Quicksilver's Quill Offers:
VIRGO
Part Three:
Child of the Books
-or-
Beyond the Sun
***
"Virgos crave details and facts."
***
Saffir, second son of Prince Onyx and his consort Topaz, was born
on dark day that the sun did not shine- in other words, a standard day for
Nemesis. If the Black Moon Family had bothered to keep track of his
birthday, they would have noted that his birthday fell on September
sixteenth, making him a Virgo. And he would certainly grow up to be the
quinessessional Virgo.
But they didn't. He was a second son, the 'spare' that usually
managed to get shuffled away. By the time he was six, he was already
taking care of himself, sneaking into the kitchen to make sure he was fed
(if left up to others, he would sometimes miss meals for days on end),
dressing himself, and generally making himself as unobtrusive as possible.
All in all, it was a dreary, pointless life for a small child.
Saffir, though, achieved one feat that managed to entertain himself.
He taught himself how to read.
This was an astonishing feat, especially when one considered that
he barely talked, since he had no one to talk to. One day, he stumbled onto
the Palace libraries. Sneaking inside, his eyes widened as he saw all the
heavy volumes. On one side there were a row of extremely advanced
computers, but Saffir didn't have a password to use them. He crept up to a
shelf and pulled an archaic book down, wondering exactly what is was.
It took him a month to puzzle out the written word, but once he
did, he started to devour the library at a rate which was astounding. Ten
books a day, and that was on a bad day. He'd spend his entire day there,
leaving only to eat and sleep. New worlds opened to him, those of history,
mathematics, physics, alchemy. One book was on chess, and he quickly
scrounged up an old board and begin to play against himself, mastering
complex strategies.
It was one day, probably sometime during his eighth year, that
everything changed for the forgotten prince. He was curled up in a corner
of the library on a somewhat overstuff chair that smelled slightly of
mildew, something that was prevalent in the library. Balancing a large tome
on his lap, he looked like a miniature scholar.
He heard the soft murmur of voices in the main library, but didn't
let that concern him, continuing to read about gradients. The few times
someone else had come in, they had used the machines and left as though a
dragon were on their heels. Nemesis was a grim place to live, yet the
oppressive air of the library made even the stoutest citizen want to leave.
Except Saffir. If asked, he would say that the forgotten lore of the
library was what made people so nervous- as though all the secrets of the
world where locked up in this one place. Saffir was determined to know
those secrets.
This time, though, was different. The voices came closer, and
Saffir was able to make out three distinct ones- two young men and one
female (who had the most annoying laugh he'd ever heard). He eavesdropped
shamelessly, continuing to read at the same time- the first time he ever
successfully managed to multi-task.
"... computer?" one man was saying.
"For me to do that, someone would have had to put the information
into it in the first place. No one bothered," the other man replied.
"It'll have to be the book, but I can't find it."
"Is it really that important?" the female demanded in a somewhat
whiny voice.
"You don't have to be here, Esmeraude-chan," the first man said.
At this point they rounded the set of shelves that had hid Saffir.
He looked up at them watchfully, wondering what book it was they were after.
Setting his book down gently, he studied them closely, mentally entering
their images into his organized mind.
The female was around fifteen or so, fluttering a fan with a
careless hand. Her hair was a brilliant green, and he decided that
"Esmeraude" was certainly a fitting name. Her body still held traces of
her childhood, but in a few years, she would be stunningly beautiful.
The older of the two men had unkempt red hair- hair that reminded
young Saffir of a flame. His eyes were hard, but that was common for any
member of the Black Moon Family. What scared Saffir was that this man was
cruel- and sadistic. He made a mental note to avoid this one whenever
possible.
The last of the trio, though, was the one who held Saffir's
attention. He looked about sixteen, but Saffir wasn't sure since the
teenager held himself with a dignity that would have suited Prince Onyx.
His hair was white as was his skin and clothes. White was such a rare
color that Saffir found himself staring. He'd seen the word "charisma"
before, but didn't understand it until he looked upon this man.
The trio finally caught sight of the child who was sitting
half-hidden in the shadows. Esmeraude stepped forward menacingly, snapping
her fan at the youngster. "You! What are you doing here?" she demanded.
Saffir opened his mouth to reply, but the white-haired teenager
held up a hand to forestall him. "Esmeraude, manners. He's only a child,"
the man said in a gentle voice that still managed to convey authority.
"Children can be spies, too," the red-haired man pointed out.
