Chapter Fourteen: Hammer Into Anvil
Spring, Cyran Province
The second contact came about three weeks later. By this time, Bill and Tveir had set up an emergency system to alert the Prefect the moment a call from the City came in. With Theus' and Bill's help they'd arranged a secret tap on the Kendrick line that even Cerchio's men couldn't detect.
When the call came in, Bill was at the house. Discussions with the Prefect and information provided by Tveir's contacts within the Capitol confirmed what Bill suspected: the house was being watched and all comings and goings were logged. So Vyraius knew when Bill was at home.
Tveir's contacts had come through in more than one way as well.
The information he'd managed to obtain from the gentleman he'd mentioned was reliable. Not only did the gentleman in question provide Tveir with the information he'd sought, he'd agreed without hesitation to join the cause of the resistance. He'd been sympathetic already, so Tveir's request only cemented his loyalty. They now had a list of the Subversive prisoners being held in the secret prison under the Chief's Palace.
And yes, Alistair was top of that list. Creon Hugh was second.
The gentleman also provided Tveir with another important bit of information: Cerchio was convinced that Alistair was Cipher, leader of the Subversive rebellion. It was one of the reasons the Chief was keeping the Rhomboid alive. But just.
Alistair wasn't well. According to their contact, he'd been found unconscious in the mountains and had been brought in, barely awake and near death. He'd been treated but only enough to keep him alive.
Bill suspected such a thing but to find out it was in fact, true only made him that much more anxious to get Alistair and his parents out of the Chief Circle's clutches and home where they were safe and could be cared for, as soon as possible.
So when the call came in, Bill steeled himself for whatever would come next and shoved down his emotions as hard as he could. He had to focus, remember what Tveir had taught him and turn the conversation to his advantage. Worrying about Alistair's health and the welfare of his parents couldn't be allowed to affect him, not if he wanted to keep them alive. He couldn't let Cerchio manipulate him this time.
"Bill Sifras here," he said in a steely tone.
"Ah, my little musician! Been practicing? When you get here I'll want a lovely concert! I've already made plans, I've even picked out your outfit! Simply everyone is going to be there! Everyone is so excited!"
"What do you want this time?" Bill spat.
"Oh, now, don't be like that my boy. I know you're just as anxious to come home as I am to see you! You can't stay in that little rural backwater much longer. Can you?"
It had to be recorded. Bill thought. He wouldn't be talking like this if he were planning to leak at least some of this conversation to the press.
"It's my home. I'd rather stay with the people I love and who love me."
"But I love you too, don't you want to make me happy?"
"No," Bill said.
"Your parents miss you."
"I'm sure they do. Send them home to me and everyone will be much happier."
"I won't."
"That's your problem, not mine."
Silence.
"What about Alistair?"
"What about him?"
"Don't you want him home as well?"
"I do, but I don't expect you to give him back to me just because I ask."
"Of course not," Vyraius said in a colder tone. "You want him, you know what you have to do."
"Give me my parents, Cerchio. You're holding them for no reason and you know it."
"I make the reasons. My patience is growing thin."
"I'm sure it is. Mine has been long gone. You're going to listen to what I have to say for once. You're going to return my parents to me, return my fiancé and they're going to be well, untouched. You're going to leave me alone and this 'relationship' is going to be over. Do you understand me?"
He made a noise that was most likely a snort of surprise and indignation.
"You're telling me what to do, Sifras?"
"Yes, I'm tired of this. Tired of you. Threats don't work on me, Cerchio."
"Oh, no emotional pleas for me to listen to the rabble? No crying about how frightened you are? I'm disappointed in you, boy."
"Shut up, Cerchio," Bill snapped. "Return my family to me. I'm not going with you."
Cerchio sighed. It sounded melodramatic and contrived.
"You're being impossible, boy. I suppose I have no other choice."
"You don't. Return my family."
"No."
"I figured that was what you would say."
"Did you now? Perhaps you can figure out what I'm going to say next. You won't come willingly. Fine. You will come. I do wonder what your parents will think when I tell them you refused to agree to my terms?"
"Don't touch them."
"I won't. I'm not a monster. I wouldn't kill a couple of elderly people just because their son is being difficult."
He paused a long moment.
"Alistair, however... well, I am sorry, William. But you just signed your boyfriend's death warrant."
Bill went ice cold.
"You're bluffing," he bit out. "You wouldn't kill Alistair because I refused to join you."
