Timeless (Immortal Love Series) (2 page)
Read Timeless (Immortal Love Series) Online
Authors: Amy Richie
Without a single sigh, I removed all my clothing. I dunked them into the container along with Sols’ and Max’s clothes. I kept my eyes on the door. I would not allow myself embarrassment. David glanced our way and then finished the number sequence. We could have been lab rats for all the interest he showed.
I kept my hands hanging limply at my sides. I remembered the first time that David told us we would have to be naked during decam.
“
For four hours?” I was shocked. “Why? Our clothes would be decontaminated too.”
For four hours?” I was shocked. “Why? Our clothes would be decontaminated too.”
“
The decontamination is meant mostly for the things you are carrying inside your body.”
The decontamination is meant mostly for the things you are carrying inside your body.”
“
What?”
What?”
“
What I mean is,” David was all patience, “the people from 1284 are not equipped to deal with the diseases of our time. A single strand of J8 could devastate an entire village. Every precaution has to be taken.”
What I mean is,” David was all patience, “the people from 1284 are not equipped to deal with the diseases of our time. A single strand of J8 could devastate an entire village. Every precaution has to be taken.”
“
What exactly is involved here?” Sols always asked the questions I didn’t want to ask. The questions that showed weakness.
What exactly is involved here?” Sols always asked the questions I didn’t want to ask. The questions that showed weakness.
“
Ok, we’re almost ready,” David’s voice brought me back to the task at hand. With a final flicker of motion, the door swung open.
Ok, we’re almost ready,” David’s voice brought me back to the task at hand. With a final flicker of motion, the door swung open.
The decam room was lit brightly; pure white walls making it appear brighter. There were three oval shaped pods hanging from the ceiling. One for each of us. As I positioned myself on my pod, David’s voice came back to comfort me again.
“
Each pod is specifically engineered to fit the contours of your body. Once you are in place, restraints will activate to hold you in place.”
Each pod is specifically engineered to fit the contours of your body. Once you are in place, restraints will activate to hold you in place.”
“
Restraints?”
Restraints?”
“
Across your arms, wrists, ankles, legs, head and torso.”
Across your arms, wrists, ankles, legs, head and torso.”
“
Why is that necessary?”
Why is that necessary?”
“
It is very important not to move during the decam process.” He hurried on to explain. “There will be a needle, approximately this long,” he held his hands apart about a foot and a half, “that will be injected into your spinal cord. It will send electronic impulses along your nerves in the spinal cord. Eventually it will be carried throughout your entire body, killing any disease living there.”
It is very important not to move during the decam process.” He hurried on to explain. “There will be a needle, approximately this long,” he held his hands apart about a foot and a half, “that will be injected into your spinal cord. It will send electronic impulses along your nerves in the spinal cord. Eventually it will be carried throughout your entire body, killing any disease living there.”
“
Will it hurt?” Sols asked.
Will it hurt?” Sols asked.
“
Yes. It will be very painful at first. You have to suffer the pain for thirty-six minutes. Then a second injection will be given. This will numb you and allow you to sleep. We believe that any pain medications given within the first thirty-six minutes will slow your body’s response time, maybe interfering with the decontamination.”
Yes. It will be very painful at first. You have to suffer the pain for thirty-six minutes. Then a second injection will be given. This will numb you and allow you to sleep. We believe that any pain medications given within the first thirty-six minutes will slow your body’s response time, maybe interfering with the decontamination.”
“
Are you sure this is the best way?”
Are you sure this is the best way?”
“
It’s the only way…” His voice echoed away as the restraints snapped into place. Ready or not.
It’s the only way…” His voice echoed away as the restraints snapped into place. Ready or not.
Chapter Two
I gritted my teeth. Pain was nothing to me. I heard one of the men, probably Sols, screaming. I would not scream. Sweat beaded on my forehead. I clutched the arm of my seat. It would be over in thirty-four minutes, I reminded myself. Thirty-four more minutes of unavoidable pain.
