Page 58 of Twins for the Barbarians

“What are you planning? Haven’t you done enough harm?”

“The viral strain can be adapted to your genetic makeup. It’ll bypass your species’ immunity and target every human genome present in each of its future hosts. Neither you nor your children will survive the coming year,” he says. “I just need to make a few tweaks here and there, and it should be good to launch before the week’s end.”

Dread clutches my throat, filling my veins with ice as I try to wrap my head around what he just said. This son of a bitch plans to infect me and my unborn children with the plague. Cynthia, Amber, Jewel…the children…none of us will be safe. He’ll keep watching while the others die a slow death, unable to save their species from this wretched disease, unable to pull back from a war that has claimed so many lives already.

“You really love watching the world burn, don’t you?”

“I do,” he agrees. “I love watching people suffer for doubting me, for belittling me.”

“And your brother? You killed him. There’s no need to lie anymore. You killed him. Did he doubt you, too?” I ask, carefully analyzing the subtle shifts in his expression.

“I loved Elian dearly. He was one of the few people who actually believed in me, Alicia. You cannot imagine how much it hurt that I had to eliminate him. It wasn’t an easy decision. I still lose sleep over it, but look at Opal City. Look at how far we’ve come since we broke from the ancient traditions and the ancient ruling class. We’re flourishing while the rest of Sunna is in flames. We’ve built a peaceful home here while the rest of Sunna has been embroiled in a decades-long war. We deserve to inherit this world. And we will.”

“Just so you can read flattering things about yourself in future history books, huh?”

“That, my darling, is what immortality is all about. It’s every scientist’s dream. And I was smart enough to stop at nothing to make it a reality. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

“You’re a monster,” I exhale sharply.

The study doors open, interrupting our conversation. I hold my breath as I watch Neya and Sarin come in first, accompanied by Helios and Kharo, and six soldiers. My men have their wrists bound with thick, unbreakable black metal chains. As soon as they see me, I can tell they’re relieved, but our current circumstances make the sensation feel short-lived.

“Are you okay?” Helios asks me.

I nod once. “You?”

“As well as we can be,” he replies, his gaze darting across the lab. “Kingo?”

“He managed to get away,” I say.

“Not for long,” Solomon calmly interjects, then motions for the soldiers to take Helios and Kharo over to the opposite corner of the room, where two sturdy metal chairs await. “Seat them there,” he says. “And leave us. I need to have a chat with my most disrespectful guests.”

“We didn’t do anything,” Kharo insists.

“Oh, please. Enough with the lies. I’ve let you play your games for long enough. Did you really think I didn’t know about your little escapades through the city?” Solomon shoots back, half-smiling.

Sarin and Neya keep exchanging nervous, confused glances. Each of their reactions only serves to confirm what Leela has already told me. They had no idea about their husband’s involvement in the creation of the plague. They thought he was their savior. They all believed him when he promised they would be okay, that the universe had bigger plans for them.

“We’ll find your helper soon enough,” Solomon mutters, then gives his wife a stern look. I suggest you go speak to Leela and explain the gravity of her situation. She cannot expect me to bail her out this time.”

“Your Grace, what of her sons?” Sarin asks. “They’re asking for their mother.”

“Move them from their quarters to yours. You’ll be raising them alongside yours from here on,” he says. “It’s the only way.”

“Your Grace, might we have more information about what’s happening here?” Neya dares raise a most reasonable question, but it’s obvious Solomon isn’t ready to tell them the truth.

I can, however. “Your precious husband and king is the one who created the plague. He played you all. He fooled you into thinking he was your savior when he’s the one who put you in this position, to begin with,” I say, loud enough for the retreating soldiers to hear as well. Two of them steal doubtful glances at me, so I know I’ve planted the right seeds in their heads. “He’s been keeping everybody here in Opal City so he could control you.”

“You lie,” Sarin hisses, giving me a hateful look.

I shake my head. “Ask him. He’s devising a new strain as we speak. One designed to kill me and any other human or human hybrid on Sunna.”

“He’s doing what?” Helios replies, his tone clipped as the horror of this new reality glimmers brightly in the red pools of his eyes.

“Shut the hell up and let me do my work in peace,” Solomon snaps. “I’ll do everything in my power to protect my people and my city, everything.” He pauses to look at his confused wives. “That’s all you need to know for the time being. I’m taking care of you, of our children, of our kingdom, and of our future. And in order to do my job, I must make difficult decisions, unpopular decisions, painful decisions. It hurts me as much as it hurts you, but it is for the best. I’ve brought us this far, haven’t I?”

Neya and Sarin look at each other. They don’t trust him like they did before; that much is obvious. Yet it’s too soon to poke and prod them further. Forcing someone to open their eyes may result in said eyes being shut tighter and tighter until they’re willfully blind. It’s important to see the cracks in the wall, however. I’m worried we may not have enough time to bring the wall down altogether.

“We believe in you, Your Grace,” Sarin declares. “We shall leave you to your work. Come, Neya.”

---