Below her, she could see across the empty courtyard her father had mentioned and the airport terminals. All the lights were on as if a red-eye flight was expected. She looked down at the courtyard. To the left and right of the vast concrete walkway were hundreds of metal spikes on the ground. They seemed to move and flow with the wind, like a metal wheat field. They were each about two feet high and not even a foot apart, set up in a grid formation. She considered jumping from the window onto the spikes but knew she was not strong enough to break the glass. Lucas would not let her die. The DiaZem gene would not let her die. With every passing second, Valerie found it more difficult to see how her situation could improve. There was no winning.
Behind her, one of the outer doors granting access to the lobby had opened.
“You look like you could use a drink.” Hyka walked across the lobby and behind the bar. “I borrowed a shirt, hope you don’t mind.”
Hyka was wearing one of Valerie’s fitted t-shirts but had cut the sleeves into a tank top. Her chest was bare of the ink once marking her skin. Hyka slapped her badge against three different black boxes. Each blinked green and triggered different hydraulic shelves to emerge from their secure resting places below the counter. Lights underneath illuminated the liquor bottles which rose with the shelves. Hyka grabbed an ink pen and with a twist and stab, created a messy bun on her head with her string-wrapped strands still hanging free. She pinned a name tag to her shirt labeling herself Sammy Jo. Valerie smiled, and Hyka continued her smooth movements. She poked the computer screen and navigated to the music setting. 1980s pop music played overhead. She grabbed three bottles from the shelf with one hand and flipped them over into a shaker, scooped a glass tumbler full of ice, set the bottles down, picked up the shaker, slammed the two cups together and shook them. She looked up at Valerie.
“Ass-hat gave me a tour and told me I should make you feel at home. But the last time I checked you didn’t have a full-service bar in your home. And yes, I did check.” Hyka pulled the two glasses apart enough to drain the cocktail into a lowball tumbler holding the ice. She picked a napkin from a stack and placed it in front of Valerie with the lowball on top.
Valerie touched the glass. She had a strong urge to slam the alcohol back in one gulp, remembering the shooters she had at the hotel before she was aware she was with child.
“I was going to kill him, you know,” Valerie spoke, studying the drink.
“Yeah, I had my money on the guards. Jarrett is such a coward. The ER doc got a good piece of him, though. I wish his eye would have stayed swollen shut a bit longer. He kept inviting me to his room while he was showing me around. Creep show.”
Valerie felt a tinge of jealousy, followed by nausea. She hated him, but she could do little to prevent the involuntary attraction. If he stayed away from her, she could maintain her disdain. When he was close, she battled with herself. He killed her husband. He even tried to erase all connection to him. Valerie Burton, Caleb Burton. Their last name was Russell. She would keep his name until she died.
“I talked to Duke. Both guys have the hots for you. August is in a rush to leave because he thinks you killed everyone and knows when he gets away from you, the attraction will die.”
“But you told him I didn’t, right? Duke will tell August that Lucas killed those people. If he knows the truth, he won’t go. He can’t go. He is the only shot I have at being able to do anything.”
“You know, I was joking before about the love triangle. One hundred percent real. Duke said the guy is a mess. He can’t stand Lucas, but this is his territory. Also, every country around the world is involved. They have a World Council, and their main goal is to kill off everyone without the electric gene. They want a smaller world population so they can control everyone the same way. No one leader, just DiaZem pairs running the show. Each pair runs a mega-city. August’s partner in San Francisco is an eighty-year-old math teacher. She’s all about killing everyone for equality.”
Hyka kept talking, but Valerie was distracted by the mention of August’s partner.
“I have a question,” Valerie interrupted. “If two male DiaZem can’t be in the same room together, how was August able to touch Lucas? Let alone punch him in the face?”
