Of Gods and Butterflies
By Carcassi
Chapter Nine
Days and nights were impossible to count in the Fortress, but it seemed to Chloe that her time with Kal had stretched into weeks, each one more enjoyable than the last. Meanwhile, she divided her free time between the garden and the library in search of firemaking materials.
Unfortunately, her task was harder than she'd thought; the twigs she found in the forest broke when she tried to rub them together, and although there were plenty of sharp rocks for striking sparks, there was no steel to strike sparks from.
Now, after endless failed attempts, she sat alone at her writing desk, drumming her fingers thoughtfully against its polished surface while she reviewed her lack of progress. Her efforts to learn more about Kal's past life seemed to have stalled. Both he and Jor-El were more than willing to talk to her about his lost world, Krypton (in fact, the magnificence of Krypton had practically become Jor-El's favorite subject), but any mention of where, and when, Kal had first arrived in the mortal world was met, in the case of Jor-El, by stony silence, and, in the case of Kal, by either soft laughter, or a kiss.
Not that she was complaining about that, exactly. Kal's methods of distracting her had very, very definite benefits.
But, in a way, that was also her biggest problem. It was getting harder for her to connect the gentle lover who came to her in the dark with Jor-El's threats of future world domination. She couldn't imagine her thoughtful, considerate companion as any kind of dictator, even a benevolent one, and she'd noticed, lately, that Kal himself had begun to sound less enthusiastic about the idea.
With time and a little persistence, she felt sure that she'd be able to change his mind. She'd bet her life on it.
But, she thought uneasily, was she willing to bet the fate of the world on it?
Because no matter what she might believe Kal would do, the issue was what he could do.
She'd seen enough of Kal's power to know the danger, if Jor-El got his way. No armies could possibly stand against him. The very idea of fighting him was ridiculous; Kal would simply swat away attackers like bothersome flies and melt their weapons with a single glance. The thickest walls and the tallest battlements would tumble before him like sand castles swept away by the tide.
Once the people saw that, Kal's status as a living god would be sealed. She imagined herself standing by his side as his consort, watching other mortals line up to worship him and, with adoring smiles, sell themselves into slavery.
Chloe shook her head to clear away the nightmare vision. If she had anything to do with it, it would never come true. Solving Kal's many riddles might give her the clue she needed; at least, it seemed like a good place to start.
Why wasn't she allowed to see him? Where had he spent his mysterious past life? What was the secret behind his bracelet? Was it only a keepsake from an old girlfriend, or did it mean something more? Who was Kal, really?
And, most importantly, how could she answer those questions?
Her eyes strayed to the oil lamp, which sat tantalizingly on the corner of the desk next to the pile of dry twigs, grass and stones she'd collected over the last several days, none of which had produced so much as a single puff of smoke. It was maddening to think that all she really needed was a single spark. Kal could have done it with one look, but since that wasn't an option, she'd settle for a simple piece of steel.
Which, of course, was exactly what she didn't have. Given a choice, Chloe gladly would have traded all her jewels, her gowns, and even her books, for a knife, fork or spoon that wasn't enameled or gilded. She wondered, briefly, if Jor-El was deliberately trying to drive her crazy.
Her mouth pressed into a resolute line as she decided that she needed to try harder. More than anything, she wanted to see the face of her lover.
********
Later that day, after she'd gone to bed, she heard Kal return from an unusually long training session and cuddle up behind her, murmuring a tired apology. Rolling over to greet him with an eager smile, she listened as soft snores rose from the pillow, and realized, in disbelief, that he was already asleep.
It was the first time he'd seemed even slightly fatigued by those sessions. Sleepily, she wondered what Jor-El might be up to now.
After tossing and turning for a few minutes, she threw off the sheets, too restless to drift off herself. Stepping into the slippers next to her bed, she felt around for the robe she'd left draped over a nearby chair and wrapped it around her as she headed toward the library doors, careful not to disturb her inexplicably exhausted lover.
By now, she was used to the soft lighting that sprang to life as soon as she'd entered the hall. As usual, she headed to her writing desk, glared briefly at the still-unlit oil lamp, and picked up a half-read book that rested next to the desk's embossed leather blotter, intending to read herself back to sleep. As she did, she glanced down automatically and froze.
Peeking out from underneath the edge of the blotter was the unmistakeable gleam of steel.
Scarcely daring to breathe, she drew out a long, sharp letter opener shaped like a miniature dagger. How she'd missed it before, she had no clue, but this was no time to question her luck.
