KINGDOM FALL

by A. Zavarelli

  “Is it out of the realm of possibility that she simply wasn’t ready to be a mother?” I ask. “That she was ashamed of what the other members might think once they realized the child was had out of wedlock?”

  “No.” Mrs. Hudson looks me dead in the eye, her expression leaving little doubt to her uncertainty on the matter. “Elizabeth wanted to be a mother more than anything else in this world, just not by him. She was getting ready to break it off, but she was scared.”

  “Why? She had the right to do so if that was her wish.”

  “Because she was in love with someone else, and that man turned up dead a week before she disappeared.”

  “Peace be with you, Gwen.” I make the sign of the cross over her remains one last time before sealing up the cremation chamber.

  I’m not a particularly religious man. Catholicism heavily influences The Society, and I was raised in that environment, but I always found it a little hypocritical. We were expected to attend Catholic schools, go to mass, and extol the virtues of the church in our daily lives. Essentially, what those virtues boiled down to were wealth, power, and influence. As long as we showed up, donated our money, and asked for forgiveness, it didn’t matter what we did in our free time. That became evident to me over the years as I watched my brethren lie, steal, and cheat everyone but themselves.

  Men could be forgiven for being weak. Their extramarital dalliances were to be expected, and wives were taught to turn a blind eye. As long as their households were abundant and they had their reputation, they were deemed righteous.

  Gwen was a devoted wife and mother who followed the rules for decades. She kept her mouth shut until that silence began to choke her to death. While her husband partook in sins of the flesh with every other woman he could manage, she stayed home and raised the children, drowning herself in pills and booze.

  I was fifteen years old when she came to my room in the middle of the night and asked me to kill him. I suppose she saw something in me that others didn’t. She recognized the darkness, and she knew I could do it because when I looked at him, all I saw was a coward like my father.

  Gwen was torn between her desire for revenge and her love for him, and she hated herself for it. She wanted it to be violent, but she also just wanted it to be over. It happened to be a Thursday that I found myself at his mistress’s house. She was passed out on the sofa, too intoxicated to notice my presence. It made it easier for when he arrived. I waited by the door and hit him in the back of the head first, rendering him unconscious before I dragged him to her bedroom.

  I gagged him and performed the task Gwen asked of me with efficiency and a numbness that surprised me. Mr. Marcone cried as I sawed off his cock and shoved it down his throat until he choked on it. I never felt any remorse for what I did, even as I left there with the knowledge that his mistress would probably be hanged for the crime. Gwen praised me when I returned. She told me I’d saved her, and I had done a good thing, but her sadness never truly left her. Over the years, she withered into a shell of her former self. She never tried to love again. She never wanted to. When her other son Ricardo was murdered, I think she stopped living altogether.

  Enzo and I were all she had left. She relied on me, and I failed her. Again and again, I failed her. If I had truly been there for her, I wouldn’t be burning her body right now. I wouldn’t have ever let it come to this. It only further proves the one unyielding truth I’ve lived with all these years. I am my father’s son. This is why I can’t allow anyone to get close to me. I can’t trust myself to take care of them.

  My phone chimes and I’m reluctant to look at it, but I know it’s Manuel. He’s sending me updates as he promised he would after I gave the hospital permission to discharge Natalia this afternoon. She’s at home now, locked in one of the guest suites. Nino doesn’t know she’s there, and I’ve given Manuel strict instructions to call for the doctor if she becomes too overwhelmed, but so far, his texts indicate it won’t come to that.

  I retrieve my phone from my pocket and read his message.

  Just checking in, boss. She’s still despondent. Refusing to eat. Won’t communicate with me. But she is safe. No signs of harming herself.

  His report is bothersome, but I can’t do anything about it right now. I suspect it’s only going to get worse once I receive the maternity report and relay it to her. She’ll realize everything she believed was a lie. Mrs. Hudson made a convincing argument for Elizabeth, however, it doesn’t negate the fact that she was deemed the mother by the Tribunal.

