"Why?" Menjel demanded. "She's no obstacle."
"She's been trying to kill Forest."
"Oh, well…" Menjel crossed his arms across his chest. "I thought we all agreed not to interfere with our little pet."
Everyone at the table leaned in a little. All of them had watched Forest's progress since infancy. And they all had voted to allow her to live, even after they had collected all the data they wanted about her gifts. None of the other Halflings that had been created in that experiment were still alive.
"Oh, let him do what he wants to Christiana," Plixtz sounded bored.
"All in favor of exile for Christiana?"
Everyone raised their hands.
"Now, since our original plan has been ruined by Philippe's death, we must adapt. Once Christiana is gone, ripping the kingdom away from Zeren will be easy." Rahaxeris pulled the green-jeweled necklace from his robes and held it up for the priests to see. "I want to create a position of supreme judge for the new republic. A title only for those who cannot be bought or corrupted with power. The title of
Hailemarris.
"
"Who do you have in mind for such a position?" Abshael asked.
"No one yet," he lied.
A nervous sweat beaded on the face of the young male servant who received Rahaxeris into the entry hall of the Onyx Castle. Rahaxeris doubted the boy knew his actual identity but he obviously recognized him as a priest of the
Rune-dy
.
"My sincerest apologies, sir," the servant muttered. "It will take me only a moment to inform Her Highness that you are here." He literally ran from the room, his footsteps echoing along after him.
Rahaxeris stood perfectly still while he waited. The security ogres positioned around the room all seemed to hold their breath and stiffen a little more in their stances. Rahaxeris ignored them completely. He couldn’t be bothered to attempt to put others at ease.
He eyed the grandeur of the room’s architecture thoughtfully. In the very recent past, he’d had a mind to tear every stone of the palace apart once the new world order had settled firmly into place. Now that his plans were altered, he consoled himself with the thought
his
daughter would walk these halls as its mistress.
Running footfalls came sounding back through the hall. Thirty feet from the door, the young man slowed to a walk and emerged into the entry hall with the determined look of false composure. "The Queen will see you now, sir. Please follow me."
When Rahaxeris entered the throne room, an audible gasp communally escaped every handmaiden and servant. Queen Christiana's rigid posture betrayed her obvious effort to appear unshaken, and to her credit almost pulled it off. She sat in Zeren’s throne, so overdressed she resembled a little girl in a costume.
"So, why does the
Rune-dy
send a priest for an audience with the queen?"
Rahaxeris might have smiled if it weren’t for the fact that he never did unless he wanted to terrify someone. "My Queen, the
Rune-dy
has not sent me.
I am
the
Rune-dy
. I am Rahaxeris."
A louder gasp than before erupted around the room, and the servants closest to the doors exited without permission. The others backed away and huddled in groups against the walls. Christiana glanced at them, a furious expression on her little face.
Rahaxeris held up a hand, and everyone stopped breathing, literally. "What I have come to say to Her Majesty is best said in private. Perhaps you should send your guards and servants away. That one there," he pointed at a shaking handmaiden, "is having heart palpitations and on the verge of passing out."
Christiana raised an eyebrow. "How do you know she is having palpitations?"
"I can hear it. Now dismiss them so I can speak."
Christiana obeyed, obviously annoyed at having no other choice. When the Ogres made to leave, she stopped them. "Stay right outside the doors."
Once the room was empty and the echo of the closing doors had died, Rahaxeris regarded her silently for a moment. Again to her credit, she didn’t fidget, but all the blood had drained from her face and her muscles began to slacken as his red eyes held her in a tight grip.
"I have come to speak to you of the future and to make a secret alliance."
He felt her heart pick up a little speed, and she clenched her fists. "Go on."
"Zeren is weak. You, my lady, are anything but. Regia is hanging in the balance. Our world needs a strong leader. The
right
leader. The
Rune-dy
is willing to support your claim to Zeren’s throne and power."
"I agree." She all but squealed in delight. "Are you going to kill Zeren?"
"In good time, My Queen. First we must seal our contract."
She stood, her skirts spreading out around her. "Fine. What are the terms?"
"The
Rune-dy
will support your rule throughout Regia and set the punishment for traitors. You shall not interfere in any of our secret rituals or lay down laws preventing our experiments. A couple of priests will take up residence in the Onyx Castle as your personal advisors."
Christiana’s eyes widened and her breath caught audibly. Pleasure glinted in her eyes. He knew she would like the idea of the
Rune-dy
in the castle.
"Zeren shall fall in battle, allowing the public to easily embrace you in their time of confusion and sorrow."
"Yes, yes that is best," she said.
"We shall complete our contract in the ancient way, with an exchange of tokens."
A frown creased Christiana’s brow. "What token have you brought me?"
Rahaxeris reached into his robes and removed the red-jeweled necklace. He dangled it from his fingers for her to see. A broad smile broke over her face.
"It is not merely a piece of jewelry, my lady. It grants protection and power to the wearer. Having this around your neck, no underlings will ever be able to argue with you."
Her eyes fixed on it greedily. Rahaxeris moved closer, bringing the necklace just beyond her reach. She held out her hand.
"Not so fast."
