The room held a small table and four chairs. Gradi bowed out as the two sat across from each other.
He hurried to his office, and found his wife organizing papers. He motioned for her to close the door as he touched a panel under his desk. He found it interesting that Laren never found the panel with buttons that connected a small speaker under his desk to each one of six conference rooms.
Loud voices filled his office. He contained the sound so that others outside his office would not hear.
“I meant it, Karra” he heard Suzin saying. “You lost any rights you had when you…”
“Look, I’m not asking to take her back…”
“’Karra’?” Gradi whispered. “Karra Willo? Is Suzin talking to her sister?”
“Gradi,” Megan said. “Just listen.”
He saw them with his mind. They were as different as light and dark. The first, and the easiest one to like, was the blonde, the one akin to the warmth and brightness of a summer day. She laughed easily, possessing a wisdom far beyond her twenty-some years. She was also the prettier of the two, if one compared them on equal ground. But she lacked the poise and grace of her younger sister, not understanding how to show herself as an attractive woman.
The second one, as elusive as shadow, and as seductive as midnight, presented him with the most challenge. I will get through that plastisteel shell of yours, he often found himself thinking. Then, just when he thought he was close, or he knew he had struck a sensitive area, she always withdrew.
So when the dark one requested conference room time with the blonde, he nearly jumped at the chance to hear what she wanted to say. It was obvious Suzin wanted nothing to do with her, but he had pushed slightly to encourage her to at least listen to Laren.
None of his students knew his conference rooms were wired. But he never recorded anything or used the information he gathered to harm a student; he used it as a doorway to understanding. The moment he discovered that the darker sister was Karra Willo, though, he nearly broke his own rule.
“Sit down, Gradi,” his wife hissed as she rearranged the papers on his desk. “Now, do what you’re supposed to do and listen.”
“Bu…”
“Shh!” One of them was speaking.
“Why don’t you just take what you want? Isn’t that what you do best?” Suzin shrilled.
“Because it might not be best for Chalatta. All you need to do is bring her here with you each handspan when you go to Gradi’s class. No one will see me. I promise. I’ll stay in here until after class starts and leave before it’s over.”
“It’s not the plan that worries me.”
“What is it, then?”
“Don’t you see? It’s you! I don’t want your life to touch hers anymore. You’re evil, Karra. I should tell Gradi who is in his early afternoon class.”
Karra paused. “I think he already knows,” she said, her voice sad. “Maybe not my name, but I think he knows better than you do who, or what, I am.” She hesitated again. When she spoke, her voice sounded strained. “Maybe that’s why I haven’t been looking so hard for a way out of all this. A part of me knows you’re the best person to mother her.”
“You do?” Suzin sounded amazed. “Will you give me custody?”
“No!” Karra bit as suddenly as a snake. “And don’t you ever ask again! All I want is an hour a handspan with my daughter. You can’t deny me this, Suzin, or I will find a way to take her and disappear. I’m finished begging. She had better be here next handspan.”
Gradi heard the door open and close, and then Suzin’s weeping. He sat back heavily in his chair.
“K’arrala. Our chosen Talent,” he said. “All those years her father Jon Willo let me teach her! But I can find no trace of the child we decided would be best for both our peoples. The adoption ceremony seems so far away now.”
“It’s still a public record,” Megan reminded him.
Seething, Karra nearly ran the distance home. Not even bothering to secure the doors, she ran to her room, grabbed her exercise clothing from a drawer, and stormed to the gym. Access to her health club was the most valuable thing Von's friendship had given her. But she never met with the ladies in Von's group anymore. Instead, she used the gym to exhaust her increasingly violent emotions. The beast refused to give her release. The exercise helped her maintain control a bit longer.
Once each handspan, when leaflets flooded the city, Del always arrived home furious. "Irrational, inaccurate, and emotional," he shouted, his words pounding against the beast's door, enraging him. "She will turn my city into chaos!"
