The Brotherhood: Awakening Book II - 11. Chapter 11

The Brotherhood: Awakening

Chapter XI

By X

 

 

Stepping through that door felt like I was walking into another world entirely. Not because the office itself was beyond posh, and it certainly was, but because it felt very much like I was stepping into his world. The space Zenial created for himself looked comfy and lavish. The furniture was black, looked expensive, and was placed meticulously around the room as if each had a hidden purpose. The wall of glass that ran the length of his office and wrapped around behind his desk afforded a breathtaking view of the city below.

We marched in and lined up in front of his desk while he looked down, signed some documents, and shoved them in a folder. A small stack of papers remained in a pile directly in front of him. I felt like I was standing in front of a firing squad if I’m being honest. I don’t even know why I felt so anxious meeting Zenial for the second time. The first time around, the guy saved my life from his psychotic brother, so he couldn’t be all that bad, right?

Sunny made me feel at home with my new brothers. Razual has been great and surprisingly supportive. I guess a part of me was waiting for the other shoe to drop now that I was dealing with someone higher up the food chain. I figured my luck with understanding and supportive brothers was bound to run out. Back in the warehouse, I was a defenseless “human” at the mercy of Kaylec, who was about to start WWIII. Now I’m one of them, have been the whole time, and I was sleeping with the enemy. For all I knew, my death warrant was signed and tucked away in that folder.

Placing the cap over his fancy, expensive pen, Zenial set it perfectly centered above the remaining unsigned documents and then looked up at the row of misfits standing before him, Razual not included, of course. The left side of his lips slowly curled upwards in what was probably the beginning of a smirk, but he stood up and walked around his desk before it could manifest.

His attire was a stark contrast to the dark furnishings around him. Zenial was clad in a suit as white as the driven snow with a matching tie and dress shoes. The only color on him was the pink button-up shirt and matching handkerchief. It was like watching a sexy snowman come to life. Like the rest of us, Zenial’s suit, his own creation, I’m sure, was immaculately tailored to hug his physique in all the places that mattered.

“Razual.” Zenial placed his hand on Raz’s left arm briefly and gave him a slight acknowledging nod.

Razual responded with a more obvious nod and bow but remained silent.

“Brother,” Zenial said to Kaylec, stopping between the pair to engage in friendly pleasantries.

“Brother,” Kaylec repeated with a nod of his own, but he did not bow. I wondered if there was some understanding between them that didn’t require him to bow or if Kaylec was being an arrogant prick and didn’t feel like he needed to bow. I’d put my money on the latter.

Despite speaking English, I had no idea what they were saying, for I was so nervous that their words were a jumbled mess to my ear. I was a few feet away from Zenial, yet I felt planets away. That did not stop me from looking him over from the corner of my eye; I must say he was stunning. And let me be clear. Everyone in that room would put a runway model to shame, and yes, despite my personal feelings, I included Kaylec and Soullen in that assessment. Zenial, on the other hand, possessed an aura about him, an ethereal beauty I’d witnessed only once before in Q. Now, let’s not get crazy, and maybe I’m a bit biased, but no one could surpass Q. Nonetheless, Zenial was definitely on his level.

Next down the line was Sunny, who immediately bowed when Zenial stood before him. “My Prince,” he said, with enough reverence that you would think he was standing in the presence of the holiest of holy men. But I suppose to him, to us, that’s precisely what was happening in a sense.

You might be wondering why I’m mentioning all these little nuanced gestures I observed, and the answer is quite simple. I was taking inventory. I had no fucking idea what I was supposed to do when he got to me, and I was freaking out a little bit. But I did manage to play it cool, if I do say so myself.

Placing his hand under Sunny’s chin, Zenial slowly lifted his head, then slipped the same hand behind Sunny’s neck as he pressed their foreheads together. “Sundryn, my brother,” he said softly; a row of pearly whites appeared as his lips slowly stretched into a smile. “I regret it’s taken this long for us to officially meet, considering your time with The Sanctum. I am sorry.”

“Not at all, My Prince!” Sunny was quick to respond. The desperation in his voice was endearing. It’s like he didn’t want Zenial to believe even for a second that he held any ill will towards him. “I can’t even imagine how busy your schedule must keep you. I’m just grateful for today’s opportunity.”

Zenial’s bright smile never faded. “I’ll take that as I’m forgiven then.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, My Prince,” Sunny assured him.

“You’re too kind,” he replied and, releasing his hold, took a step back. “Rest assured, Sundryn, I have heard many great things about you from Razual and Eolaeis. They sing your praises, quite honestly.”

“My Lord,” Razual said, stepping forward and waving his hand about, “let’s not do that. It tends to go to his head more often than not.”

I chuckled under my breath, and Zenial flashed his smile while Sunny scolded me with a boney elbow to the ribs.

“You prefer Sunny, if I am not mistaken,” Zenial inquired, turning his attention back to Sunny.

“I do, My Lord.”

“Sunny it is,” he said, patting him on the shoulder.

Then he moved down to me. My heart skipped a beat.

“And here we have Akuzio.”

Don’t screw this up! Copy Sunny, and everything will be fine.

His heterochromatic eyes instantly ensnared me. I felt like I was being pulled into the depths of a tropical blue ocean while simultaneously getting lost amid the greens of an emerald forest. I could not look away, but I knew I had to say something before it got too awkward.

“Your hair,” I blurted out instead of My Prince.

Taken aback, he jerked his head back slightly and slowly raised his hand to feel his hair. “My hair?” He looked down the line toward Razual, confused as all hell. “Is there something wrong with my hair?”

“Unbelievable,” I heard Kaylec sneer.

Clearing his throat, Sunny slapped my stomach with the back of his hand.

“My Prince,” I finally said, bowing and feeling like a complete ass. “Forgive me. I meant no disrespect.” I maintained my posture, eyes locked on his shiny shoes, waiting for the worse to come.

Lifting my head by my chin, Zenial pressed his forehead to mine while slipping his hand behind my neck and said, “Welcome home, brother.” The moment lasted a little longer than I expected. Maybe it was his way of assuring me he wasn’t offended and that everything was fine. When he stepped back, he ran his hand through his hair again. “Is there something wrong with my hair?”

