Louis
After Juliet was taken from the bookstore, I sat for the longest time. Soren across from me, both of us staring at the roof. Not knowing what was happening was the worst. Going there and making a scene and getting arrested wouldn't help anyone. I had to keep it together. Juliet's words kept going over and over in my mind. "If you don't know what to do. Just don't do anything at all. Okay"
Okay, baby! I felt like a coward. How could she call me her husband if I could not protect her? Being there with her was supposed to be Marcus's job. I couldn't count on him. Well, it was his test anyway. "How can you live like this? I know Juliet is worth it… But why did you come back?"
"I don't know? Right now, Soren, I just don't know. She doesn't want to leave… She doesn't want to give up."
It felt like I sat there for hours. Liam came in through the back door, sat next to me, and gave me a cigarette. "Soren called me." I took it and lit it, wondering when Juliet would be able to get away again. How long would we be able to go on like that? We had four epic days. The four of us got drunk. Played games and watched TV like the old times. Liam was a fun guy. Cindy was hilarious. They were so liberal that anything could go on, and they would not bat an eye except when it came to Juliet. She was the one thing that made them pull out their… Own moral laws… Against the world.
"We talked about this, Louis. She's fine. You prepared her for this. Didn't you split her lip? Gave her a few punches in the stomach. Juliet is smart. She won't push it too far."
"Yes, but I don't like that guy that keeps flashing in her mind. The nightmares she has... I think you should stay there tonight."
"Yeah, sure. Come, let's go. I'll even take Cindy." I sighed in relief.
Soren was sitting across from us, wringing his hands, worried. I didn't have the energy to read him at all. I really didn't care what went on in his mind. But… "I'll tell you everything soon, Soren." He nodded and shook my hand. "And don't feel guilty. She would've done that for anyone. Literally anyone."
"Well, maybe not anyone," Liam added. I shook my head. She also lived according to her own moral law. Daddy's little girl.
***
I was waiting at the house to hear from Liam. I wasn't expecting them back, but they were. "What's going on?" Why are you guys home? You were gone for an hour? I thought you were staying."
"They wouldn't let us see her. Said because she misbehaved, she was sleeping off her… beating."
"F-! I knew it."
***
We sat around the table, going through every possible scenario. Getting shot was all we came up with. It wouldn't help. Drinking was our second option. I had passed out at the dining room table somewhere along the night. Woken by a loud banging on the door. Groaning, I got up. Liam and Cindy were in their room. I was instantly sober. Scared and worried about what might have happened. Opening the door with trepidation, the guard didn't give me a chance to speak or read him. "You three have to come with me." There wasn't much to say. If he would take me in any direction that brought me closer to Juliet. Where else would he take me? I hoped… Maybe she killed him and was in jail. Best case scenario.
When we got in the car, the driver's mind flooded with flashes of what had happened. A relieved sob escaped me. I grabbed Cindy's hand. It was a mess. Gruesome. "She's okay. Marcus is back."
We were all so relieved. "What happened?" Liam asked the guard, driving.
"The guards at Marcus's house misbehaved." Was all he said.
I wanted to cry. I was so close to drugging her and just going, deciding for her. If she was raped, that was it. I was tired. I couldn't do it anymore. I would kill Marcus myself if it came down to it.
***
The lane with the trees was weird. All the way to the back of the estate. I didn't know how he thought the slight separation from Qadir would give him what he wanted. I got to actually see his house for the first time. All three of us were startled to see Carl. He was talking to a man. "What the hell, man? What are you doing here?"
He saw us as looking up from a dead body.
"Are you going to read me? Or should I blab."
"I'm too tired. Just lay it all out there."
"Come, Juliet is in the kitchen."
We had to step over the guy.
"Why?"
"She doesn't want to be in her room." My fists balled.
She was slumped over the counter. She had on no top. Her back was worse because of the leather. It had affected her differently than when Qadir did it. Seeing her like that made me really want to cry. "Tell me you brought me a cigarette," She croaked out. "Pain meds. Drugs."
I turned towards the guard. He showed me a little room off the kitchen with everything she needed. Packing it all out, we all did something. Liam gave her a hand full of painkillers. Cindy was doing the dirty work, cleaning and stitching the wounds. I had never heard her in so much pain. Complaining and whimpering. Soft cries. All I could do was help her to smoke, kissing her as much as she would allow me. But I had to know.