"Heh," Cerchio purred, "I never had a choice. He's under arrest for leading the rebellion and I couldn't release him if I wanted to. Which I don't."
Bill swallowed hard, fighting the urge to scream.
"You just gave me the final nail in his coffin. You see, I was only keeping him from the masses because I knew you liked him. But if you don't want to come willingly, well, I guess I have no other choice than to turn him over to the Tribunal and have them deal with him as they see fit."
Bill was silent, he couldn't speak. No words came to him.
"They will convict and execute. No loss to me but to you..." A low, evil chuckle filtered over the phone line. "You poor, poor boy. I'll be here to comfort you in your time of need. You have no choice. You're already mine. You'll come to appreciate me in time."
"You are a monster," Bill hissed.
"No, I'm simply the King. Best you remember that in the days to come, William. Your boyfriend is lost. Your parents, however are still mine."
"You said you wouldn't kill them!"
"Ah, there's the fire I remember! No. But people don't need to die to suffer."
"Cerchio!"
"We will see each other soon. Keep that fire on low, Billy. I look forward to seeing it in its full fury for myself, in my bed."
"You basta-"
The line went dead.
Bill was sobbing.
"You did as well as you could, son," Cyclonus said, standing beside him as Varien sat next to him in the Kendricks' sitting room, patting him gently on his angle.
"I screwed up, I let my emotions get to me, I-I..."
"He must have had this planned from the beginning," Cyclonus said, "he knew you'd refuse. He was just using this as an excuse. He wanted to hurt you and he did. He'd already planned to set Alistair up in a trial and this was just his way of telling you about it in the way that would hurt you the most. Your parents though... I-I'm sorry, Bill."
"Alistair won't let this happen to him," Varien said softly, "he won't let them execute him."
"He's taking the heat for me," Bill breathed, trying to catch his breath. "They think he's Cipher. And knowing him, he'll keep letting them think it."
"Trust Alistair," Varien said, "he's there, he'll help your parents, I just know he will."
"Varien," Risa said, putting a hand on the older Square's angle. "I-I'm sure he will. Maybe you should come have some tea, let the Prefect talk to Bill?"
The Square looked at her, nodded a little and got up, letting her escort him to the kitchen.
"He's still not doing well," Tveir said quietly. "This hasn't helped." He took a deep breath. "Bill, I'm concerned. Cerchio is going to force you to go with him and that most likely means he's going to send an armed escort to retrieve you."
Bill sighed. "Yeah, I figured."
"We may have to stop them."
"No. I want to keep Cyran as free from suspicion as possible. We can't have any kind of evidence of the resistance around where they can see it. I refuse to let Cyran fall like the others, even if I have to suffer personally to keep it that way!"
"You're going to let them take you?"
"I don't see any other way, Tveir. He's not going to let me get away this time." He stood up and began to pace. "Sir, we have people in the Capitol, reliable people. I'll just have to keep working from inside the City. I've already made contingency plans, set things in motion. I had to. If I'm going to be Cerchio's prisoner, I'll have to make it count for something."
"William, I really don't like this idea. You're Cipher, we can't risk you like that."
Bill looked at the Prefect, the kindness in the man's eye, the concerned and protective stance of his entire figure.
"You can, sir. When it comes down to it, I'm just a small blip on the greater face of the rebellion. There are others much more qualified, much more important to the rebellion than I am. I can be replaced. And I can't think of anyone better qualified than," He paused and looked at Tveir. "You, sir. You know everything there is to know about the resistance now, you're incredibly clever and you're much wiser than I could ever be. I trust you, sir. What's more, the others trust you now. I think you'd actually be a much better leader than me."
Tveir stared at him, in stunned shock.
"William-! I-I could never-"
"Yes, sir, you could. You're being far too modest."
"William, I-"
"He's right, Tveir," Varien said quietly from the sitting room door. "I can't think of anyone better, either."
Tveir stared at the two of them. "I... I'm incredibly honored, William," he said finally, with a deep sigh. "I don't want it to become necessary but if what we're fearing comes to pass... thank you, William. I'll do the best I can."
Bill breathed a sigh of relief. It helped immensely, knowing that Cyran would be safe, especially considering what he had to do.
"Thank you, Tveir."
Bill stood in the garden, quietly, enjoying the fresh, clean spring air and the silence. He'd spent as much of his free time (which wasn't much, these days) in the ancient ruins as he could, trying to memorize the forest, the plants and the feeling of being here in Cyran. Of being alive. He was never happy, not anymore. He felt alone and small, a tiny Triangle, trying to be a hero.