Each word inflamed her to the point of a near explosion, but the beast refused to allow her to act. Soon, it would say. Very soon now. Are you ready to beg for release? And then she had begged, but it had merely laughed at her. You will not act, you will NEVER act, until I allow it. So now she spent the same afternoon each handspan at the gym exercising to near exhaustion. And the beast did no more than purr.
Nothing else was going as it should, either. Jem replaced what she wanted to print with the Front's propaganda. She countered by refusing to put her name on anything that was not specifically hers. Jem warned her that the Homelander Front would not tolerate much more of her independence.
Odd that he no longer called her Laren. How did he know that Laren was dead?
At last, the day came for her to see Chalatta again, after a whole year. Standing by the door of the conference room, not daring to let her emotions show in case someone should see, she watched Su bring her into the old building. They walked painfully slowly, pretending to talk. Suzin had briefed Chalatta well. There were no screams of excitement, no running as they met again. Karra's hand trembled as she opened the door of the conference room to let them in. So slowly, so casually it ached, she shut the door behind them.
"Mama!" Chalatta whimpered, too loudly, trying to hush herself.
"Baby!" Karra breathed. "Oh, it has been so long!"
Karra held her for several long, wonderful minutes unable to say another word.
"I really, really missed you, Mama," Chalatta said, breaking the frozen moment.
"Me too. Has Suzin been taking good care of you, baby?" she asked, feeling foolish as she asked it. Suzin would never take bad care of a child.
"Sure. And guess what? I get to have muffins for my birthday next handspan, not only that, but a party and some clothes. Can you come to my party?"
"No, but I'll see you right here the next day. How's that?"
"I wish you could come to the party."
"So do I. But, you know, we could have our own private party here if you promise not to tell anyone."
"Oh, yes. Mama, do rich girls have muffins for their birthdays? And parties? Aunt Su says they do. She says we have enough money now and we're almost rich. Is she right?"
"Naturally. Rich girls also get clothes for their birthdays. Almost rich is a nice feeling, isn't it? How are you doing in school?"
"Fine. I know we're not supposed to show it, but it's hard not to be the best in my class. Aunt Su let me bring some of my papers. Would you like to see?"
Suzin handed her a file folder with several sheets of childish printing. "She's brilliant, Karra. But like she says, it's hard for her not to show it to Mistress Benega, her teacher. Mistress Benega encourages her. She lets her read to the rest of the class and is getting her advanced books in math and other subjects."
"Do you like Mistress Benega, baby?"
"I do. Really. Even if she's Nevian. Is it wrong to let her know what I can do?"
Karra shook her head. "I guess not. I have the dangerous books moved out, so you won't repeat my mistake."
"Oh, good." Chalatta sighed. "I thought you might be mad at me."
"Never." Karra studied the rest of the papers.
Impressed, she gazed at her daughter. "But back to my questions. Do Kata and Benej walk you to and from school?"
"Yes. They keep the big kids away. We walk Anetta home too, because she doesn't have a
ny aunts or uncles. She's not as lucky as I am. But Anetta has a mama and a daddy. Do I have a daddy?"
"Somewhere."
Chalatta touched Laren's B'anu silk gown. "Are you rich now, Mama? Have you found a nice rich man and can I go home with you?"
"No," she said with too much finality for Chalatta to argue with her. "Do you understand?"
Chalatta puckered. "Yes. Aunt Suzin already told me."
"I'll see that you get a little party with your mother next handspan," Suzin said, patting her shoulder.
But Chalatta moved away, a hostile fire in her eyes.
Su put the offending hand behind her back and gave an uncomfortable laugh. "Well, I have to go to class."
"I'll be gone before your class finishes," Karra promised, sending her a grateful smile as though nothing were wrong.
But everything was.
"Now we can talk about what's important," Gradi heard her say before he shut off the speaker to reach his class in time.
He sighed. What is important to you, K’arrala?
