“Couldn’t it be Victor’s disciples?” I asked, not wanting to believe that vampires really exist.
“No…it’s definitely not their handy work. They are into savagely beating, maiming, and straight forward murder. ” Nikolas answered crossing his arms across his barrel of a chest.
“Before you departed for the future,” Thaddeus said, making it sound as though I had gotten on a plane. “Your abilities were at an immature state, not fully realized, therefore we could not risk Victor's next attack. We were certain his next attack would be on you.” Thaddeus stopped pacing, and sat in the chair opposite mine, directly opposite Evan. He spoke to me but looked at Evan.
“Victor, like his father, Malcolm Iptian, has never been of the patient kind. Why not go after Evan, or Bethany, or myself?” Thaddeus asked as he prepared to answer the question himself but Evan interrupted.
“Yes, why not go after you?” Evan said, and seemed to direct the question at his father, almost as if he were implying that Victor should, and then paused for a split second. Bethany and Nikolas appeared to be a bit nervous. Bethany played with her dinner napkin while Nikolas got up, sauntered over to the side bar and fixed himself a drink, while eyeing Evan and Thaddeus cautiously.
“No, he'd rather kill off the source, you, Cordelia, before you’re at the height of unparalleled power,” Evan said, practically groaned glaring at his father whom returned a silencing glare.
I had no idea what was going on between Evan and his long winded father, but it was obvious that they had some issues. Evan held his father’s gaze, unwavering. My attention was quickly summoned by Thaddeus once again. Thaddeus sighed heavily, turning his angry stare into a softer one as he turned to look at me.
“Therefore, my dear, you were transported to a time where we figured Victor Iptian would never find you. As a safety provision, Bethany and Nikolas followed. Evander stayed behind in order to lead the members in tracking Victor and his disciple’s movements. We expected that he would be searching every inch of the earth for you. We had hoped that we could destroy him then bring you back safely. We certainly had not foreseen him jumping time.” Did I detect a bit of amusement in Thaddeus’ voice? His cerulean blue eyes twinkled like the crystal vases on the dining room table.
“We tried, unsuccessfully, to discover Victors hiding places. All of his dwellings are secluded, and rumored to change as quickly as the weather.”
Evan said.
“Therefore, unable to execute the plan to terminate him. Somehow, he still eludes our efforts.” Thaddeus added as he glowered at Evan. Evan, with smoldering cheeks, looked away then down at his hands, which were in his lap.
“Our lack of success is what kept you in the future longer than we had anticipated. We still have no idea how he found you. We know that finding you was not a fortuitous act on his part. We will find out who advised him of your whereabouts.” Thaddeus appeared to be tired with eyes drooping every so often.
“He may have shrouded himself this time, that evasive bastard, a genuine coward at heart, but we’ll flush him out soon enough.” Nikolas commented.
“We will capture him, Father.” Bethany added.
I wondered why they all spoke as if it were up to us to capture Victor. We’re just kids, not even legal yet. Well not Bethany and I. But still, why wasn’t Thaddeus out there flipping over rocks looking for that snake, himself? He had better start because from the sound of it, I was a goner.
“Hopefully,” Thaddeus sympathized. “Before the Apolluon discover us first. The integral part in finding and destroying Victor is you, Cordelia, regaining and mastering your power.” Thaddeus bluntly advised. His sleepy eyes pierced right through me. It was he and not his words that left me feeling uncomfortable. “It is best that Cordelia remain in this house until her power is restored. She is safe here.” Thaddeus suggested firmly.
It was more of a command than a precautionary suggestion. But he was dead wrong. I wasn’t safe here at all. Victor had already paid me an unexpected visit. I unconsciously rubbed the spots on my shoulders where he had pierced until I bled. I didn’t want to stay in this house.
I observed Evan, Bethany and Nikolas suspiciously. They all three looked at me as if they prayed that I wouldn’t let the cat out of the bag. I was tempted to, but I kept my mouth shut. Bethany had said that they had the situation under control. I hoped for my life that she was telling the truth, because the thought of having to stay in this house made my stomach sour. If I didn’t get out of this house soon I was sure to suffocate. Why I couldn’t stay in the house I had grew up in? I didn’t dare ask Thaddeus this. I planned to ask Bethany or Evan instead.
