Meshak gazed at Brigettie’s face very carefully. This was a fascinating tale. He had never considered synchronizing his dance movements with the birds, although this was a reasonable concept as the bird archetypes are also just another type of Celestial creature.
“He began flapping his arms in mimicry with the birds. Then he floated up into the air and flew away with them. I have not seen him since.”
Brigettie could feel Meshak laughing. He did not make an outward sound. Rather, it was a subtle rhythmic fluttering throughout his body.
He looked around the sky, focusing on individual birds sailing past.
“Are you in search of Abendigo?” Brigettie asked with a smile.
“Yes,” he said, again with the amused flutter running through his body.
Brigettie felt his mood fall and his mind shift. She guessed it was because he had recently witnessed the slaughter of the Caligastian Meur Creatures, but allowed a moment of silence to pass as they continued to glide across the floor.
Finally, she spoke. “Meshak, let us later stop dancing, then hold hands and walk along the beach together. Then we will discuss all other things. For now, let us put aside memories and thoughts. For now, all I want to do is dance. For now, all I want is for you to feel how much I love you.”
So then. Why was she trying to deceive me?” Skillit asked Josephine. Josephine tried to keep up with Skillit as she stomped along the path to Josephine’s office where she planned to sign transfer forms.
“I don’t know, Skillit. I have to admit, they’re rather important omissions. But in every other way, Marije seems to be honest and sincere,” Josephine replied. It had been a long time since she had seen Skillit so angry.
They walked along in silence for awhile, the air pulsing with Skillit’s fury.
“Why don’t we just find her and ask her?” Josephine suggested. “You’ll be able to tell right...”
“You know, Josie. Right now, I really don’t want to ever see her again. I can’t believe I was so naïve and stupid to get suckered into her act like that.”
Josephine knew what it felt like to have your heart stung.
“How soon can you arrange to have her transferred to a prison sphere?”
“Is tomorrow afternoon soon enough?” Josephine asked, worried Skillit was jumping to conclusions. If you don’t ask Marije, you’ll regret it.
“Didn’t you say Meshak is on Oceania?” Skillit asked.
“Yes, but is that really necess…”
“Good. Call for Meshak. I’m telling you to get that deceitful bitch out of my life tonight.”
“Well, have fun,” Marije said to Parvarti, giving her a tight hug and a kiss on each cheek.
“Oh, I’ll try my best,” Parvarti replied with an impish grin as she watched the boat crew secure the last of their equipment-filled waterproof containers.
Marije glanced at the buttocks of the two very attractive young male Angels loading the boat. Although they were in fact quite good marine scientists, Parvarti had selected them for other, more personal reasons. Only those three would be on this particular two-night trip.
“And what do you want me to tell Collin if I run into him?” Marije asked.
“He’s making a logistics run to Carolina Isle. I’ll be back before he is,” Parvarti said.
“Don’t you think he’ll eventually find out?”
“Find out about what? I already told him we were conducting a few days of study on the reef around Belize. Is there anything else he needs to know?” Parvarti said playfully.
Marije knew these things never worked out quite as planned. Although she never asked and Parvarti never confessed, Marije became increasingly convinced Parvarti had little if any experience in love play. On the other hand, Marije had been keeping a watchful eye on Collin over the past days. She saw how he exchanged glances with several pretty Angels. There was little doubt he had lots of experience.
The boat was loaded, all supplies secured, and the sails made ready. “What are you going to do?” Parvarti asked as she exchanged more quick kisses with Marije.
“Didn’t really have anything in mind. Probably just hang out with Skillit.”
“Oh, woe is me. I’m just a poor little brown-skinned Yukta Yogi with boring light-green eyes. A victim of Karolita’s cruelty.” Skillit stomped up the path. “And aren’t the Valkyrie so nice? I’ve never had a friend like you, Skillit.”
“Just slow down Skillit. Don’t you think…”
“Didn’t you see her working out with Brigettie before she confronted Karol?” Skillit snapped back.
