Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Spirit of the Wolf ❯ Chapter 1: How It All Started ( Chapter 1 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: WolfGoddess_77 
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Fantasy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.17.2012 | Updated On: 09.26.2012 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 159 | Status: Work In Progress
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Fantasy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.17.2012 | Updated On: 09.26.2012 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 159 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any semblance to actual people or places is purely coincidental.
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The man sat back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other. His dark violet eyes studied the woman standing in front of him.
“You sent for him, then?” he asked finally, resting his elbows on the arms of the chair and lacing his fingers together.
The woman gave a single nod, though she kept her head lowered in respect. “Yes, sir. He should be arriving shortly.”
“And has he been told about his new position?”
The woman hesitated at this, but finally answered. “He knows that he has been asked to take on a unique task, but the details have been left up to you, as requested.”
Kellan nodded in satisfaction, bringing one hand up to brush his black hair out of his face. “Thank you, Amara. That will be all for now.”
The woman bowed, then left the room. After watching her go, Kellan stood up, smoothing nonexistent creases out of his suit. Moving over to a table in the center of the spacious room, he picked up a folder that was filled with documents. The front of the folder bore a stamp, the word “Classified” standing out in bold black ink.
Kellan opened the folder and flipped through the contents, making sure that everything was in order. Once that was finished, he put it back down, then headed out of the room.
Amara stood just outside, in the middle of the large entrance hall. She looked over at him, but didn’t speak.
“I’ll be in the viewing area. Bring him to me when he arrives.” Kellan turned, going through one of the four doors on one side of the hall.
Before Amara could reply, there was a knock on the door. She moved forward, opening the door and taking a step back.
A young man stood outside, his hands folded behind his back. He wore black pants and a white buttoned shirt; formal dress, though not as intense as Kellan’s clothes had been. His short dark hair was carefully combed, and his silver eyes regarded Amara with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
Amara gave him a friendly smile and bowed. “Welcome. We’ve been expecting you. Please, come in.”
The young man stepped into the hall, looking around. Though he was used to mansions such as this, he was always fascinated by the many designs. To his left were four doors, each made of a dark wood. The handles were ornate, and made - he was certain - of silver. In front of him was a set of double doors, made of the same wood. To his right was a spiral marble staircase, leading up to the floor above them and winding out of sight.
“Follow me, please. The master would like to speak with you.” Amara’s voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to reality.
“Why am I here?” he asked, following Amara across the hall and towards the last door on the left.
“All will be explained shortly,” Amara told him, opening the door so he could pass through. Inside was another hall, this one branching off into other corridors every now and then.
He followed Amara past them all, finally stopping at the end of the hall. There was a staircase here, leading down. This was where he was now taken.
At the bottom was an iron door, with a keypad set into the wall. Reaching into a pocket, Amara withdrew a plastic card, running it along the side of the keypad. Pressing several of the keys, she replaced the card in her pocket.
There was a soft beep, and a loud click as the door unlocked, swinging open silently to reveal yet another corridor.
The young man raised one eyebrow. Just what was down here, to warrant such high security?
Amara turned to look at him, then gestured towards the door. “Through here, please. The master is through the last door on the right.”
“Aren’t you coming?”
Amara shook her head. “I’m afraid not. I am only a household servant. Master Kellan does not allow me to come beyond this point.”
The young man blinked, his eyebrows raising. Something about the way she spoke sent a chill down his spine. Nodding once, he stepped through the door, then jumped as he heard it swing shut behind him. Well, no turning back now…
Making his way slowly down the corridor, he looked around. On either side of the hall were more doors, each one made of iron, and each one with a keypad set into the wall beside it. He suppressed a shiver. This place seemed more like a prison than a house. Just what lurked beyond those forbidding doors?
After what seemed like forever, he finally came to the last door in the row. Unlike the others, this one seemed normal enough. It was made of iron, though it opened easily when he turned the handle.
The man inside was gazing out of a viewing window set into the wall. At the sound of the door opening, he turned. “Ah, you must be Cael. Come in, please. We have much to discuss.”
Cael nodded, then stepped inside, moving over to the window and looking down. The landscape below took him by surprise. It was definitely a room, but unlike any he had ever seen before. The floor was covered in what looked like packed dirt, and tall concrete pillars stood here and there, along with piles of rubble.
“What is this place?” he asked incredulously.
Kellan glanced over at him, then looked back down at the landscape. “It’s a specially-made training ground,” he said. “I had it designed several years ago, to aid in our projects.”
Before Cael could question him further, Kellan held up one hand, then pointed. A door had opened in the wall of the training area, and a woman in a white lab coat emerged.
She only took a couple of steps into the room before turning around and looking back the way she had come. The reason soon became obvious. A young woman followed, her head held high. Her hair came down to her waist, and was a strange color. Half of it was a dark red, but it slowly grew darker, leaving the ends black. She was dressed in a white sleeveless shirt. It was edged in black, and laced up in the front. Her pants were made of an identical material, in the same color. A pair of black boots completed the outfit.
Even from this distance, Cael spotted something that greatly annoyed him. The girl wore a metal collar, and her wrists bore shackles, though no chains were attached at the moment.
“This is our most prized subject,” Kellan said, a smile on his face. “Her name is Reyith. She’s shown the most potential out of all of the others.”
