Emergence (The Primogenitor Chronicles Book 1) (33 page)

Chris coughed before he asked in a rough voice, “Is this why he hasn’t wanted to get physically intimate?”

“Maybe. But I don’t think so. The most puzzling aspect of it all is that the vast majority of you no longer produce sperm, while a small percentage produce nonfertile sperm. Still, that doesn’t stop you from having an incredibly active sex life. But Nickolas’s tests showed that his system had gone backward. His reproductive system now mimicked that of a prepubescent. The factory was still there, but the conveyor belt wasn’t moving so to speak. So the drive wasn’t active. But now I have to wonder? Was Jillian’s potential like Jessica in some way?”

Jays capped his pen and swung back to the other two. Ian had pulled out the paper work he’d brought with him and leafed through it. “And now it seems like Jessica turned a key in the lock.”

He peered over Ian’s arm to look at the test results. “So what are you saying? He’s going through puberty?”

“Yeah. Accelerated. So expect the irrational. The emotional storms. The complete pain in the ass behavior all wrapped up into one month, at least that’s my current estimate based on the last two weeks of observation on him.”

“Fun.” Chris sighed. “That, on top of developing psychic powers? What should we do differently?”

“Nothing for the moment. We have the best compromise going. It would be noticed if he suddenly quit walking the halls. Gabriel would get wind of it. And that’s something we have to avoid at all costs. The discovery of a new caste must be kept hidden. I wouldn’t tell you either, but because of the involvement you’ll have in controlling Nick, there will be no hiding his differences. So I don’t want this to go any further than Donald. Not even Nick, not that he’d understand right now, because he’s the most at risk of falling into Gabriel’s hands, and Gabriel would be able to strip it from his mind. He won’t gain the skill to protect himself for a while. For now, until I have no other options about visitations with Jessica, he can spend the majority of time with her and the rest shadowed by the Flight and Wing leaders.”

The rattle of wheels trundled through the doors from the hall, heralding the arrival of food. Looking bored, the young man pushed the cart up to them then without a word turned and left.

Jays rose and walked around Ian to inspect the cart. “Looks like they brought everyone’s lunch early since they were bringing up Allison’s last meal.”

“It’s a good thing Nick’s taking most of his meals here, Ian. You should have seen what he piled his plate with in the cafeteria yesterday.” Chris chewed his lip then asked, “When are you going to let Nick know?”

Wondering that too, Jays shifted a couple of plates then looked at Ian, who fidgeted around with the paper work.

“Not yet. I can predict what sort of reaction he’ll have. His change wasn’t a good time in his life.”

Chris nodded and stood. “Is there anything else, Jays?”

He cast a quick look at Ian then back to the Hunter. “Not at the moment, Chris. We’ll go over your test results. Tomorrow we need to get together and discuss what you’ll need to do to fix your flight muscles.”

“Right.” Chris sighed but then hesitated before finally focusing on Ian. “What about Nick? If the last two weeks have had this much impact on my wings…”

“A valid worry, Chris. I’ll see if I can’t get him on the machine today.”

The Hunter nodded and, resettling his wings with a flip, left the Hub.

Jays finished arranging the meals before breaking the quiet. “That was a lot to drop on him.”

“We don’t have much more time. They are all going to have to come to terms with a different world than they’re used to.”

Contemplating that exact inevitability, Jays pushed the food cart to the cell doors and started delivering lunch.

Nickolas pushed the soggy, tangled covers from his body and sat on the edge of the bed. He rubbed the pain between his eyes then glanced at the red glare of the clock: 2:00 a.m.

About normal I guess. At least I got three hours straight this time.

He stood and stretched the muscles that still refused to relax. Like usual, the dreams felt more real than reality, and his body refused to believe. He grabbed the clothes he had dumped on the floor just a few hours previous and slipped them on. Then, without bothering to turn on a light, he left the bedroom and crossed the darkened suite to his door. A thin crack of light split the darkness as he checked the hallway. Typical at this hour, it was deserted.

He stepped out and pulled his door closed. He stood for a moment and fought the pull to walk in the direction of the Hub. The consequences for disrupting the Hub in the middle of the night anymore had been spelled out loud and clear for him. He most certainly didn’t wish to be locked in at night for wandering, so now he just made sure no one knew. With a sigh, he turned away and walked with purpose down the hall. After navigating the maze of corridors, he reached an exterior door that he knew would lead out into the gardens. The military personnel up at that hour concentrated near the front of the complex and in their own wings, leaving him free to exit into the darkness. He tread a familiar path down to the water’s edge and launched out over the river, staying low to avoid unwanted eyes.

With the start of November, the weather had turned cold and wet. The weedy smell of the river rushed through his nose, and after gaining enough distance from the Facility, he angled sharply up to the clouds. Through the scudding wisps he shot, the wet beading against his face, and he wiped it off when he leveled out. A powerful down sweep propelled him forward.

