50. Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty
T hrax
Back at the hospital, the conference room feels too small for all of us considering the weight of our situation. Skye’s hand is warm in mine as we sit around the table, Laura and Varro across from us. The events in Rome play on a loop in my mind, now tangled with the terrible news we received on the plane about Victor’s abduction. Two crises, colliding in the worst possible way.
“So,” Laura begins, her voice tight with stress, “the world knows about us now, and we’ve lost one of our own. The question is, what do we do next?” She steeples her fingers and shakes her head. “We’ve got Interpol involved in searching for Victor, but they advise keeping his disappearance quiet for now.”
“Agreed,” Varro says grimly. “The last thing we need is to alert Roth’s organization that we’re onto them. They clearly planned the attack in Rome as a distraction while they took Victor from the hospital.”
My jaw tightens at Varro’s words. Guilt churns in my gut—while I was fighting in Rome, one of my brothers was stolen away. Skye squeezes my hand as though she can read my mind. She always seems to know when dark thoughts plague me.
“The scientific community is in an uproar,” Varro continues, scanning his phone. “I’ve received dozens of requests for interviews, tissue samples, brain scans—you name it. They still think of us as specimens rather than people.” His expression darkens. “And now they’ve actually managed to steal one of us.”
“And don’t get me started on the politicians,” Laura adds, rolling her eyes. “Apparently, you’re now a ‘matter of national security’ according to half a dozen countries.”
The tension thickens in the room, but before we can discuss things further, Laura’s phone buzzes. Her eyebrows shoot up as she reads the message.
“It’s Dara Hobson.” Her voice carries both surprise and relief.
Skye straightens beside me. “My boss.”
Laura puts the phone on speaker. “Ms. Hobson, you’re on with the team.”
“Excellent.” Her voice is filled with authority as she speaks. “I’ll cut to the chase. This gladiator situation is the biggest story of the century, and NextGenTech was instrumental in developing the translation technology that’s making communication possible. I want to be present at the in-depth press conference you’re inevitably going to give.”
We exchange glances around the table. Laura mutes the call.
“What do you think?” she whispers.
“She’s not wrong about how helpful the tech has been,” Skye offers. “And having a powerful ally couldn’t hurt right now. Especially with Victor missing.”
Laura unmutes the call. “Ms. Hobson, before we agree, there’s something you should know.” She takes a deep breath. “During the incident in Rome, one of our gladiators was taken. We’re keeping it quiet for now, but…”
The woman interrupts, taking charge of the call, asking pointed questions as she efficiently collects facts.
“Thanks for that info. I have enough data and think I might be able to help. I have connections in high places. Let me make some calls. Sometimes unofficial channels work best. ”
The offer of help sends a ripple of hope through the room. My grip on Skye’s hand loosens as the first real possibility of finding Victor emerges.
“That would be incredibly helpful,” Laura says. “We’ll give credit where it’s due for the translation technology, and we welcome any assistance in finding our missing friend.”
“Agreed,” Dara responds, her tone softening slightly. “My team will be in touch with the details. And… good luck. You’re making history here.”
As the call ends, a nurse pokes her head in. “He’s awake,” she says softly.
My heart races as we make our way to the recovery room. Cassius lies pale but alert in the hospital bed, his green eyes widening as they land on Varro.
“Varro?” he croaks, his voice weak. “Is it really you?”
Looking at him, the bitter irony strikes deep in my chest. One brother gained while another is lost. But we’ll find Victor. We must.
As I watch Cassius begin his journey into this new world, memories of my own awakening flood back. But rather than dwelling on the fear and confusion of those early days, I focus on the joy I’ve found, the love that’s blossomed against all odds.
The challenges we face are daunting—finding Victor, protecting the others, building a new life. But our family is growing, bridging the gap between past and present, writing a new chapter in history with every breath we take.
And we won’t stop until we’re all together again.