Yes, Mother.
Ciminae placed her left hand on Nichelle’s hand and her right hand on Celeste’s knee. Now that we have your escape planned, I want both of you to listen very carefully. Your father, Celeste, has hidden so much from all of us. About a year ago when I had the strength, I demanded to see him in his private office. He refused to see me and his royal guards would not let me enter. But at that time, I was still able to use most of my telekinetic abilities. So, I easily moved the guards aside and barged into his office.
Your father was sitting in the center of the room with his back to the door. He was meditating and in a trance. When I approached, I startled him out of his trance, and he stood. At the same time, his guards came rushing in. Your father stopped them and ordered them to return to their posts. He said that it was time I knew everything.
What did he tell you? Celeste thought.
Your father allowed me to read his mind, Ciminae thought as tears began to flow from her eyes. She tried to inhale another breath, but had another coughing fit instead. After she finished coughing and spewing blood into the towel Nichelle had provided for her, she lay back down and looked at Celeste with tear-filled eyes. It was at that time that I knew for a fact that your father was no longer the Gnol I had grown to love and married. He was different. He desired power more than anything else.
Ciminae reached up, wiped her tears away, and continued. I found out horrible things; things your father did, and the true source of his knowledge and power. I did not like what I learned. So, I threatened to tell his high-ranking officers. He laughed and said that his officers would not believe me. I then threatened to tell you. That is when— Ciminae stopped as she struggled to breathe.
Mother, you need to rest. We can continue later.
Ciminae shook her head. No, I am afraid I will not last through the night, and you need to know the truth … She stopped and coughed again … After I threatened to tell you, he became extremely serious and threatened me.
Threatened you? Nichelle thought.
Yes, he said that I wouldn’t dare, and if I did, Celeste would suffer.
Celeste inched closer to her mother. How would I suffer?
I asked the same question. That is when he went to his desk and pulled out a hypodermic needle. Using his telekinetic abilities, he held me in place and injected me with the solution that was in the syringe.
I asked what he had injected me with. He said that I would soon find out, and how you would suffer if I told anyone. Within hours, I had become seriously ill. That is when I found out that your father had injected me with an experimental biological weapon that he and his scientists had tested on other Gnols. He planned to develop the weapon as an airborne agent and release it upon the humans. That is why I wasn’t able to tell you. I knew that if you had found out who your father truly is, he would make you suffer the same as I did.
Celeste was stunned. She knew her father had changed. But he had become worse than she thought. He was absolutely evil now. How could her father do this to the woman he loved? The only things he cared about were himself and what power he could gain.
Celeste gritted her teeth and thought, What did you find out, Mother? What is his true source of power?
Ciminae began to send her thoughts to Celeste, but started coughing again. The cough was worse now, however. She struggled for oxygen and turned her head as more blood spurted from her mouth. Nichelle placed the towel underneath her chin and patted her back to help her.
After Ciminae was able to regain her breath, she continued. I am sorry, Celeste. Using my telepathic abilities seems to have weakened me even more.
Mother, what did you find out?
Do you remember when you were young, Celeste … back on Gnolom?
Yes.
Do you remember … it was about twenty-five years ago, Terrest time … when your father and Nichelle’s father left on a hunting party, along with one hundred other Gnols from our tribe?
Celeste and Nichelle both nodded.
That was before we had any technology and our planet was dying. Do you remember?
Yes we do, Your Highness, Nichelle thought.
Remember, both of your fathers were gone for almost a year. We thought they had suffered some tragic end.
Celeste nodded and could see that her mother struggled more and more to breathe in the oxygen she so desperately needed. Her thoughts were also starting to become erratic. They were getting more difficult for Celeste and Nichelle to read.
Ciminae opened and closed her eyes several times as if she was fighting sleep. Celeste wanted to tell her to stop using her telepathic abilities, but she knew her mother wanted to tell her the truth about everything, and she wanted to hear it.
