by Leon Logos
“Which leads us to question how they’ve acquired confidential documents delineating the layout of our residence,” Dorian said darkly. “And the routes our supply lines take on a weekly basis? It’s absurd!”
“It doesn’t matter anymore, Dorian,” Bastion growled. “They’ve already taken over our land! Haven’t they?”
“Serenity, are you all right?” Alistair asked her.
“I’m fine, though my legs are exhausted,” she nodded.
“How did you manage to survive out there?” Lyla suddenly spoke.
“A great question,” Bastion narrowed his eyes.
“I had to hide,” she lied on the spot. “The whole property is crawling with enemy soldiers. This is the first place I thought of to go to. How did you all manage to get here? And where’s Destiny?”
“H-here,” Destiny answered, from the corner of the room.
She was slumped against the wall, clutching her abdomen which was bandaged. It was clear that she was wounded. The bandage was smudged with blood. Destiny appeared faint, barely staying conscious.
“What happened to you?” Serenity asked, appalled.
“What does it look like?” Bastion said acidly. “She’s injured. Some bastard with a rifle on the enemy side caught her as we were running. If I hadn’t killed him as quick as I did, she could’ve died!”
“Why does it sound like you’re blaming me?” Serenity asked tentatively, expressing her genuine thoughts.
“You weren’t in your damn chamber, bitch!” Lyla abruptly cried.
“Lyla, watch your profanity!” Alistair rebuked.
“But Father, question her about it!” Lyla pressed.
“Go on, answer the damn question,” Bastion nodded.
“Hold on!” Sixto said, rushing to Serenity’s aid. “Stop suspecting her of treachery! She hasn’t done anything wrong, you guys!”
“I haven’t!” Serenity concurred.
True, she had been with the enemy side for quite a while now. In fact, she had involuntarily allied herself with them. But all this couldn’t be her fault? She hadn’t facilitated the brothers in any way, except letting Cackle stay in her chamber. It was the brothers and Viktor that had contrived this bloodbath and orchestrated this deadly invasion. She did break out Kyler, but that was unrelated to all of this. Serenity never desired for this to happen. She knew that in her heart.
“It’s very convenient that the entire Council is present,” an old man with a monocle said; he was evidently one of the Councilmen. “We can have an impromptu trial right now. Is the girl guilty or innocent?”
“Great idea!” Bastion agreed. “I’ll start the interrogation, shall I? How many of our soldiers have perished? You’ve been out there, correct?”
“The streets are filled with dead bodies,” Serenity said honestly. “I’m sorry…it’s horrible out there. I’m one of the only survivors…”
“What is the enemy doing as of now? Do they know of our location?” Alistair asked, a bead of sweat trickling down his brow.
“No, I don’t think they do,” said Serenity. “Otherwise they would’ve been here already, wouldn’t they? And I’m not sure—but I think they’re stealing everything on the property.”
“Of course they are,” Dorian said bitterly. “Bloody thieves!”
“Is everybody just going to ignore my question?” Lyla interposed annoyingly, evoking a rush of hatred within Serenity.
This girl was getting on her nerves; she was bent on convicting her of treason or some other crime.
“After the first explosion,” Serenity began, conjuring up the lie as she spoke, “I got scared and went outside to investigate.”
“Under both curfew and lockdown?” Dorian said pointedly.
“Y-yeah, I’m sorry about that,” Serenity apologized, making herself sound guilty. It wasn’t hard, considering she was guilty. “But then I started hearing gunfire. Instead of going back inside, I went even further to see what it was. I thought I could be of some help, you know? Because just maybe—maybe if there was an enemy—I could’ve stopped them?”
“Stopped who?” the eyepatch man asked. “WHO?”
“The Carlisles,” Serenity replied quietly.
There was no going back now. She had mentioned their names. Her lie now had to revolve around the premise that they possibly were involved in all of this.
“I’m not sure if it was them, but I thought I could make them leave.”
“I’m not believing a word of this,” the eyepatch man growled. “Bastion, why did you let the girl in? What if she lured them out here?”
