okay?” The last thing Kyra wanted was for him to leave, but she knew it must be important, as he’d stayed close by the rest of her time under the care of the strange facility otherwise. She wondered just how long it’d been, and guessed three or four days, but couldn't be completely sure.
“You know where I’ll be,” she tried to answer nonchalantly, and guessed he saw right through her fear, but didn’t call her out on it. “I’ll see you in two days.”
“Two days,” he told her insistently, as though making sure it’d sunk in, and he kissed her forehead gently before walking away. Kyra let out a sigh, and then jumped when the nurse came over with her next dose. She’d almost forgotten she was there, and felt her cheeks burn at having been seen with Thrayke during such an affectionate moment.
“It’s okay, we all know you two are seeing each other,” the nurse told her. “My advice—enjoy it while it lasts.” She pressed the gun to Kyra’s thigh, administered her dose, and then walked away without another word.
Her vision grew hazy and her lids heavy, but she wanted to know what the nurse had meant. Kyra mumbled something, but knew nothing had come out but garbled slurs, and gave up. She let her head fall back against the hard pillow, and stared at the ceiling. Bats were flying around her lampshade, and she giggled. They turned into dragonflies and then fairies while she watched, and only when the light was hurting her weary eyes did she let them fall. Dreams of birds soon filled her darkness, and Kyra was among them, soaring through the trees and across stunning fields in search of a place to rest her tired wings. She ducked her head and ate a worm, but instead of the delicious meaty flavor she anticipated, rancid bile filled her mouth, and she woke up retching.
“Shouldn’t she be through the nausea by now?” a deep voice asked a figure to Kyra’s right, and the soft sound of her nurse answered in a forced sweet tone.
“Everyone is different. There are two doses left, and I’m certain it’s worked. Look.” Kyra felt the sheet being lifted from her thighs, and recoiled at having her bare legs shown to her visitor.
“As if I’d be interested in what’s under this gown,” the man’s voice chastised, and Kyra quickly realized it was the same scientist that’d overseen her arrival, Lorde Greegis. His hands pressed against her skin while her eyes finally cleared from their blurry haze, and she could see he was checking where the nurse had been using the serum gun to administer her doses. “The marks have already healed, that’s a good sign. Very well, I’ll leave you to complete the treatment.”
Kyra was glad when the door closed behind him. She pulled the sheet back over herself and
held her arm out to the nurse, who quickly gave her the penultimate dose.
“See, you’re stronger already,” she said, patting her on the shoulder, but Kyra didn’t even attempt a reply. She turned her head and stared out the window, wondering when the sky had turned purple. The pink clouds billowed across her view, and she stared at them for so long her eyes felt dry when she tried to blink. When she managed to open them again, fear gripped her gut. Two zombies stood staring in at her from the other side of the glass, each dressed as a policeman. She knew right away it was the rebels she’d caught at the terminal, and that they were long since dead.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, and began to cry.
“Don’t be sorry for our deaths, be sorry for your failure,” one replied. “You’re failing the human race every day that you serve them…” he coughed and sputtered, spitting out rotten teeth on the ground before him, while the other scratched at an oozing welt on his cheek. She tasted bile again, but wasn’t sick, and guessed there probably wasn’t anything left to bring up.
“You think you’re protected and respected, but they only care about what you can do for them. You’re innocent, but the Thraks don’t care. If you fail or disappoint them, they’ll kill you,” the other added.
“No, I don’t believe you,” she mumbled, and shook her head as hard as she could to try and rid herself of this hallucination.