c’mon. There’s no way he can tell the
difference between you or a human mortal,” I argued.
“Yes, he can. He can extract DNA from dead
cells in the air with a device he’s invented. It’s a scientific
breakthrough in DNA sequencing, but he denies the contraption
exists. Not even the people that fund his research know this man’s
genius.”
“And how did you come across this
information?” Nyx asked.
David gave his mother a crooked smile.
“Gemini searched the doctor’s laboratory while he was out of
town.”
“This is a bad idea. We should forget about
this doctor,” I suggested. “I don’t think it’s safe for any of you
to go. He’ll know you’re not human with that machine.”
“We won’t be in any danger of being
discovered. Eryx and Galen found the DNA decoder—or whatever it’s
called—in his lab. Tonight, Gemini will disable the filtration
system it uses to discern between DNAs. Our DNA, along with his,
will be a cluttered mess when it feeds into the system. He’ll think
it’s a malfunction.”
“Do we fund this scientist’s research?” asked
Nyx.
“We do now,” David said.
“And his name?”
“Gunn. Dr. Tobias Gunn.”
As dusk arrived, my stress level began to
rise. I awaited the feeling of nervousness in my stomach and the
tension in my muscles that always set in before the attack. I had a
good two hours to go when my cell phone vibrated.
“Why haven’t you called?” Claire’s
reprimanding voice trilled through my phone’s speaker.
“You didn’t even let me say hello.”
“You said you would call, Isis. It’s been
almost a week.”
“I know, Mom,” I said, smoothing out my voice
so that it didn’t sound too hoarse. “I get confused with the time
difference between us, and I didn’t want to bother you at work or
call while you were sleeping.”
“You sound strange. Are you sick? What’s
wrong?”
My existence, is what I wanted to tell
her, but instead, I said, “I have—a cold.”
“Otherwise, you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. How ‘bout you?”
It took a moment for her to answer.
“Lonely.”
“I can’t believe you’re already making me
feel guilty about coming here. It hasn’t even been a full week
since I left.”
“Hey, I was the one that told you to go to
Greece. Why would I lay a guilt trip on you?”
“Oh right,” I said, feeling a wave of nausea
making its way up my throat. “Mom,” I pinched the bridge of my
nose. “They’re calling me for dinner. I better go.”
“You sound congested, honey. You need to take
something for that.”
“I will,” I said, racing to the bathroom.
“And don’t have any cold drinks.”
“Okay.” I hovered over the toilet.
“You need to—”
“Okay, okay,” I cut her off. “Yes, Mom. I’ll
take care of myself. I have to go.”
I barely had time to hang up the phone before
I vomited into the toilet bowl. Only it wasn’t soup. It was a thick
fluid that condensed into a jelly-like substance as soon as it hit
the water in the bowl. I didn’t know what to make of it.
“What is that? Ewww!” I pulled the handle on
the tank to flush the debris.
“No!” Out of nowhere Eryx launched himself
forward and reached into the toilet bowl with his bare hand,
managing to scoop some of the substance before it disappeared down
the drain. He gagged and covered his nose with his free hand, and
then dumped the stuff into the bathtub. Heaving, I helped him open
the sink faucet and emptied the contents of the liquid soap
dispenser onto his hand.
“You. Are. So. Gross!” I said, the
back of my head against the open bathroom door. “Why did you do
that?”
“We need specimens,” Eryx said, drying his
hands on a towel.
“I’ve never heard of anyone using vomit for
analysis.”
“You should watch more crime shows. They use
everything.” Eryx glanced back at the tub. “I need to gather that.
I’ll send one of the others to look after you.”
“Sick.” I closed my eyes and
difference between you or a human mortal,” I argued.
“Yes, he can. He can extract DNA from dead
cells in the air with a device he’s invented. It’s a scientific
breakthrough in DNA sequencing, but he denies the contraption
exists. Not even the people that fund his research know this man’s
genius.”
“And how did you come across this
information?” Nyx asked.
David gave his mother a crooked smile.
“Gemini searched the doctor’s laboratory while he was out of
town.”
“This is a bad idea. We should forget about
this doctor,” I suggested. “I don’t think it’s safe for any of you
to go. He’ll know you’re not human with that machine.”
“We won’t be in any danger of being
discovered. Eryx and Galen found the DNA decoder—or whatever it’s
called—in his lab. Tonight, Gemini will disable the filtration
system it uses to discern between DNAs. Our DNA, along with his,
will be a cluttered mess when it feeds into the system. He’ll think
it’s a malfunction.”
“Do we fund this scientist’s research?” asked
Nyx.
“We do now,” David said.
“And his name?”
“Gunn. Dr. Tobias Gunn.”
As dusk arrived, my stress level began to
rise. I awaited the feeling of nervousness in my stomach and the
tension in my muscles that always set in before the attack. I had a
good two hours to go when my cell phone vibrated.
“Why haven’t you called?” Claire’s
reprimanding voice trilled through my phone’s speaker.
“You didn’t even let me say hello.”
“You said you would call, Isis. It’s been
almost a week.”
“I know, Mom,” I said, smoothing out my voice
so that it didn’t sound too hoarse. “I get confused with the time
difference between us, and I didn’t want to bother you at work or
call while you were sleeping.”
“You sound strange. Are you sick? What’s
wrong?”
My existence, is what I wanted to tell
her, but instead, I said, “I have—a cold.”
“Otherwise, you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. How ‘bout you?”
It took a moment for her to answer.
“Lonely.”
“I can’t believe you’re already making me
feel guilty about coming here. It hasn’t even been a full week
since I left.”
“Hey, I was the one that told you to go to
Greece. Why would I lay a guilt trip on you?”
“Oh right,” I said, feeling a wave of nausea
making its way up my throat. “Mom,” I pinched the bridge of my
nose. “They’re calling me for dinner. I better go.”
“You sound congested, honey. You need to take
something for that.”
“I will,” I said, racing to the bathroom.
“And don’t have any cold drinks.”
“Okay.” I hovered over the toilet.
“You need to—”
“Okay, okay,” I cut her off. “Yes, Mom. I’ll
take care of myself. I have to go.”
I barely had time to hang up the phone before
I vomited into the toilet bowl. Only it wasn’t soup. It was a thick
fluid that condensed into a jelly-like substance as soon as it hit
the water in the bowl. I didn’t know what to make of it.
“What is that? Ewww!” I pulled the handle on
the tank to flush the debris.
“No!” Out of nowhere Eryx launched himself
forward and reached into the toilet bowl with his bare hand,
managing to scoop some of the substance before it disappeared down
the drain. He gagged and covered his nose with his free hand, and
then dumped the stuff into the bathtub. Heaving, I helped him open
the sink faucet and emptied the contents of the liquid soap
dispenser onto his hand.
“You. Are. So. Gross!” I said, the
back of my head against the open bathroom door. “Why did you do
that?”
“We need specimens,” Eryx said, drying his
hands on a towel.
“I’ve never heard of anyone using vomit for
analysis.”
“You should watch more crime shows. They use
everything.” Eryx glanced back at the tub. “I need to gather that.
I’ll send one of the others to look after you.”
“Sick.” I closed my eyes and
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