CHAPTER 14: SECRETS REVEALED
City of Chast. Koroan's Palace ?
Tears rolled down Celeste's face as she sat on the edge of her mother's bed. She felt awful. Her right eye was swollen shut and her lip was swollen as well from her father's blows. Despite her injuries and how sad she felt for her mother - who was sleeping soundly just a few feet away - she felt a little better having just been fed and bathed by her dear friend Nichelle.
Celeste looked to her left. Nichelle sat in a chair, reading a book, her dark brown eyes opening and closing as she fought sleep. She brought her left hand up to her long brown hair and pushed it aside as she turned and smiled at Celeste.
Celeste was so grateful Nichelle was there. She was the only one she could trust now, besides her mother. When Celeste had decided to help the rebels, Nichelle was the only one she had told. Nichelle promised Celeste that she would tell no one. She kept her promise because she had witnessed how her own father - Vlamer Kreuk, Koroan's high priest and friend - had changed from a kind, gentle Gnol to a Gnol who now desired power and wealth above all else. Because of this, Nichelle vowed she would never tell, and that she would always help Celeste if she needed it.
A few hours earlier, Nichelle had been brought to the palace. She had a private meeting with Koroan and she was ordered to stay with Celeste until Celeste's mother died. Consequently, Nichelle also knew of Celeste's impending execution.
Even though Nichelle was there, Celeste still felt uncomfortable and embarrassed. Celeste had always been independent and didn't like being treated like a baby. It wasn't that Nichelle treated Celeste personally as if she was a baby, but because her hands were still tied behind her back, she had to feed and bathe her.
Celeste returned her dear friend's smile.
"Are you okay?" Nichelle asked.
Celeste nodded her head and took a deep breath. She then looked at the two guards dressed in their red battle fatigues at the doorway. These guards were different now from the guards who had taken her to her mother's room earlier.
The guard to her left was a big, muscular female with short red hair. Her fiery green eyes seemed to bore into Celeste as she stared, knowing full well the traitor Celeste had become. In fact, this new female guard was the one guard chosen to follow Celeste everywhere. She was in the bathing room when Nichelle bathed Celeste. Another female guard would replace her when her shift was over.
Celeste looked at the guard to her right. This guard was shorter than the female guard. He had short, blond hair and a patch of a goatee beginning to form around his upper lip and chin. It was obvious that he was barely in his twenties.
She made eye contact with him. He quickly turned his gaze away, seeming shy, if not embarrassed to look at the beautiful princess with her wet hair, and dressed only in her white robe.
Celeste forced a smile in his direction. He looked up and smiled back. Celeste knew that if she had any hope of an escape, it would probably have to be through this young soldier.
She heard her mother cough and turned back to her. Ciminae Chast looked old and frail, despite only being fifty-six years of age. At that age, most Gnols were still young and energetic. Thanks to all of the new medical knowledge her father had revealed, the average lifespan of a Gnol was roughly one hundred forty-three years of age.
"Cel ? Celeste. Where are you?" Ciminae asked as she tried to raise her head, but couldn't.
"I am here, Mother," Celeste said, inching closer to her mother.
"Give me your hand."
"I wish I could, Mother. Father has ordered that my hands stay tied behind my back until ?"
"What?" Ciminae said as she wheezed, trying to breathe. "Where are the guards?"
The two guards at the door made their way to Ciminae's bed. The male guard stood on the same side as Celeste sat. Celeste made sure to smile at him. He smiled back shyly and then looked at the female guard on the opposite side of the bed. The female gave him an angry look, and he ducked his head.
Ciminae weakly turned her head to the left and looked up at the female guard. "I order you to unbind my daughter's bonds. I wish to hold her hand."
The female guard first looked at Celeste and then back at Ciminae. She opened her mouth, paused, and then spoke. "I am sorry ? but I have been given a direct order from our lord himself. The princess is not to have her bonds untied, even if you order me to do so."
Ciminae gave the guard a stern look and then said, "Fine ? if you will not let a dying mother hold her daughter's hand, then you will let her speak with her daughter alone."
The female guard looked uncomfortable. It was obvious that she wanted to obey the queen, but she couldn't. "I ? I am sorry, Your Highness. That is also another order directly from our lord. He ordered us not to let the princess out of our sight. Again, ev-"
"Yes, yes, I know. Even if I order it," said Ciminae as she waved the guards away.
The guards returned to their posts, and Ciminae looked at her daughter. She coughed and spat out a small amount of blood.
