Chapter 28
Loose Threads
"Hello, little sister. I haven't since seen you in years…" Thailog smirked.
"That was a rotten trick! Taking me from my bed." I yelled.
"Perhaps, but I couldn't help but notice Owen leaving the Eyire every night to go to Oregon since a little before Thanksgiving. And to find out he was visiting you!" He laughed.
"What- what you'd mean?" I asked.
"This armor I wear has iron in it. And Avalon magic cannot affect anything with iron in it-" He must not know I found a way around our weakness.
"You remember the truth, don't you? Then that means…" I gulped.
He snarled before calming down. "Yes, Talia, I know you went missing 5 years ago. And they have been very kind to you. It's amazing that Alexander and Owen have aged, but you don't look a da-"
"SHUT UP!" I strained against the chains and struggled to keep the power out of my voice.
"While you were asleep, Sevarius took samples of your blood to analyze. It may take a few hours, but by tomorrow night, we'll find out why you age so gracefully." Thailog left.
I took a breath and used the carbon from my breath to change the iron into steel. He may have been right in that Avalon magic can't affect anything with iron in it, but if you delude it enough, it won't matter. It's going to be awhile before this becomes ultra-high-carbon steel though. I got a little over 12 hours to covert a few key spots and work on my cuffs if I don't nap. Here we go…
"You're remarkably calm for someone who just got kidnapped, or are you asleep?" My eyes opened and it took a moment to focus. A brunette in black clothes pushed a tray of food in my cell. She had silver necklaces and a gold Illuminati pin on her shirt. Her skin was a shade darker than Elisa's.
"Do you want to me start crying?" I asked.
"No, not really," She said.
I looked at my meal. A ham and cheese sandwich, apple slices, and a carton of milk. "He went all out on this, didn't he?"
"I can tell him you don't like it," She waved her hand dismissively.
"I'll eat it," I said. I couldn't mess up my plan by making a chili dog and bag of chips out of thin air.
"I'm surprised you accepted your fate so quickly," She remarked.
"Don't mistake composure for cowardice." I bit into my sandwich.
She hummed and left.
"Why'd he use the cheap cheese?" I frowned. I ate quickly and went back to work. The rest of the day went by quick. I didn't get as far as I wanted, there was still enough iron to make me itch, but that was it.
"You left quiet an impression on Shari, it's too bad that confidence is misguided." Thailog opened my cell and unlocked my shackles only to put me in handcuffs.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." I quipped.
We walked down to the lab where Sevarius was and I was strapped to chair. They were going to poke and prod me. The computer screens were showing data and numbers that made no sense to me.
"Did you enjoy the walk here, Miss Xanatos, or should I say Burnett?" Sevarius began laughing.
"What are you talking about?" Thailog demanded.
"Mister Burnett was born in 1982. This little lady here was born 1999." The scientist smiled gleefully.
"Owen… is my dad?" I gasped.
"A little slow on uptake, my dear. He's also only 17 years older than you." He held my chin, tilting my head. I barely kept the glow out of my eyes. "You do have his nose, ears, and strong jaw-line. Not to mention the iron sensitive and autism. Although, you must have gotten a mutated strand of his DNA because your paternal DNA doesn't quite match his in some places."
"This is all very fascinating, but get to the point, Doctor." Thailog's tail twitched.
"As I was saying, this mutate strand of DNA has strange properties, such as the slower degeneration rate of her cells. I almost thought she hadn't aged at all. It seems to have activated before her 17th birthday then faltered for 5 months and recovered." Servarius said.
All that time and I haven't… "No, that can't be true. Tell me it's not true!"
"The numbers don't lie, Talia." Thailog looked at the computer.
"No, no, no! I can't live forever, I can't!" I yelled as I thrashed around.
"Thailog, restrain her!" Servarius shouted as he grabbed something.
The gargoyle pinned my head and arms down. I screamed furiously, tears running down my face. I can't, I can't do it! I heard something break and then a sharp sting.
Talia's POV End
Thailog's POV
I got up from Talia's chair, rubbing my ringing ears. "Perhaps it would be best to sedate her when she's out of her cell."
"Agreed," Servarius grimaced. "She broke the arm of the chair and it is made of steel. Perhaps her super human screaming and strength is another side effect of Burnett's mutant DNA."
"Did you two upset a Banshee?" Shari asked, walking in.
"Not quite. Talia didn't really like the fact she ages slower than normal humans." I shrugged.
"We'll have to get a new chair in before we do anything else." Servarius said. "I need more live samples to study and if she's in that cell too long, her sensitive to iron will ruin the integrity of them."
"I will order a new one and then we will continue to our research." I smiled. "Shari, I think it's time to send a message to my fathers."
Thailog's POV End
