The Phoenix Fallacy_Book III_Magnus

by Jon Sourbeer,

Chapter 31: The Sunder

  Aubrey whirled to Natalie, “We need to get out of here!”

  Natalie shook her head, “I can’t.”

  “But my lady—” Aubrey stopped at Natalie’s expression, resting her hand on Natalie’s forearm, “What will happen now?”

  Natalie said nothing. She felt ill. How could she have been so foolish? How could she have deluded herself so… badly?

  She quickly flipped the cameras to the halls just outside the room and brought up a map of the prison on the central display. She studied it for a few moments and turned to her friend, “Aubrey, you have got to get out of here.”

  “What? No!” Aubrey exclaimed.

  “Yes!” Natalie commanded, “I don’t know what is going to happen when I confront Magnus, but I need to make sure that you are still on the outside. I don’t think Magnus will harm me, but I’m not sure anymore. I don’t know what he will do to you.”

  “I won’t abandon you!” Aubrey protested.

  “You won’t,” Natalie assured her, “I have no doubt you will be doing everything in your power to help me. But they are coming for me now, and you will be no good to either of us if you are captured, or worse.”

  Aubrey paused, then nodded solemnly.

  “I’ve brought up a map. Memorize the path back. Don’t worry about distances, just remember the corners. Use those to guide you. Keep your hand along the wall and don’t stop until you are out. Do whatever you need to do to get into hiding.” Natalie paused, “Don’t let anyone stop you.”

  Aubrey had tears welling in her eyes, “Yes, my l—my friend. I will do as you say.” She studied the map, whispering, “Left, right, across, move left, left, right, across, move right, left. Aubrey repeated this several times until it became a mantra.

  When she stopped, Natalie asked, “Are you ready?”

  “Yes,” Aubrey responded.

  “Good,” Natalie said.

  Aubrey stepped forward and gave Natalie a hug, whispering in her ear, “Good luck.”

  “You too, and remember, it’s not how you start…,”

  “It’s how you finish,” the pair whispered together. Natalie pulled away, “Now go.”

  With that, Aubrey stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind her.

  Natalie waited a few minutes, until she could see the glow of Charon’s lamp in the camera, and the silhouettes of four Elite Inferni marching behind him. She stepped back out into the prison regally. The two S.T.s looked at her, “Lady Delacroix. Are you ready to go? Your servant left earlier, just ran right into the darkness. Is something wrong?”

  Natalie smiled, “She’s courageous like that. No, Trooper, there is nothing you can help with. Please don’t worry yourself.”

  The sound of marching boots came down the hall and Charon’s light appeared around the corner. The Inferni stopped in neat formation before Natalie.

  “Lady Delacroix! Executor Ascend—”

  Natalie stood up tall, “I am already aware of the matter, but thank you. Take me to him immediately.”

  The Infernus bowed, “Of course, my lady.”

  Charon simply smiled sadly.

  Natalie knew where they were going. She paid it little mind, only catching glimpses of her surroundings as the group marched. The gilded walls of the council chamber, a vine-covered terrace running through a lush garden of bubbling fountains, giant stone statues of men who watched silently over a great sunlit hall and a lush green carpet.

  The wedding had taken place here – in the hall of Executors. And the centerpiece of the hall was a device known as the Titan’s Will. It was a feat of engineering – a magnetic repulsion lift that levitated, as if the earth willed the rock to float. Not like a Behemoth or a Wraith, with noisy engines and limited power supply. Not like the Fields, with hurricane-like force. It floated silently and serenely.

  Natalie stepped onto the massive lift, the gilded floors reflecting her and the four Inferni in a strange, wavering reflections. It perfectly encapsulated the Corporations as they stood now. Massive, imposing, and beautiful on the surface. But it could not carry any great weight. It was slow at best, and slowed more as it labored to reach the top. But that served its purpose all the more. For when one journeyed here, to visit the gods of Titan themselves, one could never tell if the lift or one’s sense of time was slowing.