  “All good, Mr. Scarcello?”

  John’s voice startles me, and I turn to face him. He’s the owner of the crematorium, another member of IVI, and I have an ongoing arrangement with him. I bring the bodies, and he allows me to use his facilities with no questions asked.

  “Everything is fine, John. Thank you.”

  “You want me to call you when it’s done?” he asks.

  “No.” I return my phone to my pocket. “I’m going to stay for this one.”

  23

  Alessio

  Over the next three days, I spend my time cleaning up Gwen’s house. During the process, I discover that her security system has also been disabled, and the footage of her last day is frustratingly absent. I leave everything from that week as is for when IVI will inevitably come to do their own investigation. I’ve already scoured every second of the footage myself, and there’s nothing of note. There are other things I don’t have time to comb over just yet, so I take them as a precaution. I find a stash of old hard drives in her private office, documents belonging to Mr. Marcone, and a copy of the case files for Ricardo’s death. There’s a lot to go through, but I could use the distraction.

  Enzo has already left me multiple messages asking if I’ve seen or heard from his mother. This evening, I’ll have to report her missing, and the Tribunal will break the news to him. I’ll have to talk to him at some point, but not until I’ve figured out this situation with Natalia.

  She’s still locked in the guest suite at home. Manuel has been checking her hourly, delivering meals, and ensuring her safety. With every report he gives me, my discomfort only grows. She’s eaten very little, and he tells me she’s still despondent. Once, she asked to see me, and I couldn’t bring myself to inquire how she responded when he told her no.

  I’m anxious for the results from the doctor and even more so for the conversation that will follow. But right now, I can only focus on putting out one fire at a time.

  At four o’clock, I make a formal appearance before the Tribunal. IVI is a self-governed organization, which means we don’t file grievances through civilian channels. Everything is dealt with at a court specific to each city, fates determined by three Councilors appointed by The Society. In Seattle, this process takes place within the IVI headquarters downtown.

  I lodge my missing person report for Gwen, laying out the details of her absence for Councilor Guillory, the head judge. I’m not expecting it to take long, as I’ve provided a rather detailed account of her schedule and anything else they may need, but I’m caught off guard when Councilor Guillory peers down at me from the dais, studying me with interest.

  “Might this be related to the emergency review of your guardianship over Nino Marcone?” he asks.

  “Pardon me?” I blink at him, clearly unaware of such a request.

  He shuffles through some papers before him, gathering details. “Enzo Marcone and Gwen Marcone requested an emergency review of your guardianship just last week. It is rather strange that she should go missing shortly after that, is it not?”

  The news is sobering but not entirely unexpected. Enzo is angry with me, and he’s flexing whatever muscle he has available to prove it, but it feels like a betrayal to hear that Gwen participated in the scheme too. This is a problem I didn’t foresee. Not only will they be digging into Gwen’s life, now they’ll be digging into mine too.

  “I have nothing to hide,” I answer somberly. “You are welcome to interview me with
any questions you might have. As you know, Gwen is like a mother to me, but she is not without her problems. She has been in and out of rehab for alcohol abuse and has required the care of a psychiatric team for years. She hasn’t been quite herself since the loss of her husband and son. The reason Enzo granted the rite of Nino’s care to me was because she was no longer capable of raising a child. I will concede that recently, there have been some issues. It was brought to my attention that Nino was uncomfortable visiting her due to her drinking and yelling. Also, as you are aware, the guards in the Tribunal prison have been turning a blind eye to Enzo’s mistreatment of Nino during his visits. That’s something I brought forward weeks ago.”

  “Yes, we are aware of those issues,” Councilor Guillory responds. “The guards in question were replaced, and Enzo is under constant supervision. This is how we know that Gwen came to visit him on Monday.”

  Pressure creeps up my spine, and I can already tell I’m not going to like whatever it is they have to say. They’ve blindsided me with this information, and they know it.

