Chapter 21: In their hands

Mireille led him through the corridors until they reached a spacious lounge area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bustling outside of the Citadel. Beyond the reinforced glass, towering, silver-sheened buildings reflected the advanced technology, their sleek lines a testament to the Queendoms’ power. Security drones, small as hummingbirds, patrolled sky, a silent reminder of the strong surveillance here. Ezra took one glance and sighed. If he tried to escape, he’d probably be tranquilized before he made it to the potted plant by the corner. Ezra refocused his attention as he walked into the room. It was elegantly furnished with sleek, ergonomic chairs and a low, polished table, designed for important meetings yet with a touch of calculated comfort. As the door slid open, Ezra immediately noticed three figures. Sage was seated, her arms folded, fury eyes glaring at someone mid-speech. She looked annoyed in the way only a girlfriend could be when her boyfriend got detained for surviving. She knew Ezra hadn’t done anything wrong. And even if he had committed a crime? She still wouldn’t care. But it was the two women standing near the windows that drew Ezra’s attention. Ysmeine and High Commander Lysara. Ysmeine stood with her arms crossed, her dark hair braided severely down her back, catching the ambient light. Her warm brown eyes, usually composed, held guarded concern. Even from behind, Lysara’s posture radiated innate authority, her pristine uniform with intricate silver braiding marking her as a high-ranking war lady. Lysara was explaining something to Ysmeine, her voice crisp and measured, like someone used to giving critical briefings. "...responded to reports of Fade activity in the nearby area. When Agents Mireille and Arya arrived, they found him standing in what should have been a death zone, completely unaffected. The most shocking thing was that he had completely defeated the Fade." Sage’s violet eyes widened in shock, darting to Ysmeine, who looked equally taken aback. She knew Ezra was a bit stronger than most, but defeating a Faded? That was unthinkable. Ysmeine’s shoulders tensed, her fear for Ezra’s well-being overriding all else. "And you’re certain he wasn’t infected?" Her voice was low, taut with emotion. "The tests confirm it," Lysara replied, her pale gray eyes sharp and unblinking as she spotted Ezra entering. She turned slightly, her confident bearing unwavering. "He’s not just immune. Something is wrong with him." "I actually think the opposite," Ezra said, finally making his entrance. His voice slipped easily into the room like a well-thrown rock into a still pond. Sage’s annoyance melted into relief as she stood, ready to rush to him. "Ah, there’s our miracle boy." Ysmeine moved faster, her composure breaking as she pulled him into a tight, fierce hug. Her lavender perfume was a comforting anchor in the storm of the past hours. "You okay?" she murmured, quiet and fierce against his shoulder. "I’m feeling better now," Ezra replied, hugging her back, warmth spreading through him. Family grounded him. "Can you tell us what happened?" Sage asked, now at his side, shooting Lysara a defiant glare. "We don’t believe her—she’s been saying nonsense." Lysara’s eyes narrowed at Sage’s tone, but she remained silent, her gaze shifting to Ezra. "I went to visit Ryan after he sent me a message," Ezra began, voice heavy. "But when I got there, it wasn’t Ryan anymore, he was infected already. "Oh, Ryan, your tutor," Ysmeine gasped, eyes wide with shock and sympathy. She barely knew Ryan, but Ezra had described him as a gentle, scholarly man, one of his few male friends. Lysara raised an eyebrow, a flicker of realization and something else unreadable in her pale eyes. "Interesting. So, the Faded you killed was also your friend?" Ezra winced, hating the reminder. Lysara’s tone made it sound like he was monstrous for killing the Faded, twisting the knife of guilt. "Thanks for rubbing that in." He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, "I didn’t exactly enjoy it." His voice trailed off, the memory of Ryan’s twisted form still raw. Sage hugged him, offering comfort. "It’s alright, you have to defend yourself. It’s not a crime." Before Lysara could respond, the doors hissed open. Two new figures stepped in like the start of a final boss battle: Lady Valerius and Chief Scientist Daphne Virellith. Lady Valerius led the way, her steps elegant without even trying, her posture flawless in her tailored navy-blue skirt and blouse. Her presence was commanding yet restrained, her brown hair catching the light as her sharp eyes swept the room with a glance that could probably detect lies, heart rates, and minor tax fraud. "Good," she said, her voice like crystal over ice. "His family is here. That makes this easier." Ysmeine immediately stepped in front of Ezra, her stance protective. "He’s not staying. You’ve already done your tests on him." Valerius arched an elegant brow, her gaze settling on Ezra with professional interest, as if weighing his soul and intellect in one glance. "We haven’t begun the tests. I’ll repeat myself again: you survived a Fade attack. That’s... statistically impossible. The Council has a duty to understand why." Sage rolled her eyes, stepping closer to Ezra. "He’s a person, not your science fair project." Valerius didn’t acknowledge Sage, her eyes fixed on Ezra. "He’s a precedent. If you’d prefer, we could treat him as a threat instead. But I imagine none of you want that." Before Ezra could respond, Daphne stepped forward, her violet eyes glinting with a predatory intensity that sent a needle across his skin. Her tailored lab coat hugged her tall and dignified frame, and her heels clicked with deliberate menace as she fixed her gaze on Ezra, a proprietary look in her expression. "True," she purred, her voice laced with both challenge and amusement. "His tests show something we have never seen before, a neural overlay that’s not just immunity, but adaptation. He’s not leaving until we understand it fully." Ysmeine’s eyes narrowed, her voice colder than Ezra had ever heard. "You can forget about keeping him as your guinea pig. He’s coming with us.... " Daphne’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile, her gaze flicking between Ysmeine and Sage before settling back on Ezra. "And who are you to decide that? He’s an anomaly we cannot afford to lose." She stepped closer to Ezra, her scent, cool, clinical, yet maddeningly feminine, filling the space. "Aren’t you curious, Zaeryn, about what makes you so... special?" "No, I’m not that curious, Daphne." Ezra responded before she could finish. Well, he already knew what it was that made him so different,and he didn’t want them to find out too.