The Solitarian: Part 1 of The Amaranth Series (16 page)

I tilt my head as I realize what this young stranger has said. First he tells me that he is my father. He is about thirty seven years too young. This man is about my age. Now he tells me that I had a chip inside of me that went offline.

“Listen you asshole. I don’t know who the hell you are and what kind of games that you are playing but where is my dad. I need his help.”

“I am your dad Kenna. I was there at your fifth birthday when your mom hired a zoo full of animals. I was there the first time you cried over Rylan. Remember it was sophomore year and you thought that he was taking Litzy to the spring formal? I am your father I’ve just changed on the outside.” He says as he enters an exam room and flips on the light.

“But…”

Keyan eyes tear as he remembers every memory that this stranger has described. “Listen to him McKenna.” I look back to this man’s face and I see my dad in his eyes.

“That will be all for now guys. I will shout if I need you.” the men release Keyan’s arm and the guard that was trailing me nods. They all leave and he sits on an exam table. I sit on a stool in the corner and Keyan stands beside me. “When you were ten, I had a tracking chip inserted into your brain. It could not be deactivated unless you died. It was connected to your neural activity. So when your brain dies it would automatically deactivate itself. So when it deactivated this morning I assumed that you were dead.”

“Okay?”

“What happened to you darling?”

“No dad you first.”

“Please honey I need to know what happened.”

“Well Keyan activated me as his mate a couple of weeks ago.”

“I see that. I can feel it.”

“Well you know about the compound, but Raven caught up with us quicker than we thought. She had two more hunters with her. We started to fight. I was stabbed in the chest and I didn’t get hurt, at all. I didn’t even bleed dad.” He folds his arms and completely lends me his ear. “I was so stunned by my ability to heal so quickly that she jabbed her dagger directly into my eye. I felt my life slip away from me.”

“Wait! Your life-ring was severed?”

“Yes. And my life ended. Then out of nowhere I started to feel surges of electricity course through my veins into my heart and up to my brain. It’s like someone gave me a jump. I got up and started to help Keyan. They were going to kill him. I felt like a super hero. I was fast and strong. I killed her. Then Raven sliced a sword right through my neck attempting to sever my head but it didn’t even move. The wound healed before the sword came out of the other side of my neck dad. And look…” I lean forward to show him my new life-ring. “My ring is gold and has no end.” He stands and paces the room.

“You died and then…oh my goodness McKenna. I need to run some tests but I believe we have a new species of Amaranth. This is amazing.”

“Before you run any tests I want to know what is up with the backstreet dad that I have now.”

“I used dialysis to flush my blood with Keyan’s blood. I reverted back to activation age. I will live my first two hundred years as an eighteen year old. I begged your mother the change with me but she refused.”

“Oh okay… soooo…if someone is already old they will revert to activation age if activated by an Amaranth?”

“Yes. Isn’t that amazing?”

“I guess. I have so many questions for you dad.”

“And I will do my best to answer them all after I run some tests.”

“Dad can you promise me one thing?”

“Yes anything what is it?”

“Don’t try to use me for experiments. And leave Keyan alone.”

“I no longer need him Kenna. I have everything that I needed when you guys ran. That’s why I didn’t chase you. I had enough blood from him to do the miraculous things that I have done since you guys fled. I wish that you wouldn’t have chosen to run with him but…”

“Dad I just want to say one more thing…” I stand and walk toward the door.
“Why didn’t you tell me about all of this before now? I would have slept with Rylan and poof our lives would have changed forever.”

“But you didn’t, so crisis adverted.”

I shake my head. My father is insane. I take his spot on the exam table and he hurries to get the things that he needs to test my blood. He has an assistant come in and help him with the samples. I sit as they break needle after needle to collect blood. I heal so rapidly that the needles aren’t able to stay inside of my arm long enough. They are only able to get a small sample, so he decides to take a few strands of my hair. The man that is assisting him asks if he can get a sample from my eye. I agree. I no longer fear the severance of my life-ring. I lie back and I instantly feel Keyan tense up. I reach out for his hand and he takes hold. I lie still while the man slowly sticks the needle into my eye. It barely grazes the surface and he sucks some liquid into the vial. He is only able to get a very small amount before the tissue around the eye becomes rock hard. He has to yank the needle out. He looks at my dad and they are amazed.