"What do you want in return?" She asked not taking her eyes off the necklace.
"In order to receive this token you must give me your son."
Christiana blinked and looked back at Rahaxeris, a false puzzlement on her face. "My son? My son is dead."
"You may be skilled in deception, my lady, but do you really think you can lie to
me
?"
"It’s the truth! I know you know that he survived that assassination attempt five years ago, but he just recently died on a mission to regain his sight."
Rahaxeris sighed and slowly began to put the necklace back into his robes.
"No! Wait! What do you want with Syrus? He’s not well. His mind has been bewitched."
"If that is true, why not trust me to heal him?"
"I thought you meant to dispatch him along with his father."
"I mean him no harm," Rahaxeris said easily, dangling the necklace again.
Christiana hesitated a moment. "The ogre, Merhl, is the only one who can open the portal to Syrus. Shall I summon him?"
"No. That won’t be necessary. Allow me to fasten this around your neck, my lady. Then our contract will be struck."
Christiana pulled her dark hair up off her shoulders and bowed her head a little. As soon as Rahaxeris brought the two ends of the chain together, the reaction began. He took a step back, enjoying the frozen look of shock and fear in her eyes. The red jewel glowed bright and encased her in a glassy cocoon of energy. She began to blur around the edges. The power held her immobile, staring.
"No doubt you are wondering what you could have done to deserve this kind of double crossing. Your son’s mate, Forest, is my daughter. I am allowing you to live out your life, confined in another world, with the knowledge that Forest shall sit on your throne."
Rahaxeris took a few more steps back and watched as Christiana faded into nothing. He waited a few silent moments before beginning the task of taking control of the castle and everyone within. He pulled his power inside and held it there like inhaling. It gathered, compacted, vibrated. Eyes closed, exhaling slowly, his power radiated out from him like a shockwave, filling the walls and the hearts of every inhabitant.
He strolled out from the throne room; everyone he passed bowed in submission.
"I seek the ogre, Merhl," he said loudly.
Merhl walked demurely and bowed before Rahaxeris. He was younger and smaller than most of the ogres lining the walls, but power emanated from him. Rahaxeris’ power recognized and analyzed Merhl’s. He was the most gifted ogre Rahaxeris had ever met. His skin was a mottled bronze and grey. His dark hair was shortly cropped and matched the color of his eyes. Merhl’s gifts resided predominantly in his hands, and had the same effects of genius; it caused him as much pain as it did pleasure. His massive hands were elongated and twisted, and anyone could see they ached fiercely. Rahaxeris liked Merhl instantly.
"Give me your hands."
Merhl flinched in fear but obeyed.
Rahaxeris gripped both of Merhl’s disfigured hands. The power throbbed just under the ogre’s skin. Rahaxeris syphoned off the excess magic. Merhl’s eyes snapped wide and a smile flashed across his face.
"There. That’s better isn’t it?"
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
"It helps the pain when you are allowed to use your gifts frequently?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. I have many jobs for you, Merhl. Now take me to Prince Syrus."
Impressed, Rahaxeris ran his hand over the exterior of the portal that held Syrus. Merhl stood next to him with his eyes on the ground, clenching and unclenching his hands.
"Well done, Merhl. It’s a beautiful prison. I’d like to keep it. Can you fix it after I break it open?"
"I can, of course, sir, but…"
"But what?"
Merhl wrung his hands together. "But I’d rather just make you a new one."
Rahaxeris almost smiled. "Very well. When we are done with the prince, I want you to create a vacuum that will suck all the vampires roaming illegally on Earth back to Regia. Can you do that?"
Merhl's eyes lit with excitement. "It would be my pleasure."
****
After three months of complete silence, the breaking of the cell was excruciatingly loud. A hand reached inside, grabbed Syrus by the forearm, and pulled him back into the world from the abyss. He came out fighting, adrenaline pushing strength back into his muscles.
"Where is she?! Where is she?!"
Syrus had a death grip on Rahaxeris’ shoulders. Rahaxeris deftly removed Syrus’ hands and held them in his own. He sent a calming wave of energy into Syrus.
"Forest is on Earth. You will be able to see her again very shortly."
Syrus checked himself, recognizing that he confronted a stranger. "Who are you?"
"I am Rahaxeris, High Priest of the
Rune-dy
, but more importantly, I am Forest’s father."
Syrus pulled his hands free and took a step back. "You’re exactly what she feared."
"I doubt that."
"What is your purpose here?" Syrus demanded. "Why are you the one who released me?"
"Your father is in battle, and your mother has made many attempts to kill Forest since she imprisoned you. I had to step in."
Syrus gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. "What did you do with my mother?"
"I banished Christiana to the lovely little world of Brigadoon. She won’t be able to return."
Mixed emotions moved over Syrus’ features for a moment before settling on a mix of relief and resignation.
"Thank you. I want to talk to you at length, but right now I need to get Forest and bring her home to Regia."
Rahaxeris smiled. "Of course. I’ll have Merhl open a portal to Forest’s abode for you."
****
The portal transporting Syrus to Forest's condo only took a few seconds but was too slow for his taste. He landed on his feet in her living room.