Sita
Getting more training and a better job increased my pay, and it came with better living conditions. Things were looking up. Qadir might be the worst being in the galaxy, but he had helped me out. Francis and Jack even got to move back into the city. All be it on the men's side.
"I wanted a family and a wife. The werewolves on Earth had that. Why are there werewolves on Earth anyway? What did they do? Have you found out what your mother did, Sita? And mine." Francis said and asked in ramblings as we exited the teleporter in Washington.
I shook my head. I didn't really care. All I was focusing on was climbing the ladder. The next spot was Liv's job or similar, getting into the palace or creating a market and getting filthy rich. I had been racking my brain about what I could bring from Earth to a planet that shunned technology.
The three of us were checking the loading bay. It was underneath the platform that the teleporter came out of. The beasts were loaded into crates on a ship, dropped off, and sent to Earth regularly. I was in seventh heaven, having the best of both worlds. Traveling to earth, staying a day or two, and going back. All deliveries were made in Washington.
***
Our work was completed ahead of schedule for the day. Francis and Jack were going to go see Nicholas. I greeted them. They were headed for the train station. I would see them in two days. Turning around… Louis, Carl, and another guy stood coming out of the teleporter. Louis saw me first. He nodded and moved past me. "Miss Moore," Carl said, walking past me. I rolled my eyes. Luckily, I wasn't Mrs. Rheed anymore. The other man dressed in all black came over to me. He extended a hand, and I shook it.
"Kubra."
"Sita."
"Qadir wants to talk… He said I should look out for you with your next delivery."
"Okay…. Are you going to take me or someone else?"
He extended an arm out so that I could walk first. "We're going to the basement." I walked towards the elevators. He was quiet. Tension in the air. I wouldn't say I liked the vamp next to me. Because he didn't like me… That was for sure. What did I do to offend him? The doors opened. He walked first. There were a lot of turns and corridors.
"He's in that cell. There is a communications booth for one person at a time. You will be completely safe. It's vampire-proof."
I scoffed, walking away but glancing back to see if he would leave me alone there. Kubra sat on a chair at the end of the hall.
The cells were made of glass, like the one I had been in Paris. I stepped into the booth. As the door closed, there was a whooshing sound. The door locked. The glass became translucent. Eyebrows raised, I took in the scene. Qadir was standing on one arm, balancing. Body raised and legs out in the air. I waited. Not going to make the same mistake again of stepping over the line.
"I need help, Sita."
"Anything."
His head came up, and our eyes met. He was scrutinizing me, reading me. Was there something wrong with my answer?
"I have to get out of here. Are you still on top of all the news of Earth?"
"Thanks to you, yes."
"I need something to bargain with. You seem to have a good outside perspective on everything going on. Maybe you can throw some ideas at me. I am at a loss for friends. I did have a mutual understanding with Jabin... But Marcus and all."
"Your contact that released the virus."
"Got what they wanted."
I nodded. Marcus wasn't on the planet. Louis was in charge. The fellow outside was definitely not on Qadir's side. Most vampires on Earth had turned against Qadir. Werewolves wouldn't side with him. He had nothing to trade… He had nothing to trade with… The thought kept going through my mind…
Qadir changed arms and kept his balance with both legs out at his side. I had a hard time not glancing at his body. I wasn't trying to make it obvious that he was attractive. "I can see it in your eyes. You already have my solution."
"The only one that can get you out of here is…."
He didn't need to say it. We both knew it was Louis. And to get to Louis, he needed to get to Juliet.
"Is there nothing of value left on En-gannim?" He gracefully came off his arms and crossed his legs in front of him in the lotus position, straightening his back and resting his hands on his knees. He was quiet for a moment.
"You know… The reason I cut out my wife's tongue wasn't because I hate when a woman nags."
His eyes opened. Our gazes met. She had a secret that he had to keep hidden. But I still wasn't going to say anything before he talked to me.
"You know, Sita, you are a beautiful woman. I am not devoid of a pretty face."
I didn't really feel his tone had a compliment underlined in his words.
"Your queen has four sons. Only sons. The first one to choose a wife would be… highly honored. And a little birdy told me the youngest one is on Earth. He was a little naughty when he reached twenty-one… Four years ago. Sentenced to a little downtime among the primitives… Remember that a baby would bring you even more honor. But this time… close your eyes and just do it."
I was stunned into absolute silence. I would need the registry from Samuel.
"I naturally do not know who it was. But if you could make your way to Canada."
I shook my head. "MIA"
"I have to say, Sita. You being able to preempt my thoughts… is a turn-on."
"I liked it better being afraid of you." Why would I say that… The smile on his face and his tongue that played over his teeth had only one meaning. He could make that happen. It would be his pleasure.
"But maybe I'll be married when I see you again." I waited...
