Blood Legacy: The House Of Alexander Part 22

"So someone basically turned our own anatomy against us."

Susan nodded. "And did so in a way that would affect only you and Victor, based upon your unique genetic profile."

"So," Ryan said thoughtfully, "I am back to the original question of why it is not affecting me as it is my father."

Susan shook her head. "I'm not certain. It might be because Victor was infected first, or it might be because the pathogen was created from your blood, giving you more natural immunity."

Ryan thought through the implications. "The most obvious method of transmission would be through the act of Sharing. Prior to my father falling ill, I had Shared with only him and Marilyn. My father also Shared with Marilyn, and perhaps Abigail as well."

"Do you think Marilyn was the carrier?"

"If she was, then she was unaware of it, of that I'm certain." Ryan's expression darkened. "Although I know for a fact that she Shared with Aeron. It is possible that he infected her, either directly or by pa.s.sing it through himself."

"I'm not certain I would try this on myself, even if I knew genetically it would not affect me."

Ryan's expression was still dark. "But he would have no qualms experimenting on Marilyn."

As Ryan was speaking, she was reliving Marilyn's Memories, sorting through them rapidly, looking for any clue. The images flew at her with great speed until abruptly, they stopped. Ryan was looking down at herself, seated on the chair before the Grand Council. Her hands were crossed in her lap, and her head was down. Slowly, through Marilyn's eyes, she turned to the left, catching a significant glance pa.s.s between Abigail and Aeron. She had missed it in the Council room because her head was down and her thoughts were of her father. But Marilyn had not.

Ryan snapped back to the present, her face white. Susan looked to her with concern.

"Are you alright?"

The color returned to her face with full force, so great was her anger. But her words were tightly controlled as she changed the subject.

"So what do you think will happen to me?"

Susan's expression was bleak. "I'm afraid that you will eventually shut down like your father. And although I do not think he will pa.s.s, I think he will stay in a period of equilibrium, as he is now. Although...".

Ryan turned to look at Susan, and Susan hesitantly continued.

"There is one notable difference between you and Victor genetically, which is the additional X chromosome. Obviously, males normally have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, and females have two X chromosomes."

Susan could not disguise the marvel in her voice. "Victor has two Y's and two X's, and you have four X's."

"And why would that be significant?"

"I'm not certain. Normally in a human female, one of the X chromosomes is inactivated, but I have no idea which of yours might be expressing itself. Only one might be working, or it might be all four. If a human female's spare X chromosome is incompletely inactivated, it causes significant defects. However, an extra gene here or there for you seems to have no negative effect." She returned to her generalized discussion. "Human males are sometime at a disadvantage when a defect is carried on one gene in the X chromosome. Women have a spare that can be activated. That's why many diseases are considered 's.e.x-linked' and occur only within males."

"I'm still not certain why that might be significant."

"Well, a lot of what the X chromosome does is actually autosomal, meaning it doesn't have anything to do with s.e.x. Many of the genes are directly related to adaptive immunity. If you have two or three extras lying around, your body might be waging an all out war against the mutagen."

Susan sighed. "And again, I'm merely speculating. This sounds less like science and more like science fiction. If I had an entire population to study, I could perhaps make some headway. But I have only you and your father."

Ryan sighed, knowing the time was at hand.

"And we are both ill."

CHAPTER 20.

RYAN SAT IN HER FATHER'S underground chambers, awaiting the Grand Council meeting. The fever in her blood was high right now, leaving her exhausted as her immune system did fierce battle with the invader. She swam in and out of consciousness, at times almost enjoying the feeling. It reminded her of the la.s.situde of being fully bled. It would be a short time before her system overcame the pathogen, she could feel the microscopic forces a.s.sembling. But the battles were getting longer, and more frequent. It seemed almost as if the strain were ever-mutating, nearly as fast as her body could compensate.

What a brilliant plan, Ryan thought, appreciating any strategy so cleverly and brutally executed. To use her own unique anatomy against both her and her father was a stroke of genius, although, she thought with quiet fury, it would not save the one responsible.

The haze began to pa.s.s, and Ryan felt her strength returning. She stood and stretched, leaning her head to the side to crack her neck. She felt the heat in her body begin to dissipate, felt her skin begin to cool. It was a welcome relief, although she knew it would not last.

Edward was supposed to meet her, but apparently he had been delayed. He had not been in contact, but that did not concern Ryan as they often went for weeks in silence. She tilted her head to one side. The Grand Council was already a.s.sembling-she was late.

