MM - Chapter 207 - LIKE DOMINOES THEY FALL

Dr. Pamalaiha Shroufand

- Soulgen Pharmaceuticals -

Pamalaiha was enraptured as Raine effortlessly took command of the board meeting. The group had set out to bend his will to theirs; they set traps, used clever wording, and even obscure laws to trick him into submission. Yet in mere moments, the flow of their battle reversed. They were on the defensive now, and losing ground with each breath.

He handles them so easily. They are babies before a bear, no, a tiger. Brute force alone would have been insufficient. By exhibiting superiority across every spectrum they understand, he displays worthiness of being followed. These men will not betray him without reason; they now understand such an action would be against their best interests.

After the insubordinate ringleader was removed from the meeting by unanimous vote, Raine skillfully redirected their questions and concerns away from details of ReGen’s uses and efficacy. The only assurance he gave about the product was that it had the capacity to fiscally outperform all of the discarded products together. 

As he spoke of creating a lean supply chain with minimal overhead, and ramping production as raw materials became available, Each of his words held the passion of a businessman set on taking the world by storm. The procurement strategies he proposed frankly, went beyond Pamalaiha’s expertise.

It was all a bit boring to her; she was much more interested in the subtle changes of posture, intensity of eye contact, and tone of voice as the shareholders engaged with questions and critiques—all indications of the depth to which Raine’s magnetism drew them in. They were his, not to the extent that she herself had become his, but close enough that thoughts of killing them in their sleep were no longer necessary.

At first, Pamalaiha’s interest in Raine had been piqued by the strength of his mental ability. The raw power he displayed, and his thoughts invading her mindspace, had her mistaking him for a grandmaster. When she learned he was merely an expert, as new to the intricacies of mental energy as herself, her excitement only grew. For if Raine KongRu was already so powerful, then once he reached the apex, he had the capacity to be unstoppable.

Since taking the ancient elixir herself, Pamalaiha’s mental faculties had undergone a fundamental shift. She could sense so much more from the nuances of energy around her. There was a web of… something that overlaid reality, and the stronger one was, the more that web flexed around them. Perhaps it was the mental equivalent of gravity or the flow of time. It mattered not. All that concerned her was that she now possessed the ability to detect one’s mental strength from a short distance, an invaluable advantage to be sure.

Thanks to this new sense, Pamalaiha’s expectations and understanding of what was possible had once more been shattered. In the lab, she keenly felt the subtleties of Raine’s intent as he chastised the fiery one. It had barely been two short days since she last saw him and felt his mental energy; the difference was not night and day, it was greater than that, grander—an inert noble gas and the primal fury of a free radical chain reaction.

Reality warped with his every desire. Feeling it happen was intoxicating and terrifying. How had he grown so much in mere days? What would he become in a month, a year, a decade? Pamalaiha didn’t have those answers, but the thought of being by his side as they were slowly unveiled made the most sensitive parts of her quiver with desire.

Since childhood, she survived from one day to the next with little thought of the future. Each moment in the Noroji clan required complete focus and conviction, lest she succumb to death like all the rest of her siblings. After escaping, only perfecting the elixir and curing her poisoning mattered. For the first time in her life, Pamalaiha could make the choice of where to go next, what to do, and what to dedicate herself to. A week ago, she wouldn't have known what that meant.

I must possess him no matter what it takes. No, that is not accurate. I must possess his seed. Even if his heart remains elusive, his progeny will be mine—ours. This is how the most powerful clans were created: a patriarch who stands above others, and those clever enough to capture their seed early, before success. The harlots who come only after accomplishments will never be more than breeding stock.

Like every patriarch, he will have hundreds of progeny. I must ensure that ours are above all others. But am I worthy of that, of him? My mind was broken by the Noroji; I am older by at least ten years, and my skills are narrowly focused. I will only be useful to him until his power grows a little more. With his rate of advancement, that could be days.

In contrast to my many shortcomings, he is young and virile, while already being an accomplished warrior with infinite potential. Driven, intelligent, gorgeous, powerful… I must endeavor to become even more useful. I will not be cast aside or supplanted by others!

The few shareholder glances sent Pamalaiha’s way proved that her support was noted: it was not nearly enough. Determination blazed in her breast. It was imperative that she find other ways to assist him. Raine was all she had thought about for the last several days. After witnessing his rapid growth, she knew it would be even more impossible to focus on anything else.

Besides the boost to her senses, ReGen had taken off at least ten years from her figure, eliminating wrinkles and tightening skin that was once loose. She was stronger, faster, and more supple. Pamalaiha felt and looked twenty-five again. That, along with Raine admitting in his thoughts that he found her beautiful, gave her the confidence to continue striving for his affection. She had no idea how to seduce a man, but Mel had promised to help, and so far, was delivering on her word.

Even if my chances are slim, I must still strike.