Ciminae continued. Remember … remember … when … they … when they came back. … We were … were all so happy to see them alive, but … but your father, Nichelle, and your father, Celeste, were the only ones left from the hun … the hunting party. When … when they return … returned, they were different … remember?
Celeste and Nichelle nodded again as they began to sob, seeing that Ciminae struggled to hold on.
Remember … remember … how both of your fathers were different. They had both gained so … Ciminae began to cough again. This time the coughing was more violent, and her body trembled with each one. After what seemed like several minutes, Ciminae continued. Your fathers had brought back with them so much knowledge about new … Again, she coughed and wheezed for air … about new and wonder … wonderful technology. They had even brought back these inhibitors that they had developed, and we gladly had them inserted … remember?
Celeste nodded as the tears streamed out of her eyes, down her cheeks, and onto her mother’s blanket. She was watching her mother – the woman she loved so dearly – die before her very eyes; the mother who had sacrificed her own health and life to save hers.
Your father claimed a goddess had visited him. He … he cal … called this goddess the goddess of light. He claimed … he claimed that this goddess had told him that he was the one who was the chosen … one. After that, your father and Nichelle’s father changed our ancient scriptures, developed teams of people to create new technologies, and united every Gnol tribe. They made our ancient scriptures look like your father was the god of the Gnols! They took things out that … things that they claimed were not important.
What do you mean? thought Celeste.
The most prominent scripture in our religion; the one that … the scripture … Ciminae wheezed as she tried to take another breath … the scripture that prophecies of the chosen one. The chos … the chosen one … he will be the one to unite two … two … peoples and two worlds. Your fa … your father changed … he changed that scripture … he changed it to make it look like he … like he was the chosen one. … And most Gnols believed him because of his … because of his newfound knowledge and power. For som … for some odd reason, he had more telekin … telekinetic and telepathic power than any other Gnol … Ciminae was forced to stop again. She struggled for air, and blood began to seep out of her mouth. She fell back to her pillow; her body trembling as it struggled for oxygen.
Celeste could no longer read her mother’s thoughts as her mother went in and out of consciousness. “Mother,” she said. “Mother, are you okay?”
Nichelle grabbed the oxygen mask that was connected to the tank next to Ciminae’s bed. She placed the mask over Ciminae’s nose and mouth. It was no use. Ciminae’s lungs were rapidly filling with fluid. She was drowning in her own blood.
The two guards noticed and walked to the bed. As the guards approached, Nichelle quickly placed Celeste’s inhibitors back into her head behind her ears. Celeste winced in pain. Nichelle then backed away to the bathroom where she was out of sight of the guards and placed her own inhibitors in, then returned to assist Ciminae.
Celeste looked at the female guard. “Cut my cords! I need to help her!”
The guard glared at Celeste with her green eyes an
d said, “Sorry, Princess. Your father has made it abundantly clear that under no uncertain terms are your hands to be released.”
Celeste opened her mouth and then shut it. She glared at the female guard with such intensity that the guard, for the first time, seemed intimidated. Thoughts rushed through Celeste’s mind of what she would do to the guard if her hands weren’t tied behind her back.
“Cel … Celeste,” Ciminae mumbled, waving for Celeste to lean down.
Celeste looked back at her mother and leaned as close to her face as she could. She could hear her mother desperately trying to breathe. “Mo … Mother,” she said as she began to sob.
Ciminae looked into her daughter’s eyes, grabbed her behind the neck, pulled her close, and said in a wheezing whisper, “The answers about your father … your father’s mysteries lie on the top floor.”
Because of Ciminae’s wheezing and struggle for breath, Celeste had a hard time hearing her. “Mother … Mother … what … I do not understand?”
Ciminae looked lovingly at her daughter, took one last struggling breath, and said, “The answers you seek are on the top fl—”
Celeste felt her mother’s hand, which was on the back of her neck, go limp. Ciminae’s arm fell to her side, and she lay motionless with her eyes wide open, staring at Celeste.
