Page 58 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
Navuh hadn't mentioned Zhao before, but it was possible that he had known all along about Eluheed's talk with the scientist at the hotel bar. They hadn't been alone, and the place probably had cameras. He also had never mentioned compulsion before, but perhaps he realized that Eluheed needed to know that to provide better advice.
The question was whether he should acknowledge knowing the doctor or pretend that he didn't know who Navuh was talking about.
The safest route was to stick to the truth, but since Navuh hadn't asked him to comment, he could just nod.
Navuh leveled his dark eyes at him. "Your vision spoke of fire and betrayal. I'm beginning to think it relates to Zhao's creations."
Eluheed kept his expression neutral. "The visions show possibilities, my lord. Perhaps another session would provide clarity?"
"That's why you're here." Navuh extended his hand.
Eluheed took the offered hand between both of his, closed his eyes, and opened his mind to the connection. The vision came almost immediately, clearer and more violent than before.
The fire was not metaphorical. It was literal. The training grounds, which he had only seen through the visions, were ablaze. Bodies in uniforms scattered like broken dolls, but since they were immortal, he didn't know whether they were truly dead or just temporarily incapacitated. The vision shifted to Dr. Zhao, cowering in his laboratory and barricading the door against the monsters he had created. The vision shifted again, this time to a unit of enhanced soldiers, their faces twisted with the euphoria of bloodlust and violence.
The vision returned to Zhao, who was clutching something in his hand that Eluheed couldn't identify, and then it dissolved, leaving him slightly dizzy and disoriented.
It was like coming off a rollercoaster ride.
He needed a moment.
"What did you see?" Navuh demanded.
Eluheed described the vision as he had seen it, but he didn't say anything about the enhanced soldiers or the elite team, as Navuh had referred to them. He only said that he'd seen fighters turning against each other. Bodies on the training fields.
"What else did you see?"
"Chaos, my lord. Fire and blood. But also a sense that foreknowledge might change the outcome. If you increase security, separate the units so they cannot coordinate as easily, perhaps station loyal forces between them."
"Yes." Navuh nodded. "That's wise. Is there anything you saw that you are not telling me?"
"Only impressions, my lord. A feeling that the threat comes from delusional minds. Have these elite soldiers been using drugs?"
He was skirting very close to the truth, but as a seer, he had some leeway.
"Yes, and Zhao warned about side effects." Navuh's fingers drummed on the desk again. "He said they were developing delusions of grandeur. I thought he was making excuses for his failure to perfect the formula."
"Failed experiments can have dangerous repercussions, my lord."
"These aren't failures. They're successes that need tweaking." Navuh stood, restless energy driving him to pace. "These men are stronger, faster, and more resilient than my other soldiers. But also harder to control, harder to predict. Zhao needs to find a way to maintain the first part while mitigating the second."
A knock at the door interrupted them. Navuh's expression darkened at the intrusion. "What?"
The door opened to reveal one of Navuh's lieutenants. The man's eyes flicked nervously between his lord and Eluheed.
"My lord, I have the progress report you requested, but I can come back later."
Navuh's entire demeanor shifted, becoming even more guarded. His gaze shot to Eluheed, then back to thelieutenant. "We are done here." He turned to Eluheed. "You may go. We'll continue this discussion later."
Eluheed stood. "Of course, my lord. Should I remain here or return to the hotel?"
"Return to the hotel. I'll send a car for you when I need you."
Eluheed was disappointed. He'd hoped he would be invited to dinner so he could spend more time with Tamira.
The door closed behind him with a decisive click, but Eluheed lingered for just a moment in the hallway, straining to hear. Navuh's voice carried faintly through the heavy wood: "…temperature maintained at exactly…" Then footsteps approached the door from inside, and Eluheed quickly walked away.
When he descended the stairs, he found the ladies gathered in the sitting room. Tamira looked up and smiled, looking relieved. She always worried about him when he was summoned to Navuh.
