Blood Lines - Blood Price Part 11

A few moments later, the doctor put away the wand and her a.s.sistant whisked the machine back to its place against the wall. "Tell me, Dr. Harding, what did you learn?"

Her crisp English accent lent an air of intellectual distance to her words that Atar was far from feeling.

"Comparing this scan to the records of the female my predecessor studied twenty-five years ago, they are nearly identical, except for reproductive organs. The male specimen has more lung capacity than the female, with a primary heart that is twelve-percent larger-"

Koenig waved his hand. "I don't care about that right now. How is he different from me? Can you find the secret?"

Harding hesitated. "The male has two hearts, three lungs, extra ribs, significantly different reproductive organs, a larger liver, two spleens, four kidneys and a digestive system that is foreign to me. It will take time to unravel how it works. I think the answer lies in his brains. Most likely the primary brain but possibly in the auxiliary."

"Then take them."

Harding shook her head, disturbing the pixie-cut of the silvery-blonde strands. "That isn't wise at this juncture, Herr Koenig. If you'll recall, the female specimen died within hours of removal of her auxiliary brain. I'm not familiar with the structure of the Makheet brain. It would be better to study his anatomy and examine his brains with C.T., MRI and PET scans before removal."

A coughing fit seized Koenig, shaking his frail body unmercifully, leaving him weak and red in the face when it pa.s.sed. "I don't have time for that. Weeks, Harding. You said it yourself. I need the answer now or I'm going to die. Take his G.o.dd.a.m.n brains or I'll find someone who will."

Atar's eyes widened as the discussion played out. Their aloof act made him feel as if he didn't exist, although it didn't remove him from the fear of what they planned. Bile crept up his esophagus when the doctor's shoulders slumped forward and she nodded.

"Very well, but understand I can't accept responsibility for the consequences if I don't find an answer before the subject dies. This might be your last opportunity to study one such as him." She licked her lips, as if nervous. "Perhaps if you would reconsider taking the vampire-werewolf enzyme, there would be more time to study-"

"You know I'm too weak to survive the transformation. It has to be him. You had better find the answer or I won't be the only one departing this world, Dr. Harding. Do I make myself clear?"

Atar watched her expression, searching for a sign of fear. She hid it well but her lips trembled slightly.

"Yes, Herr."

The old man turned his wheelchair to the door without another word, obviously satisfied with the outcome of the confrontation between he and the doctor. His guards preceded him from the room and Atar closed his eyes, listening to the quiet sound of Koenig's wheelchair crossing the floor, wondering if it would be the last sound he ever heard.

Why hadn't he told Nikia how he felt about her? It seemed unlikely he would ever see her again and she would die thinking he hadn't loved her, had only used her for gratification. Would knowing he believed in her and had been there during the banishment be enough to let her know how he felt? His eyes snapped open when a commotion erupted, the beginning signaled by the rapid crack of automatic gunfire. To his astonishment, one of the guards in front of Koenig went flying backward through the air, cras.h.i.+ng into the wall. He fell to the tile floor with his neck bent at an awkward angle.

His next shock was to see Nikia step through the door, holding Koenig by the front of his s.h.i.+rt, with his feet suspended off the ground. His heart sang and his first thought was of holding her again, not of escaping the terrible fate planned for him by Koenig.

Chapter 12.

Nikia's eyes spat fire. She could feel them burning as she looked at the man who had kidnapped and planned to torture them. For good measure, she gave him a shake, initiating a round of coughing that turned his face gray and racked his body. With a sound of disgust, she dropped him on the floor, where he curled into a ball and continued coughing.

The soldier with the tranq gun had watched it all with horrified fascination and just as he started bringing up the rifle, Nikia leaped at him, transforming to a wolf as she went. An aborted scream issued from his throat when she knocked him to the floor and took his neck between her teeth, biting down forcefully.

His blood flowed into her mouth, reminding her of her earlier hunger and she lapped it up, taking her fill.

Reason returned with the edge of her hunger blunted and Nikia padded away from him, returning to her human form as she moved toward her clothes. Peripherally, she saw the horror on the face of the two women standing beside Atar. She bared her bloodteeth to the older one before bending to retrieve the slacks and sweater.

She dressed quickly and took the magnetic card from her pocket, using it to lock the door in case one of the guards had somehow triggered an alarm before she dealt with them. The third one she had attacked still lay in the corridor, bleeding from the shot his partner had fired into his stomach when Nikia deflected the barrel as it was aimed at her.

She turned around, fastening her gaze on the younger of the two women. "Free him. Now." The woman scrambled to work the straps as Nikia addressed the one she thought Koenig had called Harding. "You, where are his clothes?"

Her hand trembled when she pointed to the smaller room adjoining the lab. "I'll get them."

"No." She waved the sidearm she had taken from Del Torro. "Come to me."

With a sob, Harding slowly approached, staying a step out of reach when she stopped. "What do you want? I'll give you anything."

"How do we get out of here?"

Her pallor faded slightly at Nikia's words. "I will show you. There is a pa.s.sage for easy movement between the labs and main area. It goes to the garage."