“Please don't go." Chalatta began to cry again.
"I love you, Chalatta," she said. "We'll have that party next handspan, all right?"
"Sure, Mama." She sniffed, letting go of her mother finally.
Karra's hands shook as they opened the door. They trembled visibly as she walked out of the room. Tremors shook her whole body as she reached the big double front doors. From deep inside, the anger swelled like a volcano.
A five-minute party, the beast said, laughing. Even an hour isn’t enough, is it? Everyone else gets more of your time than your daughter ever will.
She jabbed the buttons on the airway panel hard enough to bruise her finger.
It merely chuckled. Look at the time.
The time?
When does A'nden reach the apartment?
The airway's digital revealed the flaw in her plan to see her daughter: Del would reach the apartment before she did, already angry with what the Press had printed that morning, and she would have to face him.
Ready for an evening of fun? the beast taunted. Today you will act. Today. You have begged for release, and today you shall have it.
The realization upset her so much, she forgot to slip on the palmfilms. They remained in their tiny box at the bottom of her purse.
She hardly noticed that Lieutenant Motz opened the door for her before she reached it. Often she nodded to the two lead guards, Lieutenants Motz and Berti, but today she was too immersed in the fury surrounding her. The beast brought the storm upon her so quickly, her head swam. She hoped to grab her exercise clothing and head for the gym. But Del gave her no chance. For some reason he directed his anger straight at her, not at the pamphlets he usually waved in impotent rage.
"What have you been doing with your time, Mistress Demmita?" he thundered, grabbing her shoulders with both hands.
Her ears rang with his anger, and the beast screeched above it all. Del's alien eyes swam before her, shining black orbs, his head surrounded in waves of red. He represented everything she hated about Nevians, their absolute authority and their twisted sense of justice. Violence boiled around her. She smelled sulfur.
"What have you been doing with your time?" he shouted at her silence. He gripped her tighter until her arms hurt.
"I… I was at a meeting." She tried to pull back from the swirling red chaos threatening to engulf her.
NO!! Laren told the beast, suddenly present.
You were dead! Karra yelled, grateful that her alter survived after all.
The beast cannot kill without our permission, Laren told her. I have just broken free of that horrible dark prison. Once I realized it was in my mind and not real….
"The old priest?” Del interrupted. “No, not today. I mean those days you go to the Garden."
He’s been following you! the beast shrieked. He knows everything! KILL HIM!
He filled her with deep violet, purple violet….
red….
violent….
RAGE.
She gasped at its intensity. "I have lunch at the Garden sometimes," she managed to say through the beast's screaming hurricane winds.
Together, Karra, Laren said. Let me strengthen you…
We will not kill Del, she tried to tell it, but she was being sucked into a whirlpool that drained her strength. "Stop it," she whispered.
"Once a handspan, I know," Del continued. "Do you really think, Mistress Demmita, that you can hide your activities from me, when I have the whole Security System at my disposal?" He shoved her roughly toward the door she had just entered.
KILL HIM! KILL HIM!
"No," Laren told the beast. Her heart hammered in protest, but her voice felt too weak.
"Who is he?" the High Commissioner shouted.
"Who?" The man at the Garden, or the beast screaming colors at me? I don’t know who the beast is, just that it relishes in harming others. But not this time! I will not kill!
"Who have you been seeing at the Garden? Don't play stupid with me!" He shoved her again.
"My brother," Karra said in her last moment of control.
In the next, she fled out the door, the frenzy of war in her ears. She and Laren had kept A’nden safe, for now.
"Wait!" Del called, too late to take back his words of jealousy. "I thought…"
He turned to the two guards. "Follow her," he ordered.
"Bring her back?" Motz wanted to know.
"No," he said. "If she wants to come back, she will. Just report her moves to me."
They nodded and left.
"But please come back to me, Laren," he whispered into the silence.
Chapter 35
The beast screamed its rage at her. Kill him! Kill him!
