Demon Lord VI - Son of Chaos Page 16

  Hurrying to her quarters, she stripped it off and put it into the auto cleaner, then donned it again. He liked it, so she would wear it. She brushed her hair and gazed at herself in the mirror, wishing she was more attractive. Saddened, she sank down on her bed. How could he ever feel anything but contempt and resentment for her after what she had done to him? Yet even if he hated her, she longed for his company. The prospect of seeing him brought a rush of joy that made her heart flutter.

  Chapter Nine

  Unbelievers

  Bane wandered into the dining room, seeking Drevarin’s company and some more rest. Kayos had gone there when Bane had left the hospital in search of Nikira, but remained invisible. Drevarin lounged on his couch, his eyes blank, which meant he was listening to the prayers from his domain. He glanced at Bane and smiled.

  Artan and his group sat at one of the tables, engaged in a soft conversation, and they fell to their knees when they spotted him. They had been waiting outside his room when he had left the hospital, but he had waved them away as he strode past, intent on confronting Nikira. He had only paused long enough to hug Mirra. He approached the second couch, where she waited for him, and flopped down on it, summoning a cup of ambrosia.

  Sarrin came to kneel before him, and the rest of the group followed suit behind her. “Lord, may we speak to you?”

  He waved the cup. “Of course.”

  “The dark god you destroyed yesterday was the same monster who killed our beloved Armorgan.” She clasped her hands. “We beg your permission to become your worshippers.”

  Bane’s brows drew together. “No. I am not comfortable with people worshipping me. It does not seem right, and prayers... bother me. You are all going to live in Drevarin’s domain, so you should worship him.”

  “Why does it not seem right, Lord?”

  “It just does. Perhaps because I am only flesh and blood like you, not a celestial being like Drevarin.”

  The light god gave a soft snort, and then gazed into space when Bane glanced at him.

  Sarrin shook her head. “You are no less worthy, Lord. Perhaps, begging Lord Drevarin’s forgiveness, even more so, since you have the power to do so much good, and to protect us.”

  “I will not be here to protect you. I must continue my journey through the God Realm, and you will stay in Drevarin’s domain.”

  “I want to come with you!” Ethra cried, her eyes bright.

  “No.” Bane wagged a finger at her. “Do not argue with me.”

  Sarrin put a hand on the girl’s arm. “If we are your worshippers, we must do as you say, Lord.”

  “Really? No. That is blackmail, and it will not work. You cannot follow me without my permission.”

  “We can!” Ethra said, scowling.

  “You will die.”

  “You won’t let us!”

  Bane snorted. “I will leave you in Drevarin’s domain, and you will not be able to try.”

  “We won’t go in!”

  “I shall carry you in if I must.”

  “I won’t let you!”

  Bane swung his legs off the couch and glared at her. “You will do as I say.”

  “No!” Ethra jumped up and launched herself at him, flinging her arms around his neck. “Don’t leave us!”

  Bane recoiled in surprise, releasing the cup of ambrosia, which drifted away and was fielded by Drevarin. Ethra squirmed onto his lap and buried her face in his hair. Bane tried to pry her arms from his neck, but she hung on, and he realised that he would have to hurt her to free himself.

  “Let go, Ethra.”

  “No!”

  Bane sighed, and glanced at Mirra when she giggled. She grinned, her eyes alight with amusement. “If you let go, I will consider allowing you to come with me,” he told Ethra.

  “Promise that we can.”

  “Do not try my patience.”

  Ethra pulled a face, then kissed his cheek and released him, leaving his lap to settle at his feet. Bane fought the smile that tugged at his lips, and Drevarin chuckled.

  “An endearing child.”

  Bane caught the cup Drevarin sent drifting back and sipped from it, then dismissed it. “But not a particularly obedient one.”

  Ethra pouted. “I’m not a child.”

  “And I will not argue with you about it.” Bane glanced up as Artan rose to his feet.