  “We would have warned you earlier,” Councilor Guillory says. “But the footage was only reviewed last night, and it landed on my desk this morning.”

  “Forgive me,” I grit out. “I’m not aware of any recent conversation between them.”

  He pushes up his glasses, leaning forward to review what I’m assuming is a transcript. “It appears that Gwen came to him with a photo on her cell phone. She showed him the image and asked if the woman was familiar. Mr. Marcone became visibly upset and told her it was impossible. She responded by informing him it wasn’t, since she was alive and breathing and living in your house with his son. There was a brief acknowledgment from Mr. Marcone followed by an assurance from Gwendolyn Marcone that she would handle it. This was the last time she was seen alive if what you tell us is correct.” He pauses to hold up a photo of Natalia. “Does this woman look familiar, Mr. Scarcello?”

  I swallow, at a complete loss for words. My mind is reeling, and I’m desperate to see those transcripts for myself. If what Guillory says is true, then everything I thought I knew is a lie. Enzo really does know Natalia, and Gwen came to the house that night to kill her just as she said. If that’s the case, then how does Elizabeth Hudson fit into this scenario? How is it possible that IVI declared her to be Nino’s mother?

  “Mr. Scarcello?” Councilor Guillory snaps his fingers. “We are waiting for your response.”

  “My apologies.” I choke on the words. “Yes, I do recognize her. She is my … nanny.”

  “I’m sure you won’t insult our intelligence by denying that you know how she is connected to Enzo as well.”

  My blood runs cold as I realize they have me cornered. Lying to them now would be a grave mistake. There is only one way out of this situation. It isn’t ideal but telling them the truth may draw on their sense of morality. It’s the only hope I have.

  “I believe I do know how they are connected,” I answer cautiously. “But I am waiting for confirmation from a DNA test.”

  All three men stare at me, waiting for me to go on.

  “At first, I was not certain. Elizabeth Hudson was deemed to be his birth mother. That was the declaration made by IVI, which you can confirm through the Tribunal’s records.”

  “Yes, we are aware,” Guillory replies. “But there was never a DNA test. We took Enzo’s word as a Sovereign Son. Of course, that was before his incarceration for the murder of his brother. Are you telling us you believe this nanny of yours to be his rightful mother?”

  “Yes.” It physically hurts to admit after my assumption that Natalia was deranged for believing so. “She only recently informed me that she is. She told me that Enzo had attacked her. He forced himself on her, and Nino was the result of that encounter. When Enzo found out, he tortured her and left her for dead so he could take the baby.”

  The room falls silent for a long moment while they consider my words. It’s a serious accusation against Enzo, but that isn’t my concern. I am concerned that Natalia has no ties to IVI, and they won’t want this to get out.

  “Do you believe that he is capable of the things she accused him of?” Guillory asks.

  I lower my gaze to the floor, ashamed that it took me so long to see who he really is. “The truth is undeniably slashed into her skin.”

  “And yet…” He taps his pen against the wooden desk before him. “You came to this Tribunal many times over the years, declaring that we’d gotten the details wrong in his case. You told us it was implausible, unthinkable, that he could commit such a heinous crime. You denied that he would ever assault his brother’s wife. You laid blame on his brother for starting the altercation that led to his death. You denied that you’d ever known Enzo to be violent in general.”

  “I am aware.” I cringe at the reminder. “I will admit I was blinded by my loyalty to him. He was a lifelong friend, and I had never witnessed any indication of his disposition for violence. Those blinders have been removed now, and I can see things for what they are. All I can do is apologize for wasting your time and ask for your forgiveness on that matter.”

  There’s another long pause, and the three Councilors speak quietly amongst themselves before returning their attention to me.

