The Caste - On Hold, major edits and title change.

Chapter Thirteen

By the time spring hit, the virus spread all the way down to Detroit, and up as far as St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula. People were dying in the thousands, and acts of cannibalism amongst the poor increased, infecting people in mass. Cannibalism was once a 'thing' in the years before, as many people died from starvation. The survivors would feast to calm their bellies from the trembles of hunger, and prevent their own deaths. Corvus had never been at the point he had to eat his friends after their deaths. He was grateful to Karen for that.

"Corvus, I don't want you leaving here too often," Camlin told him as he sat in Aquis' living room. "The Caste has increased their security all over the city, and the Harbormaster has been replaced by a Chrombot."

"A Chrombot? I wonder why?" Corvus responded.

"Rumor has it, the Harbormaster got eaten alive as he scanned a fare," Camlin said.

"The Mers tell me that they are also injecting some kind of liquid into passengers before allowing them to board. I am assuming it is a trigger to make the virus spread quicker." Aquis handed Camlin a glass of brandy and sat down in a chair across from him.

"The Caste may have dropped this thing, but they are making damn sure it doesn't infect them." Camlin sipped his brandy. "They have placed security cameras all over the Isle here, mainly in the aquarium. I have hacked into them and have seen you and Nyrie walking around the Isle. You need to be more careful, son. They are on to you, and I cannot allow your location or hers to be compromised."

Corvus nodded. He felt sorry for the sea life trapped in the aquarium. They were social creatures and the lack of visitors had made many of them sick. Corvus sneaked into the aquarium to visit them at night, holding his hand against theirs through the glass of their enclosure. He and Nyrie were in the midst of the perfect plan to free the Mer and other water creatures that the Caste held captive in their aquarium.

"I think part of that is their paranoia about the virus they spread. They don't want to catch it. I am sure they are also trying to set a trap for the person who broke into their tower earlier this year." Aquis looked at Corvus, smiling.

"I don't want Nyrie coming up here very often, Aquis. She's safer in the City of Mer. She is not to go to the aquarium again for any reason," Camlin warned. "The Caste has yet to discover the place or realize they have another empath right off their back yard. I would like to keep it that way. Matter of a fact, you might be safer down there with her."

"While I agree with you about Nyrie, I will not risk the Caste finding me with our daughter. I have been considering sending Corvus down there to stay." Aquis stood up and poured herself more brandy.

The silence that fell over the room was deafening; Corvus noticed a glower cross Aquis face as her eye color took on a deep purple hue before turning back to their normal shade of sea-blue. She smiled at him as she looked up from her glass.

"Corvus, can you leave us for a moment?" Aquis asked.

Corvus stood up and looked at Camlin, "Is that ok with you, dad?"

Camlin closed his eyes and sighed, "Yes, it might be better for both of us if you did."

Corvus walked with a mission towards his bedroom. He rested his hand on the doorknob and turned back to look at Aquis. She gave him a nod and a smile. Corvus walked inside.

As Corvus shut his bedroom door, Aquis turned to face Camlin. "While you have the right to dictate our daughter, you do not have the right to dictate to me. You gave up that right once Segna was alive again, and you continued your relationship with her."

"You knew bringing my wife back to life was my plan before we slept together the first time, Aquis. I didn't realize you had been this bitter for so long." Camlin slammed his fist into his palm.