  “I must pay homage to the one who destroyed Torvaran, Lord. I swore a blood oath to seek revenge for Armorgan’s death, or to pledge my sword to whoever destroyed his murderer. If I am not worthy to be your worshipper, then let me be your liege man.”

  “I did not say that you are unworthy, Artan.” Bane rubbed his face. “I am too tired to argue with you too. Be whatever you want.”

  “Thank you, Lord.”

  Bane lay down on the couch and closed his eyes. “Now let me rest.”

  Mirra stretched out beside him and kissed his cheek, snuggled into the crook of his arm and laid her head on his shoulder.

  ***

  Nikira turned away from the dining room door and went back to the lift, pushing the button for the lab. There, Drontar and his fellow scientists huddled over their instruments. He glanced up when she entered, raising an enquiring brow.

  “What happened to the sword?”

  “He melted it.”

  “He melted it?”

  “Is there an echo in here, Drontar?”

  The scientist shook his head. “But we tried...”

  “He used the dark power.”

  “Of course. What a shame.”

  Nikira eyed the other scientists. “What are you working on now?”

  “His blood. His DNA is quite unique, and extremely interesting. I believe that if his genes were introduced into a person suffering from a genetic disease or defect, it would cure them. I’ve also decided that we should clone him, so we can harvest all the genetic material we need.”

  “No. You’re going to stop the experiments and destroy all the samples we took from him.”

  Drontar stared at her as if she had lost her mind. “You can’t do that, Commander. This material is too valuable.”

  “I’m the commander of this ship, and I’ve given you a direct order.”

  “I think you’re no longer fit to command.” Drontar’s eyes raked her dress. “You haven’t been yourself for some time now. I think that man, whatever he is, did something to you.”

  “No, he didn’t. What you’re proposing is immoral, and I won’t allow it.”

  “It’s not immoral. We do it all the time.”

  “Not with the blood of a god.”

  The scientist snorted. “He’s not a god. He has an amazing ability to use the dark power, I’ll grant you that. We all saw him kill a dra’voren, but he’s still just a human being with strange DNA. If we can isolate what allows him to use the dark power, we could all become like him.”

  “And I suppose you think Drevarin is just a strange looking man too, who can use the white power.”

  “He could be. If we could get a sample of his blood, we could prove it. Our legends say that a creator is a being of light, and Drevarin isn’t.”

  “What if our legends are wrong? What if Drevarin could become a being of light if he chose? He changed when he was healing Bane, you saw him.”

  Drontar nodded. “We saw something strange, but that doesn’t mean he’s a creator. I think you’ve been under a lot of stress, Commander, and it’s affected you. You should go to the hospital and ask Jovan for a tranquiliser.”

  “You’ll destroy the samples, and that’s an order.”

  “If you persist with this stupidity, I’ll have you removed from command. Clearly you’re not well.”

  Nikira went over to the nearest comscreen and activated it, intending to call a squad of soldiers. Drontar pushed her aside and deactivated it. Turning to his fellow scientists, who gaped at them, he said, “Call the second in command. What’s his name?”

  “Donavan.”

  “Tell him Comma
nder Nikira has taken ill, and he’s in command now.”

  A scientist activated another comscreen and spoke into it. Drontar looked smug.

  “You can’t do this,” Nikira said.

  “I just did. Only a mad person would order such valuable material destroyed, and you’re starting to sound like a religious fanatic. Like one of those doomsday nuts who hang around outside my office at base.”

  “Donavan knows I’m perfectly sane.”

  “He won’t when he hears your latest order, and especially your reason for it.”

  Nikira scowled at him. “You’re going to regret this. You may be able to con Donavan, but how do you think Bane’s going to react when he finds out that you’re planning to clone him? I’d say he’s going to be a little angry.”

  Drontar’s eyes narrowed. “Which is why you’re not going to tell him.”

  “You can’t stop me.”

  “Oh, I think I can.” Drontar swung around as a tall, spare man with a receding hairline and a gaunt face entered the lab, looking tired and irritable.