“Not at all!” I said quickly. It was true. He looked great, sporting a half ponytail with the rest cascading down his shoulders.

He was still confused and about to say something more, but I could tell something clicked in his head. “Ah, yes, that’s right,” he laughed softly. “Last time you saw me, I had blue hair.”

“Um, yes, it was, so it just threw me off for a second. But you look great, though!”

I’m such an idiot!

He laughed, running his hand through his golden-brown hair for the last time. “That was due to a bet I lost to young Zac. The blue hair was his payment.” Shaking his head with a fading smile, he looked at Sunny. “That boy is relentless.”

“You’re preaching to the choir, My Prince,” Sunny smirked.

“Again, I’m truly sorry, My Prince. I meant no….”

“You’re fine, Jacob,” he insisted with a hand gesture. “It is okay for me to call you Jacob, correct?”

“That’s perfectly okay. Whatever works for you.”

“Jacob will do just fine,” Zenial said and placed his hand on my chest. “Relax, Jacob. You are amongst your brothers. Your family. There’s no need to be afraid. I understand you had a rough introduction to The Sanctum,” his eyes darted briefly to Kaylec, then back to me, “but rest assured, you have nothing to fear from me.”

I nodded.

“Good,” Zenial said, slipping his hand around my neck again. His eyes were on me, and again I lost myself in Zenial’s gaze. The stark difference between them accentuated his beauty beyond measure. His green eye gave prominence to the lighter hues of his golden-brown hair, while the blue eye, brilliant as a perfectly cut sapphire, enhanced his youthful features and flawlessly pale skin. Zenial jostled me gently with a mild squeeze and nodded, “Very Good.”

I felt the stress of the ages evaporate off my shoulders when he moved on to Soullen. Zenial was different from what I expected. And hell, if I’m being honest, I didn’t know what to expect, but he was kinder….softer than I imagined. I guess I pictured someone more like Q, cold and distant at first until you broke through his walls. Hell, it’s what attracted me to Q in the first place, so I’m not complaining, but if Zenial possessed such barriers, he hid them well.

I was surprised yet again when he stood before Soullen and respectfully bowed before the little brat prince. And I’m not talking about a slight little gesture that was barely noticeable, but a full-on, I’m standing before royalty, bow. It was leagues more respectful than what Prince Aulus did, and I already thought that was over the top for this twerp. Why they felt the need to show this garbage person such veneration is beyond me.

“Prince Soullen,” Zenial said. “I’m honored to host such an esteemed guest.”

I wanted to gag!

“Zenial,” was all Soullen said as he placed his hands behind his back and stood there all smug-like. This little fucker really thought he was King Shit with his cold, deadpan expression. He needed a smack!

“And may I compliment his Highness on his impeccable taste.” I figured he meant Soullen’s suit, which was white like Zenial’s but with a deep red dress shirt that matched his eyes. Taking a step back, Zenial straightened his posture, turned around, and placed his hand in his pockets, making his ass pop in his slacks even more.

Wow!

A brief silence befell the room. All eyes were on Zenial as he stood in front of his desk with his back to the group. I discreetly looked over at Sunny and noticed I wasn’t the only one admiring his lovely assets.

“Well, here we are,” Zenial finally spoke while turning around and leaning back against the edge of his desk. Folding his arms over his chest and crossing one ankle over the other, he shrugged while looking directly at Kaylec. “This is the emergency meeting you felt could not wait.”

“It’s….” Kaylec began to say before he was interrupted.

“So much so that you felt the need to go over Razual’s head concerning a newly awakened brother under his care.” Zenial’s eyes shifted between Raz and me before settling on Kaylec again. “Does that about sum it up?”

“Yes, but….”

“Oh wait, if I’m not mistaken, Razual expelled you from his house, and you refused to leave, undermining his authority yet again and compelling me to remove you forcefully.” Pausing briefly, Zenial shook his head dejectedly. “Now, I believe that about sums it up.”

“Um, not quite,” Sunny said matter-of-factly as if Zenial was even talking to him. He began moving his lips and making marks in the air as he replayed events in his mind. “There’s the bathroom incident, My Prince.” He then backhands me in the stomach. “Is there anything else you can think of? I’m pretty sure that’s it, though.”

“Sunny, shut up,” I whispered through clenched teeth.

“Of course, the bathroom incident. How foolish of me to forget.”

“It’s okay; it happens,” Sunny assured him, missing the blatant sarcasm in his tone.

I jabbed him in the side to try and shut him up.

“Brother, what is this?” Kaylec was finally able to speak. He took a step forward and placed a hand on his chest. “I come to you with grave concerns, and instead of listening and taking it seriously, you take this opportunity to attack me?”

“Oh, that’s rich,” Sunny snickered and slapped me again. “He feels attacked now. Try getting flung across the room, buddy, then come to talk to us about feeling attacked.”

“Sunny!” Both Raz and I scolded him at the same time.

“Okay, okay!” He surrendered by throwing his hands up. “I was just saying. Jeez!”

Kaylec was non too pleased and glared at Sunny with contempt. And I swear to god I saw Zenial cover his mouth briefly to hide a smirk. Maybe I was wrong, but the way he suddenly cleared his throat and straightened out his jacket for no reason tells me he was trying not to lose his composure.

“Sunny has a point,” Zenial agreed.

“Thank you,” Sunny said proudly and gave me a smug look, though he reframed from doing the same to Raz.

“You caused all this disruption and now want to claim the mantle of the victim,” Zenial fired another shot. This was getting spicy, and I loved every minute of it. “You disappoint me, brother.”

“That’s not at all what I’m doing!” Kaylec jeered, his voice like a thunderous boom in the room while his eyes briefly swirled with darkness.

“Careful,” Raz warned calmly, in a tone that could soothe the most restless souls. “Do not forget whom you are addressing, Kaylec.”

“I forget nothing!” Kaylec responded, snapping his head in Raz’s direction. It almost appeared as if he was challenging Raz’s authority. He wasn’t, at least I didn’t believe that was the case, but to a layman who didn’t understand the power structure in the room, I could see how it might appear that way to them.