“So, like ole blood-stain O’Connell said, DiaZem are like magnets. The same charges expel each other.” Hyka pulled four small round magnets off a refrigerator under the counter. She set two aside. “Okay, so two of the same charge cannot come near each other. In a DiaZem’s case, everything explodes. Lights, circuit breakers, those stupid plastic guns they carry around. But if you add an opposite charge, like a lady,” Hyka winked at Valerie and continued, “the two charges are joined by the opposite charge in the middle, making the entire circuit even stronger.” Hyka pushed a third magnet between the two, and all three snapped together.
“So, thanks to you, someone punched that joker in the face.”
They laughed together.
“Hyka, I don’t know what to do,” Valerie started, conscious of her words and who might hear them. “Can a magnet be un-magnetized? Is there a way to undo the effects of the gene? If they can find cures for other genetic diseases, there should be a logical way to become a normal person again.”
Hyka looked at her but did not answer.
“I just want to be a nobody. I want Caleb to have a normal life.”
“I don’t think you want to be a normal person. You know what they do to normal people around here, right? But there shouldn’t be any harm in finding out. There is a lab near the control room that researches Lucas’ capabilities as a DiaZem and the effects on conductors. Lucas owns the lab, but other people work under him. Regular people even.”
“Well, there’s a start. I think we both know what needs to happen then,” Valerie said. Then she felt the breeze. She wanted to look for the camera he was using, but she could not tell which one of the men was watching her.
“I’ll work my magic and see what else I can find out. Duke and the doctor leave tomorrow afternoon. Duke thinks he’s going to run and not go to San Francisco. He’s not on board with killing a bunch of people. He’s a doctor, after all. Do no harm and all that.”
Valerie shot a look to Hyka, hoping she would stop talking.
She got the hint and changed the subject. “It’s not going to drink itself, you know.”
“Water, maybe?” Valerie smiled and pushed the cocktail away.
“I knew you were pregnant as soon as we got to your house.”
Lucas knew. He was coming. She could feel his energy: excited, plotting.
“Dammit, Hyka. You don’t know what you have done.”
“I have to get back to Caleb.” Valerie pushed out of her tall chair and walked to the elevator. Lucas was far enough away she could get back to her room and give everyone a fair warning, maybe even tell them of her pregnancy before he did.
“He knows now, doesn’t he?” Hyka asked, frustrated.
“He was going to find out either way.”
“Who’s the dad?”
Valerie stopped in front of the elevator and looked at Hyka, ready to slap her. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know your life.” Hyka threw her hands up in the air.
“It’s my husband’s child.”
They stood in silence waiting for the elevator.
“This is taking too long. I was the last to use this elevator. It should have been here.” Valerie paced.
When the door opened, a man in a black suit and necktie stepped out, blocking their entry.
“Dr. Jarrett would like to speak with you, ma’am. He felt you should be given a fair warning in order to collect yourself. I apologize for the late hour, but he asked the control room to notify him once you finished resting.” The uniformed man maintained a smug grin and spoke only to Valerie. He kept his hand near a 9mm pistol secured in a tan leg holster.
Valerie was not impressed, nor was she threatened.
“Rest?! Is that
what we call recovering from being shocked unconscious? Lucas is a coward.”
“Ma’am, you will be careful how you speak of your DiaZem.”
“My DiaZem? I am a DiaZem! You should be careful how you speak to me. I have been through a lot this week thanks to your DiaZem, and I am not looking to put up with much more.”
He stepped out of the elevator, allowing the door to close behind him. The closer she felt Lucas was, the more anxious she became. She needed to be with her son. She needed to protect him. This man in the suit was standing in her way; something she vowed she would never let happen again.
“If you do not move now, you are going to need your own time to rest,” Valerie said through clenched teeth. She did not want to kill him, but she did not know how to use her ability to hurt people without killing them.
Valerie blinked back tears of rage, but they escaped despite her best efforts. In the split second she took to close her eyes and release her frustration, she was staring down the end of his 9mm.