I didn’t feel the second injection; I just felt its effects. The pain became dull and my fingers relaxed their grip. I practiced inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, just as I’d been taught, but it ended up coming out in ragged gasps. I was grateful that no one was there to see me. My chest rose and fell quickly, but I felt the meds doing their magic. I laid my head against the back of my seat.
David had told us it would be best to sleep during this part, but I would not sleep. I would stay awake and be sure that everything went as planned. The light went off. I couldn’t tell the difference between my eyes being opened or closed, so I closed them. I let my mind wander back in time, back through the years of planning. Planning my future — everyone’s future really.
I had always known why I was created. From my very first memory I knew what was expected of me. I was made to kill Dominick Letrell.
Even sitting in the solitude of my pod, I felt my lips curl in an involuntary snarl. His very name filled me with a hate I could hardly control. I had never met the man, if he could be considered a man; I didn’t even know what he looked like. But I had hated him my entire life.
I was born in the year 2118 to a woman who used heroine on a regular basis. It was a time when chaos reigned freely. Jewell had brought such disease and destruction. Most speculated that humanity would not survive.
After the dust and debris settled, the diseases remained. The diseases caused by Jewell — known as the j-strand — went up to the thousands. It was J57 that caused the most hysteria though. Mass infertility.
Through all the chaos and selfishness, no one noticed a baby dying in a dumpster. Maybe the woman who gave birth to me thought I would be deformed or that the world was going down in flames anyway. Maybe she thought she was doing me a favor or maybe she gave birth to me there and then forgot. No matter the reason, the result was the same.
When Neleh found me I was still wrapped in a bloody towel. I wasn’t crying; I was just lying there waiting for fate to take me.
She brought me to live in Lexon. Lexon was David’s city. Not a city really. There was the lab, which was the center of all his experiments, and then there were the houses of workers. A large cement wall closed Lexon off from the rest of the world. I never left Lexon, from the day Neleh brought me there — naked and covered in blood — I never set one foot outside the wall. In fact, for confidentiality reasons, no one left. Once they joined that world, the only way out was to die.
I was given a cell and Reva. Reva raised me until I was fourteen; then she wasn’t useful anymore. I was allowed to keep my cell. It was my home. I even had a doll that my Reva gave me when I was four.
My life had always been about lessons. Lessons about Dominick Letrell. The way he lived, where he lived, his past, his strengths, and his weaknesses. He was a part of every breath I took.
My eyes snapped open when I heard voices.
“
Is she sleeping?” Sols asked.
Is she sleeping?” Sols asked.
“
Shh,” Max answered.
Shh,” Max answered.
“
She’s got to be sleeping.”
She’s got to be sleeping.”
“
Why aren’t you?”
Why aren’t you?”
“
I think we should just do it now.”
I think we should just do it now.”
“
Now?”
Now?”
“
Yeah. I mean, before we even get on Orbex. Wouldn’t it be easier?”
Yeah. I mean, before we even get on Orbex. Wouldn’t it be easier?”
“
No.”
No.”
“
David will never know. Things could easily go wrong,” Sols whispered excitedly.
David will never know. Things could easily go wrong,” Sols whispered excitedly.
“
No. we stick to the plan. When we land. Now shut up!”
No. we stick to the plan. When we land. Now shut up!”
I heard Sols sigh loudly, but the conversation ended.
My mind raced ahead of me and remembered another whispered conversation.
“
Something is different,” Neleh hissed.
Something is different,” Neleh hissed.
“
What do you mean?” I whispered back. We were in the classroom waiting for David. He was late.
What do you mean?” I whispered back. We were in the classroom waiting for David. He was late.
“
With David.” Her eyes were huge.
With David.” Her eyes were huge.
“
Because he is late?”
Because he is late?”
“
Not only that.” She shook her head quickly. “He’s been acting strangely. I think he doubts our mission.”
Not only that.” She shook her head quickly. “He’s been acting strangely. I think he doubts our mission.”
“
Is he not confident in me?” I asked, worried.
