Alchemist

by Terry Reid

  Her cousin stared at her but said nothing; her face an unreadable mask. She began stepping slowly to her right. Every instinct in Terry fired, telling her that she was circling to attack. If any doubt remained in her mind it was expelled when she caught the flicker in her cousin’s eyes. But Terry held her position. Her gaze narrowed. “What have you done?”

  Ninu stopped her advance but angled herself into an offensive stance. She nodded passed Terry. “I was just speaking to your father about making me his heir.”

  Terry’s eyes narrowed. “We’ve been through this. You can’t be his heir, you are not his child.”

  Her expression turned dark. “I know that.” She spat bluntly. “But I found out there was a way. People with that one genetic code that can make them like you and your dad. I found out that it’s dormant in some people.” Her eyes flashed. “But I know that you can turn it on.”

  Terry rolled her eyes. Of all the secrets she guarded the one Ninu had spoken was one of the most sacred. Terry had never spoken of it to anyone. The only two people she knew who had knowledge of the process were her father and Uncle Lyle.

  “Who told you that?”

  Ninu’s lips pressed into a dark smile. “My father, he mentioned it at dinner last night.”

  Terry shrugged. “So what? You decided to come here and poison my dad and force him to inject you or something?”

  Her eyes flickered with lust. Lust for power. “No, not him.” They narrowed. “You. He can’t inject me when he’s paralysed can he? I knew the only way to get you to do it would be by threatening to kill him.”

  Terry’s heard her father’s nails dig into the arms of his chair. He might have been immobilised but she knew inside he was seething. And she knew he wanted to kill her.

  The princess turned her attention back to Ninu. “That was your plan? I have to be honest it’s a bit crap.”

  The armour on Ninu’s arm rippled into liquid metal, transforming into a long, arching, death blade. “We’re going to fight and you won’t always be able to protect him.”

  “More like we’re going to fight and you’re going lose again.”

  Her smirk broadened. “We’ll see.”

  Terry shook her head. “Don’t make me have to kill you. It wouldn’t work anyway, the injection. It would only work on certain family members. You’re adopted.”

  Ninu swung her arm back and lunged. But Terry was faster and swung hers upward in a diagonal sweep. A shower of metal blades ejected along the length of her arm. The six inch slivers struck home, piercing into her face, an eye and the gaps between armour. Ninu let out a feral cry. In an instant Terry was on her. Ninu swung at her with her other arm which Terry caught with no effort. With a sickening crack she broke it. Terry winced as another agonising cry escaped her cousin’s mouth, but it did not deter the princess from her grisly work. Grabbing her other arm, she twisted that too, breaking Ninu’s wrist. As she screamed and flailed, Terry caught her swinging broken arm mid-flight and punched Ninu under the jaw with a gauntleted hand. The bone gave way to her fist and blood flew from her mouth. Terry punched her again, this time on the bridge of her nose, bursting it open. She let go of her cousin as the hit landed, allowing her to fall backward under the momentum her clenched fist had delivered. Now on the floor and screaming through her bloodied and ruined face, Terry kicked her over onto her front with a foot. There was no care in the move. No love for the traitor. Terry rested her foot on the back of Ninu’s knee and closed her toes like a vice. Ninu stiffened, her howls ringing from the heights of the vaulted library as her leg snapped. A swift kick to the head finally silenced her.

  “Bitch.” Terry cursed, turning away from the wreck that lay motionless in a growing pool of dark blue blood before her. She hurried back to her father. Halfway across to him, the guards came bounding through the library archway. Ninu’s cries had not gone unheard.

  “Princess!” one of them called.

  “Get me a doctor!” she shouted, going to her father. “Dad...” she muttered, her voice thick with emotion as she grasped his hand. His eyes flicked to her and she could see the anger burning within them. Putting her other hand under his back, she sat him upright and laid his head back against the chair.

