by Jim Melvin
If she were to believe Vedana, the demon blood that flowed through Invictus’ veins also flowed through hers. Demons—she had heard shamans say—were capable of intricate deceptions. Well, Laylah was part demon. Of what was she capable?
She pushed her door ajar and peeked through the crack. A tray of food sat on the floor, containing white fish with a crust of fried almonds, pureed vegetables thickened with bread crumbs and several varieties of fruit. There also was a loaf of dark bread and a ewer of goat’s milk. Whatever horrors Invictus intended to inflict upon her, starvation was not among them.
On the large rug in the center of the hall, ten chambermaids sat on their haunches, staring at her with a blend of apprehension and curiosity. With their matched golden tunics and long yellow hair, they looked like an arrangement of jasmine—and they appeared prepared to obey any command.
Laylah gestured to the one closest to the door. “What’s your name?”
“Bhacca,” she said timidly.
“Bring my dinner. The rest of you, stay where you are.”
“Yes, my Queen,” Bhacca said, expertly lifting the tray. When she entered the room, Laylah shut the door. The chambermaid carried the tray to the table near the window and poured some of the milk into a pewter cup. She then retreated a few steps and kneeled on the marble floor, waiting silently for further commands.
Laylah began to eat. The fish was excellent, the bread freshly baked and the vegetable puree heavily spiced. She consumed everything without speaking. Bhacca watched but did not move.
Laylah finished and the servant girl started to rise, but Laylah motioned for her to remain on the floor. She had questions. Maybe this girl could answer them more effectively than Urbana had the day before.
“How old are you?” Laylah said, trying to relax the girl.
“This is my third summer, my Queen.”
“What do you mean?”
Bhacca shrugged. “I don’t understand your question.”
“I would guess you’re as old as I, but you said this is your third summer.”
“I’m not like you, my Queen.”
“In what way?”
“I was spawned in Kilesa.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Do you not know of Kilesa, my Queen?”
“When I was a child I sometimes heard my parents talking about a village to the east called Kilesa.”
“I’ve never heard Kilesa described as a village. Countless thousands live there, and many more are spawned there. The king needs soldiers and servants, and he doesn’t have time to recruit them all . . . so he spawns them. I was spawned in Kilesa three summers ago. After I grew to maturity, I was brought to Avici. I’ve been a servant in the palace ever since.”
“You ‘grew to maturity’ in three years?” Laylah said, clasping her hand to her mouth.
“King Invictus has great powers, my Queen. Hundreds of newborns arrive every day. We’ve been given the gifts of life, health and beauty. We even look like our king. What a wonderful privilege! All that he asks in return is that we serve him and the citizens of Avici. And it’s our most sincere pleasure to do so. I consider King Invictus to be my father. Which, if I may be so bold, makes you my aunt.”
Bhacca giggled, but Laylah remained quiet. The girl’s face grew pale. “I meant no offense. Would you like me to leave? I’ll report to the mistress of the robes and receive my punishment for displeasing you.”
“No, don’t do that.”
“As you say, my Queen.”
Laylah sat in stunned silence, studying the girl’s innocent face. Could she even call her a girl? Was she human? How could she have grown to maturity in less than three summers? Was there no end to the extent of Invictus’ perversion? Forcing himself on her was bad enough, but at least she was just one person who meant little to the world. But to twist life itself? Maybe her brother was a god.
If only Takoda were here. He would say just the right things. And he would help her plan her escape. They would flee into the mountains and this time find a better place to hide . . .
“My Queen,” Bhacca said, interrupting her reverie. “May I prepare your bath? Afterward, I’ll show you the gardens, if the mistress of the robes allows it.”
“The mistress of the robes does what she’s told, just like you,” Laylah said. “There’s only one voice in Avici.”
“Should not the most powerful have the most say? That’s what I’ve been taught.”