"Are you a spy?" the white man asked, as though no one would dare
lie to him.
Saffir certainly wouldn't. "No," he said, his voice husky from
lack of use. "I just was reading a book."
Esmeraude sniffed derisively. "A good excuse," she said. "A
book? Why not a computer? And I doubt," she continue, yanking Saffir's
book off his lap, "that someone your age is capable of understanding "Atomic
Manipulations for the Mathematically Oriented'."
Saffir lunged forward and grabbed the book out of her hands,
knocking her fan to the floor (something Esmeraude held against him to the
end of her life). "I can, too," he said defensively.
"Oh? Then you're familiar with the library?" the white -haired man asked,
not seeming to notice the incongruity of a child understanding such
material.
Saffir nodded, his hair, long overdue for a trim, falling into his
eyes. "Hai. You were looking for something?" he asked.
"Yes. A book called 'Earth: Geography and History'. It may be in
a large set- I think there's about six of them or so, actually, but I'm not
sure."
"There's seven, actually," Saffir said.
The trio stared at him. "You know where it is?" the red-haired
man asked.
"I've read it," Saffir replied. Setting his precious book down,
he scampered over to a shelf that was a few feet away. He pointed up, as
he was unable to reach the books without assistance, and he refused to allow
them the satisfaction of watching him drag a stool over. "It's on the
second shelf from the top."
The white man reached up, extending himself to his fullest possible
length and grabbed one of the books. "This is it," he said, his voice
slightly amazed. The other two teens looked at him, and Esmeraude let out a
cackle that sent Saffir's teeth on edge.
"So the little bookworm is for real," she said, fluttering her fan,
shooting a coy look at the white-haired man.
"Indeed," the white-haired man mused thoughtfully, running a hand
over his smooth cheek. He knelt down so their were on level, and for the
first time, Saffir looked into the most remarkable pair of amethyst eyes he
would ever see. Years later, he would remember this as one of the defining
moments of his life. He was aware of being weighed carefully, and for some
reason, a slight gleam of approval appeared in those violet orbs that
brimmed with vitality. "My name is Demando, child. Who are you?"
Saffir's eyes brightened, and a brilliant smile illuminated his
tiny face. So this imposing man was his older brother he had heard
whispered about? "I'm Saffir, oniisan!" he exclaimed gleefully.
Esmeraude stopped fluttering him fan. The still-unknown man's jaw
dropped. Demando's expression didn't change a hair. "You're that
Saffir?" he said.
The blue-haired child nodded. Then he averted his gaze slightly,
recognizing that he was talking to the Heir to the Pellucid Throne. By all
rights, Demando should hate him- a second son was always a threat.
Demando's mind, always cunning, started to shift through the news.
Here was his little brother, a child who had never really been interested
in. He'd heard a few things here and there, but all and all, the child was
a nonentity. Now here they were together, and Demando looked down at him.
The child was startlingly intelligent, and that was dangerous for an older
son. He could, of course, arrange for an assassin, but Demando firmly
believed in making lemonade from lemons. This child was still young and
malleable. And besides, something in the boy's eyes called to something in
Demando that he hadn't know existed.
"I would like to speak to you at a later time. Unfortunately, I
don't have the time right now. For your future reference, my companions
are Esmeraude and Rubeus." They nodded as he named them.
The Heir and his entourage left the library, leaving Saffir to his
books. He headed back to his chair, picking up his book. His mind
absorbed the information, though for once, his heart wasn't in it.
Finally, he set aside the book, cupping his chin as he assumed a classic
thinker's position. His face furrowed as he thought of the man he had just
met.
Beautiful. That was the only word that summed Demando-sama up.
He was beautiful physically, but Saffir had caught the look of intelligence
on Demando's face, which made his physically beauty pall. Even though he
didn't realize it, Saffir was more then half in love with his older brother.
The next two days were tense ones for the young boy, the waiting
enough to drive him crazy. He started to dream, something he had never
done before during his short life. His dreams were full of vivid images of
Demando, a dream of the White Prince -but wasn't he only the Heir? and why
the White Prince?- sitting on a throne, beloved and respected by his people.
Saffir stood in the corner, watching and loving Demando more then anyone
else. Purple eyes fixed on a goal only he could see, Demando opened his
mouth to speak, and then the dream ended.
Those dreams should have terrified him, yet Saffir felt strangely
refreshed after each dream. Yes, he was on the side, but Demando was
there. Demando was everything.
