Tales Of Mython Collection

Chapter 5

Cryptobiology class had a scarce attendance on a Wednesday. Such was often the case, as many of the students optioning this as part of their studies found this was the only class of the day, and often just borrowed the dictations from someone in attendance. Many took this class to fill out a resume aimed towards research and development rather than a medical career.

Everybody knew vampires made the best surgeons, due to their aptitude for the body’s systems, being able to anticipate the chance of bleeds and complications, and their speed. It was for this reason the profession was being dominated by them. Whereas shifters and their sensitive noses were able to find trace changes in body chemicals and the scents accompanying ailments, which made them perfect doctors, able to find illnesses in their patients often before symptoms were shown.

That was not to say non-preternaturals couldn’t make the grade, but the employment records favoured those able to execute their role to perfection, and it was no secret that most preternaturals had an extended life and thus amassed more knowledge and skills during the course of their service. Of course, many who would go on to this profession tended to be privately educated in leading-edge medical academies, meaning most academies, while offering the course, found its students took it out of necessity since it was offered as an extra-credit course, which was favoured alongside the R&D Degree.

After an accident involving some over-enthusiastic chemistry students, the science wing had been closed, and the temporary classroom assignment saw them shifting from the front-facing science benches to standard desks. The seats and tables traced the room, creating a U-shape, with the digital board on the remaining wall. This was a classroom geared more towards participation than study, but it had been the only one available for their continual use.

Cryptobiology was taught by Adele. This sandy-haired woman was once rumoured to have worked in one of the leading scientific research facilities in all of Mython. Her hair was always tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail, complete with perfect ringlet at its tip, and whilst looking upon her conjured images of a strict school mistress, she was actually a rather soft-spoken, warm-hearted mentor to anyone who had the desire to learn.

Adele currently possessed a distinctive gait due to the recent upgrade of her cybernetic leg. The clipping of her heels was audible down the tile-paved corridor, instilling a ready silence within the class. Cryptobiology was one of the more popular topics for students hoping to be adopted by one of the top research and development companies that could be found on the outskirts of Overton. Since the revelation that preternatural beings existed, the frontier of science had changed, becoming barely recognisable, and everyone wanted to possess the upper edge.

When the first fragile alliances on Mython were being developed, the preternaturals sought to offer an olive branch in the form of new insights into science, medicine, even technology, and whilst a time of fear and panic had threatened to consume the nation, the latest upgraded technology was released and figure-headed by the Elder-bloodlines of the newly formed council, to show what magic and man could accomplish together.

The older generation sought shelter, fearing their new position on the food chain, even after the conflicts had calmed and an order—which would grow and adapt to become the measures seen today—emerged. The youth, however, revelled in the inventions brought forth. The latest trends in technology became a buffer to fear as consumerism won over instinct, and from this, order emerged.

A low murmur of approaching conversation could be heard outside, stopping abruptly as it reached the classroom door. Already waiting in silence, all eyes turned to Adele and the young man who had accompanied her. He passed a hand through his ear-length brown hair, his cheeks flushing slightly as he realised he was now the centre of some curious expressions.

“Very well, be seated there. Partner with Tess’s group and we can arrange an orientation after. We can discuss the other matters later.” Adele gestured towards the empty seat beside Ashley. “Tess, can you give Mr Mendel this term’s notes since he will be joining us?”

Tess nodded as the young man took his appointed seat and flashed Ashley a guarded smile. His gaze seemed to linger a little too long, causing her face to flush and an unnatural warmth to spread through her core as her vision fixed on his lapis-lazuli-shade eyes.

This unnatural heat was a new sensation, clean, not like the cold pressure she felt when she was near an Atelís, or the icy caress of a vampire’s gaze. A warm sensation was something different, something she had felt from no one else her path had crossed. For a moment, she found herself drawn into his eyes, noticing the flecks of gold burning like embers amidst the brilliant blue as he looked upon her with something that seemed akin to recognition.

“Conrad,” he whispered, nodding his head in introduction as he took his seat, breaking the tether between them.

“Ashley, Tess, Jack,” she introduced, as Adele loaded the lesson into the digital screen. “Have you transferred from another session?”

“No, late enrolment. We just moved here last week.” She could see him studying her profile in her peripheral vision, but when she glanced his way, his gaze dropped towards his notebook, a slight frown furrowing his brow.

“What do you think of our city so far?” Ashely whispered, her attention split between Conrad and the digital board, where the lecturer had launched into an explanation of cell mutations. There was something about him she couldn’t place. Whenever she felt strange feelings around someone, she always tried to discover what was behind them. Something told her being aware of who she was around was the only way to keep herself safe.