I turned my eyes away from Thaddeus and looked at my right hand which rested on the table. It was shaking. I was trembling from head to toe –
all brought on by what I was hearing. I caught Evan watching me again. Evan noticed everything. Evan cupped my hand, and again I pulled away. I didn’t care much for his attempt at consoling me. Thaddeus saw how I rejected his son and exchanged an odd look with Evan, a questioning look. I had to ask the question that had been on my mind since Thaddeus had first begun speaking of the gods and the doom that seemed inevitable for the Ischeros.
“Since Zeus is the god of the sky and the ruler of all mankind, why doesn’t he stop Victor and the Apolluon? Doesn’t he care what may happen to us? Don’t any of the gods care?”
“Those are all good questions, my dear.” Thaddeus remarked but didn’t answer.
Evan sat up suddenly and said, “It’s not that Zeus, or the rest of the gods haven’t any concerns. They have fortified us with great power and wisdom, so that we can live without their intrusion. Zeus will not interfere or allow the other gods to fight a war which we can handle, nor will he war with Hades. Zeus will not be culpable for the destruction to the entire world that a war with Hades would bring.”
“I see.” I said, but I didn’t. It seemed so cruel to watch your descendants being hunted. I wondered if the gods were just sitting on Mt. Olympus laughing all the while.
“I shall retire now. Cordelia, I expect that after all the events of the day that you will sleep well. This information is not meant to be onerous.”
Thaddeus sighed, a long and tired kind of sigh, and got up so slowly from his chair. He looked as if he were to take another step; he would fall into a deep sleep on the fringed rug.
I was relieved to see him go. I was overwhelmed and petrified of what my life would be like now. How can I live up to their expectations if I don’t have an inkling as to when I will remember any of this? There was a sudden uncomfortable silence in the room – a chill to be exact. Everyone seemed tense. I fingered my medallion, I guess out of nervousness, feeling its icy coolness. It soothed me almost immediately.
Suddenly, one of the rose filled crystal vases jumped up from the table, and sailed across the room at the speed of a blink, crashing loudly against the molding of the archway, which Thaddeus had just walked through.
Eleven
Double Headed Coin
The crash happened so fast that I nearly vaulted out of my seat, as did Bethany and Nikolas. The beautiful, velvety, water dotted, roses scattered onto the wood floor just as the water from the smashed vase began to seep through the area rug. The tension in the air had intensified. Both Nikolas and Bethany glared at Evan, whose eyes were blood red. Evan leaned back in his chair, his chest heaving. Then as quickly as his eyes were blazing, they returned to their natural penetrating azure. I calmed along with him although, I was taken aback by his actions. I tried like hell not to convey my uneasiness. Nikolas and Bethany appeared somewhat stupefied, if only for a moment.
“Don’t be upset with him Evan. He feels helpless. He wants this thing with Victor to end.” The equanimity of Bethany’s voice was soothing.
“Father is this way because he can no longer do what we are capable of.” What Bethany just revealed hit me like a thud.
“Is Thaddeus powerless?” I asked. I couldn’t conceal my cur
iosity after listening to him for over an hour. The man had scared me at several distinct points while he revealed the world of terror surrounding me. It had never occurred to me that he was powerless within this world.
“As demigods, our powers begin at adolescence and mature at the age of seventeen,” Bethany said. “But then, dreadfully, they decrease substantially once we physically age past fifty. We live hundreds of years with power then live hundreds of years without.” Bethany tried to explain where her father's hostility stemmed from. Her face was somber as she looked at the archway her father had just gone through.
“For some it is a reality that is very difficult to... accept. It is as Zeus intended.” Nikolas added.
“My parents live vicariously through the power of their children as all the elders do. The elders are sought for guidance, wisdom, and are respected and admired for the world they’ve kept safe for us. We, the children fight the wars as they had for their parents and so on and so on. We must keep the world safe so that our children may not have to fight any wars.”
