Sophia stood inside the lab, arms crossed, staring at the glass enclosure in which Tharros was imprisoned. Despite everything—his change, his cryptic language, the hunters circling outside—he remained unnervingly calm, like a predator biding its time.
"Run the final series," she said Liam, her voice taut with recognition.
"You sure approximately this?" Liam asked, his hands leaping over the controls.
"We don't have a preference," Sophia responded. "We want to recognize what we're handling."
As the test began, the room became energized. A low hum hung in the air, and the advanced sensors inside the chamber lit up as they attempted to study Tharros' electrical discipline. Sophia kept her gaze fixated on his, searching for any signs of emotion, but his golden eyes remained constant.
"What exactly are you hoping to locate?" Tharros inquired abruptly, his husky voice reduced by the hum.
Sophia blinked, surprised. He hadn't talked since the experiment began. "Answers," she responded, defying her discomfort. "Who are you? "What are you?"
Tharros inclined his head, a small smirk forming on his lips. "And if you don't like what you locate?"
"I'll deal with it," she replied firmly.
His sneer broadened, but he said nothing more.
The readings on the console soared without warning. Alarms blared, and the glass chamber around Tharros began to light softly. Liam grumbled under his breath while attempting to adjust the device.
"close it down!" Sophia yelled, racing to the console.
"I'm trying, but it's no longer responding!" Liam yelled again.
Tharros' expression changed within the chamber, from a smirk to something more sinister. His eyes shone brighter, and the power around him grew, crackling like a storm.
Sophia felt a shiver go down her spine. This was not just a response; he was doing it. "Tharros, stop!" she commanded.
He shifted his look to her, and for a brief moment, she saw something primordial in his eyes. "You desired solutions, Sophia," he replied, his voice calm but powerful. "permit me display you."
The glass cracked.
The power of the explosion knocked Sophia off her feet. She landed hard on the floor, knocking the air out of her lungs. While she looked up, Tharros emerged, standing in the center of the room, the brilliance of his strength casting long shadows on the walls.
The crew tried to recover, with some escaping and others shouting instructions. Liam reached for the emergency containment controls, but Tharros lifted a hand, causing the console to spark furiously, rendering it useless.
Sophia pushed herself to stand, her heart hammering. "You don't have to do this," she replied, her voice calm despite the commotion around her.
Tharros looked to her with an enigmatic expression. "You do not understand, Sophia. I am not your prisoner. "I am your answer."
Before she could process his statements, he moved—fast, incredibly quickly. In a blink, he was in front of her. The section shifted as he put his arm around her waist and sprang through the enormous hole in the wall.
The frigid water swallowed her, taking away her breath. Sophia's instincts urged her to resist, but Tharros' grip became immovable. They sank lower, the Genesis disappearing into space as the sea engulfed them whole.
Sophia fought towards him, her movements frenzied, but his voice reached her, calm and steady despite the water. "Sophie, stop fighting. Breathe."
She shook her head, terror spreading. Breathe? Is he insane?
"Consider me," he whispered, his golden eyes fixed on hers.
Sophia paused, then hesitantly took a tiny breath. To her surprise, the water moved effortlessly into her lungs, almost like air. She gasped as she realized she could breathe underwater.
"What... how?" She maintained control, her voice thin and incredulous.
Tharros did not offer a solution. As a substitute, he tightened his grasp and propelled them forward with an efficient kick that slashed through the water like a blade. The currents considered the element for him and bent to his desire.
Minutes—or perhaps hours—passed before they eventually slowed. Tharros launched her, and Sophia floated in the still water, recovering her breath. The sea around them had darkened and become numerous, but an unexplainable warmth held the sat back at bay.
"You're not human," Sophia said, her voice wavering from terror and surprise.
"No," Tharros replied actually.
"Then what are you?" She pressed. "Why take me?"
He swam closer, his presence overwhelming despite the immensity of the ocean. "Because you are no longer what you thought you were studying, Sophia. You do not belong in that world. "You belong in mine."
Her coronary heart raced. "What are you speakme about?"
Tharros' glare softened somewhat, and for the first time, she saw something other than power in his eyes. There has been a profound and historic letdown. I was interested in you, Sophia. Simply because you have shown interest in me. It is not a twist of fate. "It is destiny."
Sophia shook her head, her mind reeling. "That doesn't make sense."
"It will," he answered. "but first, I need you to believe me."
Sophia paused. Each instinct told her to run, fight, or do something other than cooperate with this guy—this dragon. However, something deeper, more primordial, directed her to live.
"Why me?" she whispered.
Tharros smiled faintly, a glimmer of warmth bursting through his austere façade. "because you're the handiest one who can."
Before she could react, the water around them shook. A deep, resonant hum echoed throughout the ocean, becoming louder by the second. Tharros' expression hardened, and his body tensed.
"They've found us," he said.
Sophia's stomach sank. "The hunters?"
He nodded. "live close to me."
Without waiting for a response, he seized her hand and pulled her farther into the waves. The water became chillier, the pleasant diminishing until they were engulfed by blackness. However, even in the pitch black, Tharros' presence transformed into a lighthouse, his golden eyes directing her on.
The hum intensified, and Sophia felt the water vibrate across her skin. Then, out of the darkness, shapes appeared: sleek, terrifying bureaucracy that moved with lethal precision.
"Live in the back of me," Tharros told his voice corporation.
Sophia complied, her coronary heart pounding in her chest. The hunters closed in, their bright gaze locked on Tharros. He stood on his floor, his strength radiating around him like a shield.
The lead hunter struck with startling velocity. Tharros moved faster, confronting the onslaught head on. The intensity of the collision sent shockwaves through the water, nearly knocking Sophia off balance.
She looked in awe and dread as Tharros fought, his movements a flurry of strength and skill. The hunts were relentless, but he kept his ground, protecting her with each attack.
However, it was not adequate.
One of the hunters broke through, aiming directly for Sophia. She froze, terror paralyzing her. Tharros turned, his golden eyes widening as he saw the threat.
"Run!" He shouted.
But there was nowhere to run.