“Different to what I’m used to.”

“Yeah, it can be a bit much here sometimes. If you’ve no other lectures, I could give you the tour and transfer class notes. I’m free after this until work,” Ashley offered, glancing down at her digital notepad, making sure she had captured all the key points on the diagram.

“Sounds great,” he said, but the slight hesitation in his voice was unmistakable.

“Lucky you. I’ve been pestering for months for some girl time,” Tess teased, flashing a smile that showed she knew her friend had sensed something unusual from this stranger.

“You’re welcome to come,” Conrad said, a little too quickly. “Far be it from me to come between two ladies.”

“Pass. I’ve got engineering mathematics after this. Next time, though.” Tess turned her focus back towards the lecturer as Ashley, while making notes, was still trying to formulate an opinion about the newest member of their study team.

Conrad smiled as he watched Ashley close her eyes with delight as the rich flavour of ice-cream teased her tongue. He had insisted, in thanks for her showing him all the best places in Overton’s city centre, that she allowed him to treat her at the dessert parlour. His offer seemed to spark a small internal battle within until finally, she nodded her acceptance.

“You weren’t kidding, this place is amazing.” He broke the silence almost regretfully, seeing how much she was savouring this treat. The way her eyes seemed to sparkle suggested this was something of a rare indulgence for her. If this was all it took to earn a smile so vibrant, he would bring her here every week.

Except he couldn’t.

For his own sake, if not for hers. Even if there was something about this rusty-haired beauty that stirred his other-self, as if that part of him called to her, knew her, he couldn’t allow it. He knew better. Besides, she was simply human, and that one fact ensured that no matter how he felt, they could never be more than friends. Never, he asserted. His stern thoughts didn’t change anything, though. His temperature still rose a fraction whenever their auras crossed, but no matter how desperately he tried, he could scent nothing on her that was causing him to react this way.

NeverHe needed to know more, understand the hold she seemed to have on him. It wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair. He should not be feeling this way. From the moment her eyes had met his, and shifted from their beautiful grey to the stormy shade of rain clouds, it was as if a tether between them had been formed. Her gaze was mesmerising, inviting him to reveal his every secret, and having been caught so unaware he had almost complied. His mother had a name for eyes like hers—witch eyes—although he tasted no magic from the air around her.

not“So, what brought you this way?” Ashley asked. He found himself smiling at her innocent pleasure as her finger traced around the edge of the ice-cream glass carefully to ensure she removed every trace of caramel.

A shiver passed through him, his gaze imagining her touch upon his flesh for a moment before berating himself silently. What the hell was he doing? He was not one to be infatuated with another, and that’s all this was, infatuation towards the first person to show him any kindness after the hell he had suffered for so long. A relationship was the furthest thing from his mind, but she had only smiled at him and he was already in trouble. No, he asserted. He wasn’t willing to be make himself vulnerable again, to face another rejection, especially not from her. Not from the person whose disarming smile had made him feel as if he had finally come home.

No,He realised he was staring, and her question had gone unanswered.

“Mum’s work,” he admitted, tearing his gaze from her to the dessert before him. “She’s received a research grant from one of the centres outside Overton. It was too far a commute from our old territory, plus the place they’re renting us is amazing. She can work from home most days, it has everything.” He cringed, knowing he had overcompensated for the silence with too much information.

“She must be talented to be offered something like that.”

“She’s renowned in her field.” Conrad turned his penetrative gaze towards her again, watching the subtle undertones of her eyes shift as if they mirrored her every thought. “Why don’t you ask me what you really want to?” He instantly regretted asking, wondering exactly what he could tell her, why she filled his thoughts with such confusion and contradictions.

“I don’t know what you mean.” The blush that chased across her cheeks would have put the stars to shame.

“I’ve seen how you’re looking at me, how you’re trying to see me.” There was no other way to describe it; the intensity with which she beheld him felt as if she was trying to peer into the deepest region of his soul, to see everything he was. Everything he kept hidden. Worse still, that part of him responded to her scrutiny in a way he had never before experienced and he knew if she were to see him so completely, look beyond his defences, she would not like what she found.

Maybe that was the answer. Perhaps he should let her; do away with the charade, scare her away. But then, why bother moving here at all? He closed his eyes, envisioning her gentle features twisting into hatred and disgust the way Rei’s had. His resolve faltered. Besides, she was only human, they were incompatible. Everything he was feeling now was because she smiled, because he had gone too long without an ounce of kindness from his peers. It would soon pass.

“I look at everyone like this.” She shrugged, tracing her finger around the glass once more.

