Page 4 of Hair, She Bears
“That’s an interesting outfit.” He took a step forward. Zenna copied his movement, scooting backward, and knocked her elbow against the shelf.
“It’s too big,” she said and blushed, tugging at the hem.
Mother snapped his fingers and opened his palm. She stretched out her arm, offering the vial to him. As soon as the bottle left her hand, she scuttled around her worktable, placing it between her and Mother.
“You just made this?” he asked, lifting the vial even with his eye and tapping the side.
She nodded, her attention flicking to Malik. He stood immobile, his hands clasped in front of his waist, a younger version of Mother—leather vest, worn jeans, heavy boots, and an unspoken aura of danger, which circled them both like black clouds. Malik tilted his head, and his gaze skated over her, hovering on the exposed swell of her breasts. Heat rose to her cheeks, and she tore her eyes from him.
Uncorking the top, Mother tipped the vial, and tapped a pinch of the purple powder into his hand, touched the tip of his tongue to the powder, then closed his eyes. After a minute, he opened them—they glowed black.
“This is one of your better ones.” He turned away and held the bottle out to Malik. “Test it.”
“I don’t use Votras Alute.” Malik shook his head and held up his hands, stepping backward.
“Why?” Mother frowned. “You sell it. You should know what it does to the body.”
“I know how it feels, and I have no need for it,” Malik replied, setting his feet. “I’m healthy.”
“I said to try it.” Mother’s eyes narrowed, and a low snarl grew in his throat.
Malik snatched the vial from his father and held it up. With his tongue trapped between his teeth, he shook the glittering powder, then shifted his gaze to Zenna.
“You’re correct, there is not enough light in here.”
Mother’s face purpled.
A tiny grin passed over Malik’s face, and Zenna was certain she saw him wink. With a sigh, he tilted the vial, tapping a tiny portion into his palm. Raising his eyes to his father, he licked his hand, shivering as the powder released into his body.
“Better?” Mother asked, his coal eyes blazed as he retrieved the vial from Malik, sealed it, and slipped it into his breast pocket.
“No.” Malik’s tongue garbled the word. His unfocused gaze sliding over the room, he stumbled, moving toward the sofa, and collapsed with a grunt, dropping his head into his hands. “I need to sit.”
“You wouldn’t have that reaction if you consistently used Votras Alute.” Mother threaded his beefy fingers through Malik’s shaggy hair and yanked his head up, wrenching it until Malik stared into his eyes. “I need my soldiers to be strong, especially you. I expect you to ingest one serving each day.”
“And if I refuse?” Malik asked, his eyes rolling.
“What happens to people who refuse me?” Mother lifted his gaze to Zenna.
“You kill them.” Just like he threatened to kill Zenna’s parents if she refused to create the drug for him.
“Exactly.” Mother laughed, the cruel sound sending ice sliding down Zenna’s spine, and flung Malik off the sofa toward the open window. His inhuman strength was a side effect of consistent use of Votras Alute.
Zenna screamed as Malik crashed into the wall, less than a foot away from the opening. He dropped to the stone floor, his limbs folded beneath him, groans poured from his mouth. She dashed across the room but froze beside the sofa when Mother held up his hand as he strode to Malik’s writhing body.
“If you were anyone else but my son, I would have thrown you out the window.” Kneeling, Mother wrapped his fingers through Malik’s hair again and jerked his head from the floor. Blood trickled from the corner of Malik’s mouth. Mother leaned closer, dropping his voice to a low growl. “The next time you defy me, I will kill you. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes,” Malik replied through clenched teeth. He wiped the back of his hand across his chin, smearing the blood.
“Good.” Mother glanced over his shoulder at Zenna, his eyebrows pulled together into a scowl. “What is that?”
“What?” Zenna stepped backward. Her hand flew to her chest, and the necklace hidden beneath her shirt.
“That. You told me you lost that.” One thick finger pointed at the heart-shaped bulge. His voice dropped to a menacing growl. “Did you lie to me?”
2
“Ifound it this morning.” Zenna trembled as Mother advanced. His hand whipped out and closed around her upper arm, jerking her to him. Reaching under her hair, his jagged fingernails scratching her skin, he unfastened the necklace and pulled it from her throat. His fingers curled around the small heart, crushing it in his hand.
