Tentyrian Legacy (17 page)

The men were equally striking in sea green
robes, with long cloaks on top in yellow. By the shoulders, each
wore fibulae in the zodiac symbol. They too wore sturdy fur-lined
boots, but they openly displayed their sheathed swords. The same
garments tonight were mandatory for all, designed to create an
image of unity. Dressmakers and tailors had worked around the clock
to create the regal clothes.

As they approached the Great Hall, Narcissa
let out a sigh of relief. Maximos awaited them at the bottom of the
steps, where he took Narcissa’s arm. “I’m so glad you waited for
me, Maximos. You know I hate walking into these things by myself,”
said Narcissa.

“A lady should never walk alone, Cissy,” he
replied, a slight smile kicking up in the corner of his firm mouth.
Since Narcissa was in swaddling clothes, Maximos had given her the
endearment “Cissy” and never called her anything else, at least
outside of Council meetings. Maximos was like an uncle to Narcissa
and her sisters. He had been friends with their mother since the
beginning and was instrumental in helping her design the Council of
the Zodiac.

What Hathor and Maximos faced in building
their community was against all odds. Yet they managed to do it.
Maximos would give anything to protect his people, but first and
foremost came Hathor’s daughters. He had pledged so to Hathor, and
he intended to make sure they were safe with his dying breath.
Without them, there was no future.

“Did I see what I think I just saw, Maximos?”
teased Narcissa. “And what would that be, my dear?”

“A slightly ironic smile?”

“Me? Well, if I did smile, don’t tell anyone.
I have to keep up the stoic reputation.”

“Of course,” Narcissa said as she patted
Maximos’ arm with affection.

The Luminaries and their escorts continued up
the steps, flanked by the Tentyrian Guards who stood silently,
trained to stare at nothing while ready to draw their swords at any
moment. The zodiac table was ready. Golden chalices filled with
blood and small plates of fresh fruits and spicy nuts sat at each
of the sixteen place settings—two less since Hathor and Karis were
dead.

The rest of the Council was already seated
around the historic round table brought from Tentyris. They sat
sipping from their blood chalices. The Luminaries, Aristos, and
Maximos took their places while Claudius and Alexander bid their
farewells. Only Council members were allowed to remain for the
meeting. Claudius and Alexander would join the rest of the Sanctum
and the Council’s families and friends in the dining area of the
Royal Villa for the reception that was to occur during the
meeting’s proceedings.

With all seated, Daria placed her sistrum on
the table and took stock of the room. Was it tension in the air or
anticipation she felt? The meetings were ruled by formality, but
Daria needed to address what everyone was thinking. Following her
lead, the women removed their hoods and the Council stood.

“Before we begin, I want to thank you all for
coming,” said Daria in a voice full of strength. Her nerves didn’t
betray her. “Our meeting tonight is built on tradition, but we have
never had one quite like this . . . without Mother or without
Karis. In their honor, I’d like to offer up a short prayer . .
.

“To our beloveds. If you are in Heaven or on
Earth, in the South or in the North, in the West or in the East,
you are known. Pure in love, pure in sight. Not shall you die a
second time. You are known. All forms are your habitation. You are
known.”

“You are known,” the Council responded in
unison to Daria’s prayer of the Divine Identity. Daria nodded and
the rest of the Council took their seats, with the exception of her
and her sisters.

Daria continued: “In these past months, we
have prevailed with the odds stacked against us. I often worried
this meeting would not happen. But we are here. The Luminaries and
I are extremely pleased with the Covens’ progress, and it wouldn’t
be possible without your leadership. For that, we must say thank
you.”

Affirming nods ensued. The Council members
took their positions seriously and were never ones to pat
themselves on the back—at least openly.

“However, as the Primary Rulers now, the
Luminaries and I must know that we have your full loyalty,”
announced Daria. “There are traitors about. We will not proceed
with this meeting until we know where you stand.” Daria, her
sisters, and Maximos had spent countless hours debating the best
way to broach the issue. They finally determined it was best to
address it head on. That’s why they designed the contingency plan
for the children and had the Guard on high alert.

Eyes shifted questioningly to each other,
each member searching for doubt in the others’ eyes. Aristos and
Maximos were the first to pledge their loyalty.