Alistair?
It was a long shot but he needed Alistair. Just to hear his voice, even if it was all his imagination.
He didn't have much hope that any of this deplorable situation would come out well at all. Right now, he'd be content with his parents safely home and Alistair alive. He wasn't hopeful, at least not where Alistair was concerned. Cerchio wouldn't let Alistair go, that was too much to even dream of and if he were telling the truth, Alistair was already as good as dead. That much, Bill believed.
But the idea of getting his parents home? He had to believe that Cerchio would release them. Unfortunately that was also extremely hard for him to accept. Cerchio wasn't the type of man to simply let them go, especially if he had to take Bill by force.
He took a deep breath, sitting in the grass near one of the birch trees. Burying his eye in his hands, he just sat there, quietly, trying to clear his mind, trying to at least reach out to Alistair with his heart, his emotions, trying to let him know that he loved him, he missed him, he wished with everything he had, that they could be together.
Even to die. Together. Alistair... please hold on until I can be with you.
Bill. You're so brave.
He didn't even want to think right now. He heard Alistair and it didn't matter if it was his imagination or not, he clung to the sound of Alistair's mental whisper.
You're the brave one. I could never do what you have. I'll do everything I can for us to be together... even if it's our last hours, he thought.
Don't cry. I love you. I wish I'd been able to be with you personally. Just, keep trying. There's so much I want to tell you but I can't right now. We will see each other again. Don't worry about me. I'm surviving and I have no intention of leaving you ever again. And yes, it really is me. It's not your imagination. Don't let doubt enter that brilliant angle of yours. Focus on those who really need you right now. Your parents. Your friends. If you're planning what I think you are, I know there's no way of talking you out of it, so I will trust that this really is the best track for us to take.
I'm doing what I can to ensure your parents are alright. They're not in the prison and there are people of yours who are keeping an eye on them. You've made such incredible progress with the resistance, I'm so very proud of you, my love.
"They think you're Cipher," Bill whispered.
Yes, and they will continue to think that. I've made sure they think I'm the King in this interdimensional chess game and I will keep playing the role until the day I die, if needs be.
"It's so scary," Bill breathed. "I-I never thought it would terrify me the way it does."
Change is terrifying, Bill. But not all change is bad. You're strong. Own your fear. Make it work for you. Use your fear to drive your determination. Your strength is your tenacity, your conviction. Your anger. Use your anger. Use your love. With it, you'll be unstoppable.
"Alistair... I wish you were here... I miss you so very much. Your father-"
I know... I'm sorry. He-he will be alright... I-I... a deep sadness and despair flowed through their connection and Bill was certain, the young man was sobbing. He didn't want to even try and understand how he knew it but he could feel it.
"Alistair, it's okay, he has Risa and Tveir..."
Oh I know. I-I know, I... just... so many people I've... I tried Bill, I-I really tried...
It didn't make much sense to Bill but he just sent love to him, it was all he could do.
"Shh... we'll be together soon, if I have to burn the Capitol to the ground to do it!" he said, maybe louder than he really ought to have but the rage that surged inside him at the sensation of Alistair's desperation was overpowering.
He had to do something. He couldn't let Alistair continue to suffer and he couldn't sit by and wait for Cerchio to make his next move.
Bill! No, no, don't-!
"I'm taking this to him," he growled under his breath. "I'm done waiting. The man has to answer for his crimes and it's time somebody made him pay!"
Bill... don't do this. Let him make the move, not you! L-listen to me, please! Your original plan is the better one. If you do this now, he'll have an advantage and you might not be able to ensure your parents are returned safely.
"He won't do it, Alistair, you know it was well as I do!" Bill hissed, fighting to keep his voice as low as possible, just in case there was someone listening, even in as secret a place as the Ruins. "He'll keep them as insurance against my continued compliance or he'll just kill them as soon as he's got me."
He dropped his eye into his hands.
I-I don't know what to do anymore...
Shh... Bill... we'll figure it out. Just... think, use that incredible intelligence of yours, use your fury to fuel your cleverness, not the other way around. Be angry, yes, but be smart about how you use that anger.
Bill sighed, lying down in the grass and curling up, imagining Alistair curled up with him.
That's it, sleep for a bit, Alistair sent softly. I'll stay with you as long as I can...
Bill's eye closed and he clung to Alistair's warm, loving presence.
We'll be together, for good. Soon.