The Emperor

by N. M. Brown

  “Never? As in never ever? That’s strange.” Echo mused slowing her step to address the crowd.

  Sat in his throne, she easily looked down on him, diminishing his power by the minute. This world was guided by body language and there was no misinterpreting Echo’s. She was out for the kill.

  “You used to be so young; tender and small. Ten years ago, you were but a child. Strange thing is, Wendell went missing ten years ago. Ten years she could watch you, followed you and saw the truth. The truth that you were no longer a child, but you were an Elder.”

  “I don’t age.” Shade snapped, his anger bleeding through. “I am immortal, gifted with-,”

  “Dixie?” Echo interrupted. “You’re secret to longevity, passed to you by your masked supplier?” Shade’s stick like fingers trembled where he sat, egging Echo to continued. Secrets to tell, plots of unravel, she was feeling the thrum in her veins like a siren’s call. “You share your bounty, controlling your masses, but at what cost. You were once a child, but now you’ve changed. You’ve grown. You are an Elder and Wendell want you to be an Elder with her.”

  “No, you are the Elder. You lie. I do not age, I will never age.” Shade repeated through gritted teeth.

  Looking around the room, Echo bellowed to the crowds, getting a sense of their understanding. Much to her disappointment, many of the children still looked to their King in devotion, waiting for his que to attack, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t having an effect. Many prepubescent teens no longer stood in a battle stance, instead waiting at the back of the crowds, gathering in the shadows; the taller, older children who watched with a furrow brow, and weary untrusting eyes.

  Turning back, Echo focused again on her stage and broke down each of Shade’s lies, cracking his crown as she went. “You, an Elder, killed Wendell, your sister because she saw you for what you were: a fraud.” Echo hissed.

  “I am a King!” Shade snapped rising to his feet. His skeletal body seemed to move with some fluidity, but the grotesque sight of thin skin moving over angular bones lost any beauty. Stepping forward, he marched up to Echo, nose to nose, eyes to eye and tried to puff out his chest that vibrated with rage. “Everything you say are lies, you are a filthy Elder. Your words mean nothing here!”

  Youth, Echo laughed quietly to herself, so easy to rile up. But that was what she wanted; she wanted Shade to lose his cool and slip up, so she kept going making that youthful rage burn.

  “You beat her up with your rage and frustration and caved to your animalistic desires.” With sudden, quick and sure steps, Echo moved forward, pressing her entire body length against his and in an instant, had the desired effect. Shade stumbled back shocked, tripping over his own feet and if Echo hadn’t been watching for it, she would have missed the hot flash of heat on Shade’s cheeks. “You held her down and raped her, didn’t you?”

  “I am of the young and free," Shade breathed out, trying to stand tall and speak with the authority he once had. "Such nonsense doesn’t bend me to its will."

  But Echo ignore what he said and kept her voice loud, so all the room could hear. “You raped her, and you liked that release of power. You like the feeling. But that meant you were an Elder. You are a liar and because you killed Wendell, you would happily kill anyone here too!”

  “Shade, King of the Under-ert, is an Elder.” McQueen shouted, cutting through the theatrics, keeping his words simple and plane so all could understand. “Your King lies. You King is bad. He will kill you all!”

  “Enough!” Shade screamed, sending a ripple of unease through the crowd. Sweeping away, Shade quickly sat on his throne and Echo was struck by how small the boy King looked without an ounce of power to his name. “You of the Upper land are sentence to death! Your lies and traitors’ words will be your undoing.” And suddenly Echo and McQueen was suddenly greeted by sticks of all sizes.

  The masses had moved, their circle of bodies tightening around them as their weapons were brandished. Too soon, Echo snarled in her head. She needed more time to sway the children, get them to hate Shade, not love him, but they were out of time…

  “You are unworthy to breath in my lands and so you with only rot down here.” Shade’s voice grew louder with every order and it wasn’t long before Shade was shouting, his own fear and loss of dignity fuelling his anger. “You will be killed with no mercy and no speed. I will watch you suffer at my feet, begging to die and I will laugh!”

  With an unruly cry, the subjects of the Under-ert pressed forward, the weapons trained on them both and Echo suddenly doubted her plan. She might have planted a seed of doubt, but their audience were not free-thinking adult, ready to be guided to the right path. Echo judged their success rate if they made a run for it. She could trip McQueen, up her chances slightly, but even with those odds she didn’t think she’d make it out of there.

  Yet, before she could decide which tunnel to take, a low rumbled snarl cut through the room.

  Eyes turned and weapons shifted as everyone looked to the new usurper. One boy, tall by the standard of the Under-ert had stepped through the crowd but instead of facing McQueen and Echo, he faced Shade. It was a face Echo knew; one she had forgotten, buried in years of repressed memories.

  Flick. Her rat in the dark.

  His dark skin shone in all the fire light, highlighting many a new scars. How long-ago Echo had left him down here. His face was as haggard as the rest, while cut-off jeans knocked his knees and his chest was covered by an open shirt. Stood in front of the rest, he should have been taller than he seemed, his back bowed from years of crouching.

