Understanding Serina's powers (4)

Author's note: this is from Krob's point of view

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I was surprised when I got a mental message from my Master that we are having a visitor.

It's not like Master to announce his arrival in advance, and we never-ever had other creatures step into this lab. I was puzzled... what is going on? I figured the mystery will reveal itself to me in a bit because I could feel that my Master is close.

I admit that I was excited because unexpected things (like visitors) don't happen often. My Master is known as a powerful creature with unimaginable powers and a brilliant mind who sticks to a specific routine and he does not entertain guests unless there is an underlying reason for it. My Master believes that spending time with others for the sake of socializing is a waste of time, and I agree with him on that.

I stood in the shadows as instructed, and I watched Master walk into the lab with a female. I observed her with interest.

Did Master find a lover? I am by his side for a long time, and a few times he got himself involved with females, he never brought them to the lab. Sure, she might be pretty to look at (by human standards), but this lab is top-secret, and it is exclusive only for Master and Krob. Others don't have access.

Is she a specimen?, I wondered. No, no… when he brings a specimen they are usually dead or close to it and this one looks very much alive.

And then it hit me: my Master noticed my many (many-many) years of good service and he brought me a meal! I thrive on sucking souls out of living creatures and Master knows that feeding on prisoners and other bad people while making sure I don't drain them completely is like living on a liquid diet. I know how that is only to hide my existence. It is entertaining how humans believe that their lifespans are reduced because of stress, not knowing that I drained their life essence.

However, the last bits of life essence are the sweetest and with the restriction of not killing them, I get full, but not satisfied. However, this female is young, her aura is vibrant, and she looks delicious!

I was shocked when my Master told me that she is his daughter. When did that happen? Disappointment hit me when I realized that she is not a meal I already imagined in my mind.

She called me a zombie and she was ignorant about everything. It only made me grumpier. And Master said to show her around? Hmph!

The only good thing about her is that her hair is soft. I wondered if I could have it, at least a part of it, a few strands will suffice... but I kept that question for myself because Master told me to maintain a distance from the female known as Seraphina.

I knew that she is sweet-talking me in showing her around, and I couldn't help but give in. No one talks to me like that, or to be more precise, other than Master no one talks to me. Period. And Master mostly issues commands while this girl speaks like I matter. I must admit that it feels good, but I will not show that.

She is a curious and foolish creature. I saw her numerous times reaching to touch things, despite my repeated warnings not to.

I found it entertaining when Seraphina looked at the Verveine tree, mesmerized by its canopy. It seems that she likes shiny things. I was waiting for her to ask me why its bark is black, to what I would tell her how that is actually the nest of Bulbine wasps, but she stood there in silence and admired the wasps which were lingering on the leaves. I remembered the horror in her eyes when she looked at the wasps high up in the ceiling, and I snickered internally as I imagined her reaction when she finds out that she is standing right next to their nest.

I was distracted for a moment when I saw that Fenebre finally decided to drop some of its thorns. Master needs those, and he warned me to collect them with care because they contain venom which is difficult to procure on the market. Most of the plants here are venomous, but if one knows how to extract and process the venom, it can become so much more than just a way to harm and kill.

I heard Seraphina mumbling something, and I didn't care much about it until I realized that the hum of Bulbine wasps ceased. That does not happen, unless… the Queen is on the move.

"No!", I shouted when I realized that the blasted girl touched their nest.

What was she thinking? Does she have a brain in that head of hers? What did I say about NO touching things!? Can't she follow simple instructions such as: NO TOUCHING!?

I was on the verge of passing out when I realized that the Queen made an appearance right next to Seraphina! Oh, oh! The foolish girl offended her!

My gaze moved higher and I almost choked when I saw that all the wasps started descending toward their nest… and Seraphina.

Shit! Shit! A thousand shits were not enough to expel even a fraction of the distress I felt at that moment.

I was confident that my Master will skin me alive if that halfwitted girl is harmed in any way, and based on what I am seeing, this can't end well!

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Author's note: this is from Aldus's point of view

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The more I looked at the notes I made, the more things made sense: Serina's emotions are triggering her ability to release pheromones.

The information in the books confirms that once new abilities show up, it is usually due to a strong emotional response. For the first time, it catches the person off-guard and it requires strong stimuli, while every next time it's easier for power to manifest itself. It's like opening a bottle: the first pop requires the most force, but after that, the liquid flows out without much obstruction.

I am aware that the first time it happened when she met Lazarus. At that time, Serina was scared and by the way he held her close, I can assume that it triggered her memory of the evening in Venice when she died in a violent death. Maybe she does not remember it, but that does not mean that her subconscious didn't take over.

Now, we need to figure out what exactly triggers her to release pheromones, and then she needs to learn to control it, or she won't be able to step out of the house or meet anyone because she is like a ticking bomb. For that…

"Master! Master!", I heard Krob screaming straight into my mind.

"What?", I grumbled back, annoyed that he interrupted me. He should know better than to interrupt me when I'm working.

"Can you come here?", Krob asked timidly and I knew that he messed up something. They went to the garden, how bad can it get?

"What is it?"

"It's the wasps!"

"What about them?"

"The Queen is out… and Seraphina...", Krob said weakly and I understood that this is NOT a good thing, especially because Serina is there.

I moved at inhuman speed and I saw that the light which is supposed to come from the ceiling is concentrated further down the garden in the direction where Verveine tree is. Why are all the wasps there?

Luckily, darkness is not a problem for me, otherwise, I would damage some of the plants on my way there, and each plant here is precious. Some are the last of their kind.

I paused at the sight of a giant ball of green fire which was formed of numerous Bulbine wasps right next to the trunk of the Verveine tree. Krob was a few steps further, staring at it. It seems that all Bulbine wasps decided to gather here for some reason.

"Krob!", my shout snapped Krob out of his daze. "What is going on? Where is Serina?"

To my dismay, Krob extended his hand and pointed at the giant green ball of fire. Is Serina inside? The temperature must be above one thousand degrees. Will Serina survive that? Well, she is an immortal with extraordinary healing ability, but this will leave emotional scars. Is this how I lose my most successful experiment?

I tried to communicate with the Queen, but she shut me out. Great! Now what?

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