“I noticed. What is it you’re looking for?” He inhaled, once more trying to sense any power she exhibited, but the only scent from her was the soft aroma of lavender clothes powder and the delicate fragrance of honey released from her hair as she shook her head softly.

Ashley looked at her watch, her eyes widening. “Gosh, is that the time? I should get going or I’ll be late for my shift.” Seeming flustered, she gathered her things together, slipping on her jacket. He glanced at the clock behind the counter. Six o’clock. How was it possible for four hours to have passed so quickly?

“Is it okay if we talk tomorrow? I may need some more notes since it seems we’re studying along the same lines.” There was no hesitation in her answer, and yet he felt as if he had held his breath indefinitely.

“Sure. Tomorrow then.” The promise left a brief tingle of electricity hanging in the air between them. He wondered if she felt it, too, or if it was a torture reserved only for him.

Conrad watched as she left, finishing his ice-cream. He had never seen anyone so invested in their surroundings before. It was as if she kept vigil on everyone around her. He was certain even she didn’t realise the extent of her observations. As she reached the door, she held it open for a young couple, their eyes briefly meeting in thanks. He felt it again, the change of pressure from within himself as she glanced back and his whole-self begged to be revealed, causing a dull ache behind his eyes as he forced it back down, back in its place where it would stay hidden.

“What are you doing?” Conrad scolded himself quietly as he caught himself watching her walk past the window. He shivered, running his hands up his bare arms. He never normally felt the cold, so he wondered why it was that when she left, a chill had raced through him.

Glancing at his watch, he reached for his device, sending a quick message to his mother, confirming his enrolment had gone smoothly. She had been unnecessarily distressed about this move, but the anomalies here warranted further investigation. Not to mention they had been summoned; the pull of the dead had been too much for his family to ignore.

Emily strained against the thick leather cuffs, attempting to shift her body. Tears streaked her face as she fought, causing the single-framed bed beneath her to vibrate and its locked metal wheels to grind against the concrete floor. Her skin felt warm against the metal at her back, as it reflected back what little body heat still remained.

The scratchy sound of a hoarse whisper was all that remained of her desperate screams for help. Every muscle burned under the stress of her constant resistance. It could have been hours or days since she had awoken, time here had no meaning. She scanned the small concrete confines, deliberately trying not to focus upon the thick bindings securing her, yet still seeing the heavy-duty cuffs strapped to the thick belts around her waist and securing her to the bed. They reminded her of how she had seen her aunt restrained after her violent breakdown.

Tears escaped the corner of her eyes, while she forced herself to take in her surroundings, to look for something, anything, that could help her escape. Walls surrounded her and the only light came filtering through the single cage door on the furthest wall, although from what she could see, this room had lights, too. They were just off, creating a dismal image of being forgotten, abandoned, and alone.

Trying to focus on thoughts other than her own helplessness, she wondered if her parents were looking for her, if they had even realised she was missing yet. The thought caused a glimmer of hope to shimmer through the darkness. As soon as her parents realised she hadn’t come home they would contact the Blue Coats, and this nightmare would be over. She needed only to survive until she was found. Help was coming.

A chuckle from the darkness behind her startled her. Its deep, resounding tone echoed through her body, causing the fine hairs on her arms to stand. “I see that glimmer of hope a lot in you wretched creatures,” came a gravelly voice from the shadows. Her strangled whimper seemed to please him, his lips turning into a smug smile as he moved from the shadows so she could look upon her captor. “You are falsely contemplating the notion that the Blue Coats will find you. Do you think we would go to such measures as to stage an abduction if we didn’t possess a way to deactivate your identity chip?” The words struck her like a physical blow, stealing what little breath remained. “Devon, add this one to our Black Card Menu for now.”

Another figure approached, entering the concrete confines through the steel door. Her body grew rigid in response to his eyes meeting hers. For a moment, everything was still, her body ceased its protest. For several long seconds as he walked around her, she felt nothing. Not the sharp pricking of her finger, or the probing of his fingers as he examined the area on her wrist where her chip had once been.

“sss+NM64V.” Devon read the figures from the device before discarding the tab he had affixed to it.

“We have had ample interest in the training and acquisition of a Lightning Flash. Let us see what we can do with this one.”

“Patch or pipette?”

Emily felt the moment Devon released her from his thrall. Her muscles strained as the resistance in her renewed.

“Patch. Start with micro doses and increase from there. We don’t want a repeat of the last Tabu.” The one called Devon nodded, casting but a dismissive glance in her direction as she felt the warmth of urine pool beneath her, soaking the off-white gown. “Have one of the underlings get the hose and attend to that first. It won’t do to have such odours lingering.”