  “It is an unfortunate circumstance if Gwendolyn perished during her attempt to veil the truth of her son’s nature. However, this court believes our time is better served pursuing other matters. Despite your dark family history and the stain on your father’s name, you are a well-respected member of this community, Scarcello. On the matter of Nino Marcone, we find that you are fully capable of providing for him and ensuring his safety, as you have done for the last four years. We will not be reviewing the case Enzo has brought forth, and from this day forward, we will grant you full legal custody of the child if that is your wish.”

  “It is my wish,” I reply gruffly. “Thank you, Councilors.”

  “However.” Guillory holds up a finger. “There is a problem we must discuss, and that is the matter of the nanny.”

  “I understand,” I grit out.

  “It is this court’s understanding that by your own admission, she infiltrated your household under the guise of being a nanny when in truth, she is the child’s mother. She has no ties to IVI, no loyalty to prevent this from becoming an outside problem, and while we are sympathetic to her plight, this is a glaring issue.”

  “I take full responsibility for her,” I tell them. “She doesn’t mean to cause harm to The Society. She simply wants to be close to her son.”

  “That’s admirable of you,” Guillory replies coldly. “But we need more.”

  “Such as?”

  “Pending the results of the DNA test, we have prepared three viable options.” He glances between his fellow Councilors. “The first is that she will enter The Society and marry an eligible member from the lower echelon.”

  “No.” My nostrils flare. “Absolutely not.”

  “The second,” Guillory goes on as if I didn’t speak. “Is that she will marry you if you are partial to her.”

  Heat crawls up the base of my neck as I shake my head. “I have already made it known I have no intentions to marry.”

  “Then you have one other option,” Guillory says.

  “Which is?”

  His face is stoic as he delivers the blow. “You can kill her.”

  24

  Alessio

  I’m pulling into the driveway when the email I’ve been waiting for finally comes through. There’s a note from the doctor telling me to let him know if I need anything else. Attached is a PDF of the results.

  I turn off the ignition and stare at it for a moment. Selfishly, there’s still a part of me that wishes it weren’t true. It would be so much easier if it weren’t, but when I open it, the confirmation is undeniable. Natalia is Nino’s mother. Everything she told me on the boat was true, and I’m a goddamned asshole.

  I don’t bother delaying the inevitable. I forward the emai
l to the Tribunal immediately, with my assurances that I’ll follow up with them tomorrow.

  Inside, I find Manuel in the office. He managed to restore the previously saved security footage from the hard drive, and he’s been combing over it for days while Nino is occupied with school or his other activities. We won’t be able to see what happened the day Gwen was here, but I’d like to know for certain if there’s anything else I need to be aware of.

  “How is she?” I ask him as I take off my suit jacket and discard it on the chair.

  He glances up at me with a grim expression. “Still the same, sir.”

  I loosen my tie and then yank it off. “I’ll be moving her back to her room today.”

  He stares at me curiously. “Okay. Would you still like me to check on her?”

  “No. I will take care of it.”

  He grunts and goes back to his work.

  I venture to the kitchen, grab a pre-made lunch from the fridge, and head upstairs. Outside the door, I listen for Natalia, but it’s silent. I’ve avoided her since the boat incident, and I’m not certain how she’ll react when she does see me, but the clock is ticking, and I need to deal with this now.

  I draw in a staggered breath and open the door. She’s sitting in a chair, staring out the window. Her hair is a tangled mess, a far cry from her usual styled bun, and she’s still wearing the sweats the hospital sent her home in. She doesn’t seem to hear me enter. She doesn’t acknowledge me at all, even as I walk around and stand directly in front of her.

  “Natalia?”

  Nothing. She gives me nothing. She stares through me, completely cut off from her surroundings.

  “Natalia,” I say her name louder this time, but it still doesn’t elicit a response.

  There’s a long, tense moment of silence as I consider how to handle this situation. I understand dissociation. I recognize the mechanism I’ve used myself many times throughout my life. If I had to guess, I suspect I probably looked just as she does now while I was recovering in the hospital, the sole survivor of my massacred family. The problem is, I don’t know how to pull her from it delicately.