The Gift of Volkeye by Marque Strickland, Wrinklegus PoisonTongue Read Free Book Online Page A

Yet here he was flying to the front door again! Khye also knew that Zynathian hated that. More disobedience!
    Now he’s really gonna’ get it!
    Zynathian, still carrying Lyn Sha, ran briskly downstairs to the front entrance. It was an immense metallic substance of his design, standing forty feet high and one hundred feet wide. He shoved with all his might on the large metal lever to the left of the door and ran to take cover from the cold wind.
    As the door slid upward, an enormous bird swayed to and fro in the air. Except for the white ring of feathers circling both of its eyes, yellow legs and feet, and a large tan beak, the bird was completely black. The wings, which spanned about eighty feet, flapped vigorously.
    Jalum entered, carrying something. He gently released the object from his claws and landed, lowering his head in sadness.
    They approached.
    Only a moment ago, Zynathian had been contemplating punishments for his son. Now, all irrelevant matters had left his mind, and he was seized with horror. He let Lyn to the floor, and they held hands as they ran closer, wailing.

III
The Surgery
     
    “Khyeryn!” Zynathian ran to his son.
    Jalum sat in a nearby corner with his head slumped to the floor, while Lyn stood beside her father with her hands clasped over her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Khyeryn lay still on the cold stone floor, staring blankly at the ceiling, unresponsive to the vigorous shaking.
    Along with blood dripping from the open wound where his right arm used to be, Khyeryn’s chest had been ripped open. His clothes were so saturated with blood that what was once a two-piece set of bright red was now black. However, the majority of the bleeding had stopped, because he was nearly drained. Khyeryn was now living by will alone.
    Zynathian rocked back and forth, cradling him, already having given up.
    “Daddy, save him!”
    Zynathian looked up with a blank stare. He had heard what his daughter said, but he hadn’t actually heard her. Then, from somewhere within, Zynathian heard that voice speaking to him. She rebuked him in the tone that she always used when he was under an immeasurable amount of pressure, which rendered him unable to think.
    What do you think you’re doing? I did not give you such talent for you to become a coward when your gift is most needed! There is still life in him, and it is not my intention to call Khyeryn up now! So don’t be a fool, act now while you still can. “Protect and nurture your children…” Isn’t that part of your motto, or am I mistaken?
    Lyn saw a sudden flare in her father’s eyes, and she stepped back to give him room, so he could bolt to his lab. Zynathian curled his arms around Khye, hoisted him up to chest level, and began sprinting to the back end of the house.
    “Lyn Sha, follow me…we must give your brother some of your blood!”
    Upon arriving, Lyn quickly undressed and sat on a cushioned table in the middle of the room, worried as her father performed doctor’s acts that were unfamiliar to her. Zynathian had just poured a white powder solution over each of Khyeryn’s wounds. He was especially thorough where Khyeryn’s arm had been…
    …bitten?
    Yes, bitten off. Now that Khyeryn’s clothes were removed, Zynathian could see large teeth marks surrounding the area where the arm had been severed. He put the tip of his dropper into a bowl of blue liquid and squeezed the soft rubber end. After the solution was sucked into the tiny glass tube, he quickly shot the liquid into the wound.
    Whoooooooof!
    An intense blue flame ensued. Khyeryn’s body violently convulsed, nearly shaking itself from the table. Lyn Sha was traumatized.
    “Daddy, you’re hurting him!” she cried.
    “Hush, child! I’m only cauterizing the wounds, should they start bleeding again!”
    Lyn quieted, knowing that her father hated to be disturbed, much less startled , when he was working.
    He’d finished lighting his son afire now. Throughout Zynathian’s life,