  The guards buzzed about him. One checked his pulse while another examined him for any sign of where the poison was injected. They quickly found it, a small slither of a silver needle tucked away under his collar at the base of his neck. It was pulled out and the soldiers set a few of their probes to examine him while they waited for the doctor. But despite all the commotion around him, Fallo’s eyes remained fixed firmly on that of his daughter.

  ******

  Terry’s head hung limply against her neck. She had fallen asleep in a high-backed chair beside to her father’s bed. A sharp hiss made her head snap up with her arm blade drawn. Seeing no one there she looked to his bed.

  Her dad sat bolt upright, hands either side of him. Rage set a hard edge to his features.

  “Dad?” she quietly asked. She did not dare move any closer.

  His head slowly turned toward her. She winced under his gaze. “Daughter.” He replied, the word flat. “Are you hurt?” he asked, emotion finally creeping into his voice.

  She nodded. He reached for her, his gaze unyielding.

  Terry sat on the bed and let him put his arm around her. She wrapped her arms around him and shut her eyes. Fallo pressed his head against hers. “You saved me.” He muttered, staring at something in the distance.

  “I wasn’t going to let that bitch anywhere near you.” She looked up at him and saw the vengeance burning bitterly in his eyes.

  “Where is she?”

  “Lyle’s holding her.”

  “Kila?”

  “He wasn’t involved...”

  “He broke his promise.” Fallo drew away at that. Pushing the quilts from him and tidying his robes he stormed out the chamber; their ends flapping furiously behind him. “Come!”

  Chapter 25

  The Shape of Things to Come

  Guards pulled Ninu to her feet. She stumbled and was dragged back up with heavy hands. The bruises on the soft flesh beneath her armour smarted under their rough grip. The soldiers gave no special treatment to the traitor of the crown, even if she had been deemed family only a few shout hours before.

  Two other guards held her father Kila back. The man had crumpled now following his protests. Tears rolled down his cheeks from fearing eyes; the dread and defeat of what was to come. He howled, pleading and begging for the King to spare his child.

  But any ear Fallo might have had for mercy had long since fallen deaf. He glared at his niece furiously. She lowered her gaze to the floor.

  Hundreds of soldiers lined the room lest another attempt be made on their King’s life. Fallo had more strength than ten of them combined. But the events of the evening had proved that even he was not untouchable, in spite of all his power. The men and women of his personnel guard had insisted on defending their liege lord and his daughter. There was no breed of Alchemist more faithful than the soldier caste.

  Lyle stood to the edge of the gathering, involved but not participating. He brooded under his heavy brow, his expression mirroring his older brother’s. Terry stood beside him, but her expression was much more sombre.

  “Do you know how many Alchemists have made an attempt on their monarch’s life before you?” Fallo asked; his voice cutting through Kila’s hysterical wailing.

  Ninu’s only good eye found him out of the remains of her broken face, but Terry could see that she was terrified. She trembled, unable to force the words out from between bloodied lips.

  “None.” Fallo said bluntly. He walked toward her. Her good eye widened and she struggled, but the guards held her firmly in place. The King stooped so they met eye-to-eye. “None.” He turned, his crimson robes buffeting around behind him. He stormed to where his men held his brother. “You should be proud Kila! You’re orphan child is a pioneer in a twisted respect!”
>
  “Please...please...”

  “She said she did it because of something you told her.” He grabbed Kila by the chin, forcing the man to look him in the eye. “And you know exactly what I am talking about. Now you will both pay the price.” Pushing him away he turned back to his niece.

  Kila’s eyes widened as he saw a blade slither silently from Fallo’s sleeve.

  “No! No!”

  Fallo stood before Ninu. “Do you have anything to say?”

  A tear rolled free from her remaining eye. “Uncle...”