“She didn’t!” Sixto asserted. “Bastion checked; there was nobody with her, and we couldn’t hear any footsteps. Nobody was downstairs, either!”
“Oh my god, you’re so besotted!” Lyla scorned. “Everybody knows you’re in love with the girl, just quit it! You have no voice in this matter!”
“What?!” Sixto yelled. “Shut up, Lyla! You’re calling me biased! You’re the one that hates her. For some weird reason, you do!”
“Silence both of you!” Alistair roared. “Impartiality is nonexistent in the both of you! You’re both biased and will have no say in this trial.”
Serenity prepared herself mentally for an interrogation. Now that Alistair confirmed it, there most certainly would be a hearing. She thought she was doing a passable job at lying. But as each lie was told, she felt she was digging herself a deeper grave. It felt like she had been telling lie after lie since the arrival of Desmos and Kyler, after having learned that they were here.
“Your name doesn’t belong on that wall,” Lyla murmured, obviously referring to the pedigree. She then became quiet, finally.
“Uncle Alistair, you don’t think I’m a traitor, do you?” she asked fearfully.
If she was deemed a traitor here, it was over for her. There was something different about Alistair. His winsome smile was absent, and his eyes didn’t contain any of the usual tenderness towards her as they did previously. Instead, Serenity detected wariness and even hostility.
“He doesn’t,” Sixto assured. “Right, Uncle Ali?”
“He told you to shut up,” Bastion said.
Sixto obeyed, silencing himself and watching the scene with concern. She appreciated his unyielding loyalty to her. Out of all the Aurelians, Sixto was undoubtedly the one she was closest to. Even now, in the midst of a major crisis, he still hastened to back her up and defend her.
“Explain how you managed to find us,” said Dorian.
“I told you,” she said wearily. “It was just a hunch. I didn’t know for sure, until now. Making it here was difficult. Enemy soldiers are patrolling everywhere. And they’re looking for you all; for the Council, and just any survivors in general. They’re killing them one-by-one.”
“Maybe we should surrender,” a Councilman, she had never heard speak before, said; he was completely bald with a white handlebar mustache.
“I never want to hear you say something like that,” Bastion upbraided. “Come on, Dyxus! You ignoramus!”
“Well, I feel as if they will find us eventually anyway,” Dyxus shrugged. “By surrendering, they may spare the children! And the women too!”
“The only woman in this group is Destiny,” Bastion refused. “As for the children, they won’t spare them just because they’re young. You’ve seen how ruthless and merciless these savages are!”
“Your nobility is praiseworthy, but Bastion is correct,” said Alistair. “I doubt they will show compassion for our children. Our best option is to remain here and wait until they leave. Surely, they’ll leave eventually?”
“What say you, girl?” Dyxus asked her.
“Whatever she says, don’t trust it,” the eyepatch man said scornfully.
“Jesus, Wilkens!” Dyxus grunted. “Let her speak!”
“For now,” Wilkens (she finally learned his name) snorted.
“As soon as they’re satisfied with all that they’ve stolen, I think they might leave
,” Serenity nodded. “Staying here is the safest option.”
“I’ve almost forgotten!” Alistair cried. “We’ve called for backup, haven’t we? Reinforcements? Our allies are converging!”
“Don’t count on it,” said Bastion. “Yes, we have. But who knows how far they are. Those Venators are whimsically irritating. It’s not even certain they will obey our summons. I’ve no inklings of their intentions whenever we contact them. It’s infuriating! They’re unreliable!”
Serenity gulped in trepidation. She had completely forgotten about the Venators. Just the thought of them caused her to shudder. But surely, they were incapable of turning the tide of the battle? She was almost certain that the Venators were few in number. They couldn’t beat an entire army. But it was their skill set and starkly intimidating aura that frightened her, minus the mysterious appearance. At the end of the day, the Venators were still human. Depending on how strong their armor was, it would take only a few bullets to take one out.
