Chapter 312
Posted on January 28, 2025 ยท 1 mins read
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โ€œI really must insist,โ€ Leon said awkwardly, looking around at the packed guest bedroom, โ€œthat we thin the crowd, just a bit.โ€

โ€œWell, Iโ€™m not leaving,โ€ I said, stepping forward and bouncing Rafe in my arms. I looked down at my sister lying on the bed. Cora looked awkward and uncomfortable as she surveyed the collection of investigators: Roger, me, Rafe, and Sinclair, all standing around her. Leon sat primly squeezed into a chair beside her.

โ€œPerhapsโ€ฆthe child?โ€ Leon suggested, and I sighed, realizing he was right. I turned to Sinclair, my eyes pleading.

โ€œCan you leave?โ€ I asked.

Sinclair blanched. โ€œEllaโ€”I have to be here to hear this.โ€

โ€œPlease,โ€ I said, stepping toward him. โ€œMaybe we canโ€ฆ is there a way to set up a video feed or audio feed? So you can hear from another room?โ€

Leonโ€™s eyebrows rose. โ€œThat would work,โ€ he said, looking at Sinclair, who nodded firmly, reaching out for Rafe.

โ€œI owe you,โ€ I whispered, standing on my toes to kiss his cheek and handing him the baby. โ€œI canโ€™t leave her.โ€

โ€œI understand,โ€ Sinclair murmured. โ€œIโ€™ll send someone up with AV equipment in a few minutes.โ€ He brushed my cheek with his thumb before signaling to the investigators to leave with him. I turned back to my sister, then blinked. Roger was still standing in the corner, arms crossed.

โ€œWhat are you still doing here?โ€ I asked, surprised.

Roger stared at me, apparently appalled. โ€œIโ€™m the lead investigator on this, Ella!โ€ he exclaimed, frustrated, gesturing emphatically. โ€œI need to be here! To ask questions! To guide the investigation!โ€

โ€œOkay!โ€ I said placatingly, raising my hands. โ€œI just didnโ€™t know lead investigators were usually soโ€ฆirritable.โ€

โ€œIrritable!โ€ Roger gasped, leaning forward, aghast. โ€œElla, Iโ€”โ€

โ€œRoger,โ€ Leon interrupted, holding up a hand. โ€œWe need a calm environment for this to work, and your agitation isโ€ฆnon-conducive.โ€

Roger stared at Leon, mouth open, shocked to have been so politely reprimanded.

โ€œYeah,โ€ Cora said, grinning at Roger and wrinkling her nose. โ€œSo, in other words, stop being so irritable.โ€

Roger stared between us, then leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes and pressing the bridge of his nose. โ€œSistersโ€ฆโ€ he muttered, โ€œI am never again spending any time withโ€ฆsisters.โ€

A younger member of Sinclairโ€™s team entered quietly, nodding to me and beginning to set up a computer and microphone on Coraโ€™s far side. He worked quickly while Roger composed himself and Leon prepared the ether injection. I sat on the end of the bed, putting a hand on Coraโ€™s ankleโ€”the only thing near enough to touchโ€”and mouthed, โ€œThank you.โ€

She sighed, leaning her head back on the pillow and nodding, accepting her fate.

โ€œNow, Cora,โ€ Leon said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, causing her to flinch. I grimaced, knowing how tense she was. โ€œI know youโ€™re aware of Ellaโ€™s experiences with hypnosis, but everyoneโ€™s journeys are different. Iโ€™m going to give you the injection, then Iโ€™ll guide you back to your memories of that day. Youโ€™ll hear my voice, and then, when youโ€™ve accessed your memories, Roger will join me in asking questions. Is that all right?โ€

โ€œCan I stop whenever I want?โ€ Cora asked anxiously. โ€œIf I getโ€ฆscared?โ€

โ€œYes,โ€ Leon assured her, tightening his grip slightly on her shoulder. โ€œThe antidote is right here. We will stop whenever youโ€™d like. And if youโ€™d like to give your sister permission as well, we can stop whenever she gives the word if she sees youโ€™re distressed. Would you like to give your sister permission for that?โ€

Cora nodded eagerly and looked at me for confirmation. I slowly nodded, letting her know I had her back, as always.

