by Jamie Le Fay
"They forced me to do it, do you understand?" He said, looking down at his bloodied hands. She stood up and took a step away from him, testing if she was free from his controlling mind. "They took everything away from me," he continued biting his lip and placing his left hand over his missing eye, "and now they will pay, all of them. They'll have a taste of their own poison. Those who value the purity of the royal bloodline will bear impure babies. I'll destroy everything you hold dear royal brat."
"I'll find you and kill you." Shouted Sky as she raced away from him, hoping his mind's confusion prevented him from summoning her back to him.
"No Sky, I'll find you."
Sathian was drunk with resentment, anger and pain, but it was mainly remorse and shame that stopped him from hurting the girl. He was fighting to keep what was left of his humanity and, tonight, letting Sky go was his small act of redemption. He touched his disfigured face, knowing all too well that not even his royal blood could regenerate an entire eye. He, the most beautiful creature at Ahe'ey, was now forever disfigured. A fair punishment for the necessary violence he had unleashed on his family. Was it? Necessary?
"Sathian!" Sathian looked back to see who was screaming his name. It was Lucas running in his direction, sword in hand. There was madness in his eyes and in his face. The type of mania that is only present in those who had suffered tremendous loss. The blonde Ange'el barely knew how to hold the sword that he lifted in front of his face. Sathian knew Lucas was not a warrior, nor had he ever killed any living being, no matter how small. Lucas stopped in front of Sathian, preparing to strike.
"If it's suicide you are looking for." Sathian murmured unsheathing his sword, "I'm more than happy to oblige." Sathian rotated his entire body and, in one single blow, decapitated Lucas.
Sathian walked back towards the Ange'el village, roaming the gardens where he had spent most of his youth. The place remained unaltered as if time had stood still. The statues he had designed and commissioned together with his dearest love stood above him. Their flawlessness was untouched by the heartaches and misdeeds of its creators. The sculptures represented the perfection, purity, and virtue of the Ahe'ey.
"Lieees!" He screamed as he touched the face of a stone winged angel with his bloodied fingers.
The Interview
Present Day - New York
Gabriel sat in the paneled library of his triplex apartment located on the top floor of the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan. With five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, the Upper East Side penthouse was too large for a man who lived by himself. He turned on his laptop and pulled up the YouTube video that he had watched countless times. It was a debate organised by Fox News that had aired on mainstream TV three years ago.
"The latest headlines continue to bring us conflicting and confusing information about the gender divide in education. Only this week, two new reports suggest that girls continue to struggle in the so-called STEM fields—science, technology, engineering and maths. Female graduates are still significantly underrepresented in these areas, particularly in engineering and computer science. On the other hand, a recent study argues that boys are underperforming in school, lagging behind girls in reading and writing. The study shows that the gap in science and math is closing fast in fields where boys have historically outperformed girls. To help us make sense of this confusing information we invited two guests who have been active and outspoken on this topic.
"Morgan Lua is the founder of the Hope Foundation, an advocacy group that focuses on the empowerment of girls. Hope has recently secured a staggering two hundred million dollars in funding from five large tech companies in Silicon Valley. They plan to kick off several global initiatives that will promote STEM with young girls and increase the number of female graduates in these areas.
"Walter Zanus is the speaker for the Men's Rights Defense, an activist group with chapters in fifty-five countries in the world. The MRD argues that the women's movement has gone too far and is harming men, particularly boys. Morgan and Tony, welcome to our show.
"Walter, why are organisations such as the Hope Foundation harming boys?"
"The feminisation of the educational system promoted by Feminist groups is destroying the future of our young men. Our lads are oppressed by curricula and assessment methods that favour girls. They're forced to sit in classrooms for hours to study or spend time talking about their feelings. We're undermining the power of masculinity. We must let boys be boys. They learn better through physical activity. If you want a boy to thrive, you need to engage his male instinct for problem solving, his energy, competitiveness and physical daring. These are the traits of the men that have led this country to wealth and security throughout history. We need to honour the male heritage."
"Morgan, the data shows boys are struggling in school. Why are you focusing on girls?"
"Boys and girls struggle with the stereotypes that are passed down to them by society and media. We must evolve our education system to unlock each child's full potential. There is nothing innate, immutable or inevitable about boys or girls doing particularly well or badly in different subjects. Girls in Shangai outperform western boys in math, the same boys that outshine the girls in the US. The variable factor is the educational system, the society and the parents. At the H—"
"You have not answered my question." The tone of the news anchor was somewhat passive aggressive. The smile on his face was tight at the corners as he looked at Morgan.
"Please let me finish, this topic can't be explained in a neatly packaged media soundbite."
Gabriel always loved to watch the passion with which Morgan asserted her position. Unapologetic and direct, she continued to speak, preventing the unwelcome interruption.
