She could have easily blamed Hector, but she went against it. After all, she achieved her purpose from the beginning. She lighted a fire on Hector and made him take his kingship seriously.
Sure enough, she entered the Santos Palace without anyone stopping her and marched straight to the throne room. She appeared before the royal court and fell to her knees before her son. Hector glared at this gesture carefully. He stood up, strolled over to his mother, brought her to her feet and hugged her deeply for the whole court to see.
Everyone clapped at Hector's resolve. In their eyes, Bianca and Hector reconciled and became a family unit again.
Inside the mind of mother and son, however, there was that doubt; enough doubt for the feud to begin again.
****
107 B.E.
Hector changed his mind about keeping her mother away from Crystal Metropolis and overrode his own order. However, there was always that contempt.
When she was around Crystal Metropolis before, Bianca issued commands and made deals. Coming back, she was a stranger, walking around like a shadow. No one from the royal court talked with her on political or business matters.
However, she still kept her eyes and ears to everything. So far, Hector was making moves in the ATM, communicating with the same leaders Bianca appointed. There was relative peace so far, accepting that Hector ran policy.
The only person she did talk to about these matters, was the last person she ever thought she would talk to: Queen Isabella.
Since she never care what Hector was doing, they formed a bond with each other. Bianca wanted Isabella to tell her what was going on and in return, whatever Isabella did secretly, she would make sure Hector knew nothing about it.
With the pact made, it became easier for Bianca to know what her son was planning. And she kept her promise. She knew Isabella was secretly finding the passion from other people in court. When Hector was suspicious, Bianca would come in, tell him that he was just dreaming and the matter was resolved.
It didn't end with Isabella. There were some strators still loyal to her. With them, she asked for them to make sure Hector wasn't respected or worshipped.
Then, another idea came to her head. She remembered the metine crop from Zestir. She ordered her own personal space scouts to travel to the Hallow Points and find out if there were other outposts of the crop around.
When her messengers came back, they told her that metine was rapid in the area. Getting the good news, she had a new plan to bring her back to dominance. She made all the plans secretly in the floating Nero Palace and brought men she could trust into it, including Benedict Biondello and his loyalists. She also asked a Santos relative, Pedro Santos, to finance some personal money for her to use. Plus, she had support from the leaders she appointed on ATM planets. She had formed her own personal gang in Crystal Metropolis, separating herself from her own son’s court. She thought to herself that even though Cassio wasn't helping her directly, he helped her indirectly ways.
Throughout 106 B.E., Bianca went from Santos queen to ATM merchant and businesswoman. Hector suspected nothing. Bianca picked a perfect time to take in the metine trade, as the synthetic DVX left the Hallow Points and into other planets. She brought some of it to Crystal Metropolis merchants and the merchants issued it to the masses. She also issued them to Hector’s court, to strators and judges, and even to Democrat Guards.
In a short time, metine became the talk of the planet and the merchants gave some of their share of the profits to Bianca. She was richer as a dealer than she ever was as Queen of the ATM.
Then, in 107 B.E., Hector talked with one of his trusted cursers about how much money in the treasury. For some reason, he couldn't answer him because he had formed a headache. Later on in the days, Hector saw that he wasn't the only one. Many more suffered from strange headaches as well as quick temper tantrums.
He asked Alonso Fontaine to find out the mystery to this. Using his somewhat detective skills, he was able to come with an answer.
“There’s a drug around Crystal Metropolis called metine, your majesty.”
“Metine?”
“It’s a hot commodity right now. I also found out that someone we know is issuing them out as well, making some good money with it.”
“Who?”
“Your cousin Pedro Santos.”
Hector knew Pedro Santos’ reputation. Being instrumental in Ichiamo's reign, he was one of the reasons why Ichiamo lasted as long as he did. In return for helping his older brother, he became one of the most powerful benefactors by creating the Santos Aventine Bank, mostly used for the hardworking citizens of the ATM. It got to a point when it became a personal treasury for anyone needing money stored for whatever reason. He stepped down from his post to become a regular merchant, but he always kept tabs on his crown jewel.
“Talk to Pedro," Hector ordered Alonso. "If he wants to hold on to the information, arrest him and bring him to me.”
****
Alonso went to Pedro’s home in the town of Maser. Since the death of his cousin Ichiamo and the ensuing drama between Hector and Bianca, Pedro disassociated himself from the Santos family.
Alonso went to the home and was embraced by Pedro, close to his fifties. Bonded by the Katharina Santos drama years ago, both men were civil to one another as Pedro’s servant brought out some wine, good for conversations.
"So why are you here?” Pedro asked.
"I just came to see how you were doing,” Alonso replied. “How are things?”