  “Get in line.” Shade ordered looking the boy over in disgust, but Flick didn’t move; his eyes stayed trained on Shade, his face unmoved. It wasn’t until silence had enveloped them all, did Flick level a thin finger at his King.

  “You lie.” He voice didn’t tremble. His hands didn’t shake and there was no fear anymore. “You lie.” His hand swung round, until it pointed at Echo, “She speak truth.”

  If a ripple had gone through the crowds before, like a drop in a pond, but it was now like a hive of angry bees. Shoulders shook in rage and fear, misunderstandings flying through the air and the cries of loyalist called out.

  “Who do you think you are to question your King?” Shade thundered earning a few cheers from excited cut-throats, but not as many as there had once been. In fact, even Tigress, the would-be Queen of the Under-ert had remined quiet. Retreated into the curve of the crowd, she had begun to blend with the pack, watching and waiting to see what would happen next.

  “I am Flick.” Spit flew from his lips as the boy slammed a hand on his chest. “Wendell’s friend. Wendell’s brother.” With his voice full of strength, Flick stepped up, his body language commanding and the crowd was on the edge of their toes, ready to listen to what he had to say. Echo was impressed. How her little rat had grown up. “I follow. I trust. King is true. King is right.” But then Flick shook his head. There was a sneer on his lips that was deadly and vicious. “No trust. No follow. No King. Only a liar and a cheat!”

  “This is ridiculous. Take him!” Shade yelled, anger burning in his eyes with the need to kill.

  Some of the subjects moved, their knives at the ready, but Flick was ready too. Snapping a hand around one guards wrist, he’s disarmed the child and knocked him to the floor before anyone else could make a move. After that, they were all hesitant.

  “You lie!” Flick screamed. Safe in the knowledge no one would approach just yet, he turned to face Shade again. Brandishing the knife, Flick pointed it at the dying King. “You Elder. You Elder!” He screamed and threw the knife. It didn’t hit Shade, coming up just to the left of him, but everyone flinched.

  Echo was so transfixed on the events as they unfolded, she jumped when a large hand wrapped around her wrist. “We should take this opportunity and leave.” McQueen whispered to her, his lips brushing her ear.

  “Through which crowd of savage children would you like to dive?” Echo hissed, though her musc
les screamed to run too. “And really? You think now is an appropriate time to run? I thought you wanted to see this bastard fall. I thought you wanted to save Mitch and the others?” Echo asked. She felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins; her body hoping from one foot to the other.

  McQueen even hesitated before his voice came out harsh “Then what? I don’t see this ending soon or well!”

  And in that statement, McQueen was right. Flick was standing his ground and he had people listening, but Shade could get back his followers in an instant. All he had to do was install fear once more, spurting blood across the cold sands and he’d be unstoppable.

  “Then we escalate the situation.” Echo answered and she already had an idea.

  “I am no Elder. I kill any Elder who walks my land. All of them!” Shade was snarling now, his teenage anger getting the better of him as he was challenged. He stood by his throne and tried to loom over his people, but he was losing his grip. Echo of course, was only happy to lend a helping hand.

  Eyes glancing over at Tigress, the only warning Echo gave as a wicked, cruel smile before facing Shade, stepping up close to Flick. The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder against the dying King. “So, every Elder must die? You’ll kill anyone who is unworthy?” Echo asked and pointed. “Is Tigress unworthy too, Shade?"

  The girl went ridged. Tucked in the crowd, she would have wanted to blend into the background and come out when the victor was announced.

  Confusion flickered through Shade's anger as he looked towards her and Tigress quickly removed herself from the safety of the crowd, relaxing her posture. However, she wore a wide-eyed, fearful look as everyone was suddenly interested in her. “I will always be loyal to my King. Always.” She protested.

  "Tigress is my second. She is me when I am away. She is my shadow and therefore worthy." Shade said, like that solved everything. “She cannot be corrupted, just like me.”

  Echo quirked an eyebrow at Tigress who looked like she was ready to puke. Morning sickness or fear; it was hard to tell, but Echo would help to clear that up. "You're what, six, seven weeks?"

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tigress tried to sneer, but it came out flat.

  "Every other ragamuffin in this place in practically naked, except you, who was wrapped like a nun at the beach? It’s cold but it’s not that cold, honey." Echo trailed her eye up and down the length of Tigress, making sure to make a pointed pause at her stomach. “You are with babe.”

  Tigress didn't move and didn't breathe. No one in the room did. Even Shade, once full of authority and control looked lost. "Its-... It’s a lie.... It’s not true. They’re just stupid Elders." Tigress babbled, clutching her clothes tighter around her neck.

  “With babe.” Flick repeated but within his voice was sadness that proved to Echo he knew the seriousness of the situation. “With babe, like Wendell.”

