Thaddeus appeared frightened for the first time ever.
“Evander –” Alexandria cried out to her enraged son. Evan walked over to his mother and knelt next to her.
“I know he made you go along with his deceitful crimes as he has always controlled you. You will remain in my heart although, I don't know if I can save you...” Alexandria wept silently in Evans massive arms.
“Let me go, I made my decision to support you father centuries ago. I knew it was wrong and I knew that there would be consequences. I betrayed you.
Evander –,” Then she stopped and looked over at Bethany. “Bethany, if you can find it in your hearts, please forgive me and let me go.” Alexandria rubbed Evan's cheek as she looked lovingly at Bethany who continued to cry into Nikolas’ chest.
Seeing the boy I loved and my closest friend in agony had me wondering if I had made the right decision in confronting their parents without warning either of them first. After a second of thought I knew the answer to that. They had to see how their parents had altered their fates. I could understand them hating me, though I hoped that they wouldn’t. Evan and Bethany's turmoil could be felt by the members' whose heartbroken expressions dimmed the room. Again for the second time in a century, the members were forced to banish another couple. This time wouldn’t be any easier than the last. This time, in the midst of two more young members, they would do what was asked of them and bar the existence of Thaddeus and Alexandria from their thoughts, indefinitely.
Nikolas and Victor, as well as I, had an idea of what Bethany and Evan felt since we had all lost our parents horrifically although, their parents were the first to deserve being taken away. Evan walked over to me, and the room was quiet. No one existed but us. The look in his eyes, distant and vacant, had me fighting back tears. I forgot that Evan had the rare ability to block his thoughts from being read therefore, I was afraid of what he might have to say.
He spoke in an incredibly calm voice. “I will not ask that you pardon him. I feel that he should pay the price for what he has done. I only ask that you spare my mother's life. She was powerless against… this man's hold.” Before I could agree, Lucien stepped forward and blindsided me.
“They both must be punished. I believe the rest of the elders will agree with me as Alexandria agreed when Andromeda was on trial, and wasn’t spared when she begged for a chance.” Great, I thought. I would be overruled if I tried to save Evan’s mother.
“Perhaps a lighter sentence?” I offered, in just above a whisper.
“She must suffer as Andromeda did.” Desdemona, Lucien’s wife, spoke up, her iridescent gold eyes flashed hatred in Alexandria’s direction. I eyed the council members, and they weren’t budging. Mercy was not a part of the deal. I looked at Evan, and he sighed, nodded, and then turned away. He knew that I tried, and he knew that I had only for his sake, because the truth was that I agreed with the council.
Lucien came forward, and extended a hand to Victor. Everyone watched, including Thaddeus who couldn’t understand how this could have happened to him after all his clever planning. Victor hesitated for a second as Lucien’s hand hung in the air. Then to the eruption of sharp clapping, Victor took Lucien’s hand, and shook it.
“You are a son of Ares, therefore a son of the Ischeros. Would you like to come home, son?” Victor said nothing at first and a few seconds lapsed. When he did speak, his answer was poignant and touched every elder in the room.
“I never wanted to leave.”
I stopped breathing altogether when Evan walked over to Victor. I didn’t know what to expect. I was only able to read Victors thoughts because Evan was blocking his. Victor’s thoughts were erratic. His jealousy for Evan was elevated but he didn’t hate Evan. He was just surprised and scared since he had no powers although; he was still prepared to battle if he had to.
“Welcome back… brother.” Evan said, with his hand extended towards Victor. I guess he understood how Victor felt. I knew that Evan could read Victor’s thoughts now that Victor was the only demigod in the room, besides the Capius’, that was powerless. If Evan was reading Victor’s thoughts and emotions right now, he would perceive that Victor felt totally alone, and deeply sorry. I always thought that Evan was probably the kindest person I knew besides my own father, and now he confirmed my theory.
Victor took Evan’s hand and shook it. That’s when I saw Evan look passed Victor, and eyed his father. The look on Thaddeus’ face was pure fury.
Desdemona, as well as everyone else, started greeting Victor. I watched in amazement as they embraced him the way Ischeros never forget their own.
Victor was overwhelmed, and relieved all at the same time. He didn’t have expectations when I first used my mind to call him when I first left the dungeon. He had expressed great gratitude through his thoughts for the second chance I had granted him. He then waited in the lounge until I sent him the message to enter the ballroom.