There were many questions that he could have asked, but only one came to his mind at the moment. “Why is she wearing a collar?”
Kellan looked over at him in surprise. “Does it bother you? Don’t worry, my boy, it’s not a form of punishment. The collar is designed to monitor her vitals while she trains. Heart rate, temperature…things like that. It’s removed after every session, and the data is sent off to be analyzed. Now, I’m sure you have many questions, but first, there’s something you need to see.”
He reached into his pocket and removed what looked like a small remote. Pressing a button, he replaced it in his pocket. There was a loud beep down in the training area, and Cael turned his attention there.
The woman in the lab coat had vanished, leaving only the girl. Across the room, a large door opened. Reyith fixed her gaze on it, and suddenly tensed. The reason soon became clear. Out of the door lumbered a giant creature - Cael’s first thought was monster. It was around seven feet tall, with dark grey skin and crimson eyes. Its face was almost alligator-like, ending in a short snout and a mouth full of jagged teeth. Long claws tipped its fingers, and it wore what looked like a shredded jumpsuit.
“What is that thing?” Cael breathed, repulsed.
“The reason you’re here. Just watch.”
Cael looked back down just in time. The creature lifted its head, sniffing the air. A moment later, it spotted Reyith, and began moving towards her.
“What are you doing? That thing’s going to kill her!” Cael made as if to run out of the room, but Kellan stopped him, placing one hand on his shoulder.
“Patience. She is in no danger.” He turned Cael back towards the window, pointing.
Below, Reyith was unaware of her audience. She kept her eyes on the approaching monster. When it was twenty feet away, she calmly raised one hand above her head, palm up. The air around her seemed to shimmer for a moment, glowing with an odd red light, and in the next instant, a jet black scythe had appeared in her hand, the tip so sharp as to almost be invisible.
There was only a moment’s pause, and suddenly, she was gone. Cael’s eyes widened, and he looked around. Where had she gone…?
The monster made as if to move forward again, but there was the sound of a blade slashing through flesh, and it froze. Reyith appeared behind it a moment later. She was resting on one knee, the scythe extended out beside her.
The beast wobbled, then suddenly, a spray of dark blood erupted from its body, splattering the ground. The source was a deep diagonal cut across its chest. Another moment passed, and the monster fell to the ground, dead.
Reyith straightened, and the scythe faded from being. Then, for the first time, she turned to look at the viewing window. Her violet eyes met Cael’s silver ones, and both stood there for a moment, unmoving. Cael’s eyes widened as he felt a strange sensation; like warm water being poured through him. It quickly faded, though, and Reyith looked away, crossing the room and exiting through the door through which she had come.
Cael watched her leave, then turned to look at Kellan. “What just happened?” His voice was very quiet.
Kellan didn’t answer immediately. “Almost five years ago, the prisons had an idea about what to do with their most dangerous convicts. They thought that the talents that had landed those men and women in jail were too valuable to just be thrown away. So they created a serum that would destroy the memories of the convicts, making them forget the crimes they had committed, and rendering them harmless. But the talents still remained in the body.
“The convicts were then sold, as mercenaries, bodyguards…almost anything that you could imagine. For a while, it worked. But then something terrible happened. The convicts that had been given this solution began to develop a taste for human blood. Most killed the ones they had previously worked for and fled, slaughtering everyone they came across.
“But that wasn’t the end of it. Over time, they began to change, taking on appearances like the one you just saw.
“Eventually, the problem grew so bad that someone had to act. Many soldiers were sent out after these creatures, hoping to destroy them. Unfortunately, that didn’t work. After taking on that appearance, their strength increases. No normal human could take them on and survive.
“Two years passed, and no one was able to stop them. That’s when I decided to step in. Using advanced biotechnology, I was able to create a being that was strong enough to take on these beasts. Reyith is one such being. After three years, I was finally able to create the perfect entity, designed to kill those creatures.”
Cael listened silently while Kellan spoke, but finally, when it seemed that the tale was finished, he was able to voice another question. “So…what does this have to do with me?”
Kellan turned, then crossed the room, going through another door. Behind this one was another staircase. He motioned for Cael to follow, then began to descend the stairs.
“Three years after the failed experiment with the serum, a suitable experiment has finally been completed. If you agree to take this job, you will accompany Reyith on her quest to destroy those escaped monsters. Her whole life, she has been kept here, so she knows nothing of the outside world. You will watch over and protect her.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Kellan opened the door. Through this corridor, the walls were lined with yet more doors, but this time, plexiglass windows allowed them to see what lay within the rooms. Most were filled with computers and lab equipment.
Kellan stopped a short distance down the hall, and opened one of the doors. Inside, on a metal table, sat Reyith. The shackles on her wrists had been removed, as well as the collar.
She looked up as she heard the door open, and she dipped her head in greeting when she saw Kellan. “Papa.”
This surprised Cael. Kellan couldn’t actually be her father, could he?
Kellan walked into the room and moved over to Reyith. He lifted a strand of her hair, twining it around one finger. “Your performance today was excellent, my dear. No less than what I’ve come to expect from the chosen one.”
Reyith gave him a tiny smile, then turned to look at Cael. Her violet eyes locked on him, and he felt a jolt of electricity go up his spine. Her eyes held an almost feral look, something that wasn’t completely human. Her gaze seemed to paralyze him. It was as if she was looking straight into his soul.