He took in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. He lifted his hand and shooed me away. I got up and opened the door, getting out as fast as I could. After I passed his cubicle and only Kubra was in sight, I fell against the wall. My hands were resting on my knees, breathing heavily. My body shook violently. I would not be able to handle all of that. What was I thinking?
Kubra sat with arms crossed over his chest. His head against the wall. His one eye opened and peeked at me.
"Making deals with the devil, Sita? Doesn't seem like you will… come out on top… on that one." His sexual reference wasn't lost on me. When Chris had bound me to the bed, I had never been so scared. And that was my husband. I had a feeling Qadir got pleasure out of whipping and then f-ing.
But I would have to make my way to Canada and find that registry. It had to be somewhere on the estate. If not. I would have to go home. I had a day and a half. A light flashed at Qadir's cubicle. Kubra got up to go and talk to the devil.
***
Kubra
I sat down in the same seat Sita had been in.
"I need to see my father Kubra. Make it happen." I nodded and got up.
I had to meet up with Louis, but I could quickly go back and forth. It took me a few minutes. I was back home. The one I left when I was fifty. Sworn to silence. Sworn to Marcus. I breathed in the air I had not felt in a very long time. There was constant humidity because of the unending beaches and liquid that caused no rain. Freshwater was almost the most valued commodity on En-gannim. The clan that would oppose Ahasuerus for the throne had the rites to sell water. But because The Ahmeds created the teleporter technology, they had more pull. Because water could be bought from Palmyra, theirs would never run out.
I stepped into the next booth and went to the house I thought I'd never see again. Ahasuerus's house had a foyer where all guests were received. There on En-gannim, each household had a teleporter. Or at least there in Nahrima.
I didn't need to tell the guy who I was. The splitting image of my father. My hair had grown out a bit. On the trip Louis and I were on. I changed my outfit as well. I would not be keeping the high-collar fashion… The uncomfortable suit… But I was still in all black.
He knew who I was. "I would like to meet with Marcus first."
It took a moment, but he gave the green light. "He is in the east wing." I nodded and made my way to the study I knew Marcus would be in. I had thought about distancing myself from him and everyone on the compound. Take a few months off… The doors slid open when it sensed my presence. Marcus was on the couches. Head in his hands, waiting.
When he saw me, he stood up. I wanted to bow… "Don't you dare?" I stopped halfway. He stood tall like always. Hands at his side.
"I… am sorry, Kubra. I probably didn't have to. There were numerous other things I could have done."
I waved my hand in front of me. "Just like you will be, Marcus. I am relieved. Felt free. I wasn't going to do it. But him dying… Didn't mean anything to me."
Marcus heard the insinuation in the remark. We were too indoctrinated. Would never be able to choose between anything and our fathers. But… if anyone else did it…
"Can I sit?"
Marcus sat and held out his arm. I didn't expect him to hug me, but it felt like Marcus was already a bit colder, being there and in coping mode. Over the hundred and fifty years we had known each other, he had often had times like these. Where civility was all he could muster to save face.
On the other hand, I had been with Carl and Louis for a month. I dropped down on the couch, lying on my back, legs stretched out in front of me. All that was running through my mind was whether I should tell him about Charlene. But Marcus was in "adult" mode. I cringed at Juliet having to see him like that. If they ever do meet… I would have to talk to him first.
In France, he was in training mode but still around Juliet. It was like that three years she was with him on the compound. He was solid but soft. The three years he was not with her… There were a few times I thought we had lost him. I sighed, keeping my secret, forcing myself to come up to his level. I swung my legs off and sat up. "Would you have wanted me to play the Jabin card to our advantage?"
"No."
"Qadir wants to see Ahasuerus. I'm here to ask." Marcus nodded.
"Have they met in the last two hundred years?" I shook my head. "Why? What happened."
"Sita happened. She and Qadir had a lengthy discussion." I took out the tiny black tubes that have become a part of my life. I tossed it to him. I got up. Not having anything else to say and knowing Marcus wasn't going to chat. Before I left the room, I stopped at the door.
"I had hoped I'd never have to see you like this again. If you want me to come." I snorted. "Send an invite."
***
I bowed down to the ground when Ahasuerus allowed me to enter his study.
"Get up, Kubra." I did as I was told, bowing low, not lifting my head further than was needed to keep my balance.
"You not taking any mourning days for your father?"
"No, your Majesty."
"So that's how it is. He did you a favor." I didn't answer. There was no answer. One of us wasn't going to make it. I chose the right guy.
"What do you want?"
"Qadir asked for an audience with Your Majesty... A proposition, he said."
"Well, let's go." So used to human ways, my head wanted to come up and meet his eye to see whether he was joking.
He walked out in front of me. His assistant outside got up and followed. Behind him, we could kinda walk straight. He turned, and we bowed.