  “You’re no family of mine.” And the blade shot diagonally up through her throat, its tip piercing the back of her skull behind the eyes. Terry looked away. She was a natural borne killer but her methods were clean and quick like those of her kin. But what her father had done was messy; a deliberate display of power and a deadly warning to others. A gurgle came from Ninu’s throat as the blade slipped free, followed by a river of her blood. Kila howled and crumpled to the floor as the guards dropped Ninu. The life force poured from her, forming a dark pool where her body had fallen.

  Fallo wiped the blade on his robes. Glancing at Lyle and Terry he walked away, half of the guards following. Lyle gestured to the two holding Kila. “Give him a moment then take him back to his rooms. Keep him under lock and key, he is not to go anywhere.” He said. Turning to one of the other guards buzzing after the King, he gently halted the woman and took her to one side. “Once Kila is away, please bury the body.” He whispered. The Alchemist gave a respectful bow and returned to the far end of the chamber, moving against the tide of her brethren.

  Terry and Lyle exchanged glances, but neither said a word. With unspoken consent he followed her leave.

  “You did this!”

  Terry stopped and looked round to the guards who were dragging Kila away. A defiant fire had ignited in his teary eyes. “You could have stopped her! You could have ordered her to stop! You could have controlled her! But you didn’t!”

  Lyle’s finally snapped. “Hold him!” The two guards stopped, dragging him to his feet. Lyle drew a blade and made to move but Terry caught his arm. He looked at her.

  “Stand down general.” She said. His lips pressed into a thin line as he was gripped with hesitation. Finally he sheathed his blade and gave a slight bow before stepping back.

  Terry waved the guards on. She watched as they took him. He did not struggle. With his head pressed against his chest he sobbed, grieving for his lost child.

  ******

  Terry returned to her chambers alone with a heavy heart. She had turned down the offer of protection from several groups of guards on the way. She knew instinct drove them to defend her, even more so after what had happened that night, but the constant offers quickly became irritating. She was also confident that there would be no repeat of an attempt on her or her father’s life. He had been right. There had never been one before and chances were there never would be one again.

  Terry pushed the oak doors shut behind her. She pressed the back of her head against it and closed her eyes. A heavy sigh deflated her lungs and fatigue gripped her limbs. Pushing away from the door she made her way through to one of the smaller apartments; one of the ones she used when in human form. It was much smaller, had a double bed and other bits of furniture. If not for the rocky walls that surrounded it, it would have passed off as anyone else’s bedroom. She flopped backward onto the bed and covered her eyes with her arm. The lanterns were turned up to full brightness and she was feeling far too lazy to shut them off.

  “Terrifallo.”

  She sat up, finding her father standing in the giant archway to the apartment.

  “Dad...” She replied, unsure of what to say. It had been a bloody day.

  “May I come in?”

  She thought it an odd question considering there was no door. But she did not point it out, deciding that he was only acting out of courtesy. “Yeah.”

  He crossed the threshold and came to sit beside her on the edge of the bed. She slid over to join him. A long silence passed between them.

  “I trust you are not angry with me?” Fallo asked, catching her unexpectedly.

  She frowned. “No, why would I be? She deserved to die.” And she meant it...for the most part.

  “Absolutely.” He replied, his steely gaze reflecting hers. He blinked and it vanished. “But it was hard. She was still my niece.”

  Terry felt a pang of guilt pass through her. “I know.” She sighed. “I know we didn’t get on much but still...”

  Drawing a deep breath, Fallo hardened his resolve. “Regardless of my feelings, she made her choice. She could have killed me if not for you.”

  “Why was she so obsessed over the crown anyway? I thought she was only trying to wind me up with what she said at the banquet that night.” She sighed. “Now I’m not so sure...”

  “We will never know, so I would not dwell on it. It was insanity to make such a ridiculous demand. Injecting her with our nanos would have killed her. Her father or Lyle may be a different story but even they might die if such a thing was ever attempted.”

  A long silence extended between them.

  “Can I ask you something?” Terry suddenly said.

  “Anything.”

  She hesitated. “When I was in exile, did you ever consider doing it? So there was an heir?”