I suddenly felt really bad for Thaddeus and Alexandria. They must feel so helpless. “Wow. This all seems more like a curse than a gift.” I waited for a response but no one said a word. It led me to believe that they saw it that way too, and maybe that was Zeus’s intent. Maybe he was punishing us.
Evan commented on what Bethany had said, and acted as If he didn’t hear me. “That does not give him the right to be condescending and accusatory.” The anger didn’t show on Evan’s face but there was an unmistakable trace of pure venom in his voice. There definitely was a whole other side to Evan; a mystery.
“Father is patient, and he trusts you, Evan,” Bethany said. “You know that father is not accustomed to being without any power or control.” I watched Bethany who showed so many signs of maturity. She spoke with such wisdom. She was so different from the easy going teenager I befriended two years ago. She was a woman with insight. I had to come to terms with the fact that I really didn’t know her.
“Listen Evander, I think the warning will be well received. Lucas' corpse is a direct message.” Nikolas was standing up and leaning over Bethany to get closer to Evan.
Corpse?
“Who is Lucas” I asked. Again they ignored me. It was as if I wasn’t even in the room.
“The warning certainly shows that we can and will get close enough to avenge his extremely bad decision of coming here. He will know that we don’t take kindly to threats although, the warning will not go unanswered. The ‘forgotten son’ will try unrelentingly to get what he believes to be his.”
Evan said, confidently. Something in his expression came across wicked, and I was taken aback.
I looked at Evan and then at Nikolas. I saw two boys who were behaving like grown men. It was the way they spoke, so self assured, so mature, and so deadly. It came off rather natural, but left a strange and bitter taste in your mouth.
“Lucas' first mistake was thinking that Evan's visit was an attack,” Nikolas said. “His second, he actually believed his second hand powers were a match for a genuine Ischero, a demigod. It’s actually amusing if you think about it.” Nikolas chuckled, and gulped what was left of his wine. I had no idea what Nikolas was talking about, or if I should remember any of it.
“Who is Lucas?” I asked again, this time a lot louder. Neither Evan nor Nikolas said a word. Bethany decided to answer. It turns out, after Evan disappeared through my ceiling, he had paid an unexpected visit to Victor's notorious head disciple, Lucas, a thick muscled brute. Evan thought it best to send a verbal message to Victor through Lucas.
“Why is it that when you talk about Lucas, you speak of him in the past tense?”
“I think Cordelia should know what transpired with Lucas this evening” Nikolas said, nodding to Evan.
“Yes. I agree with Niko. She should be aware of what we are up against.” Bethany added, staring at Evan. Then she looked at me, as if challenging me, as if perhaps I couldn’t handle the details. We locked eyes for a moment. She was right. I should be aware of what’s going on. But she was underestimating me if she thought that I was a wimp. I was prepared for whatever they were about to tell me. At this point I was ready for anything. I dug deep inside of me, searched for strength, and braced myself.
Both Nikolas and Bethany waited for Evan, for what I guessed to be his approval. He shrugged as if he didn't have a care in the world if I knew what had happened.
“Tonight, Lucas was stealing a quiet moment in the parlor of the lone mansion that sits behind Gold Hill; an unusual place for a mansion actually.
All the other wealthy families live on Millionaire’s Row, looking over the town. The rest reside across from Gold Hill. Lucas’ home is very large, and that’s not accounting for the acres of land surrounding it. He inherited the house and its land from his adoptive parents. Tonight he wasn’t home alone. Sacha, his twin sister, was also home, preparing herself for what I'm sure would be a long evening at the saloons,” Nikolas said, smirking.
“Lucas was Victor’s most trusted, most loyal, and most powerful disciple. Whatever Victor says, Lucas does. You’d expect to see marionette strings attached to the overgrown thug,” Bethany explained. Her aquamarine eyes sparkled as she described Lucas. “Lucas’ features were striking, but a sharp contrast to most of the residents of this town. Where ever Lucas went, he stood out. Not because he was colored, but because he wasn’t entirely colored.
