~
"Get him up!" Brutalius screams between heavy breaths as two guards snatch up the boy, jerking him to his feet. Blood spatters on the floor from Solomon's coughs. "And clean this up!" The Corsair leader stares down at the trembling, weakened teenager that struggles before him, "You will tell me everything, Solomon Jon."
"I know nothing! I know he's Oriah's son, and that's it! I don't know where he is or what he's doing! Just kill me! I'm no use to you!"
Brutalius leans down and his eyes shift intently into Solomon's, searching for any flaws in his sincerity. Then he begins to speak to young boy, "Oh but you are of value. He'll come for you, I'm sure of it. Don't play this game with me, boy." Solomon shakes his head in puzzling amusement, "He wouldn't come for me, and why are you looking for him anyway? You already have Alcazar. What are you afraid of?"
Blood sprays from Solomon's mouth again as the sharp pain shoots through his ribcage from another kick. Lying on the floor, death seems more painfully elusive than ever before, almost mocking him. "Please kill me," he utters. The reply that follows, gives the boy an ironic inkling of hope, but it also frustrates him.
"In due time Solomon."
Then suddenly, a warm, but strangely hollow feeling begins building in the pit of the boy's gut. His spine tingles as it rises, burning up through him. It floods his face, and he can feel it pulsate behind his eye sockets. Rage, Solomon thinks to himself as he realizes he's never felt like this before. Although growing up without a father, his mother worked hard to fill the void that would have existed in his life. She was more than good to him, and he was always content. But now, what once filled his being is gone. Her death left a cavity within him that was now being replenished with whatever fiery emotion that consumed him in this moment.
"I said kill me! Get it over with!"
Through the thick cloud of the swirling sensations now surrounding him, only a single thought pierces through Solomon's psyche, speaking to him. Earthquake. His logic latches onto the concept and he immediately understands that it is what is going on all around him. He opens his eyes to see Brutalius stepping backwards, looking up at the ceiling in disbelief. Corsair soldiers run in panic as the entire building shudders beneath them. The distraction catches Solomon's attention and the burn he felt before gradually dies. After a few moments, the quaking stops. Brutalius glares at Solomon for a long moment as if he's trying to make some connection. He finally flashes his crooked teeth in a cocky grin and bellows out, pointing down at the exhausted prisoner "That was you! This must be the Nephilim! Guards kill him!"
~
Oriah rears back his weapon and looks at Apollo, "It's all a part of the plan." He sends the sword through his mother and the woman gasps, spewing blood. Oriah jerks the blade back swiftly and she falls to the floor, slumping against Viceroy's body. Apollo can now feel movement in his own body and he goes to lunge at his father. He stops when he feels something in his hand. He looks down and is shocked to see two frightened eyes staring back at him. It's Solomon. Apollo has a hold of his shirt as the boy looks up at his friend, blood running down from his gaping mouth. He pleads with Apollo, "I said kill me! Get it over with!" Apollo feels the familiar frigid sensation in his other hand and he knows a conjured weapon is ready to strike. He cries out, anticipating his body is about to do something he definitely doesn't want.
But then suddenly he hears his father's voice again. This time it sounds different. It's clearer, kinder, and more pronounced, there's a distinctively urgent tone to it, "Apollo this was not part of the plan. You've got to save your brother." In a flash, Oriah is stand directly in front of Apollo; he brings up his left hand and gently holds up the boy's chin, "Wake up my son. This wasn't part of the plan. Wake up and save your brother. The time has finally come for you to unleash your potential."
Apollo jumps up in a cold sweat in the cold forest. He immediately notices it's still dark. Grace rises up, looking at him with concern, "Are you okay?" But before Apollo can answer, a low rumble growls all around them as the ground begins to violently shake. It doesn't take long for Paulus and Antonia to join them, and they all look around in terror, bracing themselves against the trembling ground. Paulus finally addresses the group, "It can't wait until morning we have to go now."