Celeste was alarmed. Even though her mother had had trouble breathing before, this was the first time she had ever seen her mother cough up blood throughout this strange illness. "Mother, are you okay? Shall I call for the doctor?"
Her mother shook her head. "No ?" She coughed again. "There's nothing the doctor can do. I will not live mu-" Blood spattered from Ciminae's mouth as she coughed.
Nichelle noticed and brought Ciminae a towel. Nichelle lifted Ciminae, so she wouldn't inhale the blood back into her lungs. Ciminae grabbed the towel and continued to cough into it. She coughed so much that Nichelle had to grab another towel because the first one had become soaked with blood.
Celeste felt helpless. She wanted so badly to help her mother. "Mo ? Mother, are you okay?" she asked, beginning to cry.
Ciminae finally stopped coughing and nodded. "Ye ? Yes. Sometimes I have these coughing fits, but ? but this is the first time I have coughed up blood."
Ciminae tried to take a deep breath, but because of the blood and fluid within her lungs, she wasn't able get the oxygen she needed. She tried again and gained some relief. She then looked at her daughter as Nichelle continued to hold her upright.
Ciminae wiped Celeste's tears away and smiled. Then she placed her own hands behind her ears and pulled out her inhibitors.
As she pulled, Celeste said in a whisper, "Mother, what are you doing? The guards will be able to read your thoughts." A flood of her mother's thoughts rushed into Celeste's mind.
Ciminae shook her head and pulled the inhibitors entirely out as she winced in pain. After the inhibitors were out, she leaned forward and embraced Celeste. Celeste began to sob as she felt her mother slide her hands behind her ears. Ciminae then pulled Celeste's inhibitors out. Celeste turned to look at the guards. They seemed not to have noticed what Ciminae did or had any indication that their inhibitors were out. She turned back to her mother and spoke to her telepathically. Mother, what about the guards?
Ciminae raised her hand to stop Celeste. She then looked at Nichelle and motioned for her to lean down. Nichelle leaned down; Ciminae hugged her, and commenced to take out her inhibitors as well. Once Nichelle's inhibitors were out, all three were able to communicate telepathically.
Ciminae was the first to send her thoughts. To Celeste, her mother's thoughts reminded her of when her mother was healthy. Do not worry, Celeste. These Gnols are not experienced enough in their abilities to read our minds. Ciminae paused and looked at the guards. She continued. We need to discuss how to get your cords untied, and how you are going to escape. I know that your father plans to have you executed as soon as I pass away.
Celeste nodded. How did you know?
I know more than you think, my dear, Ciminae thought as she looked at Nichelle. Nichelle?
Nichelle moved to the other side of the bed and sat down, so she could better communicate with Ciminae and Celeste. Yes, Your Highness.
Ciminae raised her right arm and stroked the side of Nichelle's cheek with the
back of her hand. Nichelle, you have been such a loyal and trustworthy friend to Celeste.
Nichelle smiled back as tears began to roll down her cheeks. Nichelle had grown to love Ciminae like a mother. When she was just a child, her own mother had died, and Ciminae had taken her in and practically raised her when her father was away. Thank you, Your Highness.
Ciminae continued. Now, more than ever, Celeste needs you.
Nichelle nodded.
Listen carefully, Nichelle. I do not believe I will last through the night.
Celeste cut in. Do not think that way, Mother.
Ciminae looked compassionately at her daughter. It is inevitable, Celeste. Please do not be sad for me. Soon, I will not suffer anymore and will join our ancestors in the afterlife.
She paused and wiped more tears away from Celeste's eyes. Now, both of you listen carefully. When I pass on, Nichelle will accompany the female guard to notify your father of my death. It will be the female guard because she will want to be the one rewarded for notifying him.
Yes, Your Highness, thought Nichelle. What will you have me do when I meet your husband?
You will not let the guard get to her destination.
What do you mean? Nichelle thought.
Ciminae pointed to the nightstand at the left of her bed. There, underneath the nightstand ? feel.
Nichelle glanced back at the guards. The guards were now sitting at the small table next to the door. The female guard was reading a small book, and the male guard was leaning back in his chair. He was dozing in and out of sleep.
Nichelle looked back at the nightstand, slowly slid off the bed onto her hands and knees, and felt the underside of the nightstand. There, in a small compartment on the underside of the nightstand, was a small plasma blaster. It was about the size of her palm. As a result, she was able to conceal it as she pulled it out. Then, she slowly slid the gun into her right boot, just below her knee.