  A bright, sunlit dome waited at the top. The height of Titan’s power. The office of the Executor Ascendant so suddenly vacated and quickly reoccupied. Lush, bright green curtains flanked the large windows. Two oaken doors, three times the height on an Infernus, stood across the room. Solid gold handles fit neatly into the carving of a huge tree canopy spread across both doors. Looking out, she had view over the entire city – a landscape of bright, reflective domes and elegant shapes rising from the clouds below. The whole city waited in silence below her. Only the sun and sky stood above the office of the Executor Ascendant.

  As the lift slid to a halt, Natalie stepped off onto the rich marble tile. The Inferni moved more slowly, overwhelmed by the rotunda.

  Natalie turned to the four, “Wait here.”

  The Inferni nodded absentmindedly.

  To Natalie, it was all dull. Her gaze was already fixated upon what lay beyond the doors. She grabbed the golden handles and shoved the doors wide.

  “Ah, there you are, my dear. I’ve been expecting you,” Magnus’s voice floated from the far end of the room

  The Inferni were so ensnared by the view they didn’t even see the doors close.

  Magnus stood behind a massive desk that occupied the far end of the chamber. Behind him wrapped the huge panorama of the city, the great windows forming a domed atrium. Lush trees lined a stone path connecting the tile to a soft, lush green rug. Natalie glanced at the dome above, clutching her locket. In a few hours, the sun would set.

  Magnus smiled, “You seem upset.”

  Natalie strode forward, pointing a finger at him, “You! You were responsible for this from the very beginning!”

  He grinned, “Yes. Although I suspected that you might not approve.”

  Natalie shook her head, disgust and confusion evident upon her features. “Why? What changed to make you perform this… butchery?”

  Magnus laughed, “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean, my beautiful wife. Nothing has changed. Except that now we have total control of Titan. I have done everything right – everything that needed to be done.”

  “You brought about a coup against the Executors, slaughtered the Overlords, and then betrayed Commandant Burke."

  Magnus smiled, “You cannot betray a betrayer, my dear. As for the Executors, they deserved their fate. Their greed nearly destroyed Titan and they were certainly no friends of ours. Do you know how diligently I have worked to keep both of us alive over the past three years? The Executors broke their own code. They had no qualms about killing us – it was merely an inconvenience to do so.”

  Natalie shook her head, accentuating each statement with a step towards Magnus, “And what about those Overlords who wanted nothing more than to make Titan a stronger Corporation? When does this end? What about the other Corporations? Stagnant, oblivious to the waters rising around them. How does this change anything? Do you plan to fight all the Corporations? When we betray and destroy all, who will we trust? What about Norm?"

  Magnus’s face had darkened throughout her speech, but he exploded at the last, “What about Norm?"

  Natalie was taken aback.

  "Why do you have any concern for him? He is just another man without the drive to do what is necessary," Magnus pointed at his chest, his face a mask of fury, “I have taken the risks. I have pushed forward. What has changed, you ask? I have moved us one step closer to being able to truly mold the world as we see fit! Is there any greater reason? The Corporations are weak! You should be able to see that, unless you are too busy caring for poor Norm!”

  “I do care for Norm!” Natalie shouted.

  “You see, Magnus! I was right
!” Middleton stood in the door. Two Inferni stood behind her with a weak and unconscious Norm between them. Without ceremony, they dropped him on the floor.

  Natalie ran to Norm in shock, bending over and cradling his head, “What have you done to him?”

  “Nothing less than he deserved,” Middleton said, “He was more interested in stopping the coup than helping Magnus. The only reason he is still alive is that he is too weak to be of any threat.”

  Natalie looked back at Magnus with hurt eyes, “And you allowed this?”

  Magnus looked away for but a moment, “Traitors deserve no sympathy from me.”

  “Norm would never betray you!” Natalie said.

  “He didn’t trust me!” Magnus yelled, “You didn’t trust me! I told you not to interfere!”

  “You allowed hundreds to die today!” She stood, dismay and disappointment stamped upon her face, “You have strength, courage, nobility – this was none of those things! Every word was accentuated with a step. “Whom have you saved if you sacrifice everyone to do it? Who decides who lives or dies?"