~
What seems like hundreds of rifles and pistols point at Solomon at all angles as a barrage of clicks echo throughout the Hall. Brutalius looks mystified as he pulls out his own pistol, puts it to the boy's head and pulls the trigger. Nothing. Frustration explodes within the callous man as he slams the butt of his gun into the back Solomon's skull. This sends the boy rolling the floor once again, only this time into unconsciousness.
Brutalius looks up at a man standing off to the side. The Corsair officer's conspicuous mohawk, pitch black with bright orange tips, is distinctly different than anything in the unvarying group. He reeks of an apathetic attitude, which makes him seem bored. "Furious, take this boy down to the Chamber before he wakes up. I'm going to find your brother and check in on our little project."
"Paulus isn't here, bro." Furious scoffs at his cousin as he remarks, "No one has seen him since this morning, him or his girlfriend." The man laughs openly now as he grabs Solomon by the arms and starts dragging him, "Someone help me!" Two other soldiers rush in to assist Furious take the unconscious teenager outside to transport him to Corsair Territory. But Brutalius hasn't paid any attention to the mockery, his mind left the scene at the first mention of Antonia. He wants her badly; not only as his lover but for her expertise. She helped design most of the devices being developed to thwart the eventual reprisal of his enemy. If he could have her, he wouldn't need either one of his cousins anymore. He could even rid himself of Vitus and start his own lineage, free of his blood rivals.
I've got to get her back, is the phrase that reiterates in his mind as he paces about. He never intended to hurt Antonia, let alone, have her executed. It was all a ruse to get the goods on Paulus. Out of all his family, Paulus was the one Brutalius hated the most. He was always envious of the Paulus' favor in the eyes of his father. Varius never could relate to his own son. He loved him, but the boy's tendencies even as a young child worried Varius with the thought that one day, he may become Corsair Leader. But now his father was dead, and Brutalius was finally in control. He knows though, his power hangs precariously in the balance of staying one step ahead of his cousins, and planning for their ultimate demise.
~
As they approach the gate, Apollo remembers the dream he had maybe only an hour ago. Oddly, he expects the guards to salute them once they get there. Paulus is driving with Antonia up front. Their two companions are in the back, disguised as prisoners. Paulus handcuffed them for good measure which made Apollo uneasy. Apollo could feel Grace's apprehension too, but paled in comparison with the belief in her hero. All this made Apollo extremely anxious and he feels heat in his abdomen rising once again.
Paulus slows the vehicle and Apollo concentrates on quelling the feelings growing within him. The searing pressure pushes on his eyeballs, strong enough to makes him squint. It aches for release but Apollo keeps his composure. "Brutalius has been looking for you." One of the guards say to Paulus as they both move toward the truck with their rifles raised. They still don't have any idea their weapons are useless.
"Tell him I have the Nephilim."
The guard stares harshly down at Paulus, "There has been word that the Nephilim has already been captured. We're under strict orders to arrest you, Paulus Kaine. Now step out, with your hands behind your head!" Paulus slowly begins to get out of the vehicle, and Apollo immediately feels panic, but it's different somehow. It doesn't feel like him. His awareness tells him it's Grace, but not just her, Antonia and Paulus too. Somehow the stirring heat in him has heightened his senses. He realizes he can feel what everyone is feeling, even thinking. But unlike before, the scorching emotion reconciles with the rest of him, giving him full control.
Another truck comes rolling up fro
m the other side of the gate. It slams on its brakes and a pale man with towering, flame-rimmed hair leans his head out from the side, dark sunglasses cover his eyes, "Get this piece of crap out of my way!"
"Sir, we have your brother."
Furious gets out of the truck, and walks slowly toward Paulus with a stalking gait. His inquisitive look soon relaxes with a broad smile shining across his face. He shakes his head and wags his finger, like a parent disciplining a two year old, "Shame, shame little brother. Our fearless leader is very, very upset with you!" He chuckles devilishly and pats Paulus on the shoulder. He turns around to the pair of arresting officers behind them, "Get away from us, now! Back to your post! Grunts!" The guards scurry back to their places at the doors, and Furious turns back, another wide smile beams on his face.