"Baby, did he?"
"No." she croaked out again. I drew in a ragged breath.
"So Carl, tell us!"
"We haven't heard from you guys for two weeks. Marcus's phone was broken. It should've been a red flag. But Jabin was controlling everything. I haven't talked to Charlene in two weeks, either."
Juliet wanted to actually sit up and say something.
Carl quickly went on. "Don't worry. Kubra was so upset that Ben left her there alone... He went after her. They've not surfaced. It was so weird seeing Kubra like that, and I still don't know... If we can trust him… But anyway.
The communications here at the compound had been down. Blocked from any outside calls. Marcus killed Kubra's father when he found out about all the manipulations… Oh yeah, Marcus caught Mr. Creepy jerking off, watching Juliet in the tub. He gauged out his eyes for that and broke his arms for touching her."
Carl Yawned. He was so tired.
"Marcus went with Qadir to Palmyra, where his father made a move on Sita."
That got a chuckle from Juliet. "She deserves it."
"Yeah… That's about it."
"Didn't I tell you? Bad luck." Juliet said, grabbing my hand as the needle went into her flesh.
"Take it back!" Juliet rolled her eyes but took it back.
"Did you see him hanging from the pole? He made the guards bow in front of Juliet."
Liam and I whistled at the same time. Our eyes met.
"Don't we feel stupid…" Liam said.
"Jabin actually forged Marcus's voice to confuse you… Did you doubt him?"
I sighed. It was a start, but I was still doubting.
Heavy footfalls came stomping in. The hair on my back stood up straight. We all stood up straight, frozen, wondering what the hell would happen next. A few heavily armed men came running down the corridor towards the kitchen. There was one in front of the rest. His manner wasn't opposing. I breathed out the heavy breath I was holding. He stopped in front of us.
"Louis du Pont?"
I took a drag of the cigarette, putting it back into Juliet's mouth when she begged with her thoughts. I held out a hand to the guy. It was a reflex. Propper behavior and all. He reluctantly shook it, reaching for something around his neck. He took it off and handed it to me.
"Marcus is going to En-gannim. You are in charge of the compound until he comes back. That makes you King…." They all fell down on their knees in front of me. Chanted something that made gooseflesh cover my arms. They got up directly. "Forgive us for not showing proper respect. We have a lot of things to do… Who is Carl Bertram?"
Carl hesitantly stepped forward.
"If you can, kindly come with us, Sir. Marcus needs you to teleport him to Washington. Right now." Jessy stepped out of the kitchen with Carl in tow. Carl turned and waved at us. When I didn't follow, Jessy turned around. "You have to come with us. We have a lot of orders from Marcus. We need to sit down and talk. There are going to be a lot of arrests tonight. You are going to be needed in the office."
I snorted and glanced from Liam to Cindy. If I didn't have to. I wasn't going to leave Juliet… I didn't want to. What the hell was Marcus thinking! I was the one who stayed with her. I turned away from him and sat down next to Juliet.
"Baby." I touched her hair. She was out like a log. Cigarette between her fingers. I took it and put it out.
Cindy rubbed my back in understanding. "Nothing will happen to her again. You can help, Louis."
I stood up with the talisman in my hand. "I don't want to leave. She will be all alone."
Jessy handed us a phone. "For her. We can bring you back. We will stay close. Five minutes tops. We all have to listen to you now… Two hundred thousand soldiers…." I stood dumbfounded. Blankly, staring at Jessy. But he was waiting. He had to. What did I know about leading an f…ing army? Liam pushed me out the door and closed it.
"Go away, Louis."
"You better call me!" I slapped the door like Juliet had done so many times.
***
Carl
Unfortunately, we needed to split up again. Louis and I greeted each other. He said some things and was ushered into another car. I was taken to the teleporter station. Well, the diner that wasn't far from the barracks. There was a stream of men walking. Transport truck going towards the compound. They were fortifying.
Marcus was waiting, sitting in a chair. His head in his hands. Jessy was with me, and it made me feel better. It seemed that next to Kubra, he would be a friend of sorts.
"Marcus!" I touched his shoulder. Slowly, he sat up.