“I’ve been taught to respect my family and my people. To adore beauty and treasure nature. I’ve been taught that the greatest force in the world is love. I follow the Path of Beauty.”
“Your words are strange to me. But I’m just a lowly servant, while you are terrible and wise.”
Laylah smiled at the humble chambermaid. Whoever or whatever Bhacca was, Laylah enjoyed her company. But just when she was beginning to believe her second day in Avici might be less horrible than her first, a flash of light boomed in her doorway, causing Bhacca to throw herself facedown on the marble floor.
“Good day, my sister,” Invictus said, honoring his word not to enter her room without an invitation. “I trust you slept well and your dinner was to your liking?”
Tears sprouted from Laylah’s eyes and crept down her soft cheeks. “Stay . . . away . . . from . . . me.”
“Come now,” Invictus said, sounding more amused than annoyed. “Aren’t you overreacting just a bit? It’s not like I tried to kill you—or even hurt you. I just wanted to claim what is rightfully mine. It was your grandmother’s little trick that created all the . . . confusion.”
“Why are you torturing me like this?”
Invictus guffawed, pounding his fists against the doorframe. It felt as if the entire tower was shaking. “My sister, you are being melodramatic. Do you call last night torture? If so, you don’t know the meaning of the word.”
For a moment he looked as dangerous as a predator, but then his expression sweetened. “Of course, I would never torture my dear sister. I admit last night was a mistake—and I apologize. I’m not used to waiting for what I want. From my point of view, if I impregnated you quickly, it would be like yanking a splinter out of a child’s finger; the pain would be over before you knew it. Now I understand you have a say in this . . . matter. I’ve developed a desire for an heir—someone I can train and trust to rule my growing kingdom when the time comes that I grow weary of it. And you, my dear sister, are the only vessel capable of making this a reality.”
“What you propose is unholy. It makes me want to vomit. I will not carry your child! I will die first.”
“Unholy? What is and isn’t holy is not for you to say.” Then he frowned. “I’m not easily denied, lovely Laylah. But despite my superiority, I’m willing to negotiate. I desire an heir; you desire freedom. Can both be achieved?”
“I don’t trust you.”
Invictus ran his fingers through his hair. “Sister, sister, sister. You’re so . . . suspicious. I suppose you have legitimate reasons, but there are aspects of your situation that you fail to comprehend. First, if I chose to enter your room, no one in the world could stop me. So by asking your permission, I honor your privacy. Second, I’ve admitted that my behavior last night was uncouth. In this way, I honor your dignity. You consider me a monster, but you know so little about me. Shouldn’t you learn more before you make such harsh judgments?”
“Raping someone isn’t uncouth. Murdering someone’s parents isn’t impolite. You can’t just apologize and expect me to act as if it never happened.”
Invictus was undeterred. “You’re beautiful, of that there is no doubt, and I believe you’re somewhat intelligent. But you’re not yet wise. I do what I need to do to advance my position in the world. The further I advance, the better off the world will be. You have not yet seen all the wonders of Avici, and you do not yet know my vision of its future. I am beyond right or wrong. I am Akanittha, servant only to the sun.”
“If you are
so great, show some mercy and kill me quickly.”
“Now that would be unholy. Hmmm. What can I do to convince you that I’m not as evil as you think?”
Then he gestured to Bhacca. “Newborn, approach me.”
“Yes, my liege.”
“Do not harm her!”
“I have no intention of harming her. She’s my creation, born from a drop of my own blood. Why would I harm her? She’s hard-working and loyal. I love her.”
“And I love you, my liege,” Bhacca said.
“Yes, you do. Kneel, child.”
“Leave her alone!”
Bhacca knelt obediently at the sorcerer’s feet in front of the doorway. Invictus gently touched her between her breasts.
“Raaga,” he purred.
Bhacca gasped and rolled onto her back.
“Invictus, don’t do this!”
“Raaga,” he repeated, ignoring Laylah’s protests.