“Well no, I…”
“She was fighting like a tiger. And how surprised she was. Some latent ability she didn’t know about, my ass.”
“But…”
“Helpless little Yukta Yogi. And to find out she’s a Nephilim. And not just some lowly servant. She’s Karol’s ‘primary’ handmaiden. They wanted to kill Angels and collect their eyes as trophies. They planned to assassinate Collin. Why aren’t you getting this?”
“Will you just stop for a freaking minute?”
Skillit stopped and glared at Josephine.
“Back up and tell me what you’re thinking,” Josephine pleaded.
“Okay. I’ll talk slowly. You want me to use sign language too?”
Anger flashed across Josephine’s eyes.
“Josephine. She’s an assassin. Karol and Eros are just diversions. I spoke to Collin just before he left. He pegged her immediately as an assassin.”
“An assassin.”
“Yes, an assassin.”
“Sent to kill…”
“Josie. Please. If you don’t wake up and realize who you are, you’re going to get yourself killed. So if me pissing you off is what it takes to slap some sense in that beautiful head of yours, fine by me.”
Josephine just shook her head.
“Josie. You’re Eden’s Theatre commander. Marije was sent to kill you.”
Marije walked slowly down the beach toward Bill’s. The red moon was beautiful. She wondered if she had ever seen a moon more lovely than this. For many hours, the thoughts of Karol and Eros and her dreadful life on Glamoria had not entered her mind. She had new friends. She had a new life. She had a new beginning. She could not imagine how anything could ever go wrong again.
“Well, what happened to Glimarije?” Josephine asked. “You no longer think Marije is…”
“Glimarije is dead. My sister is dead. Marije is just a Nephilim who was manufactured to resemble Glimarije, just to sucker us in. There is no Glimarije. Never bring up that name to me again.” Skillit had only allowed herself to think about Glimarije briefly. Now, hearing the name again, brought too much pain.
“When you first saw them in your shop, what did you see?” Skillit asked.
“Rachmiel caught them stealing. I heard them arguing so I looked around to see what all the commotion was about. Honestly, I wasn’t thinking about an enemy infiltration at the time. Karol has no military power. Her actions are nothing more than background noise, so I never think about her. Regardless, now that I know their names, Karol looked smug, Eros looked defiant, the guards looked angry, and Marije looked worried.”
“Then you singled Marije out and said, ‘It is wise to know with whom you associate’, right?”
“Yeah. But isn’t that stretching it? How could she have known I’d…”
“How many years does your mom typically study a target?”
“Well, it depends. Sometimes up to…”
“Sometimes up to hundreds of years. Long enough to accurately predict how they’ll react in almost any circumstance so she can penetrate, blend in, guide them, then kill and slip out before they know what hit them.”
“But…”
“Josie. Right now, you’re about the highest value Valkyrie target in the Eden theatre. They would know all about how nice and caring you are. It’s a credit to you. You really are a class act. A good assassin would know you would single out th
e one who didn’t fit with the others, so you could give them a chance to break the bad association. Right?”
Josephine nodded. It was disturbing to think she might have been manipulated in such a careful and subtle way. “So it was me who broke Marije away from the others, so she could seem to repent, then get close to me while our attention was on the others?”
“Does that really seem too far fetched? She was probably nuzzling up to Parvarti to gain our trust.”
Josephine took in a deep breath and puffed it out. “I guess not. But to sacrifice such individuals like Karolita and Eros? Lakshmi couldn’t possibly be more concerned with killing me than she is with the safety of her own…”
“Why are you so sure they really are Karolita and Eros?”
Chapter 73
A Mother’s Duty
Never underestimate a mother’s capacity for cruelty. More importantly, never underestimate the good things that can result from that cruelty.
—Spoken by mature and successful adults everywhere
Elysium
One at a time, Lieutenant Huznoth and Captain Rozner dumped pitchers of water on the twins at Indra’s request. A few moments later, the Erins began to stir. One, then the other, jumped into full wakefulness, frantically searching for the harsh strap.
