by Beth Hodgson
A shadow appeared from behind the glass, keeping the light from filtering into the room. Like a menacing demon in one of his nightmares, it stood there for a moment, watching him. A burning sensation came over him, focused where each of the wires were connected to parts of his body. The burning subsided, replaced with an immense coldness. He became acutely aware of his nakedness. His body shook, then twitched with mechanical glitches.
Where was Gwen? Was she here?
The obscure figure disappeared from the glass. Within seconds, the door opened, and the shadow entered his chamber.
Suddenly the room lit up like the heavens. He jolted; his good eye was not used to this kind of intense lighting. The brilliance of the light sent an exploding pain to his brain. He couldn’t see what or who was in front of him. Orange data flashed quickly within his mechanical eye.
“I’m sorry, Drew, I didn’t realize that the light would bother you,” a woman’s soft voice said gently. A moment later, the light turned off. Once more, darkness enveloped the room, except for the bluish-white light from the window. “I saw that the network was interfering with your boot-up, so I unplugged you from the mainframe for a while, only connecting you to the sub network. You will be fully back online again soon, after you recover from the shock.”
Drew? That was his name? He tried to recall that name from his memory.
Access denied.
The woman returned to face him once more, studying him. What his left eye couldn’t see, the cybernetic eye filled in with information. Midforties. Honeyed hair cropped to her chin. Black-rimmed glasses covering her light brown eyes. Average weight, medium build. He sat, calculating his thoughts, trying to recall if he knew this woman. The data banks were coming up empty.
With a look of marvel and wonder across her face, she reached out and touched his hand, then moved to his chest, listening to his breathing. Taking out a small flashlight, she held it in front of him.
“Drew, I know your eyes are getting adjusted to light, but I need to do a routine inspection. It will only take a moment.”
Without waiting for a response from him, she turned on her flashlight, examining his cybernetic eye. His eye flooded with information, warning him it was too bright. Drew struck the flashlight, hurling it to the ground.
“Sweetie, I know it’s a lot for you to take in,” the woman stated warmly, “but please, try and remain calm. It will only be another minute or so, then you can rest.” She walked over to the flashlight and pulled it out of a tangle of wires. Appearing in front of him again, she held his face and inspected his left eye. Gasping, she took a step back.
“My God… It can’t be…” she uttered.
God? Drew glanced around the room. There was no god in here. What was she referring to? Another glitch.
Malfunction.
She continued to check his left eye in disbelief and fascination, until water began to pool in the corner of it. The tears finally released themselves, flowing down his face. Holding his gaze for a moment, she proceeded to inspect the bionic areas of his body, guiding her flashlight away from his face.
Where is Gwen?
His body jolted again, but this time it was a clear reaction to his thought. As if he was not permitted to access those memories.
The blonde woman patted him on the shoulder, then turned off the flashlight. “It’s okay. Try not to think too much right now. You are adjusting,” she said sympathetically. “It will take you a few days to get back to one hundred percent capacity.” She took out a modified pair of glasses—the right side was completely missing, with a hook coming from the bridge of the frames. After screwing the bridge of the altered spectacles to his cybernetic lens, she slid the modified frame’s earpiece behind his left ear.
“There. I know that you can now see perfectly with the wiring that we installed, but I thought you should have a little bit of your old self back.” She stood, admiring him with glassy eyes, her mouth curled in a small smile. Rubbing her eyes from behind her glasses, she breathed in, composing herself. “I am glad you came back to us.”
Came back?
Where is Gwen?
Drew opened his mouth to ask the woman where his daughter was, but nothing came out, just pure air.
Malfunction.
“Oh, Drew, you don’t have a voice box. I haven’t wired one into you yet.”
Drew frowned, frustrated. Drew… that was his name.
“Don’t worry, you will have one soon,” she said as she started typing in code in a nearby machine, hidden within the tubing and wires in the room. “The head director has been breathing down everyone’s backs the last few weeks, pushing us to get every cyborg booted up and online. We had to put your voice box on the back burner for the time being.”
Head director?
The woman looked over her shoulder. The light from the window highlighted her face. He tried to recall once more if he knew this woman.
Access denied.
The woman turned to walk out of the room. “Get some rest,” she called out as she closed the door behind her. “Surviving the initial boot-up takes a toll on your body.”
Drew lay down back on the cold platform; his circuits were drowsy. He felt a pinprick within the wires connected to his body. Then another. And another, until his whole body burned with pain. Electricity entered some of the wires while others flowed with blood and saline. It made him realize how cold he was. Shivering, he opened his mouth to yell, but only silence answered him.
As the foreign elements entered his bloodstream, relief came, and a blanket of comfort enveloped him. An old feeling, a feeling that he hadn’t felt in a long time, registered in his brain. Euphoria. He no longer burned, no longer felt the wires around him. He no longer sat in a room, caged like an animal.
An orange power surrounded him. Unlike the data that registered in his cybernetic eye, the orange energy embraced him in a world very different from the world he awoke to. Joy filled him, replacing the confusing, confined room with his distant memories.