"Well what do we have here? Been hunting Alcazarians again brother?" Furious stares at the couple in the backseat. He glances over his shoulder at Paulus as one of his eyebrows pop up over the rim of his dark glasses. Paulus nods toward the boy in the truck. "I have what our cousin fears the most. Apollo here, is Oriah's son."
"Don't believe everything you hear, Paulus. Our cousin has been torturing some poor, kid who's supposed to be the son of Oriah. He's back there." Furious points to the back of his truck and Apollo can't stay silent any longer, "That's my brother."
Chapter Fourteen
Smoke & Mirrors
Apollo looks at his captor and supposed friend, "Paulus, I think you can take these cuffs off now." Furious shakes his head, "No way, bud, all Alcazarians go down below." Apollo looks over to Paulus and sees a look of servitude. He feels Grace's panic again and flames of rage rush through him as he watches Antonia join her boyfriend's side. Somehow Apollo knows exactly what to do. He searches through their minds quickly and locates the key to the cuffs. An image of Paulus holding it, flashes in Apollo's head as he observes the details of the angles cut into its surface. He turns his attention to the cuffs that bind them. He envisions the locks and urges the tumblers into their appropriate positions. Feeling his arms go free, he looks over at Grace and she has her hands out in front of her, rubbing her wrist.
Apollo now decides he must do something so bold that it leaves no doubt. His imagination goes into overtime and his father's voice enters his mind. Be creative in your exploitations my son. He accesses his memory and is surprised to find images of schematics and designs of every vehicle in the Corsair arsenal, even the very truck that they now sit in. He arranges the diagrams quickly in his mind, piece by piece and bolt by bolt. Then he reverses the flow of information and applies it to his surroundings, much like when he moved the water at the pond. The truck suddenly flies apart and every single part of it hangs in midair.
Furious exclaims profanity laden threats as Apollo and Grace are now separated from the rest of the group by a heavy layer of hovering metal. As the two Corsair guards from before come to investigate, Apollo taps into the pain pinned inside of him. Thoughts of losing his home, Grace losing her family, and images of his dead mother saturate his heart and he applies that to the mechanical cloud that surrounds them. Floating objects start to move, until they churn around with ever increasing velocity. The whole thing resembles a tall, massive, swirling black column of shimmering debris. Grace squeezes Apollo tightly, trying to find a safe place in his arms as the wind howls with sounds of shrilling metal. Apollo sends a declaration out to the people on the other side using his mind, and it comes to them, booming from the sky like thunder.
"I am the true son of Oriah Lex, and I have come to claim what is rightly mine."
Just as the deafening message clears the air, two large hunks of wreckage find the guards. They both perish in sodden, horrific crunches that cut through the boisterous, metallic cacophony. Then in a sudden instant, everything stops. The objects hang eerily silent in the air for mere seconds before crashing down all around them. Apollo stands with Grace in the center of the wreckage, while a single round of applause rings through the now quiet surroundings.
"Wow! Thank you so much for clarifying that!"
Furious' sarcastic remark makes Apollo think he didn't get his message across. He holds his hands out and a long, cylindrical piece of metal, a broken truck axle, comes flying toward him. He catches it, and immediately the larger end containing the hub, freezes over in a layer of thick frost, "Maybe you didn't hear me the first time." Apollo says as he rears back his weapon, ready for battle. Furious takes a single step before twisting a tightly bound metallic bracelet on his right wrist. He drops his arms and clinches his fists and suddenly both of the them glow with a blue-green aura. The two are about to strike when Paulus steps forward, trying to defuse the situation, "We have a mutual dilemma here guys, there's no need for this right now!"
Furious snorts, "Oh that's right! Almost forgot, there's a little tattooed freakshow we've got to deal with. We'll settle this later," as the light fades from his hands. Apollo quickly responds to his antagonist, "Yeah whatever, just don't doubt me again. And I'm taking my brother. Don't try to stop me." Apollo drops the axle, and starts toward the other truck. Its back peels off and slams to the ground with a loud crunch.
