Changing of the Glads (24 page)

CHAPTER 25

Karaticus led the way to the throne room, and two guards followed close behind Zalphia.  The stark white of the walls made the floor seem to rock like the deck of a ship.  The sweets she’d just consumed threatened to make their way back out. 

Zalphia paused, putting her hand against one wall while she fought the bile rising.

“You all right?” one of the guards asked.

“Not feeling so well.”  The bumping inside eased the queasiness for a moment, and she managed to walk on.

Karaticus finally reached an ornately carved door, inlaid with golden accents.  Pulling it open, he motioned for the guards to remain and waved Zalphia inside.

Huge pillars of white were mirrored in the dark marble floor.  Three steps up set the middle of the room just higher than where Karaticus and Zalphia stood.  Situated in the middle of the raised floor set an oversized lounge chair covered with a variety of velvety pillows, and in the midst of them, lay a man who looked very similar to Max.  He wore a crown of burnished gold on his head and robes in the richest colors.  Women lay strewn around him like so many charms on a bracelet.  As Zalphia entered the room, he sat up.

“So,” the crowned man said.  “This is the famous No Mercy Zalph.”

Karaticus bowed.  “Yes, Vitus.”

The man with the crown frowned and lifted his hand.

“I’m sorry,” Karaticus stammered, glancing at the man standing next to the chair.  “I mean, Your Highness.” 

Karaticus glanced at Zalphia and motioned for her to bow.

She bent slightly.

Vitus rose as she straightened.  Immediately, he invaded her mind, rummaging through her thoughts.  She lost all control as he pulled forth memories of her training, her matches, and even the day her mother left her with Platy.  Emotions boiled to the surface, and she felt each one as vividly as the day she first experienced them.  Then he discovered the day she met Max.

She had carefully placed those memories behind the door that hid her most painful emotions.  The same door where her guilt lay hidden.  Vitus cracked it open.  Zalphia shoved it back.  The last thing she needed right now was the guilt and heartache to slip out and overcome her.  Besides, her time with Max needed to remain hidden.  Vitus exerted more power and pushed at the door while she put all her concentration into keeping it closed.  The mental anguish of fighting him drove her to her knees. 

He laughed as he circled her.

“Don’t fight it, Mother.” 

You know who I am, and you’re still doing this?

He lifted his chin and looked down his nose at her.  “I can do whatever I want with you and your mind.  You’re not as strong as me.”

Zalphia fought to break the pathway he had established but was unsuccessful.  So she settled on forming a wall of will to keep those most personal emotions safely locked away.

Vitus’s mind fractured and slithered like snakes, discovering holes in her defenses just big enough to wiggle through.  Zalphia rushed about, trying to plug each hole before the slimy tyrant could slip into her carefully guarded room.  The effort sapped her strength and caused her eyes to bulge. 

Karaticus stepped between her and his brother. “This is not what you wanted.”

Vitus’s hand flew out, and the rings adorning his fingers bit into Karaticus’s cheek, laying the skin open.  The blow knocked Karaticus to the ground.  

“I’ll do as I please, and you will stay out of it.  Do you understand?” Vitus growled.

Karaticus nodded, one hand holding his bleeding cheek.

Zalphia took the moment of distraction to fortify the room inside her mind and totally block Vitus’s efforts.  Then she sent streamers out, following the slithering pathways into Vitus’s mind.

He whirled back to her, grabbed her by the throat, and squeezed.  “Oh. No. You. Don’t.”

Zalphia dug her nails into his hands, fighting for air as his fingers tightened around her windpipe. 

He was powerful, not only mentally, but physically as well.  Her glimpse into his thoughts showed just how far her eldest son had sunk in his quest for power.  He no longer feared Selestia and would do whatever it took to gain the power he desired.

The people of this planet meant nothing to him.  He only saw what they could do, how they worshiped him.  He longed to set himself up as the leader of not only this planet, but all of the
planets within the realm of Selestia’s influence.  If he had his way, her unborn child would be used for his cruel purposes.

