Why has no one come out to greet them yet?
She knew they were being monitored somehow.
Yet she saw no cameras or peepholes anywhere.
Zyra started to remove her garments as the others were doing and placed them into the box.
At least now she knew what the box was for.
There was no time to be modest or ashamed of being naked in front of strangers once more for everyone was lining up again.
This time they were being led into a wide chamber.
After being sealed in she thought this was it, this was how she died.
Somehow it reminded her of a gas chamber, and low and behold, some mysterious gas was slowly filling up the air.
It had an appearance of mist but no smell.
Five minutes passed but she was still breathing, but even better she felt refreshed.
Like she had just taken a long bath in a hot spring on Fuegolian Island.
Zyra couldn't explain it but she felt healthy, rejuvenated and full of energy.
She looked around to see the reactions of others and they looked happy, marveling at the wonders of the mist.
Then a loud dinging sound reverberated around the room and the mist started receding as silently and innocuous as it first entered the chamber.
A panel to the right of the chamber opened and they started exiting single file, and in an orderly manner once more.
The next room they entered had identical light blue unisex gowns hanging up on hooks. Just waiting to be removed by them.
It looked like the type of gown both men and women were told to wear at the hospital.
It was a thicker material but loose and flowing, no undergarments.
So she would have to deal with boob sweat and them flapping all over the place when she moved.
No one else seemed to care about aesthetics or fashion just blindly following silent orders as usual.
Even though she hadn't started to smell yet she wondered if they would eventually get deodorant.
As twenty eight persons closely quarantined like this meant that body heat could get them all perspiring.
She need not have worried for after they put on their gowns another door opened to a room filled with beds.
Zyra didn't feel hungry because she had eaten before they started battling Kanakika.
Still they had used up a lot of energy fighting Kanakika; she would be too surprised if a few stomachs were grumbling.
Or did the mysterious mist provide nutrients as well.
Her body physically tired but her mind was not, too many things went unexplained.
Her mind could not comprehend what was happening to her now.
She lay down on the bed, closed her eyes but reopened them a mere few seconds later after feeling a nudge.
Thinking it was Cyril who wanted to speak with her she sat up quickly in the bed but it wasn't.
It was a man, a stranger, his skin was so pale like he had never stood in the sun before.
She marveled at his hair, it was a luminous white with a tinge of teal.
He wasn't ugly but he wasn't handsome either, the word that came to mind was bland.
His was a face that could be easily forgotten in a crowd.
Thus his nose was the most prominent thing on his face; it was massive and did not seem to fit with the rest of his gaunt features.
If the Aguatian wolfbeasts were anything like the others; he must have been teased for his features his entire life.
Just the fact that they too were similar in features to humans other than their ability to transform. It made her not feel so fearful of them.
"We know you are not like the others, come with us please."
"Well…since you asked so nicely," she responded.
While glancing at the bed next to hers, where Cyril should have been, she noticed it was empty.
How had she not heard him get up from his bed?
Maybe when she closed her eyes she had fallen asleep after all.
The mind was a funny thing and clearly she was losing her grip on reality.
Zyra knew she should be afraid but figured if they wanted to kill her they would have done so already.
She was flanked by two of the Aguatian wolfbeasts both similarly attired and followed them out of the room and down a long winding corridor until the finally entered another room.
Zyra was elated when she saw that Cyril was also there and it seemed they had been waiting for her.
The guards summarily dismissed and left after giving orders to vacate the room.
Cyril extended his hand to her and she took it and remained by his side.
While he was in deep conversation with whom she presumed to be the leader of the wolfbeasts.
Not once had he acknowledged her presence since she entered the room and she felt ignored. They seemed to be in some kind of study.
There were numerous maps and charts all over the walls and bookshelves covered every inch of the wall.
It was well built, spacious and the interior design was on point every inch of the room served a purpose.
The place was neat and everything screamed its owner was meticulous.
The Aguatian leader was very old, ancient, she believed.
His pale skin wrinkled and marred with spots, like he had lived through getting the pox.
Despite that his eyes were sharp and missed nothing.
Nowadays, diseases like those on Earth were very rare since everyone had been inoculated as a baby with every injection known to man.
"I honestly do not know the answer to your question, Lord Aquinas."
"Lord Carnelian, I will not tolerate lies in my residence."
The room went silent and you could literally hair a pin drop.
Zyra watched to see what would happen next, they just stared at each other silently taking the other's measure.
Cyril with hands fisted and clenched by his sides, the veins popping out and throbbing.
Lord Aquinas looked disgruntled that he had to raise his voice in the first place. He normally never let underlings get under his skin but he felt Lord Carnelian was lying about the girl.
Lord Aquinas regarded Cyril closely. "How about we compromise on the matter since we are getting nowhere."
"I can live with that since I don't have much of a choice." He retorted.
Lord Carnelian felt that if he was prodded any further he would lose it and Lord Aquinas too could feel that he had reached his breaking point.
The last thing Lord Aquinas wanted to deal with was a rampaging fire beast destroying everything on his beloved ship.
"Guards, take her back to the others, as for Lord Carnelian have him escorted to the guest quarters." Lord Aquina ordered.
Cyril walked over to her side. He rested his hands on her shoulder and it gave her assurance that he was on her side.
In the midst of the friction that was transpiring between these two warring factions.
It felt like they were using her as a bargaining chip and she didn't know why.
"She stays with me."
"I'm afraid that's not possible, Lord Carnelian. She isn't a wolfbeast and won't be afforded the same hospitality."
"I would like a few minutes alone with Zyra to explain."
"I haven't had any time to evaluate her so I'm afraid that I can't grant your request."
"But.."
"That's enough for tonight."
"I'm not going to collude with her but I owe her an explanation."
Lord Aquinas yawned. "Like I said, we are both tired and can resume negotiations in the morning."
"I trust that no harm will come to my ward under your care."
"I give my word."
Clueless as ever, Zyra had no choice but to follow the guards.
She tried to reach out to Cyril but a guard blocked her path.
Only after his escorts took him from the room was she allowed to leave Lord Aquinas' study with more questions than answers.
They were dressed similar to the first Agauatian she had ever laid eyes on but were different in height.
Well at least they weren't clones and looked like they could think for themselves.
Interesting since Lord Aquinas gave off that vibe that he liked getting his own way all the time and didn't like anyone challenging his rule.
Hopefully when they woke up in the morning the effect of the siren's call on her friends would have worn off.
They would have returned to their normal selves and she could fill them in on all that had transpired that night.
It was a lot to wrap her head around and she could use their comfort and advice.
She needed to remember all she had learned about Aguatians while training.
Zyra was returned to the same bed, the sheets devoid of body heat were now cold but she was too tired to care.