Dominant’s POV

Voices like distant whispers beckoned Dominate back to the land of the living. His eyes fluttered open, and he saw Sandra discussing something with Doctor Garnold, but their voices still weren’t clear in his mind. He heard only noise in different pitches, but none of it made any sense.

He blinked, trying to clear the fuzziness from his vision. Everything was blurry and indistinct, as if he were looking through a dirty window. His body felt numb and weak. He tried to move his arms and legs, but they wouldn’t respond.Looking around he couldn’t tell where he was, but he knew it must be somewhere inside the manor and he thought it was probably his own room.

Sandra looked at him but she didn’t seem to realize he was awake. He wanted to call out, but he couldn’t do that either. It was like being trapped inside his own body. He could feel the weight of the covers on his chest, the warmth of the bed. He could feel the cool breeze coming in through the window, the light from the sun shining down on him. He was awake, he was there, but he was stuck in his own mind.

With no better alternative Dominant turned his attention inward. Meditating might help him figure out what was happening with his body or it might give him the strength he needed to escape whatever was keeping him here. Either way, the mana in his body seemed the best thing to focus on.

Sandra and Garnold’s hushed voices were like a buzzing insect, annoying, but he couldn’t do anything about them. He had to let the sound slip into the background, ignore it and focus on his inner self. His breathing slowed as he concentrated on the mana flowing through his veins.

Dominant’s mind drifted, but the mana called to him, drawing him in, focusing his mind. He felt as though he was riding in a high speed vehicle, traveling along his veins at a breakneck pace. The landscape of his organs, muscles, and even bones were a strange scenery in more ways than the simple awkwardness of seeing one’s insides.

Much of Dominant’s innards were covered in a thick black substance that seemed to seep down into the fibers of his being, like an ink stain. He was decaying, Darren and Talent had been right. He might have diato, or whatever it was called, but his body was still that of a number. With more power, he would only die sooner.

“I would not chose a dead vessel, and yet, you are dying,” Dominant heard the cat’s voice clearly, but Sandra and the Doctor still sounded like buzzing.

The sudden shock of a voice jolted Dominant out of his meditation. It seemed like the whatever conversation Sandra was having with Garnold, had come to an end because she turned away from him, moving to close the window and then to sit facing Dominant in a rocking chair.

As she settled in the chair she glanced at her phone.

Dominant still did not have one, but he was familiar with the devices and the convenience they could offer.l

Without the annoying buzzing distraction, achieving a meditative state was easier to accomplish. Dominant focused his mind once more and the mana within him. The ink like corruption was still spreading, but he had no idea how to stop it.

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He felt a presence in his mind, she was both familiar and unknown to him. As he became aware of her, her feline form materialized before him. “Do you know who you are?” she asked with a mew.

Images flooded his mind, scenes of his life flashing by in reverse, as a high pitched ringing sounded in his mind. The noise was quiet at first, but it grew louder and louder until it was a sharp stab that made his head throb. “Are you okay?” A woman asked as reached down to help him up.

He nodded.

She smiled, “Who are you?”

Why didn’t she just ask his name, he wondered?

The memory distorted then replayed up to that moment, only this time, the woman asked, “What’s your name?”

“Nilo.” The boy answered, but it wasn’t Dominant’s voice, and he didn’t feel like himself.

The woman smiled wide, her eyes turning blood red. “Nilo, wake up.” She turned, her long black hair trailing behind her as she walked away.

Dominant woke with a barking cough that forced him into an upright position. His body felt like it was melting and at the safe time he felt cold, but mostly, his throat and chest hurt. He coughed until a bit of black goop came out of his mouth and landed in his lap. His head was pounding, and his vision was blurry, but he could see Sandra standing in front of him, her eyes wide, and her hand on his shoulder. “Hey, you’re awake.”

Dominant tried to speak, but his voice was a raspy whisper, “What happened?”

“You collapsed in the city and I brought you here. Are you okay?”

Dominant nodded, then shook his head. He was alive, but he didn’t feel okay.

“You need some water,” she said, moving to the side table and grabbing a glass of water.

Things were slowly coming into focus and Dominant felt like he might really die. He never should have fought that drake. His magic worked so easily then, and his spells didn’t miscast, but then he’d lost himself in a desire for blood and now he could only wait for his body to give out.

As Sandra held the glass of water to his mouth she spoke fast and low. “I think I know who you are, what you are, and I know how to fix your body, but the process will be painful, risky, and we must do it in secret.”

Dominant looked at her, his eyes struggling to focus, and his throat so dry he couldn’t even swallow.

She was smiling, “You have to drink, and we can discuss the details.”

Dominant nodded and reached up to take the glass. He sipped it slowly, letting the cool liquid soothe his burning throat. He felt better almost immediately, but he still wasn’t sure what to think. How could Sandra have figured out who he waswhen he still didn’t know?

His memories were jumbled and distorted; all he knew for certain was that he was not Three-sixteen, he was not a number. He was something else, something more.

His hand trembled as he drank, but he managed to finish most of the water before coughing again, and spilling some on his shirt. His stomach twisted violently and he leaned forward, vomiting into his lap.

“Easy,” Sandra said, placing a hand on his back and helping him to lie back down. “You’re still not well, you need to rest.”

Dominant nodded, his eyes closed. “What did you mean, when you said, you think you know what I am?”

Sandra’s smile vanished, and she looked at the door. “I can’t say, not here. Not now.”

He nodded again, “Alright.” His voice was hoarse and his throat hurt, but he needed to know what she meant by that.

Sandra glanced at the door again, then leaned close, her mouth next to his ear as she whispered, “You’re one of the chosen. I can’t say more, but when the time is right I’ll tell you everything I know, and help you get your strength back.”

Dominant tried to speak, but his throat was raw and he couldn’t make a sound. He didn’t understand what Sandra meant, and he had no idea what the chosen were, or what he was chosen for. But he trusted her. If she thought he could get better, then that was enough for him. “When…will…the time be right?”

Sandra stood up and moved away from the bed. She offered him a soft smile then said, “You’ll know.”

Before he could protest or say anything else, Sandra slipped out of the door.

He was alone again. Dominant laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes. He was still weak and tired, but he would be strong again soon, and then he would find out who he really was, and why he was chosen.