Page 84 of Blue Embers
“They could be acid burns,” I suggested.
“Wouldn’t acid burns heal?”
“Unless they stunted his healing like Haera took my mark away,” Persephone said. “Could that be possible? They’re scientists, you said. Could they have done something to him?”
“It’s possible,” I said.
“It’s a lot more likely than the alternative,” Draven added.
All eyes turned to him. I knew what he was thinking, though I hadn’t even let the idea brew. It was an impossible thought.
“What’s the alternative?” Persephone asked.
“The biggest reason the Leviathan were so effective against us in the beginning was because their fire was the only fire that could hurt a Draak.”
“You’re kidding,” Persephone said.
“You’re right,” I nodded. “Acid is much more likely.”
“Hang on,” Persephone touched my shoulder, grabbing my attention. “No one thought it was possible that a Zephyre was on this world until it was too late. Maybe we shouldn’t count anything out.”
“I agree,” Everly nodded. “Don’t dismiss anything.”
I sighed sharply, shaking my head. “Why can’t things just stay extinct?” I said under my breath. “You know that ridiculous notion would mean there’s a Leviathan alive somewhere, right? Either that or he participated in previous wars against the beasts.”
“Well who’s the Draak?” Everly asked toward me. “If you knew, couldn’t you figure out where he’s been or his history?”
“I could if he wasn’t a big, yellow outline in a black room,” I gestured toward the screen.
“What about the scars?” Persephone added. “There can’t be a lot of Draak with burn scars. I feel like that would stand out in your database if you did a search.”
“That would depend on if he got the scars before or after he disappeared. It also depends on whether or not he’s got a record. There are plenty of people outside the sectors that aren’t on file.”
Persephone put a hand on my shoulder again, this time looking at me with a little smile.
“You’re the guy with all the knowledge,” she said. “We all know your sources extend outside the sectors, too.”
I rolled my eyes, unable to contain a smirk. She was right and it did boost my ego to hear her say it, though even those connections had proven unsuccessful as of late.
Continuing through the photos, there were rooms filled with what looked like machinery, presumably for creating Phyre Glass weapons as bins of the black substance could be spotted stacked along the walls. Moving on, there were more photos of blurry computer screens taken from outside glass barriers. On the first of those photos, the sloppy writing read:Couldn’t go in. This is all you get.
On the next photo, the computer screens seemed a bit more in focus, though still too blurry to make out any major details. From what I could tell, they were diagrams. Charts. Photos of the human form with colors and writing all over indicating things I couldn’t decipher. The last photo confirmed it.
They’ve got pictures of individual patients and diagrams. I can’t get close enough right now to know more. :(
I wondered how a guy like Aethyn couldn’t hack the system or even be tempted to in a situation where he was so close to that much data and information. But of course, the next image explained it like the man was reading my thoughts at every turn.
I wanted to get in there! It’s a gold mine! But as big as my ego is, it took me three years to get past your security. I wasn’t breaking into this one in five minutes. Maybe next time *shrug.*
I took a deep breath, leaning back in my seat and folding my hands in my lap.
“He annoys me and fascinates me at the same time,” I said, nostrils flared and eyes wide with a touch of madness. “He’s a genius and a child. A genius child,” I gestured toward the screen.
Standing, I started to pace a little around the room, thinking. Draven, taking a more subtle approach, crossed his arms and stared at the computer screen with more reserve.
“Gods, I’ve got to find out who he is,” I said, the fact that I didn’t know irritating me more as every second passed.
“He’s a hacker,” Everly said. “He could get into anything. If he got into your system, he could get into theirs if given the time, right?”
