—
“He is dying, my Yena. He will not last the night.”
Karen raised her eyebrows in alarm. When the man had mentioned death, she’d thought he was being melodramatic. Now Zezvar said the same.
“From a shoulder wound?” Karen asked.
“He has other injuries,” said Zezvar. “He was poisoned by Muridians. The amount of poisoning he sustained would have killed him were he not put in stasis soon after the attack.” Zezvar rubbed his ribbed forehead. For the first time, the alien doctor looked defeated. “His liver is irreparably damaged and his vital organs will begin shutting down. For the past several months, I have been treating him but none of my methods seem to cure him.”
Karen tightened her fists at her sides. He was dying? After what he’d done for her, nothing could save him?
“However, where traditional medicine has failed, I have considered an unorthodox solution,” Zezvar said, as if he’d heard her thoughts.
Karen perked up. “So there’s a cure after all?”
“There might be.” He retrieved a translucent tablet from his cluttered desk and read its content. “Due to research I’ve been conducting since Klara Megan’s remarkable conception of Paer Kelan, I’ve learnt that there are incredible healing properties found in the blood of an unborn baby created through kainaan. From my research, the healing properties are strongest at the point when the essence fuses with the mother.”
“The kainaan process is when you extract energy source from a Dava male and insert it into a female which makes her pregnant, right?” Karen spoke aloud. She didn’t know much about it, except what she’d learned from Megan and Jillian. It’s how her nephew, Kelan, and niece, Tamiah had come into existence.
“Correct.”
“And this will save him?”
“Perhaps. Although energy source extraction is a taxing process on the body. Death is possible even in healthy participants.”
“But he might live if we try…” Karen said softly.
“Karen,” Suri spoke up for the first time, startling Karen. She’d completely forgotten Suri was in the room too. She faced the princess. There was a knowing look in Suri’s pretty violet eyes. “I don’t think this is a decision you should make without thought. He might not want this.” She placed a hand on Karen’s shoulder. “You should speak with your kin first.”
“I haven’t made any decisions yet,” Karen said, her tone defensive. But she knew it was a lie. Her mind was already made up. This man had saved her life tonight. She had to repay him. She couldn’t just stand back and watch his life disappear knowing she could have done something to keep him alive.
Sure, the consequence was huge. Life-changing. She’d be having a baby. A baby for an alien man she knew nothing about. It’s true, he might not want this. As a matter of fact, there was a ninety-nine percent possibility of him waking up and hating her for taking away his choice. What if he’d never wanted children? And even if he did want kids, he’d definitely want a say in who the mother should be.
But as important as these things were to consider, she didn’t want to dwell on the ramifications of her actions. Later, when everything was settled and she had time to think things through. This might be a terrible decision, but it was for a great cause. The end justified the means. This was a life. And if she had to bring forth one to save another, so be it.
“I’ll do it,” Karen said. “Tell me what I have to do, Zezvar.”
Zezvar eyes widened in surprise. “Yena Karen, I have not fully researched this treatment method. It might be best if we considered it a bit longer—”
Her features tightened in determination. “We don’t have time to consider it. You said he wouldn’t last through the night, so it’s now or never.” She held onto the alien doctor’s shoulder. “Please, Zezvar. Let’s do what we can to save him.”
Zezvar regarded her for a moment until he finally said, “As you wish, my Yena.”
“Karen, this is not wise,” Suri began and when Karen opened her mouth to speak, Suri held up a hand to halt her. “However, I will help. Only the Elders can invoke a kainaan. I will bring those who are willing to participate here.”
“Thanks, Suri,” Karen said, biting her lip. She followed Suri to the door. “And please don’t tell my sisters anything. Not yet. Not until… after.”
With a nod, Suri left.
While Suri was gone, Zezvar prepped Karen by having her change into a loose gown. He instructed her to lie in one of the glass pods so he could ascertain her health.
“Optimal conditions for implantation,” he announced cheerily when he finished.
“That’s good,” Karen said, awarding him a weak smile.
