Electus (Regnum Series Book 1)

by K. M. Link

  “Tia, is it?”

  She nods. Tia notices all the lines in his face that were not obvious before. Sometimes Tia forgets how old Mr. Avery truly is.

  “Say, I believe you, would you be willing to bring me your necklace tonight?”

  “Tonight?” she responds.

  “Since it is of no value to you. It should be no issue for you to hand it over to be destroyed.”

  “I would have no problem with that. The issue is, I lost the necklace. That is why I have not been able to wear it the last few nights. I seemed to have misplaced it after the third event.” Tia’s heart is pounding, hoping he believes her lie.

  “You know, it is a shame I could not out-bid Mr. Leporem for you.” He touches her arm, making Tia twinge. “I think we could have made incredible things happen together. Instead you were snagged by the fresh faced pretty boy.”

  His beady eyes pierce into her skin as his hand moves up to her face. “Such soft skin, natural beauty. No wonder Merve couldn’t resist you.”

  Tia’s eyes widen. She slaps his face as hard as she can muster.

  “Don’t you ever touch me again,” she utters, her hand shaking.

  Mr. Avery holds his cheek where Tia hit him, then takes his cigar and twists it into Tia’s hand, “You don’t want to cross me. I can make your life a living hell.” She cries in pain, as the cigar burns her skin. “If I find out you are lying, you can make sure everyone you love will be dead. Now get out of my sight,” he releases her.

  Tia turns to view Osborn’s body, once more, before exiting the conference room. Javan and Quade are down the hall in the middle of a heated conversation.

  “It doesn’t matter what your reason is, she was a candidate!” Quade yells at Javan, who turns to catch Tia watching them. She rolls her eyes and pushes past them, towards the back set of steps.

  “Tia, wait,” Javan calls, following her.

  “I don’t want to see or talk to anyone right now, especially you,” she retorts to Javan, then moves once more towards the stairs.

  Chapter 16

  Breathing in. Out. The motion of her chest rising and falling is all Tia can focus on now. For each breath, is another painful reminder that what she witnessed is reality, the death of her father. Osborn Trumble, the most caring and gentle creature that Tia ever encountered, is now just a lump of flesh on the conference room floor.

  He’s gone. My father is gone. It hasn’t sunk in, and she doesn’t believe it ever could. Her eyes are swollen from all the time she spent crying. Her hand is blistered from the cigar burn, but Tia doesn’t even notice. Her body is numb to every sensation, because if it wasn’t, she fears that she would cease to live. Tia is unsure how long she’s laid there, nor does she care.

  She glances at the clock. It’s ten-thirty. Tia decides to take a bath to calm herself, or maybe drown herself, she hasn’t decided. Her entire frame is heavier than before as she lifts it off of the bed. Tia walks toward the bathroom in a zombie state. If bombs were going off outside, she would be completely unaware.

  As she undresses, Tia discovers the necklace around her wrist. She rips it off and throws it against the wall, never wanting anything to do with Javan Leporem, again.

  Tia removes the tight fitting dress from her body along with the silk panties and nipple covers. Nothing from this wardrobe feels like it belongs to her. She pulls the pins from her hair and lets the ringlets fall just past her shoulders. Her make up is smeared down her cheeks. She watches herself in the mirror, wondering what else this week could take from her.

  Between her father’s death, being kidnapped, raped and tortured, all Tia can wonder is how she made it out alive. She now feels the full weight of each event choking her. Also knowing that Mr. Avery and Javan were the main cause of all of it, just adds to the depression.

  Tia wishes that she was the girl to drown in the final stage, instead. It seems like such a simple death. You just breath in the water, and fall into a permanent sleep, she thinks, wiping a tear from her cheek. She stares at the now full bath tub and crawls inside.

  There is nothing left for this week to take from her. Everything that is precious is destroyed and there is no way she can change it. Tia feels herself slipping in the tub. It will only hurt for a moment, then I will be at peace. She can imagine no other way out at this point. Before too long Mr. Avery will kill her or have her killed, anyway. She doesn’t wish to give him that satisfaction, to know he took her life. Tia knows there is one choice she does have as a Regnumian, to take her own life. Then I will have the final say.