“They will listen,” Alistair said confidently. “And they will come.”
“Um, how many of them are there?” Serenity asked. “Because the enemy is great in number. Hundreds of them are outside.”
“Our soldiers are not exclusive to the residence,” Dorian explained. “We have allies around the world. Of course, only our allies in the general vicinity have been summoned to return and aid us. If the Venators come, they won’t be alone. They’ll bring an army with them.”
“We’ve specified our predicament as a maximum level emergency,” Alistair added. “All will be well. They will come.”
Serenity glanced at the door briefly. Another dilemma was troubling her. If another army was really coming, wouldn’t Viktor’s men be ambushed? She didn’t know whether she had to warn them. Or if she even wanted too. It prompted the question that was solely relevant as of now: whose side was she on? Her first thought was that she was on the Aurelian’s side. These people were her true family. She reminded herself this every day. But the thought of the brothers perishing in a surprise attack—one she could’ve prevented—sent pangs of culpability up her stomach and down her mouth. She scolded herself for being irresolute and indecisive. This vacillation of hers had been afflicting her since the first two brothers arrived.
“Explain to me how you’re not wounded at all,” Bastion asked, examining her from head-to-toe.
Serenity was genuinely just as surprised. She hadn’t sustained a single injury. Only minor cuts and scratches from colliding with jagged rocks and broken glass. The same applied to the brothers, excluding Agno’s injuries. All of them were alive and well (for the most part). Desmos and Kyler were both alive as well, though in horrid condition. She didn’t know of Desmos’s constitution. And she wasn’t looking forward to finding out.
“I really don’t know,” Serenity responded. “I know how it looks, but I just got lucky. Under my clothes I have little scratches, though.”
“It just doesn’t make sense!” Bastion growled, stomping his foot. “Almost all of our soldiers have died. Trained soldiers! And you? You get just a couple of ‘scratches’? Are you invincible or something?”
“No, I’m not!” Serenity contested. “It’s just luck! I’m not an enemy and I’m not lying! Why do you all not trust me?”
“You know why,” Alistair snapped, his countenance now forbidding, in a trice.
It startled her how much his tone and appearance changed. Her uncle emanated no geniality anymore. Instead, he was threatening.
“We all know where you come from,” Alistair continued. “And we’ve all observed how you’ve been feeling since the first two Carlisles were captured. The shift in your mood was detectable. Their capture troubles you, doesn’t it? You lament their execution, don’t you?”
Serenity didn’t respond immediately. She considered her next words very carefully. It didn’t seem like the Aurelians knew Desmos and Kyler had been liberated. And she realized they had been monitoring her since her arrival. Alistair lived under the pretense that he fully trusted her; but really, he was just as skeptical of her allegiance as the others were. She had truly loved her uncle. But the feeling didn’t feel mutual anymore. Her disillusion was devastating. She looked at Dorian. Did he feel the same about her? His face was both noncommittal and inscrutable. She couldn’t tell.
“It’s true,” she decided to confess. “The fact that they were captured did bother me…because even though we hated each other, I spent my whole life with those two. They were once my brothers…”
“Well, this confirms it!” Bastion exclaimed. “She’s on their side!”
“What?! No! It’s a natural human reaction!” she argued.
“Bullshit!” Wilkens snarled. “You’re a recalcitrant traitor!”
“Quiet down, everybody,” Dorian mediated. “We’re supposed to be keeping it low. We don’t want anybody hearing us on the outside, do we?”
Everybody silenced themselves. The former wine-tasting aficionado’s voice was authoritative; it seemed like he was in equal standing with Alistair, their sovereignty and jurisdiction indistinguishable. Seeing Dorian so serious suddenly was strange, as he rarely deviated from his lighthearted persona.
“Serenity, this is not the time for festivities and amiability,” said Dorian. “I’ve asked you a question once before, and I will ask the same question again. Your previous answer was apt. Will it be the same again?”
“Well, what’s the question?” she asked, unable to recall what it was.
“Are you happy here?” Dorian said firmly.