  Fallo turned to his daughter. Cupping her cheek in his hand he gazed into her eyes and said; “Never.” His eyes gleamed. “If none of this had happened I would have come and got you sooner rather than later.”

  Her heart was in her mouth. “Really?”

  “Yes.” There was no hesitation in his words, no doubt in his eyes.

  Not knowing what to say, all she could do was nod. Looking away she said, “You never told me about what’s happening on Friday.”

  “I was going to today but in light of events...”

  She nodded. “I know, its okay, I don’t mind.”

  “I think we should postpone.”

  “Yeah.”

  He fixed his gaze on her. “Thank you.”

  She blinked, confused. “What for?”

  “You saved my life.”

  “It was nothing...really...”

  “One thing I don’t understand though.” He said, thoughtful.

  “What?”

  “Why did you not kill her?”

  Terry shuffled about on the bed, suddenly finding herself uncomfortable. “I would have if I was in my real form.” She shrugged. “But she was no match for me. Also I was more worried about you. For a moment when I walked into the library I thought you were dead.”

  A flicker of rage darkened his vision as he remembered. “She came to my chambers asking to see me and I let her in. She asked to borrow a book and that is why we went to my library. It was when I went to sit down she came and hugged me.” His expression hardened. “Then she slipped that blasted needle into my neck.” He looked back to his daughter. “I felt it going in and I felt the poison creeping through my veins.” Fallo shook his head. “I swung at her but missed and I fell into the chair. I was terrified she was going to try the same thing on you when you came in.”

  “She wouldn’t have done. There would have been no-one to inject her else.”

  He did not appear reassured. “It still could have happened and that is what frightens me. And she was clever, using a poison that paralysed my entire body else I could have ordered her to stop but I couldn’t speak.”

  “What are we going to do about Kila?”

  He regarded her for a long while, considering his thoughts. “He will not be returning to Troqueer colony if that is what you mean. I will need to send someone else to assume command of my affairs there. He can’t be trusted now. He will remain here where he can be watched.”

  “He’s not done anything wrong.”

  “Lyle told me what he said to you after I left. You had every reason to slay him.”

  “He was angry.”

  “He’s danger
ous! His child is dead, adopted or not! He will come looking for revenge!”

  Terry seemed dubious. “I don’t see it in him.”

  He pointed a finger at her. “I didn’t see it in my niece either but you saw what happened!”

  This silenced Terry.

  “You should have killed him for his insolence. You’re mind is still clouded with the flawed ideologies of mankind.” He nearly spat when he spoke of the prime apes.

  She stood. “I’ve had my fill of blood for one day father. Killing him wouldn’t have helped the situation in any way.”

  Fallo shot to his feet. “Daughter.” he called.

  She stopped in her tracks. “Yes?”

  “Please look at me when I’m speaking to you.”

  So she did.

  Fallo walked over to where she stood. “I do not want this to end in another argument. I am keeping him locked up to protect you. All I do, I do to keep you safe. Yet time and time again you either run off or demand we do the opposite putting yourself in harm’s way. Twice in recent weeks I’ve had to come to your rescue, both times where you could have died if it had not been for my intervention.”

  Her look was one of defeat. “You’re right, I would have without you. I’ve managed to go nearly nine years without coming to harm and now everything bad seems to be gravitating towards me. Sod’s law isn’t it?”

  His brow furrowed. “What are you speaking of? What is this, sod’s law?”

  Terry closed her eyes for a moment. She could not help but smile at the irony of the situation. Her father was not familiar with the human expression; one she had reeled off without second thought. He was right yet again; she had spent too much time among the humans. “It’s something they say on Earth, it means everything goes wrong no matter what you do.”

  “I still do not follow.”

  She laughed. “It means it’s ironic, dad. No one has tried to kill me in years and I come back home for five minutes and everyone is.”

  “I don’t see why you think that is so funny.”