A few days later, Patricia arrived back in Carrington. She had called an urgent family meeting. All the bloodline family members would be in attendance. Even the family members based in the North District were required to attend this meeting in person. Jenna had also returned from the tunnels.
The meeting was to be held in the large conference room located in the Alset Annex. The family members gathered around a giant redwood table. Jenna pushed Locum in his wheelchair to his position at the table. Then she walked around to her seat, which was next to Demadrian.
‘I heard you have found a third city,’ whispered Demadrian to Jenna.
‘It’s even more amazing than the one you saw,’ whispered Jenna back to him.
‘May I have your attention?’ called out Patricia as she stood up. ‘We have a very serious problem. We have a mole in our midst.’
‘I’m sorry, I thought the problem was our coercion of the voters in our district elections,’ interrupted Jenna. ‘Apparently, according to you, the problem is being caught.’
‘No, little Jenna,’ said Patricia in a condescending tone. ‘The problem is lack of loyalty. I wouldn’t expect you to understand.’
‘My dear, Patricia,’ said Locum in a very soft and croaky voice. ‘Jenna’s loyalty and dedication to this family are unparalleled.’
‘Understood, father,’ said Patricia as she lowered her head in respect. She could see both Jenna and Demadrian grinning smugly.
‘May I continue?’ asked Patricia.
Locum nodded.
‘This flyer found its way to Yensid Media,’ said Patricia firmly as she held up the flyer. ‘I suspect it has been deliberately leaked with malicious intent.’
The flyer had a picture of a fierce red Linap waving his fist with the words, ‘Vote for Chief Sanguine or else’.
Demadrian burst out laughing. The others stared at each other for a few seconds, and Locum began to chuckle a little.
‘This is clearly fake,’ said Demadrian as he shook his head. ‘No one in our family would be so dumb as to distribute this nonsense. Besides, I just came from North. I never saw such a flyer.’
‘I designed this flyer,’ said Hermon, a younger cousin of Demadrian. ‘It is not coercion. It is based on Chief Sanguine’s campaign slogan. I believe it is perfectly legitimate.’
‘Well, that’s not the opinion of the Yensid viewers,’ said Patricia. ‘They are planning to protest the legitimacy of both the North and Carrington governors.’
‘We should just admit that we made a mistake,’ said Jenna. ‘We can show our sincerity by offering to call and fully fund another election.’
‘The flyer is not my point,’ said Patricia angrily. ‘My point is that someone leaked the flyer to Yensid Media. We need to find the traitor.’
‘Enough, Patricia,’ said Locum as he thumped the arm on his wheelchair. ‘Yensid Media covered all the elections in great detail. One of their employees could have easily stumbled across a flyer.’
‘The bigger problem is your reactions,’ said Locum as he looked at Patricia. ‘Throwing around unsubstantiated accusations.’ Then he turned to look at Hermon. ‘Distributing silly flyers. Did you really think that was necessary?’
Hermon shook his head.
‘James Yensid and his companies will only pose a threat to our family if we allow them to,’ said Locum as he carefully looked at the faces of his family members. ‘Our strength is our unity as a family. We must resist their manipulative tactics. We shall not deviate from…’
‘James Yensid is using the blue juice,’ blurted out Patricia. ‘I saw it. I saw it in his eyes.’
Everyone other than Locum gasped.
‘I have been thinking about this for some time,’ said Locum in a softer tone. ‘We have gained so much from the blue juice. Wealth and power. However, the costs have been far greater. Saddest of all, the greatest cost has been our inability to even realise that.’
‘You’re unwell, and you don’t know what you’re saying,’ said Patricia as she uncomfortably gazed at Locum.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Locum as a tear formed in his eye. ‘I thought I was giving my family the greatest gift. Instead, I gave you the greatest curse. I want all the blue juice destroyed.’
‘I fully understand now,’ said Hadrian as he thumped his fist on the table. ‘You’re on your deathbed, and you want all of us to die with you.’
‘No, son, I want to free you,’ said Locum as he reached out his hand.
Hadrian rose from the table and walked out of the room. Most of the other family members followed him. Jenna got up and rushed over to comfort Locum. Demadrian did not move. He just watched the others reactions.
‘You bitch, you manipulative bitch,’ said Patricia as she walked towards Jenna.
‘Let’s just remain calm,’ said Jenna as she looked up from Locum.
‘I was his favourite until you came along,’ said Patricia as she stood on the other side of Locum.
‘I love both of you very much,’ said Locum as he struggled to talk.
‘Look at you over there,’ said Patricia as she turned to look at Demadrian. ‘Not angry nor fazed at all.’
‘I’m just great at anticipating things,’ said Demadrian as he smiled smugly.
‘You are quite remarkable,’ said Patricia as she ran her fingers through Locum’s thinning hair. ‘Always dating girls who somehow end up mysteriously vanishing and then never to be seen again.’
‘Ha, have you been stalking me?’ chuckled Demadrian.
‘These mysterious girls all happen to have the same taste in perfume,’ said Patricia as she started making her way around the table towards Demadrian.
‘Nope, that’s me. I pick them based on scent,’ said Demadrian as he started to sound a little more uncomfortable.
‘Did you also pick them because they like to fuck James Yensid?’ asked Patricia as a slight smile came across her face.
‘That’s crazy,’ said Demadrian as he nervously grinned at Patricia. ‘You’re crazy.’
‘I could smell her perfume all over him,’ said Patricia as she reached out and touched Demadrian’s nose.
Demadrian stared back at her. He was visibly upset.
‘It’s okay,’ she whispered to him. ‘I’ll make her pay.’
‘It’s been a weird day,’ said Jenna. ‘Let’s just cool down.’
Patricia looked across at Jenna and then walked out.
Demadrian put his face in his hands.
Jenna walked over to him and placed her hand on his back.
‘There’s no way she would cheat on me with that scumbag, James,’ said Demadrian as he pushed his hands out in front of him.
‘Excuse me, Jenna,’ asked Locum. ‘Would you be kind enough to take me back to bed?’
‘No problem, grandfather,’ said Jenna as she turned to face Locum.
‘I've gotta fly. I need to get back to the North District,' said Demadrian as he got to his feet.
Jenna rubbed his arm as she walked back over to Locum.
Patricia drove a small truck into the yard of one of the Alset testing facilities. She pulled up next to a technician who was holding a clipboard.
‘Excuse me,’ she said to him. ‘Is this where the little flying vehicles are kept?’
‘Yes, madam,’ said the technician. ‘There are four in that resource building.’
‘Great, get one prepared for me now,’ said Patricia. ‘While you’re at it, load up these two crates.’
‘No problem,’ said the technician. ‘Do you need any instructions on how to fly it?’
‘Doesn’t it involve just pressing a button?’ asked Patricia impatiently.
The technician shook his head.
Meanwhile, Demadrian had already climbed into his flying vehicle and was on his way back to the North District.
Locum was back in his bed.
‘I’ve gone and made everyone angry,’ said Locum as he gently smiled at Jenna.
‘They’re just a little shocked,’ said Jenna as she held his hand. ‘They’ll be fine in a few days.’
Sapien Loop: Frozen in Time is the sequel to the book Sapien Loop: End of an Era. Sapien Loop: End of an Era is available on Amazon, in collection series on my 