Once the gun was secure, she sat back upon the bed and looked at Ciminae.
Ciminae nodded. Good, you will know what to do ? and do not feel guilty, Nichelle; for we are at war, and, unfortunately, being Gnols, we are on the wrong side of the battle.
Ciminae then looked with intensity at Celeste. Celeste, you will know what to do after Nichelle and the guard leave.
Celeste turned and looked at the young male guard, then turned and forced a smile back toward her mother. I do, she thought.
Good, thought Ciminae. Once you have taken care of the male guard, dress in his uniform and put on his battle helmet, which is underneath the table. Then meet Nichelle and get out of the palace using the secret passageway in your room.
Yes, Mother.
Ciminae placed her left hand on Nichelle's hand and her right hand on Celeste's knee. Now that we have your escape planned, I want both of you to listen very carefully. Your father, Celeste, has hidden so much from all of us. About a year ago when I had the strength, I demanded to see him in his private office. He refused to see me and his royal guards would not let me enter. But at that time, I was still able to use most of my telekinetic abilities. So, I easily moved the guards aside and barged into his office.
Your father was sitting in the center of the room with his back to the door. He was meditating and in a trance. When I approached, I startled him out of his trance, and he stood. At the same time, his guards came rushing in. Your father stopped them and ordered them to return to their posts. He said that it was time I knew everything.
What did he tell you? Celeste thought.
Your father allowed me to read his mind, Ciminae thought as tears began to flow from her eyes. She tried to inhale another breath, but had another coughing fit instead. After she finished coughing and spewing blood into the towel Nichelle had provided for her, she lay back down and looked at Celeste with tear-filled eyes. It was at that time that I knew for a fact that your father was no longer the Gnol I had grown to love and married. He was different. He desired power more than anything else.
Ciminae reached up, wiped her tears away, and continued. I found out horrible things; things your father did, and the true source of his knowledge and power. I did not like what I learned. So, I threatened to tell his high-ranking officers. He laughed and said that his officers would not believe me. I then threatened to tell you. That is when- Ciminae stopped as she struggled to breathe.
Mother, you need to rest. We can continue later.
Ciminae shook her head. No, I am afraid I will not last through the night, and you need to know the truth ? She stopped and coughed again ? After I threatened to tell you, he became extremely serious and threatened me.
Threatened you? Nichelle thought.
Yes, he said that I wouldn't dare, and if I did, Celeste would suffer.
Celeste inched closer to her mother. How would I suffer?
I asked the same question. That is when he went to his desk and pulled out a hypodermic needle. Using his telekinetic abilities, he held me in place and injected me with the solution that was in the syringe.
I asked what he had injected me with. He said that I would soon find out, and how you would suffer if I told anyone. Within hours, I had become seriously ill. That is when I found out that your father had injected me with an experimental biological weapon that he and his scientists had tested on other Gnols. He planned to develop the weapon as an airborne agent and release it upon the humans. That is why I wasn't able to tell you. I knew that if you had found out who your father truly is, he would make you suffer the same as I did.
Celeste was stunned. She knew her father had changed. But he had become worse than she thought. He was absolutely evil now. How could her father do this to the woman he loved? The only things he cared about were himself and what power he could gain.
Celeste gritted her teeth and thought, What did you find out, Mother? What is his true source of power?
Ciminae began to send her thoughts to Celeste, but started coughing again. The cough was worse now, however. She struggled for oxygen and turned her head as more blood spurted from her mouth. Nichelle placed the towel underneath her chin and patted her back to help her.
After Ciminae was able to regain her breath, she continued. I am sorry, Celeste. Using my telepathic abilities seems to have weakened me even more.
Mother, what did you find out?
Do you remember when you were young, Celeste ? back on Gnolom?
Yes.
Do you remember ? it was about twenty-five years ago, Terrest time ? when your father and Nichelle's father left on a hunting party, along with one hundred other Gnols from our tribe?
Celeste and Nichelle both nodded.
That was before we had any technology and our planet was dying. Do you remember?
Yes we do, Your Highness, Nichelle thought.
Remember, both of your fathers were gone for almost a year. We thought they had suffered some tragic end.
Celeste nodded and could see that her mother struggled more and more to breathe in the oxygen she so desperately needed. Her thoughts were also starting to become erratic. They were getting more difficult for Celeste and Nichelle to read.