For the first time since learning what the brothers had done to Odette, Zalphia wondered if it might be better to end the life of her child before it began.

Vitus was truly evil, but while she lingered in his mind for just that moment, she felt something more.  Something.  No!  Someone!  Someone using Vitus’s own aspirations to achieve
their
purpose.  Someone who pulled Vitus’s strings.  And he was doing their bidding without even realizing that he was being used. 

Karaticus’s mind was there, too.  Zalphia felt his hesitant and unwilling presence, but this was someone different.  Someone besides her sons.  A mind stealthily guiding Vitus’s thoughts and actions. 

Zalphia had used the tactic this person was using exactly twice before.  A hidden thought planted deep inside her opponent’s own thought processes that would emerge at the most opportune time and seem to be that person’s own idea.  However, at the time, it made the fight turn to Zalphia’s advantage.  It had been difficult, had taken time and extreme concentration, but it was possible.   

This mind was doing the same thing to Vitus.

“Wait!” Karaticus jumped to his feet.  “Remember the child.”

“You’re right.”  Vitus released his hold.

Zalphia dropped to the floor, coughing and sputtering. 

Vitus glared down at her.  “Tell me, Mother.  How is Father?”

Zalphia massaged the finger marks on her throat.

“Well?”  Vitus paced in front of her.  “Where is he?”

Zalphia lifted her chin.  “You’re the Emperor.  You tell me?  What have you done with him?” 

She glanced at Karaticus, who shook his head, his eyes wide.

“I’ve done exactly as I wanted.  You two have conceived a child, and now I will destroy it.”

Zalphia narrowed her eyes and studied Vitus’s face.  She had seen something entirely different when she’d invaded his thoughts.

“You only think you can read my thoughts.”  He glared at her.  “I will never allow anyone, including my parents, to best me.  If this child is the one these humans believe will save them, then I will destroy it and prove
I am
the prophesied leader.”

Zalphia’s hands fell to her sides, and her fingers curled into fists.

Karaticus shot Zalphia a subtle shake of his head.

Zalphia stood and faced her eldest son.  “Vitus, allow Max and me to return to Selestia with our unborn child.  You can have this planet and its depraved people.  You deserve each other.” 

She waited as Vitus considered her offer.

“If only it would end there, I might consider it.  But you know as well as I do that the Elders would never allow me just to keep going on as I have.  If you and Father lowered yourselves to come here to stop me, then what does that say?”

“I promise we will leave you alone.  And we will convince the Council of Elders to agree.  Just change things a bit.  You can remain in power.  Do away with the Glads.  Bring peace, harmony, and kindness back to this planet.”

Vitus rubbed his chin.  “You make a compelling argument, but somehow I don’t think it would help.  No, Selestia wishes for these people to govern themselves.  Something they’ve never done successfully in all the time they’ve occupied this planet.  The Elders would never submit to leaving this place in my hands. I know that, and Karaticus knows it.  Don’t you, brother?”

The younger son nodded.

“And you should know that.”  Vitus put a finger beneath Zalphia’s chin and looked her in the eyes.  “You don’t remember anything of your mission, do you?”

Again, Vitus searched her early memories.  Zalphia allowed him to go there while she faithfully guarded the door which stood between him and memories of Max.

“Hmmm.  Interesting.”  Vitus rose and returned to his comfortable chair.  “You see?  Not even the Elders could come up with a way to send someone to stop me.  I have known about you for a long time.”

His lip curled up, and he growled, “I just never expected you to survive in the arena.”

Now it all made sense.  Vitus was the reason she’d be ripped from her life as a small child.

“I was truly surprised you weren’t eliminated in your first match.  I was sure that someone as experienced as Gabriella would crush you like the worm that you are.  But you took the blow and still managed to kill her.  However, since you did survive, you have succeeded in making my Glad Games the most lucrative way to make a living in this world.  It would have taken me many years to accomplish what you did in the first four that you fought.  Now, it is one of the most sought after professions there is.  So you see, even when you failed to die, you still fulfilled my purposes.  Now, I will use you again.”  Vitus motioned to his personal guards.  “Throw her in the dungeon and bring me my father.”

