“I want something more. I want it with you. But I’m not gonna beg you. I’m smart, I’m kind and I’m hot. I mean, really. Look at me.”
“You know I dig you. Why does it have to be something more? Why do I have to make it official?”
“I deserve official. If you can’t see that, maybe I was wrong about you,” Miku says.
She doesn’t give Jay a chance to reply. She storms off and joins Rio. The two of them head back to the battlefield. The team decided to take turns going to the battle and coming back so that I’m never alone. While I appreciate the support, I would give anything to be by myself.
The doctors aren’t letting anyone in to see Emmy yet. Jay offered to Convince them but I said no. I want to see Emmy, more than anything, but something in me needs to believe she’s not really hurt. Something in me needs her to be at home reading her thoroughly worn-through romance novel and feeding Mrs. Charlotte. If I walk into her hospital room and see her lying there with tubes coming out of her…
I can’t…
Just a few minutes after the Twins leave for the battle field, we spot Dalce coming towards us.
“How is the human?” he asks.
“It’s bad but we’re hoping we can find the healer we need in time,” Ameana replies.
“Bianca wanted to be here but I convinced her to stay on the field, after all, we can’t have it look like both the leader and his wife have abandoned the soldiers,” Dalce says.
“That’s not what’s happening,” Ameana assures him.
“Well, I know but it does look a lot like that; especially after the episode that happened with Ty.”
“What do you mean, man?” Jay wonders.
“I mean more than a few soldiers overheard Ty. They're wondering if what he said was truth: Did Marcus marry Bianca just for the army? I’ve spent hours smoothing things over. Convincing them that Ty was an overemotional kid and mistook a friendship between Marcus and the human for something else. I promised them that you two are, in fact, very much in love.”
“Lying comes very easy to you,” I reply.
“I’m a leader, Marcus. I do what needs to be done.”
“Yeah, and look what it’s cost us,” I reply.
“Excuse me?” Dalce counters.
“If we’re weren’t pretending and lying to the Quo, Emmy wouldn’t be in some hospital bed fighting to live,” I snap.
“I know you’re upset, Marcus, but come now, let’s be fair. The reason Emmy is fighting for her life is because of you.”
Ameana puts a hand on my shoulder in an attempt to keep me from losing my temper. It doesn’t work.
“What the hell do you mean, it’s my fault?”
“Well, Marcus, you weren’t supposed to be having private meetings with the human. You were supposed to be leading the army and being by your wife’s side. That was your duty. You did not do that.”
“What is wrong with you? You put everything aside just so you can have some semblance of power? You pimp out your own child just so you can, what, get an invite to Council dinner? Or have your name in the paper?”
“I do what I do because I know the pain that comes with being unseen. And cycle after cycle, we have been ignored. That will NEVER happen again. And I will not let some human girl make you lose focus on what’s important: Winning this war and placing us where we belong: at the top.”
“Damn, you’re an asshole,” Jay says, studying Dalce.
“Maybe, but at least I’m smart enough not to devote my life to a Guardian who can’t ever be with me. Honestly, the human isn’t all that bright.”
Before the team can stop me, I grab Dalce by his neck, raise him several feet in the air and slam him so hard against the wall, it starts to crumble.
“You say anything bad about her again and I’ll rip out your fucking vocal cords,” I vow.
“Marcus, put him down,” Ameana says firmly.
I can feel the life draining out of him; I squeeze his throat even harder. He makes a horrible choking sound as his air supply is completely cut off.
“Marcus, now!” Ameana orders.
I drop the snake and he falls to the floor, gasping for air.
I stomp out of the waiting area and head outside. The team tries to follow me and I tell them to stop where they are.
“We want to make sure you’re okay,” Miku says, sounding like she’s on the verge of tears.
“I’m not. Dalce is right; I shouldn’t have been sneaking around with Emmy.”
“Marcus, this isn’t your fault; you didn’t know what Ty was going to do,” Ameana reassures me.
“It doesn’t matter. I should have sent him home like Rio suggested. But I said no. If I just listened to him…”
“Marcus, she’s gonna be okay,” Miku says trying to sound upbeat.
“Listen, I know you guys want to help, but…I just wanna be alone.” I don’t wait for them to reply. I just start walking out of the hospital. I decide to go by Emmy’s apartment. There’s something comforting about being around the thing the person you love cares about, it brings a strange peace. Unfortunately, I can’t stay more than a few minutes before I have to get back to the battle and to Emmy.
I head across the street but someone calls out my name. I turn and see a frantic Quo girl. She calls me back towards the hospital entrance.
“Eta, what is it?” I ask.
“Marcus, I know this is a bad time but I need to tell you something,” she says sobbing.
“Okay, okay, calm down. What is it?”
“I think Dalce killed my grandmother.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
OUT OF SIGHT
It takes a few minutes for to Eta to calm down long enough to explain herself. By then, we are back in the waiting room and the entire team has gathered.
“Okay, start from the beginning,” Ameana orders her.