Evan watched me from across the room and I held his unwavering gaze, hitting the road blocks in his mind. His expression was unreadable and I was lost as to what he was feeling and thinking. I didn’t think that I could bear any more of this. I was so captivated by Evan that I didn’t notice Bethany standing beside me. She was somewhat composed. I tried to get into her head but something was blocking it. It wasn’t her, she didn’t possess the power to do that. I looked over at Evan and again he was staring at me. He was guarding his sister’s thoughts. I took a deep breath, mostly to steady my tears. I was losing him, I was losing my heart.
“I know that you lost your parents, and that it’s my parent's fault.” She cleared her throat. “But, please spare both of them” She saddened me as she eyed her father. “He’s very sorry about… everything.” I couldn’t believe what Bethany was asking of me, and even crazier, I couldn’t fathom that I was actually contemplating it. Perhaps it was the suicidal look in Bethany’s diffused eyes. Maybe those were the thoughts that Evan blocked. Evan knew me well, and he knew that I would probably spare his father if I thought Bethany was serious about taking her own life. Thaddeus being pardoned was something that Evan wouldn’t permit.
There was only one way that I would ever think to save their father. I had only one question to ask Thaddeus and depending on how he answered well maybe…
“Where are my parents buried?” I asked Thaddeus, as I got close enough for him to hear me. There was a calm that fell upon the room with the question I asked.
Thaddeus stared at me for a long moment. He was even more devious than I could have imagined. Not only would he not tell me. He wouldn’t allow himself to think it, knowing that I’d read him like an open book. Thaddeus was the only person who knew where my parents were improperly laid to rest, and the bastard planned take the crucial information with him to the Underworld.
“Now you need me. Are you offering me a deal, Empress?”
“I don’t make deals?” I combed his mind, and it was clear of anything to do with my parents.
“In that case, I’ll take my punishment now.” He said with a sneer.
The heat was rising in me, and I fought the unladylike behavior to spit on him. I wasn’t sure if any of the other members could detect my trembling, but I was losing in a bare knuckle battle with my rage. I was really losing. I may just kill him. I thought of my parents and the only thing that they had asked of me. I couldn’t let this monster get the best of me even if he did epitomize the evil we dreaded when trying to evade the Apolluon. My body was cooling and I felt the rage begin to vacate my body as I contemplated what I would do next.
“I made a promise, and I plan keep it.” My words were directed to the fiends in question. “You will never be seen or heard from again. You will not have each other to soothe. I banish you as if you had never existed.”
“No.” Bethany sobbed and buried her head into Evan’s chest as her father looked to her for the very last time.
Evan released Bethany, and handed her over to Nikolas. I was finally able to listen to his thoughts, and he wanted to witness his father’s demise.
Thaddeus turned his glare to me then disappeared just as Alexandria tried to grab a hold of him. It was futile; he vaporized, and slipped through her fingers like a cool breeze. At that moment, she didn’t realize it, but she was disappearing as well with only the wisp of a hand reaching out to her son and the most frantic look in her eyes. Not a second went by before she was gone.
Sigh. I had kept my promise and had not killed them, just transported them to where they wouldn’t remember who they once were.
This night would never be forgotten. I didn't want to dwell on the passing of a master mind murderer nor his weak wife, but everyone else stood still, staring at the spot where the two had stood. Lucien and a few other elders glided up to me with unreadable expressions. Their thoughts revealed their best wishes for me, but I was well aware of the practice of falsifying thoughts when in the presence of a mind reader so I was on my guard, and wasn’t ready to fully trust anyone.
“Empress Cordelia, this event will be stricken and won’t mark your reign. We feel that you have proven a great injustice on our empire, and we owe you our gratitude.”
“Thank you ladies and gentleman of the council, your gratitude is noted. Everyone, please, your attention please.” I spoke to the entire ballroom. “I only ask that you all return to your homes, and continue living in the peace that is a gift which I will fight with my every breath to continue to possess. It is our greatest possession. Not our exceptional capabilities. It is the day to day living, and loving that we do without violent and brutal interruption. That alone is our greatest, most powerful, and most coveted possession. I will summon you all soon, and we will work out a new strategy to rid the Apolluon’s persecution forever. But for now, please go and enjoy what is dear and precious to us all, peace. Guard each other as I vow to guard you. For the love of the gods, may we, the Ischeros, the Powerful, continue to bask in their glory.” Everyone chanted in agreement.
