My grandfather’s gaze flickered to Dr. Violet before landing back on me. A sly smile formed on his lips as he answered, “We’ll care for him. Treat him well.” His gaze fell on my hand, still resting against the glass. “Nurture your connection with him.”
“Like a pet?” I swallowed the lump in my throat, attempting to fight back the tears welling in my eyes.
My grandfather nodded. “His life, for now, is here.” His expression softened slightly, but his voice was firm. “We’re the only ones who can ensure his survival. Outside, there are people who would exploit him, harm him…even kill him for what he represents.”
I could hardly believe what I was hearing. This was not protection. This was imprisonment. The creature who had saved my life was now being used as leverage, a bargaining chip in an interstellar game of politics.
A lump formed in my throat. “But he’s not a pet. He’s not an object to be studied. He’s a sentient being, just like us.” The words poured from me, a desperate plea. “He saved me. He has every right to be free.”
My grandfather turned his gaze to me. “I understand your feelings, but he’s an alien. Like I said, until we settle things with IPA, he has no rights here on Earth.”
As I looked back at the creature behind the glass, his amber eyes met mine, and I saw understanding there, a shared determination. I made a silent vow then and there. I would find a way to free him, no matter what it took.
“Well, I don’t agree with that,” I stated, my voice firm, meeting my grandfather’s gaze head-on. “I won’t be party to keeping him prisoner.”
The older man raised his hand, forestalling my protest. “Isla,” he began, his tone conciliatory. “You don’t get a say in this. And if you cause any issues, I will revoke your access to the lab. You’ll have to spend your time above the surface.”
I glanced back at the sharkman, his amber eyes burning with an intensity that completely overwhelmed me. His unwavering gaze seemed to pierce through to my very soul, silently begging me to aid him.
If I were barred from the lab, there would be no one to defend him. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything happened to him in this lab. I’d once thought my grandfather would never resort to immoral research practices, but now, I couldn’t be sure. It was evident that my grandfather was no longer the noble man I had known. Perhaps it was his age or the fact that he had almost lost me—the last member of his bloodline—but something changed him.
For now, I had to go along with his demands so that I could keep access to the lab, even if I wasn’t even sure where to start in communicating with the sharkman.
I swallowed hard, pushing down the wave of anxiety that rose in my throat.
“Dr. Violet, Grandfather.” I took a deep breath, my pulse racing in my chest, and mustered the confidence to do whatever I needed to ensure the sharkman’s comfort during his stay with us. “What have you tried so far to communicate with him?”
Dr. Violet sipped her steaming hot cocoa, her gaze distant for a moment as she gathered her thoughts, her hands gently cradling her mug. She sighed softly before meeting my eyes, her expression tense with disappointment. “Isla, we’ve tried various methods to communicate with him,” the renowned ichthyologist explained, her voice carrying a hint of frustration. “We brought a waterproof touch screen to the ledge, hoping that it would intrigue him, but he ignored it completely. It seems he’s not responsive to our technological approaches.”
Dr. Violet looked to my grandfather for his guidance. His weathered face held a thoughtful expression as he gazed at the tank. With a measured sigh, he slowly pivoted toward me, piercing gaze locking onto mine.
“He is my gift to you,” my grandfather began, his voice steady and calm. “You obviously have a bond with the creature. If you think he might trust you enough to communicate with him, then try it. If you’re successful, we might be able to contact his people and work out some deal.”
“I…I don’t know…” I began, my voice shaky. “Shouldn’t we let the government deal with the IPA to determine whether he’s one of theirs? Why don’t you use your connections to get a direct line to them?”
He cut me off with a firm wave of his hand. “We both know how useless our leadership has been regarding the whole alien situation. I’d rather not have others learn what we have and try to seize the exotic items I’ve amassed over the years.”
Unethically…
I turned back to the glass, staring at the creature beyond. I felt a pang of sympathy for him. He must feel so isolated, trapped within the confines of the tank. He hadn’t moved since I placed my palm on the glass, his amber gaze was still fixed on me.
“This is a lot to process,” I said softly, more to myself than to them. “You want me to befriend the creature who saved me...to communicate with him, despite his lack of interest so far...”
“Yes, and I believe you can do it,” my grandfather said, his voice sharp and commanding. His words were firm, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation. “I’m confident you’ll figure it out, Isla. And I believe he has faith in you as well.”
As I looked into the amber eyes of the creature, the sharkman, I found a flicker of something else: hope.
I was not sure if I was capable, but I nodded. “All right. I’ll try.”
I felt a spark of defiance ignite within me. I would not be a part of this. I would not betray the trust of the creature who had saved my life.Whatever my grandfather’s plans were, I vowed to do everything in my power to set him free.
To repay the debt I owed him for saving me.
No matter the cost.
“You don’t have a choice,” my grandfather said, his voice cold and hard, leaving no room for argument. “You’re the only one who can do it. And you will.”
CHAPTERFOUR
