Page 31 of I Married Kayog
“What is the oldest Edal recorded?” I asked in a whisper.
“If this is what your Kayog is—and so far it sounds like he might be—then he undoubtedly is the oldest. They usually die within twenty-four hours. The oldest on record passed awaywithin a week of sheer agony. They never make it to twenty-seven.”
“Maker!” I breathed out, pressing my palms to my cheeks before giving my nan a confused look. “How come I’ve never heard of Edals? This seems like such a tragic and extreme condition that it should be broadly talked about.”
She shook her head. “Like I said, it is an extremely rare condition, and we only have one or two cases every century or so. As the solution is quite controversial, it was deemed better to keep it a secret and only address it with the parents.”
“But why? Killing the fetus or newborn child seems a bit extreme. With all our technological advances, surely something could be done for them? If I had an Edal child, I’d want them put in stasis so they don’t suffer while doctors work around the clock to find a cure.”
She gave me an indulgent smile. “Like I said, Edals are an extremely rare occurrence. Based on our history, such a defect would be deemed very harmful to a house’s reputation. The family would want to keep it a secret so that the entire bloodline wouldn’t be shunned for fear they might taint others. This guideline dates back centuries ago. It was never updated since there was no reason for anyone to believe such a child could be saved. And we don’t know that your Kayog is an actual Edal.”
“If he’s not an Edal, why else could a Temern doctor possibly want to kill him? And either way, a child self-harming shouldn’t be a justification for such extreme measures. Plus, in Kayog’s case, he was already much older and not self-mutilating when a Temern doctor found out about his existence. So what other motive could there be?”
She shook her head. “I cannot think of any other reason for them to do so. At least, nothing that I am aware of.”
“And what if he is an Edal?” I challenged.
“Then he will have single handedly changed everything. We need him examined by our top doctors as soon as possible,” she said in an imperative tone.
“I will not have him turned into some sort of lab rat. He’s a person, not an experiment!” I said sternly.
She chuckled and her gaze softened, even though I didn’t miss the serious glimmer that still lurked within.
“Before we speculate further, we need to find out more about him,” my nan said in a factual tone. “Based on the security recordings of the campus, Colin confirms that Kayog’s hands and eyes definitely glowed. They also recorded a significant kinetic power surge. Whatever he is, your boyfriend is something else we’ve never encountered. The question is whether he’s a threat.”
“No, he’s not,” I said with a finality that had my nan raise her eyebrow with a hint of amusement. “Tala said that he is extremely protective of people.”
To my surprise, my nan nodded. “That is indeed what his record states. But we also have very strong reasons to believe that he is the vigilante striking on Mazeria, or at least one of them. In which case, he might be a psychopath who channels his need for violence that way.”
That gave me pause. While my gut screamed that he was not a violent person or a threat to society, it would be completely irresponsible for me not to at least consider that possibility.
Feeling a little defeated, I glanced at my grandmother with an almost pleading expression.
“I like him, Nana. I really,reallylike him. No one has ever made me feel the way I do around him, and every fiber of my being says that he’s a good male who desperately needs help. But I’m scared and confused. I don’t want to make bad decisions based on emotions.”
She gave me an affectionate smile. “You were never reckless, my darling, and least of all the type to go boy crazy. I have concerns about that male, but your affection for him tells me that he must truly be an exceptional person. The Enforcers are heavily investigating him to determine if he is a danger or an asset. I will do everything in my power to protect him, but he must come in for tests. We have to know whether the power he displayed on that campus is all he has, or if there is far more that could be used as a weapon of mass destruction.”
“I understand, but I will not let him be turned into a lab rat,” I reiterated.
“Honey, if he’s an Edal, he will have no choice but to volunteer to be one, if we ever want to find a cure. But it can be done in a respectful and empathetic way. What I can promise is that so long as he is not a threat, I will see that he is afforded the same freedom of choice any other civilian would when it comes to their healthcare.”
Although it wasn’t the answer I had hoped for, it was honest and reasonable. I gave her a stiff nod.
“Be careful sweetie. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Nana. And I promise I will be.”
Chapter 8
Kayog
Islipped three more dipramine pills into the secret compartment of my bracer. It was a tricyclic antidepressant that had long been discontinued on most planets. It was not an ideal medication. But it was the only one that somewhat worked to slow—and sometimes even stop—my pineal gland from functioning. When it kicked in, the drug helped numb the noise and the unbearable headaches that drove me insane.
A massive influx of joyous emotions was fine. For that reason, I had no problem participating in sports events or performing a concert. I loved the physical pain and focus that athletic endeavors provided. The same could be said about being surrounded by the cheers, excitement, and thrill from the crowds attending my shows or competitions. It was once they ended that everything went downhill.
Once the dust settled, people reverted back to their less pleasant emotions such as anger, jealousy, sorrow, and hatred—all of which individually felt like being stabbed by a dagger. And once all of them mixed into one chaotic maelstrom, it subjectedme to sheer agony. So many times, I fought between the urge of gouging my eyes out or destroying the source of the pain—the people broadcasting those foul emotions. And that made crowds a true nightmare.
Still, today I could potentially see my love again. My innards painfully twisted every time I contemplated the possibility that I would see fear and disgust in her eyes. The only thing that gave me hope was Isobel telling me that Linsea was still waiting for that dinner I owed her.
