Extraordinary Mistakes II - Blood Ties

I can save her

For six months now, Marianne would leave for university whenever she had to, and spend the rest of the day with Megan in the house. Teaching the girl to read, meditate, and exploring, whenever Megan felt comfortable, her ability.

"Impressive how much more controlled she is now, Marianne. You were right from the start," Edward told her.

At university, Marianne keeps developing her investigation on autoimmune disorders, trying to understand how she can cure her daughter or at least reverse the state that she's in.

That work brought together Marianne and Edward Hall. She mostly kept to herself in the labs at the university, but Edward Hall began noticing her, and he is the sort of privileged boy that doesn't take no for an answer.

Out of nowhere, he began always being there whenever she was, and she'd politely ignore him. He would pour his heart out for her and tell her all about the job he has on the side, how studying deviants is much more fascinating that anything that Marianne is doing there, how it's much more demanding intellectually.

That's when Marianne started listening to what he had to say. Edward's position had nothing to do with intellect but his family's ties to the government. But she started entertaining him and realizing what is it exactly he did there, how much access he has to deviants.

Marianne's desperation for a cure led her to his bed, which led her to have a place in the organization. Too low of a place at first. She had no access to deviants, let alone could ask for one to see her daughter. But it was a matter of perseverance, and she had it.

Her eyes glowed on the day she saw Megan destroying the soldier's arm. The government was desperate for the war to end. Desperate for a weapon that matched the power of the Five. Whoever controlled that weapon could ask for anything.

Smi mens jernet er varmt. Strike whilst the iron is hot. That poor child is desperate for affection. She'll trust anyone who hands it to her. And so she did.

***

Edward's smoking a cigar in bed, an expensive gift that he explained in detail to Marianne and she nodded, pretending to listen to.

"The president gave it to me when I told him about the specimen. He's extremely excited. So are the generals," he smiles, "ten months and the difference is night and day. Imagine the possibilities, Marianne."

"Endless," she starts to get dressed.

"If you hadn't stepped in, one week max and the general would've put a bullet on it," he laughs and takes another puff of the cigar, filling the room with the smoke.

Or she would've killed you all. Marianne finishes getting dress.

"You are going already?" he takes a sip from the cup of whisky on the nightstand.

"Yes, the specimen asks me to comb her hair every night and to watch her fall asleep." Marianne rolls her eyes and laughs.

Edward's laughs echo through the room, "that thing actually," he takes another sip and shakes his head, "actually thinks you're its mother."

She laughs again and puts on her boots, "not yet, but soon it will," she takes a second, puts on her wristwatch and looks at him, "Edward."

"Yes?"

"The healer..."

"Oh yes, Marianne, I know, I know..." he sighs, "the generals said it was okay, just borrowing the healer during the next Christmas ceasefire... but..." he clicks his tongue, "how should I put it?"

The seconds it takes for Edward to continue to feel like years to her.

"James Williams and Amy Anderson-"