"Fine! Nothing I’m ashamed of. Besides, why should I be? I have everything I want. I can’t complain anymore. And you? How are things with you and the king?”
"I don’t work for the king. I work for Crystal Metropolis.”
"So you say. The Santos run Crystal Metropolis, which means you worked for them one way or another.”
"And what about you?”
"Well, that’s the one thing I can’t escape from. Being the son of Timon Santos has brought some bad luck for me in the past."
Alonso changed the subject. “Tell me something. Have you heard about this drug called metine?”
"I heard it from somewhere before,” Pedro said quickly. “It’s a big deal. Bigger than all of Crystal Metropolis.”
"I know. Some of the court is hooked onto it. What about you? Are you involved on it?”
"Well, if I am, then I wouldn’t be saying it all over the place. Why you ask?”
"No reason. Just wanted to know.”
Alonso got nowhere with Pedro, but he was content with a normal conversation. Like Pedro, he was suspicious of Hector’s actions as well while Alonso was more suspicious of Bianca’s.
Then, in thinking about Bianca, he put two and two together. Could the flow of metine be connected with the former queen wanting to take the throne from her own son?
From the time he left Pedro to his time around the streets, seeing the metine addicts that had formed since the pulsating drug entered, it became clear that the thought of Bianca's plan wasn't farfetched. Bianca Santos had become the secret metine kingpin of Crystal Metropolis, which meant she had enough pull to make a play for the throne and possibly win.
By this time, he stayed away from King Hector. Hector already had his suspicions and they all led to his mother. He took out his cellphone and dialed a number.
"Hey, I need a flight... I'm going home.... No! Back to Solaria."
****
Hector’s suspicions were on the money. After some investigations and confessions from his court, he found that all of the metine trails led to his mother in the end.
However, Barca, who was with him when Hector had found out in his quarters, told him to be careful.
"If she’s responsible, then we can’t let her know that. We have to show constraint.”
Hector's hands shook nervously. Just as he was about to lose his cool again, Barca caressed his shoulder.
"Take it over, and finish what your mother started," he said. "That way, your cont
rol can be permanent. So far, your power is wavered. Control the metine trade and you got the ATM where you want it.”
"And my mother?”
Barca went back to the equation theory. Hector knew what he was thinking before he said a word. Perhaps, he thought, this was the time to put it to work.
"If it comes to that,” Hector told him, "make it look like an accident. My name never comes up whatsoever.”
Barca gave his bow and left Hector’s sight. With Hector’s blessing, Barca Indus was rising as a leader in the new regime.
****
Hector issued another decree to his court.
"Metine is officially outlawed in Crystal Metropolis. Anyone caught with the drug will be arrested and exiled immediately. Those who know of anyone associated with the drug are required to tell your king to avoid arrest..."
Within a few months, the trade had stopped and anyone who was caught with it was arrested and sent to the dungeons of Hungaro, or worse, Hector’s own torture chambers to extract more information on other potential dealers or addicts.
Crystal Metropolis's main dealer, Bianca Lysander Santos, saw her new world crumbling thanks to her son's new decree. Plus, most of the merchants she did business with babbled her name to Hector in his torture chambers. She knew that there was only one way that she could save herself. She called Benedict to arrange a getaway.
She met Benedict at his own villa. No words were exchanged or needed. Benedict hugged her tightly. With a final kiss on the lips to show that the love was still there after all, Bianca once again left Crystal Metropolis for space.
****
Bianca ended up in Cyprun after a month. It has been years since she came back to the planet. So many memories swam through her mind while viewing the atmosphere. She hid here with her father during the war. She fell in love with Cassio Ramirez here. Some of the greatest memories with Hector as a handsome baby were here.
This time, she came as a fugitive thanks to the former handsome baby turned adult king.
For a while she hanged around the countryside, dwell in other people’s houses, and admiring the skies, being a little girl again. Sometimes, she caught herself dancing on the beach like a graceful ballerina; quite different from the raunchy dancing she did in the nightclubs of Hallow Points. Kids loved it the most, and saw her as a fairy.
She had Democrat Guards with her against her own judgment. They were everywhere she went, keeping her from having all the fun she truly wanted in Cyprun. However, she knew that she couldn't have too much fun for long because it wouldn't be long before Hector’s assassins attempted to kill her.
Sure enough, on one sunny day, one of the guards told her that Hector’s spies lurked around the planet searching for her and she had to leave immediately. Bianca didn't argue and went on her personal mothership.
During the glide, there was nothing. Bianca kept silent and kept a gun near her side. So far, everything was serene. Then, she took out a phone and made a call.
"Benedict, listen, I can’t stay in Cyprun. Someone knows. Do you know anywhere else I can go?”
