Page 99 of The Syphon King

“And it didn’t,” Bishop whispered. “You heard him. You stopped it just in time.”

“He was confused,” Seer forced out, the memory cutting him all over again. “I saw it in his eyes, wondering why I...cut off his hand.”

“He’ll be grateful when he realizes,” Bishop said, positive.

Seer believed that and still he shook from the ordealeven as the soft beep of machines reported Zodak’s strong, stable heartbeat.

The door opened to the large room and Nidev announced, “Your soldiers are here. I’ve sent escorts for them.”

“Thank you, Nidev,” Quantum said as he worked on finalizing the containment of Zodak’s severed hand.

“So much for the demonstration,” Harlow sighed.

“Not necessarily.” Quantum’s tone got Seer’s attention.

“What you have in mind?” Harlow pried quietly as Seer listened. “You don’t want to make a spectacle of this kind of thing, that’s...”

“Inhumane etiquette, I’m aware. Trust me.”

The rest of their brothers and the Creole Kings who weren’t assisting filled the corridor outside the lab room. “Must be them now,” Bishop said when everybody moved to create room for whatever was coming. Seer and Bishop watched the glass window, the looks on his brother’s faces jacking up his pulse.

The second they came into view, he realized there was no form of preparation for them. The giant men were lithe in build and reminded him of triplets that varied theirappearances for the sake of distinguishing themselves from their siblings.

“Mah de Dieu,” Bishop marveled quietly as they entered the room with their wives all tucked into the protection of an arm.

Seeming to place their spouses in a corner, the three beings simultaneously bowed and kissed the women, none too chastely, before hurrying to Quantum.

Their women required none of his seeing gifts. Their matching white nun habits complete with head coverings and countenances to match, said plenty.

He turned his attention to the three men before Quantum, hearing them exchanging ideas about Zodak.

Seer moved closer with Bishop to the conversation, wanting to be informed on every aspect of his recovery as well as what would happen with Zen. He’d determined to be his mouth piece while he was defenseless, ensuring everything that mattered to his brother would be tended to.

Seer moved to the right side of Zodak’s bed. “I would like to be informed of everything you’re discussing,” he kindly interrupted.

Quantum’s golden eyes snapped to his. “Forgive me, Seer. I was discussing the best course of action to take.” He lookedaround the room. “Excuse me a moment,” he said, hurrying off, leaving Seer and Bishop alone with the three beings, their brilliant blue eyes locked on him.

“You saved his life,” the middle one said. “I am Fathom.”

“I am Fetch,” the one on his left said.

The man on his right said, “And I am Fin.”

“You are a different kind of human,” the Fathom one said.

Interesting. “How do you know that?” Seer asked.

“We can perceive unseen things in humans.” The Fetch one spoke that time.

“You refer to it as spiritual,” Fin said now.

“We are mentally symbiotic,” Fathom informed.

“Three minds,” Fetch said.

“And yet one,” Fin added.

“Like the trinity,” they all three said in unison as if demonstrating.

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