by Joe Fowler
“Emelia, can I walk you to your suite?” I asked.
“I’d like that.” She replied before turning to the others. “It is great to see you both again.”
“And you as well, Emelia.” Dorian said.
Once we were away from them, Sweetie let out a sigh.
“That wasn’t easy.” She said, sadly.
“No, it wasn’t. Hermes is as good as most anyone short of Apollo.”
We didn’t need to elaborate. I left Sweetie safely in her room.
I made it without calling Arria last night. I wasn’t as strong this time.
“Hello?”
“Tomorrow’s the day.”
“You do realize we could fly the council members there and stop this.” Arria stated. She meant it. I knew she was tempted to try.
“It would only delay it. The ones behind the attack would know and wouldn’t go through with it. They would wait and attack when it was less expected. I would rather get it over with.” I knew this was the truth.
“Titan, promise me you will stay safe. I don’t care who or how many you have to kill. Come home to me.” Arria was on the verge of tears.
“I will try, Arria.” I shut my eyes against the image of Arria hurting this bad. “I told Sweetie. She was a wreck. I had to do something to calm her down. She was so relieved.”
“I can imagine. Who is there besides your group?”
“Hermes and Dorian. Of course it’s Gregor’s facility but I don’t see him getting involved one way or the other.”
“He shouldn’t. He isn’t the type to side with either party in this fight. What is it like? I imagine it is tense.”
“Extremely. Both Saul and Hermes are trying to lighten the mood for everyone. We are searching for topics to talk about so the conversations stay as upbeat as possible. We all know what is coming but can’t stop it. I saw the pain Hermes was going through. This isn’t easy for him. Dorian isn’t struggling as much but I could tell he wasn’t happy either.”
“They are good. Well, you know Hermes. We’ve discussed that.” Arria was having a difficult time talking.
“There is no easy way this time. There is no clear right or wrong. I know they took part in those illegal fights but they are good. I know Hermes and that group think they are doing the right thing. They aren’t but how can I kill them when they are good too?”
“Which side will you take?” Arria asked.
“Neither. Both. It will be hard but I am going to try something. I went through my gifts last night trying to plan. I am banking on the fear of Titan that everyone feels. One more thing to thank Ares for.”
Arria was quiet.
“You are going to stand between them? You could get attacked from both sides! Saul will feel betrayed. Hermes won’t call off the attack. It will be all of them against you!”
“I know.”
“Titan, pick a damn side and I will back your play. Either group. Facing them all is suicide!” Arria was screaming.
“If it works out the way I want, there won’t be any fighting at all. Arria, I couldn’t kill Ghost to save Apollo. I couldn’t kill Apollo to save Ghost. I am trapped. I only have one option left. Try to save them all.” I heard Arria sobbing and it broke my heart. “I love you, Arria.”
“I love you, Titan. Come home to me.”
Chapter 24
I pulled the cord after my shower. I would need the blood today. I dressed in a looser fitting suit so I would have better movement during the fight.
I was as ready as I could make myself.
I called Emelia and told her to come to the meeting hall early. I left as soon as I hung up with her. I had to make sure I was there when the attack happened.
Gregor met me and went through the protocols. Saul and Jonas were there. Saul gave me an understanding nod as I approached.
“Emelia is on her way.” I told them.
“She has changed over the years. She used to be ruthless. Now, she is good. I wonder what caused that change.” Jonas noted.
“Well, sometimes people see the error in their ways. Then again, she is a woman. They can be unpredictable.” I said, smiling.
They laughed nervously.
We turned as Emelia was announced. Gregor led her to join us.
“So, today is the day.” She stated evenly.
“Yep. We aren’t likely to survive.” Jonas said.
“We will see. I hate that it is Hermes. He is genuinely good. Dorian is okay but not like Hermes. I will make sure I am not fighting him. I almost wouldn’t want to win.” Saul told us.
I understood every word.
“Give me a minute.” I told them.
I walked off to the back of the room. I heard Petra and Phoenix get announced. I didn’t turn to look at them. I sat in one of the rarely used chairs.
A new idea occurred. I knew the betrayal Saul would feel. Jonas and the others would be worse. If I could convince them, it would limit how many I would need to fight if it came to that.
Would he attack me on principle? That was the scary part. I would end up killing him and maybe some others before the attack even happened.
That would suck.
Flora was announced. Abel and Caleb were announced a few minutes later. I was running out of time.
Could I only ask for trust until the time came? This would delay the betrayed feeling. Maybe he would listen.
I saw some of the stares. I knew Saul was keeping them from disturbing me. He was placing his hopes on me.
I decided to try.
“Saul, can I speak to you a minute?” I called.
I watched as Saul told them a few words. I would guess it was for them to stay there. He made his way back to where I sat.
“Any ideas?” He asked as he took the chair beside mine.
“I need you to trust me. You need to tell the others to protect themselves but not attack on their own. I may have a way for all of us to survive. That means our group and theirs.”
“How? That doesn’t seem possible.” Saul wanted to believe but it seemed foolish to him.