“That’s good, Kaylec.” Raz never lost his calm, measured tone. Stepping up to Kaylec, Raz looked him over before staring him straight in the eyes. “It’s good to know your place.”

“Instead of wasting time trying to dimmish me, Razual, you should put some energy into dealing with the threat dwelling right under your nose.”

“And what threat is that, exactly?” Zenial inquired.

Kaylec spun around and pointed directly at me while walking up to Zenial. “Him!”

Shaking his head and rolling his eyes, Sunny mumbled, “Oh, please!”

I knew the spotlight would fall on me eventually, and there we were. It was nice to hear Sunny dismiss Kaylec’s claims out of hand. He had faith in me, and considering I felt isolated among these El’odian titans, it meant the world.

“So, you keep claiming,” Zenial said and then shrugged. “Where is your evidence? Jacob has been with us for all of five minutes, and you have put the imagined destruction of our people squarely on his shoulders.”

“Imagined?” Kaylec gasped, taking a step back as if he just took a punch to the gut. “The evidence is staring you right in the face, brother!” Turning to face me for a second, he pointed at me again before looking at Zenial. “It’s right there!” Those words were barely able to escape his gritted teeth. “

“All I see is a newly awakened brother.” Looking at me briefly, Zenial offered a faint smile. It was all I needed to relax and believe that not everyone was out to get me. “A brother who probably feels more at home with The Nave than he does his own kind because instead of embracing Jacob as your brother, you have done nothing but terrorize him.”

“Then you are blind!” Kaylec bellowed. “You all are!” He spun, throwing his hand out accusingly at Sunny and Raz before facing Zenial again. “He’s been in the enemy’s hand. He’s slept with the worst of them. He’s Qua’quelle’s whore!”

I felt Sunny’s hand on my arm just as I stepped toward Kaylec while Zenial launched himself off the desk at blinding speed and grabbed Kaylec by the mouth. “That’s enough!” A shadow crept into the office. From where I couldn’t say, but its tendrils stretched across all surfaces like a mist, enveloping nearly all the light in the room like a monster devouring all life and joy from the world. “You will not speak of your brother in such a manner again, for you disgrace the very idea of what we are when you dishonor his name.” Zenial was pushing Kaylec’s head back, bending him like a pretzel, while Kaylec tried desperately to free himself. His voice, though soft, reverberated off the shadow consuming the room, making it sound like an orchestra.

There was a soft knock on the door. The shadows retreated to whatever abyss they called home. Zenial released his brother, causing Kaylec to stumble backward, but luckily for him, Sunny and Raz caught him, steadying him before he fell on his ass.

Ms. Cynthia walked in and stood by the door with her hand firmly on her hip. “What in the heavens is going on in here, Suga?” she demanded, her eyes peering over the brim of her glasses, slowly moving from one El’odian to the next. She wasn’t the biggest woman in the world, but her presence could tower over any skyscraper. “What is all this hooting and hollering I’m hearing? Need I remind you all that I’m trying to run an office?” She pointed out towards the waiting area. “There are people out there trying to do their jobs. They don’t need to hear that kind of language coming out of this office.” She shook her head aggressively and pointed to the floor. “Especially not this office.” Ms. Cynthia closed the door further until only her arm kept it from closing completely. “And those boys out there don’t need to hear their leaders going at each other like bulls in a China shop, you hear me? They’re looking at me like we’re coming up on end times. I won’t have it!”

“I apologize, Ms. Cynthia,” Zenial said sincerely with his hand on his chest. “It will not happen again.”

“It certainly will not,” she insisted. “Don’t make me come back in here now, you hear me?”

Stepping forward, Razual placed his hand on his chest and said, “You won’t have to, Ms. Cynthia.”

“You are all grown,” she said while pointing at us. “Way grown. Do better!” She shook her head and gave us one last disapproving side eye before heading out. “Makes no sense,” she grumbled to herself. “Everyone is acting a damn fool today like it’s happy hour at the Golden Goose.” As she closed the door, I heard her say, “Zac, get maintenance on the phone. I want the water in the building checked immediately.”

There was an awkward silence that followed Ms. Cynthia’s departure, which only served to increase the tension in the room tenfold. Zenial stood by his desk, adjusting the ends of his sleeves; the candy-pink cufflinks shimmered as they caught the light. “You hate Qua’quelle,” he said.

Wait, what? No, I don’t!

“He took Amadeus away from you.” I was thrown off for a minute because I thought Zenial was talking to me. “You still grieve his loss to this day, Kaylec. Your pain is real. I understand that. But now you’re taking out that anger and frustration on one of our own. Jacob is not Qua’quelle and certainly not to blame for the sins of the past. Not our sins or theirs.”

“Don’t speak to me about Amadeus, brother,” Kaylec sneered. “This has nothing to do with him.”

“Doesn’t it?” Raz offered, throwing his hands out to the side. “The math adds up, Kaylec. Amadeus is dead. Qua’quelle is not. For over two thousand years, you have had to live with the fact his memory goes unavenged while his killer roams free.”

I was going to seriously lose my shit. “He’s not a killer,” I blurted out before the words could mature into a coherent thought.

“Excuse me?” Razual said, but not defensively. At least, that’s not the sense I got. It was more like he was looking for clarification.

I swallowed hard as Razual stared at me, waiting, and it didn’t help matters when Zenial turned his gaze on me. Kaylec always hated me, so his glaring was just another Tuesday for me. But now the pressure was real, and the words were caught in my throat.

Gently jabbing me in the side, Sunny spoke out of the corner of his mouth in a hushed voice as if the whole room couldn’t hear him. “Say something.”

“He killed Amadeus,” I said, not looking at anyone in particular. “There’s no denying that. I saw it with my own eyes, in fact.” I paused momentarily as the images flashed through my mind. “But it’s not like Q was stalking him down a dark alley and killed him on a whim or because he happened to be bored that night. It was a battle. It was brutal. Both sides fought hard. Both sides lost people. Amadeus wasn’t some defenseless victim picked out at random by a killer. He was a warrior that fell in battle. There’s a difference.”

