Deep Red, Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Blood Uncertainty
When Marlo came to her office, Zoe rattled off some technical name for what the human used to drug her. It was a strong barbiturate mixed with a kind of amphetamine which, judging by the amount that had still been in her system, probably would have killed a human. Zoe’s voice carried the same accusations as earlier, and the voice seemed to agree. He deserved it. Marlo waited for Zoe to tell her something about the other tests, but the doctor stopped after describing the effects of the drug.
“And that’s all you know right now?” Marlo asked.
“That’s all I can talk about. But we do need to discuss something.” Marlo looked at Zoe expectantly. “The full moon is arriving. It starts its three day cycle tomorrow, in fact. I can’t say that you will change for certain, but we can’t take the chance that you might do so in the house.”
“I thought that was what the locked doors were for, and the 24-hour escort of Drew.” Don’t you know that she wants you away, where I can do the least damage? She won’t tell you, but you know. You know what I am. You know what you are.
“There is a place, off premises,” Zoe said, “where changelings go for their first changes. Most first changes are unpredictable and violent, but the children here are different. You will be much different, if you change.” Marlo searched Zoe’s face, and decided she was hiding something.
Q’s words rang in Marlo’s head. “I tell you that you are the hybrid. You can acknowledge it or not.”
“When do I have to go?”
“Tomorrow morning. You could change any time within the three days. I’ve also remarked to Victoria about your declining weight. We’ve weighed you every day since you arrived, and you’ve lost approximately ten pounds. While you are at the cabin, we want to try you on a changeling diet.”
“Which entails what?”
“Fresh, raw meat.”
“Do I want to know where you’ll be getting this meat?” Marlo asked.
“Animals. Deer, mostly.”
“Humans?”
“Not for you. We want to see how if you will react to raw animal meat first. You might have no reaction at all, and then we will need to confront your nutrition in some other way. We really have no idea what to expect at this point. I just need for you to try and remain patient.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Try not to think of it in terms of choices,” Zoe suggested.
Marlo paused and looked off into space and then focused her eyes on Zoe. “I tried. It didn’t work.”
Zoe looked down at the chart. “I want to help you, but you’re not making it easy.”
Marlo flashed Zoe a fake smile. “I’ll work harder.”
Zoe rolled her eyes. “Victoria wants to talk to you.”
“I’m sure Drew will have no trouble getting me there.”
When Marlo exited Zoe’s office, Katrina was waiting for her instead of Drew. Marlo attempted a genuine smile. “Hey,” she said.
Katrina linked her arm through Marlo’s. “I told Drew he could take the day off.”
“Meaning that you’re the only person who can stand being around me right now.”
“You do seem to be pretty close to the edge right now. Anything you want to talk about?”
“I got back some more memories today, and I met Q.”
“I can’t think of which to ask you about first.”
“The memories were mostly of Adam. And one of Zoe. She’s always had that hard edge to her, I guess.”
“Competitive, yes. She can be really sweet, too.”
“I suppose that robots can be set to sweet,” Marlo said.
“That’s not really fair,” Katrina said. Marlo shrugged in response. “You’re getting a strange perspective of her with all this ‘to be the hybrid or not to be the hybrid,’ nonsense.”
Marlo smiled. “When did you study Shakespeare.”
“College, in Oregon. Go Ducks.” Katrina stuck out her tongue, and Marlo laughed. “I knew she was in there somewhere. You used to have the most wonderful laugh.”
“Used to?” Marlo gasped as felt that strange dropping sensation in her gut, and bent over to catch her breath.
“Should I go get Zoe?” Katrina asked.
“No, it’s just something I used to feel a lot. I hadn’t felt it since I got here. It just caught me off guard.”
“What sort of feeling?”
“It’s like vertigo or something. Nevermind.” Marlo tried to sound casual, but she didn’t feel casual. He’s here…. He who? she demanded. The voice did not respond back.