All those years she'd spent building campfires paid off; it only took a minute or two for Chloe to strike a spark off the blade with a rock, and then she was grinning triumphantly as the lamp's long wick burst into life. Lifting it with trembling hands, she shielded the flame carefully against the breeze while she hurried to the bedroom door.
On the threshold, she hesitated, swallowing nervously. It's now or never, she told herself sternly. Do it fast, and he'll never know.
The time had come to shed some light onto Kal's mystery. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward into the darkened chamber.
She was grateful, now, for Kal's deep sleep; the only sound in the room when she entered, on tip-toe, was his soft, regular breathing. In the flickering light, she could just make out his large figure, mounded under gleaming sheets, so tall that his feet extended over the edge of the mattress. Far away, on the opposite end of the bed, a mass of dark, tousled hair spilled out across the pillow.
His head was turned away from her. Frowning, Chloe scurried to the other side of the bed and held out the lamp, trying her best to hold it steady. It dipped slightly, spilling more oil onto the wick as she lowered it, carefully, to reveal his features.
Fed by the oil, the flame leapt high as she stared down at the face of Kent.
It had been six years since she'd seen him, but there was no mistaking Kent's strong profile, with its high cheekbones, long lashes, and full lips. Judging from the small, upward curve of his mouth, he was having pleasant dreams.
She suddenly became aware that the lamp was tipping too far forward. She jerked it upright just in time to keep it from dripping onto her sleeping lover as she sank down on the mattress, eyes still riveted on his face, while a single thought echoed in her mind: I should have known.
Kal's odd familiarity had puzzled her from the first. Now, she understood why everything about him—his voice, his touch, his warmth—had made her feel as if she were reuniting with an old friend. The only thing that had kept her from guessing the truth before now had been her logical brain, which refused to consider the possibility that an all-powerful demigod and a sick farmboy might actually be one and the same.
For once, she wished she'd forgotten about logic and paid more attention to her instincts. Deep down, I must have known, she realized. If I hadn't, I'd be screaming right now.
Something sparkled in the corner of her eye, and she moved the lamp to get a closer view. His long arm was flung out over the coverlet, exposing his wrist, which glittered in the ruddy light. Holding her breath, Chloe bent over it, no longer doubting what she would see.
A delicate chain of golden butterflies winked up at her, as bright and as beautiful as the day, all those years ago, that she'd given it to Kent, and asked him to remember her.
"It's a soulmate bracelet," Kal had told her.
The tiny golden creatures melted into a blur as Chloe's eyes filled with tears. Blinking, she shifted her gaze, and his handsome features swam back into view, still drowned in sleep.
At the sight, she bit her lip, fighting the urge to press a kiss on that smooth, peaceful forehead. Kent had known all along, better than she had, what her gift had really meant. She'd handed Kent her most cherished possession, not because she felt sorry for him, but because she'd wanted him to hold a part of herself. It was far more than a keepsake; it had been a pledge.
Before Kal had chosen her, she'd chosen him. Now that she understood that, there was no longer any need to feel guilty about seeing Kent's face when she was with Kal.
Finally, Chloe felt the two halves of her divided heart come together. I love you, she thought, her tears coming faster, and she leaned close to his face, forgetting all about the lamp.
It tilted forward, spilling drops of hot oil onto her lover's bare shoulder, and she watched in horror as his eyes flew open. They flashed like emeralds in the flickering light, focusing on her in surprise, rather than in pain.
Chloe's whole body was shaking like a leaf, but she forced herself to meet his astonished gaze levelly.
Now you've done it, she told herself.
Jor-El had been very clear about what would happen if she was caught breaking her promise, and she had no doubt he'd meant what he'd said. Right now, though, it was Kal's reaction, not Jor-El's, that concerned her the most.
At the very least, he'll be disappointed, she thought, returning his blank stare apprehensively.
In stunned disbelief, she watched as the stare was replaced by a grin wide enough to light up the room all by itself. "I should have known you'd find a way," he murmured, in the warm voice she knew so well. Pushing himself up on his elbows, he inspected her in the lamplight with sparkling eyes. "Hello."
No mortal could possibly resist returning that grin. For a moment, Chloe forgot all about Jor-El's threats.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded, as he sat upright.
The covers slipped from his chest, and Chloe sucked in a quick breath as Kal treated her to her first look at his broad torso. Obviously, she'd been missing out on a lot before. Her fingers itched to stroke those carved contours, now that she could see as well as feel them. She was so preoccupied that she didn't realize she was losing her grip on the lamp before it was too late.
