Shaney frowned. “Science? Sounds kinda new age-y. Incense and crystals. “Hey, do you have a crystal ball?”
A flush of redness painted Caleb’s cheeks and a flash of something crossed his eyes, and then disappeared. So the munchkin did have buttons to push.
Caleb straightened, retaining his professional demeanor. “It’s a science. Like any scientist, I hypothesize, design experiments, collect and analyze data, and reach conclusions from that process. I have been published in leading journals around the world and am continually sought after to address the scientific community. I advise other researchers in my field, as well as governments and world leaders.” Shaney imagined that if the man had any mass to his chest at all, it would be visibly puffed up right now.
“So you won’t be reading my palm then?” Shaney smirked, unable to help himself.
Caleb turned a pointed, unblinking stare on Shaney with his large, chocolate owl eyes. “Quite flip for someone who has absorbed a volatile energy pattern that will eventually disassemble him on the cellular level.”
Chapter Twelve
Shaney’s breath caught somewhere on an exhale as a crushing wave of horror washed away his remaining fortitude. Fuck all if that hadn’t sounded bad. Sure, some freaky shit had happened, strange aftereffects and all, but disassembly? He forced his mind to avoid trying to imagine that process.
With a shaky chuckle, Shaney produced enough force to speak. “What proof do you have of anything? Look at me. I’m fine.”
“For now,” Caleb stated, his brow slightly furrowed. That crease between his eyebrows was the first hint of an expression since he’d entered the room. The professional façade appeared to be cracking. “When Todd brought you in yesterday, despite being unconscious, your heart rate and respirations were raised, your skin was hot and drenched in sweat. Your reflexes were highly exaggerated, muscle spasms, issues with—”
Shaney raised his hand. Nothing new. “But I’m fine now,” Shaney insisted, ready to end this conversation. Apparently, whatever had been wreaking havoc in his body and generating that gut-wrenching need, had finished its assault.
Caleb’s mouth formed a hard line, the only indication of his annoyance. “As I said, for now. There are laws in the physical world, Shaney. Laws that allow the universe to exist, this world, this room, you and me. The energy patterns behind the matter forms everything that we see and touch, and feel…”—he placed his hand on the wall as if demonstrating something—“as well as what isn’t visible. As I said, I have studied these patterns of energy, how they form the universe, and the backbone of creation. The idea that certain forms can affect energy dates back to the beginnings of civilization.”
“Yeah, Todd mentioned something about Sacred Geometry and the Greeks and the atomic bomb.”
A slight scowl pinched Caleb’s face. “In part. Amateurs have invaded the field of Sacred Geometry, trying to turn a serious science into some feel-good journey of self-actualization and evolution of the mind.” He raised his arms to the sides to punctuate his words. “My studies have branched out, focused on detecting and controlling energy. By researching religions and dogmas, belief systems, occult practices, ancient healing practices, tribal rituals and traditions, I’ve been able to extrapolate the symbols and sigils used by each. You mentioned the Greeks; quite advanced for their time. Their understanding of the importance of dimensional forms was ingenious. They ascertained that five dimensional structures form the foundation of everything in the physical and spiritual world. These are known as the Platonic Solids.”
“Again, all above my pay grade,” Shaney mumbled, wishing the lecture would come to any sort of a point he would understand. His wander-prone mind was musing ways to scale that big mountain of a man and escape through the window. Probably should come in from the back with a sneak attack. If he was a gymnast, he could do some handspring, flip-y thing and land on Maximus’s shoulders and vault out the window. He imagined tens across the board.
With the irritated sign of an adult dealing with an ignorant child, the small man continued, “Ignorance is the bliss of the feeble-minded. Apparently, you have neither the intellect nor the desire to further your education in this matter. Pity, since it will kill you soon.”
Shaney sputtered a protest, but Caleb snapped his hand up and silenced Shaney.
“Let me dumb everything down for you, Shaney. Using knowledge of these energy blueprints and combining shapes and symbols, including one or several of the Platonic Solids, energy can be channeled, controlled, and ultimately utilized to assemble matter. Much like that complex, mathematically precise image I rendered on your torso.”