“You wish to know why one of the monsters was here, is that correct?” Her voice startled him. It was deceptively gentle, but he could hear a fierce undertone hidden deep within her words.
Upon hearing her speak, whatever had been holding him let go, and he found that he could move again. “How did you know?” Her question had completely thrown him. The truth was, he had been about to ask that very question.
She merely smiled. “The answer is simple. I am not the only one here. There are others like me. They are not strong enough to take on the more fierce creatures, but they can capture those similar to the one you saw earlier. The creatures are brought here to be studied. Papa hopes that he can find out what made the serum turn them into monsters. Those that he has finished with are given to me.”
The matter-of-fact way she spoke unnerved him. It was clear that she felt no remorse for these creatures. Just what was she? It seemed almost like she didn’t have a full range of emotions. But then, he reflected, maybe that wasn’t such a strange thought after all. She wasn’t human; hadn’t been born, but created. Such a creature should not exist.
Kellan smiled, then looked over at Cael. “What do you think? Will you take the job?”
Cael could feel Reyith’s penetrating gaze on him, and he found that he wanted to know more about this strange girl, to study her, and find out exactly what she was. “Yes. I’ll take it.”
“Excellent. I’ll leave you two to get acquainted, then. You both leave in the morning. Be ready.” With that, Kellan swept out of the room.
Reyith slid off of the table and moved over to Cael. It was then that he noticed how tiny she was: slender, barely over five feet tall. If this had been his first glimpse of her, there would be no way he could believe her capable of killing.
“It’s nice to meet you, Cael,” she said, bowing slightly.
His eyes widened. “How do you know my name?” That was twice that she had seemed to read his mind. But that couldn’t be possible, could it?
Once again, she just smiled, though it gave him the sense that she knew far more than she was letting on.
“Come with me. We will go to my room. I’m sure you will be more comfortable there.” Striding past him, she closed her hand around his wrist, though her grip was surprisingly gentle. “My data collection has finished; I am free to do what I wish now.” She turned her head slightly to look at him out of the corner of one eye. “You will have to stay here in the mansion tonight. Is that acceptable?”
“Uh…” He was lost for words, caught off-guard by the speed at which everything seemed to be moving.
Though she had been leading him along the corridor, his hesitation made her stop and relinquish her hold on his wrist. “Staying here is…not acceptable, then?”
Cael noticed that she seemed almost confused by this. And why wouldn’t she be? Kellan himself had said that this mansion was all she knew. To live anywhere else was probably unthinkable to her.
“You will have your choice of rooms, of course, as well as meals and-”
He reached up, placing a single finger over her mouth to silence her. “I didn’t say that it was unacceptable. However, I - ow, fuck!”
Reyith’s eyes had traveled downward the moment he had touched her, and, quicker than a snake could strike, she had jerked back, sinking her teeth into his hand. Just as quickly, she had released him, backing against the wall.
He cradled his bitten hand, studying it. But he noticed something odd. There were no teeth marks on his hand, save for two tiny pinpricks, each with a drop of glittering crimson blood welling up in them.
His head turned slightly as he heard a strange sound, and he finally realized that Reyith was growling softly.
“Forgive me, but I must ask that you refrain from touching me in such a manner in the future,” she said, her voice icy.
When she opened her mouth to speak, Cael saw the source of the punctures: she had fangs.
Cael started to speak, but no sound came out at first. An image flashed across his mind as he looked at the girl in front of him. Somehow, he was reminded unfailingly of a wolf that had been backed into a corner. At last, he was able to speak.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” If that was in fact what he had done. But why had she reacted so strongly to a simple touch? Was it merely because she didn’t know him?
Slowly, the wary expression left her eyes, and she relaxed. Without another word, she swept off, and he was certain that she was now ignoring him.
He sighed quietly. They had only known each other for a short while, and he had already managed to piss her off. How were they supposed to work together if she hated him?
There was so much that he needed to learn about her; one of the main ones being how to act in her presence. He’d already found out that touching her was a bad idea. It was strange, he reflected. She had no misgivings about touching him, but the moment he returned the gesture, she panicked. Admittedly, he had done it without really considering the consequences, but he wasn’t used to dealing with someone like her.
Well, he decided, better to find out what her limits were now, instead of waiting until a critical moment when they were in battle.
So caught up in his thoughts was he that he didn’t even realize that Reyith had stopped. She had led him back up one flight of stairs, and was now pressing buttons on a keypad next to a door halfway down the hall.
Reyith turned to look at him, an expectant expression in her eyes. “Are you coming in, or would you rather wander the halls?” Surprisingly, her voice wasn’t scathing; it was an honest question.
Cael stopped walking. “You’re speaking to me again, then?”
One elegant eyebrow raised slightly; it was the most expressive thing he had ever seen her do. It seemed that he had caught her off-guard with this question.
She paused for a moment, then answered. “I was never refraining from speaking to you. You apologized for your actions, and I accepted. My silence was simply due to the fact that I had nothing relevant to say.”
He blinked, then gave a single nod, moving back over to her as the door swung open. Allowing her to lead him inside, he looked around, unsure of what to expect given the true nature of the mansion.
