Series: Zandian Brides Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“I…I honestly don’t know.”
He examines my face like he’s not sure what he sees.
“Daven, I really don’t understand how, but I just remembered it. It’s just there, in my head.” I shrug. “For some reason, I can envision the holo screen in that lab, and remember myself looking up from my beaker organization task, and the symbols locking into my brain.”
“Is this a project with which you’re familiar? Do you experiment with chemicals?” he probes further, brow furrowing.
“I know nothing about this tech. It’s like transcribing a foreign language, but I know it’s accurate, at least to what I saw that day. I just–it’s in my brain.”
“This is good. Very good.” Daven finally sounds pleased when I finish the complex series of equations, even though he still seems concerned. “It’s a strong memory, and we can try to share it with the other humans, see if it triggers more from them. And if it’s true, Dr. Daneth might be able to replicate the techniques to help humans here on Zandia.” There’s excitement in his tone–and pride. “Excellent effort, Sia. Do more like this.”
I flush. I love the feeling of making him proud of me.
“I’m glad I can help.“ I touch my head. “You and the Zandians have helped me–us–so much. I want to help all of the humans here as much as I can.” When I say this, there’s a weird flash inside my head and a buzzing. I touch my temples. “I…” I shake my head.
‘This one is perfect for Project Alpha.’ It’s an Ocretion speaking. ‘Smart, can cipher, learns remarkably quickly. And brainscan shows all the pliability we need.’
I’m restrained with straps. We’re in a lab. They’re going to do the surgery now–the one that is going to be the pinnacle of Project Alpha–and turn us into….
Then myself, much later, reaching up to touch healed scars on my head–scars that match the ones on Flora’s skull….
What exactly were we turned into? I want more of the memory, but it doesn’t complete. But I remember enough. Something terrible happened to me in that lab, something with the chip, and it’s what Flora wants me to keep secret. Needs me to keep secret, so we can all stay alive.
“What?” Daven leans in. “Tell me.”
I shake my head as the memory swirls, and the dizziness fades. “It’s disappeared,” I lie.
I don’t want to be dishonest with Daven. The problem is that when the flashes come–and they do come more often than I admit to him–I don’t know which ones are safe to share and which ones are not. I still can’t shake that fundamental feeling that I need to learn more about myself before I can tell Daven anything. After all, apparently my life–and Flora’s–depend on keeping something secret. I’d be foolish not to give myself at least a little time to figure it out on my own first, right?
This particular memory is clearly not one that I feel safe sharing right now.
But Mother Earth, he can tell that I’m lying.
“I don’t think you’re being honest with me.” Daven’s voice deepens. “Sia, as your master, I insist that you answer truthfully.”
“But I did.” I try to look convincing. Too bad the only thing I can think about right now isn’t the stupid memories, but the way he slapped my ass twice in that waiting pod. And how it made me feel. He hasn’t touched me that way again, and frankly, I’m dying for it. Being near him awakes feelings I’ve never had before in my life. Maybe if I can goad him into some action, we can stop talking about the cursed memories. I’d rather not get them, anyway.
He’s not fooled. “All right.” He slaps his hands onto his thighs, nods, then stands. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Frankly,” Daven gives me a dark smile, “I’d prefer the hard way. Although you might not.”
My stomach leaps. “What’s the hard way?” I put a hand to my mouth. I wanted something from him, but…do I want this?
“Let’s find out, shall we?” His voice is conversational.
He heads to a cabinet and unlocks it. “It’s about time, I suppose, that we acquainted you with some of the Zandian methods, Sia.”
“M-methods?”
He retrieves a black bag from the cabinet and comes back to the hoverseat beside me.
“Indeed.” He pats the bag.
I inch away from him. I’m not sure about this.
“Sit still.” His voice is iron.
I stop sidling immediately. “Daven?”
“You can call me Master right now.”
He opens the bag and takes out a small leather strap. “Do you know what this is?”
I stare at it. Shake my head.
“Answer me.”
“No. Um, No, Master.” I swallow.
“It’s a little spanking device, Sia. For your pretty human ass.”
I flush red hot. A mix of trepidation and need floods my belly. “I…”
“You,” he emphasizes, “are about to get a lesson in obedience. Humans get punished when they disobey their masters. Lying to me is not acceptable.”