CHAPTER TWELVE
VIOLET
A warm vibration shuddered from Ikaria’s lower body. He felt good, his hard muscle giving her much pleasure. But his flesh paled in comparison to the sensation of when new magic entered her bloodstream. The power of a color was like an aphrodisiac, causing her fleshy desires to burn with lust.
Rolling off the top of Mikko’s firm torso, Ikaria slunk in the bed next to him, gathering her senses. Through Mikko’s heavy breaths, his glistening tanned body emitted an orange glow, slowly coloring his hair from blond back to his original orange.
Cyrus’s new blond servant was indisposed this evening, so Ikaria had to compromise with someone else. After countless hours of studying in the library, Ikaria had needed a mental break from all the dull reading. As much as she loved to read and study old manuscripts, the ones she’d found were all uninteresting. Not only did she not find anything for her sister, nor any connection to the High Court and the disease, she didn’t find anything useful about time travel or any recorded incident regarding a green-gifted individual.
In order to confront the High Court and overthrow them, Ikaria needed to complete the Spectrum of Magic. That would give her the unmatched power to annihilate them all. No one would be able to stop her. And to do that, she had to find someone in time with the green gift. And so far, no luck. If she were to consume the blood of the blue and traveled through time searching, it might take her years. And that was unacceptable. She had no time to grow old within different eras, trying to find clues of the green-gifted blood. The High Court needed to be gone now.
As Mikko got up to pull on his pants, Ikaria contemplated if she should kill him instead of letting him walk free. During their sexual encounter, Ikaria had felt his mind, and she knew that he was hiding something. Something that had to do with her sister. She couldn’t break into his mind fully without him knowing, so that was only an option if she intended to kill him. No, he was not worth the risk.
Of cour
se, Ikaria had to keep up pretenses and continued to not use her magic in front of others. If she did indeed kill Mikko, it would cause alarm within World Sector Six’s court, and Cyrus would make sure that the gifted imprisoned her, especially since he had been seen arriving at her quarters. No, she was not ready yet. She needed the other colors. And so Ikaria had to play the powerless fool a bit longer. Best not to alert anyone until she was ready to travel back in time.
Ikaria watched as Mikko finished dressing, rolling over onto her stomach. Reaching over to her nightstand, she took a long drink of wine, then gave him her best smile as he was about to depart.
“Thank you, Enchantress.” Mikko smiled with pleasure.
“Let’s not make anything more out of this than we have to,” Ikaria said casually, drinking more of her wine, eagerly waiting for him to leave. There was still much to study in the library, and she wanted to get a head start this morning.
“Yes, Enchantress.” Mikko nodded, exiting her chambers.
After a moment, she heard her outside chambers close as Suri let him out. Jumping up, Ikaria walked out into the sitting chambers, not bothering herself with clothes. Suri bowed to her, then walked into the adjoining room.
“I don’t know why you didn’t want to join us this morning, Suri,” Ikaria called out, taking another sip of wine. “Mikko was tolerable, not like half of the others.”
Ikaria knew why, but she knew better than to speak of it.
“I was not in the mood, Enchantress,” Suri said from the other room. She appeared before Ikaria, then bowed. “I have something to show you.” Suri’s bright-orange eyes twinkled as she spoke, her head remaining frozen in place.
“Really? What is it?”
“Please, just follow me.”
Suri led Ikaria into the next room, where Ikaria’s private collection was housed. It was filled with any ancient technology finds that she could smuggle in without the Emperor, Empress, or the High Court knowing. Anything that was not yet cataloged for departure, Ikaria made sure it came to her.
In the center of her desk sat a large computerized chip. With a sudden burst of excitement, Ikaria dashed to it, running her hands all over it. It was what the ancients stored data on. Knowledge, somehow contained within that metal. If only she could figure out how to access it. This metal chip was one of the many keys to restoring their future.
Laughing with excitement, Ikaria whipped her head in Suri’s direction. “How did you get your hands on this without anyone finding out? These things are documented on Earth’s surface before they are brought up.”
“In one of my discreet outings in court, I heard of an artifact that was going to be smuggled to another lord here within the citadel. Only, I ensured that I obtained it first before the other handler.”
“Really? Another collector? Sounds like we may have an ally here within court. Do you know who this lord is?”
“Lord Hiroshi, Enchantress.”
“Well done, my dear Suri, well done, indeed.”
Suri revealed a small smile, then bowed. “Anything to please you, Enchantress.” Then she left the room, returning with a lavender kimono for Ikaria. Ikaria haphazardly put on the robe, returning her focus to the computer chip while Suri left her alone.
Ikaria marveled at the computer chip’s beauty, admiring the circuitry. Her fingertips ran over it lightly as she wondered how much information was stored within it. To think the High Court had hundreds of these, all at their disposal. The very thought angered her.
They are going to pay. Every single one of them.
Closing her eyes, Ikaria called forth her violet magic. The power responded gently, rushing like a gentle river through her soul. As she opened her glowing eyes, deep-violet magic began to flow around her. Some of the power grabbed her hairbrush, softly combing and styling her hair, then inserted hair ornaments in her lavish hairstyle in one half of her hair. The other half of her hair flowed to the ground unadorned. Other parts of her violet magic surrounded her kimono, fixing it in place and securing it with an obi. When the magic was finished getting her ready, Ikaria released it, pulling it back into her core.
