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I stood in line before the other test subjects, knees steeled against the urge to knock together. Whether from fear or the cold, I couldn’t tell. All I knew is that the sunlight streaming in through the broken ceiling of the church was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
Months of darkness. Months of pain and experiments. And now we were here. Those of us that remained. I turned my head slightly, looking up the line of scared test subjects. We were tourists once, hiking through Romania as part of a Folklore field study. That changed when we crashed, and when…she found us.
Mother Miranda. Our saviour angel of death. Those of us that survived the crash were herded into wagons and taken underground, and that had been the last time I had seen sunlight.
There are five of us now, four women and a man. The bus tour had started with a dozen of us, plus the driver. Like me they wore green hospital gowns turned brown with dirt, sweat, and blood. For a scientist, Miranda wasn’t one for cleanliness.It was awful being nearly naked in front of her. The only thing she hadn’t taken was my piercings, she didn’t seem to know what to make of them. I guess not many Romanians have pierced nipples.
The door to the church slammed open and I slammed my head forward, muscles tense with the desire to run, to escape into the sun. But I knew better. Oh, after months of being Miranda’s ‘favorite’, I knew better than to stand out. To look up.
“The fuck is all this?” A man’s voice called out. Boots scuffed against the stone floor of the church, but I dared not look up from where Miranda had lined us up before the altar.
“Hold your tongue, child. That is hardly language to use in front of Mother Miranda.” The second voice was elegantly feminine, and the speaker settled onto a pew just out of my sight.
“My apologies, Mother Miranda,” said the man, all obsequious charm. “I am merely surprised by the appearance of your… friends.”
Miranda shuffled her wings behind us, and I resisted the urge to flinch. Those wings were the first hint I had that my life was forever changed. Once you knew mutants like her existed, it changed your worldview.
Something small and white ran into my view and to my horror I found a small bridal doll tugging at my hospital gown.
“New friends!” the doll shrieked. “Mother Miranda brought us new friends.”
“All in due time, my children,” said Miranda from behind me. “Settle down, and I will tell you of them.”
I risked a peek up. The doll ran over to a woman dressed head to toe in black, who picked her up and settled the doll on her lap like a toddler. The owner of the feminine voice had to be the massively tall woman with dark hair, her cold beauty at odds with the ruins of the church.
That left the male speaker. He sat across from the tall woman, and wore a wide brimmed hat and a duster jacket. His brown hair was shot with silver and hung in scraggly waves around his scruffy face, his eyes hidden by dark round glasses.
He looked in my direction and raised an eyebrow. I dropped my gaze immediately, but I could still feel his eyes on me. Something tweaked my nipple piercing, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. My eyes shot up, certain someone had reached over and pinched it, but there was no one there.
No, there was someone. There was the man in the hat, a look of curiosity on his face. My nipple piercing twinges again and my eyes widened. The look of curiosity on his face fades into a wolfish grin, and he leans forward, elbows on his knees.
“What are we waitin’ for? Moreau probably finally drowned himself, the idiot.”
“I’m here,” came a morose voice from behind the pews. “The mechanism for the dam is jamming again. Heisenberg, brother, you must help me.”
Heisenberg made a disgusted face. “Last thing I want is to go tromping around that swamp of yours. What happened to the repairs I made? The new parts should hold for decades.”
“My secretions, they can be corrosive, and I-”
“Children, please. This is not the matter we are here to discuss.” The breeze of Mother Miranda’s wings sent strands of greasy black hair into my eyes, and I lowered my eyes further until I was staring at my toes.
“The children you see before you are gifts. I’ve had my use for them, but they have proven to be hardy. Excellent for labor, or whatever you choose to use them for.”
“I couldn’t help but notice, Mother Miranda, that there are four of us, and five of them. Will one of us receive two?”
“Yes, my daughter,” said Miranda. “One of you will get to pick twice.”
“Now that’s not fair!” Heisenberg thundered, surging to his feet. “Who gets two?”
“I am the natural choice to receive two. My lands are the largest, and my castle requires much upkeep. I could make good use of two of the women at my castle.” The tall woman spoke, her voice regal and demanding.
“What say you, Heisenberg? What use would you make of them?” said Miranda.
Heisenberg paused, and when I looked up, he was looking at me. The tall woman followed the direction of his gaze and frowned.
“I’ll tell you what,” he said slowly. “I’ll forgo takin’ two if you give me first choice.”
“Absolutely not! He’ll pick the prettiest one.” The tall woman protested.