  Tia is fully immersed in the water. There is no fighting it, she releases her breath. Her lungs burn as she senses the door to her hotel room open. She closes her eyes, allowing herself to fall into a haze.

  The door to the bathroom opens. Then, the world goes black. Javan grabs her and pulls her out of the tub. “Tia!” he shouts.

  He sets her motionless body on the floor and pushes on her chest, then blows air into her mouth. “Come on,” he cries. “I can’t lose you.” Javan’s eyes burn with hot tears, as he continues to administer mouth to mouth.

  After a few minutes, she regains consciousness, spitting up water. Tia opens her eyes to find Javan staring down at her. She continues to cough up water, and take in deep breaths of air. What was I thinking, doing that? Tia realizes what she attempted and her body is frozen with fear of her own instability. Delilah walks over with a towel for Tia to cover herself up with.

  “What were you thinking?” His eyes cradle fully developed tears, and he is caressing her face. She has an urge to push his hand away, but doesn’t want Delilah to suspect anything. Even though, this already appears out of the ordinary. He helps her sit up as Tia holds the towel over her body. Delilah grabs her robe and wraps it around her.

  “Thank you for your assistance, Miss Urvine. I need to discuss something with Miss Trumble alone now,” Javan informs. Delilah glances over at Tia with heavy concern, then exits quietly.

  “Why are you here, and how did you get in?” Tia retorts, annoyed he is always ruining her plans.

  “The necklace. I saw you needed help. I assumed it was because you were in trouble. I didn’t realize it was because you were attempting suicide,” Javan answers, his hands still shaking.

  “I didn’t call you through the...” she remembers throwing it against the wall. My thumb must have grazed the pendant.

  “Well, I’m glad that I came. Who knows what would have happened,” he responds, his eyes examine her face. Tia can sense his fear. Part of her is glad he came as well, she wasn’t being rational. The other part of her wants to strangle him. She stands up and walks into the room where her bed is and sits down on it. Javan follows.

  “How did you get in?” she asks a second time.

  “Delilah’s key. All the keys to the hotel are the same for each room. They don’t tell anyone that, but it’s cheaper. Leave it to Anscom to find the least expensive way to handle anything.”

  “Oh,” Tia responds, avoiding his gaze.

  “What happened to your hand?” he grabs her fingers, making sure not to touch the burn mark. His hands are shaking, violently.

  “Just following in my father’s footsteps,” she retorts, pulling back her hand.

  “We need to get Allison to look at that, Tia, it needs attending to,” he begins.

  “Look, we can’t be buddies or whatever we are, anymore. You killed my father. I don’t want your help,” Tia snaps, annoyed.

  Javan pulls up his shirt, that was gently tucked into his pants. Tia watches him, wondering what he plans to do next. Does he have a gun under there? Is he going to rape me next? He rips a piece of the bottom of his shirt off and grabs her hand. Tia goes to jerk it away.

  “No!” he commands, keeping hold of it and wrapping the piece of cloth around it, then glances up into her eyes.

  “Tia, I am so sorry about what happened,” he offers, appearing remorseful.

  “Why di
d you shoot him?” Tia questions, staring him.

  “I didn’t have a choice,” is all he responds, not removing his gaze from hers.

  “Everyone has choices in life. Well, not Regnumians. Either way, that still doesn’t explain why you did it.” She senses the tears returning. Her eyes glowing. They have not rested since she witnessed Osborn’s murder.

  He sighs, then the words escape his lips, “Your father was already dying, Tia.” She is silent, just shaking her head, repeatedly. “No, he wasn’t.”

  “I wanted to tell you a thousand times. Tonight, I almost did. He did not want you to worry. Osborn loved you so ...”

  “Don’t you dare say his name,” she snaps, losing control of her temper. “First, you convince me that you are my ally. Then, you kill my father. When you could just let me die, you force me to live with this pain! You try to sell me with some bullshit story that he was dying and I, his own daughter, would have no clue about it! Now you speak his name as if nothing happened!”