It took four guards to drag the struggling Zalphia from the room.

If Vitus had Max, too, how could she even hope to be freed?   But then again, Max said that they needed to see where this led.  She had seen.  And it led right back to their own family.  But who was the other mind?  Who pulled their son’s strings?

“You’ll never get away with it.” Zalphia said.  “Someone is using you.  In the end, you’ll be the one losing everything.”

Vitus shook his head.  “You really expect me to believe your petty attempts to sway me?” He chuckled.  “I will use you, and when Selestia is destroyed, we will see who ends up losing everything.”

CHAPTER 26

Zalphia curled into a ball on top of a bare mattress supported by a metal frame.  With each movement, the springs squealed and groaned.  Soft light shone through the narrow slatted window nestled close to where the ceiling and back wall met.  Opposite the bed, a grimy toilet and tiny sink completed the interior of the locked room.  The heavy, metal door sported a narrow slot through which an outsider could peek in and check on her solitary existence.

One hand subconsciously rubbed her belly while Zalphia’s thoughts drifted to Max.  What would happen to them now?  If he truly was a prisoner, the same as she, how would they ever escape the palace, let alone change what had happened here? 

Her eldest son had become the problem instead of the answer.  If she and Max were to turn things around on this planet, they’d have to somehow stop Vitus.  But he seemed determined to keep all the power he had acquired.

Vitus would fight for what he had, even if it cost him his life.  He was her son, her child.  Could she destroy her own flesh and blood?  If Karaticus had been unable to stop his brother, what made her think she stood any chance on her own?  

And what about Max?  If he could do anything, he probably would have already, wouldn’t he?  She’d only just had her chips removed.  Maybe he didn’t realize he could combine his mind with hers now.

Zalphia closed her eyes. 

It should be fairly easy to find Max.  She knew well how it worked so she sent searching fingers out, through the walls and up from her position.  Maybe once she linked with him, they could devise a plan to end all this.

A smile spread across her face.  Yes, Max would know what to do, and then the baby she carried would be safe.  But what about Vitus?  He wouldn’t give up so easily.

She searched, pouring her mind into corridor after corridor, but found nothing.  Her eyes popped open, and she sat up.  What?  She couldn’t locate a single mind.  No guards.  None of the many people she’d seen littering the hallways.  And not Max.  Why couldn’t she sense anyone?

Closing her eyes again, she concentrated harder, pushing with all her might to locate a person. 

Nothing! 

Not a single mind.  No Max.  No Karaticus.  No Platy.  Not even Vitus. 

Her body stiffened. 

What the heck?  If she hadn’t just been able to work her way into Vitus’s mind, she would wonder if Platy had taken her abilities from her permanently. 

She fell back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.  “Damn it.” 

Then she remembered what Karaticus had told her earlier.  Vitus made this facility so no one from Selestia could use their mind powers in here.  If she couldn’t reach Max, how could they get out of this place?  How could she save her unborn baby and herself?

A single tear slid down her cheek.  Vitus had truly thought of everything.  Then she remembered what she’d encountered in his mind. 
Someone
was using their powers in here. Someone who had figured out how to get around Vitus’s block. 

“I wonder.”  Zalphia closed her eyes again. 

This time she opened her mind and let in the slower vibrations of air, listening for a mind hidden in the subtle sounds emanating from the earth.  She’d had to search like this before, but only once. 

She’d encountered a Glad whose mind she couldn’t reach.  This girl was from someplace in the high mountains.  Her father had been some sort of religious zealot.  He’d taught her to calm her mind and lower all her thoughts to the bare vibrations of the earth.  The skill had made it nearly impossible for Zalphia to find her opponent’s thoughts, let alone change them.  Luckily for Zalphia, the girl had been fairly new to the arena.  If she hadn’t been, Zalphia would have lost that match. 