“The Cancer Coven is behind you. As is the
Guard,” said Aristos. “And the Leo Coven,” promised Maximos.

More pronouncements of support followed:
Pello speaking for Sagittarius, Sophia for Libra, Sebastian for
Capricorn, Zoe for Aquarius, and Evander for Pisces. Stavros,
Calix, Aglaia, Asia, and Damian remained seated, while those who
professed their loyalty stood. Daria breathed in deeply and
unleashed her fangs. Her sisters followed suit.

“Do you have something to say, traitors?”
Daria addressed those seated with a snarl. Stavros laughed in
response, letting his own fangs show.

“You call us traitors, Daria. Why don’t you
ask Calypso what she is?” Stavros scoffed. Eyes turned to Calypso,
who looked utterly confused.

“Who do you think killed your own mother?”
Stavros said. “Calypso. She is the only one who can make herself
invisible. No one else would have been able to get that near to
Hathor without an alarm being raised. But Daria, you didn’t mind
tap her, did you?”

Of course Daria hadn’t read Calypso’s mind.
There hadn’t been a need to. Calypso would never betray them like
that. She was her sister. Daria told herself she needed to regain
control, quickly.

“No, Stavros. The lies stop now,” said Daria
firmly. She didn’t believe Calypso killed their mother.

“Tsk, tsk. You were always such a levelheaded
girl. Why don’t you see for yourself?” Stavros said as he gestured
to Calypso, who stood rigid and pale. The Council waited
expectantly. Doubt suddenly nagged at Daria.

“Put your block down, Calypso,” said Daria
with a tremor in her voice.

“What? No!” said Calypso. “I haven’t done
anything!” “I said put it down,” Daria demanded.

“Fine! You won’t see anything!”

With a deep breath Calypso relented, and
Daria entered her mind, something she hadn’t done since they were
children when Daria would look for her in games of hide and seek.
Daria was instantly bombarded by images and sounds. She sifted
through them frantically to find what she was looking for.
Alexander playing chess by the fire. Ceres being rocked in Nenet’s
arms. A knife gripped in her hands. Her mother dead. Daria pulled
herself away from Calypso’s mind.

“How could you?” Daria yelled. Outrage was
palpable around the table. Calypso’s eyes blinked several times as
she emerged from the trance of Daria’s mind tap. Shame crossed her
face, and she sunk down into her chair.

“Calypso, why?” asked Narcissa with tears
streaming down her cheeks.

“I, I don’t know. I swear it. I didn’t know.
I don’t know what I did. I know I wasn’t feeling well. But I swear
I just saw what you saw, Daria, for the first time. Please believe
me.” Calypso looked desperately at her sisters and the Council.

“There is no need for hysterics. We might as
well put all of the truth out there. It’s not like Calypso did it
all on her own,” said Calix as he examined his fingernails. Daria’s
heart pounded. Her fingers itched to grab her dagger. “Before I
explain,” Calix said lazily, “I want everyone to know—no one shifts
or makes a move. If you do, your Covens die. We have them all, and
with the snap of our fingers they will go up in flames. And Daria,
don’t even try to mind tap us. Our blocks are up. Guards, take
their weapons!” Several guards entered to remove the swords from
the men.

The Council now all stood around the table.
Fangs were bared. But those loyal to the Luminaries didn’t move to
fight. They were afraid for their people.

“I did not instruct you to leave your posts,”
seethed Aristos to the guards, who avoided his eyes. Aristos called
for other guards by name, his most trusted. None came. It was a
huge blow to him. These were men who he had trained alongside. Who
had pledged their loyalty to the Zodiac.

“You’ve probably noticed, Aristos, but your
men aren’t yours anymore. They are mine,” said Stavros, clearly
satisfied. “Those who were loyal to you and the Luminaries are
dead.” No one moved. Aristos prayed the children and their
Guardians noticed something was awry and had escaped.

With the spotlight temporarily falling off
Calix, he was determined to bring it back to himself. “Now, back to
Hathor’s death . . . Let’s just say Calypso did what she did, with
a little push,” Calix said and smiled. “But Daria, bravo for trying
to figure out what we were up to. When you made us remove our mind
blocks the night you questioned us, we thought for sure our work
would be uncovered. But you didn’t find anything, did you?” he
mocked.

“How is that possible? Your powers don’t work
on us, Calix,” Phoebe whispered.

