mere seconds to make decisions.
“Christina!” He barked. “Put it down, now!” He was unwavering in the order. “She is ours. If it weren’t for her we would have never met. She’s more than I can explain, but you are about to make a huge mistake. STOP NOW!”
She was conditioned to orders and it gave her pause, as Renfield was counting on. Christina looked at him and as tears started ran down her face she asked, “Why?” Her hands didn’t waiver from her aim.
Renfield really was trying to keep it simple, given the urgency of timing. He could see Solstice was coming out of the drug-induced malaise. He knew she had learned the lesson of speeding metabolism and that was specifically why he knew, before he even came in, it would be the challenge.
“Her older sister will be here soon, that’s why!” he blurted out.
Both Christina and Solstice turned to him instantly and simultaneously shouted, “What older sister?”
Solstice continued, “Keep her out of this!”
Renfield looked down in resignation, “She’s not a threat. She is younger than you right now. She never got to learn any of this, but she travels.”
Solstice pointed out the obvious, “So you’re afraid that you’re going to lose. Why not just jump again?”
Renfield put a knee to the ground and said, “Why haven’t you?”
CHAPTER 28
“Souls find a way to pair, even as they fight against their destinies.” -- from the book of Christina
With a wry grin Solstice considers that Renfield really had thought much through. At that moment a woman carrying a small child runs into the area and looks at Renfield and says, “This is insanity! What’s your plan, Ren?”
Christina looks at Ren and yells, “Who is this?” As her free arm motions to the woman carrying a baby. It’s a very odd scenario and the weirdness of it all doesn’t escape Christina who currently doesn’t trust anyone in the room.
Ren looks at her and cocks his head and replies, “Really, didn’t we go over this? I’ve had other lovers, dear.”
“Who is she?” Christina demands.
“Don’t worry. By now, she knows you well. As she should. She’s not under any illusion as to my being umm…”
Renfield tumbles for a word as both women fill in the blank for him, “Faithful?”
Renfield replies, “I wouldn’t put it like that. However we don’t have time for the finer points here.”
Solstice interjects, “You never change, father. That’s what will make it so easy to end you. You already realize I’m gathering. Why all of this when it will soon be a foregone conclusion. Yet again, but this time you’re not jumping back in time to force another try. Why? You know you won’t live this time.”
Renfield looks at Solstice and deeply replies, “No my girl, maybe I won’t this time, but you will. It’s what everyone wants.”
“Why would everyone want me to get away? I can leave at will!” Solstice yells back. Although it is clear she would have taken action if she could.
Christina, obviously confused, yells at Ren, “OK, Mr. ‘Full of Surprises’, what’s going on here.”
“Tell your mother about some of the old timelines. The good you did with what you know. Go on Solstice, think back that many jumps ago. Explain to her what changed you.” Renfield stood up and moved towards Solstice as he spoke.
“That was a long time ago, irrelevant and good is a matter of perception.” The body that Solstice is in begins to droop in a weary headed fashion.
“I see some of my cynicism is still in you. Although, isn’t that what you despised about me?” Renfield replies.
“I don’t despise you, Dad, I want you dead so you leave me alone.” Solstice snaps back. “Despising you would indicate I care either way. I don’t.”
“Yet you just referred to me as Dad again, so clearly, you do. You realize that.” Renfield moved closer and smiled at Solstice
“Christina!” He barked. “Put it down, now!” He was unwavering in the order. “She is ours. If it weren’t for her we would have never met. She’s more than I can explain, but you are about to make a huge mistake. STOP NOW!”
She was conditioned to orders and it gave her pause, as Renfield was counting on. Christina looked at him and as tears started ran down her face she asked, “Why?” Her hands didn’t waiver from her aim.
Renfield really was trying to keep it simple, given the urgency of timing. He could see Solstice was coming out of the drug-induced malaise. He knew she had learned the lesson of speeding metabolism and that was specifically why he knew, before he even came in, it would be the challenge.
“Her older sister will be here soon, that’s why!” he blurted out.
Both Christina and Solstice turned to him instantly and simultaneously shouted, “What older sister?”
Solstice continued, “Keep her out of this!”
Renfield looked down in resignation, “She’s not a threat. She is younger than you right now. She never got to learn any of this, but she travels.”
Solstice pointed out the obvious, “So you’re afraid that you’re going to lose. Why not just jump again?”
Renfield put a knee to the ground and said, “Why haven’t you?”
CHAPTER 28
“Souls find a way to pair, even as they fight against their destinies.” -- from the book of Christina
With a wry grin Solstice considers that Renfield really had thought much through. At that moment a woman carrying a small child runs into the area and looks at Renfield and says, “This is insanity! What’s your plan, Ren?”
Christina looks at Ren and yells, “Who is this?” As her free arm motions to the woman carrying a baby. It’s a very odd scenario and the weirdness of it all doesn’t escape Christina who currently doesn’t trust anyone in the room.
Ren looks at her and cocks his head and replies, “Really, didn’t we go over this? I’ve had other lovers, dear.”
“Who is she?” Christina demands.
“Don’t worry. By now, she knows you well. As she should. She’s not under any illusion as to my being umm…”
Renfield tumbles for a word as both women fill in the blank for him, “Faithful?”
Renfield replies, “I wouldn’t put it like that. However we don’t have time for the finer points here.”
Solstice interjects, “You never change, father. That’s what will make it so easy to end you. You already realize I’m gathering. Why all of this when it will soon be a foregone conclusion. Yet again, but this time you’re not jumping back in time to force another try. Why? You know you won’t live this time.”
Renfield looks at Solstice and deeply replies, “No my girl, maybe I won’t this time, but you will. It’s what everyone wants.”
“Why would everyone want me to get away? I can leave at will!” Solstice yells back. Although it is clear she would have taken action if she could.
Christina, obviously confused, yells at Ren, “OK, Mr. ‘Full of Surprises’, what’s going on here.”
“Tell your mother about some of the old timelines. The good you did with what you know. Go on Solstice, think back that many jumps ago. Explain to her what changed you.” Renfield stood up and moved towards Solstice as he spoke.
“That was a long time ago, irrelevant and good is a matter of perception.” The body that Solstice is in begins to droop in a weary headed fashion.
“I see some of my cynicism is still in you. Although, isn’t that what you despised about me?” Renfield replies.
“I don’t despise you, Dad, I want you dead so you leave me alone.” Solstice snaps back. “Despising you would indicate I care either way. I don’t.”
“Yet you just referred to me as Dad again, so clearly, you do. You realize that.” Renfield moved closer and smiled at Solstice
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