Three days after the encounter in the library, Saffir again ran
into the man with flaming hair who Demando had called Rubeus. This time
the boy was darting through the Palace kitchens, scrounging up a meal. He
never bothered thinking of it as breakfast, lunch or dinner, for Saffir
would only eat when he felt hungry- sometimes going many days without food
for lack of hunger.
Rubeus walked into the kitchen, a look of disdain on his fox-like
face. He looked down at his boots in disgust, not relishing the task that
had required him to descend to the level of commoners. He was NOT an
errand boy, but for Demando, he would make an exception. That didn't mean
he had to like it.
"You there," he said bluntly, pointing a finger at Saffir.
"Demando-sama wants to see you."
The boy swallowed the hunk of cheese he had been chewing on.
"Now?" he asked, rather surprised. He hadn't been expecting anyone to
actually bother tracking him down- rather, he had believed that they'd ask a
servant to keep and eye on the library or something to that effect.
"Of course, now," Rubeus responded testily. "When Demando-sama
states he wishes something, he means NOW. Get up, boy, and come with me."
Saffir ran a hand through his over-long hair, wishing he had time
to prepare. His clothes were old and ink stained from his attempts at
calligraphy (he'd swiped a set of pens and ink from a beurocrat's desk), and
he was sure his face could use a good scrubbing. But Rubeus was tapping
his foot impatiently, and Saffir decided that arguing would be futile. With
a wistful glance at his half-eaten meal, he followed Rubeus out the door.
Rubeus led him through a maze of corridors that would have dizzied
most people- but Saffir wasn't most people. His mind recorded his
surroundings automatically, noting the dark passages that led off into the
unknown. The occasional resentful glances Rubeus threw at the youngster did
nothing to endear him to Saffir. It was the start of the rocky
relationship that would sometimes shake Nemisian politics to their core.
Finally, they reached a large door that had the Black Moon Family
Crest on it entwined with a crown- the royal chambers of Nemesis. Saffir
had seen this door before, but had known better then to enter. Even though
this was, technically speaking, his family's rooms, he didn't doubt that his
presence would be most unwelcome. Rubeus, though, forced the door open
without a second thought.
Saffir entered this unknown place with a sense of wonder. There
were gems littering the room as thought thrown by as thoughtless hand, thick
carpets that his slippered feet sunk into, luxurious tapestries that were
frivolous displays of wealth... and more. Enough that Saffir was barely
able to contain a wince. His parents were fond of such things?
Rubeus seemed oblivious to Saffir's feelings of revulsion and
stomped through the room to knock heavily on a door that bore a diamond, an
eye, and the Black Moon all entwined together. "Saffir is here, as you
commanded," Rubeus said in a more respectful tone then he had used towards
Saffir.
"Let him in," came a quiet voice.
Rubeus opened the door and Saffir went in, preparing his senses for
another assault of gaudiness. To his relief, he found the room almost as
austere as he could have wished. Demando sat in a throne-like chair, calm
radiating from him.
Saffir wasn't exactly sure what to do. He bowed low and hoped
Demando would be happy with that. To his surprise, a light chuckle escaped
the Heir. "Don't bother, Saffir-chan," he said. "I get more then enough
of that from the courtiers- my own brother shouldn't stand on ceremony."
Saffir's smile nearly took in his ears. "Hai, oniisan," he said,
relishing the feel of that word on his tongue.
"Now, I must admit that I never really gave you and your...
situation any particular thought. I always assumed... well, that servants
had been taking care of you and that you would be reared in a manner
suitable for a Prince of the Blood. Since running into you in the library,
I have done some research, and I must admit I am appalled by the current
situation. You have no servant?" he asked.
Saffir shook his head. "Not for... almost two years now. Old
Quartz was looking after me, but she died unexpectedly," he said. He
remembered watching her cough up blood, seeing the old lady fight for each
breath. It had not been a pleasant experience.
"And you've had no schooling?" Demando asked.
"Aside from what I've taught myself, no," Saffir answered.
"Then how do you know how to read?" Demando asked. This question
had been bothering the Heir since he had learned how neglected the child
was.
"I just figured it out on my own," Saffir answered.
Demando grasped the arms of his chair tightly, his knuckles
whitening under the strain. This boy was dangerous- too intelligent for his
own good. What a brilliant, brilliant mind he must have, Demando thought.
Now if I can channel it in the right direction, he'll have no cause to
desire my throne. I would not like to have to kill him.