But it was a completely normal room, though bigger than the ones on the floor below. A large bed was in one corner, neatly made. A tall bookshelf stood in another corner, and beside it was a full-length mirror. Near the bed was a dresser. A table sat near the bookshelf, and on it was a lamp and several thick books. Set into the wall opposite him was a door, which he guessed led to a closet. Next to it was a third door; a bathroom, maybe? All in all, he decided, it was an ordinary room, if sparsely furnished.
He had to wonder, though, why such a big room was so empty. Did she just not like crowding, or-
His thoughts were cut off as he felt a strange sensation. It was the lightest touch against his mind, almost too faint to be felt. He realized that he had actually felt it twice before; once in the viewing room, and then again in the lab. But what was it?
“The room is empty by my choice,” Reyith said. She had moved to the middle of the room, and was now facing him with her hands folded behind her back. “This way, I am able to practice without worrying about hitting any of the furniture.”
Cael stared at her, then his eyes narrowed. “How do you know all of this? You knew my name, and answered my questions before I even had a chance to ask them. I want an explanation.”
In all honesty, he expected this to make her angry; she didn’t seem like the type that would take well to orders, at least not from him. Such was his certainty of this that the sound of her soft laugh made him jump.
“I was wondering how many of your unspoken questions I would have to answer before you became curious as to how I was doing it.” She moved over to the bed and sat down on the edge, her eyes dancing with amusement. “The answer is simple. You actually considered it for a moment, before disregarding it as impossible.”
Cael went still, realization washing over him. "You…you can read minds?” His voice was barely above a whisper.
She gave a single nod. “My range is limited, though. Unless I am given full access, I can only read surface thoughts, and only if that person is within a half-mile radius.”
He hummed thoughtfully. “And if you’re given full access? How does that work?”
Reyith considered for a moment. “My target must be willing to completely open their mind to me. I establish a link, and we are able to communicate telepathically, over long distances. I can also see everything that goes on in their mind, if I wish. And, if they know how, they can do the same to me. However, there are exceptions to this. If they are strong, they can shield their mind from me, allowing me to see only what they want me to.”
Cael was silent, thinking this over. “What about those that you don’t have a link with? Can they block you out?”
This earned him a knowing look. “You are referring to yourself? I must admit, you startled me. When I first made contact with your mind, your subconscious acknowledged my presence. That, in turn, allowed you to realize that I had entered your mind a moment ago. That has never happened before. Unless I deliberately make myself known, there should be no hint that mind-to-mind contact has been executed. You are most unusual, to have been able to sense me.”
Cael took a deep breath, then looked around. He knew that sitting down on the bed without her permission would probably be a bad idea, and besides, he wasn’t at all sure that she truly wasn’t angry with him for touching her earlier. So, that just left the table. “May I sit down?” he asked finally, gesturing to one of the chairs.
Reyith nodded, reaching up to tuck a lock of hair behind one ear. “In answer to your question, no, you cannot stop someone from reading surface thoughts. But there is really no point in doing so. Surface thoughts are normally only what you are preparing to say next. Deeper, more private thoughts cannot be seen.”
She watched him closely as he moved over to the table and sat down, stretching his legs out in front of him with a sigh. Finally, she spoke again. “If this method of answering your questions bothers you, I will refrain from doing so.”
He cast her a sideways glance. “What do you mean?”
Reyith made a small noise of irritation. “I mean, if you do not wish for me to read your thoughts, then I will not do so again.” She sighed, laying back and propping herself up on her elbows. “You will have to forgive me,” she said quietly. “Reading the thoughts of others is second-nature to me. It is how I have always gained the information I need, and how I win most of my battles. It does not always work, however.
“To be able to slip into my opponent’s mind, I must first have full eye contact. That moment when I was in the training area…that was when I established the link between us. But eye contact is not the only problem. The creature you saw me fighting today was a very weak one. It was chosen specifically so that you would be able to see the battle. Often, they move too quickly to be able to see their attacks. This is where it is advantageous to have access to their thoughts, so I may evade and counter effectively. But…I am afraid that soon, the strongest will learn how to shield their thoughts.”
Cael arched one eyebrow. “I thought you said that it wasn’t possible to shield surface thoughts.”
Reyith sat up, then hesitated. “Perhaps I misspoke. It is true that surface thoughts cannot be hidden. But they can be altered, so that one’s true motive is not discovered.” At Cael’s silence, she continued. “To put it simply, a feint. Make sure your surface thoughts are different than your true intent. It is very difficult, but it can be done.”
Standing up, she made her way over to the table, then began collecting the books scattered across the surface. She carried them over to the bookshelf and replaced them before turning to look at him. “Up until now, their intelligence level has been slightly below that of an average human. Their attacks are straightforward, and easy to counter. But I have noticed odd things…they are getting smarter. I do not know how, or why, but it is happening more and more frequently. Papa thinks it might just be a product of evolution, but I am not so sure. That is one reason he is sending me out; to gather information.”
Cael leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and running one hand through his hair. “I don’t see what this has to do with me. If what you say about those things is true, then I won’t be of much help in protecting you. I mean, I know how to fight, but I can’t use a sword or anything like that. If anything, you’ll wind up protecting me.”