“The answer will be clearer when it happens. You won’t like it too much but it is the only way. If we want to see tomorrow, this is the only plan.”
Saul grew suspicious then. I saw the hardening in his eyes. I looked purposefully at our group. His eyes followed mine and softened. When he looked back to me he was a bit crushed.
“Show me that it will work. That is the only way I will go along with this.” Saul was adamant. He wasn’t going to budge from that statement.
I prepared my illusion for Saul the way I did for Sweetie. I took a deep breath and allowed him to see.
His eyes grew huge and he tried to speak but couldn’t.
“Calm down.” I told him firmly but quietly. “Arria will be willing to help this group with the council. I might be able to stop Hermes long enough for him to see reason.”
“All this time! You bastard!” Saul kept his voice down.
“I am trying to save your life, Saul. I really like you and this group. If you want to live, then do as I say. Tell them to defend but not attack. They won’t be able to handle who I really am until it is time. Don’t tell them.” I spoke commandingly.
Saul gritted his teeth. He was furious. He stood and made his way to the group. I followed along behind him.
“Everyone, when the attack comes, defend yourself but don’t actually attack.” He stated. His anger was barely contained.
“That’s crazy!” Petra exclaimed.
“It isn’t, Petra. Please trust me. I think we will all survive if we can do this. I have a way. Don’t ask, just do as Saul says, please.” I pleaded with her. I looked up at Emelia. “Emelia, stay close to the rear. Become invisible if you need to.”
Saul took a closer look at Emelia and I saw the added anger.
“Saul.” He caught the edge in my tone and looked at me. “She wasn’t part of my plan. She was here because of something else entirely. Do not direct any anger
toward her.”
As angry as Saul was, realization hit home. Darius didn’t scare him. Titan did.
“What the hell is going on?” Jonas demanded.
“Everyone do what he says. Don’t ask any more questions. He is right about this being our only chance to survive.” Saul reluctantly told them.
We stood there in the middle of the room. Emelia did as I told her. She was the farthest from the door. No one spoke. Everyone, including me, was petrified.
Gregor conveniently left the room. I wasn’t sure but I believe he took his door guard with him. I braced myself.
It took some time but eventually, they came.
The masked attackers rushed the room at top speed. I knocked the lead one back toward the door. As I stopped another from attacking Phoenix, I pulled the illusion gift up.
“STOP!” The sound of my voice was ear shattering. It had the desired effect. Each vampire in the room stopped fighting to grab their ears. “You will listen to what I need to say! If you still wish to fight afterward, then you will face me!”
All eyes in the room were trained on me only. The attackers backed off cautiously to stand beside their friends.
I dropped the illusion of Darius.
“What? How?” These questions along with gasps of shock reverberated around the room.
“There doesn’t need to be any killing here today. Both sides are good. I know some here violated the rules but they are basically good. They don’t deserve to die.”
“All violators are executed. You know this, Titan!” A deep booming voice rang out. I watched as Gronk took off his mask and stepped forward. “They must die. I like you but I will kill you if you try to protect them.”
I looked around briefly before locking eyes with Gronk.
Sleep
Hermes caught Gronk on his way to the floor.
“Does anyone else want to challenge me?” I was daring them. I stood as defiantly as I could. I was shaking inside but they didn’t know that.
“You are powerful but you can’t take all of us.” Dorian responded. I recognized his voice.
I multiplied myself. Four more of me stood by my side. Two to my right, two to my left. Everyone’s eyes grew bigger as they looked from one of me to another.
“I can take more of you than you think, Dorian. Don’t make me do this.” I was sounding strong. I wanted to beg. “We can all live. Both sides.”
One of the attackers charged toward Jonas who was standing to my far left. I sent one of my clones to stop him. I made my clone hit him hard enough to render him unconscious.
“Why won’t you listen?” I asked. I was growing angry now.
“You are protecting violators, Titan. That isn’t right.” Hermes said, sadly. He took off his mask to show a disappointed look.
“Hermes, I saw how you felt about Saul and Darius. You hated what you were about to do. I am offering you a way to satisfy all involved.” I tried to reason with him.
“How? I can’t abide law breakers.” Hermes stated.
“Everyone here will board my plane and fly to Feng’s. I will bring all of you to the council. Hermes, if the council will pardon them, will you abide by their ruling?”
He thought for a minute.
“Yes.” He replied.
I was jumping for joy inside until one of the others stepped forward.
“What we are doing would be punishable as well. If we go to the council, we might be the ones executed.” He said. Even if he removed his mask, I wouldn’t know this old one. He was overly tall and had a nasal quality to his voice.
Several others agreed with him.
“Then I propose this for you to think about. If what you are doing is punishable by death, how are you any better than these old ones you came here to kill?” I stared at them as I waited for an answer. None came. “I will take things further. I am planning to plead leniency for both sides in front of the council!”
No one spoke.
I looked from one group to the other. Both groups glared at me in anger. This was the time I feared most. I knew most everyone here would willingly kill me if they could. I could only hope I had instilled enough fear into them that they wouldn’t try.