“Damn straight I will. I pick that one, the one on the end.” Heisenberg pointed to me, and I looked back at my feet.
“Done,” said Miranda. “Alcina, you may make your choice.”
Alcina hissed and pointed to the woman beside me, a blonde with short, curly hair. She shuddered beside her, and I brushed the back of my hand against hers, the most comfort I dared offer.
The woman with the doll chose the oldest of the women, and Moreau picked the man ‘to help him with the dam’. The last woman went to Alcina, who looked thoroughly displeased with her end of the deal.
“There, it is decided,” said Miranda. “Take your gifts and go. We shall reconvene next week, when you update me on your tithing.”
Heisenberg sprang to his feet and stalked towards me, but Alcina reached me first.
“You there, child,” she said, raising my chin with a gloved hand. “What is your name?”
“Her name is none of your damn business you parasite, I won her fair and square.” Heisenberg’s hand closed over my forearm and pulled me into his chest. I looked up, startled, but he wasn’t paying any attention to me. He was too busy glaring up at Alcina. “Go collect your own girls, this one’s mine.”
“So possessive, how displeasing,” said Alcina to Heisenberg. Turning to me, she smiled. “I just wanted you to know that you are always welcome at Castle Dimetrescu. We would treat you with much better hospitality than this beast would.”
“I-” I opened my mouth to speak, but it had been so long, I could only croak. I cleared my throat and tried again. “I thank you, my lady,” I said in a soft voice. I didn’t like her, but that didn’t mean I had to make an enemy of her.
“See, someone with manners. You’ll be wasted on him,” said Alcina, turning to the blonde beside me. She looked the woman up and down and sighed. “You’ll have to do.” She snapped her fingers at the other woman down the line. “Come along.”
I found myself abruptly alone with Heisenberg. He didn’t loosen the grip he had on my arm, and led me towards the front of the church without a word.
The late afternoon sun nearly blinded me when we stepped outside. Tears sprang to my eyes and I squeezed them tight against the unfamiliar glare.
“God, you’re not a crier, are you?” said Heisenberg, lighting a cigar. “I hope I didn’t pick up some fuckin’ crybaby.”
I wiped the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hands. “I haven’t been outside in months. Jackass.” The last was said in a mutter under my breath, but apparently not quiet enough. He barked out laughter and clapped me on the shoulder. “Well, at least you’ve got some life in you. Now look lively, we’ve got a bit of a hike ahead of us.”
I eyed the leaf-strewn ground with dismay, but fell into step behind me as he strode away from the church. He set a ground eating pace, and it took all of my remaining energy to keep up with him. By the time we reached a ramshackle factory I was beyond exhausted.
Heisenberg led me inside, the doors opening on their own before me, and I wondered for the first time what he was capable of. I was familiar with Moreau, he had assisted Miranda from time to time, and I knew Miranda was experimenting on people looking for genetic compatibility with… something.
The inside of the factory was loud and noisy, and I was relieved when he led me into an elevator that took us above the rumble of machinery. The elevator was nothing more than sliding metal doors welded together, and it felt like it was about to shaky apart. It was a relief when it stuttered to a stop and the door sprang open.
Heisenberg led me down a wide hallway with about a dozen closed doors, and paused in front of the third one. Pulling keys from a pocket in his long coat, he unlocked the door and poked his head instead.
“Eh, it will do,” he said, stepping back into the hallway. “Look, I’m not used to company, so just try to stay out of my way until I need you, and you’ll be fine.” Heisenberg pauses again, looking me up and down. “Shower’s across the hall. Built for the workers, you’ll see what I mean. I’ll find you something to wear.”
I looked down at my grime-soaked hospital gown with a wince. “I’d appreciate that.”
“Good,” he said. He pushed his hat up to scratch his temple. “Uhh, as far as rules go, you live here now. No escaping. I’m not a patient man and I won’t warn you twice. Stay out of my way, and you’ll stay out of mine, and everything will be alright. Got it?”
I nodded, not sure of what to say.
Heisenberg frowned and took a step towards me. “I asked you a question.” His voice was deadly quiet.
I took a step backwards, caught off guard by the sudden switch. “Pardon me?”
“Are you dumb? I asked if you got the rules.” Heisenberg took another stalking step forward, a motion I mimicked by stepping backwards. My back hit the opposite way of the hallway and I swallowed against a suddenly dry throat.
“I understand,” I said in a hoarse voice. “No escaping, stay out of your way.”