โ€œAll right then,โ€ Leon said, smiling at Cora, Roger, and me. โ€œLetโ€™s get started, nice and easy.โ€

Cora exhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She didnโ€™t flinch as Leon administered the injection.

I saw Coraโ€™s eyes flicker behind her eyelids as the ether took effect, and she quickly entered a dreamy, half-awake state. I watched, curious, wondering if Iโ€™d looked the same under Leonโ€™s care. His eyes also on Cora, Roger sat next to me on the bed, wanting to be closer. I gave him a warm nudge, both in welcome and apology for teasing him earlier. I was glad he was there.

โ€œHello, Cora,โ€ Leon said quietly after a few minutes. โ€œHow are you feeling?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m just fine,โ€ she said, a peaceful smile on her face.

โ€œWhere are you?โ€ he asked.

โ€œIโ€™m at my apartment,โ€ Cora replied, her voice carefree. I blinked, surprised. This was indeed different than my own hypnotic states.

โ€œAh,โ€ Leon said, nodding and taking a notepad from his bag, beginning to write. โ€œAnd is this a happy place for you?โ€

Cora shrugged. โ€œEh. Iโ€™d rather be at work.โ€

โ€œDo you like work, Cora?โ€

My sister nodded and smiled. My heart warmed to see her happiness. โ€œI like to be helpful,โ€ she said, her voice breezy. โ€œAnd busy.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s lovely, Cora. Why donโ€™t you go to work now, and tell me when youโ€™re there.โ€ There was a pause, then Cora nodded. Leon continued. โ€œWhat day is it, Cora?โ€ he asked gently.

โ€œItโ€™s today,โ€ she said, as if Leon was foolish for asking. โ€œDuh.โ€ I bit my lip to stifle a laugh.

โ€œWell, today is very dull, isnโ€™t it?โ€ Leon said, his voice peaceful, soothing, and persuasive. โ€œLetโ€™s go back a little bit in time. To that day, a few months ago, when your sister came to you and you helped her conceive her little baby. Can you go there?โ€

Cora inhaled deeply, then exhaled. โ€œAll right,โ€ she said, her voice humming with contentment and ease. โ€œElla is coming soon. I am excited.โ€

โ€œGo ahead, Cora,โ€ Leon encouraged, and I shifted my gaze to him, interested in his different approach to my sisterโ€™s hypnosis. Heโ€™d taken a much more hands-off approach with me. I was pleased Sinclair had brought him onto our team.

โ€œTell us what is happening,โ€ Leon continued.

โ€œIโ€™m preparing the sample,โ€ Cora reported, a happy smile on her lips. โ€œWe keep them onsite frozen in liquid nitrogen. We had several vials of this patientโ€™s sample.โ€ She yawned, relaxing more deeply into the memory. โ€œBut Iโ€™m just taking out one.โ€

โ€œAnd were you quite careful, Cora?โ€ Leon asked, his voice more curious than accusatory. โ€œTo ensure it was the sample from the donor that Ella selected?โ€

โ€œOh yes,โ€ Cora murmured. โ€œNo mistakes there. Donor 284726. I can see it on the vial and the paperwork. Itโ€™s the right one.โ€ My eyebrows rose; under hypnosis, she remembered such details.

โ€œWhatโ€™s next, Cora?โ€ Leon prodded, calmly taking notes.

โ€œI take it into the lab for thawing to room temperature,โ€ she murmured. โ€œThen, I will check it for motility to ensure the specimen is viable.โ€

โ€œIs that what youโ€™re doing now?โ€ Leon asked.

โ€œNo,โ€ Cora replied with a happy sigh. โ€œNo, I canโ€™t. Because thereโ€™s someone already in the lab,โ€ she said contentedly. My blood ran cold; this was a detail she hadnโ€™t mentioned before.

โ€œWho is it?โ€ Leon said calmly, as if Cora had just described a bird. His voice betrayed none of my shock and anxiety.

โ€œA priest,โ€ she murmured.

โ€œA priest?โ€ Leon continued. โ€œWhat kind of priestโ€”a Catholic priest? Or a priest of a goddess?โ€

โ€œNo,โ€ she murmured, shaking her head. โ€œNo, this oneโ€™s robes are like the goddess robes. But theyโ€™re all black.โ€


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