  “Lies, all lies.” Tigress insisted and fatally chose to approach Shade. She knew he was the one she had to convince, so she looked at him with innocence in her eyes and her fear in her throat. “My King. They are lying. Trying to take us apart, to divide us. We are stronger together, they know this. Don’t listen to them!” She begged.

  "I call bull shit." Echo argued. “I saw the hole you and Wendel created. I saw the crib and the toys and the nappies. You and she were going to raise your family, raise them here in the Under-ert. Together.” Echo took a pause, allowing her words to sink that bit deeper. “You were both Elders, ready to grow up.”

  But Tigress only looked to Shade, waiting with pleas of innocence on her lips. His word was finial. His word was gospel.

  If Echo could get him to turn on his most loyal subject, she might have a chance of destroying all the trust he had gained through manipulation and fear…

  "Tigress wouldn't lie to me." Shade said with force and Echo bit her tongue to stop her swearing. Slinking over, Tigress slowly, almost hesitantly wrapped her arms around Shade, tucking herself under his chin.

  She shot Echo a death glare, but also released a silent sigh of relief. "Shade is our King. He is my King. I would follow him anywhere. I wouldn’t lie to him. I am no Elder."

  Echo just grit her teeth in disbelief. The girl had no gumption. At least when she had been here, the girls scrapped with the boys, fought hard as them and with the same ferocity to survive. Now, they clung to the praise of a male like flies to shit, pampering Shade's withering ego. Tigress could have taken his place, ruled the Under-ert, but instead she’d betrayed her sister; killed her for the prize of worlds-best-pet and now Shade was going to win. "You are a disgrace to the woman of the world." Echo said sadly.

  "Hold your tongue Elder.” Tigress snapped, finding her feisty streak. “You will speak no more lies. When you are dead, maybe I’ll take your tongue as a trophy.".

  "Hush my Tiger." He whispered. Moving to stand behind her, the boy locked his eyes with Echo, rubbing his hands up and down Tigress's arms. "You are my chosen. You are dear to me, as is everyone." Tigress relaxed under his touch, closing her eyes and smiling. "You are as important to me as Wendall was."

  Echo saw the sudden look of fear in Tigress's eyes as they flashed open and Shade's words struck home. But she didn't have time to react. No one did. His meaty, teenage hands clasped Tigress tightly, one under her chin and the other at the back of her head, before he snapped her neck.

  The sound bounced around the room and was only drowned out by Echo's gasp of surprise quickly followed by McQueen’s own cries! "No!"

  Falling to the law of gravity, Tigress's body slumped to the floor and a cloud of red dirt puffed into the air as her legs collapsed, her arms scattered sideways. Her dead eyes looked at Echo's ratty boots, her lips wobbling, while her disconnected head bounced off the floor. Silence encased the room as every pair of eyes blinked it shock.

  It was only for a second or two did their precious leader look down at his dead friend; his dead sister, before her threw back his head a barked a laugh.

  Spinning to face his people, he threw his arms out wide and beamed with a crazy grin. A shiver wormed its way through the crowd and Echo couldn’t tell if they were scared or angry. Many a child had tears on their face, and every single one of them watched Shade like the God they thought he was. Even McQueen, kneeling, broken where he was, looked to the crazy boy in horror.

  "Brothers and sisters! We have found another Elder! Another who spied for the Upperlands and would spoil our fun.” Spinning on the spot, Shade grinned like a madman “Tigress was an Elder! Another in our home! A liar who would side with the Upperland and destroy what we have." Shade’s lip sneered and stood tall in front of his throne.

  A murmur of agreeance ran through the crowd, and Echo felt the shiver of guilt as she saw the crooked angle of the dead girls’ neck. McQueen’s heavy, laboured breathing beside didn’t help either. “You meant for this?” He asked with an undertone of anger. “Was this your plan to escalate the problem. Let them fear Shade even more than before?”

  Echo’s bottom jaw unlocked, popping open and her lips wobbled… but no sound came out. She knew if she put Tigress in the limelight that this was something that could have happen. A martyr was what they had needed, so a martyr is what they got.

  Edging backwards, Echo moved until she could step back and away from the growing chaos; away from Shade and his madness. Away from Tigress's lifeless body. Two lifeless bodies, Echo’s morbid mind reminded her.

  “You killer. You killed her!” Flick cried out. He held tears in his eyes as he looked at Tigress. Another fallen sister. Another death at the hands of Shade. “You will lie no more.”

  Standing tall, it was as if all the teens around the had been waited for their que. As one they moved through the crowds, pushing aside the younger, naïve siblings stepping forward as a nervous silence enveloped them all. Echo and McQUeen were suddenly stood with fifteen or so children before them, their long lanky limbs brandishing weapons while their eyes were as harsh as steel.

&nbs
p; “What is this?” Shade asked, a snarled ripping from his lips as he eyed the blockade. “All of you; you believe this Elder over your own King?”

  At his anger, those naïve, hopeless children swarmed and soon enough, Shade had his own blockage. It wasn’t an even split but age and size didn't made a difference down here. A knife to the ankle hurt just as much as a knife to the gut.