Bhacca’s eyes rolled to the back of her head.
“Raaga!” he said.
Bhacca moaned and writhed. But Laylah found that the word no longer held any power over her.
“Raaga!” Invictus said with the force of a thunderclap.
Bhacca howled. Spittle blew from her mouth, splattering on the front of her tunic. She screamed repeatedly, her back arching, but she finally lay still as if in a trance.
“Return to your position, child,” Invictus said firmly.
Bhacca opened her eyes slowly, then struggled to her hands and knees and crawled weakly back to Laylah’s feet.
“You see? I can provide pleasure as well as pain,” Invictus said proudly. “The vast lore of the demons is at my command, but that lore pales in comparison to my true strength. I am Akanittha. Before you discard my advances, consider well the words I have spoken.”
“You call that pleasure?” Laylah said. “As for your words, there is nothing to consider. You’re insane. Kill me, or set me free.”
“You stubborn bitch,” Invictus said, finally losing his patience. “Neither is an option.”
A second explosion of light filled the doorway, and the floor wobbled. Laylah was temporarily blinded. When she was able to see clearly again, her brother was gone.
Beneath her, Bhacca attempted to regain her composure, but she trembled.
Laylah walked to the door and inspected the hallway. The other chambermaids remained on the rug, tears in their eyes.
Laylah slammed the door shut. Then she went to Bhacca and knelt beside her. For a long time, both were silent.
“I’m as frightened as you,” Laylah finally said. “Will you be my friend?”
“I would be honored, my Queen,” Bhacca murmured, her face still flushed.
“Good. Let’s start with my bath. Afterward, I’d like to walk in the gardens. Will you join me?”
“Yes, my Queen.”
“While we walk, I’ll tell you stories of my life. Will you do the same for me?”
“There’s little to tell,” the young chambermaid said.
11
As evening approached, Laylah and Bhacca strolled through the interior garden on a walkway of white marble squares. Ingrained in the marble were traceries of gold spun into the outlines of suns. The room was no more than fifty cubits long and thirty wide, but the ceiling was tall and the plants cleverly arranged, including several dozen species of flowers and shrubs. But all had one thing in common: either the bloom or the foliage was yellow.
Laylah recognized some of the plants, some of which had grown in the Mahaggata valley she adored. She now stood next to one of Takoda’s favorites. He had called it a butterfly bush, and it was aptly named. Hundreds of butterflies and bees flocked to the honey-scented nectar in summer and fall. Takoda and she used to sit near the bushes at sunset and watch the delightful conglomeration of insects swarming around the yellow flowers.
Laylah also recognized a shrub she remembered her parents calling golden bell, but in her memory it only bloomed in early spring. In this garden, it remained in full bloom in midsummer.
Something else puzzled her. Most of the flowers and shrubs in the garden required a lot of sun. The room had many windows, but not enough to provide the kind of light these plants needed to thrive. They should not have grown well indoors; yet, they were perfectly healthy.
As if in response to her bemusement, the gold traceries in the marble began to glow, and Laylah felt a surge of warmth rising up beneath her dress. Without warning, the room became as bright as the noon-day sun. Laylah and Bhacca were forced to squint.
“It does this four or five times a day,” the chambermaid said. “If you visit here often enough, your skin will darken.”
“It is great magic, is it not?” came a baritone voice from behind them. Laylah jerked around, expecting Invictus to confront her. Instead, she saw the soldier she had met at the banquet the previous night, although he had discarded his armor in favor of a gold doublet with a jeweled belt. His cape and hose were matching crimson. Like Invictus, he was clean shaven with shoulder-length blond hair and brown eyes. His jaw was square, his teeth flawless.
“Pardon the interruption, my lady,” General Lucius said. “I wander the garden every day, yet this is just a taste of the beauty of this valley. There’s a vast field of wildflowers just a short walk from here. And beyond the wildflowers stretch the Gray Plains. Would you care to take a stroll? The sky is clear, and the moon will be beautiful when it finally rises. The chambermaid is welcome to join us, if that would make you feel more at ease.”