Bianca waited for an answer. Before she could do it, suddenly, from out of nowhere, someone put a metal rope around her neck and choked her with it. She was able to get a glance at who it was, but was lifted from her seat before she could look carefully. The soldier squeezed for dear life. No one else noticed. She couldn't scream or make any kind of noise whatsoever.
Then, she realized that she still had the gun. She reached into her side for it, but it was on her leg. She finally grabbed it and started shooting all over the place. She shot some controls. Then, she shot down, and with an accurate shot from out of nowhere, a bullet hit the soldier’s foot. He let go and Bianca started coughing. The soldier tried to shake the pain away, but before he could, Bianca fired the gun again and the bullet went straight into the soldier’s neck.
Bianca looked around and found out that the pilots were dead as well. She took the controls and made another call on her cellphone, coughing as she waited to clear her throat.
“Benedict, new plan! I’m heading for Illyr. I need you to make some arrangements for me.”
****
“SHE SURVIVED?"
In another tirade, Hector threw all kinds of objects at anyone around him in the throne room. Everyone left so they wouldn't have to face his fury, except for Barca, who just stood firm. He came to Hector and told him some news.
“We know someone who may tell us. I’m sure you’ve heard of Benedict Biondello.”
“Benedict Biondello?” The name was familiar to Hector. He was with them when they first came to Crystal Metropolis. He was surprised after all this time that he did not realized the connection before.
"Bring him here,” he ordered Barca.
Barca issued the order to the Democrat Guards.
It only took a couple of hours for the Democrat Guards to arrest Benedict in Maser.
He was brought into the throne room, where Hector had a piece of meat in his hand, chomping on it like he was a wild beast. When he saw Benedict, he smiled. Then, he went to him and hugged him roughly.
"It’s been a long time,” Hector said. “And look where we are. Nothing will make this more complete than my mother being here to see this. I was hoping you know where she was so that we can have that magic again.”
"I…don’t know where she is, my king,” Benedict said.
Hector chuckled. “Come on, friend. If anyone knows, it’s you. I mean I heard that someone tried to kill her. I want to make sure she’s safe.”
"Is that the reason for this?” Benedict said, as he observed the guards standing so close to him. Hector commanded them to back away. He turned and headed toward Benedict.
"Hold out your arms.”
"What for?” Benedict asked.
"Hold out your arms.”
Seeing the smile on Hector’s face, he went along with it. He knew that Hector was always playful, so he suspected nothing. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Hector walked to him, swung a sword through his arm, and took it right out the socket. Benedict cried in pain.
Hector stared into Benedict’s eyes and said, “Now you only have one arm to wipe your ass with. Do you want to keep it?”
Benedict nodded his head.
"Now where’s my mother?”
Among the cries, Benedict said, “Illyr. I arrange for her to hide out there. She’s there with her maids.”
Hector chuckled sinisterly. “Now how hard was that?” He looked at his arm. "Does it still hurt?” Benedict said nothing. “Want me to do something to take your mind off that pain?”
Then, in another clean swipe, Hector chopped Benedict’s head clean off. It rolled to one of the guards’ feet. A sadistic grin came to Hector that was never seen before. He killed Benedict like he was just another traitor of his twisted mind. He went to Barca, with some blood on his clothes.
"Go to Illyr and finish this.”
****
Bianca got tired of running. Even with being a fugitive, she still thought she had a chance to escape and come out clean on the other end. She had Ursula, the only person in her corner at this time, along with other maids. There were no more soldiers around her. Benedict was still in Crystal Metropolis, counting the hours like she was, or she hoped.
All she could do was wait for the word to come back. In most of her spare time, she drank more wine than she ever did in her life. She had happier conversations with Ursula to take her mind off the possible.
This went on for days and nights. Bianca hadn't moved from the spot she landed on when she came to the villa to hide, not worried about anything anymore. Not her son. Not soldiers. Not Crystal Metropolis.
Nothing.
Then came the day. The door was broken down. The sound boots came stomping riskily.
"I’m in here,” she shouted.
She was in the dining room, sitting with a wine in her hand. Silver-armored Democrat Guards stormed inside with pistols at the ready. She could tell becau
se of the sign of the mule on the front of their uniforms.
Bianca drank the last of her glass in one gulp. She stood up and walked pass them. They followed her to the living room, where there was nothing but floor.
There, she came before Barca Indus with a sword in her hand.
"He sent you,” she said. “Amazing! So my son decided to grow up? Too bad it had to be like this.” She smiled. “Is this going to be clean and easy?”
"Is that the way you want it?” Barca said.
Bianca went to her knees slowly and put her head down. Barca went to the side of her and raised the sword. Bianca turned her head slightly and saw that Ursula was there with a sword in her hand.
INIQUITOUS DOMINION: The Galactic Classic Page 42