Is he not confident in me?” I asked, worried.
“
He might try to sabotage us.” She looked worried but her anger was more evident.
He might try to sabotage us.” She looked worried but her anger was more evident.
“
What?” I asked loudly.
What?” I asked loudly.
“
Shhh.” She pressed her finger to her lips.
Shhh.” She pressed her finger to her lips.
“
No way, he wouldn’t betray me. Or you,” I pointed out. “Never.”
No way, he wouldn’t betray me. Or you,” I pointed out. “Never.”
The memory faded away. Maybe Neleh was right. Maybe David was betraying us. It was hard to believe though. David and Neleh were not a mated pair, but he was fiercely loyal to her.
Everyone in the immortal world was loyal to Neleh. After all, she had control over the guard. Well, almost everyone was loyal. Of course, there were the lone vampires that tried to challenge her power from time to time but they never amounted to much of a threat. The Letrell’s were the only exception that I knew of.
I tried to think of a time or a conversation that would prove David was disloyal. I did remember a night when he had showed loyalty to the Letrell’s, but did that mean he was disloyal to Neleh? She would say so, but I wasn’t so sure. I closed my eyes tight and tried to replay the conversation in my head.
It was a long time ago. I was only fifteen or sixteen at the time. Lexon was still reeling from Neleh’s visit. She didn’t come very often during those early years, but when she did the effects could be felt for months.
I had climbed on top of the low roof of the cells. David found me there, alone.
“
Hey, what are you doing up here?” He smiled and sat beside me.
Hey, what are you doing up here?” He smiled and sat beside me.
“
Nothing really,” I shrugged, “just thinking.”
Nothing really,” I shrugged, “just thinking.”
“
About what?” He didn’t stare me down the way Neleh would have. He was actually holding a small metal object and most of his attention was already on that. David was a man of science, created in the name of science. Human emotions and trials meant very little to David.
About what?” He didn’t stare me down the way Neleh would have. He was actually holding a small metal object and most of his attention was already on that. David was a man of science, created in the name of science. Human emotions and trials meant very little to David.
“
What’s that?” I asked instead of answering.
What’s that?” I asked instead of answering.
“
This?” Obviously. “It’s a thermo aquatic device used to measure electronic impulses.” I blinked twice. He smiled. “So what are you thinking about?”
This?” Obviously. “It’s a thermo aquatic device used to measure electronic impulses.” I blinked twice. He smiled. “So what are you thinking about?”
“
You come here to think too?”
You come here to think too?”
“
Sometimes. I just can’t get this thing to work right.” He waved the object in the air and gave a frustrated sigh.
Sometimes. I just can’t get this thing to work right.” He waved the object in the air and gave a frustrated sigh.
“
I like listening to the sounds outside of Lexon,” I admitted.
I like listening to the sounds outside of Lexon,” I admitted.
He looked surprised and then amused. “So your auditory perception has increased.”
“
Yeah, I can hear so much clearer now.”
Yeah, I can hear so much clearer now.”
“
What do you hear?”
What do you hear?”
We were both silent while I stretched my new senses. “Mostly I hear the screaming and the guns.” His amused expression changed to a grimace. “People killing each other night after night.” I turned my face away from David. “I hate the nights,” I whispered.
David didn’t say anything. “I don’t understand it,” I said after a while.
“
Understand what? Why they kill each other?”
Understand what? Why they kill each other?”
“
No.” I shook my head. “I don’t understand why she cares to save them.”
No.” I shook my head. “I don’t understand why she cares to save them.”
“
Ah,” David said with understanding.
Ah,” David said with understanding.
“
You won’t tell her I said anything?”
You won’t tell her I said anything?”
“
No.” His eyes narrowed. “They weren’t always like this Eva. You have to understand, after Jewell hit —humanity changed.”
No.” His eyes narrowed. “They weren’t always like this Eva. You have to understand, after Jewell hit —humanity changed.”
“
So you remember what it was like when they were good?”
