Now in the destroyed shop Zenis stood in middle of it and looked at the place where the portal had closed moments ago, this was perhaps the first time in his life that he had not been able to catch up with someone.
He did not feel anger, nor resentment, but the only thing he regretted was that the unknown person had taken such a powerful object before Zenis could react.
,,damn it,, Zenis muttered and went to Lyria ,,are you okay?,, he grabbed her hand and put it around his neck thanks to which he lifted her up without any problems.
,,That's a nice show, but what do you want to do now?,, Parker clapped his hands ,,are you going to leave her here and come with me, or are you going to waste time with someone unimportant like her?,,.
At his remark Lyria lowered her head and felt her blindfold getting wet thanks to her tears since it was obvious no one would choose broken person like her.
Zenis thought for a moment and smiled at Parker ,,Sorry, but we'll have to postpone our trip friend,, at his smile Parker just shrugged and raised his hand in farewell ,,As you wish,, He muttered and left dissapointed.
''Why didn't he go with him? Why is he wasting his time with someone weak and completely useless like Lyria? Is it possible that he has feelings for her? Is he after her body?'' All these questions were swirling in Lyria's head and she couldn't think of a single valid reason why he would choose someone like her instead of Parker. ,,Come on, I know a good place,, Zenis nodded at the hole in the wall where the exit used to be and walked towards it, but before he could reach the hole, his head spun and he almost fell to the ground with Lyria. "What's going on...? I wasn't hurt much from Parker's attack, so there's no reason for me to feel sick." Zenis thought for a moment before he completely fell to the ground. Frightened, Lyria quickly tried to get up and help him, but her injuries were far from contained.
,,Damn it.... I'm useless even now!,, Lyria sobbed and slammed her fist into the ground, because deep in her mind a new thought was born "if he went with Parker he could help him".
But since Zenis chose her, they both ended up useless on the ground, without a word Zenis stood up and noticed something strange.
His hand was shaking
It looks like he won't have time to play good guy for long as he will have to quickly stop by Dazne who will have to do some tests on his body.
Zenis quickly picked up Lyria and ran quickly out of the store, he had no time to worry about her, but by helping her he will earn a favor that he will choose well later.
After about 1 hour
Zenis finally ran to his house and as soon as he calmed down all the adrenaline from his body evaporated and he collapsed with Lyria on the ground again.
Luckily his dog Darcie who was outside noticed him and grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into the house where she immediately started barking to attract attention.
"That dog is smarter than she looks.... I'll have to test her to see how smart she really is" Zenis thought and tried to get up again.
Dazne came into the hallway who had just had enough of Darcie and her annoying barking ,,I swear to God I'll make you an Asian dish - MY GOD,, she screamed and ran to Zenis to help him stand.
,,Dazne, get me into the lab, I feel something is wrong with my body,, Zenis muttered into her neck as she carried him away.
Unfortunately, Darcie's barking forced Ourka to get up out of bed and come over ,,what does that dog want- ....,, Ourka froze when she saw the defenseless Zenis in Dazne's arms and beaten Lyria on the ground.
,,take care of her, she has a few broken ribs,, Dazne nodded at Ourka while carrying Zenis away.
,,Broken ribs?! Why is she here and not in the hospital!?!,, Ourka yelled in horror and quickly helped Lyria onto the couch.
,,just take care of her, at least you can do that, right?,, Dazne snorted and helped Zenis down the stairs to the basement where she opened a secret door to the attic stairs and led him inside.
In the lab, Zenis lay on the table shirtless while Dazne performed auscultation of the heart, brain activity and other tests.
,,I have an idea what it could be, but to be sure, let's run a few more tests, of course, if you don't mind,, Dazne looked Zenis in the eyes.
,,...let's get this over with,, Zenis nodded and stood up.
20 minutes later
Zenis was running on a treadmill with an oxygen mask on his face when out of the blue he tripped over nothing and fell on the ground.
Dazne, now 100% sure, walked over to him and helped him on the table ,,I'm sure I know what's wrong with you, but the problem is that there's no cure for what you have,,. After a dramatic pause, Dazne added ,,You have a disease called 'Kuru' also known as the 'laughing disease' this disease is seen in cannibals who eats brains which causes bad proteins in your own brain and makes holes in your brain that will end up like cheese with holes,,.
Looking at her, Zenis opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it again ,,So.... I don't have much time left?,, Zenis spoke, in a much softer voice than usual.