“My grandmother, Nipoe, and Dalce have always fought about whose side the Foundation should be on. He hated that she wanted to build a relationship with the Angels. He thought the only way that Quo can have a say is to force the hand of the Council. It was a really big issue that divided my grandmother and my uncle for years.
“When the Sage blasted the light, Uncle Dalce thought it was the perfect chance to bring the Angels to their knees and force you guys to make us part of your world. But Nipoe wouldn’t do that. She insisted we help the Angels, regardless of how we would or would not be rewarded. They fought about it heatedly, and I once heard him say that her time leading the Foundation would soon end,” Eta concludes.
“It sounds like they disagreed, or even hated each other, but what makes you think Dalce had anything to do with Nipoe’s death? She died of a heart attack,” I remind her.
“I had an autopsy done, as soon as her body was found. The medical examiner contacted me today; he thinks her pacemaker malfunctioned,” Eta replies.
“Eta, that happens. Granted, not often but it does happen,” Rio says gently.
“A witness saw Uncle Dalce coming out of Nipoe’s room just before she died.”
“They could have been having a meeting of some kind,” I reply.
“No. The person who saw him said that Dalce had just used his powers.”
“I’m sorry, I’m missing your point,” Miku says, confused.
“Do you know what Dalce’s power is?” Eta asks.
“No,” I reply.
“He controls devices; like pacemakers.”
“Hold up, you think your uncle used his power to speed up Nipoe’s pacemaker?” Jay asks.
“Speed it up or slow it down. Either way, he is responsible for her death.”
“Who saw him coming out of her room that night?” I ask.
“He really doesn’t want to be involved in this,” Eta says carefully.
“He doesn’t have a choice. He can’t just accuse Dalce without proof,” I counter.
“Marcus, he did it. He killed my grandmother. She was a kind person who loved the Foundation and gave her life to it. She
didn’t need to die,” she says as a fresh stream of tears comes down her face.
Miku goes over to comfort her. The team and I exchange a look of concern. I signal for Miku to take Eta away so the team can talk. Miku takes her to the ladies’ room. As soon as they disappear around the corner, we begin to discuss what to do about Dalce.
“We have to make him step down as the leader of the Foundation,” Ameana says.
“We can’t do that on the word of an emotional granddaughter,” I reply.
“Rio, was she telling the truth?” Ameana asks.
“She’s telling what she believes is the truth. There’s no way of knowing if it’s what really happened,” Rio informs us.
“If he did do this, he has to step down,” Ameana reiterates.
“Right now, we’re leading an army that still has reservations about us. Getting rid of their leader could make them turn on us,” I caution her.
“So, what, we just let Dalce get away with murder?” Jay asks.
“We don’t know that he did it,” I remind him.
“Please, that guy is all types of shady. You saw how he was with you just now. Do you doubt for a second he’s capable of killing an old lady to take her place as leader?” Jay adds.
“The sad truth is, even if he did it, we still need him in order to keep the Foundation soldiers on our side,” I reply.
“So, we’re okay working with murderers?” Ameana wonders.
“We’re good working with Demons; really, are murderers such a big leap?” Rio quips.
“C’mon, he’s helping us with the human. Why don’t you cut him a break?” She asks Rio.
“Because, Demons don’t do well with second chances.”
“Whatever, Rio,” Ameana replies, shaking her head.
“I don’t like this either but we need Dalce to keep the soldiers together,” I interject.
“So, he’s gonna get away with murder?” Eta asks as she heads towards us.
She’s washed her face but the sadness remains in her eyes. Miku takes her hand and assures her that we would never do that.
“Fine, then what are you guys going to do about it?” She asks, getting angry.
“Eta, we know how important Nipoe was to you. But Dalce isn’t an Angel. We can’t just come in and impose our rules on him,” I tell her.
“What do Quo do when they suspect someone of taking a life?” Miku asks.
“We do as the humans do: we have a trial. If he’s found guilty, there is process called Rue. It strips the Quo of his power. It can be for a few months, years or a lifetime depending on how bad the offense.”
“Fine, then you guys can hold a trial, but that will have to be when this is over,” I reply.
“Marcus, he’s a killer and you’re just gonna let him loose!” She shouts.
“I don’t know if you know this or not, but we’re actually in the middle of a war. Not to mention having to go on a mission to find the three missing pieces to put the council back together. I can’t take Dalce down right now,” I snap.
The others explain to her about the Shoma. They tell her it’s the only chance we have to set things right and rebuild the light again.
“How much time do you have?” She asks us.
“We had months and now…days,” Jay says.
“Look, I know you guys have a lot going on and I’m sorry, but this can’t wait,” Eta says.
“We just can’t fix this right now. First of all, we don’t even know who this witness is,” I reply.
“Fine, I’ll tell you but you have to promise Dalce will pay for what he did.”
“If he did it, he will. Now who is this witness?” I reply.
“It’s Uri; Angela’s husband.”
“He knew all this time?” Ameana asks.
“No, he only remembered having seen Dalce last night. That’s when I started to put it together in my head,” Eta says.
“Okay, I’ll go talk to Uri.”
“Thank you, Marcus,” Eta says embracing me.
“We can talk to Uri for you. The doctor said you can go see Emmy now,” Miku tells me.