It was Saul who broke the silence.
“I am willing to face the council.” Saul looked around at his group after he spoke. For all his anger, he put his friends’ wellbeing first.
One by one, they each repeated Saul’s words. I felt hope but didn’t let my guard down. I knew better than that. Only Emelia was left undeclared. The others were staring at her.
“Sweetie, drop your illusion.” I told her. There were more gasps and angry snorts. “You should all be very thankful things turned out this way. She is here because Ares was stepping in to stop the illegal fights. As angry as you are now, as much as you hate me for this, it is better for you than facing Ares!”
That shut them up. Briefly.
“Ares? You know this for sure?” Hermes asked. He wasn’t the only one speaking but he wasn’t using the harsh language the others uttered.
“Yes. When I arrived, he saw through my illusion and knew I would take care of Sweetie. He is helping me with a different problem.”
“You act like talking to Ares is an everyday thing.” Petra sounded shocked at the thought. “How can anyone risk being near him?”
“Ares only killed bad old ones. Have you all forgotten so easily?” I said, in a chastising tone. “Now, Hermes, will you and your group face the council?”
Hermes looked at me. His face was unreadable. It took a full minute, maybe two, for him to come to his conclusion.
“You offer a fool’s choice, Titan. Either we fight you and die. Or we face the council and possible execution.” Hermes was angry.
“You haven’t been listening, Hermes. I am offering you life. Arria has all but assured me that the council will be lenient. I will fight for both groups as I said. I will need you to give me your word you will come peacefully. With you, your word is all I need.”
I hoped my statement would remind him of the good estimation I held for him. I wanted to shake all these idiots until they understood.
Hermes dropped his head in defeat.
“I give you my word. I will come along peacefully. I cannot speak for the others though.” Hermes sounded bad. I hated to see how he viewed this.
Slowly but surely the others agreed to face the council.
“Hello?”
“Blur, find Glass and get the other employees headed to the plane as quickly as you can.” I told him.
“What? What is going on? I thought the attack was about to happen.” He was confused.
“I stopped it. Everyone knows who I really am now. Get going, run! I will fill you in later.” I disconnected.
The meeting hall was a jumble of angry old ones all staring daggers at me. As long as they didn’t attack, I was okay with that.
I dialed a different number.
“Yes, Darius.” Reptile answered.
“Get my fighters and head to the plane as fast as you can get them there. We are leaving.” I ordered.
“But the fights? The attack?” He was confused as well.
“Please just do it, Reptile. There isn’t going to be any fights.” I disconnected.
I dialed another number.
“Hello?”
“We are headed to Feng’s. I stopped it.” I heard her sigh of relief. “Do me a favor, call and get the clearances for me. I have to keep watch over everyone. Some of them might not be completely convinced.”
“I will. I will have things ready on this end.” Arria sounded like the happiest person on earth. I wanted to smile but I knew we weren’t out of the woods yet.
“I will call when we are close. Love you.” I disconnected.
I dialed a different number.
“Hello?”
“Is the plane refueled and ready?” I asked.
“Yes, sir. How many passengers?”
“A bunch. I don’t know
. Maybe forty. That’s close enough. Be ready. We are headed that way.” I disconnected.
I looked around at the old ones in the room. They might hate me forever for this. I didn’t care. They would have a forever because of me.
“We are going to do this peacefully. Your employees and fighters will remain here. Gregor can watch over them. We can deal with that later.” I moved one of my clones to the door and motioned for Hermes and his group to follow. Two of theirs carried Gronk. Another helped the one I knocked unconscious. As they left, I got into the middle with another clone and Sweetie. “Saul, bring your group after me.” My last clones followed them.
We walked like that all the way to the plane. The fighters were boarding and the employees were already aboard.
We squeezed all of the old ones into the luxury section. I put Hermes and Saul in two of the four chairs in the center along with me and Sweetie. The attack group was put on the side with the individual seats. Jonas and the rest sat along the couch that lined the left side of the plane.
My four clones stood at intervals on either side. I knew better than to let them go.
No one spoke until the plane was in the air and we were well on our way. I was still receiving angry stares from all but Sweetie.
“I’m sorry. That goes out to all of you. I couldn’t let either side die if there was something I could do about it.” I said it loud enough for everyone to hear.
“You played us for fools.” Petra stated coldly.
“No, Petra. I became friends. If I hadn’t, I would have stood to the side and cheered Hermes on.” I explained.
“How could you take their side? They broke the rules. We need those rules so the humans don’t find out.” Hermes was as angry as Petra.
“They love the fights too much. That is their only crime, Hermes. You might as well condemn a fat human because he loves cake.” I hated this.
I could see their anger was clouding their judgement. I didn’t speak anymore and they didn’t either. Luckily, the flight didn’t take too long from Boston to France. I knew it could have been much worse.
“Hello?”
“We are less than an hour from landing. I would like it if you, Lorac, and Dmitriy were there to help me escort them.”