Heisenberg took another step forward until he was in my space. He looked me up and down again, and to my surprise, the piercing at the apex of my leg twitched. I gasp, and his frown turned into that same wolfish grin from the church.
“Good girl. You do as I say, and I’ll make sure your stay here is…pleasant.” The last was said in a near purr, and I felt my cheeks flush. The purr did something funny to my stomach, and I looked up at his dark glasses, trying to read him.
“What do you want from me?” I asked in a whisper.
Again he ran his eyes over my body, and I realized his meaning abruptly. “Excuse me!” I said in an indignant voice. “I’m not some piece of meat for you to, to have your way with!”
Heisenberg raised an eyebrow. “No? Miranda wasn’t exactly specific when she gifted me to you. I can do whatever I want to you.”
My back stiffened. “You’d have your way with me, regardless of what I want?”
He sneered. “Not fuckin’ likely. I may be many things, but a rapist isn’t one of them. Your body is safe with me. But.” He paused, looking down at me expectantly.
“But?” I asked, taking the bait.
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun together. I am very curious about those bits of metal you’ve got on your person.”
I shook my head. “How could you possibly-”
“Miranda didn’t tell you anything, typical. Well, let’s just leave that a little surprise, shall we?”
He looked me up and down again, and wrinkled his nose. “I recommend a shower, first. I like my meat fresh.”
I couldn’t resist the urge to roll my eyes at him. “Find me something to wear, and I will.”
Heisenberg stepped aside and swept an arm towards the door he had unlocked. “Your room, my lady.”
Something clicks and a bare lightbulb sputters to life, illuminating a bed stacked high with boxes and spare furniture.
“You’ll have to do some cleaning, but the mattress is fairly new, you’ll be comfortable here.”
I eyed the room with curiosity. It’s bigger than my bedroom back home, and a dusty window revealed the forest beyond the fenced perimeter of the factory. It would have to do. I turned back to Heisenberg. His eyes snapped up from admiring my backside and I blushed despite myself.
Instead I raised an eyebrow. He met it with that hungry grin of his.
“Just checking out the merchandise.” He wiggled his eyebrows and I made a disgusted sound. Heisenberg laughed. “Relax, it’s a compliment. You are an attractive woman, even with all those bruises Miranda left on you.”
I could feel my cheeks heat further, but I straightened my back and met his smile with a chill one of my own. “I’ll need a change of clothing if you expect me to be able to shower.”
Heisenberg rolled his eyes. “Sure thing, your Highness. Is there anything else I can get you? Caviar, champagne?”
My stomach growled, betraying me, and Heisenberg’s teasing look faded. “Right. Miranda never was one for regular meals. Look, you go shower, I’ll drop something off for you outside the door, and then we can get you something to eat. Fair?”
I eyed him suspiciously. “You are kinder than I expected.”
Heisenberg’s smile dropped and he took a rapid step towards me. I backed up, but the back of my knees hit the bed, and I nearly fell into the stacked boxes. He took another step forward into my space, eyes dark behind his glasses.
He towered over me, gaze boring into me, and I looked away, unwillingly intimidated. Heisenberg took my chin between his thumb and forefinger, his grip not gentle.
“Look at me,” he says in a growl.
I tried to push him away, but his wide chest didn't even budge. His grip on my chin tightens, and I try to jerk my face, but I can’t get away.
“Look at me!” said Heisenberg in a loud voice, and I jerked my head one last time before meeting his glare with one of my own.
“What do you want?” I hissed back, hands flat against his chest.
“I want you to understand one thing. I am not kind. I’m not your fucking savior. I own you. And you will do what I say, when I say it, or I’ll throw you to the lycans. Do you understand?”
Hopelessness welled up in my belly, heavy like a stone. My bravado faded, and hot tears welled up in my eyes. From Miranda to this. Heisenberg was unpredictable. I nodded, blinking to keep the tears from falling.
Heisenberg released my chin, but didn't back away. “Good,” he says, tilting his head. “Don’t forget this lesson. I will only teach it once.”
I swallowed against a dry throat and nodded again. “I understand…” My voice was hoarse and quiet, and I cursed myself for sounding so weak.
Heisenberg reached up and ruffled my dirty hair with his gloved hand, and I gaped at him with surprise. “Good girl. You keep listening, and we’ll get along just fine.”
He took a step backward and tipped his hat at me before exiting my new room, whistling. I stared at the empty doorway, and dashed the tears off of my cheeks.
I wouldn’t let him defeat me. If I could survive Miranda, I could survive Heisenberg.