Indra gestured to Reinhardt who briskly walked over to the twins. “Come on now. Move quickly,” he said softly, knowing Indra was on the verge of something much more horrible than Kuko’s hands could ever deliver.
Erin’s eyes grew wild as the agony returned to her body.
“Come on now. Stand up. Pull up your pants. This isn’t over yet,” Rickey said to Erin, helping her to her feet, and then helping her pull up her underwear and trousers, and tie her boot. Then he helped Erin do the same. “I know you’re in a lot of pain, but what you did was inexcusable. Your father is furious with both of you. You’ve got to push through this and focus. Understand?” he said to one, then looked at the other.
Indra stepped forward, grabbing Erin with his left hand and Erin with his right. He dragged them while Rickey herded the group of one-eared archers. Indra stopped when he reached a few dead Nazz lying on the floor.
“Look at them,” he said, as flatly as Castor Mayhew.
The twins’ hearts fell when they recognized Alexus Luel and Guziel Shidler, the two young Nazz guards who were admiring them in the middle of battle.
“Rather than noticing the presence of the Cardinals who eventually killed them, they were distracted by your performances,” Indra said. “They watched you as you were dancing and leaping about, showing off. That’s why they’re dead.”
The twins’ physical pain was replaced by another.
“Alexus had a good mind for law, and I could see Guziel becoming a great Nazz industrialist. Pity. They had bright futures. But if you, their lovers, didn’t care,” Indra said apathetically while turning away, “why should I?”
“You,” Indra said as he pointed to a one-eared archer. “And you,” as he pointed to another. They quickly stepped forward. “You two were in a position to stop the Cardinals who killed Alexus and Guziel. Why didn’t you?”
They wanted to lie but knew they must not.
“I was watching Erin,” one said quietly. The other concurred.
“Now here’s what you’re going to do,” Indra continued. “Erin and some archer, I don’t care which, reach down and grab Guziel by his left ankle. Erin and… whoever… you reach down and grab Alexus by his right ankle.”
They obeyed.
“Stand side by side, all four of you in a row.”
They did so.
“Now, as you drag them to that stack of dead Cardinals over there,” he pointed, “I want you to smile.” He looked from one Erin to the other. “Remember those proud and happy expressions you wore when you were leaping about?” Then he looked at the archers. “And do you remember those admiring faces you wore?”
They said nothing.
“Do you?” His shout tore through them.
“Put those faces on now.”
As they attempted to comply, Indra marched forward, a skip in his step as he led the procession. “Now Erin and Erin, you grab their hands. And you and you, you grab their feet.” They obeyed. “Now heave-ho. Give them a few good swings and toss them up on the stack.” They were in too much shock to do anything but obey. “Remember to put on your happy and admiring faces.”
The Erins tried to smile and the archers tried to look admiring as they swung the dead Nazz warriors. Instead, their eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, no no no. Not anywhere near good enough,” Indra said as he shook his head. “Go back and try again. Grab the two Rickey is pointing to.”
The four just stood there and stared at Indra.
“Come now. Chop, chop,” Indra said as he clapped his hands. “Times a-wasting. There are lots more worthless dead Nazz.”
They trotted back and reached down to grab the next bodies by the hands and feet. “No,” Reinhardt barked. “That’s not what he wants. Both of you grab the same ankle and drag them like that. It must look as disrespectful as possible.”
“Pleas…” Erin started to sob.
“No,” Rickey said, cutting her off. “If you don’t obey Indra right now, truly terrible things will happen to you. Now grab an ankle and drag them. You must force those stupid expressions on your faces. Go. Now.”
Indra, arms crossed, shook his head. When they arrived, he gave each of the four a slap across the face. “Not good enough.” He stepped in front of Erin and glared into her eyes. “Why are you being so disobedient? You were wearing a happy, prideful face all evening. Surely you remember how.”