"Jessy. If I don't come back… And… My grandfather invades. You know what to do. Help Louis know what to do. Take Liam in your confidence. He will kill anyone if you don't want to… I don't think it will come to an evasion… But the humans will come and help. Play nice. But don't let them think we don't know what we're doing." Jessy nodded.
Marcus stood. "Let's go, Carl. Back to Washington. I have to go face my grandfather."
Jessy and I made eye contact. He knew that I would be his contact with the humans.
"Oh, and if Kubra comes back with a human girl. Immediately to Juliet's side or Louis. Kubra can put the watchers back into commission. Tell him to do it immediately. But you lot can figure it out."
Jessy nodded and kneeled in front of Marcus, and then we left.
***
The sun hadn't even come up yet. Everything happened in one night. I felt overwhelmed. It was getting to me… Just too much… All of the time. I was exhausted, running on fumes. We literally only came back from Palmyra. I hadn't even told anyone that I went with Marcus. I had actually been to another freaking planet. Seen it. Felt it. Saw so many werewolves that my world became a little bigger.
I couldn't help Charlene before… Even if I wanted to. It would change. I had a teleporter. We were in the white house, and my father was already waiting. Qadir was locked away in a cell for the second time. We were moving in the right direction.
Warden and Jack were waiting. It was like seeing friends. We were all so connected. If all went belly up. Kubra would connect the watchers with their vamps, and the army would suddenly be four hundred thousand. Some flying, teleporting. I knew why my father wanted the relationship to work. The world stood as one against others… It was going to change everything.
Jack had become Marcus's personal escort to En-gannim. Seeing that he had been there before. I was thrilled that I wasn't going to be the one to face his grandfather just yet. I hoped never.
***
Ahasuerus
It had been two weeks since Jabin was in my study the last time, bringing me everything that Kubra had so cleverly deleted and edited. I had to give Marcus credit for the fortitude he showed the previous year. Not one of my children would have been that patient. Where he got his mental strength from, I still didn't know. That day, when my interim secretary told me someone had come through from Earth, I expected Jabin.
Nervously, he told me it was Marcus. I had to ask him to repeat it, wondering if Jabin's last plan had worked. Had Juliet killed herself.
"Is Jabin here?"
"No, your majesty," he said, bowing.
"Well, show Marcus in."
Marcus and another man walked in, fell on the floor and kowtowed. That was where they stayed, showing proper etiquette.
"Get up, boy. So I can have a look at you." He was the spitting image of me eight hundred years ago. I was immediately proud of him. His countenance and the way he carried himself made him mine for sure. I sighed. "Good. Where is Jabin?" Marcus's hands were behind his back militarily. That was what he was used to. It didn't mean he showed me less respect than the guy bowing in the corner, not standing straight in my presence.
"I killed him, Sir." 'Sir' I had not been called that before.
"Is "sir" an earthly term? Does it show respect?" Marcus changed his stance and bowed with his hands in front of him, stretched out but together.
"Yes, Your Majesty. It's filial."
"Do not be disturbed. I was only asking. At ease, soldier. I was also a military man when I was young. You growing up there will take some getting used to."
"Yes, sir." I walked over to the window. The dark skyline was beautiful against the night. The stars were so close and vivid that the Milky Way arm was a constant for us.
"I take it Jabin's latest test didn't pan out."
"Almost, Sir. By a few minutes."
I bobbed my head. "Kubra know?"
"No, Sir."
"You did not think about that relationship when you killed his father… For that Chit."
"No, Sir."
"Well, nothing to do about it now. We have been in rule for five thousand years, Marcus. It is the first time a boy from our family has been this clever and determined in what he wants. Your father had that same drive. I hope yours brings you peace… Are you sure she is worth it?"
"Yes, sir."
I scoffed. Such a final direct answer. "When did you make the decision?" Marcus paused, thinking... I glanced over. "Speak freely."
"The first time she hugged me because of a couch."
I snorted, eyebrows raised. "On the footage, she seems like a stupid girl."
He actually chuckled. "Yes, sir. Very stupid." It was hard seeing him happy. I wanted him happy. But for other reasons. Tangible things. Financial. Generational Hierarchy... Kids.
"I have to say I would love to meet her… But I don't think you are that stupid." He didn't answer.
"So what will happen now… Is… Your chit will go through another test. And if she survives and comes out victor, we will talk again. I don't know how she does it, but her good luck is uncanny. Everything works out for her." My eyes covered the expanse of the city. "Come, Marcus."
