Don entered the link.
Rapture felt warm … sensual. Ranie was going to feel that, too. Oh, well. The image of the map remained stable. Rapture could feel that Ranie was exerting significant energy to keep it so.
Don said, “We need to re-evaluate the dissemination of the image of the heterochromia iridum Pale Siren.”
Ranie said, “No, we need to go further back. What is the earliest event you can think of that would make you think I’m telepathic?”
“I remember George’s place … working on toolshed plans … to rearrange it. You were in and out with your friends.” The image of the map faded and an image of a rural dwelling’s kitchen appeared.
“Alethia and I were sneaking out handfuls of flour in our pockets …”
Don said, “I remember thinking you were up to something, but not anything that would make me think of telepathic …”
In the memory, Ranie was a young girl. Her skin was perfect and radiant.
“Oh! That’s me?” Ranie laughed derisively.
The image kept jumping back in forth in Rapture’s head—getting jumbled. “This is weird.”
Don said, “It’s switching between our viewpoints.”
Ranie said, “Can’t help that.”
Don said, “I’m getting some major feedback.”
Rapture said, “I feel weird.”
Ranie removed her hand from Rapture.
Rapture opened her eyes.
Ranie cradled Don’s face. “That’s better.” She looked weak, yet relaxed—almost intoxicated. Ranie’s face and stance portrayed a rare contentment.
Don said, “Yeah, sorry. I was distracted.” He stroked Rapture’s leg.
They had to remove Rapture because she was too stupid to handle the chain link. They were just trying to be nice by not saying it. That’s fine. They were here for Ranie.
Ranie said, “We need to move later than that.” The two pseudo-conjoins talked for a time, eventually going in to fine detail about the events leading up to Don’s coma. At one point, Ranie chained in Guivan, and then later switched Guivan out for Sorana. After a time, Sorana put her hand on the base of Don’s neck. He grunted and winced.
Rapture said, “Sweetie, what are you doing? Sorana!”
Don grimaced.
Finnur said, “Maybe we should stop.”
Ranie said, “No!”
Don shuttered.
Athian reached to remove Sorana’s hand.
Finnur stopped Athian and gave him a grave shake of head. “Don’t be a fool. She’ll kill you.” He pushed Athian back. “Ranie, break the link!”
Ranie said, “Hold on.”
Don’s face became red. He clenched his jaw.
The trio broke. Don and Ranie locked gazes in shock.
Ranie wobbled and breathed heavily.
Athian helped her sit.
Rapture asked, “What happened?”
Don said, “Synergy. I remember now. I remember everything.”
Rapture said, “Synagry?”
Don said, “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Our minds combined revealed details that they could not have reached individually. The receptacle, Guivan’s viewing, the map—they were all true—exactly what they appeared to be. The Paragon is as much the fool as we are in this.”
Finnur said, “But the contradiction … you’re not actually saying that we’re all just part of her imagination.”
Ranie said, “No, this is all real.” She nodded her head toward Sorana. “She made him remember. Guivan’s viewing was real. The actual image stored in the receptacle was our discontinuity. It was reprogrammed before the Paragon found it.”
Athian raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure the memory wasn’t implanted somehow?”
Don said, “Yes, I’m sure. It’s just like when someone jogs your memory by mentioning something. Sorana, how did you do that?”
“I don’t know.”
“But how—we can worry about that later. I was attacked by a left-handed woman of Sorana’s build. She was a telepath—an extremely powerful one.”
Sorana said, “The vampire’s accomplice.”
Rapture said, “I don’t understand. People were saying the Pale Siren broke Armaan out of jail.”
Ranie said, “That was wild speculation.”
Don said, “This one that attacked me has the knowledge and ability to damage a conjoin, and to suppress memory.”
Finnur asked, “Could it have actually been Sorana?”
Don said, “I don’t think so. Sorana was with me when Armaan escaped. I guess that just means she’s not the accomplice, but we’re pretty sure the accomplice is the same person that attacked me. And Sorana’s right handed—well, effectively ambidextrous, but still.”
Sorana said, “It wasn’t me.”
Ranie said, “The accomplice acted alone in the attack on Donnie, and in reimaging the receptacle of Wescott’s Demise with the image of Deception. She has the voltage generation of a vardal, but is a telepath. She has creatures—powerful beasts—under her control that could retrieve the receptacle from deep underground, and replace it afterword.”
Don said, “That describes only one individual.”
Ranie said, “Reine le vampiric—the vampire queen.”
Evan said, “Holy shit!”
***************
Ranie made herself approach Finnur. What do I say?
He was propped up against the poop deck railing, reviewing some notes. “Good evening, Rainaria.”
“I …” Nothing else came out.
Finnur folded up his notes and placed them aside. “I had four sons. One died from fever as a youth. The other three now work Worthington’s land. There were times we shared drinks and stories. There were even times that they talked with me about girls. But they became men too early for my liking—independent and concerned with their own lives. I do love them. I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world, but I have always wondered what I missed by not having a daughter. Why don’t you have a seat?”
