Chapter 11 #2
I could hear the concern in her voice. Everything about Steen’s behavior was suspect, at least in my mind and her idea of a damning deal made significant sense.
If only I could figure out what pieces were missing from my visions.
While I didn’t want to draw the others’ attention to it just yet, I also wanted to see the hybrids.
“He’s not in there,” she stated as she raced back into the room. “I have a terrible feeling about this.”
“What’s going on?” Brexin finally lifted his head.
“David is missing.” Another twitch in my gut told me danger had found us.
“We have to find him,” she insisted, yanking her dress from the floor. “Would he just leave like this?”
“Calm down, Cassia, and let me go see if I can find him. We are not prisoners in this room or in this city,” Brexin stated.
“You mean for now,” she retorted. Groaning, she looked down. “I’m sorry. I’m worried. I had a terrible dream that we were all in danger.”
“I don’t think it’s just a dream,” I struggled to say. “Find him.”
Nodding, Brexin didn’t hesitate, leaping out of bed and struggling into his pants. I noticed he immediately secured his weapon. “Stay here. He couldn’t have gone far. At least I hope he didn’t.”
I hissed, taking long strides toward him, reaching for my clothes. “What’s going on?”
“Let me follow my instinct, Erik.” He darted his eyes in Cassia’s direction. “I won’t be long. Then we’ll talk.”
“Go.” I moved toward her, both of us watching as he left the room.
“The scientists found us,” she whispered, tossing on the dress, her entire body shaking. “Damn this. What is happening? Why are they doing this?”
“I don’t think that’s it.”
“Then what? I saw the looks you shared with Brexin. What aren’t you telling me? Both of you obviously have damning secrets and they will get us killed.”
The rumble in my chest grew more painful. I fastened my pants, yanking on my shirt. Following Brexin’s lead, I secured my weapon, her eyes watching my every move. “There may be an issue with the hybrids.”
“This isn’t about procreating, is it?” When I didn’t answer, she yanked my arm. “Is it?”
“Not entirely, but you need to listen to me.” Facing her, I kept my words even. “If what I believe is correct, this could change everything and the decisions we make will be difficult.”
“Meaning what? What?”
The door was pitched open, Brexin jogging inside. “I found David. He didn’t make it far, but…”
“What’s wrong?” Cassia demanded. “Finish what you were about to say.”
“He’s fallen ill,” I answered. “The disease.”
Brexin nodded. “It’s happening quickly.”
“What the fuck is going on? What disease?” Cassia took long strides closer.
He stole a look at me, waiting for my nod. “There is a disease that has plagued Galerians for years. I thought it didn’t follow us to this planet, that it was eradicated maybe, but…”
“So there really is another planet.” Cassia’s tone was accusatory. “This bullshit gets better and better. What else do I need to know?”
“Tell her the truth, Brexin, for God’s sake. We don’t have much time to waste.” I snarled my words, trying to control the increasing anger.
“The humans couldn’t have known that a disease has been ravaging our civilization for two decades. If they did, then they did this for their own personal gain, realizing they would be able to wipe our entire clan prior to their arrival.” Brexin backed into the doorway.
“That makes no sense. If that were the case, then why bother with the DNA splicing and all the secrecy?” Cassia bit her lip, shaking her head over and over.
“Humans need your DNA. We must be incapable of producing children. And this isn’t about building any cities.
You already have them here, fully equipped and secured, perfect for a mere two thousand humans to survive. ”
Brexin growled, the sound riddled with rage. “That isn’t going to happen. I will kill every human who arrives.”
“Take it easy. We don’t know what’s going on yet,” I instructed, hearing David’s agonizing moan. “He is in significant pain.”
“We need to get him somewhere safe before the guards find him. Our only chance is appealing to Steen.” Brexin scanned the hallway.
“And what if the guards find him?” Cassia asked as she touched his arm.
Brexin took a deep breath before speaking. “They will kill him. Follow me, but I want you to understand that what he’s going through is… David is very sick and he doesn’t look the same.”
Still shaking, Cassia and I looked at each other. “I’m a trained doctor and scientist, Brexin. I’ve seen ravaging damage from various diseases on humans, the horrors that occur. I can handle this.”
Brexin nodded but in his eyes I could see the kind of sadness from images that would forever haunt him.
We raced down the corridor, finding David’s naked body slumped over in the doorway of an empty room.