Saffir was unaware of Demando's plotting. His eyes scanned the
room during Demando's contemplative moment, final falling on a few books
that he hadn't read. His fingers itched to touch them- they looked far
more interesting then anything they had in the library.
Demando looked at the sudden longing on the boy's face and realized
that this child was a prodigy, an academic whose potential could be sculpted
into a tool for Demando's usage. "I think I'm going to see about arranging
for a tutor for you, child."
Rather then the instantaneous acceptance and gratitude he had been
expecting, Saffir bristled slightly. "I'm doing very well on my own,
oniisan," he said somewhat arrogantly.
Most other people would get swatted back down for speaking that way
to the Heir, but Demando only smiled slightly. It seems he has a trace of
that stubbornness so prevalent in our family, he thought with amused
acceptance. I had better encourage him to be strong, so no one else can
turn him against me. "Yes, you are. But you have no one to guide you in
your studies. You will need that guidance if you are to become one of my
advisors," Demando said.
Saffir's eyes widened. "Your advisors?" he said. "Me?"
"Yes, ototochan," Demando said.
"But I'm only eight!" the boy protested.
"And I'm barely fifteen," Demando confided. "It will be a long
time before I ascend the throne. Before that, though, I wish to gather
loyal followers around me to form my cabinet. That's why Esmeraude and
Rubeus are around me so much. And I can't think of anyone else that I would
more desire to have beside me then my brother," Demando said smoothly. I'd
rather have him beside me then behind me with a knife.
It was then that Saffir fell completely, hopelessly, irrevocably in
love with his older brother. For the first time, it seemed that someone
actually wanted to have him around. The empty child was gone- now he had a
purpose, a purpose fueled by the love that burned so intensely inside of
him.
"I'll do my best, Demando-sama!" he exclaimed. "I won't
disappoint you!"
"I'm sure you won't."
Demando smiled as the boy was escorted out of the room, feeling the
beginnings of regret. For some reason, manipulating the boy like that was
enough to make him feel lower then a snake. He quickly squashed that
sentiment down- sentiments had no place in the Heir of the Black Moon
Family.
Saffir quickly proved to be more intelligent then anyone could have
guessed. In a year, under the guidance of a skilled tutor, he was asking
questions about alchemy and physics his teacher was hard-pressed to answer.
His mathematical skills were almost as good, yet Saffir showed a disdain for
magic and its uses. When his sensei asked him why, Saffir had replied that
it was simply impractical- why expended large amounts of energy to teleport
when walking was exponentially more energy efficient? If he would have had
his way, he would have ignored the Magick Arts completely, but Demando had
insisted.
Originally, Demando had managed to meet with the boy once a week,
sometimes just dropping in on his lessons. He did so to make sure that
Saffir knew where his loyalty lay, but as time wore on, he came more
frequently. There was something about the soft adoration in Saffir's eyes,
the knowledge that this boy truly loved him above and beyond anything else.
No one (aside from Esmeraude, but Demando just wasn't interested) ever just
wanted Demando for nothing aside from himself.
Sometime during Saffir's ninth year, Demando summoned him to his
study rather unexpectedly. A groggy-eyed Saffir walked into the room, his
clothes loose on his young body. "Whaddya want, oniisan?"
Demando resisted the urge to smile. Saffir usually was so formal
that his slurred speech was rare and amusing. Saffir seemed to think he
could make up for his lack of years by being painfully proper. "I wanted to
see if you would join me for a morning stroll," Demando said lightly.
Saffir nodded eagerly. "Hai!" he said eagerly, ready to grasp any
opportunity to spend time with his big brother.
The two brothers quickly went through the hallways, Saffir
following in Demando's shadow, his silent presence somehow very reassuring
to the teenager. Their soft shoes slid across the dark floors, not a sound
coming from either of them. Saffir didn't bother asking Demando where they
were going- it really didn't matter. It was enough to simply be with
Demando.
Demando led the way to one of the doors that opened outside. "I
feel like seeing the world beyond our Palace today," he said in his soft,
yet compelling, voice.
Saffir pulled a face, revolted by the very thought. "Why?" he
asked.
Demando reached down and tousled the younger boy's hair
affectionately. His expression grew far away, as though he was seeing
something Saffir couldn't perceive. "It reminds me what my goals are," he
said to his brother in a low voice. "Let us stroll for a while... I will
tell you of my plans."