He walked over and drew in a slow breath at the view. It was pretty magical at night. The water lit up from within. Made a pink and white glow where there would be streets on Earth. The liquid ran in between the buildings. Everything… Clean.
"Do you understand what's at stake? You are supposed to lead these people into the future. Into more prosperity. Garnering more technology from the other planets, we can still trade with. The possibilities are endless. It grieves me that you would give it all up for one girl… Take Marcus away. Show him to his rooms. You will be staying at my house where we can spend some time together. You will not be going back to Earth."
He turned to me and bowed. My gaze was still fixed on my prize.
"What's going on at the compound and with Qadir's plans?"
Out of the corner of my eye, he turned his hands behind his back again.
"I have taken over the compound." Impressed, I spun on my heels and clapped my hands together. The first good news in a while.
"Your father?"
"Jail." I clapped again, laughing for the first time in a very long time.
"The fact that you are so resourceful, Marcus, makes me very proud. If I could just get rid of that girl, I know you would take your place. Your prize will be mine. How did you do it?"
He didn't answer. He knew I wouldn't like his answer. But I wanted to know.
"How?"
"I was protecting her. It's all for her."
I shooed them out of the room. Irritated. My fingers rubbed my forehead. "You! What's your name?"
"Jack, your majesty." He bowed even lower than my secretary.
"You take the food to the troops and the compound. Who is in charge?"
"Louis Du Pont."
I burst out in a bout of laughter that did not want to disperse. I kept laughing and laughing. My irritation was gone in an instant.
Louis… I liked.
***
Marcus
Well, that went better than I had thought. I kept breaking my promise to myself. That I would never leave her again. All I did was step away. Every time, it seemed… I moved further and further away. I had thought that he would have no trust in me. But it seemed I had control of the compound's fate. If I behaved, Ahasuerus would leave Earth alone. No, he would even support my endeavor. I sighed heavily, sitting on the edge of my bed.
The troops and Juliet would get food. Qadir was in a cell. Louis was in control of my army. Jessy was there. Kubra would join him, and Juliet would be okay for a while. I was going to spend time with my grandfather. I was on another planet in another system… It seemed too good to be true… Everything just happened too quickly. I had made one split decision and moved forward more than I had in the last four years.
Juliet was going to have to go through a test… He said. I was trying to rack my brain about what it could be. The only missing piece was Michael… How long had it been… Three… Four weeks?
What would he want… Juliet's only weakness was her willingness to lay down her life… Where was Michael? Could he be on the planet with me? Kept safe for later use.
***
Chris
I had to find something to do, or I would literally lose my mind. Caring for Caleb twenty-four-seven was a noble enterprise, but I had never seen myself as a babysitter. A stay-at-home dad. For a few days, I had been going around the city, doing something different all over to see what I would and could be… good at. There was no wood. So, making chairs and cabins was out of the question. Irritated that I had all the skills with tech and my hands but nothing to do with it… Or very little in that part of the planet anyway.
"Can I not travel and find new places that may be a little greener? Find a tree that doesn't resemble a giant succulent…."
Ira smiled. "The planet is just as old as the Earth, and we have been here for generations. I think we know every nook and cranny."
"You cannot tell me the whole place is like this."
"Pretty much. And then, of course, we have dangerous beasts and predators. Bigger than us."
"Do they ever attack the Riphaths?"
"No… we have scouts far and wide. They quickly sort them out."
Right there, I decided what I wanted to do. Hunter, gatherer, protector… Didn't seem so bad. It was what I trained for. What Marcus taught me for.
Maya came over and touched my shoulder when I didn't notice her. My head tilted up. She was smiling again. "I'm leaving. Caleb will be fine for a few hours." I nodded. Her touch didn't irritate me anymore. Since we spoke, there had been a better understanding between us. She still knew her place and didn't crowd me. No one there nagged. Or irritated you. Everyone was all about peace. Ira was watching us closely.
"You guys seem better friends since you started talking."
"She knows what boundaries are."
"Yes, she's a good girl. Pretty, too."
I shot him a look. "Don't get any ideas."
"Let me get you someone, Chris. You need release."
I jumped up. "NO! I really don't. You did this. So you will have to live with me pent-up and irritated for hundreds of years."
