We see each other at work, and she visits me at my apartment, but there’s always a feeling of formality to our encounters. It’s as if she’s doing what’s expected of her. There’s no warmth.”
The story of Erica abandoned by kidnappers in the nearby desert, and subsequently raised in Wonderland had always confused Zane. “Makes no sense to me how returning the child to her family would have been a national security risk. I just don’t get it.”
“I think they meant well,” she said, her sudden laser stare burning into him. “Nothing about this place feels right.” She whispered so quietly that if he wasn’t a vampire, he wouldn’t have heard her. Then, without moving her head, her eyes swept the room before returning to him.
He smelled her fear and heard her racing heart. Surveillance? Well, that would stand to reason. He offered a slight nod.
“Why don’t you come by my apartment for a drink when Erica’s done with you? I’d like to get to know you better.”
“That’d be fine, ma’am.”
† † †
Erica greeted Zane formally, with a stiff handshake, and gestured for him to sit at the table in the private conference room. Although only nineteen, she seemed older. A tight bun gathered long brown hair, light makeup accentuated striking features, and the jumpsuit hugged a slim figure. However, her eyes were her most riveting feature—not for their beauty, but for their coldness.
“Although I now hold this position in medical research, I still assist Dr. Oshiro with his time travel experiments,” she said. “Even though we did that formal debriefing with you following Glory’s time event, there will be questions pertaining to it today as well as those pertaining to your health. This is quite a complex situation, but my superior intelligence and rigorous training makes me highly qualified to accomplish this particular interview.”
Amusement filled him, and he burst out laughing. “You’re awfully haughty for such a young thing.”
“Excuse me?”
He shrugged. “I usually speak my mind and that’s what came to mind.”
“I’m professional.”
“You’re haughty.”
Fluster showed in her red face, shaky voice, and smell, but Zane didn’t feel badly about it. He had been breaking wild horses forever. Leaning forward, he said, “You seem at a loss for words, princess. Just breathe and then ask me your questions.”
“You’re an ass.”
“I’ve been called that.”
She slammed her pen on the table and took a deep breath. “So, have you had any illnesses or wounds since your last visit here?”
“I don’t get sick. Had a neck wound from a fight, but it healed up in a day.”
She retrieved her pen and wrote his answer down.
“What about you?” Zane asked. “What’s new in your life?”
Erica looked up with a start. “What?”
“Your life here must be full of adventure. Tell me about it.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“Do I sound like I’m being sarcastic?”
“Well, no.”
“Doesn’t anyone ever ask about your life?”
She shook her head. “Except Mother, but I suppose she thinks that’s required of her because she’s my mother.”
“You don’t think she really cares?”
“Why would she? She doesn’t know me.”
“She’d like to.”
Her eyes shot icicles. “My life isn’t your business.” She looked at her clipboard. “Have you remembered anything new about your encounter with Glory during the time travel experiment?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Nothing I want to talk about. It’s personal.”
“But you have to tell us.”
He laughed again. “Why?”
“Because I say so.”
He studied her for a moment. “You are so different from Glory. It’s hard to believe you’re sisters.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just what I said.”
“We were raised in different environments.”
“I believe in nature over nurture. People are who they are from the
The story of Erica abandoned by kidnappers in the nearby desert, and subsequently raised in Wonderland had always confused Zane. “Makes no sense to me how returning the child to her family would have been a national security risk. I just don’t get it.”
“I think they meant well,” she said, her sudden laser stare burning into him. “Nothing about this place feels right.” She whispered so quietly that if he wasn’t a vampire, he wouldn’t have heard her. Then, without moving her head, her eyes swept the room before returning to him.
He smelled her fear and heard her racing heart. Surveillance? Well, that would stand to reason. He offered a slight nod.
“Why don’t you come by my apartment for a drink when Erica’s done with you? I’d like to get to know you better.”
“That’d be fine, ma’am.”
† † †
Erica greeted Zane formally, with a stiff handshake, and gestured for him to sit at the table in the private conference room. Although only nineteen, she seemed older. A tight bun gathered long brown hair, light makeup accentuated striking features, and the jumpsuit hugged a slim figure. However, her eyes were her most riveting feature—not for their beauty, but for their coldness.
“Although I now hold this position in medical research, I still assist Dr. Oshiro with his time travel experiments,” she said. “Even though we did that formal debriefing with you following Glory’s time event, there will be questions pertaining to it today as well as those pertaining to your health. This is quite a complex situation, but my superior intelligence and rigorous training makes me highly qualified to accomplish this particular interview.”
Amusement filled him, and he burst out laughing. “You’re awfully haughty for such a young thing.”
“Excuse me?”
He shrugged. “I usually speak my mind and that’s what came to mind.”
“I’m professional.”
“You’re haughty.”
Fluster showed in her red face, shaky voice, and smell, but Zane didn’t feel badly about it. He had been breaking wild horses forever. Leaning forward, he said, “You seem at a loss for words, princess. Just breathe and then ask me your questions.”
“You’re an ass.”
“I’ve been called that.”
She slammed her pen on the table and took a deep breath. “So, have you had any illnesses or wounds since your last visit here?”
“I don’t get sick. Had a neck wound from a fight, but it healed up in a day.”
She retrieved her pen and wrote his answer down.
“What about you?” Zane asked. “What’s new in your life?”
Erica looked up with a start. “What?”
“Your life here must be full of adventure. Tell me about it.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“Do I sound like I’m being sarcastic?”
“Well, no.”
“Doesn’t anyone ever ask about your life?”
She shook her head. “Except Mother, but I suppose she thinks that’s required of her because she’s my mother.”
“You don’t think she really cares?”
“Why would she? She doesn’t know me.”
“She’d like to.”
Her eyes shot icicles. “My life isn’t your business.” She looked at her clipboard. “Have you remembered anything new about your encounter with Glory during the time travel experiment?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Nothing I want to talk about. It’s personal.”
“But you have to tell us.”
He laughed again. “Why?”
“Because I say so.”
He studied her for a moment. “You are so different from Glory. It’s hard to believe you’re sisters.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just what I said.”
“We were raised in different environments.”
“I believe in nature over nurture. People are who they are from the
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