Moving quickly, Nikia lunged at Harding, putting her arms around the woman, while pressing the gun to her temple. "You won't try anything while acting as our guide, will you?" Harding shook her head, dislodging the gun slightly.

Nikia looked up as Atar stood, swaying for a moment and bracing his hand against the table. "You should get dressed." Her voice was remarkably calm, considering how she was shaking inside.

He moved into the other room, emerging a minute later wearing his own clothes. He looked at the phlebotomist. "What about her?"

"We can't have her raising the alarm." She glared down at Koenig, who lay on the floor in the fetal position, s.h.i.+vering with fear. "Him either, should he get control of himself. Tie them up, I guess."

Atar searched through the various drawers, finally holding up an industrial-size roll of surgical tape.

"Think this will work?"

"Yes."

She moved the gun against Harding's side while Atar taped Koenig and the young woman's hands and feet together before running strips of tape across their mouths. When he stood up, he appeared unsteady but wasn't in the same state he had been when they drugged him in Prague. Either they had used a smaller dose or he and Nikia had been out a long time.

He tucked the tape in his pocket and they left the lab, going through the smaller room, which led to a set of double doors. Nikia gave Atar Jaharra's card but the display box failed to change when he scanned it.

She jabbed the gun deeper into Harding's side. "What's going on?"

"Take my card. Only Herr Koenig and a few of the doctors have access to this pa.s.sage."

Atar took the card from the clip on her coat and ran it through the reader. The red light turned green and the doors slid open with a hydraulic whoosh.

They stepped forward and Nikia stumbled when the floor under them moved. Her finger tightened on the trigger and she craned her neck, looking for the source of attack.

"It's an auto-walk," Harding said, apparently picking up Nikia's tension.

Atar put a hand on Nikia's shoulder. "Do you want me to hold her?"

"No, you don't look steady enough." Not that she was feeling very steady herself. The surge of adrenaline that had accompanied her this far was fading fast and it took great effort to hold Harding. If the woman had struggled at all, she probably would have broken free. Nikia didn't want that to happen because she didn't want to shoot the doctor. Not yet, anyway. They needed the heartless b.i.t.c.h to lead them to the exit.

They walked on the walkway, adjusting to the movement within a few steps. It seemed to speed up their progress, making Nikia doubly cautious. She saw Atar's eyes constantly scanning the way ahead and behind them as they moved through the corridor, past multiple steel doors that all seemed to be in the locked position.

"What are you doing here?" Nikia asked when they pa.s.sed yet another room with opaque gla.s.s and an even thicker door than the others. "Experiments. Herr Koenig has an interest in genetics. He believes the proper combination of DNA will yield the perfect weapon."

"You're creating living weapons?" Atar sounded as horrified as Nikia felt. They traded a look that spoke volumes.

"Herr Koenig has vision-"

"Save it," she snarled, urging Harding forward as they approached another set of doors. "Where do these lead?"

"This is the garage."

She was skeptical and pushed the gun deeper into Harding's flesh. "Convenient. Why does this secret corridor lead to the garage? Are you certain it isn't going to open to a room filled with security?"

Harding shook her head emphatically. "Herr Koenig renovated the warehouse to serve as a garage for the vehicles. The other half is the cryo-storage area, where we keep samples not actively being studied.

Please think about it. Doesn't it make sense to have the medical corridor lead to biological storage?"

It did make sense. After sharing a look with Atar, she returned his nod and he opened the door. They tensed, expecting an ambush but it was a quiet room they stepped into with caution. Nikia s.h.i.+vered at the chill of cement against her bare feet. "Are there lights?"

"There is a panel on the wall by the door."

Atar looked and must have found it because several overhead lights flickered on, revealing a large garage, with an a.s.sortment of vehicles-everything from a Cadillac to a tractor-trailer, even a Hummer.

"Keys?" Atar asked Harding.

"In the safe against the wall. You will need my card."

Nikia watched Atar as he made his way to the steel safe mounted to the wall, sliding her card through to open the door. As he sorted through keys, she examined the room again before speaking to Harding.

"You're being very cooperative. I can't help wondering why."

"You have a gun. Herr Koenig pays well and the work is intriguing but I am not going to die for this."

"You might," she said in a whisper, hoping it sounded sinister enough to terrify the doctor. She didn't plan to kill her but didn't mind making her sweat. From what little conversation she had heard between Koenig and Harding, both were high on her list of people who should die to do the world a favor.

Atar returned. "Let's go."

Nikia nodded, releasing Harding gradually, who was smart enough not to make any sudden movements.

"One more thing. Where are we?"

"Prague." She shook her head, not believing Harding. "Koenig is German. We must be somewhere in Germany."

"No. His experiments were a disappointment to the German government and the Herr fled his native land." Harding nodded for emphasis. "Prague is a city where rules are more...flexible."

Atar snorted. "Shall I tape her?"

She shook her head, bringing the pistol up quickly and smas.h.i.+ng it against Harding's head. "No, let the b.i.t.c.h have one h.e.l.luva headache."

