- Will Cael be pissed off at you for your help?
- I don't think so... he's been busy lately...
- Busy with what?
- With the new laws that our beloved emperor wishes to implant in the Empire... - Benjamin practically spits out every word with a charge of irony when referring to the emperor.
- Is it about chaos worshipers?
- So so... it's about Yellow Day... he wants that circus be deployed in all the colonies... I'm doing everything I can to stop but it's a little complicated. After the emperor made that absurd alliance with the Northern Kingdom he became more impulsive, more... as was the word?
- Uncontrollable?
- Sadistic... the word it's sadistic...It's his attitudes... something changed in him after he came into contact with King Lucius...
- So the Yellow Day will be imposed on all colonies? Are you sure of that? - I asked fearing for the life of Drus, fearing that my friend would meet the same fate as Yolanda...
- This is the project of the emperor but the central sanhedrin needs to vote in favor and then the Dioketes of the mother colonies, Douléia and Agnóia, need to agree with the new order...
- Benjamin I need you to promise me that you will stop this shit! I have a sister in Douléia! She is still there! If the Yellow Day is deployed in Douléia she will be in great danger! Please I need you to stop this!
- Keep calm Kris... I am doing the possible and the impossible to the Yellow Day does not happen...
- Her name is Drusilia Clariston of Douléia... if nothing works could get you her out there... - I asked desperately and with tears in my eyes.
I would prefer everything unless than the Yellow Day to happen in Douléia, that Drus would be offered to chaos and our bond of friendship that took years to build would be broken by an evil force or by any hidden force that could be the exact definition of chaos.
- Drusilia? I know that name... she's run away from Douléia.
- It isn't possible... how long has she been despaired?
- Two days ago...
- No... that is impossible! It is impossible to escape from Douléia... - I couldn't believing that Drus would expose himself to such a great risk...
- It is possible... the Dioketes of your colony reported her disappearance... they say that as soon as you left she was locked in your chalet for a few days and then disappeared from there. No leads and no witnesses... some Iudexes who were left with the mission to find her but so far nothing has been found, the only clue to her disappearance is a crest of the Steel Amazons that was found under her bed...
- So you think the amazons kidnapped her?
- Most likely not a kidnapping but an escape... what most intrigues the Center Sanhedrin is that the Amazons have been missing since the great fire... the Emperor had burned all members in the public square so there was no way this group could mysteriously appear and kidnap a future pallaki seemingly insignificant to the aristocrats... it just doesn't make sense...
I stop my eyes on the space on the floor of wood that was separating me and Benjamin.
How was that possible? Vague memories linger in my mind. Memories of a sunny day by the jade lake where Drus had told me that her mother had left a bracelet.
I remembered seeing the circle of gold with two diamond lionesses fixed in the center of the object that hung on her wrist.
"My mother was killed in a bonfire when I was just a baby" -She had been telling me while playing with the object in her arm - "My aunt swore that if I was in danger she would come rescue me..."
- Benjamin... how was the clue to her disappearance ?
- I don't remember exactly how it was but I think it was a bracelet... wow! Yes! It was a golden bracelet...
- With the design of two diamond lionesses fixed in the centre?
- How did you know that?
- Because it was Drus' favorite bracelet... Ben... she wasn't kidnapped she was rescued!
My heart immediately filled with joy My friend was safe! She was safe! Her aunt fulfilled the promise she made the day Drus' mother died.
- Is Drus an Amazon? How is this possible?
- No... she's not... I think her mother was and that's why they rescued her...
- But from whom did they rescue her?
- The Yellow Day?
- Possible...
- Please don't say anything!
- Kris... do you think I'll tell them something? If the Amazons are back and they are against the horrific measures of Aurelius and all you have to go through being a pallaki, I won't spoil their plan! It's like they say... if you're the enemy of my enemy then you're my friend! I'll do my best to make sure they're not discoveries...
- But if they find out you are helping fugitives pallakis like Ilyada?
- They won't... I won't say anything about our secret... besides I don't do anything against the laws of the Empire I just give more time so that if a pallaki wants to run away, she'll have enough time to do it and go somewhere far beyond the limits of the Empire...
- And then outside the limits of the Empire there is nothing you can do...
- Exactly! Do you understand? I don't break the law I just help the parties who need it the most...
- You're a good man Benjamin...
- I just do my job... being a Iudex is always caring about the next no matter the cost of it...
- What are the costs?
- The costs are too high to talk about it in just one night and speaking of night... I think it's time for you to go to sleep...
- It's time for me or for us to sleep?
- Right... time for us to go to sleep!
- So... I didn't bring my sleeping clothes... will there be anything I can wear?
- If you like the idea of wearing leather pajamas black or latex... you will find several in any of these cabinets... - Benjamin answered laughing at me as if it were some kind of indecent joke.
- Funny... very funny... I could slap your face because of that little joke...
- How beautiful you're when you're pissed off...
- Clown...
- My sunflower!
- What about you? You're laughing at me but you'll have to sleep naked next to me...
- I have no problem showing my wonderful body to you, my dear! In Did you have forgotten you are mine the rest the rest of the week.
- Stop showing off...
- I'm not showing off for you... I'm just being honest... look at my body! Look if it's not a wonder...
Benjamin opened his shirt slowly unbuttoning each button. He knew exactly how to provoke someone... that son of a bitch! He knew that we couldn't get deeply involved, that he couldn't seduce me but instead he stayed in this dangerous prank that wouldn't get us anywhere...
The three first buds were opened and the millimetrically sculpted tan chest was gradually revealed. Every button that opened was a part of his abdomen that came to light.
- What do you think? - Benjamin asked me opening his shirt showing me his strong muscles of his trunk - Do you think I'll be ashamed of that?
- No... - I answered almost without air- I mean... I don't care!
- Wow! You seemed interested! Benjamin laughed at me again with a mischievous smile and then soon get up- I'll get your sleeping clothes... if you'll excuse me...
Benjamin walked out the door in response to that movement I stand up and close the door.
"What was that?" - I'm cried to myself.
Benjamin was a confused man and an unknown to decipher himself...sometimes he talks like a wise old man.
Full of ancient proverbs and unquestioned wisdoms. At other times he was a kind and affectionate friend who is always ready to help me and to apologize but that hot and sexy side of him... that was a big problem... Cael would never allow another Iudex to stole one of his pallakis unless he no longer cared for her, as he wanted to do Eleanor that if she hadn't run away she would probably be standing next to the Emperor being tortured with whatever form he used to traumatize her.
- I returned... - Benjamin opened the door with some clothes on his hands.
- You were fast!
- I found Arthur taking some of your clothes to your room... at least I think they were your... look here! See if these clothes are yours...
Benjamin held me out some pieces.
Immediately I recognized the two garments before me. One clothe was the navy blue silk robe and another was a cetin nightdress that was in the back of my cabin closet. That pervert had been going through my stuff.
- These clothes are mine... they were hidden in my closet...
- So that must be why he gave me these clothes so quickly...
- Of course...
- So since your clothes are here I see no reason why you shouldn't get dressed and go to sleep...
- Turn your back... I don't like having you spying on me...
- Why don't you use the bathroom?
- Where is the bathroom?