Lucas’ skin was the color of sand –”
“And his soul was as gritty. Because he was extremely muscular, he had a false sense of confidence.” Nikolas added.
“His roguish exterior made him one of the most feared men in Nickel City, besides Victor himself. Lucas was born and raised here.” Bethany said, leaning over the table as if she was revealing a wellguarded secret. “Nikolas, I think it is best that you show Cordelia what happened.” Bethany suggested.
Nikolas nodded and pointed his finger to the far right wall, and again I was in awe of the magic. It was another mirage. I wondered if they could all do this or was Nikolas the only one with the gift.
Looking at the mirage was like looking into another room that had a sparkling lining edging its entrance. The parlor was dimly lit by several oil lamps, and appeared as large as the one in this mansion. The major difference was that everything seemed to be made of shiny ivory marble or onyx.
The floors, the tables, even the massive fireplace were made of marble or onyx or a combination of both. It made the room appear frigid.
A young man, about my age I’d guess, sat relaxing in a chocolate brown, leather tufted smoking chair. He was dressed in the customary gentleman's attire. I knew it was Lucas the moment I saw him. Bethany's description of him was exact. Lucas was very muscular in a bulky way, and extremely handsome. He reminded me of the former wrestler turned actor, The Rock.
Lucas’ eyes were closed, and he leaned his head against the back of the chair. He appeared to be dozing, but he wasn’t. Lucas raised his drink to his lips, and sipped it then casually shook the glass from time to time causing the ice chips to clink. I guess he was one of the few who owned an ice box.
Out of nowhere Evan appeared in the room like an apparition or something, first appearing like a vapor then fleshing out into a person. Evan stood tall and genuinely gorgeous. He made himself comfortable, opposite Lucas, in an identical chair to the one Lucas rested in.
“Is it bedtime already?” Evan questioned his adversary’s evil cohort. “I would have expected you to be out terrorizing the town at this hour.”
Startled, even if only for a second; Lucas looked directly at Evan with intense hazel eyes.
“Where are your manners, Evander? Don't you know that it’s customary to knock?” Lucas responded in a deep voice similar to the low growl of a Rottweiler.
“Knock? Why would I want to confuse you by giving you a false impression of respect for you?” The sarcasm rolled off of Evan's tongue as he casually got up, walked over to the onyx
and marble bar, fixed himself a drink, strolled back to the chair, and sat back down. Evan’s arrogance clearly antagonized Lucas, who watched Evan all the while, as a thick vein appeared at his left temple. Lucas was definitely stewing.
Lucas cleared his throat and smiled. “Ahh…I am a hospitable man. My door is always open, especially for the Divine One. I hear she is back from her... trip. Perhaps I should swing by your place… unexpected. Is the Empress of Ischera free tonight?” Lucas was being facetious, and allowed a vindictive chuckle to escape his lips as he crossed his legs. The ice chips in his glass clinked again as if applauding him for his clever retort. Evan's eyes blazed red for a split second with Lucas' reference of me, but somehow he was able to stay composed. It was obvious that Evan wasn't there for a fight.
“Tread carefully, son of a streetwalker. My battle is not with you.” Evan eyed Lucas scornfully, yet cautiously, the way one would regard a slithering snake that at any moment could strike at you unexpectedly. I guess you can never be too sure.
“Although, I’m enjoying this conversation immensely, I can’t stand the suspense any longer. Why are you here? Ahhh… let me guess. You have yet to find Lord Victor, the true emperor of the Ischeros” Lucas laughed, sounding more like a growl.
“Lord, as in master?” Evan chortled, lightly. “Well, your master may believe that he has secluded himself, but it’s only a matter of time before he is found and terminated. It’s inevitable. And any slave riding his coat tails will go down with him,” Evan said, watching Lucas tense up at the idea of being referred to as Victor’s property.
“I’m no one’s slave. I choose to serve the real leader of the Ischeros.” Lucas said, uncrossing and recrossing his legs. His face was beginning to redden.
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