The meeting was coming to a close before Pamalaiha realized it. Raine was shaking hands with people whose expressions upon leaving were entirely opposite to when he arrived. They looked to him with hope, anticipation, and more than a little avarice.

Soon, she would discover the meaning of Raine’s cryptic thoughts. His intent was always so razor-sharp and focused that few stray thoughts slipped into coherence. Even when they did, he processed information so quickly that if she did not pay close attention, she missed them.

What does hashing mean, and what boundaries do we require?

Raine dismissed all but one shareholder, Darl—the man whose wife was ill. “Depending on your wife’s age and illness, I may have a way to help.”

The man eyed Raine critically before deciding there was no reason not to answer. “Sixty-three, and she suffers from endocerebral drift.” Beginning to grey himself, it was no surprise to Pamalaiha that Darl’s wife was reaching the end of a non-martial’s life cycle. The disease itself was one she was familiar with, and was a fairly common genetic dysfunction resulting from parents on opposite ends of the psychic spectrum. The last two hundred years, since the forceful induction of psychic abilities into humanity’s gene pool, had not been smooth. Endocerebral drift was but one of thousands of examples.

Raine’s good hand landed on the older man’s shoulder and administered a comforting squeeze. “Much older, and I would say there was no chance. She’s close, though, so I can’t promise results, but I would give her about an eighty percent chance.”

Pamalaiha frowned. She had yet to conduct any studies of ReGen’s efficacy based on age differences. Whether Raine knew something she didn’t, or was simply playing an angle, was beyond Pamalaiha. It was also possible he was talking about an entirely separate elixir, but she doubted it.

Darl swallowed hard, the sound loud in the confined room. “T-truly? We have tried many remedies, but none with more than a one or two percent chance of succeeding. How can yours be so high? If this is a joke or some kind of trick—”

“Nothing like that,” Raine reassured with a gentle smile. “It's not currently a drug on the market, but I’ve personally seen it cure endocerebral drift. It's expensive, and I know we haven’t yet had a chance to earn each other's trust, so I’ll pay for the treatment upfront. If it's successful, you can reimburse me afterward. What I said earlier was only meant to intimidate Fillis. I’m the one responsible for shutting down Sipromene, and I’m determined to make things right between us.”

The old man swallowed hard. “I… I want to believe you. And I see no reason not to give you the chance to try. What kind of side effects should we expect? I want to know the cost upfront as well. I’ll not be indebted to you for bringing us a cure I could never afford.”

“You’re a cautious man, Darl. I can appreciate that. As mentioned, age plays a significant role in efficacy. Additionally, it's an experimental drug; the side effects aren’t well-known. I’ll make sure you have a full list as soon as possible. As for the cost, I would estimate around twenty-five million.”

The words had a physical effect on the man. He sagged, gaze growing distant. He recovered quickly, clearing his throat to hold back the moisture building in his eyes. He grasped Raine’s hand, shaking it vigorously. His entire demeanor had flipped; he now looked up at the new chairman of the board with hope, where before there was only aggressive dissent. Just like that, the starkest antagonist of the board had become the most loyal.

A few more brief words, and Raine was alone with three women. Each wore apprehension on their sleeves, though for very different reasons. Pamalaiha opened her mouth, intending to ask for clarification, but a twitch of Mel’s finger had her teeth clacking shut.

That’s right. He didn’t actually say anything about what he wanted to discuss. Keeping his words and thoughts separate is not a simple task. I must quickly amend my contract to more closely mimic Mel’s, lest I ruin our progenys’ future with a single slip.

Raine repositioned so he could see all three of them. “We need to talk.”

“Master speaks, and I hear.” Pamalaiha knelt, instinctively respecting the seriousness of his tone.

Celeste looked down at her like she’d grown another pair of arms. Still, in Pamalaiha’s opinion, it was the fiery one who was being foolish to not show subservience.

“Can I call you master, too!” Mel blurted, a hand immediately clapping over her mouth as she looked at Raine with wide, panicked eyes.

“What? No! I don’t like it when she does it, but at least it makes sense with her background.” Raine’s knee-jerk response had Mel’s shock morphing to hurt. He started over before tears could begin to form. “Fine, it's not that big a deal. Just not in public!”

Mel swallowed down her emotions, then released a radiant smile accompanied by a fist pumping the air. “Yah! Thank you, Master.”

“Seriously? When I said public, I meant bedroom only…”

“Oh. Okay! That sounds fun.”

Raine sighed, fingers pressed to his forehead. “No more distractions. At least we’re on the right subject now.” He extended a finger to let them know he needed a second to organize his thoughts. All three subtly leaned forward, listening closely.

[Fizgore made this exact mistake, and it cost him the only relationship he ever truly cared about. There has to be an order to these things, so it's not about who's winning, but who's next. There's no emotion in next, no envy, no jealousy, just order.]

Raine’s gaze pinned Pamalaiha to the floor. It was as though an immense weight was crushing the life from her, squeezing her future dry, and simultaneously stoking the fires to her every desire. His voice was silk, caressing her ears. “I know you’re interested in me, I’m interested in you, too. Extremely so.”

