by J. Naomi Ay
"The guy is insane,” Jim grumbled, slapping his hand down upon his desk, the sound reverberating in Eva’s ears. “He wants all mankind to suffer for destroying the nirvana he built. He probably thinks we're all idiots, and don’t deserve to bask in his enlightenment."
“Maybe we don’t,” Eva murmured, rubbing her temples, and stretching her neck. “Maybe mankind just isn’t ready to go it alone without him. Maybe, his disappearance was just a test, and we failed it miserably. In any case, Jim, I’ve got to go.”
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those,” Jim scoffed. “I was joking, you know, being facetious. I don’t believe any of that shit they say about him. Admittedly, he’s a weird dude, even for you Rehnorians, but all that angel crap is exactly crap.”
“Whatever.”
Eva decided to let the argument drop, although briefly, her mind flitted back to the visions in Reggie’s apartment. She knew she would never convince anyone of what she had seen, which could have been hallucinations brought on by hunger and hypothermia. The whole episode, she would have chalked up as a strange psychotic dream, except that now, she was here in Rozari as the Imperial Finance Minister.
“Oh well,” Jim said with a sigh. “We’ll make do with the budget cuts. I guess I’ll cancel that new Porsche I had my eye on.”
Eva rang off, leaving Jim to tap his fingers against the desk, before mentally calculating how many more layoffs he’d have to announce. It was at that point Joanne had called.
“Jimmy, can we meet again?” she asked.
“Sure,” Jim replied. “I’d be happy to. Any reason to get out of this office is good for me.”
Joanne didn’t know what exactly she wanted from Jim, but in her state of desperation she had nowhere else to turn. She was locked in a loveless marriage, trapped like a prisoner at the villa, missing her kids, and her home back in Turko.
On top of all that, every night Joanne couldn’t sleep. As soon as she closed her eyes and began to drift off, Steve would bolt upright, screaming at the top of his lungs. Sometimes he would flail his arms, or thrash his legs. Several times, Joanne had been on the wrong end of a swift kick. But, because of her evil father-in-law’s directive, she had no other bed.
Joanne had tried to sleep on the floor, which was a cold and hard marble. Unfortunately, her back and neck began to ache. Approaching Taner, she begged for a couch, or even a rug, anything soft upon which she might lay down.
“I can’t.” Taner had shrugged helplessly. “His Imperial Majesty specifically has ordered…”
“He wants to see us suffer!”
“He seems to enjoy that sort of thing right now,” Taner admitted. “As much as one could say he enjoys anything in this life, although rather, I think he wants us all to wallow in misery.”
“I don’t care what he wants,” Joanne declared, her state of continuous sleep deprivation filling her with rage. “Let him be miserable all he wants, just tell him to set me free.”
Taner frowned apologetically and shook his head. “I wish I could, Joanne. You know I would do anything for you.” The best Taner could come up with was her day pass. “Don’t run away,” he had cautioned. “I’ve given my oath you won’t violate the rules. You’re allowed to journey to Donika-hahr in order to visit the children. Whilst there, you might do a brief bit of shopping. With the way he is now, even I won’t be safe if you shan’t return, although my darling Joanne, I urge you to do what you know you must.”
Joanne wondered what Taner had meant by that. Did he want for her to escape? Or, did he intend for her to do something else, something beyond arranging a spaceplane for Steve and Rent? Did Taner want her to figure out a way to rid the Empire of the Emperor once and for all? And, if he did, what exactly could she do?
Chapter 11
Eva needed a signature. The amount she was transferring back to Rehnor was well into twelve digits without a decimal point, which meant that HIM himself had to initial next to the figure and sign on the bottom of page three. Eva could have Jullee walk the document over to Kinar’s office, and wait there while Kinar presented it to HIM. Or, Eva could hand it to Taner at their scheduled strategy meeting in the afternoon.