So you remember what it was like when they were good?”
“
Yes, of course.”
Yes, of course.”
“
So is that why you joined Neleh? To help humans become good again?”
So is that why you joined Neleh? To help humans become good again?”
“
No.” Irritation flickered across his face for a fraction of a second.
No.” Irritation flickered across his face for a fraction of a second.
“
Then why did you join her?”
Then why did you join her?”
He turned his face slowly towards me, his expression guarded. “It is hard to explain really. I didn’t see eye to eye with the one who created me so I left him.”
“
The guard didn’t create you?”
The guard didn’t create you?”
“
No.” He kept his eyes on me. “I wandered alone for a while but I am a man of science. When Neleh offered me the lab, I took it.”
No.” He kept his eyes on me. “I wandered alone for a while but I am a man of science. When Neleh offered me the lab, I took it.”
“
Do you regret it?”
Do you regret it?”
“
No.” He seemed to weigh each bit of information he gave me. “Neleh has never asked anything of me. All these years, until you. I suppose she always had it planned for me to create something to kill Dominick.”
No.” He seemed to weigh each bit of information he gave me. “Neleh has never asked anything of me. All these years, until you. I suppose she always had it planned for me to create something to kill Dominick.”
“
Why can’t the guard kill him?”
Why can’t the guard kill him?”
“
They have tried,” he admitted, “but it is difficult.”
They have tried,” he admitted, “but it is difficult.”
“
Is he very strong then?”
Is he very strong then?”
“
The guard is much more powerful,” he said without hesitation, “but Dominick always travels with his brother Damien.”
The guard is much more powerful,” he said without hesitation, “but Dominick always travels with his brother Damien.”
“
Who is protected by Kiera.”
Who is protected by Kiera.”
“
Exactly. Damien protects Dominick. The guard won’t go near Damien. It would go against Kiera’s orders. And, as you know, they are bound by Kiera more powerfully than anything on earth. They can’t disobey her. They aren’t able to.”
Exactly. Damien protects Dominick. The guard won’t go near Damien. It would go against Kiera’s orders. And, as you know, they are bound by Kiera more powerfully than anything on earth. They can’t disobey her. They aren’t able to.”
“
So she needed an outsider to get through Damien?”
So she needed an outsider to get through Damien?”
“
Yes.” He looked like he was going to say more, but changed his mind.
Yes.” He looked like he was going to say more, but changed his mind.
“
Have you ever—” I hesitated to finish my question. I bit the inside of my cheek.
Have you ever—” I hesitated to finish my question. I bit the inside of my cheek.
“
Have I ever what?”
Have I ever what?”
“
Have you ever seen the Letrell’s? Or talked to them?”
Have you ever seen the Letrell’s? Or talked to them?”
His lips snapped shut. “Hmmm.”
“
I am just curious. The Letrell brothers. How many are there? They must keep hidden.”
I am just curious. The Letrell brothers. How many are there? They must keep hidden.”
“
The Letrell brothers—” he began but then stopped. “You’ll learn all of this later, in your lessons.” I didn’t dare say a word, I was afraid he wouldn’t say anything more. He sighed and began again. “The Letrell brothers are a group of six men and one woman. None of them are actually related except Elizabeth and Dominick.”
The Letrell brothers—” he began but then stopped. “You’ll learn all of this later, in your lessons.” I didn’t dare say a word, I was afraid he wouldn’t say anything more. He sighed and began again. “The Letrell brothers are a group of six men and one woman. None of them are actually related except Elizabeth and Dominick.”
“
And have you ever seen them?”
And have you ever seen them?”
“
Damien Letrell created me.” The silence cocooned itself around us. I heard a dog bark and a gun fired in the distance. “So yes, I have met the Letrell brothers.”
Damien Letrell created me.” The silence cocooned itself around us. I heard a dog bark and a gun fired in the distance. “So yes, I have met the Letrell brothers.”
“
All of them?” He must have known who I was really interested in.
All of them?” He must have known who I was really interested in.
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