“Fair point,” Razual conceded with a nod.

“It’s a distinction without a difference,” Kaylec spat. “Don’t you dare dirty my beloved’s name with your lips!” Facing Zenial, he pointed at me again. “What more proof do you need? He’s been mute this whole time, yet the one time he decides to speak, it’s on his behalf. How can you not see what I see?”

“But Jacob is right, though,” Sunny interjected and raised his hand as if he was about to take an oath. “I’m not on the Qua’quelle fan wagon, but he didn’t callously target Amadeus. As he said, it was a battle. A battle we started, by the way. And correct me if I’m wrong,” he made a circular motion around his head, “because there’s still a lot getting unpacked up here, but you were all gung-ho for the plan to kill Kyrios, right? In fact, you were one of the more vocal proponents of the plan, especially because Amadeus, your beloved, was the key to the whole thing.”

“What are you trying to say?” Kaylec demanded, clenching his fist.

“I’m not saying anything,” Sunny insisted, placing his hand over his chest. When Kaylec turned away from us to face Zenial, he decided to continue. “But if I were trying to say something, it would be that if I was in your position, I might be carrying around a little guilt.” Kaylec spun around and stared at Sunny, who merely shrugged and made the zipper motion across his lips. The moment Kaylec turned away, he continued. “Guilt for pushing a plan that got my beloved killed.” This time Sunny didn’t stop despite Kaylec’s glare. “You cling to your hatred for Qua’quelle because, without it, you might have to look elsewhere for someone to blame. But what do I know? I’m just a devilishly handsome Skai trying to find his way in the world, who occasionally dabbles in armchair psychology.”

Kaylec got right in Sunny’s face with his fist balled up like he was seriously about to throw down. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Whatever you say,” Sunny said, turning his face away from Kaylec as if his breath was stank.

Clearing his throat, Zenial said, “Why don’t we put a pin on this conversation and switch gears for a moment so we may address the elephant in the room.”

“Yes, let’s,” Kaylec agreed and moved away from Sunny. Standing before Zenial, he made his demands. “I say we have him link with me to determine what he’s doing here before it’s too late.”

“Wait, what?” Zenial inquired, furrowing his brows. “What are you talking about?”

Gesturing over his shoulder at me, Kaylec answered, “He could be a spy, and we need to find out sooner rather than later, wouldn’t you agree?”

“It’s like listening to a broken record,” Sunny muttered.

“No, not at all,” Zenial responded. “Besides, that is not the elephant I was talking about.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Soullen start looking around the room, and I wondered if he was actually looking for an elephant. I shook my head without saying anything.

“What do you mean?” Kaylec asked, looking over his shoulder at me briefly. “What can be more important than uncovering the truth of his presence here?”

With a heavy sigh, Zenial walked away from Kaylec and stood behind his desk, resting his arm on the headrest of his chair.

“The truth is, Jacob is a brother who recently woke up and has rejoined his brothers,” Razual answered. “The elephant in the room is the royal guest you walked into this office.”

“Soullen?” Kaylec said, confused, darting his eyes between Soullen, Sunny, and me. “What about him?”

“I am not an elephant,” Soullen declared vehemently.

“No,” Sunny chimed in, “you’re more like a schnauzer.”

I’m sure I was the only one who appreciated Sunny’s subtle dig.

“I told you I was working on something big,” Kaylec continued. “Something that would give us a decisive advantage over our enemy.”

“That you did, brother,” Zenial acknowledged with wide eyes and gestured towards Soullen. “But a whole prince is not what I was expecting.”

“Isn’t it glorious?” Kaylec was basically admiring himself. I could almost hear him salivating at the mouth. “I did the impossible, brother! No one in El’odian history has ever been able to sway an enemy to their side.” Walking up to Zenial’s desk, he planted both hands proudly on the desk and leaned forward. “No one!” He looked over his shoulders at us like we’d be standing there singing his praises like adoring fans. With no fanfare to be had, he returned his attention to Zenial. “We will crush Qua’quelle and the rest of the Naverians.”

“Is that so?” Zenial said thoughtfully. Maybe I was going crazy, but he didn’t seem all that impressed. In fact, he looked downright annoyed, if I had to guess. Granted, I didn’t know the guy from Adam, so that could be his “happy face,” for all I knew. “And how do you propose that will happen?”

“Yes, please enlighten the room,” Raz added, and again unless I’m way out on left field, his “happy face” looked suspiciously similar to Zenial’s.

“Are you joking?” Kaylec demanded of the two, looking between them as if they spontaneously grew a second head. “He’s a Naverian Prince.” For the first time, I wasn’t the one he was pointing toward. “Soullen linked with his brothers, meaning he has invaluable information to share, information we would not have access to otherwise.”

“Such as?” Razual questioned.

“Such as how many houses or strongholds they actually have. Their war plans and tactics. Their progress on finding the Eye alone could be huge for us, but more important than any of that, we’ll finally know their exact numbers.” He looked around positively bewildered again. “What are you two not understanding about what I managed to bring to the table?”

“That’s a tall order, brother,” Zenial nodded pensively, shifting his gaze between Kaylec and Soullen. “And you’re confident the Young Prince will be able to deliver?”

“Of course he will!” Kaylec insisted like someone whose honor had been insulted.

“‘He will,’ you say.” Zenial’s words were methodical, carefully chosen to paint a picture none of us could see, except perhaps, Razual. “So, I would be correct in assuming Prince Soullen has not shared any of these world-shattering details with you.”

“Of course not,” Kaylec scoffed. “Obviously, he will need assurances from us that we’ll support his efforts to retake the kingdom that was stolen from him before he shares anything with us. Otherwise, why would he risk giving up his only leverage? You should be all too familiar with these basic negotiating tactics, brother.”

Zenial smirked at the light diss thrown his way.

