by Eliza Green
Emile and Maxime walked separately around the large, sound-deadened space. Marie and Clara stood by the door with Serena. But even they weren’t idle. Their eyes raked the ceilings, the walls. On occasion, Marie would touch the wall and close her eyes.
Serena closed the door so they could appreciate the acoustics in the room. She said something, anything. The visitors listened as the sound fell flat.
Emile nodded. ‘Impressive. The omicron rock is thicker here than in District One. It has a fantastic ability to block out noise.’
Other spaces in the district did that. Seeing this room wasn’t entirely necessary.
Stephen gestured to the exit. ‘Where to next?’
Maxime flicked his eyes to Clara. ‘We’d like to see Margaux.’
Stephen led the way, glancing at Serena on the way out. Why do they want to see her?
She shrugged. We don’t know what others have been saying. Perhaps stories of her illness have been exaggerated. Don’t worry, when they see she’s fine, they’ll leave.
He hoped so. Stephen led them to the infirmary area, where they found a recovered Margaux sitting up in one of the beds. Her hands were folded neatly on her lap. The exaggerated cocoon of surface air shimmered around her bed, produced by the air pockets inside the insignia rock. She was staring into space and hadn’t noticed them enter.
Emile frowned. ‘Why is she in an insignia bubble?’
‘It’s how she’s breathing,’ said Stephen.
His eyes widened. ‘Excuse me?’
‘She needs more oxygen than the district can provide.’
Before Emile could ask why, Stephen called her name.
Margaux’s lucid gaze found his. Stephen breathed out a sigh of relief that her eyes were not wild, nor her mood erratic.
‘Hello...’ Her curious gaze flicked to each of the visitors. She frowned at both Maxime and Clara. Pointing, she said, I know you two.
‘Yes, Margaux,’ said Clara, stepping closer to the bed. ‘We are from District Eight. Maxime and I are your and Gabriel’s replacements.’
Margaux huffed out air. ‘Well, that makes sense since my husband is dead.’
Well, almost lucid.
‘We heard and we offer you our deepest condolences,’ said Clara.
Margaux shot Clara an angry look. ‘Three and a half weeks ago. You took your time to come see me.’
‘Things have been difficult in the district.’ She glanced at her mate. ‘Maxime and I needed time to get things settled. Your former charges pass on their sympathies.’
Margaux blew out another breath and stared hard at the wall opposite her. They hated me, and the younger Indigenes did not trust Gabriel. Her gaze slid to her replacements. If you can keep them in line, then good luck to you.
‘I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to upset you,’ said Clara.
Margaux became preoccupied with something on the wall, even though there was nothing there. She lifted her hands and began to draw something in the air with one finger.
‘Is she okay?’ asked Emile.
Stephen waved one hand. ‘She’s fine. She has her off days.’ To the former elder, he said, ‘Margaux, tell them how you’re feeling.’
If she confirmed her current state of health, maybe it would send the elders away.
She paused, her finger in the air, and looked back. ‘Fine.’ She sniffed long and hard. ‘See? Plenty of fresh air.’
Emile rounded on Stephen. ‘Why does she need different air to breathe?’
‘We don’t know why, but she lost consciousness after using the Nexus.’
Emile’s gaze hardened. ‘Is there an issue with it? Your explanation of what happened here was vague.’
Stephen had told the elders of all ten districts about the attack, that the GS humans had made it inside the district. One had even made it into the inner sanctum of the tranquillity cave before they killed her. What he had left out was that Tanya had reached the beating heart of the Nexus.
You had to lie. They wouldn’t have understood, said Serena.
Stephen opted for the truth as he saw it. ‘Nothing happened to it. We think the stress and grief she’s been under contributed to a change to her code.’
That’s one theory, Stephen, said Serena.
He ignored his mate’s voice in his head. He’d had three days to ponder this. It was the only thing that made sense.
Emile frowned. ‘A change to her code? What do you mean?’