Erin tried her best to make herself smile. Indra looked at each one individually. “Well, what are you waiting for? Toss that trash onto the heap.”
All four were sobbing as they swung the bodies. They lined up in front of Indra with their heads down. For a long moment, Indra just stared at them.
“Archers. Go back and get some more trash. Get the other failures to help.” They turned and trotted away.
As the twins turned to follow, Indra said, “Stop. Look at me.” He studied the twins for a moment, shaking his head. “Why don’t you just be honest? Why don’t you just go ahead and renounce me? Even now I give you the simplest of tasks and you continue to be disobedient.”
Indra remembered how Lord Smigyl had tormented Patanjali, attempting to force him to respond while he writhed in agony. At the time, he felt just a touch sorry for Patanjali. Now, Indra felt the sting of his own offspring’s failure.
“All I’m asking you to do is show off the way you have been showing off all night. It was easy for you not half-an-hour ago. But now, when I make the request, you refuse.”
He took a deep breath and sighed. “Okay. Let’s try one more time. Change your facial expressions from what they are now, this mock sadness for the Nazz, to that which you wore earlier. This is such a simple request. Please, just resume being happy and prideful. Before, you were showing off for your pals. Now I want you to show off for me. What could be easier?”
They held their heads down, crying and sobbing heavily.
“Of course,” he said, snapping his fingers. “Please forgive me for being so thick. You’ve just been trying to tell me you don’t like being Nazz and prefer to live with the Caligastians. Girls. There’s no need to be so subtle. All you had to do was ask. Just you wait here. I’ll speak to Prince Caligastia straight away. I’m certain he’ll be happy to put you to work in one of his brothels in Castile.” He spun around, in search of Caligastia.
The twins looked up, eyes wide, mouths gaping open. They spun around and ran back to where the one-eared archers continued to collect dead Nazz. They grabbed the ankle of a corpse, dragged it back, and heaved it onto the stack. Then they sprinted back and repeated the process.
By their fifth trip, Indra had returned with Prince Caligastia. The twins looked back at Rickey who gave them a hand signal. They s
topped and turned back to Indra, hanging their heads in shame.
“Prince Caligastia,” Indra said proudly. “Please allow me to introduce my two youngest daughters, Erin and Erin. They are both quite lovely, don’t you think?”
“Hello girls,” Caligastia said. “Oh yes, Lord Indra. Very attractive. Very attractive, indeed. I’m always delighted to meet beautiful girls. Your father was just telling me about your displeasure living amongst the Nazz.” He leaned forward and gave them a knowing look, whispering to them in confidence. “This is something I well understand.”
“Yes, yes,” Indra exclaimed. “For so long, Madame Kiena and I have been confused about them. On the one hand, they appeared to have great potential. But then, and today is a perfect example, they focus on doing that which is necessary to gather attention rather than focusing on the duties of battle.”
“Oh, I see, my dear Lord Ind…”
“You know,” Indra interrupted. “I think from now on we should call them by their birth names. Erin is a good name for a warrior. However, Patricia and Vilecia...much more feminine, don’t you think?”
Prince Caligastia nodded in agreement. Indra continued. “Nazz warriors give up their lives to save other Nazz. Whereas Patricia and Vilecia, they eagerly sacrifice others to attract attention to themselves. So very much like a good prostitute, don’t you think?”
Prince Caligastia studied them carefully, like a bidder at a livestock auction.
“Prostitution is all about fantasy, isn’t it?” Indra asked.
“Oh, yes it is,” Caligastia said, enthusiastically.
“Well, these two look so much like Madame Kiena already. In a dimly lit room with just the right makeup, I bet they could be made indistinguishable from the real thing.”
Caligastia stared at Indra expectantly, rotating his right hand in little circles that said: ‘Come on already. Tell me what you’re thinking.’
Lilith: Eden's Planetary Princess (The Michael Archives Book 1) Page 60
