by Rae Else
Standing beside each of the thrones were the graeae candidates belonging to each line. They all wore black, striking in the absence of colour, flanking their leaders like grim-reapers. El was distracted by how solid each of the graeae were. Her gaze flicked apprehensively to Talus to check on him.
She calmed. They were here. Talus was astute: even unable to phase, he was on top of things, cool and confident.
El, Andreas, and the two prisoners were the only others in the chamber. All the heads of line were fixated on Yia Yia and the escort she’d brought in.
‘Permit me to have my great-great-granddaughter, El Carras remain for the entirety of the meeting,’ Helena said. ‘She is to be my successor.’
Zhu, Gregor and Samir’s eyes ran over El interestedly. All of them nodded.
‘Now, onto business,’ Yia Yia said, straightening her back against the throne. ‘Janos Molnár, you all know, is guilty of betraying the Order and aiding in the assassination of the rest of the Triad. However … he has information that may affect our decision about the new Triad. This typhon, Louisa Carras, is a deserter of my line,’ Yia Yia added, ‘who is here because her wrongdoing highlights a deeper problem within the Order.’
‘Very well,’ Zhu said, ‘let us hear what the traitors have to say.’
‘Andreas,’ Yia Yia said, ‘take Louisa down into the centre.’
Andreas took hold of Louisa, issuing down the tiered steps and into the middle.
‘It was my long lost great-great-granddaughter, El Carras,’ Yia Yia continued, ‘that informed me of Louisa’s possession of empousa blood – in amounts unsanctioned by the Order.
‘Zhu, you will remember my granddaughter, Helena Carras, the last possessor of the full power. Gregor, Samir, she was before your time, but no doubt you will have heard of her.’ Yia Yia smiled as both nodded in acknowledgement. ‘Louisa is accused of using illegal blood to torture Helena many years ago and, more recently, before her death this year.’
Yia Yia turned her attention to Louisa, blindfolded and in the centre. ‘Where did you get the empousa blood, with which you tortured your sister?’
Louisa was silent but smirked.
‘Answer us – or you will be persuaded to speak – where did you get this illegal blood?’
Instead of Louisa’s haughty smile, El kept seeing the girl on the beach, knowing that her spite masked a deep pain.
Helena demanded again, ‘Tell us where you got the blood!’
‘It maddens you, doesn’t it?’ Louisa said. ‘That I outwitted you, Yia Yia. I tortured your precious Helena. If it weren’t for me, perhaps she would have come back into the fold. Defying you, getting the blood so that I could torment your favourite: it was worth it … she killed my sister!’
‘Andreas, take her eye,’ Helena commanded. Andreas knelt and took out a blade from the sheath at his ankle.
El’s stomach lurched, sickened by Yia Yia’s stoniness as she ordered torture on her granddaughter. She remembered Yia Yia’s words in the library, her confession that she had cherished ambition in the family above all else. El had seen the love that Louisa felt on the beach for her sister, Maria. Louisa was still the little girl at heart, grieving for the injustice of it all.
‘Tell us who gave you the blood, Louisa,’ Andreas demanded once more as he stepped towards her.
El offered up a silent prayer that Louisa would speak.
Andreas eased the tip of the dagger into the blindfold around Louisa’s head. As the blade punctured her eye, her scream was unbearable. Blood saturated the fabric and gushed down her face.
El gagged.
When Andreas pulled the knife out, Louisa fell to the floor, her hands still tied behind her back. Her head fell to her knees as if trying to touch her wounded eye. When she stopped gasping, her voice was low and pained.
‘She’s convinced you. Somehow. Yia Yia.’ She panted. ‘You think you’ve got your precious Helena back. Don’t you?’ She panted at the effort of speaking. ‘You’re a fool. She doesn’t have the full power. I should know. She longed to kill me. But couldn’t…’
A low laugh rumbled through her chest turning to a cough. Blood soaked the material of the blindfold as Louisa shook.
El turned away and gagged again. When she looked back, Andreas was kneeling down, his blade poised above the other eye.
Louisa’s lips trembled. ‘K-katia. Katia Waseem … gave it to me.’