The dream remnants started to fade, but not quickly enough for his liking. The horrific images twined with his memories of when he was locked up during his isolation. The moon had yet to rise, so darkness covered the meadows and forest below him. He pushed his speed, and it started to rain in earnest, the stinging needles hot little sparks against his face.

His muscles warmed so that the chill air had little effect on his body. The pain in his head faded and a smile stretched his lips. He tucked his wings and did a barrel roll then snapped them open to pump higher in the sky. He started a complex aerial dance that pushed his agility and stamina. The memory of Ian’s puzzlement that evening caused him to laugh out loud and the sound ricocheted off the quiet trees far below him.

Ian had pulled him from Jessica’s company early and subjected him to a muscle isolation strength test, much to his irritation. With disbelief, Ian had him perform the test twice because the numbers didn’t add up to his expected conclusion. Not only hadn’t Nick lost any strength or agility in his wings, but he’d actually gained, stunning the doctor, who had looked at him with a calculating expression. So he’d been happy to quit the Hub and get away from any questions that might be forthcoming.

You have no concept of how much I’m out at night.
Flying soothed him almost as much as visiting with Jessica. He pushed that thought aside and turned into a complex series of moves that took all of his focus. The burn in his flight muscles grounded him in reality when his mind wanted to slip into visions and dreams without his consent. He shook his head and pushed harder.

Why is this so hard? And taking so long to get control of?

The thought turned over in his mind, but the pace he pushed himself to quickly drowned out the troubled thoughts. Eventually his body screamed enough, and he settled down into a steady, restful glide. His chest heaved and sweat started to chill on his exposed skin, mixing with the spitting rain.

Reluctant to turn for home yet, he spiraled up higher to get above the clouds. His muscles ached. If he’d been flying with any of the others, they would have been all over him.
Shit. If I’d seen anyone pushing themselves like this, I’d have grounded them.
He chuckled softly.

But the mirth died on the next wing beat as his thoughts descended back into the quagmire of his brain. He remembered the look in Ian’s eyes and shivered.
He hasn’t looked at me like that since…

With a mental wrench, he thought of Jessica. She still hadn’t settled and resigned herself to her circumstance.
But why should she? I never did. And she has almost as much reason as I.

Maybe she’s right. Why couldn’t we leave? Obviously we don’t need the drugs to safely change like I’ve been told. So the hardest part would be seeing her through the coma. But really, what do they do? They sit and watch. I can make sure she eats and drinks enough before, then keep her warm for the week. But I’d need to find somewhere safe for that time. I couldn’t move her.

He pumped his cooling muscles to keep the blood flowing and prevent cramps.
So where could we go? The Facility wouldn’t let us just walk away. And money? I need to figure this out.

A slicing pain ripped through his head. His wings faltered, and he dropped several lengths before he regained control. He wiped blood from his nose on his forearm.
Damn. Time to head back I guess. At least I’ll be able to sleep, finally.

He adjusted his flight and started to drop down toward the river to make his way home.

“Jays, have you got that preliminary report yet?” Ian snapped. He quickly looked up from the computer terminal he was accessing to grab the clipboard that Jays sent careening down the table. Flipping through it, he called over to Jays, who came rushing back to the table to deposit more gear. “We need to get them out of here now. Time is short.”

He swiveled around to the monitor on his left to check the status in Jessica’s room.

“I’ve got the basic gear gathered. Do you think they’ll need any specialties?”

“Not likely on this one, at least not for the fledge they’re going after.” Ian slid the report back down to Jays, then he reached under the table and pulled out a small bag, sending it after the report. “Pack that as well. Chris might need it.”

A beep sounded from the console, and Ian returned his attention to Jessica’s monitor. “She’s stirring; Nickolas won’t be far behind. Call in Chris, Jays. I think we’ll need him.”

Jays glanced at the clock and asked worriedly, “Will we make it before he arrives?”

Ian closed his eyes. “We can keep our fingers crossed.”

The door to the hall opened, and Ian turned to watch Nickolas enter the Hub. He took a deep breath and prepared himself to handle Nick, not a task he looked forward to. His behavior had deteriorated rapidly over the last couple of days.
I really don’t want him leaving the Facility…
Ian stood and beckoned him over, drawing him away from where Jays had picked up the phone.

“We’ve got a change in plans today, Nickolas.” He caught the younger man’s attention and gestured at the bag on the table.

Nick’s breath hissed explosively when he saw the preparations laid out; he turned away, moving over to the monitoring station. “No. Not today, Ian.”

Right on his heels, Ian said firmly, “There’s a recovery that needs to be seen to. You are taking your team out.”

Nickolas’s gaze remained fixed on the screen. “I need to take care of Jessica.”

“Not today, you don’t.” All of his muscles tensed from the tightrope he walked, and he pointed at the table. “The initial report is in the bag.”

Nick shook his head, the only indication that he’d heard him. Ian studied him; the Alpha’s instability had grown. The agitated Valkyrie ignored everything except Jessica, but that wouldn’t last, Ian knew. His behavior would become increasingly erratic. Unfortunately, the need to push him overrode the safety of the move.
If there was any other choice…