"Our initiatives focus on helping girls overcome the limiting beliefs that stop them from thriving in STEM fields. We set up these programmes as a response to the gender stereotypes prevalent in our society, in our media and in the unconscious or conscious biases of parents and teachers. We create the antidote that can break the glass ceilings currently imposed on girls and women. Soon we will be launching initiatives for boys as well. We want to ensure that they know that they too can be full-time parents, nurses, teachers and child care workers if they wish to do so. I hope that one day we won't need special initiatives. We need to fix our educational system to abolish all stereotypes and to focus on getting the best out of every young person regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or aptitude."
"In a moment, she'll be speaking about unicorns and dragons." Zanus adjusted the two or three locks of hair that remained in his bald, shiny head and continued talking, "Look, I don't have time for total political correctness just to appease the feminists and the lesbians. I think it would be foolish to expect that women will ever approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons. Science backs me up on this. The brains of men and women are different just like our bodies are different. We have muscles and natural physical ability, they have the babies, and are soft both physically and emotionally. It's that simple!"
"Morgan, studies show that differences exist. Why do you fight this God-given nature?"
"Let's leave religion out of this. Differences exist, but they are considerably smaller than those previously reported by pop science. The human brain is highly plastic and adaptable, the experiences and beliefs of each child will shape their skills and behaviours. Our goal is to ensure that the potential of each child is not limited. We debunk generalisations about gender that, frankly, belong to the middle ages."
"Nature or nurture, where do you stand on this Walter?"
"First, let me say that I'm pro-women. I'm the father of two beautiful, sweet, sensitive and very pure daughters. They are my life, let me tell you, if they weren't my daughters I'd be dating them. They are that gorgeous and kind. They make me a better man and remind me every day to protect women so that they can care for the next generation of children."
"Why did you call your daughters pure? Why is this important?" Morgan moved forward in her chair; it was an almost imperceptible gesture, but one that did not escape Gabriel. He could sense she was impetuous and ready for battle. She was probably aware that both the anchor and Tony were there to undermine her message, and yet she accepted the invitation and was now taking control of the interview.
"Their virginity is the most precious gift that they could give to someone."
"So you reduce their value to society, to their looks, sexuality and ability to reproduce?"
"Morgan, we are here to—"
The news anchor lost his varnished Ken doll composure for just one second. He attempted to interrupt Morgan's confronting line of questioning, but Zanus snapped, leaning over the table, forcefully placing his red face right in front of Morgan and spit his words.
"Look, you witch, how are things working out for you? You've not been able to satisfy a man enough to coerce him to put a ring on your finger. Where are all these effeminate men that are ready to care for your babies while you work to destroy the traditional family structure, blessed by God?"
Morgan did not move; Gabriel noticed her pale complexion turn crimson. Her unruffled exterior carefully hid the frantic pace of her heartbeat. She took only one moment to recover. Morgan held her head high; her demeanour was confident and unapologetic, and her eyes never left the eyes of her opponent. She took a deep breath and spoke.
"Depulso!" Her hands danced in front of her body as the spell she had learned from Hermione Granger was cast on National TV. She giggled, "Well that didn't go as planned." The mischievous response made her relax a little. She composed herself, assuming a serious expression and continued speaking, "Although we still have a lot of work to do, and we have not mastered sorcery just yet, I'm certain that we've reached a tipping point. There's no turning back now. Change is here and is only going to accelerate."
She glowed as if she could vividly visualise the future she was predicting. "The bullies and their boxes will be banished from the face of the Earth by people that refused to be anything else but unique."
"We'll see about that." His finger pointed towards her underlining his threat.
"Ok, we're out of time. Thank you, Morgan and Walter, for your time today. What do you think folks? Are you ready for a world where women wear the pants and men deal with the diapers?" He smiled, showcasing his bright, over-bleached teeth. "Over to Kelly for an update on today's news headlines."
Royal Orphans
Thirty-four years ago - Ahe'ey
"You can do it Sky," cheered Gabriel as the young girl climbed the highest tree in the forest. She planted her feet on the tree and leaned back as her hands pulled a rope that wrapped around the branchless trunk.
"It's too high! I'm going to fall," she screeched, as one of her feet slipped, and her knee scraped the bark. "Ouch!"
"Keep going. If you fall, I'll catch you," the twelve-year-old boy said with confidence.
Sky secured both feet in the bark of the tree and yanked her body upwards.
She loosed the rope just enough to move it up the tree trunk. Burned by the friction of the movement, her right hand let go of the rope and she fell backwards. Six-year-old Bastian screamed in panic.
Gabriel reached his arms to catch Sky as she fell. They both hit the ground with the impact of her body.
"I didn't know you could fly," he laughed.
"I told you it was too high," she said, annoyed. "My hand! It hurts." She opened the palm of her hand, red and blue from the rope. He blew on it and kissed it.
"It's just a scratch. It'll heal in a minute. In a few days, you'll reach the top of the tree, and we'll rappel down together," he said reassuringly as he got up and reached under her arms to pull her to a standing position.
"Will you see my mum from the top of the tree? When can we go home?" Whined Bastian.
"Luna is within you, Bas. Can't you feel her?" Gabriel placed his hand on the shoulder of his young cousin. A tiny veil of mournful water covered the blue eyes of the youngest boy.
