by Jenna Moreci
herbacktaut,herforeheadwrinkled.Heleanedontheblade,pushingit
forwardwithallhisstrength,butstillitdidn’tbudge.Helaughed.
“Yourgiftisstrong.Youimpressme.Still,youwilltire.Andwhenyoudo,I
willhaveyourblood.”
“You’dbesurprisedbyhowstubbornIcanbe,”Evepanted,hervoice
labored.
Shelockedhergazeontheblade,willingittoobeyher.Herentirebeingwas
overwhelmedwithapainsomagnifiedshewasconvinceditwasmore
torturous than anything Fairon could possibly do to her. But still she melted, channelingwhatlittleremainedofhergift,holdingthesinisterbladeatbay.
Justasshesensedtheslightesthintofpowerwithinher,shefeltsomething
wet dripping down her upper lip. Sweat, she thought to herself, but then she tastedit:warmandmetallic.Atremoroffearracedthroughher. Blood.
Faironstaredatherbloodynoseandgrinned.
“Your gift is stifled. You are weak.” His nostrils wiggled excitedly. “Your redness—itcomesmuchquickerthanyouareaccustomedto.Itisbeautifulto
see.”
Evecouldfeelthebloodgushingfromhernostrilsandseeitsplattering
ontothegroundbeneathher—brightredpuddles,somuchmorebloodthan
shehadanticipated.Foramoment,herhearingbecamemuffled—shethought
it a blessing, that it would suppress the insufferable ringing—but the noise grewlouder,andhot,crimsonbloodbegantotricklefromherears.
Faironscowled.“Youstillpushyourself?”Heforcedevenmoreofhis
weightontohisblade,butitdidn’tmove.“Youare wastingblood.”
“It’smyblood.I’lldowhateverthehellIwantwithit.”
“Youwill killyourself,” hesnarled.
“Andwhatashamethatwouldbe,sinceyouneedmealive.”Hereyesflitted
fromthebladetoFairon.“That’swhatyousaid,right? Lifeisthekey.”
Fairongrippedhisbladeeventighter,hisfistsnowshaking.“Youare willingtokillyourselfjustto thwartme?”
“I certainly don’t want to die,” she answered. “But I also don’t want you to annihilate my species. And call me bitter, but I have a personal problem with you,andIjustreally, reallywanttoseeyoufail.”
Suddenly,shechoked;bloodsprayedfromhermouthandspilledtothe
ground like red raindrops. Still she delved deeper into her melt, and all the while Fairon’s eyes flitted between his blade, her stomach, and her flowing blood.
“Your entire planet abhors you,” he barked. “They mock your existence. And youwill dietosavethem?”
“It’satoughcall,butIguessI’mgoingwiththegreatergoodonthisone.
You’llkillmeeventuallyanyway.Atleastnow,mydeathwillhaveapurpose.
Mydeathwillsave billions.”
Faironcouldseetheconvictioninhereyes.Hegrabbedthebladewithboth
hands, pushing with all of his might, and yet still it didn’t move. His body begantoquiverwithfury.
“TUKATHKALLAS!”heroared.“TUKATHCHIMERA!”
EvestaredintoFairon’seyes—eyesnowconsumedwithwrath,humiliation,
andhatred.Shesmiled,herteethpinkwithherownblood.
“Fuckyou,Fairon.”
Themomentwassatisfyingbutfleeting.Sheinstantlyrememberedthe
ringing,thesoundalonelikeneedlespiercingthroughherbrain.Herarmsand
shoulderstrembled,andhereyesweresofocusedthatshesworeshewas
seeingthings—thehazeofblackwaspunctuatedwithcrimson,andsoonshe realizedthatbloodwasdrippingfromhertearducts.
Stillshemelted,untilhercheeks,herlips,andherchinwereallstainedred;
until the blood was trickling down her neck, between her breasts, and across herstomach,whereitsoakedintothewaistbandofherpants.Theringingwas
palpable,likeawreckingballpoundingagainstthewallsofherskull,butshe
melteddespiteallofit—shemelted,becausesufferingwasbetterthandefeat.
Soonthepainwassounbearablethatshecouldn’thelpbutscream,hereyes
clenchedshutassheenduredthetorment.Shescreamedlouder,thoughshe
hardlynoticedit—shewasconsumedbytheringing,theloudest,most
excruciatingsoundshehadeverheard.Andsuddenly,themomentwas
punctuatedbysomethingelse,somethingsoftandfamiliar:avoice.