“Kenna if I’m correct, you have evolved into an impenetrable, indestructible Amaranth. There is none recorded in history.”

“It may have something to do the fact that you have been experimenting on yourself. You have mixed so many different types of blood with yours that it made me super amaranthine.”

“You may be right darling. As a matter of fact there is one more thing that I have to tell you and Keyan.” He clutches his hands together and starts to fidget. “Follow me.” We start to follow behind him. Keyan nervously looks over to me and grips my hand tightly.

“What is it now?” he whispers. I shrug.

“Now I know that this is going to upset the both of you. But remember I did it all in the name of science.” He stops at a door that reads ‘cryogenic chamber room.’ Terror appears in Keyan’s eyes. I rub his hand.
What the hell is behind door number one Bob?
The door slides open after my dad quickly enters a new code that I have made a note of once more. “44785. Come on dad you can do better than that.”

“I want you to have the main access code. You and Keyan have my permission to go into whatever area that you like.”

“Thanks. I think?” we step into the technical room. There are computers everywhere. I release Keyan’s hand. I turn in a complete circle. When my eyes rest on two human sized cylinder shaped tubes I gasp. “Please tell me that this is not who I think it is. Dad…why?”

“I obtained the corpses of the McGrath’s several years before you were born. After they were killed The Hunters returned for their remains. They wanted to keep them as trophies as they have done for centuries. I thought that I could use their tissue to heal the sick but when the cells of an Amaranth die I guess they’re dead. Well that’s what I thought anyway until you happened dear. I injected DNA from the McGrath experiment into me about two years before your mother got pregnant. But I assumed that nothing happened. I guess that after the DNA was second generational it mutated into what you are. Mixed with the hundreds of other Amaranthine blood that I injected into myself.”

“You are a very sick individual Mr. Duvall. How could you desecrate my parents’ remains that way? It’s sick, it’s abominable.”

“I apologize Keyan. I was a very ill and desperate person. Now that I have found you I have cured so many people of life threatening diseases. It is a miraculous discovery, you are a miraculous discovery and now my daughter.” He smiles.

“Father, you are changing the world. You can’t do this. Every human that gets ill can’t be changed. It will wipe out the entire human race.”

“So what. They will live forever. I will live forever.” He sings.

“The world would become crowded and overpopulated. That is what the Order of the Falcons are trying to prevent. You are infecting an entire race of people for the sake of science. You can’t do that.”

“So you want to be selfish with what you have been given? You want to be the only person who is granted eternal essence. That is very selfish of you honey.”

“Dad you sound like a mad man.”

“I just want to immobilize sickness and disease. Can’t you see that?”

“What we have is considered a disease to some. You can’t take that choice away from their race. With all of the promiscuity in the world the human race will be extinct in a few years.”

“You are looking at it as a negative thing. We’ll be a superior race Kenna. Think about it.”

“I am. There will be super criminals that can’t die because he was treated by your super cure. And now law enforcement will be helpless to them. And I know what you’re going to say next. Make law enforcement Amaranth. My point exactly.”

“You don’t understand the gift that you have been given darling.”

“I’m tired dad. I’m going to bed. We’re going to stay in the mating suite tonight. Tell me what results you come up with as far as I’m concerned.” I grab hold of Keyan who is horrified by my disturbed father. He takes one last look at his parent’s decayed bones and shakes his head.

“Before you go…I want you to know that Amari will be joining me in the morning. She will be my mate since your mother decided that she wanted to stay regular.”

“Dad? Never mind you have lost it. I have no father anymore.”

“Right. I’m now you’re handsome cousin from Seattle.” He smiles. He is so pleased with himself. We walk hand and hand to the elevator. I mash the buttons as I enter my dad’s new code. When we get up to the suite a lot has changed. It has been upgraded tremendously. I don’t take too long admiring renovations. I drag Keyan along toward the bedroom. I’m sure there have been several saps that were activated in this bed by Amari the whore. For the moment she is the last thing that I want to think about.

Sunday October 6
th
2013
Keyan and I sleep like bears hibernating during winter. When we are finally wakened by my dad two days have passed. Besides getting up to use the restroom we have did nothing but sleep. The days on the run affected us more than we thought. I sit up and my dad offers me lunch. I skeptically glare at the food on the tray.