I looked at the boy of the hour, and he just stood there, his gaze very much fixed on Zenial. I’m sure he was curious to know where Zenial was going with all this. What if Zenial didn’t give this hair-brain scheme his blessing? What then? Where does Soullen go from here? I doubt The Brotherhood would welcome him back into the fold with open arms as they did when he first awoke. Without the protection of The Sanctum, I’d imagine he’d be hunted down like a dog. I’m sure they’d be eager to learn how many of their secrets that little shit gave up to The Sanctum.

Those are just a handful of questions and scenarios that would race through my mind if I were in Soullen’s shoes right about now. To his credit, if those thoughts did cross his mind, he kept his poker face on point. His deadpan face gave nothing away. In a way, it was kind of eerie because it almost felt like I was looking at a mini version of Q, which was disturbing on so many levels.

“And what is the vision for restoring the Prince to power?” Zenial inquired.

“War looms,” Kaylec stated while looking about. “We all know this. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. We don’t have to annihilate the Nave completely.”

“We don’t?” Sunny’s voice went up an octave, for he was so taken aback. “That’s a hot take coming from you, of all people.”

“We just need to target Qua’quelle and those like him,” Kaylec continued, ignoring Sunny completely, “those who stripped Soullen of his birthright. With them out of the way, it’s a matter of reinstating their Prince to his rightful place as their ruler. He’ll make them see the wisdom of our plan to eliminate all of humanity, and once that goal is achieved, we can divide Eiyr into the two kingdoms, like before the Great Calamity.”

Holy shit! This guy is delusional! First, I love how he laid out his plan like it was a done deal. As if the Nave would roll over and play dead when commanded by some dipshit twerp who threw a tantrum when his toy was taken away. Is this guy for real?

Zenial did one of his pensive nods as he looked at each of us. “Just like that?”

“What do you mean?” Kaylec asked.

“You believe the Nave will accept a prince backed by The Sanctum?”

“He’d be viewed as nothing more than a puppet if it ever got that far,” Raz added.

“Schnauzer,” Sunny mumbled.

“They won’t have much of a choice,” Kaylec declared emphatically, addressing Raz without facing him. “By then, they’ll be badly beaten and on the verge of extinction. They accept Soullen and thank us for the privilege of coexisting with us instead of us wiping them off the face of Eiyr.”

Wow!

“Wow!” Sunny exclaimed as if he had read my mind. “So, you plan to eliminate their leadership and put your pet on the throne? Is anyone else feeling like we’ve danced to this tune before?” Pausing for dramatic effect, Sunny looked around the room before he continued. “How well did that turn out for everyone the last time we played that little ditty?” Again, he paused for a moment. “Anyone?”

“This time will be different.”

“Said so many leaders throughout history right before leading their people into utter disaster,” Sunny added.

Kaylec turned and took a few steps toward Sunny. “This conversation is not for you, Sundryn,” he spoke throw gritted teeth. “Let those who are older and wiser handle this.”

“You’re so right. I’d love to hear what Prince Zenial and Raz think.”

I snickered and averted my eyes away from Kaylec as he walked back to Zenial’s desk and pressed the tips of his fingers against the surface. “We have an opportunity here, brother. We can reduce The Brotherhood to a shell of what it is now, the two of us.”

A fog of uncertainty filled the room as the office fell silent. All eyes were on Zenial, who stood behind his desk looking at Kaylec for the longest time. It got awkward for me, and I wasn’t the one who was being stared at with both equally beautiful and terrifying eyes. With every second that ticked away, the suspense climbed higher and higher. Kaylec laid out his demented plan, and it was clear we were at the make-or-break moment. I looked at Sunny to see if I could glean insight into Zenial’s thinking, but whom was I kidding? The boy was as confused and clueless as I was. Like Q and his mini protégé standing next to me, Zenial kept his cards close to his chest and gave nothing away.

Finally, Zenial pulled out his chair and took a seat, making himself comfortable by leaning back in the reclining chair. “I don’t think so, brother. The Prince goes back.”

“What?” Soullen exclaimed, echoing Kaylec’s sentiment almost to the second. He walked up behind Kaylec and pushed the chair off to the side. “What is this, Kaylec? We had an understanding! You assured me I would be protected if I defected.” Suddenly the emotionless prick was a little firebrand, hot on the heels of his benefactor. “Did I throw my future away….”

“Quiet!” Kaylec shouted, looking over his shoulder at one pissed-off Soullen. “Nothing has changed.”

“I don’t know. That’s not what I heard,” Sunny smiled.

“Brother, what is this?” Kaylec demanded. “Why must you doubt me at every turn?” Pushing himself off the desk, Kaylec took a step back and looked at Raz before looking back at Zenial. “Is this jealousy?”

“Jealously?” Zenial spat back.

“Yes! Jealousy! You can’t stand the fact that I brought this to The Sanctum, can you? It bothers you that I was able to sway a Naverian Prince away from his people. That I accomplished something no one in our history has ever been able to do.” He scoffed and threw his hands up angrily before slamming them down on the desk. “Heaven forbid I do something that gets me out of your long shadow for once in my life.”

“Is that what you think this is?” Zenial questioned. As stone-cold as Zenial could be, there was no hiding the hurt in his voice this time. Not to mention the complete look of shock on his face as he looked up at Kaylec. I must admit that for the first time, and for a brief moment, Zenial looked small compared to his brother.

But it was only for a moment.

Slowly he rose, placing his left hand in his pocket and the tips of his right hand on the desk as if they were trying to trap some small creature. “Tell me, Kaylec, and forgive me, Your Highness, but what makes you so certain you can trust his word?”

“What are you going on about, brother?” Kaylec hissed. “He killed one of his own right before my eyes. What more proof do you need?” He shook his head angrily. “No, this is not what this is about.”

“Is that what happened?” Zenial inquired calmly.

“Yes!” Kaylec shouted.

Sunny and I looked at the door expecting Ms. Cynthina to come charging back in with a switch in hand. I could only guess she walked away from her desk because she didn’t, thankfully.

“You can ask him if you wish.” Kaylec pointed at me as if he was accusing me of something. “He was present.”

“Is that what happened, Jacob?” Zenial asked. Unlike Kaylec’s aggressive and coarse tone, he was gentle while inquisitive at the same time.