“OhGod.”
Eveopenedhereyes.Jasonwasstandinginthedoorway,hisfacedrainedof
allcolor.
Suddenlyanewpaintorethroughher,rippingdeepintohergutand
spreadingthroughherbody.Shelookeddownatherstomach—atthesilver
bladenowlodgedinherflesh.
Shehadlosthermelt.
Jason’seyeswidened.“EVE!”hecried.
FaironlookedoverhisshoulderatJason,athisappalledexpressionandthe
axeinhishand.Withonequickmovement,FaironyankedthebladefromEve’s stomach.Shecriedoutinagony,andJasonscreamedhernameoncemore.
BloodcrawleddownEve’sabdomen,slowlyoozingfromtheopenwound.
ShelookeddownatthegashandthenupatFairon,whowasholdinghisblade
closetohislips.
“Good.”HenoddedinJason’sdirection.“Nowyoucanwatchhimdie.”
Withoutanotherword,heranhistonguealongtheblade,lappingupevery
lastdropofbloodfromitssurface.HeturnedtoJasonandgrinned,hisgolden
fangsnowsmearedwithred,andJason’sbodybecamerigidwithhate.Eve
knewwhatwouldhappennext.Shewantedtoscreaminprotest,butthewords
failedtoescapeherlips,andshewatchedinhorrorasJasonbarreledtoward
Fairon.
Suddenly,Jasonwasrippedfromthegroundandsoaredthroughtheroom,
hisarmsflailingwildlyuntilheslammed,hard,intothebackwall.Hefellto
the floor, his body riddled with breaks and tears, each one providing its own hellishtorture.Reluctantly,helookedupatFairon.TheInterloper’sbackwas
straight,hisstancestately,andinhiseyeswasalookofcrazedintoxication.
Thealienhad meltedhim—Jasonknewitwastrue,andyethecouldn’tbelieve it.
As he tried to make sense of the situation, he caught sight of Eve, hanging from the table, her body limp and her face covered in blood. An immediate rage flowed through him, and he pulled himself to his feet and sprinted in Fairon’sdirectiononcemore.
Again,Jason’sbodywasflungacrosstheroom,crashingagainstthewall and toppling to the ground. He groaned; a sharp pang shot through his chest, andhecouldfeelbrokenribspullingathisskin.Hecoughedforair,
struggling to normalize his breathing and ignore the aching of his body, but beforehecouldevenbegintorecover,thegroundbegantoshakebeneathhim.
Faironwasheadedinhisdirection,hispoundingfootstepsmovingataslow,
sinisterpace.HestoppedatJason’sside,hoveringrightabovehim.
Jasonhoistedhimselftohishandsandknees,wincinginpain,andFairon
laughedathisexpense.
“Yourbones—theybreakwithease.Theycrumbleatmy will.”
Just as Jason staggered to his feet, Fairon backhanded him across the jaw, sendinghimcollapsingtothefloorforathirdtime.Fairon’slaughterbecame
an uproar, and Jason faltered along the ground, his hands shaking as he strug
gledtolifthisbatteredbody.
ThenJasonspottedit:hisaxe,lyingonlyafewfeetaway.Wrathboiled
insideofhim,andwithagrowl,hegrabbedtheweapon,jumpedtohisfeet,and
swungthebladeatFairon’sthroat,severinghisheadfromhisshoulders.
Jasontookastepback.HeeyedFairon’sheadlessbody,expectingittodrop
to the ground, but it remained upright and unyielding. A yellowish bubbling foamedattheneck,seethinguntilthesurroundingskinbecamewaxyand
pliant.Black,glossybonesproutedfromthebloodiedstump,shapingitself
intoanarrowjawandalarge,roundedskull,andthenaweboffleshclimbed
across its surface, lining the entire exterior with tissue. Finally, two golden hornsprotrudedfromthecreamyhead,growinglikethebranchesofatree.In
amatterofseconds,itwasover:JasonstaredindisbeliefatFairon’s regeneratedface.
FaironstudiedtheaxeinJason’sgrasp.Asmilegracedhislips,andhe
flickedhiswrist,tearingtheaxefromJason’shandandcausingittohoverin
theair.Faironrotatedtheweaponwithhismelt,examiningitsdiamondblade
andpolishedhandle—thegripmadeentirelyofInterloperbone—andthen,
withasneer,hehurledtheaxeinJason’sdirection.