Two hours later, they waited at the airport as the jet Anca had chartered taxied down the private runway toward them, arriving ninety minutes after Atar called for it. She couldn't help thinking again of how smoothly their escape had gone once they were in the Hummer and past the sole guard at the gate. No one had chased them upon leaving Koenig's compound. It had been easy. Too easy, Nikia feared, not dropping her guard yet, even though the jet was only feet away.

She kept expecting another group of armed men to arrive and try to take them again. Should they manage to not regroup before Nikia and Atar were out of Prague, she didn't think they would give up.

Koenig would keep pursuing Atar. Even if the old man died within a few weeks as he'd stated in the conversation Atar had repeated for her, there might be another wacko out there who would have a similar interest in Atar. His blood was still in that lab. If anyone came across it, they would want to know more about the Makheet.

She sighed as the jet stopped and the door opened. Employees of the airport pushed a staircase over to meet the jet and she grasped Atar's hand, walking with him to board. As she climbed the steps, she had to admit there was nowhere safe for her lover, except Corsova. Her plan to leave the country of her birth far behind wouldn't work any longer. If she wanted to be with him, she had to go to Corsova. Her stomach gurgled with acid at the thought.

Fear filled her. What if Anca wouldn't believe her about Illiana? What if she was banished or even worse, executed immediately upon return?

As they entered the jet, she looked at Atar, who was discussing their destination with the copilot standing by the door. A different kind of fear filled her, imagining parting from him forever. She would rather face her half-sister and whatever fate awaited her in Corsova than to simply give up Atar and go into hiding. He was worth fighting for.

She let her gaze wander around the plush interior as Atar continued speaking. The furniture consisted of recliners and a sofa in beige leather. A st.u.r.dy table centered between the recliners could be used for dining or work and it included a beige lamp bolted to its surface.

She looked down at the floor, seeing beige carpet that was a perfect match for the furnis.h.i.+ngs. Trapped by Illiana's essence, she had ridden on a private jet several times as her mother carried out various machinations. That one had been so opulent as to be embarra.s.sing, while this jet personified understated elegance.

She turned when Atar tapped lightly on her shoulder. "Yes?"

"What is our destination?" He leaned closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. "I suggest we gosomewhere we have no intention of staying, so it will be more difficult for Anca to track us."

Her insides warmed at his willingness to living on the run. With a small smile and tears wetting her eyes, she shook her head. Looking at the copilot, she said, "We're going to Corsova. There is no airport in the country, so you'll have to land in Constanta."

He nodded. "Very well. Have a pleasant flight and please let us know if you require anything."

Atar tried to speak but Nikia put a hand on his arm, letting the copilot take his leave. He closed the door to the c.o.c.kpit behind him, giving the pa.s.senger area of the plane the illusion of total privacy.

He turned to her as soon as the pilot was out of hearing. "What are you doing? We can't go back to Corsova. The Protector will never believe us about Illiana."

"We have no choice." She touched his cheek. "You won't be safe in the outside world. The borders of Corsova are carefully monitored and outsiders are watched even more carefully. No one can get to you there. We have to go home." As she said it, the word home resonated in her heart. The castle was her home, despite all the bad things that had happened there. She had the right to return and could only hope Anca would give her a chance to defend herself before summarily ordering imprisonment or death.

"We'll be fine." He took her in his arms. "I don't want to take you back there without knowing what will happen to you."

She snuggled against him. "It doesn't matter what happens. I'm prepared to accept whatever Anca decides, as long as I know you're safe."

"I'm not prepared. I couldn't stand by if she tried to execute you. I couldn't bear it."

She tilted her chin to look up at him. "And I can't bear the idea of Koenig or some nut like him coming after you. Be honest. Why did you settle in Corsova originally?"

He s.h.i.+fted with discomfort. "It was a long time ago..."

She nudged him gently. "Tell me."

A long sigh escaped him. "It was during the Renaissance when I knew I had to move completely away from civilization. Even the mountains and secluded areas where I spent my time always belonged to some government. I knew with the interest in science flouris.h.i.+ng, I would be an oddity. That was an improvement over the possibility of being labeled a witch and executed but only marginally. If anyone realized what I was, I would be in danger, regardless of how they reacted. I spent years searching for a place and when I came to Corsova, I knew it was a haven."

"It still is." Her smile turned down at the corners. "We have no choice, Atar. Besides, I miss the castle and my home. Never before was it just mine but now that my mother's essence is gone, I can make a new life for myself there, if Anca gives me the chance." She brushed her fingers against his brow. "A life with you, if that's what you want."

"Of course it is." His arms tightened around her. "When I was strapped to that table, facing death, all I could think of was that I hadn't told you how I feel about you. I love you, Nikia. Don't ask me when it happened but it was an epiphany when I reached out for you during the banishment of Illiana and you came back for me. I knew then that I had been denying what I felt. I should have told you when wemade love."

Tears clogged her throat and she cleared it, searching for words. Finally, a simple, "I love you," was all she needed to say, along with the action of lifting her head higher to kiss him.

His lips were soft and gentle against hers, lacking the urgent hunger that had driven them earlier. She put her arms around his neck as his pulled her closer. He smelled delicious, despite everything they had been through. She nipped his lower lip gently, receiving a retaliatory swat on the f.a.n.n.y in return.