Stephen pondered his newer skills, which had emerged from a deeply stressful situation that pushed his skills into change. Then there were the Indigenes who’d undergone genetic reversal treatment. It wasn’t implausible to think Margaux’s ability to breathe surface air could simply be evolution, brought about by the loss of her mate.
‘Evolution,’ he stated to a surprised foursome. ‘We don’t know how the first generation evolves when confronted with a trauma, but we do know change ignites something within all of us. It happened with Elise after Anton was captured on Earth. It happened with me after I abandoned him there. If Pierre had lived for longer, it might have happened with him.’
‘Evolution, you say?’ said Emile, rubbing his chin.
He looked back at the others. Stephen heard the hum that accompanied a silent conversation. Maxime’s eyes widened a fraction. Both Clara and Marie nodded.
He faced Stephen again. ‘Evolution is a possibility. But you’re sure it’s not the Nexus?’ His gaze flicked to Serena for a second. ‘It has undergone some... transformation. Margaux is used to the one in District Eight, not your altered version.’
Stephen nodded again, hoping to get his point across. ‘Margaux used it for three straight weeks, no issues. If there was one, we would have seen change in others.’
‘Get out. I need to sleep!’ Margaux barked suddenly.
Stephen jerked back from the sharp command; he still wasn’t used to her sudden changes in mood. Margaux was staring hard at them, but her anger wasn’t directed at him or Serena.
‘We should let her rest.’
Stephen ushered the visiting elders out, but not before glancing back at the former elder. She was breathing hard, and angry about something.
The visitors looked a little shaken.
Serena smiled. ‘Where to next?’
Maxime shook away his daze. ‘We would love to see your Nexus. We’d heard great things about it from Gabriel. I must admit to being curious about it, despite the changes.’
That Stephen could do. They would see the healing space was fine and leave.
Serena continued to push out her influence across the group, most of it aimed at him.
Thank you, but I don’t think I need it.
The extra support never hurts, she replied. Don’t worry, they’ll see all is well and that will satisfy them.
He let her calm wash over him. Yes, they’ll be gone soon.
16
Dark shadows decorated the walls of the tunnel. The sound of fast-moving Indigenes ahead of Laura bounced off the roughly hewn facade. She had seen the four elders arrive an hour ago, four centenarians with pale skin and grey eyes who had a wealth of experience between them. Two males, shorter in height than Stephen, kept pace with District Three’s leader, while their female companions kept Serena company. Judging by the way the Indigenes stood taller in their presence, it was clear their visit was a big deal. That same respect didn’t seem to extend to Stephen lately.
Laura followed their group down a tunnel that she knew led to a tranquillity cave. Inky black shadows trailed after them. For once, their pace didn’t trouble her, despite the elders walking at a speed fast enough to test the fittest of humans.
Emile and Marie. Maxime and Clara. She’d heard them address each other as they switched between voice and telepathy. The latter presented like a tickle in her mind. But a defensive wall from one of the Indigenes prevented her from listening in on the conversation. Stephen and Serena had created no such barriers to her, so she assumed it had to be one of the
elders.
The group slowed as the exit loomed. Ahead were a dead end and the opening to the cave. Laura slowed down, but was close enough to sense Serena’s influence. It felt like a warm blanket on a cold day—a feeling near impossible to resist. But she had not been included in Serena’s bubble of influence.
‘Someone’s following us,’ Emile announced sharply.
Laura jerked to a halt. She had yet to learn how close was too close.
Serena’s influence dropped like a stone. ‘It’s fine. She’s one of us.’ She turned back, locking Laura in a questioning gaze. Then she smiled. ‘Laura, come meet the elders.’
Laura hesitated before stepping forward. Next time she trained with Clement, she would ask him to teach her how to be covert.
A blush heated her cheeks. Four inquisitive stares unsettled her. She didn’t need to be Indigene to sense something was off about these four.