Luckily, her lover rescued it before it fell. He turned back to her with the same earnest expression she'd last seen on Kent's face in the forest six years ago. "Jor-El said it was too dangerous. He said that no human could be allowed to know my weakness."
"Your weakness," she echoed, remembering how young Kent had twisted in agony in the underbrush, surrounded by glowing rocks. "Of course. The green rocks."
It was hard to believe that something so small could destroy power as monumental as Kal's. But it did explain Kal's reluctance to talk about the fire in the sky. "They cursed the kingdom," she observed quietly, never taking her eyes off him. "Did they curse you too, somehow?"
Even in the flame's ruddy glow, his face seemed to pale. "No," he replied, dropping his gaze. He pressed his mouth into a grim line, as if debating whether to continue.
"You don't have to answer that," she said, softly.
"I want to." Kal drew a breath without raising his eyes. "I'm the curse, Chloe," he said slowly. "I brought the rocks here from Krypton, when I arrived." He swallowed, darting a nervous glance at her through a thick fringe of lashes. "What happened is all my fault."
She stared, speechless, as the realization gradually sank in that Kal had just handed her the answer to the biggest mystery in the kingdom. Still, the revelation that the so-called "enchanted" rocks weren't enchanted after all wasn't nearly as shocking as Kal's unexplained sense of guilt.
Kal hung his head. "I'm sorry, Chloe."
A wave of anger swept over her. "You ought to be," she snapped. Ignoring his hurt look, she reached up to cup his chin, turning his face to meet hers. "You've been blaming yourself for years for something you didn't do," she finished, sternly.
The honest confusion in those sad eyes softened her tone. "I've seen Krypton in Jor-El's crystals, Kal. When you left, you were a baby. And even as a baby, you'd seen more death and destruction than anyone in my kingdom ever will. You've suffered enough."
She smiled at his doubtful shrug. "Listen to me. You're not a curse, you're a blessing. You could do so much good."
Looking him in the eye, she pulled out her trump card. "I'll bet that's what your mortal parents told you."
She nearly burst out laughing at the look of comical surprise on his handsome face. "Can I help it if I have a good memory? You mentioned them when we first met. I'm guessing that they adopted you. That was pretty brave, and pretty wonderful, too. "
Sobering, she added, more softly, "I'm sorry you lost them. I owe them my thanks. The whole world does."
Slowly, she felt the tension drain from his body as his expression relaxed into a small, sad smile. "They would be proud of you."
"I wish you'd met them," he said, lifting his chin from her cupped palm and fixing her with a look that sent pleasant tingles down every nerve in her body. "They would have loved you."
The lamplight cast dancing patterns across his face as, slowly, it dipped closer to hers. Gazing at his expression of dazed delight, she decided that this moment, no matter the cost, was worth it.
To her endless disappointment, Kal chose that moment to jerk his head up and eye her in sudden alarm. "My father!"
Uh-oh. It had finally occurred to him. But Chloe wasn't ready to talk about Jor-El just yet.
"Don't change the subject," she said firmly. "Now, shut up and kiss me."
Smiling through his sigh, Kal circled her with his free arm and complied. Eyes open and arms laced around his broad shoulders, Chloe crushed her mouth against his hungrily, hoping that this moment would last forever.
Unfortunately, it didn't.
Bright light flooded the room so abruptly that even Kal was taken by surprise. The lamp he was holding thudded onto the thick carpet, which caught fire quickly as the lamp leaked oil.
He was out of bed to smother the flames before she could blink. After he'd put them out, he straightened, giving Chloe a chance, at last, to see her lover up close, full-length, and naked.
It was a magnificent view. She stared as he turned to face her with a puzzled crease in his forehead. "What?"
Chloe picked her jaw off from the floor. If by some miracle she survived Jor-El's punishment, she vowed that she would never again let Kal make love to her in the dark. "Wow."
Another voice boomed from everywhere and nowhere, cutting off her reply. "This human has proven faithless," Jor-El pronounced. "I warned you, my son."
As she'd expected, Jor-El was not nearly as forgiving as Kal. Chloe, shivering, wrapped her robe around her more tightly as the air in the chamber got colder. She looked at the ceiling, but knew that there was nothing she could say in her defense.
"I don't care," Kal called out. "We've chosen each other, Father. I'm wearing her bracelet. You can't undo that."
"A mortal gift means nothing," the cold voice said dismissively. "Your true soulmate will be revealed when your mother's bracelet is found."