Ranie sat. “We just …” I had no idea how you felt. I didn’t know what signs to look for. My daddy died when I was so young. I never knew him.
“The first time I met you, I saw the potential of your mind. Rather, I saw great potential, but I had no idea it reached this extent. Knowing what you could accomplish, it has always pained and frustrated me to watch you struggle. I sometimes wondered if your friends were pulling you into a dark place that you didn’t need to be. I directed your study to psychology of women, and pressed you to delve into it, in part hoping it would help you through whatever you were dealing with.”
It seemed like you were a narcissistic egghead that wanted others to do the legwork so that you could publish more studies. I’m sorry for thinking that.
“You were dealing with more than I knew. I should have listened more closely to you—encouraged you to study what you were interested in. I don’t know how many more years I have before my mind starts to fade. Perhaps in an effort to find someone to follow my work, I ignored some signals that I shouldn’t have. I apologize for that.”
Did you just apologize?
“It shouldn’t have taken a telepathic linking to see what was right in front of me. Sometimes when a person is too close to a situation, his vision is skewed. I couldn’t see the forest for the trees, as they say. I want you to know that I am proud of what you have accomplished—so very proud of you. I brag on you all the time to the other professors. You are, by a wide margin, the strongest, most beautiful young tree in our forest of students. I sense that you are about to bloom and become something even more beautiful.”
Everything became blurry. She was crying like a pathetic teenager. How embarrassing.
“I can’t even imagine what type of flowers you may grow … what wonders you will accomplish.” Finnur patted her shoulders. “What’s the matter?”
/> She leaned into him.
Finnur chuckled. “Oh.” He patted her back and held her as a father might.
Chapter 58
Another Me
Visor leaned on the Virtuosa’s forecastle guard rail. The view of the open sea and rhythmic movement of the ship were calming.
“Remember that time we kicked the shit outta those pirates?” Evan never did like the quiet. She sat to his right, swinging her feet over the side. Her thinned legs hung through the rails. She’d lost weight over the three week voyage. She’d been sea-sick—nauseated and fatigued.
Visor asked, “We?”
Ranie sat on Visor’s other side. “You mean yesterday, Ev?”
“Yeah!” Evan adjusted her newly-acquired eye patch. “Er, yar.”
Ranie said, “Ev.”
“Aye, Meole?”
“You’re not a pirate.”
“Avast, and I not be swabbing ye poop decks, land blubber. I be the lookout and this eye’s getting’ tired.” Evan switched her patch to cover the other eye.
“You’re supposed to switch it when you go below deck, dumbass. It’s to keep one eye accustomed to the dark.”
Evan considered the information. “Ho-wench.”
Finnur walked up the steps. “It was lucky the pirates came along when they did. I don’t think I would make much of a rower.”
Visor said, “We really lost the wind after coming around the cape. That’s probably why they hunted there.”
“I’m just glad they included ore ports.”
“The Virtuosa was designed for maneuverability around docks.”
Ranie said, “It certainly wasn’t for speed.”
Evan said, “Wish they would row faster. I’m sick of the sea and it’s sick of Ranie.” She laughed at her own cleverness then had a minor coughing fit. There was a bit of blood in some of her phlegm.
Finnur said, “You should have a siren check that out. You may have developed a sinus infection, and that could develop into something more serious.”
Ranie said, “She will.”
Visor said, “Vinok is almost done reinforcing the hull. Then he can work on a jiggermast. That should help with speed.”
Finnur said, “Rapture’s dolphins have helped as well. Maybe she can get a few more pulling.”
Visor said, “I’m having some more harnesses made. By the way, I talked with Vinok about the stench. I designed a set of port modifications that should improve ventilation—keep some of that smell out of the sickbay.”
“Thanks. It’s been pretty bad.” Finnur said, “Speaking of the pirates, we might need to discuss the policy with their handling. I understand the branding is legally mandated. But their overall treatment is making the sirens ill.”
Visor said, “There’s only so much we can do. This isn’t a prison barge. Giving them freedom in these tight quarters would require a lot more guard hours. Perhaps we could pay the marines overtime. I guess we could use the loot we confiscated from the pirates.”
Finnur nodded. “That should help. I’ll make sure the sirens understand that.”
Visor said, “It’s going to be up to you. You’re going to have to play captain in a day or two.”
Ranie said, “What exactly is the mission—this thing with the Catalyst?”
Visor said, “Primarily, we are needing to extract Amaranthine, Mercy’s agent. And then we may go on to retrieve Catalyst. Hopefully we can just buy it or steal it. The mission shouldn’t be too extended. We’ll definitely need a telepath.”
“How long do you think this will be?”
“Well, there’s at least four days travel each way. Then who knows how many if we go for the Catalyst as well. Hopefully Rap can get us some mounts from the local wildlife. Maybe you’ll get to ride a tiger.”
“I’ll pass.”
What? “We really need a telepath for this. I mean, if the situation comes up where we’re talking with people trying to interpret wild guesses and lies, having you there would make all the difference. I’ll count it as double time for what you owe me.”
“What—two girlfriends isn’t enough?”
Finnur frowned. “Ranie!”
Visor held out his hands. “What?”