“Come on darling. You two need to eat. You’ve been locked away up here for days. I wouldn’t hurt you honey. You are my only child. I would lay my life down for you.” he lies.

“Dad you took me into the mountains to find a man that may have been insane. He sure looked insane.” I say. “What kind of parent does that? If you loved me so much you would have never thrust me into this hidden world.”

“I do love you McKenna. And because I did you are a miracle walking.” He sits onto the edge of the bed. “Your DNA has completely transformed. I have samples from before you were activated and it is amazing honey.”

“Please stop with the darling and honey. It is really weird. Matter of fact I think that I’m going to start calling you Jack.”

“Whatever you feel comfortable with.” He says still extremely excited. “We looked at your samples for hours and hours. It was like seeing the Amaranth gene for the first time. You have an intricate design in your strand. I mean it’s like you are your own separate kind of Amaranthine. I’m still reeling from our discovery.” Keyan feels my interest peak. He stretches, rubs his eyes, and sits up beside me. “Okay there is so much Kenna to tell you. First your blood cannot be used in another test subject it will kill them. It is a strand that you have to be born with.” I gasp. When you mate with Keyan again it will not change him. He will remain the same. I also tried to destroy samples of your hair. I couldn’t. It kept regenerating!” he shouts. “Last but not least I found traces of HCG in your blood.”

“Huh?”

“You’re pregnant Kenna! You’re pregnant. This baby is going to be the greatest child ever born. I’m so excited that I can’t fathom anything that could be better.” My mouth drops. I yank my tank top up and look at my belly. Keyan’s heart starts to beat extremely fast.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m so sure. You have no idea. I tested the blood several times.”

“Oh my goodness. I never thought about being a mom. Bringing a child into this mess is insane.”

“McKenna, this child will be as invincible as you are. If not more.” He beams.

I flip the covers back and walk over to the only window. I look out to the fields that keep this place well hidden. I start to think of all of the problems that Keyan and I have had in the last month. This baby will be hunted like an animal. I can’t have it.

“You don’t have a choice my love. I’m sure this child is as impenetrable as you are.” Keyan offers.

I cover my mouth. “We can’t do this to a little baby Keyan. The Order will come for it.”

“They don’t have to know. You could stay here for the duration of the pregnancy. At least when you start to show.” My dad offers.

“No. You just want to get your filthy hands on him or her.” I shake my head.

“I won’t touch the child Kenna I promise.”

“I know that you won’t because if you do I will kill you Jack. And I won’t bat an eye.”

“Let’s calm down and just let everything sink in. Tensions are high right now.” Keyan jumps from the bed to ease my nerves. I sit in a recliner in the corner and bring my knees up to my chest. I slide my hands through my hair. Keyan sits on the arm and rubs my back in a circular motion.

“Am I ready to be someone’s mom?”

“You’ll do fine. We will do it together.”

“One thing before I go guys.” My boy father says. “Since you are indestructible I thought that I should help your mate stay around as well.” He lifts a contact lens case and hands it to Keyan. This is something that a colleague and I have been working on. Since I’m vulnerable to Raven’s dagger I thought I should rectify that. We created these. They are better than bulletproof glass. If you are stabbed in the eye these contacts will protect your life-ring. And I have a pair of sunglasses as well. They are indestructible like your mate here. Both are made of aggregated diamond nanorods. It is the hardest substance known to man.” he grins as Keyan takes them both. “You’re welcome McGrath.”

Keyan presses his lips together not wanting to thank him. Who can blame him? This monster has owned his parents remains for a very long time. He shakes his hand instead. “Okay get some rest Kenna I want to run a few more tests to make sure that the fetus is healthy after your death ordeal.”

My eyes grow wide. I don’t want him touching this child. Keyan places his hand on my shoulder and I relax. “Let him help you my love. We really don’t have anyone else to turn to.”

“You’re right but remember my warning. I don’t care what kind of eyewear you own. I will rip your life-ring out of your head if you harm this baby.” He waves and shakes his head.

“Make yourself comfy. After the tests you can go back to the house if you like. I doubt if Raven will come back after what she has witnessed.”

“They’ll be back with reinforcements.” Keyan adds.

“And we’ll be ready.”