She chose to do neither. Instead, Eva touched up her lipstick, ran a finger through her hair, and took the document over to Kinar’s office herself. She didn’t know what was compelling her to do this. She tried to think of Rent, to focus on his face, to recall his smile when he sat across the breakfast table from her.
Still, there was something about Senya that kept drawing her back to him. He made her heart quiver in a way that his son couldn’t begin to do. Furthermore, she and Senya had a history. He had needed her when he was so ill in Reggie’s flat. Maybe, he still needed her now.
“He’s not here,” Kinar said, his eyes studying her judgmentally, his brows raised high on his forehead, his mouth set in a firm, thin line.
“I need a signature,” Eva explained, the heat creeping up her face. She held up the folder, the document clearly visible within.
“He’s having breakfast. You can leave that with me.”
“In the Family kitchen?” Eva asked. “I can run it down there quickly, and wait while he signs it. It’s for the rebuilding of the Imperial Palace. The contractor is holding only on his authorization. The sooner the work gets started, the sooner it’ll be done, and we can all go home.”
She nodded as if that would be incredibly nice, while the truth was, she'd rather stay forever here on Rozari. The weather in Takira-hahr was first rate, and living in the Palace couldn't be any nicer than the villa's annex.
Kinar turned his attention back to his vid.
“Suit yourself, but be forewarned. There have been many who have tried and failed at what you seek. Concentrate on your job, as you are intelligent, and well qualified. HIM has a long standing policy not to sleep with his employees, and the Empress has a long standing policy of shooting anyone who comes near him.”
Eva pretended to act shocked at Kinar’s suggestion.
“I’m not,” she muttered, hurrying through the door.
What was her intention really, she asked herself. Was she doing this to get in his bed? If so, where exactly would that leave her?
She couldn't turn around and go back home. It was almost as if her body belonged to someone else. Her head was telling her to go back to her own office, to have her secretary take the document through the normal channels, while something else was urging her forward across the pink marble floors.
“Hey Eva!”
Eva pulled up sharply. Turning in the direction of the sound, she looked back up three floors at Rent. He was waving, smiling, calling to her with excitement.
“How’s it going?”
“Good.”
Eva couldn’t help but smile and wave, as her heart took a leap in another direction. She liked Rent. He was handsome, friendly, and nice. Then, Eva felt a shiver run down her spine, and a sensation as if someone was pulling her away.
“I’ll see you later,” she called, holding up the folder, so he would know she was busy.
“Count on it,” Rent called.
“I will.”
In the Family kitchen, by the bay window, in a small nook with a farm table and four chairs, Eva found the Emperor drinking coffee. He had his bad leg propped up on one chair, and appeared to be staring out at the flower garden through his dark glasses, a cigarette perched between the fingers of his damaged hand.
Eva knelt in obeisance on the floor, before surreptitiously glancing around at the room.
“Come,” the Great Man ordered, allowing her to rise to her feet.
As Eva stepped across the room, she glanced into the kitchen, through the open pass-way door. It seemed to be a normal household kitchen, stocked with all the usual gadgets in pretty cupboards with glass fronts, as well as shiny pulls and knobs. The appliances were all clean and polished, their stainless steel finish as bright as brand new, although the style of the controls and displays were nearly a h
alf century out of date.
Eva imagined herself making breakfast on the stove. She’d make him eggs, a lot of them, and very, very runny. She’d have piping hot black coffee ready for him every morning, and after serving him at the little nook table, she pour a cup for herself, and join him there.
Eva liked the idea she could take care of this man. He needed taking care of by someone who loved him, not just a servant.
“Eva,” the Emperor prompted, drawing her back to the present.
“Yes, Sir.”
Eva held out the folder, barely drawing a breath as he took it from her hand. Did he touch her finger with his? Was that the folder or his hand, which brushed against her arm?
“What is this for?”
“The reconstructions, Sir. For the Imperial Palace.” Then, she backed a step away, dropped to her knees again, and waited as she had been taught, the tension in the air so thick, she could cut it with a knife.