Eleven of the twelve witnesses were seated. Edward was not yet present, nor was his normally punctual liege. The five Old Ones were seated, nearly every expression completely impa.s.sive as all guarded their thoughts.

All except Aeron, who almost appeared to be enjoying himself, demonstrating an amazing and uncharacteristic amount of patience. For once, he didn't seem to mind waiting The double doors were flung inward and Ryan strode in. Although not required by protocol, all eleven witnesses stood upon her entrance. When Ryan reached the center of their semi-circle, she turned to them.

"You are dismissed," she said abruptly, expecting no argument.

Nor did she receive any. Other than a few confused glances toward the Grand Council members, the witnesses reacted to her absolute authority with what she demanded: absolute obedience. They quickly filed out.

Ryan turned to the Council, calm and composed.

But Kusunoki saw the raging inferno in his pupil, the barely restrained fury tightly contained within the icy exterior. He saw it, and his concern for his pupil grew exponentially. He had to admit, though, as he felt an unfamiliar emotion that he could only identify as fear, perhaps not all of his concern was for the girl standing in front of him.

The dragon was here.

Ala saw it as well, saw the power and destruction flowing through the girl like the volcanic river of Nyiragongo. As Kusunoki, she was mesmerized and startled by the transformation in Victor's protege. It was as if some prehistoric creature from the deepest, darkest part of the jungle stood before her.

Marilyn also noted the inferno within the girl, and was, against her better judgment, instantly aroused. She thought for once, however, she would express a degree of restraint. Better to not tempt fate, or perhaps in this case, the devil himself.

Ryan turned her hypnotic gaze on the raven-haired woman, reading her mind.

As if you had a choice, she said silently.

Marilyn smiled. The dragon had not come for her.

Ryan turned her gaze to Kusunoki, then to Ala.

You must not interfere, she said to them. What is in motion cannot be stopped.

Ryan then turned to Abigail, who gazed at her dispa.s.sionately with the unblinking stare of their Kind.

Ryan again spoke silently, with resignation but strangely without bitterness.

And I know that you will not.

Abigail slowly smiled, her eyes gleaming, confirming the betrayal Ryan had suspected.

Ryan looked down, but her attention was drawn to a set of perfect fingernails drumming lightly on the table in front of her. She finally turned her attention to the head of Grand Council, and was greeted by a pair of ice-blue eyes filled with a terrible amus.e.m.e.nt.

"So, my dear. How is your father?"

The voice was smooth, melodic, filled with a sensual malevolence that wrapped itself around Ryan as she stood there. If the other members of the Council thought she would explode in anger at the comment, they were again surprised.

"He's a bit under the weather these days," Ryan said, amused by her own comment. There was a dark sensuality underlying her own words. "There seems to be something going around."

Aeron merely smiled, still drumming his fingers. "If he is incapacitated, then as head of the Grand Council, I have no choice but to a.s.sume control of the hierarchy."

Both Ala and Kusunoki turned sharply to Aeron, both surprised and not. Marilyn also glanced at Aeron, then back at the girl. Only Abigail kept her eyes on Ryan, an enigmatic smile on her lips.

Ryan examined her fingernails, as if his statement were of no matter. She raised her eyes to him, her tone still casual, her words anything but. "Then I have no choice but to challenge you for that position."

Aeron smiled his shark's smile, pleased that all of the pieces were finally settling into place in this very protracted battle.

Ryan's tone was still casual, but the flames flickered in her eyes. "I personally care nothing for the position," she said with studied indifference. "I would just hate to disappoint my father."

This comment did not please Aeron, so he ignored it. "And will you choose a second?"

Ryan shook her head. "I do not need one."

Aeron smiled at the confidence. "Very well. Because you have made the challenge, it is my right to choose the venue."

Ryan nodded. "I know where to meet you."

Ryan made her way through the forest. It was remarkably unchanged in 400 years, still a dark and twisted place, remote from all life and living. It was hard to believe that such a place still existed in the 21st century, for it was as if she had stepped into the woods and stepped back in time.

And Ryan knew that was exactly Aeron's intent. Their battle was as psychological as it was physical. He wanted to remind her of a time when she had failed, a time when she had easily been defeated, a time when he probably would have slain her had Victor not appeared and rescued her.

Victor would not appear this time. Aeron had made certain of that. Ryan pushed thoughts of her father from her head. She could not carry him with her now.

Ryan felt the virus stir in her system, and cursed its timing. She did not wish to lie in the forest while it sent its fire through her veins. She was relieved to feel it settle, knowing it would not return for awhile. She pressed ahead.

