Rough cut:
“Up on the table with you, Arius. The sooner we do this, the sooner you can settle those fears.”
Elius chivvied Ari up on the metal table. Once he was laying down, Elius pulled a blanket up to his chin. Ari worked out a hand and took mine again. He held it tight while the others brought over the necessary tools.
“Tavi’li mere, callowayla,” Ari murmured.
“Tavi’li mere, Ari. Tavi’li mere.” I rubbed my thumb along the side of his hand, soothing him.
“I need your other arm, Arius.” Elius had picked up the syringe. He moved opposite me as Ari held his other arm out. Elius rolled the sleeve up.
As the needle pricked his skin, Ari let out a shuddery sigh. I knew what to expect, but knowing didn’t prepare me for the reality. Between breath and the next, Ari’s fierce grip loosened and his hand went limp in mine. I watched the life fade from his eyes and it was all I could do not to start sobbing. As it was, I couldn’t help the silent tears that slipped down my cheeks.
With economical swiftness, Parda scooped up the blade and drew it down Ari’s cheek. As the blood began to flow, she pressed the soul chip into it, then tucked it against her palm and placed both hands to Ari’s temples. There was a brief flash of light. All around me I could feel the weight of the magic involved. I started to black out. After a moment, the pressure lifted. As the spots began to fade from my vision, I became aware that Parda had moved from one table to the next.
Elius was gently pulling the blanket up over one body, while Parda was pulling the shroud from the second.
First edit:
“Up on the table with you, Arius. The sooner we do this, the sooner you can settle those fears.” Parda’s tone was gentle. Motherly even.
Once Ari lay on the table, with a blanket pulled up to his chin, he worked a hand free and took mine again.
“Tavi’li mere, callowayla,” Ari murmured.
“Tavi’li mere, Ari. Tavi’li mere.” I rubbed my thumb along the side of his hand, soothing him.
“I need your other arm, Arius.” Elius moved opposite me as Ari obliged. Tying a tourniquet around Ari’s upper arm, Elius prepped the injection site.
As the needle slid into the vein, shivers ran through Ari and he gave a papery sigh. I knew what to expect, but knowing didn’t prepare me for the reality. Between one breath and the next, Ari’s fierce grip loosened and his hand went limp in mine. I watched the life fade from his eyes and fought against the sobs threatening to overwhelm me. As it was, I couldn’t help the silent tears that slipped down my cheeks.
With economical swiftness, Parda scooped up the blade and drew it down Ari’s cheek. As the blood began to flow, Elius flipped open the wooden box and withdrew Ari’s soul chip, passing it to Parda. She pressed the chip against his bloody cheek, then tucked it against her palm and placed both hands to Ari’s temples. There was a brief flash and the air grew heavy and thick. My lungs convulsed, as if I were trapped underwater, and I started to black out. After a moment, the pressure lifted. As the spots began to fade from my vision, I became aware that Parda had moved from one table to the next.
With infinite gentleness, Elius drew the blanket over Ari’s still form.
“I’ve been here, Maia,” he said, low, coming to stand beside me. “Greyeyes knows, it’s not easy.” The se’tov gave my shoulder a comforting squeeze. He guided me over to the second table, where Parda was drawing back the shroud.
With a final glance back at the first table, I wiped my cheeks with my sleeve and focused in the form before me. Ari’s new body lay on its side, looking identical to the one just shed, though it was anything but. This was a body crafted in the image of the Clockwork God, a body of magic and magemetals that mimicked the biological in nearly every way.
“Take his hand,” Parda instructed. “It will help when he wakes, since you were with him before.”
I picked up Ari’s hand, and my tears renewed. His hand was cool to the touch, the fingers stiff. It was, in short, exactly as a body with no life would feel.