"Get me two guards and you. Let's change clothes. So that I can walk around undetected." He turned to me. "Would all black be appropriate?" I bowed. The assistant didn't even flinch and striped.
"Don't bow when we are there. Everyone stand up straight."
The guards were also dressed in all black. The assistant was the only one who was dressed differently.
"Why have you changed your clothes, Kubra. You still represent this house. I put you there for Marcus. He is back now. Will you come back?"
I didn't answer. We were walking out into the room on Earth. It was filled with people. They saw me and left the formalities and the documentation. What would have happened if I had to declare that the king was there. Would the president come and meet with him? I led the way, and they followed. The one and only time that would ever happen.
I showed Ahasuerus into the cubicle. He turned to me. Kubra, you can't be here. He held a flat hand out to his assistant. The man took out a device and stuck it to the glass inside the cubicle. He closed the door. The glass of the booth became clear.
Qadir was in his meditation pose as I was walking away. His eyes opened. He leisurely jumped up, and for the first time in my life, I saw Qadir on his knees. Head on the floor. Hands stretched out.
He gave the proper greeting. And then I couldn't see them anymore. I didn't even go to the room where the interviews were recorded. There would be no point.
***
Ahasuerus
"Qadir."
"Father."
For all he had done, the endearment did tug at my heart. Marcus would never have that filial duty towards me, or would he?
"I have captured one of that Chit's husbands. He is in a secret-holding cell. Father can use him for her death sacrifice."
I had other plans for her. Some tests of my own, but postponing them would mean nothing.
"The problem is that Kubra cannot help you take him back. Michael needs to be on En-gannim. In a hole. A conditioning camp. The threat needs to be real."
"Where is he? I'll go get him myself." A genuine smile played on Qadir's lips. For a moment, I caught myself smiling back at my son. My only son.
"Like the old times." He asked sincerely.
"Was it my fault, Qadir?"
He fell on his face. "No, Father! It was my own hubris. I pay every day for my sins. You rule with magnanimity. I hope that my boy might live up to your original plans for En-gannim." His tongue was always like honey. Knew precisely what to say.
"I have to say… I don't know if your hubris is worse than Marcus's obsession.… You might have to suffer for a bit in here. Only a few months."
Qadir's face was still on the floor. I had not released him yet.
"When you are out. Come and see me."
"Thank You, Father."
***
Sita
I had traveled all the way to Samuels estate. I had to fly and drive, but I did it. The house was locked all around. Windows boarded. I had to pull some strings to even get there. So, breaking an entry wasn't beyond me. The back door was the best place.
I smashed the window in the small glass pane closest to the door nob. I didn't think I would have to search anywhere else but his study. It took me a moment to find the room in the back of the house.
Shelves. A big wooden desk. A chair behind it. A ledger laid open on the flat surface. The dark leather and everything handwritten… It appeared archaic.
I walked over and around the table. The ledger laid open with a post-it on one of the pages… A pink one.
Sita
If you think it was going to be that easy.
You should think again.
One hint.
It's one of the three boys in Italy.
Good luck getting another guy to marry you.
Sam.
I couldn't be angry. Coming that far was already more than I could have hoped for. I took off the post-it note.
Three names. Aliases.
Benjamin. Mateo. Francesco.
I opened the book at the front. It went back thirty years.
A lot of births happened around the same time. My name. Jack and Francis. I see Juliet's name. I keep going through our history. The book contained everything. It was detailed, and all of it was recorded. Every child's lineage and family emblem. What their parents had done.
The three adults that had come because of my mother, I read the words at my name. "Lack of family leadership," I whispered to myself. What did that even mean? "Not allowed to take a husband with her. All killed."
My breath caught. I enjoyed the hierarchy of the women over the men, but it was too severe. My father was dead. I paged quickly to the three men. To see what was written. All three had a story. Benjamin. Father. Stole food. Mateo. Father. Stole food. Francesco. Father. Stole food.
I swore under my breath. That was ridiculous. It was a cover. The other two must be guards or even servants. The queen's son wouldn't be allowed to come all alone.
A paper stuck out in the back. I pulled on the white corner.
Trade agreement.
Years for Years
Two emblems.
I flipped the small sheet of paper over back and forth. Nothing. Why would Samuel leave it out for me to see? My eyes glanced over to the box next to me on the desk. I opened it. Hundreds of tiny black tubes. My eyes drifted to the floor. There were numerous boxes stacked. Box upon box.
I picked up one of the tiny tubes, turning it around in my hand. I had seen it before… somewhere. These were what Brendon recorded all my life on. The information we had on Juliet at the house… My eyes darted to the bookcase that wasn't flush with the wall. It was a door, half-open. The boxes lead inside.
Slowly, I moved through the space. My eyes darted in a million directions. The whole room was filled with ledgers and boxes. I swore loudly. Hundreds and hundreds. What would Samuel's system have been, and whose life would be the most important?