Andreas lowered the knife. Louisa slumped onto her side, wheezing.
‘That will do,’ Yia Yia said. ‘Lock her up, Andreas, then return with Laius and Theon, but wait outside. Close the doors behind you.’
As Andreas carried Louisa out of the room, the other heads of line looked to Yia Yia. The heavy doors thudded into place as Andreas pulled them shut. Silence descended.
Yia Yia’s penetrative gaze was now on Samir. ‘Katia. Katia Waseem. Samir, what do you have to say?’
Samir was silent. His expression impassive.
Yia Yia looked at El. ‘The wallet you hold. Give it to me.’
El walked up the stone steps of the plinth and passed the wallet to her. Yia Yia took it and opened it, flicking through papers within. El glimpsed the photo of the vials of blood in the fridge: the photos from the Waseem Villa.
‘El, pass these photos to the other heads, please.’
She went to each head of line and gave them each a bundle of A4 photos. She presented Samir Waseem with them last. His face was blank as he examined them.
‘These photos are from the Waseem Villa, near Kea,’ Yia Yia continued. ‘They show that the Waseem are stockpiling vast quantities of empousa blood. A vial was brought back and analysed from the fridge you see pictured, confirming its contents as empousa blood. As you can see, the Waseem have been getting sloppy with their procurement of human blood too.’
El grimaced at the thought of the corpses in the freezer that were among the pictures they were examining.
‘This final photo,’ Yia Yia gave El a bundle once more to give to the heads, ‘shows that the Waseem have broken the most sacred vow and removed their empousa charge to an insecure location. It was Janos who brought this to my attention and gathered this evidence.’
Zhu and Gregor were both transfixed by the image El gave them.
Zhu was the first to look up, his eyes wide and on Samir. ‘This is an outrage! This is your empousa charge, Rosa, is it not?’
Samir’s face remained calm. ‘Yes.’
‘And the location is your villa near Kea?’ Gregor asked.
‘Yes,’ Samir agreed.
‘And all this blood,’ Zhu said, ‘is from your empousa?’
‘Yes.’
‘What could you possibly need with such quantities?’ Gregor asked.
‘What I do with my charge is my business,’ Samir said, finally ruffled.
Janos stepped forwards into the centre. ‘Samir Waseem has been building an army, amassing empousa blood to ensure that they are unstoppable. He intends to seize power from the Council.’
‘How do you know this? Why didn’t you inform us sooner?’ Gregor asked.
‘I foresaw several Waseem that should have died long ago,’ Janos said. ‘I shared this with my brethren, Katia and Julia, but I found they were conspiring with the Waseem. No matter what I did, in any timeline, I never managed to present the truth to the Council. I feared that the Waseem would go unchecked. That’s when I turned to the rebels. I knew it would take a force outside of the Order to unearth the truth. By using the rebels, the truth finally lies in your hands.’
Yia Yia spoke up, ‘I propose that Samir be stripped of his privileges and taken into custody.’
Liu answered, ‘I concur. Samir, you are guilty of endangering your charge by removing her from her sacred location. You have used her hallowed blood to extend the lives of more than just your own and distributed unsanctioned amounts to others.’
Gregor nodded, adding, ‘Rosa must be secured until the new Triad decide what is to be done with her guardianship.�
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‘Yes,’ Yia Yia agreed. ‘We’ll send a battalion of Order members to the Waseem Villa to secure her. Whilst they are there, they can contain the other Waseem: we do not know which of them have been illegally consuming empousa blood.’
‘It shall be done,’ Lui said. ‘My retinue can go to the Olympia and gather enough forces to go to the villa now—’
‘I have a hydra here, Eirene,’ Yia Yia added, ‘who has been to the Waseem Island—’
‘Not necessary,’ Zhu interrupted. ‘I also have contingents of arete who have been to the Waseem Island and who are already moored in the Piraeus, ready to leave.’
Yia Yia raised her eyebrows. Clearly she hadn’t been the only one to pre-plan things.
‘Very well.’
El noticed the eagerness with which Zhu nodded. He eyed Samir and the Waseem graeae with unconcealed delight. Both the fire and air graeae saw the present. They had always known that only one could be chosen for the Triad. Getting rid of the Waseem meant that Zhu’s candidate was guaranteed a seat now.