Ranie sighed. “I respectfully decline your invitation to partake in the adventure.”
“But why? I’ll keep the danger to you at a minimum. We’re taking marines. We can leave you far from any action and I’ll just take the marines and Sorana with me. I won’t ask you to do anything I wouldn’t have Rap do.”
“I don’t wish to discuss it. Not all of us are bound sirens and estrous half-breeds.”
“What?”
“You know, Donnie, while living off the land and sharing every waking moment with a group of buddies might sound intriguing to you, there are certain things I don’t want to share with everyone.”
“What?”
Finnur spoke in low tones. “I believe we are referencing contrasts of the feminine condition between various fertile mammals.”
Visor said, “Ah.”
There was a silence.
Evan’s eyes light up. “Oh—your period!”
Ranie said, “Thanks, Evan.”
Visor said, “Yes, that awkward silence was so much worse than awkward conversation.”
Ranie rolled her eyes. “Sheesh, the one time she gets it.”
Finnur said, “Okay, now—both of you.”
Visor sighed. “Evan, it makes me feel uncomfortable to talk about girl stuff with girls around, especially with you.”
“It makes me uncomfortable, too.” Ranie started mumbling. “But worth it in this case.”
Finnur pointed back and forth between Ranie and Visor. “Okay, kids, we’ll work on this later.”
Ranie said, “I’ll go to the shore camp with marines but I’m not going traipsing all over Issore on a wild goose chase.”
Visor said, “No problem—we’ll just come get you if we need you, when we’ve narrowed down the search a bit. Or we can bring them to you.”
“Whatever.”
The guys made their way across the forecastle deck. Finnur said, “Before you disembark for the Catalyst, I have reached some findings on Rapture’s condition. If you would like to come by the medical bay sometime, I’m ready to share what I know and suspect.”
“I’m ready now. I’ll go get Rap.”
***************
“Rapture’s case continues to surprise. Obviously, my equipment on the Virtuosa is limited, but the test results I do have are consistent with the Sanctuary’s exam, and the psychological profile we put together. If you take a wide view of possibilities, and allow for variables related to the unique experiences of the AciesMagus …”
Visor said, “She was pregnant.”
Rapture stared into the distance. “Yes … yes, I was. And then I wasn’t.”
Visor asked, “Do you know how this happened?”
Finnur shook his head. “Normally, this is medically contradictory because the pheromone production of a siren in binding deters budding. I can’t explain the mechanics. Perhaps some combination of drugs administered by the vardal interfered with your binding enough to allow her to become pregnant, but not enough to break the binding.”
“How does that fit into their scheme? They were testing sirenic healing on vardal.” Visor rubbed Rapture’s back. “Why purposefully end the binding? They made such an effort to keep us is contact.”
“Did they purposefully … end my …” Rapture lowered her head.
Finnur said, “I don’t believe so. I suspect that pregnancy was simply not viable, or perhaps incompatible with other processes happening in your body. And there is some amount of physical evidence that the baby …” Finnur looked distressed. “That the drugs … I’m sorry—I hesitate to engage in speculation as a medical professional so far outside my field.”
“Then speak as a friend.”
“Evidence is that the fetus never passed the earliest stages of development. However, the biochemical readings indicate that a conjoin has developed in your womb. We took these readings in Raykez, but I wasn’t able to interpret them until the recent information came to light.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m not sure. It seems the conjoin should have been reabsorbed or expelled along with other material. It wasn’t.”
“Is it a danger to Rap?”
“Will it keep me from ever budding?”
“I don’t see any indication that your body sees the conjoin as a threat. It does not appear to be an immediate concern. If it begins to cause complications, you could probably just heal the damage until we come up with a therapy. And Rapture, as far as budding, this is really out of my area. When we get back to Raykez, we can have the vampiric nurse take some more readings. Then I would at least have a basis for suggesting a course of action. At this point, I’d say we need to be vigilant. If you experience pain or bleeding, let me know right away.”
Visor said, “You look like you have something more to say.”
“Yes, while Rapture exhibits readings consistent with active druid ability, there is no precedent for the connection she has with the leopard. Putting together the timing of events, it is reasonable to conclude that the conjoin and the connection to Burke are related. Her connection is telepathic, and it could be that the womb conjoin is providing this telepathy. It is possible the conjoin is vampiric.”
Visor said, “What better way to test sirenic healing on vardal and vampires than to see how a siren’s body hosts a vampiric fetus?”
“A what?” Rapture was distraught. “Heiliger Mond. What did they do to me?”
Visor hugged her. “Is that even possible? Could drugs and bioelectric treatments really convert a baby’s conjoin?”
Finnur shrugged. “You are more qualified than I to answer questions like that.”
Chapter 59
Snakes
Eliot wrinkled up his face. “So, she wouldn’t be able to just read us from the ship?”
Visor said, “No, it doesn’t work that way.”
Loring rode on the other side of Visor. “Are you sure? She seems to be reading you sometimes even when she’s just in the same room.”
Eliot said, “Yeah … those eyes. I don’t want to be mean or anything, but they can kind of freak you out.”
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