,,normally you shouldn't have much time, BUT fortunately I've found a way to not only suppress such a disease, but to completely cure it,, Dazne smiled a little with her rare smile that she never showed anyone except Zenis.
,,I see, does it have something to do with the person you kidnapped in that store earlier?,, Zenis asked.
It was clear that it was her, even though her figure was unrecognizable under her clothes, her movements left suspicion in Zenis's mind and the fact that she used the portal was like the cherry on top.
,,Yes, please follow me,, Dazne stood up and walked through the laboratory where in several containers with various liquids were floating inhumanly disfigured monsters.
,,remember that demon we took when your nemesis Mason arrived here?,,
,,Tary, right?,, Zenis nodded and walked to the iron door that was sealed so tightly that not even a tank could shoot through it.
Dazne calmly unlocked and opened the door and as soon as they both entered Zenis was stunned by what he saw, it was the man from the store Dazne had kidnapped.
The only difference was that his life energy was back in his body and even though his skin was noticeably darker his body was fine.
,,I know this was supposed to be a surprise, but please accept my gift,, Dazne knelt in front of Zenis and showed him the box with the red powder.
,,This is the stone that the person had in their throat, I crushed it into powder, tested it, remodeled how it worked and made it that the more you absorb, the more you will be able to take the life energy of others and possibly give it others too, but that would require a lot of practice. Of course I would be more than happy to bring people for testing-,,
,,That's fine,, Zenis patted her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear ,,Your doing will be rewarded with a satisfying reward later, now tell me what you did with that body,,
Dazne nodded and walked over to the body and turned it so that it showed its back ,,Please watch,, Dazne took the body's shirt and ripped it off showing a spine-like black centipede that was in the place where the person's spine should have been.
,,That's...,, Zenis started but Dazne nodded and explained.
,,this is Tary, after days of suffering from hunger here I wanted to see what he would do with the body and what abilities he had, it turned out that he absorbs the life energy of humans and replaces it with the life energy of demons you can say he's just like that stone I took,,.
For Dazne it may not have been great science, but the fact that she was able to achieve something like that is crazy, unfortunately for Zenis it was not that surprising.
,,Can he control that body?,,Zenis asked and gently touched Tary.
,,I don't think so, all he does is absorb energy and give demon energy, if he'd be able to move he would moved already,,.
,,I see, but what does that have to do with me?,, Zenis lifted his head and looked at her from a squatting position ,,Do you plan to test Tary on me?,,.
At his comment, Dazne quickly knelt down next to him on much lower level, it would be unthinkable for her to be above him no matter what, where or how ,,no my God, what I would like to do is make you stronger and destroy the Kuru inside you, I'm almost sure he can do it,,.
Before she could say more words Zenis stood up and lifted the body ,,let's do the surgery, I want to see if your theory is real, I believe in your abilities and thoughts, so don't let me down,, Zenis nodded to Dazne and carried the body to the operating room where he laid it on it's stomach and himself lay on the couch a little away from the body, face down.
Dazne took on her operating gown, gloves and mask ,,my God.... I won't be able to put you to sleep in this operation, please don't be angry with me.... I'll pay for my incompetence later,, Dazne muttered and cut open Zenis's skin and flesh on his back where his spine is earning painful scream from him.
After a few hours
Dazne finally finished the operation and threw the plastic gloves aside, this was probably the worst part of her service to her God.
She never liked having to hurt him in any way, even if it was supposed to help him, just the thought of her touching him as she shouldn't was driving her crazy.
Looking at Zenis unconscious body, Dazne began to realize that if it didn't work and somehow Tary got into Zenis's brain, she would have no choice but to defeat him, tie him up and do several experiments until she could get Zenis back to the world of the living.
Meanwhile, in Zenis's mind
Zenis was floating in the middle of the darkness without a single bit of light ,,hm? Shouldn't I have been in my lab?,, Zenis thought and stopped ,,don't tell me the operation failed',,.
Before he could think any more, a voice appeared not far behind him ,,welcome to my world! From now on you will be trapped here forever!,, the malicious voice laughed.
Zenis turned around and saw Tary, at that moment Zenis's head clicked, Tary probably pretended that he could not control his body and secretly hoped that Dazne would eventually put him in a strong body.
And now in Zenis' body Tary could not wish for a better result because Zenis' body was on the verge of perfection in both psychic and magical aspects.
,,are you fucking kidding me?,,