Despite the relaxed expression on Stephen’s face, his tense posture told a different story. Serena looked her usual picture of calm.
Laura suddenly regretted her intrusion.
Emile’s eyes raked over Laura’s appearance, more human than Indigene. He pulled his hairless brow forward and looked at Stephen. ‘Who do we have here?’
‘This is Laura.’
Emile smiled at her but his grey eyes held no warmth. ‘A human, in your district?’
Marie, tall and willowy for a centenarian, regarded her with suspicion. Clara, too, but at least she attempted a smile. Maxime, shorter than Emile, just stared at her, his curious gaze making her uncomfortable.
Laura’s blush deepened in the presence of wisdom. Her flaming cheeks, she noticed, drew scorn from all four newcomers.
I’m sorry, Stephen, she said.
Emile frowned at her. ‘Why are you sorry?’
His ability to hear her shocked her. She fumbled with her explanation. ‘I, uh...’ She flashed her gaze to Serena, who prompted her with a look. ‘I’m sorry for interrupting your session. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.’
Emile tilted his head. ‘Why did you follow us?’
‘I... was curious about you.’ It was the truth and she hoped the guests would believe her.
Marie addressed her. ‘Why are you down here at all, human?’
Stephen stepped forward, his body stiff as a board. ‘Laura is a guest of ours.’
Marie asked, ‘Is she fully human?’
‘Half human.’
‘But she’s able to communicate telepathically?’ asked Emile. He must have sensed her pathetic attempt to communicate with Stephen.
Stephen nodded curtly. ‘Yes. She was changed into an Indigene eight years ago against her will, but the effects were reversed. She’s kept some of her Indigene traits.’
Stephen wouldn’t look at Laura. He had been the one to change her.
Marie frowned, her icy glare raking over Laura a second time. ‘Changed by whom? The humans?’
Stephen cleared his throat. ‘No, it was an accident. I was treating her for a common Earth ailment using my DNA. I pushed her body into an accelerated change that almost killed her.’
Marie said, ‘How long was she an Indigene?’
‘Not long,’ replied Serena.
‘Then she is not really one of us.’
Laura’s eyes flicked from speaker to speaker, discussing her like she was some lab experiment gone wrong.
‘I’m sorry for intruding,’ Laura repeated.
How many times did she need to apologise?
As though she hadn’t spoken, Emile asked Stephen, ‘Has she used the Nexus?’
Stephen lied. ‘No, she has not.’
A dark manifestation jerked away from his body, timed perfectly with the lie. New shadows danced on the walls behind the newcomers’ heads.
Laura didn’t know why that bothered her more than Stephen’s lie, but Clement had taught her to trust her instincts.
‘Where are you all from?’ she asked the four.
‘District One,’ said Emile.
‘Clara and I are from District Eight,’ said Maxime.
Laura nodded. ‘You must be Gabriel and Margaux’s replacements.’ Maxime nodded. ‘Will you be staying long?’
Stephen glared at her, but she ignored him. Her skill didn’t work without questions.
Emile spoke first, as if he were the authority voice. ‘We don’t expect to be here long. We were concerned about Margaux and wanted to check on Stephen.’
One of the shadows from the wall snapped to Emile’s form suddenly, then jerked to the side. She pulled in her surprise, hoping her hot cheeks would be mistaken for embarrassment.
Fuelled on by suspicion, her questions got bolder. ‘So what’s the verdict? You happy with how things are going here?’
Her boldness earned her a second glare from both Stephen and Serena. She would apologise later.
The inky black form stood at Emile’s shoulder and watched her like a creepy ghost might.
Emile answered again. ‘We have utmost confidence in Stephen’s abilities as leader. Why do you ask?’
His dark manifestation separated farther from his living body, to stand almost fully behind Marie now. More shadows remained on the wall. She assumed a lie from another of the visitors would replicate the same creepy ghost scenario.