Bhacca bowed. “I would be honored to be in your presence.”
Laylah was unimpressed. “You would dare to walk with me? Aren’t you afraid my brother will have another fit of jealousy? You saw what happened last night at the banquet.”
“I witnessed what happened, yes, but perhaps I understood it better than you. King Invictus can see far. Some say he can even see into a person’s mind. The ogre was more than just a lecher; he was a traitor to our cause. Most of the others in the room were already aware of this and were not at all surprised by your brother’s actions. Invictus was regretful that you were offended. He told me so this afternoon.”
“Good for him and good for you. As for walking with you, I’d rather not. Anyone who is a friend of my brother’s is no friend of mine.”
A man and woman strolling in the garden scampered off, as if afraid to be in the physical presence of such heresy.
Laylah laughed. “Apparently they’re as in love with him as you are, General Lucius. Is that your name? I’m having a hard time remembering what happened last night . . . for some reason.”
“General Lucius is indeed my name. As for last night, I’m truly sorry for whatever discomfort you experienced. I’m not your brother’s keeper. Like any powerful king, he does what he pleases when he pleases. I’m just an officer who follows orders.”
Laylah believed that Lucius was play-acting, but something in his tone rang true, lessening her resistance. If she were to study the grounds outside the palace, this was an opportunity she should not dismiss.
“Bhacca can come with us?” she said.
“Of course. It would be my pleasure to escort both of you.”
The general clapped his hands, and a servitor raced forward with two cups of wine.
“Bring a third,” Lucius said, tilting his head toward the chambermaid.
The servitor raised an eyebrow.
“Now! And hurry.”
When they entered the yard behind the palace, all three held silver cups filled with luscious red wine. Dusk had dissolved into darkness, and a warm breeze swept through their hair. Lucius walked between Laylah and Bhacca. To Laylah, the chambermaid looked like the general’s younger sister. But it was clear there was a division in rank. Bhacca skittered alongside Lucius like an adoring puppy, hardly daring to look him in the eye.
The general didn’t speak to the chambermaid again. Instead, his entire focus was on Laylah. “Does the wine please you?”
�
��A prisoner doesn’t take much pleasure in food or drink.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“You mean I’m not a prisoner? I can leave?”
“Your brother would prefer you do not. He fears for your safety. Like any great king, he has enemies—and some may already be aware of your arrival. If you were to wander too far from the protection of Avici, you might be in danger.”
“I’m sure my brother’s good intentions are the only reason I’m being held here. And while he’s so busy protecting me, he can rape me whenever he likes. How noble of him.”
If Lucius was shocked, he hid it well. “As I said before, I’m not your brother’s keeper. I only follow orders.”
Laylah found herself starting to like the general, if just a bit. And perhaps she could make use of him. She didn’t have other options.
“Show me the wildflowers, and what lies beyond,” she said. “My memories of Avici are dim. So much has changed.”
“With pleasure.”
The servitor trotted out and refilled their glasses. Bhacca already was acting a little tipsy. Laylah could tell she was enjoying being so prominently displayed with such important people.
The wildflowers were fragrant. Once again the predominant color was yellow. Laylah took off her sandals and walked barefoot through the field. The breeze stroked the petals like a gentle hand sweeping along the blooms.
“I can tell you the names of all these flowers,” Lucius said, with something resembling pride.
“Go on,” she said.
He knelt down, picked one, and handed it to Laylah.
“This is a dogtooth violet. The vines that grow along the border trestles are yellow jessamine. There are trillium, star-grass, and milkwort, all in bloom. Invictus’ magic works in many ways. Plants that normally bloom only in spring remain in flower through the summer and fall. And those that usually wait until fall bloom here in the spring, along with the others.”