“Threats are not taken lightly here, Ms. Burton,” the man said, remaining calm and collected. He held a finger to his ear and spoke again, not to her. “Yes, we are fine here, just coming to a mutual understanding. Yes, sir.” He looked at her again, “Ms. Burton—”
“It’s Russell, for the last time. Valerie Russell,” she interrupted, teeth still clenched, fighting the quiver in her voice.
“Yeah, well, have a seat, and Dr. Jarrett will meet you momentarily.” He dismissed her and holstered his weapon while keeping his eyes on Hyka, who could have killed him with the look on her face.
Lucas was not far away by the time she sat down, and all she could do was wait. She wanted to scream and fight the man with the gun, but doing so would put Hyka in immediate danger. She did not know Lucas well enough to know how he would react. She did not put it past him to hurt her family as retribution. She swore at herself for leaving Caleb, for needing to go for a walk. She also cursed Hyka for guessing she was pregnant.
The attraction to Lucas grew stronger with every second. She chewed a cocktail straw and mulled over the magnet example Hyka had given. Two magnets of opposite polar attractions will always be attracted to each other. She racked her brain thinking of every science class she ever took. She knew there had to be a way to demagnetize a DiaZem if the properties were the same.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of the elevator opening. Deep down she still hoped August would get out, but knew it was Lucas. She fought her instinct to go to him and remained seated, not even looking in his direction.
“Ah, my beautiful bride,” he said.
“You’re such a pig,” Valerie said before she could stop herself. She tried to refocus her rage at him, but she was weak.
Hyka spit out Valerie’s drink she had helped herself to in disbelief.
“Now, I’m not that bad. I am positive there are worse people you could be paired with. I mean the pond is pretty narrow, my dear. The sooner you come around, the better. We don’t want to give the World Council the impression we aren’t in the game. The last DiaZem group to start a rebellion did not have a happy ending. The Council frowns upon such things.” He stood behind her. She was so in tune with him, she knew how he was standing, how he motioned with his hands when he spoke, all without looking at him. Her heart raced, and her mouth was dry. Her instinct was to reach out to him, to be comforted and loved by him. The sensation ripped her soul apart at the seams. The emotional wounds from losing her husband were still fresh enough to help keep her wits about her. He placed his hand on her shoulder. Her head tilted just slightly, welcoming the warmth of his hand. She hated him yet wanted his affection. She did not know how long she could fight, but she would. Inhale, exhale.
“Where is August?” she asked, to spite him.
Lucas grabbed her by the hair and yanked her out of the chair to face him. The anger in his eyes faded and he pulled her closer, keeping his firm grip. She turned away from him, fighting her strong urges.
“You are far sexier angry than I could have ever hoped for. Maybe I should spread out the execution of your family to keep you in a constant state of rage. You’re more fun when you play hard to get.” The last words he whispered in her ear.
Hyka jumped up and was met by the 9mm held by Lucas’ assistant.
“You are quite feisty, too. Having both of you will be a treat. A birthday present, maybe?” Lucas winked at Hyka. “Rob, what’s going on?”
Lucas released Valerie and flung her toward Hyka.
His assistant held a finger to his earpiece for a moment before answering his boss. “I think the departure of Dr. Wilkes needs to be expedited.”
Valerie looked at Hyka, who was listening to her earpiece. Hoping he would leave to deal with August, the women moved to the elevator.
“Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa!” Lucas shouted as he caught up with them. He grabbed Valerie’s wrist and forced her hand into his. “This is a great opportunity to show you around, and you can even wave goodbye to your boyfriend.”
Valerie could not handle any more. She chopped him in the throat with her free hand. When he released her, Hyka pushed her forward, and the women sprinted across the lobby. Two bullets whizzed by and hit the glass doors in front of them. A third caught Hyka in the leg. Valerie stopped running and glared at Rob, Lucas’ assistant. She found the small spark inside of his rib cage flickering with his pulse. Then it was gone. His face went white, and he collapsed to the ground.
“Listen here, bitch,” Lucas began.
Valerie tried the same, but Lucas absorbed every effort she made to pull his energy. He continued his advance, unfazed by her efforts.