She could now see similarities between the silence she felt inside the palace and the silence in that Glad’s mind.                When Zalphia went into Vitus’ mind, she heard that same murmur and recognized it as an outside influence.  So there was another mind here.  One that used vibrations so low they were not perceivable to Vitus.  And Zalphia only recognized them because of her encounter all those years ago.

The air shimmered slightly, vibrating between the walls of her cell.  The tone she’d heard in Vitus’s head was different than what she perceived now.  This mind was high-pitched and fast, a quick staccato like the beating of a tiny bird’s wings.  It took some doing, but she finally was able to sync to its vibrations.

Hello?

The words rushed in.  Fast and jumbled like a foreign language, but she could almost make them out.

Who are you?

Again, the jumble.  Then it slowed.

I don’t understand.

Me.

Who?  Where are you?

Child. 
Here.

Where is here?

You.  Me.  Child.

What child?  This certainly wasn’t Karaticus.  And it wasn’t Vitus.  
             

Are you in the palace with Vitus?

No.  Here.

I don’t understand. 
Zalphia sat up and opened her eyes.

You.  Me. 
Here.

A quick flutter tickled her insides, followed by a solid thump just below her ribs.

Kick. Me.

Oh!
Zalphia placed a hand on her belly.
  You’re my unborn child.

Yes. Me. Child.

A smile widened Zalphia’s lips.  She was speaking to her baby before it even came into the world.

Have you felt any other minds?

Evil.  Feel Evil.

Of course he felt that.  Was it a he?  Maybe a girl?

Are you a boy?  Or a girl?

Me.  Child.

Zalphia rolled her eyes.  Maybe it didn’t understand what she was asking.  She rubbed her belly, her hand softly caressing the slight bulge.  This was her child, whether boy or girl, it didn’t matter.  She would protect this little one until her last breath.  No ending its life.  Not now.  Now she knew it was alive and aware inside of her. 

The perception it felt was right.  Everything it would have felt while inside would have been evil.  The matches she’d fought.  The thoughts she harbored against Platy.  And now, Vitus and his plans.  This world was nothing but a big ball of evil all combined to terminate the growing life inside of her.

I’m sorry, little one.  Evil has had an influence on you.  But from now on I will protect you.  Keep any harm from coming to you.  Do you understand?

Me.  You.  Protect.

No, I’ll protect you.  You are safe with me.

Safe.  Yes.  We.  Safe.

What do you mean?

Together.  Safe.

The lock clicked, bringing Zalphia out of her trance-like state.  The door swung open, and Platy pranced in.

Zalphia’s heart leapt into her throat.  How had Platy escaped? 

“Hello, Zalphia.”

Zalphia’s actions in the Arena General’s office flashed in her mind, and she shot to her feet. “What are you doing here?” 

From the wild look on her trainer’s face, this was not going to be good.

Zalphia’s eyes narrowed as Platy closed the door behind her.

“I thought you were a prisoner.”

Platy turned back to Zalphia and laughed.  “You think you know everything.  Well, you don’t.  And you’ll never lay claim to what is mine.” Platy’s eyes widened, and the look on her face reminded Zalphia of a cornered tiger.

Platy stepped closer and pulled a prod from behind her back.

Zalphia retreated until the wall stopped her.  “What are you talking about?”

“You think you will end up with him?  Well, I will never let that happen.”

“Who?”

“Who?”  Platy’s mouth turned up in a wicked grin as she mimicked Zalphia’s question.  “As if you didn’t know.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”  Zalphia slid along the wall, away from her trainer, her mind reeling against this new threat.  “You’re not making any sense.”

Platy pushed the button and electricity hummed in the prod.  “You think I don’t recognize the portraits?  That fact that he’s always wanted you?  You can’t have him.  I don’t care what he thinks he’ll accomplish with your child. 
You and it
won’t live long enough to find out.  Do you hear me?”

Zalphia swallowed hard.  Platy had gone stark-raving mad.  Who was she was referring to?

“Platy, I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

“Dameon, of course.”

“Dameon?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know about him.”  Platy waved the prod in front of her.  “Or maybe if I call him by his name on Selestia.  All right then, Mantus.”