Celeste could no longer control her sobbing. She looked at Nichelle, who was crying as well, and approached Ciminae’s lifeless body. Nichelle gently placed her hand over Ciminae’s eyes and closed them.
As the guards moved away from the bed, Celeste heard the female guard. “I will go and inform Lord Chast of his wife’s death.”
**********
As Nichelle left with the female guard, Celeste knew that was her cue to move. Even though her mother had just passed away, she knew she had to put the grief of her mother’s loss deep down into the recesses of her emotions. She needed to look as happy as she could in order for her plan to work with the young male guard.
She stood and made her way to the restroom. The male guard began to follow, but Celeste stopped him with her look. She had made sure not to look angry. The look was more seductive than anything else. As a result, the young guard smiled shyly and ducked his head.
“If you don't mind, I need some time to myself,” Celeste said.
The guard looked back at Celeste. It was obvious to her that the young Gnol was attracted to her. The thought almost made her sick, but she had to do what she had planned or she would soon be joining her mother in the afterlife.
The guard hesitated and stuttered a little as he spoke. “I-I am … I am sorry, Your Highness. I am not to let you out of my sight.”
Celeste smiled compassionately at the young guard. “What’s your name?” she asked.
The guard seemed taken aback. “What? … Um … my name?”
“That is what I asked,” said Celeste as she slowly moved closer to the guard.
The guard backed up a little. “Uh … yes … my name … it’s … uh … Gyrale.”
Celeste walked to within inches of Gyrale’s face. She leaned in and spoke softly into his ear. “Gyrale,” she said. “That is a strong name.” And then she eased off a little. She could tell that she was getting to the young guard. He was sweating and seemed very nervous. She continued. “Tell me, Gyrale. Do you find me attractive?”
Gyrale nodded his head, but didn’t say anything.
Celeste moved in closer and made sure he could smell her freshly bathed body. Gyrale gulped and tried to back away, but Celeste moved with him. “As you know, Gyrale, I am scheduled to be executed soon.”
Again, the guard nodded.
“And … um, well, I was wondering, Gyrale. I haven’t been with a man for such a long time,” Celeste said, and then she giggled. “What am I saying? I haven’t been with a man at all, and … Well, when I saw you, I knew you were the one I wanted to be with before my father had me killed.”
“Y … you did?” said Gyrale, wiping his forehead.
Celeste nodded. She was disgusted and felt foolish. Never in her life had she acted like this, and she was ashamed, even though she knew it was the only way to save her life. “You know, Gyrale,” she said. “That other guard and Nichelle will not be back for a while. If you could just untie my hands, I could show you things that … well, things that you could only imagine.”
Gyrale continued to back up, and Celeste followed. The closer Celeste got, the more nervous the young guard became. As he backed up, his left foot caught the rug that was next to Ciminae’s bed. He flopped onto the bed, rolled over, and then back onto his feet on the other side. As he did so, Celeste saw the blanket that was being used to cover her mother’s body slide off.
Celeste turned her attention back to Gyrale, who was slowly making his way to the door. This is not working, she thought. “Gyrale, what are you afraid of?”
Gyrale continued to back up to the door, and Celeste followed. “Uh … I … uh … I can’t untie your cords.”
Celeste forced a disappointed look upon her face. “Okay. If you will not untie my hands, there is something else we can do.”
Just as he reached the door, Gyrale stopped. “Wha … what is that?”
Celeste moved closer, hoping her gamble would pay off. “As you know, Gyrale, we Gnols can use our minds to simulate … uh … how shall I say … certain feelings? And because of our telepathic abilities, our bodies cannot tell the difference between what we are thinking and what is actually going on.”
“Uh huh,” Gyrale stammered.
Celeste walked right up to Gyrale and placed her right cheek on his left. It was easy for her to do so because Gyrale was about an inch shorter than she was. She then proceeded to – as she rolled her eyes – gently peck his cheek. She moved up his cheek to his ear where she whispered. “Take out your inhibitors so I can show you what I mean.”
