Salem groaned as the fluorescent lights found their way inside her barely open eyes. Her eyelids fluttered as she rolled over and tried to block out the light. She flinched as a hand fell on her shoulder.
“Relax, it’s just me.”
It was a voice she immediately recognized even though she had only ever heard it in her head.
“Mother? Where are we?”
“Rest. We aren’t going anywhere soon.”
Salem wanted to sit up, wanted to talk to her mother, but the light began to fade, and she felt herself drifting off once again.
“Sleep, child.”
***
Angling his powerchair to get a better view of the television, Thorn watched the news report, marveling at how easy it was to change the narrative. Money was the key to controlling the world, and he had plenty of it.
On the TV, a reporter stood on a boat out in the San Francisco Bay, pointing in the direction of Alcatraz.
“Residents of the city were given an early alarm call this morning after an explosion on The Rock. Details are slim, at the moment, but it appears as though there was an incident involving the security team patrolling the island, which is set to undergo renovations. All members of the security team, as well as a pair of San Francisco police officers, and a boat pilot, are presumed dead in the explosion. We will report more details as we get them.”
Thorn hit the mute button on the remote control and turned his chair around, smiling widely at Drake, who sat on a couch at the opposite end of the office.
“How much did that cover up cost?” Drake asked.
“Not as much as you might think. It pays to have people in high places in your pocket.
“All’s well that ends well, I suppose.”
Thorn moved behind his desk and opened his laptop, tapping on the keys and replacing the news report on the TV with his desktop. “I am just getting started, Lionel. Look at those two.”
With a click of a key, Thorn activated the feed showing the cell holding Raven and Salem.
“Don’t you think it’s time to put those two out of their misery?” Drake asked.
The billionaire frowned at the question. “Why would you suggest something so foolish. You have seen what they can do, have you not?”
“I’m wishing I hadn’t at this point. I’ve lost some good people.”
“Replaceable people, Lionel.” Thorn pointed at the TV. “Those ladies cannot be replaced. They are the source of great power, which I believe can be tapped and drained.”
“And transferred to you, right?” Drake finished.
“Indeed. With money comes power, but that power is little more than a low-watt bulb compared to what is inside those two. I want what they have.”
The security man stood and poured himself a drink, taking a slug before he spoke again. “Is this not something you have tried before? Look how that turned out.”
Thorn shook his head. “The girl, my daughter, is the answer. Remember, Lionel, it is partially my blood that runs through her.” He wheeled out into the center of the office and rolled up beside Drake. “It would be easy to suggest that she gets her powers from Raven, but is it not also possible that some comes from me?”
It sounded like the ravings of a madman, but the more Drake thought about it, the more it made sense. “The previous transfusions.”
Thorn thumped the arm of his powerchair and laughed loudly. “Very astute observation. I have pieces of all of my creatures swimming in my DNA. Add the blood of my daughter into the mix, and I may just unlock everything.”
Drake looked up at the television and quickly looked away as he saw Raven staring back at him, as though she could see through the screen and into his soul. He knew that her powers could not touch anyone outside, but he felt a chill, nonetheless. “She is still asleep,” he said, acting as nonchalantly as possible.
“There is no rush. I think we could all use some rest, although you and I do need to talk about what happened on the island.” Thorn said.
Drake swallowed down the last of the bourbon in his glass and grimaced as the liquid burned his throat. “I take full responsibility.”
“Nonsense. I chose the helicopter pilots, and not particularly well, I might add. That crash set off a chain of events that you nor anyone else could have predicted, Lionel.”
“Still, I lost one of my men, plus, we lost most of the assets.”
“A small price to pay to get my ladies back. Think no more of it.”
“Thank you, sir,” Drake said. “What do you need from me next?”
Moving back behind the desk, Thorn unlocked one of the drawers and pulled out a slip of paper. “I have been in contact with our man in Portland.”
“Graves?”
“The very one. He has another Wenlutah lined up and ready to ship. Have Bits or Bytes arrange the transfer of funds, and you set up the details of the transfer with Graves.”
“Consider it done, sir.”
Drake picked up the paper, scanned the contents, and then slipped it into his pocket. “I’ll take care of this immediately.”
“Do it and then take the rest of the day off. I am going to want you by my side when my medical team performs the transfusion.”
Turning for the door, Drake moved to head out the office but then paused. “Can I ask a question?”
“By all means.”
“What if…what if the transfusion works? What then?”
Thorn spread his arms wide. “Then the world is my oyster.”
I didn't think I could despise Thorn more, but I was wrong.
Thorn is proving to be such a masterfully written antagonist. The way he so casually dismisses human life while chasing a power he compares to a "low-watt bulb" is pure sociopathic gold. The tension in this room is palpable, especially with Raven staring right through that security screen. Fantastic pacing here the stakes just went through the roof!😩