Zalphia retreated to the corner by the sink.  “Mantus?”

Evil.  Bad.

Light dawned in Zalphia’s mind.  Karaticus had mentioned him.  This Dameon or Mantus was the other mind she had sensed.  The one using Vitus.

“You can’t have him.  He’s mine.”  Platy swung the prod at Zalphia’s head.

Ducking, Zalphia slid under the sink and skittered past Platy’s legs.  She didn’t care about Dameon or Mantus.  Platy could have him.  Zalphia only wanted her child unharmed.

“You can’t get away.  This time I won’t quit until you’re dead.”  Platy’s eyes widened, and she laughed hysterically.  “He’s mine.  All mine.”

Zalphia’s jaw clenched.  No way she would allow Platy to do anything that might harm the baby.  If the trainer thought that prod would land, she had another thing coming.  No restraints here.  Anger boiled to the surface, and Zalphia’s limbs trembled.  The air inside the cell seemed to follow suit, and Zalphia’s attention turned to the floor and walls as they rolled like waves on the ocean

Even Platy paused mid-stride and glanced around the room.

Finally, the opportunity Zalphia had pictured for the last seven months while fighting in the arena presented itself.  She smirked. At last, Platy would feel her wrath.

The smile drew Platy’s attention from the walls, and again, she swung the prod.  Zalphia deflected the blow with her forearm. 

Platy’s whole arm shook from the impact.

“So you wanna fight me?” Zalphia growled. 

“No.”  Platy jabbed the prod toward Zalphia. “I wanna
kill
you!”

Ducking to the left, Zalphia grabbed the stick and swung Platy around.  A fast jerk and Zalphia now held the prod.  She slammed it against the wall, and it shattered into pieces, then showered to the floor.

With her weapon destroyed, panic spread across Platy’s face.  Her eyes opened even wider when she realized Zalphia now stood between her and the door.

“That’s right.”  Zalphia lifted an eyebrow.  “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this.”  She crouched low.

Platy’s eyes darted around.  “I’m sorry, Zalph.”  She raised her hands in surrender.  “I was jealous, that’s all.”

Now it was Zalphia’s turn to chuckle.  “Well, I’m not.  And I owe you for everything you’ve put me through.”

Springing with the agility of a tiger, Zalphia threw an elbow into Platy’s jaw.  The trainer spun around and whacked into the wall.  Zalphia grabbed an arm and turned Platy to face her, and then with one blow of her fist shattered Platy’s nose. 

Blood sprayed across the room, and for the first time in her life, Zalphia relished the feel of the droplets on her face.

Platy crumpled to the floor, hand filling with the blood pouring from her nose.

Zalphia sent a swift kick to Platy’s ribs and cocked her foot back for another blow to her trainer’s head when the guards intervened.

Three of them wrestled Zalphia against the vibrating wall, and two more dragged the limp Platy across the rolling floor, fighting to remain on their feet.

One guard threw a punch to Zalphia’s jaw, making her lose control just long enough for them to throw her on the cot and escape.

Zalphia regained her equilibrium and sat up, rubbing her jaw.

She stared at the still-shaking walls and heard the guards cursing the movement as they struggled to secure the door.

Had she done that?  Did her connection to the lower vibrations allow her a power she never would have dreamed she could have?

Zalphia thought about Platy, and the vibrations increased.  She turned her thoughts to her child, and the shaking subsided.

Damn!

She had the same powers Max had demonstrated the day they had met.  The day they destroyed a whole arena of people.

A smile slowly spread across her face. 

Yes!
 

She could use this.  A smile slowly spread across her face.  And use it she would.  Against everyone who wished to steal her unborn child or worse.  Against Vitus.  Or anyone who thought they could use her for their own purposes.

So this other mind, what had Platy called him?  Dameon?  Or Mantus had come from Selestia.  He, too, had powers and was using them for his own agenda.  Everything was falling into place.  The pieces of the puzzle fit together and painted a picture Zalphia recognized from the Glad arena.  If it was a fight they wanted, it was a fight they would get.