61. Sloan
SIXTY-ONE
SLOAN
“But I forget myself.” Edison took their silence for awe instead of concern. “You’ve come for answers to Aareth’s arm. I’ve prepared some tests to help us understand what’s happening.”
Sloan heard Edison talking with Elwood. Out of her peripheral vision, she even saw him setting up a strange-looking chair, but for the moment, her attention was elsewhere: on the Vampire Project bringing super soldiers to life.
Enhanced humans already completed and ready to be rolled out to the city guard.
It was too much for her to comprehend. Most of all, the Queen’s silence on the matter disturbed her.
“Ahhh, here we are.” Edison patted the seat of a brown leather chair that looked like it belonged at a barber’s shop. “Take a seat, Mr. Aareth Emerson, and we’ll see what we can find.”
Sloan watched as Aareth took off his shirt.
Her mind went from worrying about the vampire threat to reminding herself not to stare.
Aareth’s muscular body was enough to make anyone gawk.
Not only was he the perfect male specimen, but the area on his shoulder Sloan had seen ravaged by the Burrow Den wolf creature was also completely healed.
A new patch of light brown skin covered his arm.
If anything, Aareth looked even better than he had before.
“Wow, what a body.” Edison scratched the underside of his chin as Elwood whistled. “What’s your secret? Yoga, meditation, good old weightlifting? Wait, don’t tell me—a strict diet?”
Edison turned to Elwood with an open hand. His eyes never left Aareth’s shoulder.
“Vegetables, Elwood, on the double. I really need to clean up my diet.” Edison accepted a beet from Elwood’s outstretched hand. He took a bite, immediately spitting out the contents. “Ugh, I’m reminded of why I don’t eat healthier. Why do vegetables have to taste like a punishment?”
“Can we start looking at my arm?” Aareth fidgeted in his seat. “I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night.”
“Right you are. Elwood, glasses, and write the rest of this down.” Edison accepted a pair of glasses with microscopic lenses at the ends. “We’ll do an exterior exam first, then move into blood samples, x-rays, and mage testing. You know, all the fun stuff.”
Elwood conjured a tiny pencil and notepad from behind his back. He stuck out a pink tongue from the side of his mouth as he jotted down notes.
“It looks like you’re in—good hands.” Sloan began to make her way from the room. “I’m going to get some rest.”
“You’re going to leave me alone with this maniac?” Aareth teased from his spot on the chair.
“Elwood will keep him in check.” Sloan exchanged winks with the gnome before he went back to his furious scribbling.
Edison was too intent on his work, Aareth was too focused on Edison’s poking and Elwood was much too busy jotting down notes to notice Sloan take the Vampire Project schematic with her.