The Wizard's Queen

Chapter 19

"What? There are plenty of half breeds, why must they go as far as further altering the DNA?" Ryder questioned.

"They were afraid; that's why," Voisin snapped.

"What happened?" Ryder muttered.

"A lot of lives were lost, both mother and child. There was only one success," Mr. Fitzgerald sighed.

A shutter ran down his spine as his mind flashed back to the experiment. Sixty eight women were forever damaged, mentally insane and stuck to rot away inside asylums as they lost their own humanity. Another nineteen couldn't even make it through the whole pregnancy. He watched as their own bodies failed them, collapsing from the toll as their child consumed them. Another twelve were able to get rid of the fetus's toxic effects on their body by miscarrying. However, that miscarriage resulted in them taking their own lives from the mental strain of not being strong enough to carry a pregnancy full term.

Dean Fitzgerald regretted that he was assigned as lawyer on the case. His wife was the lead scientist on the case. She had been determined to continue pursuit of the experiments despite his warnings that she wold put herself at risk. She had been so excited when her partner had become the first successful test subject that first year. If only she had died with the rest, then his wife would have stopped her pursuit. She would have agreed not to put herself at risk by becoming a test subject. She would still be here today instead of him witnessing her death as Derek was brought into the world.

"Mr. Fitzgerald?" Ryder questioned pulling Dean from his memories.

Voisin sighed as he studied the pain on Dean's face. The man was suffering as old memories resurfaced from what they had done. Ryder had to know the truth though. He needed to know the signs and how to effectively deal with any of these kids if they were to lose control again.

"Sorry, Ryder. It is just a painful subject to talk about," Dean muttered as he averted his gaze from the kid.

"You said there was one success. Why haven't we heard about these experiments?" Ryder questioned.

"Because, we worked to erase the existence of the experiment from everyone's minds," Voisin snapped.

"You were involved?" Ryder gasped.

"Yes, I served as a sample collector working out many deals to get the DNA from the other species. Mr. Fitzgerald served as the lawyer on the case, his own wife was in charge of the research," Voisin explained.

"Was the experiment discontinued after that?" Ryder questioned.

Dean Fitzgerald shook his head as he studied a spot on the floor at his feet. Kasim Murrell was the first successful child born. His wife hypothesized that because of Kasim's own lineage, only those with other species' blood in them would be able to successfully carry a pregnancy full term. His wife was a quarter giant and bore the second successful child, Devan Fitzgerald. With Devan's birth, both his own wife and Mrs. Murrell decided to try for a third time using themselves as test subjects along with eight others. Of those, four more children were born. Unfortunately, Mrs. Murrell was the only one to survive birth a second time. All the other mom's, including his own wife perished.

"In total there are seven children, all who had parents working at the facility," Mr. Fitzgerald replied, his voice cracking, "four of them you know very well."

Ryder's eyes widened as he realized the truth about both his best friend's and their younger brothers growing up. He knew that Kasim was a child prodigy , slated to serve as an Elder before he even graduated from high school. His younger brother was equally as powerful as Ryder recalled the battle where he first witnessed Nikkolai's own strength. He spent more time around Devan and Derek and knew from experience that both their abilities often broke boundaries when it came to what they could do. Also, both boys had been known to cause mild disasters when upset such as earthquakes and floods or hurricanes. Well, that hurricane the one time wasn't exactly mild, but that was just Derek being Derek.

"Your own sons," Ryder whispered as he met Dean Fitzgerald's eyes.

Mr. Fitzgerald solemnly nodded his head casting a wayward look at his own son who should have been asleep, but he had secretly listened in on every single word. According to his deceased wife, Derek should have giant blood enhancing his abilities like his elder brother, Devan. His wife had lied, and Derek was something else entirely. He wish he knew the truth of Derek's genetics, but his wife was smart in hiding her tracks. Shortly before her death, she had destroyed her own lab in a mad rage to ensure Dean would never learn the truth. Derek was harder to control compared to the other subjects and could leave destruction in his path when he let himself lose control.

At the age of three, he ripped apart a whole town from a temper tantrum over not getting to get ice-cream for dinner, resulting in a class 5 hurricane. At four, he flooded his preschool because they wouldn't let him play outside on the playground. He calmed down after being introduced to Luke Noble and Nikkolai Murrell. He stopped having such vicious temper tantrums thanks to his two new playmates. All that changed on that fateful day when he was seven. Today, Derek's demonstrations only deepened Mr. Fitzgerald's worries. Even he wasn't entirely sure what his own flesh and blood was and it terrified him what his son was capable of.

"What is in Derek's DNA?" Ryder questioned.

"Monster," Derek muttered sitting up, tears streaking his cheeks as he eyed his father.

His father glanced over in shock at the sound of Derek's voice. He shouldn't have been so careless and revealed the truth with Derek so close. Derek had not only heard everything, but listened in on Dean's wandering thoughts. The disconnected look in Derek's eyes sent chills down all three men's spines. He wasn't there anymore. The boy had let all forms of reason leave his mind as his emotions fueled his actions. Mr. Fitzgerald feared the boy would probably go on another rampage. He wished Spell-master Domingo and Rachel had the sedative complete to knock Derek out. However, brewing a potion of that strength took time, and time was not something they had right now.

"I am nothing but a monster, right?" Derek shakily chuckled.

"You are not a monster!" Mr. Fitzgerald screamed.

"Oh, I'm not? What about yesterday? I would have killed all of them! Or the time I drove that mortal insane, how she leapt off the roof believing she could fly! Better yet, when I actually killed someone just because they kissed my crush! Admit it, I am a monster!" Derek screamed, his voice cracking in his anguish.

Dean Fitzgerald studied his son as he shook his head disagreeing with his words. His son was filled with so much remorse and pain. Even Derek was scared of himself. Dean fought back his own tears as he mustered the words to speak.

"Child, can't you see, you show remorse! You can't be a monster!"

"Then why do I still do these things that only a monster could do?" Derek wailed.

Dean's response was cut off by the sound of a portal opening in the middle of the room. All four men turned, their faces paling in shock at the damaged Wizards before them. 

~~~~~

What are your thoughts on mixing science with magic? Were these experiments unethical? Share your thoughts below!

Stay tuned as Marcus and friends return from their mission!