He scoffed. "You won't last."
"Hmpf. Not much faith in me."
"It's not that. It's just… that boring here."
"Don't you have STDs?"
"That would suck. No, we don't."
"How do you even know what I'm talking about…. Using the word "suck ." He didn't answer. "Well, crap. So you can do what you want when you want, and if the girl has had a baby, you don't even need to worry about that."
"Pretty much. Works out. One big harem. Not just one person with multiple partners."
I was taken aback. That was the first time Ira had spoken about Juliet. Between the lines... And in a negative way. Getting irritated with me not conforming. I sat down. "You have a problem with Juliet having so many men, and we staying faithful…." Again, he didn't answer. "This is the first time you said anything… Do you not approve of your daughter-in-law?"
He stood up and held onto the pillar that kept up the roof made of some kind of grassy substance. Ira peered out into the street. "I don't like one person controlling others, Chris. Why we keep to ourselves."
"Why do you think she controls us… It's our choice if we want to stay. She has made that very clear."
"But will she take you back if you had another woman? Why are you so afraid? That, to me, is manipulation… Control."
"What if I told you I was a one-woman kind of guy, and I would like to get married here on Zoreah." His head jerked back at me. But he didn't say anything. I was startled at his reaction. Had no one ever loved anyone else there? "What if I just don't like not having commitment and loyalty. Until death do us part. Family. Togetherness and connection. What about intimacy? Those are words… You don't even understand."
"Why do you think you didn't make it official with her? At least try a branding? Or human marriage? It's because you are a Riphath. It's ingrained in you not to care. You were celibate for three years because of some human paper."
"Juliet is very jealous… It's not that she wouldn't be able to get over it, but that I don't want to hurt her like that… I know Louis's love for her and what they've done for her. Oh, my soul, what Michael has done and not to mention Marcus… We just fell for the same person… She has so much room in her heart… I don't know how she does it. Juliet loves us all and would do anything for us."
He scoffed. "You… Maybe a little more… You she's obsessed with."
I had to smile because it was true. Maybe I felt secure in her feelings. Because I had a little more of her… When it came to giving us numbers, I was only 4th. Would she add someone or… Replace the void I created? I actually caught myself smiling at the thought. Wondering what the hell she would come up with next.
"That glint in your eye… Right now… What is it?" Ira asked.
I sighed, pressing my lips together, trying not to cry… "She will come for me… And if that isn't reason enough… Nothing will ever be."
We sat in silence for a long time. Many faces walked past the house and greeted us. I had begun to recognize some of them. Building relationships was essential. If I wouldn't take a lover. I had to replace Louis, Marcus, and Carl. I had to replace it all.
"So what do I bring to the table for trading… when I become a protector." He jumped up and slapped my shoulder.
"You decided?" I had never seen him that animated. I nodded and gave him my half-smile.
"Before I do go and do that… You said there is no tech. But we came in a teleporter. There was a soft spot where we entered Zoreah."
He sat, the animation gone. Me jumping from something he valued to something he would instead never mention again. He regarded me for a long time.
"It's three months that way. And it's too cold there. We have at least a five-year winter here in Yaroun. After that, we go back for the five-year summer." I was so angry at myself for asking. "We were so hurried when we took you because the convoy had already started. I pushed it till the last second, Chris. I really don't want it to seem that I planned it. Tried to hurt you."
Every time I asked something life-changing, it really turned out to be.
It meant that for five years, I was stuck there. A whole year for Juliet.
I got up. "Check Caleb for me… I'm going for a walk."
I stopped when I stepped down from the porch. "What you should have done… was bring the nine other people that I valued with me. We would have had five years of peace."
"You know Juliet asked me just before we traveled… "How?"…."
My eyes slowly met his. "I'll tell you the same thing I told her… Species don't mix. Your party had three humans. A werewolf cub and five vampires."
"It wasn't just a group of individuals, Ira… They are my family. Whether they are another species or not. And really, we are all human fifty percent of the time… I don't understand why it is such a big deal."
"You should know more than anyone… Earth has no unity… So much diversity and culture, but they kill each other. They kill their planet. They hurt and destroy. Why would you want that for every planet that doesn't believe that is how life should be lived… They are a hundred percent human, and the species part of us makes us who we are. Sets us apart. It can never work, Chris."