Ciminae opened and closed her eyes several times as if she was fighting sleep. Celeste wanted to tell her to stop using her telepathic abilities, but she knew her mother wanted to tell her the truth about everything, and she wanted to hear it.
Ciminae continued. Remember ? remember ? when ? they ? when they came back. ? We were ? were all so happy to see them alive, but ? but your father, Nichelle, and your father, Celeste, were the only ones left from the hun ? the hunting party. When ? when they return ? returned, they were different ? remember?
Celeste and Nichelle nodded again as they began to sob, seeing that Ciminae struggled to hold on.
Remember ? remember ? how both of your fathers were different. They had both gained so ? Ciminae began to cough again. This time the coughing was more violent, and her body trembled with each one. After what seemed like several minutes, Ciminae continued
. Your fathers had brought back with them so much knowledge about new ? Again, she coughed and wheezed for air ? about new and wonder ? wonderful technology. They had even brought back these inhibitors that they had developed, and we gladly had them inserted ? remember?
Celeste nodded as the tears streamed out of her eyes, down her cheeks, and onto her mother's blanket. She was watching her mother - the woman she loved so dearly - die before her very eyes; the mother who had sacrificed her own health and life to save hers.
Your father claimed a goddess had visited him. He ? he cal ? called this goddess the goddess of light. He claimed ? he claimed that this goddess had told him that he was the one who was the chosen ? one. After that, your father and Nichelle's father changed our ancient scriptures, developed teams of people to create new technologies, and united every Gnol tribe. They made our ancient scriptures look like your father was the god of the Gnols! They took things out that ? things that they claimed were not important.
What do you mean? thought Celeste.
The most prominent scripture in our religion; the one that ? the scripture ? Ciminae wheezed as she tried to take another breath ? the scripture that prophecies of the chosen one. The chos ? the chosen one ? he will be the one to unite two ? two ? peoples and two worlds. Your fa ? your father changed ? he changed that scripture ? he changed it to make it look like he ? like he was the chosen one. ? And most Gnols believed him because of his ? because of his newfound knowledge and power. For som ? for some odd reason, he had more telekin ? telekinetic and telepathic power than any other Gnol ? Ciminae was forced to stop again. She struggled for air, and blood began to seep out of her mouth. She fell back to her pillow; her body trembling as it struggled for oxygen.
Celeste could no longer read her mother's thoughts as her mother went in and out of consciousness. "Mother," she said. "Mother, are you okay?"
Nichelle grabbed the oxygen mask that was connected to the tank next to Ciminae's bed. She placed the mask over Ciminae's nose and mouth. It was no use. Ciminae's lungs were rapidly filling with fluid. She was drowning in her own blood.
The two guards noticed and walked to the bed. As the guards approached, Nichelle quickly placed Celeste's inhibitors back into her head behind her ears. Celeste winced in pain. Nichelle then backed away to the bathroom where she was out of sight of the guards and placed her own inhibitors in, then returned to assist Ciminae.
Celeste looked at the female guard. "Cut my cords! I need to help her!"
The guard glared at Celeste with her green eyes and said, "Sorry, Princess. Your father has made it abundantly clear that under no uncertain terms are your hands to be released."
Celeste opened her mouth and then shut it. She glared at the female guard with such intensity that the guard, for the first time, seemed intimidated. Thoughts rushed through Celeste's mind of what she would do to the guard if her hands weren't tied behind her back.
"Cel ? Celeste," Ciminae mumbled, waving for Celeste to lean down.
Celeste looked back at her mother and leaned as close to her face as she could. She could hear her mother desperately trying to breathe. "Mo ? Mother," she said as she began to sob.
Ciminae looked into her daughter's eyes, grabbed her behind the neck, pulled her close, and said in a wheezing whisper, "The answers about your father ? your father's mysteries lie on the top floor."
Because of Ciminae's wheezing and struggle for breath, Celeste had a hard time hearing her. "Mother ? Mother ? what ? I do not understand?"
Ciminae looked lovingly at her daughter, took one last struggling breath, and said, "The answers you seek are on the top fl-"
Celeste felt her mother's hand, which was on the back of her neck, go limp. Ciminae's arm fell to her side, and she lay motionless with her eyes wide open, staring at Celeste.
Celeste could no longer control her sobbing. She looked at Nichelle, who was crying as well, and approached Ciminae's lifeless body. Nichelle gently placed her hand over Ciminae's eyes and closed them.
As the guards moved away from the bed, Celeste heard the female guard. "I will go and inform Lord Chast of his wife's death."