  “I do!" Magnus yelled. "There is no inherent right to live! That is truth! You must fight for it! Those who wish to change the world must be willing to make sacrifices!"

  Natalie stopped in front of Magnus, her features taking on an eerie calm. “No. ‘Only the strongest survive’ is the mentality of animals. You must always be willing to fight. But this was not a fight. It was a slaughter."

  Magnus’ face became very still, “If you hadn’t noticed, that mentality is the bedrock of the Executor caste. The world is filled with animals, and today, I protected us from them. Might always makes right. The weak survive only at the behest of the strong. It has always been this way."

  Natalie put a hand on Magnus’ face. He looked away from her. Natalie pulled him back, “And if the mighty always live by that code, what happens to them the day they grow weak? It is the task of the mighty to raise up the weak and make them strong, so that on that day, the mighty can be raised up by the weak.”

  “Do you think I am weak? That I will fail?” Magnus asked coldly.

  “Don’t be a fool, Magnus! Don’t conflate failure with weakness.” Natalie replied harshly.

  Magnus eyes flared, “A fool! Those Executors were fools! The Overlords were fools. Norm is a fool! I will not fail as they have!”

  “Norm is not a fool,” Natalie’s eyes were downcast, “He is weak."

  Magnus lip curled in anger. “Then why don’t you go and comfort him? Shelter him with your pity? Apparently, I am a much bigger fool than he is!”

  Natalie got down on her knees, “You are a great man, but don’t let your pride, your arrogance blind you!"

  “And he would be a fool to be so blind,” Middleton jumped in.

  “What are you talking about?” Natalie whirled upon Middleton, as if she suddenly remembered the woman was present.

  Middleton took out something from within the folds of her cloak. Natalie hadn’t noticed how plump the woman seemed to have become in the past few years. It was a letter. Her letter.

  Middleton smirked as she read it, “Norm, I’m writing to you because I’m extremely concerned about Magnus. He’s grown increasingly distant, and I fear for what will happen. I am not supposed to be involved in the dealings of the Executors. I fear greatly what may be coming – perhaps you could speak with him? I know you will keep this message in the greatest confidence. Love, Natalie.” She accented the last two words.

  Middleton pulled out the pistol that Natalie had forged for Norm, “Magnus has known of your infatuation for some time now.”

  Natalie stared at her in shock, “You twisted, repulsive woman.” Natalie curled her lip, “I spent too much time worrying about Rassan. I never imagined you would resort to this – but why would Magnus listen to you?”

  “Because she has never betrayed me.” Magnus said in a dangerously quiet tone.

  Natalie felt like she had been slapped. Magnus walked around the desk, “Middleton said you would be like this. That you would not approve. So I tried to protect you. I did not want you to know, but still you did not trust me. You even fought against me!” Middleton tossed Magnus the pistol and he held it up for her to see. “And now, you have completely betrayed me!”

  “No!” Natalie screamed, something akin to nausea was creeping from her gut. “I have never betrayed you. Norm is a trusted friend – of both of us. He has been loyal to both me, and you. I would never…and he would never, do such a thing!”

  Magnus stood still, for a moment he seemed genuinely perplexed. Natalie’s eyes blazed, a pistol suddenly appearing in her hand, pointed at Middleton. Middleton’s eyes widened in surprise, but she stopped her Inferni from moving. Natalie screamed at Magnus, “How dare you let this woman convince you that I have betrayed you? Are you really truly so stupid?”

  Magnus’ nostrils flared, “Is that what you really think?”

  Natalie eyes were red, but she realized she had stepped too far. A familiar calm came over her, like the ones she once knew upon the battlefield, but she did not lower her weapon. She lowered her voice. “Listen to me Magnus, pride makes fools of men! It hides truths. Look at what happened to Phoenix. Look at all the lives that were destroyed by that foolish, arrogant plan. Nothing was gained from it!”

  Middleton chuckled, “You see, Magnus. Even when pretending to be loyal to you, still she insults you.”

  Natalie glared at Middleton, “What do you mean?”