The Emperor looked through the papers one by one, drawing on the cig, the smoke lazily drifting into the air.
Eva studied him through her downcast lashes, before glancing back to the kitchen and its stately appliances.
She wondered how it must have been when they had lived here. Did they cook dinner together while sharing a bottle of fine wine, cheese, and crackers over there on that buffet?
Or, had life consisted of take-out, whoever came home first, paper cartons spread across this little table, plastic forks or chops sticks, paper napkins, and soda in plastic cups.
Unbidden in her mind’s eye, Eva saw Katie, in her Spaceforce uniform, standing by the stove. She was laughing, stirring something in a pot.
“Taste this,” Katie said, holding up a wooden spoon, her hand beneath it to catch the drips, as she raised it to his lips.
“I’d rather taste you,” Senya replied, taking the spoon, and tossing it aside.
Eva watched it clatter against the floor, leaving a jagged trail of tomato sauce in its wake. He picked her up. Katie wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms crossing behind his neck, her fingers burying in the black curls. He shoved her against the fridge, his hands beneath her uniform skirt.
“Eva.” Silver light spilled into her face.
“Yes, Sir!” Eva shuddered, trying to shake the image away.
“I am not going to sign this. The reconstruction is on hold.”
“Yes, Sir.” Shakily, she rose to her feet, waiting for him to give the folder back.
He didn’t. Instead, he seemed to study her, his dark glasses moving across her face and down her body.
Eva saw them again, against the fridge, joined together, Katie’s blonde curls intertwining with his black ones. Her hands were gripping his back, her nails clawing at the old faint scars. Her nails drew tracks across his skin. Her legs wrapped around his waist, holding him like a vise.
Then, it wasn't Katie whose back was pushed up against the cold stainless steel. It was Eva whose chestnut tresses mingled with his.
"Senya!" she screamed, her fingers pulling his hair, practically ripping it from his skull. "Oh God! Senya!"
“Eva.”
“May I get you something, Sir?” Eva’s breath came hard. Her heart pounded violently in her chest. “More coffee, Sir?”
“No, thank you.”
Eva accepted the folder, and curtseyed a little before backing away.
The Emperor turned his face to the window again, to the tropical forest, and the missing Empress’s flower garden.
Chapter 12
Lately, Rent wasn’t certain he wanted to leave Rozari. In a weird way, it was growing on him. His bedroom was comforting. He imagined his mom had decorated it years ago, knowing that someday, he’d come stay in it, even when she wasn’t there.
He liked the food in the staff cafeteria too. It was as good as the restaurants in the old palace before it burned down. Nobody was pretentious. They all said ‘hi’ to him, and everybody smiled, although sometimes he noted a hint of pity in their faces.
Rent knew he was basically a captive. Everybody knew that. It was no secret that he and Steve were trapped. And, sure, when his father walked by, Rent would tremble, and his knees would go weak, but that happened to everybody, right?
“So, listen,” Steve was whispering, while Rent listened with half an ear.
They were standing on the third floor balcony outside their bedrooms. Eva was walking through the courtyard below. She had a clear plastic file tucked beneath her arm. Her face was determined, staring straight ahead, even though she had smiled and waved at Rent only moments before.
“Jimmy Mattson’s got the spaceplane ready for us. I’ve figured out how we’re going to get out. We’ll take Mom’s old sailboat, and sail south toward the national park property.”
“What?”
Eva strode into the annex. Rent wondered if she had already eaten breakfast. If he ran down all three floors, he might still be able to catch up with her. But, he wasn’t wearing shoes, or pants, for that matter. Rent looked down, studying his boxers and bare feet. He also hadn’t shaved, or even washed, or used the loo. Basically, he had gotten out of bed, strolled out of the room to see what was what. He had seen Eva, and then, had stood there prone until right now.
"Mom's boat. She has a sailboat tied up to the old dock. Granted it's pretty old. I'm sure the engine hasn't turned over in several decades, but it's still floating so that means it's sound enough for us."