Reyith paused for a moment, then glanced over at him. “There is a way to remedy that,” she said finally. “Though…you might not like it. The procedure is painless, but…”
“What do I have to do?” he asked immediately.
She bit her lip, not meeting his eyes. “You can become…more like me.”
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The man sat back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other. His dark violet eyes studied the woman standing in front of him.
“You sent for him, then?” he asked finally, resting his elbows on the arms of the chair and lacing his fingers together.
The woman gave a single nod, though she kept her head lowered in respect. “Yes, sir. He should be arriving shortly.”
“And has he been told about his new position?”
The woman hesitated at this, but finally answered. “He knows that he has been asked to take on a unique task, but the details have been left up to you, as requested.”
Kellan nodded in satisfaction, bringing one hand up to brush his black hair out of his face. “Thank you, Amara. That will be all for now.”
The woman bowed, then left the room. After watching her go, Kellan stood up, smoothing nonexistent creases out of his suit. Moving over to a table in the center of the spacious room, he picked up a folder that was filled with documents. The front of the folder bore a stamp, the word “Classified” standing out in bold black ink.
Kellan opened the folder and flipped through the contents, making sure that everything was in order. Once that was finished, he put it back down, then headed out of the room.
Amara stood just outside, in the middle of the large entrance hall. She looked over at him, but didn’t speak.
“I’ll be in the viewing area. Bring him to me when he arrives.” Kellan turned, going through one of the four doors on one side of the hall.
Before Amara could reply, there was a knock on the door. She moved forward, opening the door and taking a step back.
A young man stood outside, his hands folded behind his back. He wore black pants and a white buttoned shirt; formal dress, though not as intense as Kellan’s clothes had been. His short dark hair was carefully combed, and his silver eyes regarded Amara with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
Amara gave him a friendly smile and bowed. “Welcome. We’ve been expecting you. Please, come in.”
The young man stepped into the hall, looking around. Though he was used to mansions such as this, he was always fascinated by the many designs. To his left were four doors, each made of a dark wood. The handles were ornate, and made - he was certain - of silver. In front of him was a set of double doors, made of the same wood. To his right was a spiral marble staircase, leading up to the floor above them and winding out of sight.
“Follow me, please. The master would like to speak with you.” Amara’s voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to reality.
“Why am I here?” he asked, following Amara across the hall and towards the last door on the left.
“All will be explained shortly,” Amara told him, opening the door so he could pass through. Inside was another hall, this one branching off into other corridors every now and then.
He followed Amara past them all, finally stopping at the end of the hall. There was a staircase here, leading down. This was where he was now taken.
At the bottom was an iron door, with a keypad set into the wall. Reaching into a pocket, Amara withdrew a plastic card, running it along the side of the keypad. Pressing several of the keys, she replaced the card in her pocket.
There was a soft beep, and a loud click as the door unlocked, swinging open silently to reveal yet another corridor.
The young man raised one eyebrow. Just what was down here, to warrant such high security?
Amara turned to look at him, then gestured towards the door. “Through here, please. The master is through the last door on the right.”
“Aren’t you coming?”
Amara shook her head. “I’m afraid not. I am only a household servant. Master Kellan does not allow me to come beyond this point.”
The young man blinked, his eyebrows raising. Something about the way she spoke sent a chill down his spine. Nodding once, he stepped through the door, then jumped as he heard it swing shut behind him. Well, no turning back now…
Making his way slowly down the corridor, he looked around. On either side of the hall were more doors, each one made of iron, and each one with a keypad set into the wall beside it. He suppressed a shiver. This place seemed more like a prison than a house. Just what lurked beyond those forbidding doors?
After what seemed like forever, he finally came to the last door in the row. Unlike the others, this one seemed normal enough. It was made of iron, though it opened easily when he turned the handle.
The man inside was gazing out of a viewing window set into the wall. At the sound of the door opening, he turned. “Ah, you must be Cael. Come in, please. We have much to discuss.”
Cael nodded, then stepped inside, moving over to the window and looking down. The landscape below took him by surprise. It was definitely a room, but unlike any he had ever seen before. The floor was covered in what looked like packed dirt, and tall concrete pillars stood here and there, along with piles of rubble.
“What is this place?” he asked incredulously.
Kellan glanced over at him, then looked back down at the landscape. “It’s a specially-made training ground,” he said. “I had it designed several years ago, to aid in our projects.”
Before Cael could question him further, Kellan held up one hand, then pointed. A door had opened in the wall of the training area, and a woman in a white lab coat emerged.
She only took a couple of steps into the room before turning around and looking back the way she had come. The reason soon became obvious. A young woman followed, her head held high. Her hair came down to her waist, and was a strange color. Half of it was a dark red, but it slowly grew darker, leaving the ends black. She was dressed in a white sleeveless shirt. It was edged in black, and laced up in the front. Her pants were made of an identical material, in the same color. A pair of black boots completed the outfit.
Even from this distance, Cael spotted something that greatly annoyed him. The girl wore a metal collar, and her wrists bore shackles, though no chains were attached at the moment.
“This is our most prized subject,” Kellan said, a smile on his face. “Her name is Reyith. She’s shown the most potential out of all of the others.”
There were many questions that he could have asked, but only one came to his mind at the moment. “Why is she wearing a collar?”