Zhu’s triumph was expressed in his whole being: El half expected the drakon to start clapping his hands. Samir, who had been looking calm, for the first time eyed Zhu with hostility.
Gregor Sailes spoke up, anticipating the signs of trouble. His voice, although soft, carried in the lofty chamber. ‘Andreas of Helena’s line has returned. He will furnish Samir with a cell.’
Yia Yia looked to El. ‘Let him in.’
As El walked to the door, Yia Yia added, ‘In light of Janos’ facilitation, I would have him live out the rest of his days on Carras Island.’
‘I would grant that clemency,’ Zhu said lightly. He sounded like he was liable to agree to anything now that he’d deposed his rival. ‘As long as the new Triad state it as advisable after the Convergence,’ he added.
‘Agreed,’ Gregor consented.
El heaved back the door. ‘Andreas.’
He stepped quickly back into the centre.
‘See to it that you find Samir and Janos a cell below,’ Yia Yia said, ‘then take a contingent to take Samir’s retinue into custody.’
Samir went with Andreas with the same indifference that he’d displayed throughout the whole proceedings. Janos also walked out placidly beside them. El narrowed her eyes as she watched their retreating figures. They were far too relaxed for those condemned. Or in Janos’ case, granted little clemency. What plans did Samir and the Waseem have? What about Janos and the Opposition?
Soon, they all retired to the level below. The heads of line and their graeae spent the rest of the day feasting in the central hall. Well … the heads feasted. The graeae abstained, already desirous to distance themselves from worldly pleasures. El joined Talus at the feast, whereas everyone else was put on guard duty, protecting the complex of buildings with the rest of the Order guards. Alex, as the sole human, was banished to his private chamber.
In the early evening, the graeae candidates retreated to a set of ornate gardens near the lodgings. El flanked Talus throughout the festivities. He and his graeae brethren were aloof and, collectively, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when they reached the gardens. Although unable to phase out of time, they spent the evening in meditation and contemplation.
The tinkling of streams filled the grounds, cascading down rocks into a central pond. Bamboo and other exotic plants afforded screened off sections, providing a tranquil escape from the Council chambers. Access to this area was only from the Council chambers and from the amphitheatre at the top of the cliff. The landscaped gardens that rolled down the cliff were completed by a glass dome.
El found herself glancing up throughout the evening, wishing for the fresh air. It felt like they were in a giant greenhouse. Late in the evening, she was walking by the central pond to stretch her legs, her back to Talus, when she heard footsteps issuing nearer from the Council chambers. She wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but as she amplified her hearing, she detected the rhythm of Talus’ heart change. She hurried towards the door.
El flicked her lighter and coaxed a fiery ball into existence, ready to hurl it at the newcomer if necessary. When Theon appeared, she let out a sigh of relief. He looked past her at Talus, who was still trying to maintain the appearance of being deep in meditation.
Although Talus was behind her, El sensed him shake his head. She looked at Theon, his focus locked on Talus. His tawny face and brown eyes were fierce in the glow of the fiery orb that El still manipulated.
‘Umm…’ El began awkwardly, ‘I don’t think he wants—’
Theon’s dark eyes flew to her. ‘Thank you for protecting him … but I’m not asking for permission.’
He stalked towards Talus, who remained cross-legged as if he could transcend whatever was happening. Theon knelt before him and then pressed his lips to Talus’. The charade of self-possession was shaken. He tried to push Theon away but was tackled backwards.
El gawped, unsure of what to do. She hadn’t realised that her guard duties entailed fending off sexual assaults. She wondered whether she should intercede but as she watched them wrestling, she realised Talus was kissing Theon back. His hands that had been fighting him were wrapped around his back instead. They were kissing: urgently, desperately.
A smile broke across El’s face. Clearly not all earthly pleasures were so easy to give up. She felt her cheeks aflame and turned her back on them. She wondered if she should make herself scarce despite her guard duty. Perhaps she should try to clear the garden of the other two graeae who were somewhere around.