  Donavan approached her, nodding at Drontar. “Sir. Commander. What seems to be the problem?”

  Nikira folded her arms and jerked her chin at Drontar. “Our eminent scientist here would like me removed from command.”

  Donavan looked puzzled. “On what grounds?”

  “He’ll tell you that I’m insane.”

  “That’s preposterous.”

  Drontar smiled. “But Commander Nikira has just ordered me to destroy the samples we took from the strange man you captured. She believes he’s a god.”

  Donavan hesitated, frowning. “Well...”

  “Can you prove that he isn’t?” Nikira demanded.

  “Can you prove that he is?”

  “Donavan, escort Drontar to the brig.”

  Donavan’s brows rose. “What’s the charge, Commander?”

  “Disobeying a direct order.”

  “Perhaps we should let base command decide.”

  “No,” Nikira said. “They won’t -”

  “They’ll agree with me,” Drontar interrupted. “We can learn a lot from that blood, cure diseases and birth defects. Only a mad person would order it destroyed. Commander Nikira should be taken to hospital and tranquilised. Clearly she’s been under a lot of strain. Look at how she’s dressed.”

  Donavan glanced at Nikira. “Commander, why would you want to destroy those samples?”

  “They were taken without his permission, and he doesn’t even know we have them. That’s illegal.”

  “He’s not a citizen of Bayona, or any other country in our world,” Drontar scoffed.

  “That doesn’t mean we can steal his genes.”

  “Actually it does, since he’s technically our prisoner, or he was until you released him.”

  Nikira asked, “Do you really think we could confine him?”

  “You did before his friend arrived and disabled the stunner, which says a lot about his vulnerability too. I doubt you could now, which is all the more reason to study him. His kind could be a threat to our world. We need to know everything about him.”

  “He has a point,” Donavan murmured.

  “No, he doesn’t,” Nikira argued. “Bane’s not a threat. He’s the only one of his kind.”

  “How do you know that? He could be lying,” Drontar pointed out.

  “Drevarin told me that, not Bane. You can’t steal from a god.”

  “He’s not a bloody god! If he was, he’d know what we’ve done, but he doesn’t, does he?” Drontar turned to Donavan. “You see? She’s been under too much stress, and sadly, she’s now delusional. She should be in hospital.”

  Donavan nodded. “He’s right, Commander. We’ll let base command decide what to do with the samples. You really don’t have the authority to destroy them.”

  “This is my ship, and I give the orders,” Nikira said. “Insurrection is a serious offense.”

  “You’re not yourself. You need a rest. When you feel better, you’ll see that we’re right.”

  “But you’re not, and when Bane hears about this, he’s not going to like it.”

  Drontar glanced at Donavan. “I think you should take her to the brig and confine her there.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Donavan took Nikira’s arm, but she jerked it from his grip. “Let’s test my theory then.” Bowing her head, she clasped her hands and murmured, “Lord Bane, please help me.”

  “You’re praying to him now?” Drontar chuckled. “That’s pathetic.”

  “You won’t think so when he comes.”

  “He won’t come, because you’re not a telepath.” He scowled at Donavan. “Get her out of here, we have work to do.”

  Donavan took her arm again, but she yanked it free once more. “If you want me in the brig, you’ll have to drag me there with a squad of soldiers.”

  “Let’s not make this any worse than it already is.”

  Nikira clasped her hands and repeated her prayer, wondering how long it would take Bane to arrive, or was he asleep? Donavan reached for her again, but she walked away, and he followed, frowning.

  “Commander...”

  “I’ll have you up on charges for this. Disobeying a direct order, attempted insurrection and assaulting a superior officer. They’ll throw the book at you.”

  Drontar snorted. “You won’t be filing charges from the loony bin.”

  Nikira clasped her hands again.

  “I have heard you,” Bane’s soft voice spoke behind her, making her start. She swung around, as did Donavan and the rest of the scientists. Bane stood next to the door, frowning as he raked them with cold eyes. Nikira sank to her knees and bowed her head.