“Luckily, we had a little help,” Calix
explained. “Guards!” he yelled. “Bring in Selene.”

Two guards appeared with Selene, who clearly
wasn’t being held against her will. She stood confident,
resplendent in a red silk robe, the same one that had been
Hathor’s. The normally placid eyes of the maid were dark with
satisfaction.

“Selene has been most helpful,” said Calix.
“You see, she has an uncanny ability for weakening Tentyrian power.
With Selene able to break down Calypso’s mental block, I was able
to slip into her mind and make a few suggestions. Then I wiped her
conscious memory of it. Calypso was the easiest target, though, so
sad and angry over Hector.

Convincing the guards that checked on your
mother repeatedly, only to see her sleeping peacefully, was child’s
play. Now, Daria, you were a different story. The best we could do
with you was prevent you, just barely, from seeing what we were
plotting.”

Daria remembered that when she was doing the
mind taps on the Council, Selene had stood by with the other
servants in stunned silence—clearly feigned. How could she not have
noticed what Selene was up to?

Stavros laughed and continued. “Selene worked
on Hathor for months, destroying her sight little by little. But
she was too strong to yield to any suggestions. In time, I hoped
Hathor would see things the way I did. I hoped you all would. I
never wanted it to come to this.” Stavros turned to the Council
with open palms in a gesture seeking understanding. “All I wanted
was for us to take our rightful place! We should have fought the
Egyptians and Auletes for what should be ours—a kingdom! Not this
pile of rocks,” spat Stavros angrily.

“So you made an agreement with Auletes and
his mercenaries, didn’t you? You told them where and how to kill
our father,” said Daria with understanding dawning on her. “You
wanted us to think Auletes was plotting to destroy Tentyris.”

“Ah, she finally gets it. Yes I did, but it
wasn’t a lie. Auletes did want to destroy us; he just needed a
little coaxing. You should have seen his lust when I promised him
just a fraction of our wealth. My rebel subterfuge was a
distraction to lead you back to Auletes. And I knew Hathor would
eventually see that Auletes truly did want to kill her,” said
Stavros.

“That’s not what you told me, Stavros,” said
Damian icily. “You told me that we would soon be under siege by
Auletes’ men who were responsible for the fires.”

“Damian, Damian, it is a pity Karis couldn’t
be here tonight. I told you what you needed to be told: that the
Luminaries would never demonstrate the strength needed to protect
our people. If I had told you that I was responsible for setting
those fires, then who would you have blamed for your child and
wife’s deaths?”

“I will kill you, you son of a whore!” yelled
Damian as he propelled a guard’s sword straight at Stavros’ heart.
Stavros batted it away like a fly with his mind.

“No you won’t! And if either of you makes a
move again, I swear on all of your families’ lives I will
incinerate your Covens,” commanded Stavros. Calix, Aglaia, and Asia
moved toward Stavros’ side, where Selene and the Tentyrian Guards
now stood protectively. “That’s right. What you don’t know is that
as your Covens celebrate the Rising in their own halls, my men
stand outside ready to blow them to pieces. With multiple bombs
prepared to explode, courtesy of our Gemini twins here, there will
be no survivors. The same holds true for all of your families and
those so loyal to you here at the Sanctum—while they sip their
drinks, they have no idea they could die in seconds.”

“Why are you doing this, Stavros? What do you
want?” asked Daria coldly.

“What do I want? Well I guess I will start
with all of this,” he said. Stavros’ eyes drew upward as he
surveyed the expanse of the Sanctum. “I must say, it is impressive
here. Too bad your bitch of a mother kept it a secret from us.”

“She knew you weren’t to be trusted,” Daria
said, looking upon him in disgust.

“I was with Hathor from the beginning. Yet no
matter what I did or how I showed her my loyalty, she wouldn’t
trust me. Not like Hector. Or you, puppy dog,” Stavros directed his
words at Maximos. “When she decided the clan should relocate rather
than fight, she changed the rules of the game, not me. I had to
take action. Killing her and setting the fires was necessary. With
her gone, you Luminaries were more exposed than ever. With the
fires, I was able to win Damian and the Guard over and prove how
incompetent you were at protecting your own people. You can build
as many bridges as you want, but if you aren’t able to control by
force, you’ll never win, ladies.”