Page 28 of Mistress A-0002
“I miss the way we used to be. I miss the experiments and the planning. I miss the way we were together. We used to have fun. We used to laugh.”
“…Those were good days.”
“I’m down at the lab now. Jett has shown interest in our field. He’s actually performing one of your first lessons. You could come and give him some pointers.”
Elec sighed. “I wish I could. You know how much I loved our lessons. Unfortunately, I’m headed to see a Master. He believes his slave is suffocating him in his sleep. Being as he killed her on auction night, I think he’s going to have to be evaluated.”
“Is there any history of drug or alcohol abuse?”
“None.”
“What about his biomarkers?”
“That was one of the first things I checked.”
“Oh.” My lips twisted. “Do you want me to come up? I can meet you there.”
“It’s okay. Spend time with your son. I’m sure Jett is enjoying his lessons.”
I took in the way Jett was angling his hand. Too high. Too deep.
“From what I see in that room, the crow is better off dead. Hmm. What about dinner?”
“Hold that door.” Footsteps increased as Elec paused through what I could only assume was a swift but stomping walk. “Dinner. I’m busy tonight.”
“The longer we wait to meet, the more distant we’ll become. We share too much history. Our positions here will suffer. Being in each other’s presence will become harder than it already is. I refuse to allow us to become awkward around each other.”
“I agree. We don’t want that. How about tomorrow? I have some things to take care of tonight, but tomorrow evening works.”
“Tomorrow is perfect.” I smiled. “I’ll bring Jett. We can tell him about the fun we used to have. I’m sure he’ll like that.”
“Even better. I’ll see you both at The Six. Oh…and Melissa, about what you did a few days ago during breakfast with Jett. Master Blessing’s injuries I’ll excuse. Is there a reason you killed Master Seventeen-thirty-four? Wasn’t Foster Corewell one of your lovers?”
Sadness vanished. Defensive annoyance kicked in making heat crawl up the back of my neck. Maybe I should have known Elec would find out eventually, but I didn’t expect him to call me out on it.
“He wasn’t a part of the circle. His death doesn’t matter. Besides, Foster had a big mouth. He was beginning to make threats he shouldn’t have. Damage control. It was necessary.”
“I had business dealings with Mr. Corewell on the outside. As Main Master, I need to know your intentions. I need to make moves before you act. Don’t let this happen again without discussing it with me first. Nineteen is waving me over. I guess something’s happened. I have to go.”
The line went dead. For seconds I stared ahead, getting control of the anger. I forced a smile as I headed back throughthe door. At the hardness on my son’s face, I knew he had been listening.
“So, dinner, huh?”
“I thought you wanted to learn?”
“I do.”
“Then clear your schedule tomorrow evening and drop the attitude. If you want to be the best, you’ll learn from the best. Grandfather was great, but you obviously haven’t gotten to Elec’s tapes.” I stopped next to Jett’s side, easing the orbitoclast from his grip so that I had control. “When you do, you’ll see why I chose him for his position. Science is a sadist’s dream. No one in this field likes to talk about that.” I reached over, pushing the medicine in through the IV to awaken the crow. When I met Jett’s stare, he shifted nervously, lowering his gaze to the slave’s face. “Elec embraced his true nature from the very beginning. I was immediately intrigued by his personality, and I had every right to be. Even before my lessons, Elec wore the best mask I’ve ever seen. I always knew what was inside. There’s only one time he takes it off and exposes what’s truly within. Right here,” I whispered. “It’s the deadness. The detachment. This is his true love.”
The crow sucked in a deep breath, his eyes opening but rolling through his disorientation. His body was already involuntarily flopping from the brain damage, and a deep monotone sound began humming through the room.
“I spent an entire summer watching Elec remove areas of the brain to test his theories. He even once manipulated the section associated with taste just to see if the man could describe what he ate for lunch.
“Could he?”
“The taste, yes. What he ate for the meal, no.”
“I don’t understand. What did he eat?”