Sky lowered her head and bit her lip. Her eyebrows became heavy as Gabriel saw a cocktail of grief and rage emerge in her expression. "We are your family now Bas," she said, "We will not let you down. They'll pay for what they did. All of them. We'll kill them all."
The young boy took a few steps back, unprepared to deal with Sky's storm.
"The forest is our home. Where else could we go skinny dipping in the middle of the day?" Gabriel smiled, touching Bastian's cheek. The older boy undressed and ran toward the lake followed by his two cousins.
"Why do we need to hide away from everyone else?" Bastian asked as he pulled up his tunic over his blonde hair.
"Our blood is special, we need to keep it safe," Gabriel explained.
"But I wanna go hooome!"
"The Hu'urei are looking for us; they seek to destroy the royal bloodline. We must stay here, under the protection of the Ange'el."
"Is that why they killed my parents and took Sky's mum and sister?"
Gabriel nodded. "We will stick together and train a lot. We need to improve our skills in archery, martial arts, running, swimming, and sword fighting. One day we'll join the Yi'ingo army and fight against the Hu'urei. Come, Bas. Join me." Gabriel jumped into the water, attempting to wash away the worries of his young cousins. He showered Sky with cold water as she ran into the lake, chasing him.
Gabriel's lighthearted exterior hid the worries that festered his mind. The two children were now his responsibility. He had promised his parents that he would do anything and everything to keep them safe and happy. Away from the Sacred House, from his family, and from the comforts and privileges of the royal apparatus, the boy relied only on himself and on the few Ange'el that watched over them. The densest and most remote valley of the Ahe'ey forest was now their home—a haven from the devastating war that ravaged the land.
Sky grabbed his neck and pushed him under water. Bastian jumped on top of his cousins, joining the fun.
Breakfast with a View
Present Day - New York
As she opened the door to let him in, she couldn't help but hold her breath. Those eyes. He wore a light blue shirt without a collar and perfectly tailored grey pants. The unbuttoned cuffs of his shirt allowed his sleeves to cover his knuckles. There was no sign of vanity. Everything about him was practical and simple and yet of great quality and taste. Why do I feel I have known you forever? He seemed relaxed and smiled when he saw her.
"Good morning. May I come in?"
"Hi! Breakfast arrived just a few minutes ago. This place is amazing. Shall we have breakfast on the balcony? I can't get tired of this view of Central Park." He smiled and followed her. She continued to talk as if she needed to fill every moment of silence; her pitch was higher than usual. "It's a bit chilly, isn't it? I hope you don't mind?"
"Not at all."
"Is it true that the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Onassis and Yves Saint-Laurent used to live at the Pierre?"
"Yes. The Pierre has been a symbol of luxury and glamour in New York City since its grand opening in 1930. The founder, Pierre Casalasco, was an Italian immigrant. He started as a restaurant assistant but quickly opened his own restaurant. The place was popular for its debutant balls, exclusive events and ladies' lunches. It is said that Pierre became dissatisfied with the democratisation of public manners so he founded the Pierre Hotel to bring simplicity and refinement to Manhattan. The hotel has since attracted the social elite of the world. Many artists and literary icons stay at the Pierre looking for refuse and inspiration." She hung onto his every word; his beauty was unsettling, his voice and manner hypnotic. His sharp cheek bones and the flawless, fair complexion reminded her of the androgynous elven people in a Tolkien novel. She had never seen anyone that beautiful. He overwhelmed her senses, and she found herself having to force her eyes away from him. Stop it Morgan! She shook her head.
"I can imagine all the society ladies wearing th
eir fabulous ball gowns and expensive jewelry in the grand ballroom."
He smiled.
"Unfortunately, some of the ladies did not manage to hold on to their diamonds. The Pierre Hotel is famous for hosting the largest and most successful hotel robbery in history. Three million dollars worth of jewelry were stolen from the safety deposit boxes in the 70s."
"Wow! How do you know all this?"
"I'm a frequent guest. I stay at the Pierre every time I'm in town."
"Where do you live?"
"My family owns some land just outside the city."
"Where exactly?"
"Shall we go over your schedule and make some plans?" She nodded. "We planned all your media engagements for Thursday; the interviews will occur just after your speaking event in Central Park. This leaves you two days to relax, enjoy the city and recover from the jet lag before you have to face the masses."
"I have two entire days to enjoy New York City? How wonderful! To tell you the truth, I hate talking to reporters, I'd much rather coach parents and girls directly. But these days I employ a strong team so my job is to be the face and the voice of the Foundation."
"A task you perform rather well," he said graciously. "On Friday you are heading to the UN for the Education conference, and on Saturday, we will drive you to the Catskills Mountains, just in time to spend Thanksgiving with your friend Ann."
Morgan picked up the suite's complementary binoculars and looked out to the park. She could see the brown, yellow, and red leaves that covered the ground and a little girl jumping in delight as she experienced the pleasure of stepping on crusty, dry leaves. Morgan smiled, excited by the idea of doing the same. Seconds later, all she could think about was the smell and taste of roasted chestnuts, reminiscing about her childhood in Portugal. Gabriel stood quietly beside her.