With a cheerful tone, Ikaria called out to Suri in the next room.
“Suri, I shall be back late this evening. I am feeling quite refreshed, and I plan on spending all my time in the library today.”
“Yes, Enchantress.”
Ikaria grabbed a carafe of wine and her glass and headed out the door.
***
Ikaria finished reading the last sentence of the ancient tome, then shut the book carefully, ensuring that the paper wouldn’t crumble as she did so.
It was noon. Half the day had passed, and still she had read nothing of interest. Most of the books that Ikaria had skimmed through the past week dealt with two gifted brothers and their warring kingdoms. One had been in favor of the establishment of magic worldwide with a court system in place to uphold laws; the other was for technology and the continuance of the smaller kingdoms. Their bitter feud resulted in the worldwide technology ban, a ban that had been upheld for two thousand years, which had continued to this day.
What was unclear from all the scribes’ written accounts was whether the brothers and their war fell during the Millennium Era or Post-Apocalypse. Whatever the case was, it didn’t matter to Ikaria. As much as she enjoyed studying the past, that information didn’t help her in any way, and was just another waste of time.
One thing that perplexed Ikaria was a certain book that she recalled seeing in the library during one of her prior visits—The Genealogy of Kings. It was either misplaced or missing.
The book had recorded the gifted from the start of the Post-Apocalypse Era. Ikaria remembered quickly flipping through the pages while deciding if she wanted to study it. It had listed the names of the royals and court positions, and if anyone was gifted within the court, it stated their color and their offspring. Her sister had given her only two days to study that time, so Ikaria didn’t get a chance to read it, as she had specific books that Ayera requested she study, though she’d also secretly skimmed books on blood consumption.
But now that particular book was of importance, and it was imperative that she study it. It was the only material within the library that would have a clue on any account of a green-gifted person. Ikaria needed that book.
Ikaria had searched the shelves several times all week but couldn’t seem to locate it. She had a vague idea of where the book could have gone. She glanced over at the other table where Kohren sat, engrossed in the book he was reading.
Traitor, she thought. Probably has the damn book in his possession, if he hasn’t turned it over to the High Court yet. Knowing them, they are out seeking the green-gifted too. Damn them!
Her mood darkened as she thought about the missing book. Shaking off her thoughts, Ikaria got up from her spot, arching her back to give it a good stretch, her eyes moving from Kohren’s face to his blue mane. The brilliance of his deep-blue hair looked so desirable. How his magic tempted her, seducing her every thought. The azure color flirted with her imagination, almost daring Ikaria to make a move. The very thought stirred her insides, lusting for what was to come. She couldn’t wait to taste the blood of the blue.
But now was not the time.
Making her way into the section of the library she had been pulling books from, Ikaria meticulously set the tome she had been reading back on the shelf, then selected a new one. A musty old book with a worn gold binding stuck out on the shelf, mildly piquing her interest.
As she went to grab the book, she saw it was wedged in rather well between two larger tomes. She tugged at it—the book was stuck. Gritting her teeth, Ikaria yanked the book several times. It still held firm.
It would be nice if I could use my magic right now, she thought irritably. Damn Kohren is around the corner.
Ikaria turned her attention to one of the larger tomes stuck against the small golden one, forcing it out of the bookshelf. It took a few hard tugs, but the massive
tome finally came free, allowing the small one to fall sideways on the bookshelf. One of her nails broke in the process.
She glared at her nail. Now he really is going to pay for me breaking a nail!
Checking the damage one last time, Ikaria gritted her teeth and turned her attention back to the shelf. As Ikaria went to retrieve the small golden book, she noticed something behind it, stored in the back of the bookshelf. Curious, Ikaria stuck her hand in and retrieved another small book, this one bound in ivory leather with faded silver decoration. Puzzled, Ikaria wondered why this special book had been shoved behind the others. There was no title on the front cover, and the silver markings on it were rather ordinary. Turning to the spine, Ikaria saw no words printed for the title, either.
Grabbing the book, Ikaria headed back to her spot within the library, seating herself back in the uncomfortable, stiff chair, groaning. What she would give to use her violet magic right about now. She much preferred to seat herself within the air, hovering with the use of her controlling magic on her body rather than sitting on the hardened metal with padding. Air was much easier on the body, and it allowed her to think more clearly.
Slinking into the rigid chair, Ikaria opened the book, flipping to the first page. The title page read:
Jaadoo ke niyam
The Laws of Magic
translated by Oliver Jorgenson
Immediately straightening her posture, Ikaria suddenly became very interested in the book.
“Found something?” Kohren asked, glancing at her for the first time that day.
“No. I just needed to readjust myself in this godforsaken seat. It’s killing my back,” Ikaria said inadvertently, then turned back to her book, not wanting to call more attention to herself. “Besides, it’s just another boring book about the clash between the Kingdom of Arcadia and the Kingdom of York in the old World Sector One,” Ikaria lied. “Two idiotic brothers seeping testosterone just to prove who was the better man. So archaic.”