In the stillness of the gardens, Theon’s low voice reached her ear. ‘I’ve been waiting until you couldn’t run. When you converge, I want you to think of this. Remember – you’ve got something to come back to: someone. This is where you belong, Tal.’
Then Theon was back on his feet, striding past El. She bit her lip, averting her eyes as he passed. She tried to block out Talus’ drumming heart and ragged breath, to grant him some privacy. He lay in the grass for a long time, and El couldn’t help thinking about him and Theon with wonderment. She thought about all the times she’d seen Talus’ unconscious solidification when Theon was near or even when only his name was uttered. She wondered how long he’d been struggling with his feelings for him and why he was resisting them.
She remembered what Eirene had said about what being in a relationship with a graeae would be like: the most difficult long-distance relationship imaginable. Was he trying to protect Theon from how distant he would be? She realised that Talus wouldn’t age as long as he kept a part of himself outside of time, but Theon would, all be it at a slower rate to humans. But that would still give them sixty or so years together.
She found herself hoping that Talus would keep Theon’s words in mind. She loved the idea of the unlikely pair: Theon’s fun-loving nature seemed to soften Talus’ serious one. She could see how they could be great together.
By midnight, El was idly crafting shapes from the blazing ball she kept burning when she caught sight of Talus out of the corner of her eye. He was once more sat in his self-contained, cross-legged position, but he was distorting: shifting from the present. He could phase out again. He was out of danger. She got up from her kneeling position.
Talus resolidified. ‘Thanks, El.’
Her lips twitched. ‘I didn’t do anything.’
‘But you would have … I know that and I won’t forget it.’ His grey eyes were solemn.
For a moment El wondered if he could do something about her successorship with Yia Yia. Perhaps being owed a favour by the new Triad wasn’t a bad position to be in. Then she rebuked herself. She hadn’t stood guard to get something out of the situation. She’d done it because she cared about him.
She shrugged. ‘Don’t mention it, Tal.’
Talus raised his eyebrows and then burst out laughing. The sound of his guffawing was such a contrast to the peace of the garden that it startled Liang, the Liu graeae, from her meditation, who was sat by the pond. S
he looked so dazed that El suspected she’d been dozing. Ethan, the Sailes graeae, had manifested before the white cliff at the back and was watching them interestedly.
‘Nope … it’s still only Theon who can get away with that,’ Talus said, still chuckling.
Her eyes were wide as she wondered if he was going to speak about what had happened with him and Theon but he simply added, ‘Now it’s time to go and do what you’re good at.’
She frowned.
‘Sleep,’ he said with another amused smile.
El muttered something about it not being her greatest accomplishment but gladly stole to her room. She was knackered. Sadly, Yia Yia hadn’t thought it “proper” for Luke and her to share a room here, so Luke was bunking-in with his father. With the tension of the day, El collapsed on her bed fully clothed, falling asleep in no time.
- Chapter Twenty-Nine -
Shedding
‘El!’
It took her a moment to identify the elaborately gowned woman standing over her bed as Eirene. She had on a deep blue, shimmering dress that sparkled like moonlit waters. Her hair was curled and piled up with combs that looked like waves.
‘I thought you left with Talus,’ Eriene said.
‘What time is it?’ El’s heart raced.
Had she missed the ceremony? Now that Talus could phase from the present he was safe, but she should still be there, just in case.
‘You’ve only got half an hour,’ Eirene lamented.
El stifled a yawn. ‘That’s loads of time. I just need to put on the dress from yesterday—’
‘Nope.’
El groaned, pulling the cover over her head. Apart from feeling a bit Robin Hood-esque in yesterday’s body-hugging dress, she was used to it. What new form of torture did Yia Yia have in mind today?
As she sat up, she spied a dress hanging on the wardrobe door. She must have missed it last night when she’d tumbled into bed.
‘No way!’
‘It’s something,’ Eirene agreed.
El gaped. ‘Where’s the rest of it?’
The garment’s bodice was made of fine, fragile threads. Here and there were missing segments, charred around the edges like burns in the fabric. The skirt was fuller and made of feathers, black at the bottom turning to a vibrant red at the top; the flickering kerykeion in the different layers made it look like the feathers were on fire, becoming ash.