Picturing the events of that night, how Q held his dying friend in his arms, Steve’s last words denoting his love for Eiyr forced a lump in my throat. I looked at Soullen standing next to his partner in crime, staring back at me, waiting. My anger swelled. The heat within churned like pools of lava from an active volcano. In the end, keeping my composure was more important to me in Zenial’s presence than going all Mount Vesuvius on their asses.

“Jacob?” Zenial said.

“Yes,” I answered. “Soullen killed one of his own.”

“I see,” he responded reflectively as if he were figuring out a puzzle, and I just offered him one of the last pieces. “And what did that look like, exactly? Walk me through it.”

Oh god, no!

The last thing I wanted to do was vocalize the horrific events of that night. I doubt I’d get through it without showing more emotion than I should, giving Kaylec even more ammo to come after me.

“Well?” Kaylec demanded. “Don’t keep us waiting.”

“I was not asking Jacob,” Zenial intervened, his eyes squarely on Kaylec. “I want you to walk me through the events leading up to the Nave’s death.”

Curling his lip in disgust, Kaylec held his gaze on me longer than necessary before looking at Zenial. “Fine! What do you want to know?”

“As I said, the events that led to his death.”

“There wasn’t much to it, brother. I infused the human weapons with my Askyli, making them deadly to the Naverians. In the chaos that followed, Soullen picked up a gun and fired. The bullet was meant for Qua’quelle, but the Naverian jumped in the way and saved him. He was aiming at Qua’quelle! Do you understand, brother? He was willing to take out our greatest enemy, proving his value to our cause in my eyes. Why you’re unable to see his worth is beyond me.”

“And you saw this Naverian perish after he was shot?” Zenial inquired. He was like a judge presiding over a case, ignoring all of Kaylec’s bravado to get down to the cold hard facts.

“Not exactly, no,” Kaylec admitted, looking at Soullen for a moment. “After Soullen shot the Naverian, I knew I had to get him out of there before Qua’quelle went scorched earth.”

Every time they mentioned “the Naverian,” I wanted to yell out; his name was Steve! It was pissing me off.

“So, you saved a Nave and left your brothers behind to fend for themselves,” Zenial nodded thoughtfully, shifting his eyes between Kaylec and Soullen.

“I made a judgment call, brother. Their deaths, though tragic, paved the way for a prize beyond measure. When will we ever get the opportunity….”

“A gun was used, you say,” Zenial interrupted.

“Yes!” Kaylec was clearly annoyed that his brother cut him off mid-sentence.

Extending his hand over his desk, Zenial summoned a swirl of Askyli in the palm of his hand and created a handgun. “A gun like this, I would assume.”

“Yes!” Kaylec was getting heated. “What is the point of all this, brother? If you have something to say, say it and stop with all these foolish questions.”

My god. The balls on this guy. I get that they’re brothers, I guess, but the level of disrespect and contempt he spewed at Zenial was beyond the pale. I give all the credit in the world to Zenial for maintaining his calm composure this whole time. I would’ve thrown him out the nearest window.

Presenting the gun to Soullen, Zenial bowed his head slightly. “If His Highness would be so kind as to imbue this weapon with his power.”

Okay, now we were all confused. Why the hell would Zenial need an Anavi-infused weapon? Was it even loaded? I started to share Kaylec’s sentiment. Where exactly was he going with all this? Soullen looked completely lost, looking around at us as if we understood the method to his madness. Even if I liked the kid, I wouldn’t have been able to tell him what the hell was going on.

“The gesture would go a long way in building trust between us, your Highness,” Zenial assured him with a smile. “I’m merely trying to understand.”

“Just do it,” Kaylec ordered.

Pensively and with clear reservations, Soullen stretched his hand over Zenial’s and poured his light into the weapon. When he was done, he took a few steps back as we all watched Zenial place the gun on the stack of papers on his desk. Casually and as cool as a cucumber, he slipped his hands into his pockets as if this was the most normal thing ever. I was freaking out a little bit, and I could only imagine what was going through Sunny’s mind. I caught him sneaking a glance at Razual for some guidance, I’d assume, but Raz just stood there with a more robust poker face than Zenial.

“So, you never saw what happened after the Nave was shot?” Zenial asked.

“No. As I said, I had to get Soullen out of there,” he gestures towards me over his shoulder without facing me, “but I’m sure he can attest to what happened next.”

“Jacob?” Zenial called out.

I nodded and then answered with a “Yes.” I knew he would want more, but I took those precious seconds to compose myself so that I wouldn’t lose my shit. “Q held Steve in his arms until his last breath.”

“See? There you have it,” Kaylec declared.

“And then what happened?” he asked, ignoring Kaylec and looking at me. His voice was so soft it was like he was about to tell us a bedtime story, as ridiculous as it may sound.

I shrugged. “Um….I watched him disintegrate into white sand.”

“He was turned to dust, brother.” Kaylec’s smug tone infuriated me. “Are you satisfied now? Can we end this meaningless….”

Zenial picked up the gun and fired it before Kaylec could finish his thought. The sound reverberated throughout the room, sounding more like a canon than a gunshot. I was taken out of the room, through time and space, and was back in that moment when Soullen aimed the gun at Q. The gun fired, and I saw Steve lose his life all over again.

“What the fuck!” Sunny screamed, forcing my consciousness back into my body and the present. I felt him fall back into me as if his legs gave out and he would collapse without my support. “What the serious fuck!”

“Zenial, what have you done?” Kaylec yelled.

And then I saw Razual clutching his chest and dropping to one knee. Swirls of Askyli replaced his honey-colored eyes as the Anavi cursed through his body like webbing from a spider’s web.

“Zenial!” Kaylec’s voice was even louder and more frantic than before. “It’s Razual! What have you done? Have you lost your mind?”

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god,” Sunny repeated like a broken record.

I looked on in disbelief. I felt I should have screamed at the top of my lungs, but the words would not form. My eyes welled up, but I didn’t know if it was for Razual, this person I barely knew, or the memory of Steve. The rush of emotions and the feeling of loss were overwhelming. I watched helplessly as Razual lurched forward and placed his hand on the floor to steady himself. Soullen’s Anavi snaked up his back and over his bald head like mini fissures of light.