"What?" Rent repeated, calculating.
Breakfast service was just starting in the annex cafeteria. He ran his hand across his beard, thinking he could skip a shave. He’d save the shower for later, throw on some clothes, and race to the employee queue just in time to eat with Eva.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Steve hissed, grabbing his brother's arm. "We need to plan this, Rent. We'll head out at night when there's a good north wind blowing. All we'll have to do is raise a sail, and we'll be free in no time. Whole thing start to finish should be less than two hours."
"Do you know how to sail?" Rent asked, as his brother followed him into the suite.
“No, but it’s easy. After flying a spaceplane, a sailboat should be a piece of cake. Kari-fa, dude! How can you live like this? Your room is a complete disaster.” Steve kicked a pair of boxers across the floor. “My wife would shit a brick if I left my things all over the place like this.”
Rent considered that having a wife again would mean he’d have to start picking up. Would it be worth it? Could he manage to hang up his clothes in exchange for the sex? Too bad his father wasn’t allowing them to use the chambermaids.
“So, I’ve been checking the weather forecast,” Steve continued, while Rent went into his bathroom. Fortunately, Steve didn’t follow. If he thought the bedroom was bad, the bathroom would seem positively toxic. “There should be a strong northerly breeze tomorrow night around 22:00. It’ll be dark enough for you and me to sneak out of here. As long as the old man is in his office, which he should be, no one will notice us leaving.”
“Actually, Steve,” Rent began, while slapping some aftershave on his unshaved chin. “I’m thinking, I’m really not so keen on leaving.”
“What?”
“Yeah, well, you know, I’m kinda getting used to it here, and it’s really not so bad. Besides that, it’s free.”
“Shit dude! You’re insane. You’ve got Stockholm Syndrome big time. Everything is free when you’re living in jail.”
Rent wasn’t sure about that. Actually, it was more likely Eva Syndrome that was keeping him prisoner. He imagined the villa as the Garden of Eden, and his name was Adam. Rent wondered, as he pulled on a pair of slightly wrinkled chinos, and a polo shirt complete with the little guy embroidered on the chest, who might be the snake. There always was one, wasn’t there? Something always destroyed a seemingly perfect picture.
“It’s that woman, isn’t it?” Steve demanded, following Rent out to the hall. “The brunette, the finance gal, what’s her name?”
“Eva.”
When Rent said her name, it almost sounded like a song. Eva. Eva. Eva. He was seriously gone.
"Stay away from her," Steve cautioned, watching his brother skip down the stair. "I've heard rumors, things you don't want to know. Seriously." Steve leaned over the rail. "Tomorrow, dude. Without or without you, you know where I'll be."
"Have fun," Rent replied with a casual wave of his hand, leaping down the last three steps, and skipping merrily over to the annex.
He thought he saw a flash of silver light from the railing just outside his father’s office, but he didn’t care. He had Eva on his brain, and at that moment, nothing else mattered.
Chapter 13
Senya was waiting outside on his deck, smoking a cig. The night was growing chilly as a cool wind blew in from the north. He recalled briefly how Rozari had been years ago when he had first arrived. Hot as Hell, and he ought to know.
Now, Rozari was nice, pleasant, even to his hypercritical standards. The planet had recovered so completely, the ecosystem was perfectly in balance. It had become a veritable Garden of Eden. He had done excellent work here. Unfortunately, of his entire realm, he could claim accolades for only this one.
Ach, well. One out of nine planetary systems wasn’t so terrible. Actually, it was. When taken into context, he was a complete and utter failure. The outer planets were all in chaos. Rehnor was the penultimate disaster, and undoubtedly, would remain so for quite some time.
Instead of uplifting the state of mankind, he had allowed it to plummet further into the abyss. Man was stupid, but he knew that going in. Wasn’t it his job to make them smarter? Ay yah, he had failed completely in this. But, how to rectify the situation? What more could he do to wake the people up?