Together they walked out of the door into the dark day of Nemesis.
"Day" and "night" were terms that held little meaning on this world, but its
inhabitants had stubbornly clung onto the old standards of their homeworld.
Exiled though they were, they were Terrans. They refused to give up
anything they didn't have to- it would only be a triumph for the Neo-Queen
and her heathen Senshi.
The air was cool on Saffir's pale cheeks, and he resisted the urge
to shudder. Dark, black... little life. Soon the pair was beyond the
protective walls of the Palace, and Saffir surveyed the foreboding landscape
with loathing. The few animals (or what passed as "animals") that were
around slunk back into the darkness before the young prodigy was able to get
a good look at them. There was nothing but bleakness....
A flash of color caught his eye. Rushing forward, confident that
Demando would protect him should anyone attack, he bent down and looked at a
clump of plant life. "Oniisan! Oniisan! What are these?" he asked. He
carefully touched one, surprised that such beauty existed on Nemesis.
Demando smiled down at his younger brother, a crack appearing in
the icy facade he presented everyone else. "They're called flowers. Smell
them-- they have a pleasant fragrance."
Saffir did as he was told. The scent was heady and he sighed in
pleasure. "Very beautiful," he murmured.
Demando knelt down beside his younger brother. "These are the only
flower that can survive on Nemesis. On Earth, though, there are fields of
them."
"I wish I could see them," Saffir said wistfully. He had
unknowingly taken the first step towards the bitterness that marked a
Nemisian- the longing for Earth.
Demando raised the boy's chin with strong fingers so he could look
him straight in his eyes. "Someday, ototochan, you will," Demando said.
"But I thought we weren't allowed on Earth. Are you going to sign
a treaty with the Neo Queen when you become Prince?" Saffir asked.
"No. I would never betray our people in such a matter. What I
plan is..." He shut his eyes, purpose etched on his face, "what I plan is
to conquer Earth for the Black Moon Family."
"What!?" Saffir gasped.
"It's been centuries since we were banished to this wasteland," the
Heir said. "Since then, our people have grown strong, stronger then anyone
would have believed possible. This planet is barren, yet by living here, we
have become stronger then any of us would have dreamt possible! Our magics
will rival that of the Senshi themselves, and we will have a whole army of
such powerful warriors! Earth will be reclaimed by her true masters- us."
Saffir wasn't sure he agreed with the idea. "But many of our
people will die," he said softly.
Demando normally would have royally flayed anyone who dared
question his judgment, but this was his younger sibling. "Sometimes,
Saffir, those losses are acceptable. If you grow up and have children,
would you want them to live in such a dark place?" he asked, waving an
emphatic hand around their dark surroundings.
Saffir cringed. He himself had no plans on ever having children,
but he could see Demando's point. "People will die in the hope for the
future generations."
Demando nodded. "And it's up to us, as their leaders, to make sure
that as few of them die as possible- it would be senseless for them to waste
their lives needlessly."
"Why are you telling me all this, oniisan? You won't be able to
act until you are Prince-- and that won't be for a very long time," Saffir
stated.
"Because, Saffir, I need you to do something for me."
The boy smiled eagerly. "Anything!" he declared hurriedly.
Demando's hand tightened slightly. "No, child, listen to me
first. What I need you to do is prepare yourself for this upcoming battle.
I need you to become a tactician- that means studying like you never have
before. It means giving up much of your spare time- you will have to learn
many things, many of them tedious and boring."
"Why me?" Saffir asked, surprised.
"I trust you. You're brilliant, as I'm sure everyone has told
you, but it's more then that. You have the gift of creativity- if I give
you a problem, you will solve it without complaint. That is what I need-
and you're young enough to train yourself into that role."
Decision time. Saffir shut his eyes, trying to understand why
Demando was so serious. Could being a tactician really be so terrible? "It
would be an honor to serve you, oniisan," he said. It seemed that that
advisor position Demando had once mentioned would actually become a reality.
Demando smiled. "I swear this to you, Saffir-chan," he said. "If
you do your very best for me, then I will give you fields of flowers when we
conquer Earth."
Saffir's smile was more brilliant then the sun that never shone on
Nemesis. "Hai!" he exclaimed eagerly.
***
"Virgo is fantasy in nature. Existing in a world of their own, Virgos seem
to invent and re-invent reality as they wish it to be."