  Middleton ignored her, looking past her to Magnus, grinning mischievously, “How can you put up with this? You must be a far better person than I…I wouldn’t be able to take it. What did she call it? ‘A fool’s plan?’”

  Natalie looked at Magnus, “A fool’s plan,” she echoed. Her eyes went wide and she stumbled back, away from Magnus. “SHADE. The destruction of The Fields. Of my home. The other Executors ruined it when they tried to assassinate you, but it was your plan...”

  Magnus shook his head, “SHADE was not my target.”

  Natalie want pale, “My father, my friends, thousands of lives – all of them dead, because…because of you.” She instinctively turned her weapon on Magnus – she didn’t even see him anymore. Magnus recoiled. She felt weak and lightheaded.

  “So is it only twice now that I have failed you, Natalie, or it more than that?” Magnus whispered coldly, “Are all of my efforts doomed to fail you? Are you incapable of seeing the truth?”

  Natalie suddenly retched blood upon the lush rug and her knees buckled beneath her, sending her to the ground. She felt her locket get caught on something and rip off. The world spun around her, becoming black. But before she spun into unconsciousness, she felt soft hands supporting her neck, and heard voices.

  “Magnus, why aren’t you helping her?”

  “Magnus, you know of their betrayal, kill them now!”

  “No! Not yet,” Magnus irritably.

  “Don’t be a fo…” Middleton stopped.

  Magnus strong voice rang out, “Don’t forget, Middleton. I rule here, and I want them alive.”

  Chapter 32: A Giant of Green

  Norm’s gritted his teeth in anger, and went silent. Several moments passed before Keats stepped forward to put a gentle hand on his shoulder. He startled, glancing at surprise at the tall woman. After a confused moment, he looked around the room, “Sorry. Was caught up in my thoughts.”

  “So Magnus turned against you and Natalie?” Keats asked.

  “Yes. Middleton…” he sneered and stared at the table.

  “You and my mother, you didn’t really have a relationship, did you?” Janus asked curiously.

  “NO!” Norm snarled, his eyes locking with Janus.

  For the first time, Janus could see what true anger looked like in Norm, and he froze.

  Norm calmed down and shook his head, “No. Sorry, it’s just for a moment, I felt like I was back there. Natalie was loyal to Magnus, always.”

  Keats and the Praetor exchanged glance
s. “Something that puzzles me Norm,” Keats interjected, “was how you know all the Natalie did while you were separated.”

  Norm gave Keats a sad smile. “We had quite of bit of time together after that fateful day.”

  ***

  Natalie’s eyes opened slowly. A kind face was hovering over her, but it took her a second to realize who it was. “Norm, you’re okay!” she said warmly. Bruises and welts still covered his face and body, but he was beginning to heal. After another moment, she finally had the wherewithal to look around. She lay in a kingly bed, brimming with plush pillows and thick comforters. Wide windows let in sunlight, and a warm fire was going in a fireplace to her right. A slow beeping alerted her to the presence of an array of machines and medical equipment she was connected to. She looked at Norm, “Where am I?” She tried to sit up.

  Norm gently pushed her back down into the bed, “Take it easy. You have been through a great deal, recently.”

  Natalie glared at him, “But where am I?”

  “Agathon’s residence. Or at least, it used to be. Magnus has made this his home now that he is Executor Ascendant.”

  It suddenly all came flooding back to her mind, all the horror – all the truth, and she wept. Norm looked at her sadly, and put a hand to her face, “It is all right. You are safe now.”

  Natalie could do nothing. She felt totally helpless for the first time in her life. The words tumbled out as best as they could, “Am I blind, Norm, or a fool?” She twisted her face into his chest, “What now? I don’t – don’t think I have the strength to deal with this. What will they do? What will she do? I don’t think anyone can save me.”

  Norm grimaced, but said simply, “I know,” and cradled her as best he could.

  She cried for many more minutes before she could muster up the courage to talk. “There’s more, isn’t there, Norm?”

  Norm nodded. “What is it?” she asked.

  He was reluctant, but finally relented, “You are being tended by the very best medical staff in Titan. We were very afraid for a while that we might lose you.”