Laura forced a smile. ‘Oh, no reason. I’m just glad he has your support.’
Emile flashed a thin smile at her. ‘He does.’ His gaze flicked away to Stephen. ‘Marie is tired and needs healing. May we use your Nexus now?’
Stephen gestured for them to enter. ‘Of course.’
He followed the visitors inside the tranquillity cave. Serena lingered by the entrance, flashing Laura a look.
With a shrug, she said, ‘I’m sorry, human habits.’
She didn’t want to worry her.
But Serena wasn’t convinced. Laura felt her attempts to gain access to her mind, but Laura had gotten better at keeping the Indigenes out.
‘We’ll speak later,’ said Serena, adopting a tone she reserved for her charges.
Laura gave her one last smile and left. She hurried away from the area, her breathing close to panicked. She needed Clement now.
Her search ended in the Central Core where she found him sat on the floor in one of the alcoves. Surrounding him were Evolvers still young enough to want stories. To one side was a female she assumed was the teacher. He was telling them a story from District Eight, where he’d come from. Laura wondered if he’d sensed the new elders’ arrival.
She lingered by the entrance, watching as Evolvers, born after the establishment of the peace treaty, listened to him in awe and wonder. She caught telepathic snippets from the young not yet able to control their telepathy. The word blue was bandied around a lot. She assumed Clement’s unusual eye colour kept their attention as much as his story.
As though he sensed her presence, Clement turned around and looked up.
Laura held her hands up. ‘Please, carry on.’
The Evolvers’ eyes slid from Clement to her. She must hold equal fascination for the young, who harboured no ill feelings towards the humans, unlike their parents. Yet.
Clement turned back to the Evolvers. ‘We will pick this up again later.’
He got to his feet and the young female teacher replaced him. Laura caught the lingering look the female gave Clement. For an Indigene, his eyes made him look unusual and enigmatic.
Clement approached Laura, placing a hand on her arm. She wore the beige tunic of the Indigenes, but her opaque skin, green eyes and blonde hair made her less like them. The teacher flashed her eyes to the interaction, then away.
He frowned at her. ‘What’s wrong? Did you need me for something?’
Laura nodded, leading Clement away from the alcove. ‘Can we talk?’
Clement’s stare unsettled her in a different way to how Emile’s had. ‘Let’s go to our usual spot.’
Hearing him say that made her stomach dance. She wasn’t sure if it was gu
ilt or pleasure driving the sensation.
They ran to their training area, a part of the district that was void of life.
When they got there, she asked, ‘Did you know four elders are visiting?’
Clement nodded. ‘Hard not to notice them.’
‘Maxime and Clara are Gabriel and Margaux’s replacements.’
Clement nodded again, as if he knew that too. ‘I sensed them. They were next in line to replace Gabriel and Margaux. They will be good leaders.’
Laura huffed out a breath, drawing a look of concern from Clement.
He stroked her arm. ‘What is it?’
His touch sent a good shiver through her. She pulled away and walked to the opposite wall, trying to disguise her reason for doing so. She turned back and returned, but kept her distance from the Indigene she called a friend.
‘Do you know why they’re here?’
Clement frowned. ‘To check on Stephen. I assume Maxime and Clara are here to see Margaux. Her condition is unusual and news about it was bound to have spread to the other districts.’
‘I asked them if they were staying long. They said they weren’t.’
He shrugged. ‘Then, there’s nothing to worry about.’
‘Except there is.’ Laura bit her lip. ‘A prominent shadow separated from Emile when he replied. I think there’s more to their visit.’
Clement frowned and stepped closer to her. ‘Why do you think they’re here?’
‘I don’t know, but on Earth we would have called them inspectors.’
‘Inspectors of what? Like an audit?’
‘Why not? Maybe the other districts have ordered them to visit. Or maybe they’ve taken it upon themselves to come here. Either way, I don’t trust them.’
‘What has Stephen said? Or Serena?’