Kellan looked over at him in surprise. “Does it bother you? Don’t worry, my boy, it’s not a form of punishment. The collar is designed to monitor her vitals while she trains. Heart rate, temperature…things like that. It’s removed after every session, and the data is sent off to be analyzed. Now, I’m sure you have many questions, but first, there’s something you need to see.”
He reached into his pocket and removed what looked like a small remote. Pressing a button, he replaced it in his pocket. There was a loud beep down in the training area, and Cael turned his attention there.
The woman in the lab coat had vanished, leaving only the girl. Across the room, a large door opened. Reyith fixed her gaze on it, and suddenly tensed. The reason soon became clear. Out of the door lumbered a giant creature - Cael’s first thought was monster. It was around seven feet tall, with dark grey skin and crimson eyes. Its face was almost alligator-like, ending in a short snout and a mouth full of jagged teeth. Long claws tipped its fingers, and it wore what looked like a shredded jumpsuit.
“What is that thing?” Cael breathed, repulsed.
“The reason you’re here. Just watch.”
Cael looked back down just in time. The creature lifted its head, sniffing the air. A moment later, it spotted Reyith, and began moving towards her.
“What are you doing? That thing’s going to kill her!” Cael made as if to run out of the room, but Kellan stopped him, placing one hand on his shoulder.
“Patience. She is in no danger.” He turned Cael back towards the window, pointing.
Below, Reyith was unaware of her audience. She kept her eyes on the approaching monster. When it was twenty feet away, she calmly raised one hand above her head, palm up. The air around her seemed to shimmer for a moment, glowing with an odd red light, and in the next instant, a jet black scythe had appeared in her hand, the tip so sharp as to almost be invisible.
There was only a moment’s pause, and suddenly, she was gone. Cael’s eyes widened, and he looked around. Where had she gone…?
The monster made as if to move forward again, but there was the sound of a blade slashing through flesh, and it froze. Reyith appeared behind it a moment later. She was resting on one knee, the scythe extended out beside her.
The beast wobbled, then suddenly, a spray of dark blood erupted from its body, splattering the ground. The source was a deep diagonal cut across its chest. Another moment passed, and the monster fell to the ground, dead.
Reyith straightened, and the scythe faded from being. Then, for the first time, she turned to look at the viewing window. Her violet eyes met Cael’s silver ones, and both stood there for a moment, unmoving. Cael’s eyes widened as he felt a strange sensation; like warm water being poured through him. It quickly faded, though, and Reyith looked away, crossing the room and exiting through the door through which she had come.
Cael watched her leave, then turned to look at Kellan. “What just happened?” His voice was very quiet.
Kellan didn’t answer immediately. “Almost five years ago, the prisons had an idea about what to do with their most dangerous convicts. They thought that the talents that had landed those men and women in jail were too valuable to just be thrown away. So they created a serum that would destroy the memories of the convicts, making them forget the crimes they had committed, and rendering them harmless. But the talents still remained in the body.
“The convicts were then sold, as mercenaries, bodyguards…almost anything that you could imagine. For a while, it worked. But then something terrible happened. The convicts that had been given this solution began to develop a taste for human blood. Most killed the ones they had previously worked for and fled, slaughtering everyone they came across.
“But that wasn’t the end of it. Over time, they began to change, taking on appearances like the one you just saw.
“Eventually, the problem grew so bad that someone had to act. Many soldiers were sent out after these creatures, hoping to destroy them. Unfortunately, that didn’t work. After taking on that appearance, their strength increases. No normal human could take them on and survive.
“Two years passed, and no one was able to stop them. That’s when I decided to step in. Using advanced biotechnology, I was able to create a being that was strong enough to take on these beasts. Reyith is one such being. After three years, I was finally able to create the perfect entity, designed to kill those creatures.”
Cael listened silently while Kellan spoke, but finally, when it seemed that the tale was finished, he was able to voice another question. “So…what does this have to do with me?”
Kellan turned, then crossed the room, going through another door. Behind this one was another staircase. He motioned for Cael to follow, then began to descend the stairs.
“Three years after the failed experiment with the serum, a suitable experiment has finally been completed. If you agree to take this job, you will accompany Reyith on her quest to destroy those escaped monsters. Her whole life, she has been kept here, so she knows nothing of the outside world. You will watch over and protect her.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Kellan opened the door. Through this corridor, the walls were lined with yet more doors, but this time, plexiglass windows allowed them to see what lay within the rooms. Most were filled with computers and lab equipment.
Kellan stopped a short distance down the hall, and opened one of the doors. Inside, on a metal table, sat Reyith. The shackles on her wrists had been removed, as well as the collar.
She looked up as she heard the door open, and she dipped her head in greeting when she saw Kellan. “Papa.”
This surprised Cael. Kellan couldn’t actually be her father, could he?
Kellan walked into the room and moved over to Reyith. He lifted a strand of her hair, twining it around one finger. “Your performance today was excellent, my dear. No less than what I’ve come to expect from the chosen one.”
Reyith gave him a tiny smile, then turned to look at Cael. Her violet eyes locked on him, and he felt a jolt of electricity go up his spine. Her eyes held an almost feral look, something that wasn’t completely human. Her gaze seemed to paralyze him. It was as if she was looking straight into his soul.