It could have been days, but it did not seem long before she entered the clearing she had crossed so many years ago. She was not surprised to see the castle had been rebuilt, and appeared exactly as it had to the young boy's eyes centuries before.

She closed her eyes. What would have happened had she turned, so many years ago, and went back into the forest?

Aeron's thoughts came whispering out at her, confirming what she already knew.

It would not have mattered. I would have come after you.

She could sense Aeron waiting for her, as he had so many centuries before, drawing her in with his dark magnetism. He was waiting for her in the room where he had seduced her, when she had come upon him feasting on the remains of one of their Kind.

Ryan opened her eyes and stepped into the clearing, crossed the wooden bridge, then pa.s.sed beneath the gate into the courtyard of the castle. The same torches flickered, welcoming her, and bringing unwelcome Memories of when she was here before.

She entered the castle, feeling strangely naked without a sword at her side even though she had given up wearing one centuries before. She fought the strength of her own Memories, wondering if Aeron knew how effective his strategy was.

She could feel him ahead of her in the darkness. He knew.

She entered the hallway leading to the great room, glancing to the alcove, knowing what she would find there. The chess board was set up, the same twisted, maniacal pieces in repose. Ryan noted that the bishop she had left for sacrifice had been replaced by the ivory queen. She glanced at the conquered piece for a moment, sitting quietly with the other pieces that had been removed from the board. With only a moment's thought, she moved the rook from her previous move another four s.p.a.ces in another direction. She looked up.

"A most interesting strategy," Aeron said. "I would almost think you were throwing the game."

Ryan smiled. "I think you know me better than that."

"Not as well as I would like," he said, standing very near. "And not as well as I soon will."

Ryan put her hand on his chest, pushing him lightly away. The shock of the contact affected both, although perhaps Ryan more. She brushed past him into the great room.

It was much the same, although without a bloodied, dismembered corpse laying on the table. Aeron still preferred candlelight to electricity, and the room was so lit, with shadows flickering up the walls. There were a few modern touches, a newspaper, a few books, but the room was largely unchanged, perfectly recreated from four centuries earlier.

"I thought you would enjoy the familiar touch," Aeron said, reading her thoughts.

"Yes," Ryan said with a lightness she did not feel, "I appreciate your attention to detail."

Aeron smiled his shark's smile, his blue eyes examining her lithe form. "You could," he suggested mildly, "simply give up and spare yourself a defeat."

Ryan smiled at his arrogance. "And then what?"

Aeron's eyes gleamed. "You could become my Second."

"Hmm," Ryan said, "A most attractive offer," she said, indicating it was anything but. "But I think not."

Aeron shrugged. "I expected as much," he said without disappointment, "Which is why I went to the trouble of having these made."

Ryan was curious in spite of herself. She moved to the case he held open before her. Two swords, both with a strange, gray-blue cast, lie on the bed of crushed velvet. She took one, wondering if she could decapitate him before he dropped the case. Instead she turned and swung the sword experimentally. It was heavy, but well-balanced. Its heft might favor Aeron, but its weight was not such that it would affect Ryan's speed.

"Tantalum carbide graphite," Aeron said, taking his own sword. "A composite material provided by the good scientists at Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico." As she looked askance at him, he elaborated.

"You are not the only one who poaches upon the US Department of Defense."

Ryan swung the sword again. "Yes, they do continually come up with new and innovative ways to destroy themselves." She swung the sword in an arc, then slashed downward. It split the huge oak table in two with ease.

"One of the hardest materials known to mankind," Aeron said, grinning wickedly. "I didn't want our little game to end too soon."

Ryan gazed at the deadly sharp edge of the blade. "Then let us not delay its commencement."

Aeron smiled with obvious pleasure, then struck with lightning speed, delivering a blow that should have sliced the girl in two.

But it did not, because Ryan was no longer standing there. She was already moving with her own preternatural speed, delivering a devastating, slashing counter.

Aeron brought his sword up, blocking what should have been a mortal blow. Ryan quickly disengaged, stepping rearward, a.n.a.lyzing her opponent.

She had fought endless battles, and her greatest opponent had been her own father. But she had a mental link with Victor that allowed her to antic.i.p.ate almost every move. Victor was the stronger, but Ryan's skill had been equal, and her speed perhaps greater. It had created a balance between them that had resulted in battles of unmatched ferocity, with neither truly ever able to claim victory.

Ryan was far less certain of this outcome. She had never battled Aeron before, at least not with a sword. She knew that there was a streak of violent brutality in him that was unpredictable and dangerous. She found herself wishing for the deadly, quick beauty of the Katana.