Gyrale backed away a little, but he didn’t seem nervous now. Instead, he had a crooked grin on his face that gave Celeste an uneasy feeling, but she continued the act, nonetheless.
Suddenly, Gyrale grabbed Celeste by her arms and pulled her close. He then turned Celeste around and began to untie her cords. Celeste allowed a small smile to crease along her lips. She had finally gotten to him.
Once her bonds were free, Celeste felt her muscles in her shoulders relax. She then turned to face Gyrale and backed away. Gyrale tried to follow like a deprived animal, but she put up a finger to stop him. Then Celeste raised her hands.
Gyrale’s eyes widened and he reached for his weapon, realizing that Celeste had misled him.
Celeste also saw him reaching for his gun. As he did so, she flicked her left wrist. Gyrale’s weapon went flying across the room. And then, with her right hand, she levitated Gyrale off the floor. Gyrale’s eyes were wild with fear. He knew there was nothing he could do.
With a flick of her right hand, she sent Gyrale flying into the wall. Gyrale’s body hit the brick wall with such force that pieces of brick fell to the floor.
Celeste let her arms fall to her side and dropped to the floor in near exhaustion as Gyrale’s body dropped. She looked at Gyrale and crawled toward him. She placed two fingers on Gyrale’s throat and felt a pulse. She was glad that she hadn’t killed him. After all, Gyrale was never actually a threat to her, but she knew he would suffer the wrath of her father.
She wiped the sweat away from her forehead and proceeded to undress him.
**********
“Tell me again, madam, why you needed to come with me to inform Lord Chast of his wife’s death.”
Nichelle looked at the guard as they walked down the long, spacious corridor of the Chast family’s living quarters to the elevator. The guard was nearly a foot taller than Nichelle and obviously more muscular. How am I going to do this? she thought.
“Madam?”
“Huh … oh, I’m sorry. I am just upset about the queen’s death and lost in my thoughts . . . sorry,” said Nichelle. “What was your question?”
Th
e female guard stopped and looked at Nichelle with suspicion. “I asked why was it you needed to come with me to inform Lord Chast of his wife’s death?”
Nichelle thought for a moment. “Oh … well … um . . . Lord Chast also told me when I met with him that he wanted me to inform him as well. And … since I am the daughter of Vlamer Kreuk, his lordship’s high priest, it only makes sense that I am there as well.”
The guard eyed Nichelle up and down. Nichelle worried for a moment that she did not believe her. Then she nodded and proceeded to the elevator again. Nichelle took a deep breath and tried to keep pace with the large guard.
Nichelle looked at the elevator as they neared it. I’ll have to do it in the elevator, she thought. But when the elevator door opened, Nichelle’s hopes of a successful mission began to fade quickly. There, along the back wall of the elevator, stood two palace guards. The male Gnols were dressed in the usual red battle fatigues that all palace guards wore. Rather than battle helmets, however, these two guards wore berets that indicated they were a higher rank than the guard Nichelle accompanied.
The female guard saluted the Gnol officers before she and Nichelle entered the elevator. The two officers saluted back, and the taller one on Nichelle’s left – a large Gnol – spoke. “Private, what brings you and Madam Kreuk out this time of night?”
“Lord Chast wanted me to inform him of his wife’s death, sir. She died a few moments ago.”
The Gnol nodded and said, “Very well. You may accompany us to the thirty-fourth floor. Lord Chast has called an emergency meeting with all of his officers. Something about an attack on a planet called Earth.”
“Thank you, sir,” said the female guard as she stepped onto the elevator.
Nichelle followed and smiled at the two Gnol officers. They nodded back. There was no way Nichelle was going to try to kill the female guard now. She wasn’t skilled with a weapon, and her telekinetic abilities were not even comparable to Celeste’s, even though she knew that she was probably more powerful than each individual in that elevator. But combined, they would tear her apart.
Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1) Page 27
