Diana Racine 02 - Goddess of the Moon

untrainable non-conformist. Resisted our methods completely, so we were forced to resort to other techniques. We can’t allow her to leave because she’d go to the authorities. She’s content. Not happy, but content. All this is to create a superior race. A city wholly unto itself. T wo or three more generations and we’ll be there. Then we’ll infiltrate the best of our group into society to begin the transformation on a larger scale. T hat will take many more generations, but it’s doable. ”
    The scope of Slater’s acknowledgement sent ice through Lucier’s veins. “This place will be found, your perversions stopped.”
    “ W ho’s going to stop us, Lieutenant. Certainly not you, because you’ll never leave here. Y our prying awakened t he authorities , so we’ve readied another place. Diana will join us there. In fact, she’ll be the high priestess. Diana, Goddess of the Moon.”
    “Why the notes? You had to know they’d start an investigation. Why?”
    “ One of our members acted alone , thinking the warnings would scare you off. Unfortunately, they had an opposite effect . When we found out, we dealt with him .”
    Slater’s explanation was so preposterous, so bizarre, that Lucier’s stomach somersaulted . Could t hese people conceivably pull this off ? Thinking of Diana as the offering to their so-called deity triggered a nother losing battle against his restraints. “You’ll never tame her,” he said, panting. “She’ll never conform.”
    “You wouldn’t like to bet on that, would you?” Slater rose and went to the door, beckoning to someone outside. A young boy pushed Diana in a wheelchair, a strap tight around her chest, her arms and legs secured to the chair. “Let me reintroduce you to our new goddess. With Diana’s talents, we should be able to produce some special offspring, although genetics don’t always follow the first generation. If not her children, maybe her grandchildren.
    Lucier lifted his chair off the ground when he saw her, but his feet were bound to its legs, and he almost tipped over before he righted himself. Thrashing against his restraints summoned power he didn’t know remained . Her name left his throat like the wail of a caged animal, pleading for her to listen, but her bla nk stare focused on nothing.
    “You bastard . ” Lucier hissed out the words with as much venom as he could muster . He rubbed sweat off the side of his face with his shoulder , trying hard to calm a heart that pump ed so hard he thought it would explode inside his chest. “What have you given her?” Diana was in the drug’s darkest throes. A date rape drug could result in long-term hal lucina tions or dissociative brain damage, and he’d bet that’s what had rendered her helpless.
    “ Not so feisty now, i s she? Our doctor is trying different combinations and doses. I heard she fought like a wildcat when she woke from the initial dose. S he rejected our vision for her future , and I’m afraid he had to calm her down. Unfortunately, he gave her too much, and she lost her ability to walk. Actually, she lost all motor function and couldn’t feed herself now if she were starving and a plate of food sat in front of her. She’s so tiny he had a hard time judging the dosage, but h e’ll get it right. The wheelchair is a nice touch, don’t you think? Even if we unstrapped her, she’d be unable to move, other than to fall to the floor. The straps are for her protection. We don’t want her to hurt herself.”
    Lucier’s head pounded, the result of drug residue and his futile attempt to break free. H is stupidity in succumbing to the lure of the crescent moon left him in a state of despair . He’d underestimated these people and had only himself to blame for Diana’s predicament.
    T hink , Ernie . Clear your head . No one would come for them. They couldn’t, because no one knew where they were . With Slater exposing the group’s intent, Lucier would never leave there alive.
    “She behaved beautifully Saturday night, though,” Slater went on. “The night of the crescent moon. Of course, she couldn’t do much else, considering her condition. She enjoyed the place of honor. Wish you ’d have seen her . Diana, Goddess of the Moon. A glory to behold .”
    “You fuck ― ” Lucier fought the straps again, jumping the chair toward his tormentor until Slater moved back, clearly wary . But Lucier couldn’t keep up his assault, and he collapsed once more. “What did you do