17.1. A Telepathic Interrogation - Part 1

"K-kidnap me?" I stutter and can't believe it. Their target was me? Not Liana?

"The security interrogated the intruders but it was the only information they got from them so far," Erik says. I feel he's anxious and angry at the same time while the only emotion I manage is shock and total disbelief. Why me?

We arrive in the study and everyone looks up, startled, because they weren't expecting me. Julia is here as well and Hana is serving snacks. Only the people who know about my telepathy are present so I relax and can speak freely.

"Ryuuto, you should be resting," Julia shakes her head in disapproval.

"I felt Liana needs me," I oppose and I'm surprised how nice it is not having to hide anything anymore. These are the people I can trust. My friends.

"Damn, Aefener," Liana slaps her forehead. "You sensed that? I wanted to let you rest for a few more hours but it seems nothing eludes the telepath."

"Yes," I simply nod but my friends are impressed nonetheless. I'm so glad I don't have to play ignorant. "So... what do you need me for?"

I sit down on the sofa because chairs are all taken. Mrs Hana presents me with snacks immediately. She's a bit uneasy around me but otherwise she seems to be taking it well.

"Try at least something small," Erik persuades me. "Or I feed you another protein drink."

I hesitantly go for a chocolate cookie.

"Shouldn't he eat something healthier, doc?" Erik sighs over my selection because he was hoping I'd choose some canapés.

"Hard to tell in case of Celestials," she shrugs. "Their bodies might process sugar differently from humans. Let's be glad Ryuuto eats at least something for now."

"So... what do you need, Li?" I repeat and slowly nibble into my cookie. It's homemade, wholemeal and full of quality chocolate so actually not as unhealthy as Erik fears.

Liana sighs. It's evident she doesn't want to ask me for that thing but she has to. The others feel uncomfortable as well. Fefnir is almost crushing the chair's handle and Ingri is pale.

"The intruders won't to talk," Liana says. "It took several hours to get at least their objective. As for their employer... they refuse to tell even though my security is very good at persuading."

"W-wait," I almost choke on the cookie because I feel something dark coming from her. "You mean... did you torture them?"

"Not exactly torture, no," she shakes her head. "I'm not a monster, Aefener, come on. But my security has their methods."

"B-but won't you have problems? Shouldn't you give them to the police? What about their rights?" I'm shocked.

"You really are an idealist," Liana looks at me, amused but content. "It's not practical for today's world and the world we're entering into but our Emperor is supposed to be like that."

"What do you need me for then?" I gulp.

"I know that it's a lot to ask, but...," she's carefully choosing every word, "I beg you to interrogate them telepathically."

I gasp for breath and drop my cookie.

"You can't be serious, Laura," Erik hisses. "Ryuuto's head still hurts after the incident, he doesn't feel comfortable connecting to unknown people and you want to make him connect to those bastards who were after him? Do you want to traumatise my boyfriend?"

"I'm asking him, not ordering," she lowers her eyes. "I know that I'm asking for a lot but we need to crack it as soon as possible."

I'm considering it for a while. Just the idea of connecting to those people disgusts me but at the same time my ability can finally become useful to others. Plus, I do need to train it.

"I'll do it," I say, trying to sound confident.

"No, Ryuuto, you don't have to! Liana has no right to ask that of you!" Erik is furious.

"I'll do it for the good of our people," I touch his hand and send him my determination so that he understands.

"Aefener is really perfect for the Celestial Emperor, isn't he?" Ingri comments to relieve the heavy atmosphere. "He's already thinking like one."

"He'd make a terrible politician, though," Fefnir chuckles.

"Erik, Aefener won't be in any danger during the interrogation," Liana assures him.

"They'll definitely feel Ryuuto is digging in their minds," Erik protests.

"No, they won't. I'll have them sedated," Liana says as if that isn't a big deal.

"That's definitely illegal!" Ingri is startled.

"Actually, it isn't," my viceroy shrugs indifferently. "They invaded my private property and they refuse to identify themselves so it's as if they aren't even here. No organisation will publicly admit they've sent them to kidnap Aefener even if they never return."

I shiver. The world Liana lives in is totally different from mine. And now I'm becoming part of that world too. How carefree I was just two weeks ago. To think that debts, a grumpy Grandma and my telepathy were my biggest concerns.

*****

"I was half-expecting you'd have an actual dungeon," Fefnir jokes when we get into the basement where the prisoners are being held.

"I'm not a mafia boss, Fefnir," Liana rolls her eyes. "I have my wine cellar here and other storage rooms. My security had to improvise."

"You didn't have to come," Erik says to Dr Stein. "I imagine it won't be pretty."

"On the contrary—I had to," Julia purses her lips. "What if Ryuuto faints again? His telepathy might be amazing but it's evident that it's making him vulnerable. I'm here to make sure he won't overdo it."