Jasondovetotheground,dodgingtheaxeatthelastpossiblesecond.Fairon
lungedtowardhim,hisownbladeinhand,andthoughJasondippedand
swervedaroundtheweapon,eachjabwassharperandcloserthanthelast.
Someonewasgoingtodie—Jasoncouldfeelitinhisgut—andnomatterhow
manytimeshetoldhimselfotherwise,heknewitwouldmostlikelybehim.
Again Fairon leapt in his direction, and with a deep breath, Jason pressed himselfagainstthewallandmeltedtheInterloperfromthefloor,sendinghim
smashingintotheoppositesideoftheroom.
Faironlandedonhisfeetwithathunderousboomthatshooktheentire
space.Heglancedathistornshoulders,watchingwithsatisfactionasthe
lesionsquicklyfaded,andthenheroaredtriumphantly.Jasonscrambled
towardhisaxe,yankingitsbladefromthewall,andjustasheturnedtofacehis adversaryoncemore,heabruptlylurchedintotheair,droppingtheweaponto
thefloor.
Jasonfloatedweightlesslyabovetheground,tryingtobreakFairon’shold, buthisattemptswerefruitless.Resigned,hewatchedandwaitedasFairon
approachedhim,hisstepsslowandregal,untiltheywerefinallyfacetoface.
Faironcockedhishead.
“Yourgiftisstrong.”HesmirkedashesurveyedJason’sbody,stoppingat
hisscar.“Butnotasstrongasyourfemale’s.Notstrongenoughtobeofany
usetome.”
Withanod,FaironsentJasonhurtlingacrosstheroomandsmashingface-
firstintotheground.Evescreamedinhorror;Jason’scheekwasburiedinthe
dirt,hisbodycrumpled,limp,andstill.
Theroomwasquiet.FaironmadehiswaytoJason’sside,lingeringover
himasifwaitingforsomethingtohappen,butJasonremainedmotionless.Eve
whimpered. Please move, she thought to herself. Move, Jason. Goddammit, MOVE.
Andstill,therewasnothing.
Thensuddenly,Jason’sarmshotoutfrombeneathhisbody,hispalm
pointed at Fairon, and the alien hurtled across the room, smashing into the backwallsohardthattheclaycrackedandsplintered.JustasFaironbeganto
hoist himself to his feet, the fragmented wall disintegrated, spilling atop his bodyinchunksandpinninghimtotheground.Jasonendedhismelt,
immediately clambering to his feet and racing toward Eve, undeterred by his limp and the blood spilling from his scalp. He stopped in front of her and cuppedhercheeks.
“Eve.” Heexaminedherfrantically.“Eve,staywithme.I’mgettingyouthe helloutofhere.”
Eve’s eyelids fluttered, her attention split between Jason and the incessant ringing.“Thedisks,”sheanswered,weakly.
“What?”
“Onmyhead,”shemumbled,shuttinghereyes.“Thedisks.Takethem off.”
Jasontuggedatthetwometaldisks,snappingthemoffwithlittleeffortand
tossingthemtothefloor.InstantlytheringinginEve’sheaddisappeared,her
mindcleared,andshetookinalong,muchneededbreath.Sheopenedher
eyes,thistimewithease,andnoddedatthebaseofthetable.
“There’sawheelontheground,beneaththetable,”shesaid,hervoice
strongandwhole.“Turnthewheel.”
Jasoncroucheddownandspunthewheeluntilallfourcuffsunlocked.He
hoppedtohisfeetandbeganunfasteningeachshackle,hishandsracingandhis
eyesfilledwithpanic.Finally,hepulledthelastcufffromherwrist,andEve
collapsedintohisarms,toowornandfrailtostandonherown.
“You’regoingtobeokay,Eve.”Hepulledhertohischest.“I’vegotyou.”
Justasthewordslefthislips,Jasonwasyankedintheoppositedirection,his
body ripped from Eve’s and thrown once more into the wall. Eve fell to the floorandgroaned,debilitatedbytheshootingpainthatcoursedthroughher.
Sheliftedherchin,astruggleinitself,andstaredatJason,whowaslyingon
theoppositesideoftheroom,gazingupatthenewlyfreedandfast
approachingFairon.
