“How’s it going?” the Gorgon asked, his gaze now on the screens.
“Boring.”
“I imagine,” Ender snickered.
“I’m about done.”
“Fast and efficient, I like that. Bring up what you’ve got so far.”
Killian quickly brought up the various bits of information on the continuous curved screen on the wall. “Here’s what I’ve found on their existence, from birth to current, but everything seems pretty unimportant.”
After a few moments, Ender said, with a deceivingly happy hum, “Can’t say I’m not disappointed.”
Killian frowned. “What?”
“Keep digging into all of them. The only hint I have for you is that maybe if you stop thinking they are unimportant, you’ll find what I want you to find.”
He sighed. “I knew this was a test.”
“Of course, it’s a test. I only want the best working for me. Now dig.”
Killian sighed again, as he started back at the first name on the list.
Ender sat there unmovingin a chair at the table, staring at Halus, with a smile he couldn’t control on his face, while trying with all his might to show his hatred in his eyes, not knowing if he succeeded or not.
“I know you’re upset,” Halus said softly.
At least, Ender thought he was speaking. Who knew, the words could have been put directly into his brain. He just couldn’t tell. For all he knew, the man wasn’t even standing in front of him, just projecting images into his brain.
Ender did know that he couldn’t speak himself, so he thought the words instead, as it was all he could do.Go to hell.
“You’ll get used to it. You’ll have to get used to it, I’m afraid.” The Fate sighed. “I really do want to free you, my sweet. But we both know I can’t. You’ll fight, and I would hate for you to get hurt. That said, I know what you are going through. It’s hard losing Nyla and Kovo.”
HOW DARE YOU SAY THEIR NAMES?!
“Now, now, don’t get so flustered.” Fear rose up as the Fate walked around behind him and reached down to place a hand on his stomach.
Ender would have flinched, or even lashed out at the man touching him, but he couldn’t move. He wasn’t in control. He hadn’t been since the second day he'd woken up there. The only thing he could do was think…listen, and…feel.
“I know it hurts. But—” The man started to caress his stomach. “—I’ll help you replace them.”
Ender’s eyes snapped open,waking up as his stomach twisted violently. Lying there, he barely managed to swallow back the bile that rose up. What he couldn’t suppress were the trembles running through him as the memories and feelings lingered.
Ender still felt it. The shadow touch of someone who wasn’t there. The cruel, heartless words, the disgust…
He wished he could have said what he felt was anger…but his racing heart betrayed him. Swallowing hard, Ender forcefully shoved down the feeling of shame that tried to well up on wakingup afraid instead of angry. But then, at that moment, he had been afraid…
No, he’d been terrified, and at that point in captivity…hopeless. It had been the one time he’d been grateful that pregnancy didn’t come easy for his kind.
Behind him, Killian snuggled closer, while at the same time, Cyrus’ arm tightened around him, plastering him further against the man’s thick chest as the Fate, obviously still asleep, murmured, “It’s okay.”
While there was comfort there, not even amazing tits, which he had very much appreciated before falling asleep against them, could stop him from noticing that the scent the man was engulfing him in was so very similar to that asshole’s. It was still different, of course, but the underlying scent of what the man was sent another cold shiver down his spine.
Lying there, pinned between the two men, Ender took a deep breath, trying to let their warmth soak back into his bones, almost desperate for it to drive away the cold.
He looked towards the fake windows that mimicked day and night. The lack of even a hint of fake sunshine told him it was still too early to be up.
Knowing he likely wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep, Ender took another deep breath, closed his eyes, and just attempted to relax.