“For the love of the gods! Hail the new Empress. All hail!”
They all bowed in waves, and began disappearing one by one once they were done exchanging their final pleasantries for the night. Before I knew it pretty much everyone was gone, including Evan and Bethany, and I was deeply saddened with their absence. I was halted by the excruciating hollowness in my heart.
“Cousin, the strength you have shown here this night cannot be paralleled within this universe. I’m in awe and forever at your service.” Nikolas bowed.
“Thank you Nikolas.” I took his hand in mine. I saw Victor in my peripheral and he walked toward me.
“Where is home?” He asked in a whisper as Nikolas stepped back, respectfully.
“Victor, I’m sorry. I hadn’t realized.”
“He may stay with us, temporarily.” Lucien said, walking toward us.
“Thank you.” Then he left the traditional way, through the ballroom doors with Lucien and Desdemona.
Nikolas and I were alone now. He stared at me for a long time. I finally broke the silence. “I need you to know that I didn't want you to find out the way you did.”
“It wouldn't have hurt any less, Delia.”
“Still, I’m so very sorry,” I said, rubbing Nikolas’ hand.
“Don’t be. The responsibility to have to tell someone something that devastating is never an easy task. I probably would’ve buckled under that kind of pressure.” Nikolas smiled slightly. He was doing his best at being brave. I knew that he was dying inside at the mere mention of his beloved parents. I hated having to drudge up those painful feelings.
I was so overwhelmed at that point, that I couldn't feel my feet beneath me. Nikolas must have noticed me wavering or something and drew me into one of his bear hugs. Or maybe he just knew that I needed one or the other way around. Either way I welcomed the familiar feeling of comfort. I finally let the tears that had been corked inside me flood onto the lapel of his tuxedo jacket. I cried even harder when I felt some of the moist spots where Bethany's tears had not yet dried. We stood that way for what seemed like an eternity and not nearly long enough to heal, with Nikolas holding me close, and never saying a word.
The tailor must have asked himself just how daring of a young woman I was to consider wearing a pair of dungarees around town. He had snorted facetiously, and wrinkled his brow when I approached him about taking in the pair I donned now a bit at the waist.
“What are you going to do with those?” He had asked, skeptically.
What did he think I was going to do with them? Wear them as a shawl?
With one look, I had silenced him for the rest of our appointment. But could I really blame him? It was 1891, and these days, jeans were worn mostly by dung scooping, cattle ranchers, and greedy silver miners. The mere idea of a girl in a pair of dungarees was perceived as graceless, unladylike, and perfect for me. Therefore when I venture into town today, I’m sure it’ll be quite the scandal with the nosey folks of Nickel City. They’ll entertain themselves by gossiping about the Tieron girl, and the death of my high society Victorian fashion sense.
I tucked my thumbs into the front loops of my jeans, and admired the not so contoured fit of them. The fabric felt like burlap against my skin, but I figured after a few wears they’d be broken in and fit well enough.
“All hail Mr. Levi Straus” I sighed.
Since my recent stint in the future, long flouncy dresses, all the petticoats that went under them, corsets that reminded you of bandage and matching eyelet lace parasols didn’t suit me anymore. I’d rather sleep in these rigid denims than to suffer in the sweat that pooled in my corset. But I have to be honest, if the occasion called for it, and only if, I wouldn’t mind wearing a luxurious gown from time to time.
I tucked one of my delicate, buttondown, cotton blouses into the leather belted waist of my jeans, leaving a few of the buttons, undone, primarily for air conditioning purposes. Then I layered on the worn leather vest and pulled on my new topstitched cowboy boots, silver spurs and all. Only one accessory was needed, and my ensemble would be complete. I removed the jeweled comb, letting my hair tumble down my back and placed the leather Stetson on my head, pulling the brim down a little in front. I previewed myself in my full length gilt framed mirror. The reflection was rough and rugged, yet still feminine. I approved, and that’s really all that mattered. No more of that sidesaddle crap. This was the new me, and everyone had no choice but to accept it.