Kal narrowed his eyes. "Then tell me where it is."
"I have hidden it well," Jor-El answered, imperturbably. "Where only the most worthy human will ever discover it."
"Hold it," Chloe cut in, hugging herself to keep warm. "Why is it up to me to find Kal's bracelet?"
"Chloe is worthy," Kal shot back at the same time.
"And yet, she failed the very first test."
Kal frowned suspiciously. "What test?"
Chloe almost forgot the cold as she realized what Jor-El meant. "The oil lamp. The steel," she murmured, mentally kicking herself for walking into Jor-El's trap.
She'd been so eager to learn the truth that it had never occurred to her to question the existence of the useless lamp, or the too-convenient appearance of that steel letter-opener on her writing desk. She had to hand it to Jor-El, though; he'd been careful not to make it seem too easy.
Come to think of it, she should've been suspicious about Kal's unexplained fatigue, too. It wouldn't surprise her a bit to discover that his father had arranged that as well, to encourage her to act quickly. Otherwise, she might have had time to wonder about all those coincidences.
"You set me up," she accused, as steadily as she could while her teeth were chattering.
"I merely provided you with the means to break your promise. I did not force you."
A hint of regret crept into Jor-El's voice. "This was not my choice, my child. It was yours. I can allow nothing, not even you, to interfere with my son's destiny."
Chloe screamed as an icy blast froze her to the bone. Dimly she became aware that the chamber's rich appointments had melted away. The bed she was seated on, and everything around it, had turned back into the same ice-hard crystal as the rest of the Fortress.
In spite of her agony, she felt a moment's sadness for the loss of her library. She'd miss it, almost as much as she missed Kal.
Already she was slipping into unconsciousness, too numb to feel the cold. Hazily, she could just make out the image of Kal's horrified face, bending over her.
His arms were around her, radiating warmth. Burrowing deeper into his embrace, she felt the chill recede from both body and mind as she listened to him growl at the air around them. "I won't let her die."
"That is not your choice to make, my son," came the calm answer. "Now go. You have more important matters to attend to."
"NO!"
There was a ring of command in his voice that made Chloe look up, startled. Kal had straightened and was glaring upward with glints of red in his eyes. "Stop now, or I'll take her away from here. And I won't return."
His steely tone seemed to take even Jor-El aback. The freezing gusts of wind died down, and in the brief silence that followed, Chloe felt a surge of pride that Kal, even after years of browbeating, could still defy his tyrannical father. As clever as Jor-El was, he'd obviously made the mistake of taking Kal's obedience for granted.
Kal was fighting back. Finally.
The voice softened, as if it were trying to sound reasonable. "Unlike you, she is mortal, my son. She could never hope to share your life. That is for your true soulmate alone."
"Why can't you accept that Chloe is my soulmate?" Kal demanded.
"You are far too young yet to know your own mind, Kal-El. That will come in time."
Now that the winds had died down and she'd finally stopped shivering, Chloe felt strong enough to join the conversation. "You know, Jor-El, that's what all fathers say," she remarked to the ceiling.
Both Kal and his father were too busy arguing to pay attention. "Give us a chance to prove we're right," Kal insisted. "Please, Father," he added, tightening his hold on Chloe protectively.
Jor-El's already low voice dropped almost a full octave. "Are you so sure, my son?"
Kal's nod was brief, but firm. "Yes."
The silence stretched on for what seemed like minutes. "Very well," Jor-El said, reluctantly. "Then you must bring me your mother's bracelet."
"But we don't even know where to start looking!" Kal exclaimed angrily.
"The crystals in the bracelet contain your mother Lara's memories." A tinge of sadness had crept into the voice. "If you seek them diligently, they should call out to you."
Chloe saw Kal's expression change as he stared into the empty air. "I never knew Lara," he said softly. "I'd give almost anything for Chloe and me to see those memories." His voice took on a pleading note. "Can't you help us more than that?"
Apparently, the mention of Kal's mother had a mellowing effect on Jor-El. He spoke heavily, as if the words were being dragged from him. "Look first in the city of Metropolis."
Chloe brightened. That sounded hopeful. "And if we find it? What then?"
"The bracelet has the power to bond your life to Kal-El's," Jor-El told her. "As it bound Lara's to mine."
Chloe listened to this encouraging news skeptically, all too aware that she'd almost been turned into an icicle. Cautiously, she asked, "What's the catch?"
"You have one week," the voice rapped out, resuming its usual chilly tone. "That should be more than sufficient."