  “I’m sorry. He told me it might be difficult to convince you. I suppose he is right, he does know you better than I do.” Javan turns and pulls out a note from his back pocket. “I was afraid that I would be the one to give this to you. Edwin also has a copy.” He hands her the folded up letter. Right away, Tia recognizes her father’s hand writing.

  My little Conscientia,

  For the past eighteen years, I’ve watched you blossom into a beautiful young woman. I could not be prouder of your attitude, spirit, and the intelligent being you’ve become.

  If you are reading this, then you already know I passed away. Whether it be from my illness or by Mr. Avery, himself, I have a feeling you will be reading this soon. A few months ago I was diagnosed with a rare lung disease. Mr. Avery refused to pay for the treatments, because he felt I was hiding something from him. I have decided, rather than fighting this and losing, to spend each day the best I can, without disrupting yours or Edwin’s lives.

  The difficult part was trying to hide it from you, only Edwin knew. I am sorry that I did not tell you. With everything else you needed to face, Edwin and I could not bare to burden you with the news. My only hope now, is that you are not there to watch it progress. Nothing pains me more than to think you have any other memories of me, than the happy, healthy, loving ones. My heart is set on you leaving Urbi. Not because I don’t want you around, but because, the life you would lead here is too unbearable to fathom.

  I wish to say goodbye with this letter so that you always have a piece of me with you. Also, that you may look back on it, remembering you are loved by me. I know, Tia, that you have the ability to make it through whatever obstacles come your way. I see you as someone who will accomplish great things in her time. Just don’t give up on making the best of what life hands you. I didn’t. With all my love,

  Osborn

  Tia stares at the note, reading it over and over. The words have yet to absorb. “I want to see my uncle,” Tia remarks, glancing at Javan, who meets her eyes again. His face is pale.

  “That can be arranged,” he responds. “Want to go right now?”

  “Yes. First, I need to dress,” she heads for the bathroom.

  They take a private car to her home. Jacob is quiet as ever on the ride. Her heart leaps at the sight of her old abode. It appears odd to Tia that Javan didn’t ask for directions.

  “How did you know where I live?” she quizzes Javan.

  He doesn’t respond, just exits the car. She follows him and they meet at the entrance. Tia examines the passage as though it is all fresh to her. She opened this door over a hundred times, but now it appears old with cracking turquoise paint, and a knob that is slightly rusted.

  Tia knocks. Edwin answers within seconds. At the sight of her, he breathes, “I guess this means he is gone.” They embrace for several minutes, both of them broken at the loss of Osborn Trumble.

  “It’s good to see you,” Tia releases Edwin and wipes a tear from her cheek.

  “Agreed, just wish it was under different circumstances,” he responds, glancing up at Javan. They lock eyes.

  “Hey stranger,” Javan greets him.

  “Long time, no see,” he replies. Tia is more than confused at the moment. Neither of them speak, just give each other a knowing glance.

  “Come in,” Edwin offers, allowing Tia and Javan to enter her old house. Everything is in the same place. She notices more holes in the ceiling, cracks in the walls, and the house has a slightly stranger scent to it.

  “So, this is where you grew up?” Javan inquires, sitting down on the couch in their living room. The cushions are extremely soft and pieces of the fabric are fraying.

  “Yep,” she responds, still not in the best mood with him.

  “Could I get you two anything to drink? I might have a thirty year old bottle of Guinness in the cabinet. We could make this an Irish wake for Osborn,” Edwin offers, again using his humor to cope. Tia catches the tears in his eyes building up as he smiles at her. She knew her father and uncle were close. They would have to be after living together for eighteen years.

  “Nothing for me, thank you,” Javan answers.

  “I’m fine, uncle Edwin.”

  He shrugs and sits down next to Tia. “So, what happened exactly? Did he pass out, or what? I’m assuming you didn’t tell Fera, otherwise I would have an hysterical phone call by now. I can just imagine how pissed she is going to be once she finds out he was sick and didn’t tell her.”