For the first time, Furious' voice takes on a more serious tone, "I'm afraid we can't do that, bud. Brutalius expects someone in the Chamber and I have to put someone in there," He continues, following Apollo to the rear of the truck, "If it remains empty, he'll know something is up, and that would be, I should say, premature." Apollo peers inside the vehicle as Solomon climbs out, "Well put yourself in there. I don't care. It's not going to be Solomon."
Solomon speaks up, "Just let them Apollo, my mother is gone. I have nothing left to live for." Apollo doesn't want to break the news to him that their brothers, not now, not like this, but he also wants to give his friend hope. But before the boy can speak, Paulus chimes in, "I understand where you're coming from Apollo, I do. And I have a suggestion that could be beneficial to all of us in the end if you'll just hear me out." Apollo glowers at his brother's injuries, but he's relieved he's alright, "What is it then?"
"You take Solomon's place."
Apollo looks immediately over to Grace to see her reaction. She's standing by Antonia and shakes her head, her eyes plead with him not to do it. "No I can't do that; I need to see my father first." Then Antonia speaks up, revealing something Apollo suspected all along, "We can't Apollo, Brutalius won't tell anyone where he has the prisoners. We lied and said we did so you would play along. It was all a part of the plan." Apollo jumps at the woman's last statement. His eyes snap at her with angry amazement, "What did you just say?"
"Huh?"
"That last part, repeat that last part."
Antonia gives Apollo a puzzled look but mimics her last sentence, this time in the form of a question, "It was all a part of the plan?"
"Yeah that it! Who told you to say that?"
"Huh? I don't know. I just said it."
Apollo continues to stare at her as his eyes blink rapidly like his mind is spinning with thoughts. He turns to Grace and tries to speak to her mind. I think I might have to go along with them for now. I wish you could hear me. Grace looks at Apollo for a brief moment then rushes into his arms, "You said you would protect me." He holds her as he strokes her cheek. He replies to her in the slightest whisper, not wanting to give the Kaines any more than is necessary. "I know and I will, just trust me on this. Besides, I need someone to make sure Solomon gets the help he needs. They beat him up pretty badly. I'll be back for you Grace, I swear it. I give you my word. I.."
Grace finishes his sentence in her own whisper to him. She know exactly how he feels, "I love you." Apollo holds her even tighter for as long as he can before Furious finally speaks, "We got to do something, Apollo, we don't have much time." Apollo reluctantly replies in agreement, "Okay we'll do it your way even though you just admitted you lied. But if anything happens to Grace or my brother, I'll break out of this Chamber you speak of, and annihilate everything you've grown accustom to."
r /> He then kisses Grace with all the passion in his heart as he hears Furious respond in his usual way, "Okay Loverboy, we hear you loud and clear, okay? They'll be safe, I'll keep Brutalius busy, trust me. We've got to get going." Paulus adds, "Don't worry Apollo, Antonia and I designed the Chamber and we're responsible for its operation. Brutalius will only know what we tell him, but once we get there you will have to trust me, completely, okay? We need to make this thing seem as real as possible so to convince Brutalius of its validity." Apollo answers him with a question that is lightly laced with his apprehension, "What is the Chamber?" He tries to swallow down all of his doubts as Antonia answers him with just two ambiguous words, "You'll see."
~
Mirrors.
That's the only way Apollo can describe the room that he's now in. The walls and ceiling are solid panes of reflective glass. The completely symmetrical space resembles some sort of shiny, weird cube. A bed and a single chair are the only other things, other than an extremely small glass table, that occupy the room. There's an open doorway in the center to his left that Apollo finds leads to the bathroom. He lies on the grayish bed, and stares at the plate of food that inexplicably materialized on the table's glass surface a while ago. He's scared to touch it. Suddenly, a large image of a woman's face is looking at him from one of the mirrored walls. It's Antonia.
"You need to eat."
"No"
"Why not?"
"Because I don't trust you."