Annihilation - Book Three

Chapter 7

The reunion is something no one expected; he had already come to terms with the idea that he might never see this part of his family again.

 Adriam hugs the former Alpha tightly, unable to let him go, and it appears the feeling is mutual. The cloud of relief temporarily blocks out the darkness, shining a light on their situation's hopelessness. As it turns out, Adriam and Victor appeared shortly after Loan's arrival in Dezna, as Loan had been pretty forthcoming with the information on the potential spread of the infection and the backdoor of Taryek's true motivation.

Once more, he was disgusted with how little they were willing to reveal to each other, that Loan and Taryek allowed them to leave while knowing they might come back to a slaughter. 

Dezna, being more rural, did not have nearly the medical ability of the fully stocked Ziduri capital, so it only made sense that the best doctor they had should remain safely in the walls of the elf kingdom. Adriam had been doing what he could, trying to provide care and treatment to the infected and utilize the healers they had on hand, but, as Haryek had said, nothing could be done to stop the spread. 

Together, they are led to the medical wing, where a small section is quarantined with a cell door brought up from the dungeon. "You're keeping the sick in cages?" Reid frowns.

"We have to observe them," Adriam responds dismissively. Studying them didn't seem to occur to Reid. They go through the who's who once more, it seems Reid is not a welcome presence here and it's hard to blame the suspicious community, every newcomer only poses a whole new threat. 

Verando makes a mental note to talk to them about this later. Turning people away seems a touch extreme, though with the infection spreading, it might be their only true option. 

They enter through the iron door and lock it behind them. "No turning back now, boys." His perfect curls bounce as they walk down the hallway, having to keep a slow pace with Haryek's crutches. 

The Elf Lord explains that they had just the doors of these rooms replaced with iron doors since the oak ones didn't stand a chance anyway. Adriam takes over as they near one of the doors, and the moment they come into view, the man inside hits it with a ferocity that makes the two unaccustomed lycans jump in surprise. 

"This man wasn't like this yesterday; it seems the insanity has peaked for him," Adriam mumbles more to himself as he walks casually over to a chart and scribbles some notes on it with a lead stick. "Only lycans can get this disease. The elves come down with a fever but die from infection, not water sickness."

"What happens now?" Verando questions, keeping his face composed.

 Adriam's fascination for anatomy must be having a field day in these conditions. "Well, now we put him down. There's nothing left to learn at this point. They don't drink, they don't eat, we've tried feeding them and on dissection, there is so little in their stomachs of what they maul that it's not enough to sustain them.

 Any attempt at treating them and trying to get them through the insanity almost seems cruel. We have one with who we are attempting to overcome as he was coherent the longest; he is still alive, but his mental state is nonexistent. We will probably have to decide on him soon as well." Adriam's tone is solemn and professional, and Reid shifts uncomfortably.

"Should we be experimenting on them?" He mumbles. "Doesn't feel right."

Adriam's expression hardens as he pulls a revolver out of his pocket, a shocking sight in today's time. Guns had been scarce in the kingdoms of magic and not necessarily legal in the realm of elves; they were more so something than man used. To make the bullets was difficult and expensive, and it was dangerous to house the finished weapons.