—No! Alexis!—
—I’ve got no choice, pulu. Stay quiet…and if I have to come in swinging, just tell me—
Shit.
As the healer sucks up vials of blood, I look ahead placidly, while telling my Lumina to keep calm and let this happen.
After a couple of minutes, the woman straightens up and snaps off her gloves. “I’ll run these to the lab, Doctors. Shall I call the professor back to escort her to the dorm?”
“Not yet, thank you, healer. But I do want that blood in the lab immediately.”
As soon as she exits, I’m alone with the Harts, which includes Wes. My chest aching at the sight of him.
—Wes? I’m back…sorry I haven’t seen you for a few days but we had to go and do something really important…we haven’t forgotten you though, I promise…and your parents are here, so stay hidden—
Janine strides over, then tilts my chin. “Now, Theodora, I want you to be a good girl. Sit quietly and do not remember a single thing that happens in this room tonight."
I keep my gaze vacant. “Yes, ma’am.”
She presses a hand either side of my head. I can feel her dark energy swimming around the surface of my mind.
“The girl’s levels are completely stable,” Janine murmurs to her husband. She releases me. “If only we could say the same for Wes. I’ll study his brain and spark once we've processed Theodora. We can't afford the same thing to happen again. What’s the Drakeward boy’s latest report?”
“The AUA is still completely calm and docile. Look at her, there's nothing to worry about."
Janine’s voice suddenly rises. “Nothing to worry about? We are twelve days from the next Dunamis Pulse and we have no vessels apart from this one untested AUA. It is a disaster in the making.”
Wes’s dad shuffles his feet. “Thomas has troops in the north, even as we speak, dear. And according toyour owncalculations, we’ll be able to use the AUA dozens of times before she breaks.”
Dozens of times.
A calm falls over me. If I can take the place of dozens of children, then so be it.
“Hopefully. But, Gods, Jonquil, I’m torn. Do I take her innowto be on the safe side, or keep her in this calm state and stand by my previous theory?"
“I’ve never seen you have so much self-doubt.”
“I’ve never been under this much pressure. The success of this entire regime change hangs on my shoulders, and mine alone. Couldyoucontrol the dark energy without my genius?”
“You know I couldn't, dear. You are irreplaceable. That’s why, if necessary,youcan postpone the next ascension. What choice does Tyrus have?”
Something occurs to me.
Oh. My. Gods.
It’s the answer.
But...
But my thoughts are terrible.
“You make sense for once, Jonquil.” Janine sighs. “ I’ll trust in my instincts and leave her here until the day of the next Dunamis Pulse.”
I sit frozen, staring at the wall.
After a beat, Janine walks towards me then leans in close to my face. “This was completely routine. You now wish to return to your dorm and have a restful night’s sleep. Come along, Jonquil. We’re done here.”
They walk through the sickbay doors, and a second later I head straight to Wes, picking up his cold hand.