No! Laren felt the awful force of the beast, fully aware that it overpowered Karra. In less than a second its will would take control. Already Karra’s hand reached inside her purse for the small pistol she kept there. No! All she could think to do to protect herself was to run.
Laren ran even while Karra’s hand grasped the pistol grip. Her eyes were blind to everything except the red firestorm of hatred that surrounded the beast. Blind, Karra slammed into the elevator doors, knocking the pistol loose from her fingers. The purse remained open when she brought her hand out to explore the unexpected barrier in front of her.
Elevator doors, Laren told her.
Elevator doors, Karra thought, confused as to why that was important.
You stupid girl! the beast roared, once again urging her to regain her grasp on the pistol. You have the perfect opportunity to make a stand for your people. Look behind you, you worthless chit! A’nden’s guards pursue you. Kill them, then kill him.
Elevator doors! Laren shouted. The way out!
But Karra’s body had already started to turn toward the two guards running after them, even while Laren’s fingers felt behind her for the buttons.
Kill them all! What have Nevians ever done for you and yours?
As the doors opened, Karra fell inside, half crouched against the side wall. Her hand reached behind her to stop the doors from closing. Laren forced the arm inside while the fingers on her other hand brushed against the button that closed the doors.
They watched Berti, running ahead of Motz, become smaller rather than larger as he approached. He seemed caught in a fiery whirlpool. Do you see what I did? the beast challenged. I can take your life as easily as I took his. Now do as I command, you useless piece of flesh.
Terrified, Laren searched through the storm for the button marked LOBBY. Her hand seemed to move through mud. She pushed it forward until she touched the button. But she had to lean her whole body into the act of pushing it, so weak her hand had become.
I’m not done with you, the beast told her. You will not escape me.
The temperature in the elevator began rising. They watched in horror as the walls began to turn red. Sweat poured from their body. Their lungs felt as if they breathed in fire. Intense heat s
eared their skin, forming blisters, curling skin.
Just as a scream formed deep in their throat, the doors opened, and Laren saw the lobby doors, glass, inviting, a way of escape. To her surprise, no blisters showed on her skin, even though she felt very warm.
So you think you can best me with your will? Do you actually believe your puny will is any match for mine? The beast threw out a bolt of energy so powerful it left both of them gasping for breath.
No! Stop! Laren begged it.
Then obey me!
Karra let out a cry of dismay. I want release, she begged her alter. I cannot…
You cannot give into its wishes, Laren said. What it wants will destroy us far more deeply than death. We must fight it.
But Karra owned no weapons designed to fight a beast. No guns or knives would damage a bodiless entity. I cannot…
All Laren could do was run. All she could do was try to escape.
Karra! Laren called to her. It will destroy us! What has it been doing all these cycles except trying to destroy us?
The realization that Laren was right hit her like a physical blow. She reeled, nearly losing her balance. She fought to remain standing…
…and felt the warm breath of the beast at her throat.
Terrified, she darted from her invisible enemy. She no longer ran to protect A’nden. She no longer ran to keep from killing. She ran to protect herself. When she reached the door to the outside she never thought to use the airway to take her to another part of the city. She ran, slipping, nearly falling down the walkway to the next pad. Karra ran.
I own you! the beast raged.
You used to, Karra told it, sick with how close the beast had come to its desire for absolute control. For a short time you did own me, Karra acknowledged.
Nothing you offer is real, Laren added. You had me convinced that I was in a small, dark box, but it was a lie.
It was a lie, Karra finally realized. Everything you have told me has been a lie. Laren never died. That means…
It is a master of deception, Karra, Laren told her. You are not a helpless assassin with uncontrollable rages. You never were that person. Don’t you remember? You tried to get out of the business, but it drew you back in. Did you enjoy killing Barnis Ves? Did you?
Her Darkest Beauty: An Alien Invasion Series - The Second Generation Page 29