“Yes,” she replied, but a little too fast.
It gave the impression that she had trained herself to answer the question, if given. Simply, it may have nullified the sincerity and honesty of the response. Dorian quirked his eyebrows, exchanging looks with his fellow Councilmen. Wilkens scoffed again, clearly unconvinced with her answer. Bastion was the same.
“I’m serious!” she said earnestly. “You think I wanted this to happen? That I had some part in this? After so many miserable years with the Carlisles, you think this new life wouldn’t be good enough? Because it is!”
“Her supplication for vindication certainly appears authentic,” said Dyxus, the Councilman who was seemingly on her side.
“That’s because you’re a—” Bastion began acidly.
“‘Ignoramus,’ I know,” Dyxus sighed, unperturbed.
Serenity turned back to Alistair and Dorian. It was their approval that she needed. If they vindicated her, she’d be deemed innocent by the others, except Bastion, who was dead set on convicting her of something.
“This is too difficult,” Alistair said irritably. “If only we had the means to launch a complete investigation. Given the predicament we all are in, we cannot. Which is why, Serenity, you will stay here with us. You are not allowed outside. Tell me, what do you think of that?”
“That’s fine,” she nodded, but unsure.
She was still confused on which route of action was more preferable. Warning Viktor of the imminent attack? Or staying with the Aurelians and never leaving their side. Surely the brothers would leave her without a second thought? They had retrieved Kyler and Desmos already. She was least in importance when it came to the three of them. A subordinate priority.
“We can’t stay here forever, Father,” Destiny moaned, from her corner.
“Don’t speak, Destiny!” Bastion said worriedly. “You have to rest!”
Destiny ignored Bastion, sitting more upright.
“We have no food or water. We’ll die here…” she said.
“We won’t stay here that long,” said Alistair. “Two more days at most. If longer, we’ll send someone out to retrieve those necessities.”
“We have to go,” Destiny appealed, shaking her head.
“I’ll be the one to get us food and supplies,” Bastion said self-importantly. “And Sixto will come with me.”
“I will?” Sixto asked, dazed.
“You scared?” Bastion s
aid accusingly.
“NO, I’m not!” Sixto defended himself hastily.
“I could get it,” Serenity blurted, before she could stop herself. They all looked at her suspiciously. Serenity questioned in her mind why she said it. She didn’t know. It had just come out of her mouth by compulsion. Saying things spontaneously was a recurring issue of hers.
“Did you not hear what I just said?” Alistair said sternly. “You’re not allowed to leave. Why so eager to go outside?”
“No, you’re right,” she said quickly. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to help.”
“Help?!” Bastion howled. “HELP HOW—”
BANG! The steel door was blown away in an instant flash of red, knocked off its hinges and colliding directly with Bastion who was in its path. Bastion yelped, absorbing the full impact of the hit as it knocked him down to the floor. Lily and Lyla screamed, some of the Councilmen on the verge of fainting. Smoke eddied and swirled by the doorway, caused by the mini explosion that had ensued. Figures entered the room.
“Thanks a lot, Serenity,” Garen spoke, walking through the smoke.
“You certainly are useful,” Viktor said gleefully, coming right after.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Garen and Viktor weren’t alone. Ten of Viktor’s men flanked them, their guns ready to fire. Most of them crowded around the stairwell, with not enough space to enter the pedigree room. Alistair stepped forward, fear and disconcertment visible on his face for the first time.
“Open fire,” Garen ordered but was immediately waved off by Viktor.
“I’m the one who gives the orders,” said Viktor. “No, we’re not going to kill them here. We’ll set up a nice execution for them.”
“In the courtyard?” Garen suggested.
“Yeah, that’ll suffice,” Viktor nodded.
“NO!” Serenity protested. “Please! Just look at them! Some of them are kids. Have you no soul? Look at them!”
“Why are you so intent on saving them?” Viktor said, annoyed. “You betrayed us by going to them. You knew where they were this whole time, yet you didn’t tell us. You lied to me!”