"I'm not leaving either," Mrs Hana speaks up, pushing Liana in a wheelchair.

"Aefener, are you okay? Do you really feel like doing it?" Ingri pets my left wing so that her concern pours into me fully.

"I don't obviously," I sigh. "But I need to do it. Also, I'm glad that my ability can finally become useful."

"Finally useful? What, you never cheated on exams with it?" Fefnir jokes again but this time on purpose to relief the heavy atmosphere.

"I had virtual schooling, Fefnir."

"Huh, you never went to actual school?" he's surprised. "Not even for the primary?"

"I tried. I mean...," I scratch my chin. "Grandma enrolled me into the first grade, of course, but she had to pull me back just a few days after that. I couldn't stand all those emotions from my classmates and got into conflicts. I had much harder time controlling my telepathy when I was a kid. I often didn't know what's normal to feel so I reacted to things I shouldn't have. You can imagine what kind of situations that was causing."

"And your grandmother didn't suspect a thing?" Liana raises her eyebrows.

"Gran didn't pay that much attention to me really," I say. "She thought I was autistic and the school psychologist thought that as well so I was given special online courses."

"What a horrible lady," Ingri shakes her head.

"Shush, we're here," Liana warns us not to talk about my secret because we turn the corner and there're her bodyguards guarding the door.

"Miss Richter," one of the men greets her. "Are you sure you don't want us inside? The guy is sedated and tied up but he's still a professional mercenary."

"Nah, we have Fefnir," Liana points at our Dragonkin friend.

Fefnir smirks and to prove himself, he hits the corner of the wall. I stare in disbelief because he actually manages to crush it. And I'm not the only one, the bodyguards are speechless.

"You dumbass!" Liana berates him. "You're damaging my house!"

"Oh, sorry," he realises only now the consequences of his braggy demonstration.

But it works, the bodyguards don't doubt Liana's decision anymore and let us enter the room. There's a man sitting handcuffed to a chair, his eyes are covered. I don't like the vibes I'm catching from him and I'm not even touching the guy.

Just to be sure, I don't want him to know you were even here, Liana touches me to send her thoughts. Don't talk aloud, okay?

I re-send her thought to Erik so that he knows that he shouldn't speak either. Mrs Hana positions Liana's wheelchair in a safe distance in front of the captive and Fefnir stands next to her, posing as her bodyguard just in case.

"I'm Laura Richter," she starts, her voice cold.

"Hehe, the big shot," the man laughs but it's not a nice sound.

He knows that he's been drugged, tries to fight it but can't help it. His mind is cloudy and sluggish. I don't even want to know what Julia had given him. He makes me nauseous but I hesitantly touch the man's temples from behind.

"Uchm, what's that?" he gets nervous when he feels my touch.

"Who sent you?" Liana asks plainly.

We don't really hope he'll actually answer. At least not aloud. We came up with a plan that Liana will keep asking him questions while I dig for answers in his mind. It's almost impossible not to think of the truth when inventing lies.

Uff, it's so ugly that I shiver. His mind is really repulsive, even worse than Peter's. I'm facing a real psychopath here. My stomach turns upside down but I fight the impulse to throw up. I have to get the hang of it, not run away like before.

I look at Erik. He's pale but he smiles at me reassuringly. Liana is giving me a thumb-up while Julia is eyeing me with concern. Fefnir and Ingri are full of anticipation. I can do this, my friends support me. Erik is right, I should be proud of my special ability and try to make it useful.

"Who sent you?" Liana repeats.

I close my eyes and fully delve into the man's mind. It's not as easy as it was with Julia when I could face her and she was open to me. Plus, the fact that he's sedated makes it more difficult for him to focus. But I push nonetheless, trying to filter jumbled emotions and thoughts.

I'm taken aback by the fact that this man really isn't able to feel things like remorse, fear or concern. For someone like me who is over-sensitive and feels too much, it's such a foreign concept that I can't comprehend it.

"Hehehe, I don't knoooow, bitch," the man chuckles. I try to stimulate his brain but it seems he isn't lying.

"Who hired you?" Liana pushes.

I go deeper and browse his recent memories. I see him and his team taking the contract from an unknown source. They paid half the price beforehand, a small fortune. I was to be kidnapped unharmed. Everything was arranged in VR, I see several people but they're in the form of avatars which doesn't tell me anything.

"Was it the government?" Liana starts to lose her patience.

"Doubt it," the man growls. "It was on the dark web."

"Why Aefener and not me?" she clicks her tongue.

"Nooo ideaaa," he prolongs mockingly. "Maybe because he's the king of you freaks?"

"We're wasting our time," Fefnir hisses between his fangs. "He's just a pawn."

Fefnir's right, he doesn't know anything, I say to Erik.

Liana calls her security to take the man away and to bring another one. I connect to all six of them but with the same result. At least I'm getting the hang of browsing other people's memories.