“Oh, my God. What has happened to you?” Cassia exclaimed before crouching down, easing him over and placing her hand on his forehead. “He’s burning up and completely dehydrated. What is this disease? You need to tell me exactly what’s going on if there’s any hope of helping him.”
David’s skin was discolored, veins bulging and his chest heaving as he struggled to breathe.
There was no adequate way to describe the change in his body structure, but even his muscles were more rigid, extremities elongated.
The effects were completely different than what Brexin had mentioned, suggesting the DNA slicing had altered the disease itself.
“There is no official name. When we left Galerius, our doctors were working on the cause and how the disease is transmitted.” Brexin snarled, slamming his hand on the wall.
“This can’t continue, or every clan could be wiped out in weeks.
Not months. Not years. Weeks. That’s as much as I know about this wretched sickness. ”
“There is no cure?” she barked as she checked his pulse.
“Not that I am aware of,” Brexin half whispered.
“Tell her why the other members of your clan will want him killed,” I snapped.
Cassia snapped her head in his direction. “Tell me!”
“This disease mainly affects their minds. They turn into killers. They have no conscience, no understanding of right and wrong. And they can’t be stopped.”
Brexin’s chilling words hung in the air.
“If the DNA splicing allows for Galerian diseases to be transferred to the human counterpart, then all the hybrids are susceptible. They must be examined. There is no way that Dr. Forrester knew this. The asshole might have eliminated our chances of survival because of his arrogance and greed.” Rising to her feet, she glared at Brexin.
I could see tears in her eyes but the kind of determination that had drawn me to her in the first place. She was a fighter, a warrior in her own right and the woman I loved.
“I need to see them now and I won’t take no for an answer.” She clenched her jaw, standing to her full height.
“She’s right. We talk to Steen now.” I hoisted David into the air, tossing him over my shoulder. Seconds later, we burst into Steen’s quarters, bellowing until Steen appeared from his bedchambers.
“What in the hell is going on?” he demanded. The light brightened, highlighting his pensive face. “What are you doing in here?”
“We must see the hybrids, now,” Cassia snapped, getting in Steen’s face.
I could hear the rumble of boots, guards heading in our direction. Easing David to the floor, I held him in the light. “The disease that manifested itself on your real planet has found a new host. Look at him. Look at what the disease had done already.”
Steen huffed, hesitating before taking several steps closer. “This is disturbing.”
“Disturbing? You can’t tell me that several of our clan members haven’t succumbed to the disease on this planet. You didn’t want anyone to know so you had them killed, blaming their disappearance on wild boars and tigers, even the humans. But that wasn’t true, was it?” Brexin demanded.
“Our people were killed by the humans,” Steen insisted.
“That’s bullshit!” I hissed, clenching my fist in his face. “You lied to your own people.”
“Our people who fell ill became nothing more than predators, hunting our own. I remember the stories on Galerius. I know exactly what happened and how our government handled it. They. Were. Exterminated.” Brexin shook his head, laughing bitterly.
“What deal did you make with the humans, Steen? How much is the life of your people worth to you? Were you promised to be a king once the humans arrived if you helped them with this monstrous experiment?” Cassia crowded his space, her words riddled with hatred.
“How dare you!” Steen roared. “I am king here. You are a human female given permission to live in our clan, given the ultimate honor of being allowed to mate. I demand respect. You will not speak to me in that manner!”
Her laugh filtered in the air. “You speak of honor and respect. Respect is earned, great King Steen, and honor is bestowed on those who exalt greatness. I am nothing but a simple female, one who was lied to and brought to a planet that will never be her home. And there is no way I can trust, let alone respect you.”
“Whatever your deal, Steen, the DNA experiment could fail, destroying every hybrid as well as your own people. You are well aware of Cassia’s credentials.
I have a feeling you know everything about her.
She needs to see the hybrids and in truth, if what we suspect is true, she might be the only person who can attempt to save all of us. ”
The words were chilling, forcing Steen to jerk back.
When Klar and several guards rushed into the room, Steen threw out his arm, ceasing their advance. It was easy to tell that Klar recognized David’s symptoms.
“What the hell?” Klar snarled.
“I also need access to medical supplies, the ability to draw blood and check other vitals.” Cassia’s voice was less demanding. “And David needs to be stabilized in a secure location.”
David’s moans became more significant, his body thrashing.
“He needs to be locked in chains,” Klar added.