Jasondraggedhisbodythroughthedirt,tryingtoescapeFairon,thoughhis
efforts were clearly futile. The creature was only paces behind him, toying withhim,hisheadtiltedinaninquisitiveandalmostirritatedmanner.Jason’s
eyespannedacrosstheroom—hespottedEve,andthenhenoticedhisaxejust
afewfeetaway—andheturnedhisattentionbacktoFairon,whowasnow
loomingoverhimominously.
“Thishasgoneonlongenough,”Fairondeclared.HenoddedatEve.“She
haswitnessedyoursuffering.Shehasseenyoubleed.Itistimetoendthings.”
Hecrouchedlowtotheground,bringinghimselftoJason’seyelevel.“Igrant
you one final act of mercy: a choice.” He leaned in closer. “How would you liketo die?”
Jasongrimaced,hislipstremblingwithdisgust. “Gotohell.”
Faironscowled.“Youchoosenottoanswer.Afoolishdecision.”
Withoutwarning,Jasongrabbedhisaxeandswungitatthecreature’sface,
butFaironswervedtotheside,dodgingthediamondblade.Jasonquickly
scrambled to his feet, wielding his axe with as much strength as he could muster,butstillFaironwasuntouched;heeasilyduckedanddippedbetweenthe
jabs,seeminglyentertainedbyhisopponent’spitifuldisplay.
JustasJasontookanotherswing,Faironmeltedtheaxefromhisgraspand
guideditintohisownpalm.HestaredatJason,grinningmaniacally,and
snappedthehandlebetweenhistalons,tossingthepiecestotheground.Then,
withasingle,powerfulmovement,FaironstruckJasonwithhiswingandsent himtopplingover.
EvewatchedhelplesslyasJason’sbloodstainedfacesmackedagainstthe
ground. Jason pulled himself to his hands and knees, and Eve tried to do the same—shepushedattheground,shriekinginpainasherbrokenwrist
collapsedbeneathher.Againshepressedatthefloor,thistimewithhergood
hand, and a river of blood poured from the gash in her gut. Eve faltered, droppingtothegroundoncemore.
ShecaughtaglimpseofJason,whowas
battling Fairon with the little strength he had remaining, and then her vision wentdark,fadingunderneathahazyblackfog.
Jason’sneckswungtotheside,hisheadthrobbingfromtheforceof
Fairon’sblow.Hestumbled,barelymanagingtostayonhisfeet,andjustashe
turnedtowardFairon,hewasgreetedwiththetipofhislongsilverblade.
Staggeringbackward,hemeltedthebladefromFairon’shands,sendingit
skiddingacrosstheground.
Fairongrowledandreachedaclawedhandtowardtheweaponasifto
summonitbackintohispossession.Thebladeteeteredinplace,floatedup
fromthedirt—andthenitstopped,wobbled,andfelltothefloorwithaclang.
Fairon’seyesshranktoslits.Againhethrusthishandforward,andagainthe
bladedidnotmove.HeturnedbacktoJason,whostaredathiminshock,his
gazeflittingbetweenhisalienfoeandthefallenblade.
Then,withoutasecondthought,Jasonmeltedthecreaturefromhisfeetand
rammedhimagainstthewall.
Faironpulledhimselfuprightandquicklyglancedoverhisshoulders,now
marked with fresh lesions and tears, all failing to heal. He looked back at Jason,whowaitedattheoppositeendoftheroom,hisframelopsidedandhis
arms covered in pink abrasions, but his gaze was lit with confidence. Fairon smiled.
“Thereishopeinyoureyes.”HewalkedcalmlyinJason’sdirection.“Still,
youwillfail.Ourriseisforetold.Youcannotstopus.Andyoucannotkillme.”
“Nooneisinvincible.Notevenyou,”Jasonsaid.“Youcanbekilled.”
Faironsneered.“Yes,butnotby you.Notby your kind.”
Faironboltedintotheair,beatinghiswingsbeforedivingdowntoward
Jasonlikeaflashofwhitelight.Jasonslidtothegroundandrolledawayfrom
thecreature,andwithhishandsthrustforward,hemeltedFaironuptowardthe
ceilingandthensenthimsmashingintothegroundbelow.
Theentireroomshookfromtheimpact.Evecouldfeelbitsofclay
sprinklingalongherback,barelydiscernibleoverthestingofhergut,butshe
kepthergazefocusedonthefightinfrontofher.