***
Twelve year old Saffir looked up from the book he was studying as
his cousin Esmeraude entered the room. Esmeraude wasn't once of his
favorite people, but he looked up at her and smiled pleasantly enough.
"Having more problems with Calculus?" he asked sweetly.
She glowered at him in the way only she was capable of, but then
her expression softened slightly. "Saffir-chan, you are needed. Prince
Demando has summoned you."
His eyes fluttered as he still the instinctive confusion. Prince?
Since when? he wondered. "Then Prince Onyx is dead?" he asked.
She nodded. "If you had left this room sometime in the last year,
you would have heard of Prince Onyx-sama's illness," she answered
scathingly.
Saffir let her insult roll off of him like it was made of water.
It was true he seldom left his study, but then, he had little cause to. He
was on a quest for knowledge, and there were few who he could share that
with. Even though Esmeraude was almost seven years older then him, Saffir
had already far outdistanced her in anything involving academics.
Esmeraude possessed a native cunning that almost made up for that, but her
vanity wouldn't let her admit she was jealous that this child had something
she didn't- Demando's love. "Very well, then," Saffir said. He rose to
his feet, indicating that she should leave. "I assume he'll be in his
court?" he asked rhetorically, even though the court hadn't been Demando's
until an hour ago.
Esmeraude fumed as he turned away to gather something from his many
drawers of knickknacks. "Don't turn your back on me, Saffir-kun! I am NOT
a mere messenger!" she spat.
Saffir looked at her pityingly. She acted flamboyant and self-assured
(this was, he reminded himself, the self-proclaimed most beautiful woman in
the galaxy), but he recognized the fact that she was desperately in love
with his older brother. This was, in his opinion, the only redeeming thing
about her... mentally. "Maybe you should turn your back on me,
Esmeraude-chan," he replied, a thin smile on his face. "I need to prepare,
and unless your tastes run to young boys, I suggest you leave," he said.
Her mouth opened slowly as she tried to articulate her feelings of
rage, but Saffir used her distraction to gently shove her to the door.
Clicking the lock close (something she could easily get around if she had
the wit to magic it), he pulled out a blue outfit.
Sliding into his navy-blue clothes, he wondered if he should feel
sorry that his father was dead. With his excellent memory, it wasn't hard
to summon an image of Onyx- black hair, flat black eyes, skin that rivaled
Demando's for whiteness. Shaking his head, he banished the memory from
his thoughts- he could count the times he'd ever seen Onyx on both hands
with fingers to spare. Onyx might have been his sire, but he wasn't his
father.
The crystals on his shirt gleamed brightly, and Saffir glimpsed
into a mirror. His body was starting to stretch out and he could see
images of the man he would one day become, but he still wasn't an adult.
He recognized that he was just beginning to enter adolescence, and the
thought terrified him. His body was beginning to do things he had no
control over. The dreams he'd been having in the last few months were
embarrassing, and if Esmeraude ever found out, he was positive his superior
intellect would be little defense against her rage.
His eyes were sparkling sapphires as he stared deeply into the
mirror, tugging on his unruly hair. There was one lock that seemed
determined to do what it wanted to, and he had given up the battle long ago.
Still, he looked respectable enough and he probably wouldn't embarrass
Demando too terribly. It was horrible to have a fully developed mind in a
child's body.
He slid through the hallways meekly, trying not to draw attention
to himself. Unlike Demando, who was able to draw attention by merely
breathing, Saffir had to make a conscience effort to be noticed. He was
learning to be grateful, especially at times like this. The palace was in
an uproar... the Prince was dead, and now there was a new ruler... and
whenever someone new inherited the throne, it was almost inevitable that
there would be uprising. Saffir had every confidence in his oniisan, but
some of their citizens obviously didn't.
It was simple enough to slip through the crowds to the take a place
on the edge of the court. He looked up at where Demando was standing,
telepathically sending out a greeting and a burst of adoration. Demando's
face was blank, yet Saffir could feel his inner tension extend towards his
oniichan. Demando raised one of his elegant hands and the court stilled,
waiting with baited breath for what the Heir would do.
"Prince Onyx-sama has died. As his heir, I now assume the
Pellucid Throne," Demando stated. He moved to sit upon the marble throne,
yet was stopped by a shout from the crowd.
"You are not his only heir! The people have the right to choose!"
a voice called with safe anonymity.
Demando's eyes narrowed dangerously, and Saffir's mind caught his
determination. The boy, though, felt a chill run through him. Someone was
actually putting him forth as Heir? he wondered incredulously. Why would
they want to do that?