Looking up at Zenial, he uttered, “My….Prince.” The Askyli faded from his eyes before he collapsed into a pile of black sand.

Slamming his fist on the desk with Askyli curling off them like black smoke, Kaylec demanded Zenial explain himself. “What have you done, brother? What madness is this? You killed Razual! Our brother! Why?”

Zenial stood motionless, staring at the glittering black sand that was Razual. His stare was remorseless and cold as if he had just had an out-of-body experience and someone else murdered our brother. What the fuck was going through his mind? What was the point of all this?

Sunny pushed himself off me and tried to rush over Razual’s remains, but Zenial stopped him with a simple command.

“Stop,” he ordered.

Sunny obeyed and froze in his tracks despite his feelings, but not without pulling a “Sunny.” Pointing at the pile of sand on the ground with both hands, he shouted, “My Prince, what the fuck?!” and then wiped his eyes.

“Is this what you saw that night, Jacob?” Zenial asked calmly.

“Yes, yes, but what the fuck?!”

“You are all confused and upset,” he said simply.

“Yes!” they shouted angrily. I was still lost in the moment.

“You have questions.”

“Yes!” I finally joined the chorus as we shouted louder than before

Placing the murder weapon on the desk, Zenial slipped his hands back into his pockets as the gun was consumed by Askyli and vanished. “Well then, allow me to paint you a picture….” His voice was disturbingly calm for someone who had just shot and killed one of our own. What picture could he possibly paint that would justify Razual’s untimely execution? “Imagine for a moment a Young Prince awakens after slumbering for millions of years to find everything he left behind gone.”

Almost immediately, everyone’s gaze slowly shifted to Soullen, who looked as bewildered and anxious as the rest of us. It was the first time his frigid exterior showed any cracks in the block of ice he encased himself in. His eyes quickly moved to meet our stares but said nothing. Zenial pulled our attention away from him as he continued to lay the foundation for his canvas.

“Most importantly,” he said, raising a finger to emphasize his point, “the promised kingdom was gone. The Young Prince learns his brethren have abandoned their old ways of governance, setting aside the crown for a ruling council. He becomes bitter...angry that his birthright was stripped away from him.” Slipping his hand back into his pocket, Zenial slowly walked around his desk until he was standing in front of Soullen, leaving a good ten feet between them, but was actually facing Kaylec. “Or was he?” Zenial pondered thoughtfully.

“Of course he was,” Kaylec responded confidently, locking eyes with his brother. I don’t think Zenial was looking for an answer. The question felt rhetorical, but if that was the case, it flew over Kaylec’s head.

“I can not know his mind,” Zenial continued, his lips curled into a knowing smile that disappeared in a blink of an eye. “Maybe he was angry. It was his birthright, after all. He takes the issue up with his brothers and demands that his lineage be honored and a crown placed on his head. They refuse, of course, laying out a string of reasons and excuses that keeps him from his throne. The Young Prince’s resentment festers, growing so great it ultimately turns him against his people and puts him on a path leading you to walk him into this office.”

“Yes!” Kaylec exclaimed, looking around the room at us as if we knew why Zenial was rehashing events that we already knew to be true. “That’s exactly what happened, brother.” He looked at Soullen briefly before taking a step closer to Zenial. “What does any of this have to do with Razual? Why did you….”

“Or maybe,” Zenial interrupted, “just maybe, there was a sense of relief for the Young Prince. After all, leadership is a difficult burden to carry on one’s shoulders, especially for one so young and unproven. Was his anger genuine or merely a performance put on for the benefit of his brothers, to show that he at least cared and was willing to fight for his father’s legacy, no matter how superficial it might have been? Again, I cannot know his mind but Is it possible that he never really wanted the crown to begin with, and his performance was for the benefit of his brothers? And even if he was outraged and wanted what was his, is it possible there was a reconciliation, and his continued performance was now for the benefit of another?”

I was there when Soullen walked into Q’s room, making demands that were denied, angering him so much that he smashed Q’s desk. Okay, I wasn’t in the room. I was hiding in the bathroom, but I could still see and hear the drama between Q and Soullen. And now Zenial believes it was all an act? What? I could tell by Kaylec’s knitted brows and narrow eyes that he shared my sentiment. None of it made any sense.

“What are you getting at, Zenial?” Kaylec demanded, his eyes moving between Soullen and Zenial.

“I imagine someone on their council saw the Prince’s discontent, real or otherwise, as an opportunity. As you said, Kaylec, no one in our history has been able to infiltrate the other side. It’s virtually impossible.” Again, the same knowing grin flashed across his lips before disappearing. “Until whispers and rumors start to reach the ears of our human brethren attending KU of an angry and resentful Young Prince, looking to take back what’s his by any means necessary. His seeming resentment would make him a prime target, susceptible to our whispers and promises of restoring him to his glory and placing a crown on his head. The bait was cast, and all they had to do was wait to see if anyone bit.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Soullen move for the first time, taking a subtle step back, hoping no one would notice. But I wasn’t the only one who saw him. Zenial turned his head barely an inch in Soullen’s direction, raising a brow as if his barely audible footfall caught his attention.

“What the actual fuck,” Sunny mumbled, rubbing his forehead as he tried to process all this information like the rest of us.

“Even if no one took the bait,” Zenial continued, stepping toward Kaylec, “they lose nothing for trying.” He slowly tapped his nails across the desk as he moved closer to Kaylec until they were face to face. “But if a Skai was foolish enough to extend his hand in friendship to the Young Prince, they gain everything.”

“No,” Kaylec said softly, moving back away from Zenial and stumbling over the office chair behind him. “That’s not possible.” His voice was getting louder, sharper, as the picture Zenial sought to paint was beginning to be realized. “Tell him!” His long finger pointed at Soullen, who took a few more not-so-subtle steps away from us. “Tell him!” Kaylec yelled, but before he could answer if he were so inclined to, Kaylec’s frantic gaze turned back to Zenial. “You’re wrong! This is all wrong! He killed one of his own to prove his loyalty. He killed a Nave right before my eyes!”