“She’s awake?” I ask.
“No, but you can go in,” Ameana says.
“Later; right now I need to talk to Uri. Then we need to take out the rest of the Sage’s army and end this war for good.”
“Wait, you don’t want to go inside and see Emmy?” Ameana asks, puzzled.
“I said later,” I snap.
I send the twins and Jay back to the front line of the battle. Eta and I get on a Port and head back to base camp. Ameana stays in the hospital, waiting on Rage’s return.
Once back at back camp I send Eta to find Uri. While she’s gone, I attend to something I have been avoiding: Ty.
“Where is he?” I ask one of the Foundation soldiers.
“He ran away.”
“What? Find him!”
“Are you going to kill him?” the soldier asks.
“He’s a kid.”
“Not anymore. Now, he’s a traitor,” Dalce says standing at the entrance.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“He’s on the other side now. He’s been attacking our soldiers.”
“We have to get him back here. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
“Yes, he does. He’s chosen to join the Believers. We have to treat him exactly like what he is: The enemy. If the chance comes to take him down—”
“—anyone touches that kid and I will kill them myself. Ty isn’t the enemy. He’s a scared kid. And we are not gonna hurt him. Got it?”
The soldiers around me reluctantly agree. I send them out to find Ty and bring him back safely.
Dalce glares at me.
“You are so much weaker than I first thought,” he says, disgusted.
“Why; because killing doesn’t come so easy to me?”
“I keep telling you, Guardian: I do what needs to be done.”
“Really; and what needed to be done to Nipoe?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You better hope it’s all a misunderstanding,” I vow.
“I have no idea what it is you are referring to.”
“Nipoe was all Eta had. She loved that old lady and just like that she was gone.”
“Marcus, Nipoe’s passing hurt us all. In fact, I’m still grieving.”
“Are you?”
“Can’t you tell by the look on my face?”
I look right at him and I swear there’s a slight smile. That bastard murdered the old lady. And he enjoyed it.
“You’re not as smart as you think you are, Dalce. I promise you that.”
“Marcus, if there’s something you want to accuse me of, don’t beat around the bush.”
“Did you have anything to do with Nipoe’s death?”
“Me? No, that would make me a monster.”
There’s the smile again.
“The two men in my life, in one room,” Bianca says from the entrance.
Dalce and I continue to glare at each other. Bianca enters and asks if everything is okay.
“Yes, I was just catching up with your husband. He thinks I killed Nipoe.”
“What? Why would you kill your own mother?”
“Marcus is just overtired. I guess leading an army is far more taxing than he thought,” he says pointedly as he heads out.
I would love to end this guy’s life. Seriously, it would be a pleasure.
“Speaking of which, how is the human? Is she going to make it?” Bianca ask, concerned.
“We don’t know yet,” I reply.
“I should go visit her and give her my best.”
“Ameana is with her now,” I reply.
“Maybe later, then. Now, what’s this about my father?”
“There’s a witness who says he saw your father coming from Nipoe’s room the night she died.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Bianca counters.
“The medical examiner sai
d Nipoe’s pacemaker failed. And you know your father can control devices.”
“Marcus, my father would never do such a thing. He loved Nipoe. They didn’t agree on much, but murder…that’s ridiculous. Who is this witness?” she asks.
“It’s me,” Uri says as he enters with Eta.
Uri explained that he can tell who has what power and when it was used. And according to him, Dalce used his power in Nipoe’s room. And moments after he came out, Nipoe was found dead.
“I’m sorry, Bianca, but there has to be a trial,” I warn her.
“It’s fine, Marcus. I’m not worried. I’m sure Uri is just remembering wrong,” she says smiling politely.
“No, I’m not; It was your father, Bianca,” Uri swears.
“Well, whatever, I’m sure we’ll clear this up soon,” she replies.
“When the war is over, Uncle Dalce will pay for what he did,” Eta says.
“My baby cousin has always been one for theatrics. It’s okay, Eta. I know you’re only acting out of grief.”
“Your father has always wanted to lead the Foundation. I just didn’t know how far he’d go to make it happen.”
Bianca ignores Eta’s outburst and turns her attention to Uri.
“How is Angela feeling?” She asks him.
“She’s doing okay. The patterns on her hands are forming, so the baby is alive and well, so far.”
“We Quo give birth the human way. So, I’m not all that familiar with the Angel way. Am I to understand that any stress or sorrow can cause her to lose the baby?”
“Yes, that’s why she’s in the hideout: To make sure her soul isn’t affected by all the death around us.”
“And it is true that heartbreak can cause her to lose the baby, too?”
“Yes, but there’s no chance of that. I’m keeping her happy and focused on positive things. Like us winning this war. Rumor has it that it should only be a few days now, right Marcus?”
“Yeah, it should be over soon,” I reply.
“Good, then I can get Angela back to camp safely. How’s Emmy?”
“It’s too early to tell,” I reply, trying very hard to keep the emotion from my voice.
“Well, she’s in our thoughts,” Uri says as he and Eta head out.
Uri turns around and addresses Bianca.