“You are only here because I need you. Otherwise, you could die out there like the rest. You know why royalty can only marry royalty? Because of genetics. Because otherwise, the DiaZem gene would die out.”
Valerie stood her ground next to Hyka and continued her defiant glare. When he was within arm’s length, he backhanded her in the mouth. She did not budge. The pain fueled her resistance. She could never have affection for a man who hurt her. The taste of blood in her mouth kept her mind aware of the damage he had already done to her.
Hyka had made quick use of her white belt, wrapping the improvised tourniquet around her leg to stop the bleeding. Valerie knelt down and put her hand on the wound, ignoring Lucas standing over her. Once he saw what she was doing, he remembered his assistant, lifeless on the floor. Lucas waved a hand in his direction, and the man gasped for air.
“Now that you are done comparing packages, shall we?” He yanked Valerie off the ground by her shirt. “Rob, get up. You’re fine.”
Hyka’s leg, though still healing, was now well enough she could walk. The four moved to the elevator in silence. Rob, a bit out of sorts, scanned his badge and pushed the button for Sublevel 2, where the trains ran.
“You know up until a week ago, I had no idea the facility existed beneath the airport. The gene I discovered in the 1970s grants the host a higher level of intellect. Conductors are predisposed to being smart, motivated thinkers. So, in one week we were able to move in, develop and supply the technology to assist in the collection of conductors and make life here in the facility more comfortable. Since our founding fathers had no idea what this gene could do, we had to act fast. We have endless resources here. Money is not a factor in the New World. Power is currency now. Pure, unadulterated energy.” Lucas wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. “And women love power. Do you know how many women wish they were you?”
Lucas tipped her chin up with his index finger and kissed her mouth. Valerie was filled with familiar warmth. Like she belonged to him. Before she could think to fight, she kissed him back. She pulled away when she realized what she had done. She looked down in shame, knowing Hyka would have something to say later. Lucas smiled down at her.
“You see? Not so bad. You’re already starting to break. I’ll give you another few hours before you’re eating out of my hand. And we�
��ll raise our children here in our kingdom and be one big happy family, eh Rob?” Lucas laughed.
“Please stop touching me,” she said under her breath.
“I’m sorry, baby, what did you say?” he asked, still mocking her inability to fight his affections.
“Stop touching me,” she said louder.
The elevator chimed. He slid his hand over her butt and squeezed before reaching for her hand and leading her out.
“Mmmm, you taste so good,” he said, licking his lips.
Valerie was mortified. The resolve she had found moments ago was beginning to fade; he was killing her spirit. There was no way she could fight him. She considered poisoning him, but no matter what harm she brought to him, he would regenerate the damaged cells. They walked along a corridor to the train platform.
“Where are we going?” Valerie asked.
“First things first. We must address your boy-toy who is causing quite the ruckus in the living quarters. Wait until you see. We can house millions of conductors underground. They have everything they need, food and water, and they provide the power for everything. There is no effort on their part, or ours. Their proximity to a DiaZem makes them individual generators. They absorb energy, and we serve as a conduit cycling it back into the facility. Otherwise, they would—in theory—age and die due to not being able to release the energy themselves. You, hot mama, and I are the fountain of youth for these poor souls.” Lucas walked her over to a balcony overlooking the living area. He gripped the back of her neck and forced her to look over the edge; it was like leaning over the side of a skyscraper, only underground. Valerie looked across at the other towers of individual housing units. She gripped the rail as hard as she could, so as not to fall the mile down to the bottom.
“Is this what you want to do to me?” Lucas questioned. “You want to throw me over and kill me? I can’t read your mind, but I can sense your energy. You need to remember something: I am stronger than you. If at any point you might catch me off guard, which I promise will not happen, these people are loyal to me. I saved them from you. You killed their families and friends. Remember your place, or I will do terrible things to the people you love.” He pushed her further over the edge. “Or maybe you want to jump?”
Apparent Power: DiaZem Trilogy Book One Page 19