  Tia glances at Javan.

  “That’s part of why we came. See, as you know, Mr. Avery has been hounding Osborn for quite some time. Tonight, he asked me to...” Javan does not know how to finish the sentence.

  “He killed him, because, apparently, he claims that he had no choice,” Tia jumps in, curtly. Edwin sighs and hangs his head.

  “Of course Mr. Avery asked you to do it. Just like him to use someone else to do the dirty work. Not that it matters now,” he runs his hand through his hair. This is the first time that Tia ever saw her uncle not know how to handle bad news. “At least he is done suffering this way.”

  “Why are you okay with this?” Tia snaps, infuriated that he is not strangling Javan at the word of him killing his family.

  “I’m trying to be calm for your sake, Tia. It’s tearing me up inside! I love that man as much as you do. Anger and resentment is not going to bring him back, though.” Edwin’s eyes are full of tears and for the first time, Tia is watching him come unglued. His face is red, and Tia can sense she is pushing it too far.

  “So, what is the next step here? Do I get filled in on why he was killed or is that something I am still not allowed to know?”

  “He believes Osborn was part of Erue,” Javan replies. Edwin falls silent, maintaining focus on Javan. Tia has no clue what is going on.

  “I’m sorry, what is Erue?” she inquires.

  “It’s a group of rebels. They believe that the capitols have too much power and should be over thrown, allowing Regnumians to be free to exercise their magic and not live in fear,” Javan answers, his eyes locked on Edwin still.

  “So that is what...” Tia trails off, remembering she was not to speak of her conversation with Mr. Avery to anyone. That’s a skill I need to tone, immediately, she reminds herself.

  “What?” Javan glances at her.

  “Nothing,” she responds, quickly.

  “No, Tia, what is it?” Javan pushes. He never lets anything go.

  “Mr. Avery,” she sighs, her heart pounding at the thought of what might happen. “He was interrogating me about my father and thought I knew his secret or was involved, I guess, in this...Erue, was it?”

  “Yes, I see. I assume that he noticed your necklace, then,” Javan comments, softly. Tia just nods.

  “What necklace?” Edwin startles Tia.

  “Dad gave me a necklace before I left that day for the Electus. He said it was just between us. When I went to the dinner the first night,
I decided to wear it, because he told me it was my mothers,” she confesses, her palms are sweaty and her mouth dry.

  “See why I warned you about hiding it? They are a wanted group. Though, they aren’t publicly known, those who do know about them, usually are trying to take them down.”

  “How come I haven’t heard anything about them before?” Tia questions.

  “The capitols don’t wish for them to receive media coverage. Most leaders believe if the general public knows about them, that it will inspire other groups to form or entice people to join them,” Edwin advises.

  “I don’t understand, though. What does my mother’s necklace have to do with the Erue?”

  “The pendant is a symbol of the Humilis leaders’ bloodline,” Javan grabs a pen and a sheet of paper from the coffee table.

  “This is the crest of the family that were believed to form Erue. It is originally a representation of two rams horns butting against each other. Rams are known for toughness, but also for surrendering when it comes to slaughter. Originally the symbol was intended to represent the humility of the bloodline. However, the interpretation has twisted to opposition since it was this family that founded Erue.”

  “So, my mother is part of this rebellion, even though she is human?” Tia questions, her brow furrowed.

  “Some humans are involved in the rebellion, not too many, however...” Javan glances at Edwin, who returns the look.

  “However what?” Tia asks.

  “Your mother is not human,” Edwin finishes, meeting her gaze.

  “How? My eyes glow pink. It’s a sign of being half human, half Pruden. You are my uncle on my mother’s side. You’re human,” her hands begin to tremble.

  “It also comes from being full blooded Humilis,” Edwin adds, his voice shaking.

  Tia leans back on the couch, “full-blooded?” Edwin sighs, his eyes intense, light, and almost the same blue as Javan’s. Her heart pounds, as the words leave his lips, “You were adopted, Tia.”