He held up a slim, cylindrical device for her to see. Similar to the one her kidnapper had used to numb her.
“I will use this to extract the blood once the implantation process is complete. It is not painful like your barbaric needles on Earth. However, the implantation of the essence is uncomfortable. Would you like to be asleep during the process?”
“No,” Karen said, digging deep for a brave voice. “I’ll stay awake.”
He nodded and puttered away to continue his preparations. She stared up at the ceiling of the room as doubts began to claw at her. So she turned her gaze to the unconscious man lying in the pod beside hers.
His eyes were closed, his features eerily still. The only sign of life was the readings on the panel of his pod. She couldn’t read the text, so she looked at his handsome face and reminded herself of when he was awake and active. The way he’d stirred her attraction with just his captivating presence. She remembered that bleak moment tonight when all hope she’d ever see her family again had been completely lost. Then the extraordinary moment he’d rushed in to save her.
He might have been unfriendly to her in the past, but he’d more than made up for it. And she would repay him in kind. A life for a life. Except, nobody was dying today. She would make sure of that.
“Zezvar, what’s his name?” she asked. She bit her lips together, feeling self-conscious beneath the alien doctor’s curious gaze.
“Yen Kess Reihan.”
Yen? Wasn’t that a designation for someone with royal ties? The more she learned about this man, the more she didn’t know.
Suri returned along with two women and one man. The trio wore beige tunics and purple sashes hung over their shoulders.
They must be the Elders.
They pressed their hands to their chest and bowed respectfully. Standing straight, they pinned Karen with serious gazes.
“Shall we begin?” one Elder asked.
At Zezvar’s nod, they moved to Kess’ pod. The gravity of the situation was reinforced when the top of the pod slid open and they surrounded it, hands hovering just over Kess’ midsection. They chanted. Slow whispers at first until their voices strengthened and their words came quicker. Even though Kess remained unconscious, he tossed his head, trembling and squirming, his features twisted in pain.
Karen held her breath, aghast. Years ago, Megan had found a Ouija board in their parent’s attic. Megan suggested they conduct a seance to contact Nana Francesca, and Jillian had agreed to take part. At twelve years old, Karen had wanted to seem grown up like her teenage sisters, even if the thought of speaking to dead Nana Frankie had scared her shitless.
And so the seance began and nothing interesting happened at first. Then all of a sudden, Megan trembled, thrashing her head, her arms flailing about as she shouted unintelligible words like if a demon possessed her. Karen remembered screaming her head off and scrambling out of the attic so fast, she’d tripped on the stairs. The last thing she heard as she catapulted into her bedroom closet to hide was Megan and Jillian laughing.
In retrospect, it was a funny prank. But there was nothing funny about this present moment.
Her stomach churned with guilt at Kess’ visible pain. She wanted to tell the Elders to stop, to end this, that she had made a mistake. But it was too late. A bright luminescent ball rose out of Kess, guided by the Elders’ hands. Transfixed, Karen stared at the ball in a mixture of wonder and fear.
One Elder cupped the glowing ball in her hands and came forward. Karen froze, her fingers digging deep into the material of the gown she wore. In that moment, she regretted not having Megan or Jillian there with her for comfort.
But Suri was at her side, holding her hand. Another Elder came, lifting her gown to reveal her bare stomach. Karen had no chance to feel self-conscious about her underwear being revealed. Her heart pounded so loudly in her head, she barely heard the low hum of Suri’s voice reassuring her.
“Are you ready, my Yena?” asked the Elder gently. Maybe she saw the terror etched on her face. Karen nodded, her voice a silent prisoner in her throat.
The Elder’s hand descended with the luminescent ball. Karen let out a gasp of surprise from the mild warmth as the ball fused with her body. The warmth grew stronger, burning her up from the inside out. Oh god, she was on fire! Her heart galloped, her lungs screamed for oxygen. Suri continued to comfort her but she couldn't decipher the words.
Her vision blurred, dimmed, and a tiny whimper escaped her before darkness finally claimed her for its own.