The Marked People

Cures and Death

Indigo

"So how are my two favorite experiments going anyway?" Aradonious' voice is smug as he speaks but I can barely hear him over my own heartbeat. My jaw is still locked in pain from my most recent seizer.

Phoenix's markings, green from his fear of watching me scream become tinged with yellow and drawing me to his chest he snaps at Aradonious "She'd be better if you could fix her already!"

Aradonious sighs, "Dear brother," Phoenix curls his lip in disgust but Aradonious continues "I am trying all I can to make sure she isn't a complete waste of resources, but this is what happens when you play with DNA, it gets messy."

He arches an eyebrow while leaning down to look at me, as if he's a kid looking at a zoo animal. If it weren't for the glass separating us I'm sure Phoenix would have already attacked him. I shift, uncomfortable from Aradonious' eyes and Phoenix growls "All right the fun is over, you've had your daily torture session, now leave us alone."

Aradonious straightens up "Yes well I didn't come here to watch the testing, I thought you'd be interested to know that we might have finally found the stabilizing agent we need to fix your friend here."

I feel my breath catch but Phoenix is talking again "I would have thought it beneath you to be a messenger. In fact considering we're just prisoners I'm surprised you thought to tell us at all."

Aradonious smiles, a smile that closely resembles Phoenix's own smile, though on Aradonious it looks cold and calculated "True, but as I'm sure you know Indigo survived her first round of experiments partly because of her strength. I'd hate for her to die now because she's given up on finding a cure."

He looks directly at me "So here is an incentive for you to keep fighting."

My mouth curls into a snarl "I might decide to die, just to spite you."

Aradonious flicks his fingers at my words "Yes and I suppose that would set me back millions in research but it would also mean I no longer have any need of Phoenix. After all he's only here to keep you alive."

It shouldn't surprise me he speaks so coldly about one of his own blood, but I suppose that for Aradonious, family has no meaning, not when it could damage his profit anyway.

Aradonious continues talking his tone light, as if we're discussing things over biscuits and coffee "So I suppose I should say there is good news, but only for one of you. Indigo there is a good chance you're almost cured. Phoenix, unfortunately it means you're almost at the end of your time here."

Standing Phoenix pulls me up with him and glares at his brother "What? Are you to squirmy to say the word? Just say it! It means you're going to kill me!"

Aradonious stares at his brother before blinking "Yes I suppose killing you is the appropriate phrase though I didn't think you needed me to spell it out for you to understand."

He smiles lazily "So with that I'll leave you dear Nix to whatever it is people marked for death do. But don't worry I'll be sure to bury you near our parents, I'm sure they would have wanted that."

"I'm sure they wouldn't want their son murdering his only brother." I snarl as Aradonious turns to walk away.

Aradonious turns a slash of a smirk across his face "Father had always like Nix best, why should I care what his ghost thinks? If anything father should be glad I'm sending his favorite son to him early."

Phoenix is quiet once Aradonious leaves and I leave him to his thoughts. Walking over to the bed I lie down. I'd made a show of being strong while Aradonious tormented us but now we're alone I let the mask slip and shaking I slow my breathing. Once my body has time to relax I'll be fine. While my body gains energy my mind is stuck on Aradonious' news.