“You wish to know why one of the monsters was here, is that correct?” Her voice startled him. It was deceptively gentle, but he could hear a fierce undertone hidden deep within her words.
Upon hearing her speak, whatever had been holding him let go, and he found that he could move again. “How did you know?” Her question had completely thrown him. The truth was, he had been about to ask that very question.
She merely smiled. “The answer is simple. I am not the only one here. There are others like me. They are not strong enough to take on the more fierce creatures, but they can capture those similar to the one you saw earlier. The creatures are brought here to be studied. Papa hopes that he can find out what made the serum turn them into monsters. Those that he has finished with are given to me.”
The matter-of-fact way she spoke unnerved him. It was clear that she felt no remorse for these creatures. Just what was she? It seemed almost like she didn’t have a full range of emotions. But then, he reflected, maybe that wasn’t such a strange thought after all. She wasn’t human; hadn’t been born, but created. Such a creature should not exist.
Kellan smiled, then looked over at Cael. “What do you think? Will you take the job?”
Cael could feel Reyith’s penetrating gaze on him, and he found that he wanted to know more about this strange girl, to study her, and find out exactly what she was. “Yes. I’ll take it.”
“Excellent. I’ll leave you two to get acquainted, then. You both leave in the morning. Be ready.” With that, Kellan swept out of the room.
Reyith slid off of the table and moved over to Cael. It was then that he noticed how tiny she was: slender, barely over five feet tall. If this had been his first glimpse of her, there would be no way he could believe her capable of killing.
“It’s nice to meet you, Cael,” she said, bowing slightly.
His eyes widened. “How do you know my name?” That was twice that she had seemed to read his mind. But that couldn’t be possible, could it?
Once again, she just smiled, though it gave him the sense that she knew far more than she was letting on.
“Come with me. We will go to my room. I’m sure you will be more comfortable there.” Striding past him, she closed her hand around his wrist, though her grip was surprisingly gentle. “My data collection has finished; I am free to do what I wish now.” She turned her head slightly to look at him out of the corner of one eye. “You will have to stay here in the mansion tonight. Is that acceptable?”
“Uh…” He was lost for words, caught off-guard by the speed at which everything seemed to be moving.
Though she had been leading him along the corridor, his hesitation made her stop and relinquish her hold on his wrist. “Staying here is…not acceptable, then?”
Cael noticed that she seemed almost confused by this. And why wouldn’t she be? Kellan himself had said that this mansion was all she knew. To live anywhere else was probably unthinkable to her.
“You will have your choice of rooms, of course, as well as meals and-”
He reached up, placing a single finger over her mouth to silence her. “I didn’t say that it was unacceptable. However, I - ow, fuck!”
Reyith’s eyes had traveled downward the moment he had touched her, and, quicker than a snake could strike, she had jerked back, sinking her teeth into his hand. Just as quickly, she had released him, backing against the wall.
He cradled his bitten hand, studying it. But he noticed something odd. There were no teeth marks on his hand, save for two tiny pinpricks, each with a drop of glittering crimson blood welling up in them.
His head turned slightly as he heard a strange sound, and he finally realized that Reyith was growling softly.
“Forgive me, but I must ask that you refrain from touching me in such a manner in the future,” she said, her voice icy.
When she opened her mouth to speak, Cael saw the source of the punctures: she had fangs.
Cael started to speak, but no sound came out at first. An image flashed across his mind as he looked at the girl in front of him. Somehow, he was reminded unfailingly of a wolf that had been backed into a corner. At last, he was able to speak.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” If that was in fact what he had done. But why had she reacted so strongly to a simple touch? Was it merely because she didn’t know him?
Slowly, the wary expression left her eyes, and she relaxed. Without another word, she swept off, and he was certain that she was now ignoring him.
He sighed quietly. They had only known each other for a short while, and he had already managed to piss her off. How were they supposed to work together if she hated him?
There was so much that he needed to learn about her; one of the main ones being how to act in her presence. He’d already found out that touching her was a bad idea. It was strange, he reflected. She had no misgivings about touching him, but the moment he returned the gesture, she panicked. Admittedly, he had done it without really considering the consequences, but he wasn’t used to dealing with someone like her.
Well, he decided, better to find out what her limits were now, instead of waiting until a critical moment when they were in battle.
So caught up in his thoughts was he that he didn’t even realize that Reyith had stopped. She had led him back up one flight of stairs, and was now pressing buttons on a keypad next to a door halfway down the hall.
Reyith turned to look at him, an expectant expression in her eyes. “Are you coming in, or would you rather wander the halls?” Surprisingly, her voice wasn’t scathing; it was an honest question.
Cael stopped walking. “You’re speaking to me again, then?”
One elegant eyebrow raised slightly; it was the most expressive thing he had ever seen her do. It seemed that he had caught her off-guard with this question.
She paused for a moment, then answered. “I was never refraining from speaking to you. You apologized for your actions, and I accepted. My silence was simply due to the fact that I had nothing relevant to say.”
He blinked, then gave a single nod, moving back over to her as the door swung open. Allowing her to lead him inside, he looked around, unsure of what to expect given the true nature of the mansion.