Pamalaiha went from feeling like she was buried six feet under to soaring through the heavens. But Raine wasn’t done, and his next words clung to her like a physical weight, plunging her straight back to hell. “However… the only reason I’m willing to pursue anything with you is because Mel not only agreed, but is actively pushing for it. She was first; she will always be first, and in that same vein, you are not second.”

Pamalaiha’s pupils expanded as panic set in. She could smell his nervous sweat. The licking of his lips betrayed a dry throat, and the rapid expansion of his veins was a sure sign of a pounding heart. Whatever words he spoke next would reveal something of vital importance to him. When Raine’s eyes left her, it was more painful than when her flesh was indurated to resist interrogation. She wanted to make him react that way just from looking at her, not the fiery one.

“Celeste is second.”

“WHAT?!” Celeste blurted, then immediately launched into a fit of coughs as she accidentally inhaled a mouthful of saliva. Raine’s chair brought him closer to the hacking girl. She recovered like a deer in headlights, backing away with muscles locking tight. Her back thudded against the wall.

It was unlikely she wanted or expected an answer to her outburst, but he gave her one anyway. “Seniority, dibs, priority, whatever you want to call it, doesn't matter. The three of you appeared in my life in order, and that's the order we'll do everything. First dates, dinners, sex, everything. I'm unwilling to bend on this. If there's going to be constant fighting and competitions to win my favor, then I'd rather be alone with Mel. This is the only way I know of to keep issues to a minimum.”

Pamalaiha caught another flick of Mel’s fingers—their signal that Raine would not compromise, and to accept whatever demand was being made. She immediately deferred to her patriarch’s primary mate; her head lowered until she was looking at only the floor. “I have no complaints, Master.”

Mel rested a hand on top of Pamalaiha’s head and nodded vigorously. “Me neither! I think that’s a great idea. Celeste?”

Celeste’s head swiveled from one person to the next; in her opinion, each was more of a lunatic than the last.

[Him, with them? With me? No way! Fuck that! I knew they were all crazy, but this is going way too far—I'm not some gazelle to be hunted and added to your damn wall of conque-why is he looking at me like that… Oh God, my chest hurts so bad. Turn those things somewhere else!]

Unbidden, Celeste’s hand came to her breast, fingers twisting into her shirt to ease the sudden clenching of her heart. Her voice cracked, “W-who said I want any part in this?”

Raine nodded as though her question was only natural. However, Pamalaiha could see the signs, he was possibly more nervous than the fiery one. “Obviously, you can do whatever you want. I wasn't implying you didn't have a choice. It's the opposite. You hold the power of choice, and the power over Pamalaiha’s choice as well. I would never pursue someone you disapproved of, unless you decide you want no part in… whatever this is.”

Blood drained from both Mel and Pamalaiha’s faces as they realized for the first time how much importance Celeste’s opinion held over what they wanted. Raine continued, unaware of the girls behind him.

He smiled fondly, gaze distant, voice holding a wistful quality. “It’s funny. Until recently, I would have been the one turning you down. Your attitude sucked,” he chuckled, “abrasive, confrontational, rude, unappreciative, untrustworthy. But then you reached Genesis. I wasn't sure the changes would stick, but the respect you've earned while I wasn't there to rein you in proved it. You're like a completely different person, still fiery and passionate, but also pleasant to be around. It's a killer combination.” The heat in Raine’s tone made it clear what he wanted.

[Pleasant? He's... complimenting me? No one's ever said that without wanting something. But Raine's not like them. Fuck, my heart's pounding. This isn't anger... is it?]

Celeste’s eyes became wet with emotion, but she couldn’t stop shaking her head. Unable to parse the flood of emotions, she panicked and ran. “N-no. Not like this!” The door slammed behind her as she rushed out.

Mel was the first to speak, hands and shoulders lifting in confusion. “That would have worked for me. She’s weird.”

Pamalaiha stood, agreeing with Mel’s assessment. “It is obvious what she wants. Perhaps she needs time to understand her desires.”

“She can take however long she needs.” Raine stared pointedly at them both, imparting that they should leave Celeste alone to come to her own decision.

[Until Celeste says yes or no for sure, nothing can happen between Pamalaiha and me. That’s not a betrayal I’m willing to start a relationship with. Fizgore’s done that one too. Dude’s life is a treasure trove of wisdom.]

“I understand.” Pamalaia bowed again, accepting the responsibility that Raine’s intense gaze had cast upon her shoulders.

Yes, this is it! I understand precisely how I can best be of use. The Fiery one is what my patriarch desires; I shall do my best to convince her quickly!

Meeting Raine’s gaze again, she spoke with complete conviction. “If you would permit it, there is another matter I have been putting much thought into.” Raine nodded, as pleased to move on to a new topic as she was. “I wish to join Astra Infernum.”