She rolled her eyes. Jor-El had set them up again.
"If you find it in the time I have set, you and Kal-El will be joined. If not, Kal-El must return here alone and complete his training."
"What if I decide to stay with Chloe?" Kal challenged.
Jor-El must have been ready for that question, because the reply came at once. "Return within a week, as measured by the yellow sun, or the light of that sun will be taken away from this planet."
Kal's expression mirrored Chloe's horrified reaction. "I thought you wanted to help humans," he accused, angrily.
"That will be your choice, my son. If you do as I say, no harm will come to the humans."
Chloe decided that she really, truly hated his smug superiority. The look of complete disgust on Kal's face told her that he must have been thinking the same thing. "He's setting us up to fail," he huffed.
She framed his face in her hands, rubbing her thumbs soothingly along his perfectly-sculpted cheekbones. "At least it's a chance," she said encouragingly. Even if all it meant was having Kal for one more week, Jor-El's deal was still something to be thankful for.
Kal nodded. "I agree, Father," he called out, and gently pushed Chloe's head against his shoulder. "We'd better leave right away," he whispered. "Are you ready?"
Feeling her spirits rise, she grinned as she nodded. "You know what the hardest part of this is?"
He paused, his breath warming her ear. "No, what?"
Chloe nuzzled his soft skin playfully. "Cuddling against you when you're naked and not being able to do a thing about it."
Kal was laughing as he lifted into the air.
********
Minutes later, Chloe was shocked when she saw that they'd landed inside the palace itself.
"Do you know what the word 'discretion' means?" she grumbled as he set her down. Nervously, her eyes swept the shelves of the deserted pantry, noticing that the only opening was high above.
"I was discreet," Kal defended. "The courtyard outside, where your family's quarters are, is a lot more crowded than this."
They both whirled as something crashed behind them. A wide-eyed, elderly serving-woman stood ankle-deep in onions and clutching an empty basket.
It took a second for Chloe to realize that the woman's eyes weren't focused on their faces. "Kal!" she hissed, keeping a close watch on the woman, who seemed rooted to the spot. "Go get some clothes on!"
"I, uh…OK," he stuttered, as Chloe tried hard not to smile at the blush spreading across his cheeks. He backed out quickly, thankfully using the door instead of the window.
"He's from out of town," Chloe said, giving the woman her sunniest smile. Without waiting for an answer, she, too, made a quick exit.
She didn't recognize the colonnaded corridor outside, but she was confident that she could find her way. And luckily, she thought, unlike Kal, she wasn't conspicuous.
"Daddy!" a young voice piped up nearby. "Look at the pretty lady!"
She heard other murmurs join the child's as she turned to face a gathering crowd of onlookers. She glanced down at her robe uncertainly, realizing with a shock that it was sparkling in the sunlight filtering in through the columns.
Living in the Fortress, she'd gotten used to fancy clothing. Her silk robe, shot with gold thread and embroidered with gems of all colors, was only one of many.
Chin held high, she pushed her way through the gawkers, hoping that she could somehow lose them in the crowded courtyard. She'd almost fought her way to the palace's main hall when a familiar voice called her name.
"Father!" She twisted her head, searching anxiously for Gabriel. "Where are you?"
A richly-dressed nobleman emerged from the crowd and rushed forward to envelop her in a crushing hug. "I can't believe it," he whispered hoarsely. "We thought you were dead."
Too surprised to speak, Chloe returned the hug, and smiled, tearfully, at her father's grateful sigh. "I've prayed every day for your safe return."
She stepped back to survey him in disbelief. "What happened to you?" She noticed the pendant hanging at the end of the heavy gold chain adorning his well-tailored velvet doublet. "Why are you wearing the Chief Steward's seal?"
Her father's kind expression clouded. "I suppose you haven't heard. After all, it's been more than a year."
"A year?" she exclaimed, aghast to discover yet another of the Fortress' secrets. Wherever he was, she thought darkly, Jor-El was probably having a good laugh.
Gabriel smiled down at her uncertainly. "Yes, my dear. I'm afraid I don't work in the stables anymore."
Without as much as a murmur, the ring of onlookers parted to make way for a tall, elegant figure wrapped in an ermine-trimmed cloak. On his lifted arm rested the dainty hand of her sister Lana, resplendent in a gown of purple satin.
"Now," Gabriel said, nodding in the direction of the regal presence, "I work for him."
Under a bare scalp, the glittering eyes of Prince Alexander inspected her with uncomfortable interest. He smiled coldly. "Welcome back."