But it was a completely normal room, though bigger than the ones on the floor below. A large bed was in one corner, neatly made. A tall bookshelf stood in another corner, and beside it was a full-length mirror. Near the bed was a dresser. A table sat near the bookshelf, and on it was a lamp and several thick books. Set into the wall opposite him was a door, which he guessed led to a closet. Next to it was a third door; a bathroom, maybe? All in all, he decided, it was an ordinary room, if sparsely furnished.
He had to wonder, though, why such a big room was so empty. Did she just not like crowding, or-
His thoughts were cut off as he felt a strange sensation. It was the lightest touch against his mind, almost too faint to be felt. He realized that he had actually felt it twice before; once in the viewing room, and then again in the lab. But what was it?
“The room is empty by my choice,” Reyith said. She had moved to the middle of the room, and was now facing him with her hands folded behind her back. “This way, I am able to practice without worrying about hitting any of the furniture.”
Cael stared at her, then his eyes narrowed. “How do you know all of this? You knew my name, and answered my questions before I even had a chance to ask them. I want an explanation.”
In all honesty, he expected this to make her angry; she didn’t seem like the type that would take well to orders, at least not from him. Such was his certainty of this that the sound of her soft laugh made him jump.
“I was wondering how many of your unspoken questions I would have to answer before you became curious as to how I was doing it.” She moved over to the bed and sat down on the edge, her eyes dancing with amusement. “The answer is simple. You actually considered it for a moment, before disregarding it as impossible.”
Cael went still, realization washing over him. "You…you can read minds?” His voice was barely above a whisper.
She gave a single nod. “My range is limited, though. Unless I am given full access, I can only read surface thoughts, and only if that person is within a half-mile radius.”
He hummed thoughtfully. “And if you’re given full access? How does that work?”
Reyith considered for a moment. “My target must be willing to completely open their mind to me. I establish a link, and we are able to communicate telepathically, over long distances. I can also see everything that goes on in their mind, if I wish. And, if they know how, they can do the same to me. However, there are exceptions to this. If they are strong, they can shield their mind from me, allowing me to see only what they want me to.”
Cael was silent, thinking this over. “What about those that you don’t have a link with? Can they block you out?”
This earned him a knowing look. “You are referring to yourself? I must admit, you startled me. When I first made contact with your mind, your subconscious acknowledged my presence. That, in turn, allowed you to realize that I had entered your mind a moment ago. That has never happened before. Unless I deliberately make myself known, there should be no hint that mind-to-mind contact has been executed. You are most unusual, to have been able to sense me.”
Cael took a deep breath, then looked around. He knew that sitting down on the bed without her permission would probably be a bad idea, and besides, he wasn’t at all sure that she truly wasn’t angry with him for touching her earlier. So, that just left the table. “May I sit down?” he asked finally, gesturing to one of the chairs.
Reyith nodded, reaching up to tuck a lock of hair behind one ear. “In answer to your question, no, you cannot stop someone from reading surface thoughts. But there is really no point in doing so. Surface thoughts are normally only what you are preparing to say next. Deeper, more private thoughts cannot be seen.”
She watched him closely as he moved over to the table and sat down, stretching his legs out in front of him with a sigh. Finally, she spoke again. “If this method of answering your questions bothers you, I will refrain from doing so.”
He cast her a sideways glance. “What do you mean?”
Reyith made a small noise of irritation. “I mean, if you do not wish for me to read your thoughts, then I will not do so again.” She sighed, laying back and propping herself up on her elbows. “You will have to forgive me,” she said quietly. “Reading the thoughts of others is second-nature to me. It is how I have always gained the information I need, and how I win most of my battles. It does not always work, however.
“To be able to slip into my opponent’s mind, I must first have full eye contact. That moment when I was in the training area…that was when I established the link between us. But eye contact is not the only problem. The creature you saw me fighting today was a very weak one. It was chosen specifically so that you would be able to see the battle. Often, they move too quickly to be able to see their attacks. This is where it is advantageous to have access to their thoughts, so I may evade and counter effectively. But…I am afraid that soon, the strongest will learn how to shield their thoughts.”
Cael arched one eyebrow. “I thought you said that it wasn’t possible to shield surface thoughts.”
Reyith sat up, then hesitated. “Perhaps I misspoke. It is true that surface thoughts cannot be hidden. But they can be altered, so that one’s true motive is not discovered.” At Cael’s silence, she continued. “To put it simply, a feint. Make sure your surface thoughts are different than your true intent. It is very difficult, but it can be done.”
Standing up, she made her way over to the table, then began collecting the books scattered across the surface. She carried them over to the bookshelf and replaced them before turning to look at him. “Up until now, their intelligence level has been slightly below that of an average human. Their attacks are straightforward, and easy to counter. But I have noticed odd things…they are getting smarter. I do not know how, or why, but it is happening more and more frequently. Papa thinks it might just be a product of evolution, but I am not so sure. That is one reason he is sending me out; to gather information.”
Cael leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and running one hand through his hair. “I don’t see what this has to do with me. If what you say about those things is true, then I won’t be of much help in protecting you. I mean, I know how to fight, but I can’t use a sword or anything like that. If anything, you’ll wind up protecting me.”
Reyith paused for a moment, then glanced over at him. “There is a way to remedy that,” she said finally. “Though…you might not like it. The procedure is painless, but…”
“What do I have to do?” he asked immediately.
She bit her lip, not meeting his eyes. “You can become…more like me.”
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