“Did he?”

That oh-so-familiar silky voice rang out from behind us. Sunny and I whipped our heads around so fast I think we would’ve snapped them if we weren’t El’odian. I was stunned and pleasantly surprised to see Razual standing behind us, looking cool as fuck, adjusting the brim of his fedora. On the other hand, Sunny looked like he’d seen a ghost for a second. He immediately looked down at the pile of dark sand on the ground and watched in awe as it turned into black smoke and snaked back to Razual, running up his pant leg like a Dyson vacuum was sucking it up. Razual’s eyes flashed with Askyli for a moment before returning to their golden hue. The dark tears welled in Sunny’s eyes as he rushed Razual and hugged him mercilessly.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

“Are you certain you saw what you saw, Kaylec?” Razual questioned as he comforted the speechless Sunny. “Or did you see what they wanted you to see?”

“How?” Sunny finally asked, but without letting go of Raz.

“I’m sorry we had to put you through that, but the point needed to be made,” Razual assured him. “Things are not always what they seem.”

“Don’t be sorry!” Was Sunny really scolding Raz? “I’m just glad you’re not a pile of dirt!”

The images of that fateful night played in my mind like a movie reel yet again. The way Q looked when Steve crumbled away in his arms. Even now, I couldn’t escape the anguish in his eyes, and now I’m supposed to believe none of it was real.

“Steve’s alive?” I blurted out at Soullen without thinking. The question raced out of my lips before I could even consider the implications of such an inquiry. He never responded but continued to slowly back away from the group, making brief eye contact with everyone in the room.

“That’s your concern?!” Kaylec roared, grabbing the chair next to him and throwing it against the large pane of glass behind him. It bounced off the glass without so much as leaving a scratch behind.

“Now you want to lash out because you were played for a fool?” Razual asked calmly.

Ignoring Raz completely, Kaylec locked his gaze on Soullen, who finally stopped his retreat. “Tell them they’re wrong.” Wisps of Askyli slowly circled his eyes as the rage within him grew. “Tell them you killed your brother and pledged your loyalty to us.”

“How do you think we came to this conclusion, Kaylec?” Razual asked, finally able to peel Sunny off him like a sticker. “You don’t think we’ve ever thought of implementing such a scheme ourselves? Of course, we didn’t have a disgruntled prince to offer up, but even if we did, I’m sure we would have arrived at the same conclusion. No Naverian would be foolish enough to believe a Skai would turn on his own, no matter the narrative we tried to push.” Shaking his head, Raz looked at Kaylec with sheer disappointment. “But it seems they were able to find a fool amongst our ranks.”

Out of the blue, Sunny started giggling. It was soft at first, controlled, but then it bloomed into full-on manic laughter. Considering the heaviness in the room, it was a bit disturbing watching him completely lose it.

“Sunny?” Raz spun him around so he would look at him.

“Oh god, this is rich,” he said, patting Raz’s hand resting on his shoulder so he would release him. Free from his hold, Sunny turned to face the rest of us. “You guys don’t see it?” I have to admit, like an idiot, I looked around the room to see what “it” was, but obviously, that’s not what he meant. “For the last couple of days, Kaylec, you’ve been running around like a crazy person trying to convince everyone under the sun that Jacob was a spy come to destroy us from within.” He couldn’t help but giggle as he pointed at Kaylec. “Meanwhile, here you are, apparently, walking in a Naverian spy right into the heart of our power center. Like, you literally waltzed him into this office of all places.” The room was still as Sunny looked around for a response from someone. “No one? Really?” He looked at me as if I was supposed to make some grand speech. “Please don’t tell me the irony of it all is lost on everyone except me. That would be tragic.”

“We get it, Sunny,” Raz assured him as he grabbed Sunny by the shoulders and pulled him back against his chest. “But this isn’t helpful right now.”

“Helpful? Who said anything about trying to be helpful? This is hilarious. I can’t be the only one who thinks so.”

“Enough, Sunny,” Raz scolded, giving him a little shake.

“Fine,” he relented by throwing his hands up. “I’m just saying this is comedy gold.”

“You should have come to me, Kaylec,” Zenial finally spoke; the weight of his disappointment could be felt with every word. “I could have told you I heard the same rumors…the same whispers as you did and dismissed them out of hand. I could have saved you from this embarrassment.” He shook his head and looked up at the ceiling. “I could have saved you from yourself, yet again.”

I looked at Soullen for a moment, whose frosty demeanor had all but evaporated, and all that was left was a boy who appeared like a caged animal looking for an escape. I reached for him, and I couldn’t tell you why, but it didn’t matter, for he was far from me now.

“I’ve been betrayed,” Kaylec exclaimed.

“Ya, think?” Sunny couldn’t help himself, forcing Razual to reprimand him again.

“You betrayed me.” He was seething with fury as he raised his head to look at Soullen; his eyes were pools of Askyli.

“Calm yourself, Kaylec,” Zenial said as he turned to walk behind his desk. “Luckily for you, the damage that could have been caused has been mitigated.”

“I will have my vengeance,” he declared through gritted teeth, slowly moving his hand behind his back.

“Vengeance?” Zenial sighed heavily. “Have you learned nothing? Your thirst for vengeance got you into this mess in the first place.”

It was clear that Zenial’s words were falling on deaf ears. Kaylec would not take his eyes off Soullen. Zenial said something else he ignored, as did I, for my focus was on Kaylec. Oh, shit, I thought as the Askyli poured from his hand and took shape into his dagger. Before I could warn anyone, Kaylec charged, yelling, “die” as he became a blur of darkness and shadow. For a moment, I honestly thought I was his target, as I felt his heat wash over my body as he zoomed past me to get to Soullen. The force was so great that it threw me back off my feet as the room was filled with an explosion of shadow and an eruption of blinding light.

A searing jolt of pain cascaded through my head while in mid-air, and through the miasma of light and shadow, I saw the dark silhouette I would see in my mind standing on a field of rolling hills. But there were no hills, and this was no memory.

The silhouette was in the room with me.

The silhouette reached for me.

Akuzio – it called to me.