  “Lord.”

  “Get up. What do I have to do to get some rest in this infernal vessel?”

  “I’m sorry, Lord.” Nikira stood up.

  “What is it?”

  She gestured at Drontar. “This man is a scientist. When you were a prisoner they took blood from you, and I ordered them to destroy it. They refuse. They intend to use it to make clones of you, and to use your DNA to cure sick people.”

  Bane wandered closer. “Clones?”

  “Children made entirely from you, copies of you.”

  “Why would they do that?”

  “So they can study them, and use their genetic material.”

  Bane frowned. “To what end?”

  “To improve our people, make them more like you. I told them they can’t steal from a god.”

  Drontar said, “If he was a god, he’d have known about the blood.”

  Bane faced the scientist. “I knew that you took some from me, but I did not know you still had it.”

  “Then you can’t be a god.”

  “How much do you know about gods?”

  “Enough.”

  “Nothing. Your god is unborn, and you are woefully ignorant. What do you think I am?”

  Drontar shrugged. “A man with strange DNA and an ability to use the dark power.”

  “I see. Then you are a fool. I will not permit you to use my blood for your purposes, whatever they are. Give it to me.”

  “It’s the property of my government now, I can’t -” Drontar grimaced and staggered, clasping his brow. “Bloody hell!”

  Bane turned to face the sample fridge in the corner and held out his hand. A tray of glass vials filled with blood appeared in it, and he placed it on the table. The scientists backed away as Bane raised his arm. He pointed at the tray, and black fire spat from his fingers, engulfing the vials in searing shadow. Some of the other scientists dived for cover, and Drontar’s eyes widened. When the fire died, pools of melted glass oozed across the scorched table top, and smoke rose from the debris.

  Bane glanced at Nikira. “Had I been more rested, I might have been more patient, but fools annoy me. I trust I can get some sleep now?”

  “Yes, Lord.”

  “Good.” Bane headed for the door, but stopped beside Donavan, who steppe
d back. “And she is in charge. Touch her again, and I will cut off your hand.”

  “Yes sir.”

  Nikira cast Drontar a triumphant look and trotted after Bane, catching up in the corridor. He shot her an irritated glance.

  “What now?”

  “I just wanted to thank you, Lord.”

  “That is not necessary.”

  “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

  He arrived at the lift and pressed the button to summon it. “Good, because I usually do not.”

  “Why not?”

  “I am disinclined to.” He rubbed his brow. “I have many prayers whispering in my mind, most of them begging my aid and a few praising my name, mostly from my domain. I cannot possibly answer them all. In any case, they do not interest me, and I am too far away even if they did. The only reason I came was because it seemed likely to have some bearing on the welfare of myself or my companions.”

  The lift arrived, and she followed him into it, her heart pounding as she stood beside him in its confines. Although she was almost six foot tall, he towered over her, his sweeping cloak adding to his air of looming size. He pressed the fifth-floor button, then glanced at her and raised a brow. She reached across to press seven for the bridge.

  Bane watched the digits change with a faint smile, and she wondered if he could sense her tension, or perhaps even hear her heart thudding. The thought brought a qualm of acute embarrassment. She racked her brain for something intelligent to say, to get his attention and make him notice that her dress was laundered and her hair brushed, but her mind was blank.

  As the floor numbers rose towards five, she blurted, “Why do you use the lift, Lord?”

  He shot her a surprised look. “Why would I not?”

  “Because you can walk through walls and floors.”

  “Ah, I see. Using power tires me.”

  Nikira nodded, then realised that she was staring at him and looked away, her cheeks growing hot. To her immense relief, the lift arrived at the fifth floor, and Bane swept out. She sagged against the wall as the doors slid shut, cursing herself for an idiot. She was a modern woman who had had many lovers, yet with Bane she was like a smitten schoolgirl. The crew looked around when the lift stopped at the bridge, making her feel like even more of an idiot. She went to a console and studied the screen, then glanced at the nearest officer.