Page 15 of Land of Shadow

When I look up again, Valen is staring down at me, his eyes dark, the blood on his skin a stark red. All I can think of is what could be lurking in that crimson forest. Plague virus, influenza, one of the old coronaviruses of the past—anything could be infecting Juno right this second. Why would she do such a thing?

“Now!” She raises her arm.

I stop. The entire room stops. It’s still, as if someone has cast a spell that locks us in amber. The gash is gone. Completely gone. The only thing left is a slight trace of blood, and somehow, I know it isn’t even hers.

“Juno!” I lunge forward, breaking Vince’s hold as I awkwardly climb onto the podium and yank Juno’s arm toward me. “What were you thinking?” I can barely hear past the screaming in my mind as I run my hand along her smooth flesh. “What the fuck, Juno? What the fuck?” I can’t find a break in her skin. Everything is smooth and brown, unblemished.

“It’s all right.” Juno grips my wrist and shoots a scowl at Vince. “Really, Georgia. I’m perfectly all right.”

The room behind me is in an uproar, the reporters jockeying to get closer. “Move! Let us see!”

Juno pulls me around to her side. “My doctor—who also happens to be my sister—is just as surprised as all of you. She didn’t know about this demonstration. But she has seen—” She holds up her arm. “—what this new discovery can do. Look for yourselves.”

A million cameras snap photos, and I’m suddenly painfully aware of the sheer number of people with their attention focused on us.

Someone snickers behind me. “Primitives,” he hisses. It’s the blond man who came in with Valen.

Juno steps back to the microphone and holds out her hands. “Settle down. Settle down, everyone. I will explain.”

The room stills somewhat, though the agitation in the air is like a living thing, its tail whipping and snapping silently over our heads. I ease down the steps to Vince, my entire body buzzing in alarm. Her arm—I need to examine it more. I need to know she’ll be all right.

“She knows what she’s doing.” Vince says into my ear as he grips my arm gently. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”

“I am.” I stare up at her, then look at Valen. His impassive face is just as stony as ever, displeasure in his eyes as he watches Vince and me.

Juno seems to shine even more brightly under the lights. “Now, for an explanation. I’ve recently learned about a group of people who’ve lived amongst us for the entirety of our lives, for generations. They’ve always been here, watching and waiting. Cheering humanity on silently?—”

“Aliens?” scoffs one reporter. “That’s how you’re going to explain this parlor trick?”

Juno ignores him. “They’ve kept themselves secret as they hoped for the day when we were ready for them to join us, when we could accept them as equals and embrace them. That day has finally come. They have seen our suffering, seen the ravages of the plague, and they are ready to step up and do their part to ensure humanity survives and thrives.” She holds up her arm. “That is what this is. A promise to us. All of us.”

She pauses as various members of the press shout questions that go unanswered. “Their blood holds the cure for the plague. You’ve seen what it can do for a simple wound. Imagine what it can do for this horrific virus. What you’ve witnessed here today is an end to the plague as we know it, a return to a sane world, a return to the American Dream. Now—” Her voice takes on a sharp edge. “President Gray has known about this miracle, hasknownthat a cure was here just waiting to be discovered, but he’s done nothing about it. He’s let his people sicken and die while help was offered to him time and again by our new friends.” Her tone softens, her volume rising. “But as your president, I promise you that I will not turn this opportunity away. Together—” she glances at Valen, then back to the press, “—we will end this crisis and restore the promises of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” She turns and looks directly into the cameras along the wall, the ones broadcasting throughout the country and the world. “Thank you for your time, your trust, and your support. God Bless Texas and the United States of America.”

* * *

I burstinto Juno’s room, interrupting a tense conversation between her and Vince. “Roll up your sleeve. Now.” I toss my backpack on the bed and pull out my supplies. “I’m going to need one hell of an explanation. If this was some magic trick, then you sure as hell missed your calling as a magician.”

Juno has the nerve to scoff. “Georgia, I’m fine. Really?—”

“I need blood samples from you and Valen. Where is he?” I check my vials and dig around for my gloves.

“I’m afraid that isn’t possible.” Valen’s cool voice wafts through the air and runs down my spine like ice water. Spinning, I find him sitting in one of the chairs by the fireplace.

“Like hell it isn’t.” I pull out a butterfly for Juno and a regular gauge needle for Valen. “Take off your jacket. Whichever arm you prefer.” I yank on my glove so hard I tear it and have to grab another.

“You can’t take our blood,” Juno says.

“I can, and I will, even if Vince has to hold you down.” I finish with my gloves and turn to her. “Sit. I’ll be quick.”

“No.” Juno sighs. “Gentlemen, we need the room.”

A swift knock comes at the door, then Fatima peeks her head in. “President Gray is on the phone?—”

“Tell him I’ll call him tomorrow.”

Fatima clears her throat. “And President Huang, Prime Minster Cambridge, and at least three others.”

“Tomorrow,” Juno says, brooking no argument.

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