Free Beasts and Burdens by Felicia Jedlicka

ingredients: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Depending on how they are combined, determines the element. She simply splits them and rearranges them how she wants them. She seems to have no trouble with metal, plastic, and brick, but so far she has never made any living organic materials.”
    “So, we can’t install her in the Enterprise food replicators yet.”
    “No,” he said quickly. “I believe that one of the reasons she targeted Olivia, was because she wanted to be a part of creating new life. It’s something that she can’t do. My second theory regarding your attack is more concerning than my first. I think she wants to experience the birth of your child.”
    “But that doesn’t fit, because she was trying to kill me.”
    Belus pressed his lips into a flat line and nodded. “I hope that’s what she was doing.”
    “You would prefer that?”
    “Yes, Cori, we can protect you, and repair you, but once she gets inside of your mind, we can’t do anything to help you. She’s like the hermit crab of psychics.”
    “But as long as I don’t have any electronics, I should be safe.”
    “What about, what Cleos said? Your mind is vulnerable. You have gaps that beg to be filled. I can’t guarantee your safety with basic protocols.”
    Cori stood up abruptly and put down her coffee. “I’m putting my rings back on,” she said flatly and waited for Belus to object.
     
     
     
    21
    Belus stared at her momentarily baffled. He glanced at the office before hardening his gaze on her. “Are you asking for my permission?” he asked not hiding his irritation at her request .
    “Yes, sir,” she mumbled.
    “Mmm, a ‘sir’ even. You are earnest aren’t you?” His ire softened and he picked up his coffee for a painstakingly slow drink. “Why didn’t you just take them out of the drawer when you found them?”
    “Because you told me not to wear them.” Cori bit back her lips hoping that was the right answer.
    “Interesting, and if I tell you that I still don’t want you to wear them.”
    She shrugged. “Then I will spend the remainder of the day trying to convince you in the most annoying ways possible.”
    “And if that doesn’t work?” He narrowed his eyes at her double dog daring her to challenge his authority.
    She sighed and flopped back on the couch. “Then nothing.” She hated conceding to his authority when she so vehemently disagreed with him, but she needed Belus to trust her more than she needed to trust him. 
    After a short pause, Belus moved into the office and collected the rings from the drawer. He returned to the couch and dumped the fist-full of rings on the cushion between them. “Did it ever occur to you to ask me if you could have the rings back?”
    “Would you have said yes?”
    “No,” she huffed derisively at him. “But that’s when you would offer me a reason to change my mind.”
    Cori looked down at the rings. He wasn’t offering them yet, just displaying them. She needed to choose her words carefully. “These rings prevented me from losing my memory after a wish relocation. I’m not sure how powerful our house creature is, but the genie was referred to as god-like. If I’m going to be in danger, I think I should have the right to defend myself by any means necessary.”
    “I have two concerns. Firstly, Ethan is not here to take them off. Secondly, your emotions are very erratic right now. I don’t want to get zapped every time you get pissed off.”
    “I guess you’ll just have to call Ethan back if you need them off. And in regards to you getting zapped, just stop pissing me off.” She pinched back her smile, waiting to see if he was going to be amused or not.
    He gave her a smile, but it quickly faded. “I don’t like complicating things, but I do agree with your logic.” She reached for the rings, but he put his hand out over them. “You understand this doesn’t change anything. You can’t go back to the house unless one of us is with you.”
    “I