The answer came almost as quickly as the question had. I'm still
young. They probably want a puppet prince, he thought cynically. Too bad
I'm not going to let that happen, he thought viciously.
"I was Heir, now I am Prince," Demando retorted angrily. "No one
will challenge me for the throne.."
"Bring Saffir, son of Onyx, forth and let him speak!" a voice
called from the other side of the Court.
Saffir was growing increasingly uncomfortably as the crowd started
to shift, searching for him. Esmeraude and Rubeus flanked Demando.
Esmeraude looked over her fan, scornfully surveying the crowd, though Saffir
could tell she was nervous from the way she was tossing her hair every three
seconds. She only did that when she was worried or trying to flirt with
Demando. Rubeus stood with his arms crossed over his chest, staring
forward with a sneer on his handsome face. Saffir could see the tension
etched into his stance, and realized that if he survived this, it would be
wise to avoid the flame-haired advisor for a while.
Facing the unavoidable, Saffir sidled to the front of the room, for
once taking center stage. He could feel the eyes on his back, and hated
it. He wished that Demando-sama could get him out of this one, yet this
was something he would have to do. "You summoned me, Prince Demando-sama?"
he asked bowing briefly, acting as though he had just arrived there.
There was a gasp from the crowd. No one could be called Prince
unless they had taken the Pellucid Throne, and for Saffir to call his
brother that was more then gauche. It was almost treason to the minimal
laws that tied their society together.
Demando ignored this. "Yes, Saffir-san," he said, addressing him
with the honorific for the first time. "There appears to be some confusion
as to the rights of inheritance, and I was hoping you could sort it out for
me," he said gently.
Saffir nodded. "The rights? You mean how the Heir is chosen and
assumes the throne? Since Prince Onyx-sama's reign lasted two hundred
years, I can see how most normal people might not remember the exact law,"
he said with just the right amount of derision lacing his words. He turned
around and faced the crowd, staring right out in the middle of them, yet not
really seeing any of them. "From the Laws of State, Book Three, Section
Sixteen: The Pellucid Throne shall pass through the paternal line upon the
death of the reigning Prince. The Heir is the oldest male child of the
Prince. In the event that the Prince has no male relatives, the Throne
shall first be offered to his brother, then any nephews... the line shall be
traced until a suitable Heir is found. If there is any doubt over who is
the Heir, the people of Nemesis have the right to question the assumption of
the Throne. However, once the Throne has been claimed, the Prince shall
retain it until the end of his life," Saffir recited from memory.
Silence met his little demonstration of his talented memory.
Demando nodded gravely. "My thanks, Saffir-san," he said. "It appears
that there should be no question as to who inherits."
"Indeed, oniisan," Saffir said, prompted by Demando's telepathic nudge.
"Besides, I'm the only other possibility, and I fully support your reign,"
he said, trying to muddle through this political gibberish to the best of
his abilities.
"I'm glad to hear that, Saffir-san," he said. "I am Prince,"
Demando pronounced. He sat back into the throne, sitting there as though he
was used to the experience. The Throne started to glow, every shade known
to human-kind (and some that weren't) shooting forth as it welcomed its new
occupant. Magic ties wrapped tightly around Demando, and it was difficult
for Demando to keep his face from displaying the ecstasy the new power was
forcing into him. The throng let out a half-hearted cheer, and Demando
realized he would have to establish his authority quickly, or be overthrown.
He looked over at Rubeus and Esmeraude, who took positions behind
his throne. Though Onyx had been ill for a while, no one had expected him
to die so young. He had barely entered his second century of rule, and
should have live to see at least another four, giving Demando time to
prepare for the assumption of the Pellucid Throne. Now he the Throne was
his, yet he had few political alliances to hold it with.
Saffir managed to blend back into the crowd, yet his usually
striking eyes were dark with concern. Young as he was, he recognized how
tenuous Demando's position had become.
"Let my reign commence with three days of festivities- let there be
music, games and dancing!" he pronounced, using ancient tradition. "On the
eve of the fourth day, my council shall be called!"
***
"Virgos are usually observant, shrewd, critical, and patient. Supporters of
the 'status quo', and conservative in all areas of life."
***
Demando paced up and down rapidly, making Saffir dizzy just looking
at him. Rubeus and Esmeraude were perched on chairs like birds ready to
take flight, while Saffir sat with unnatural stillness, the needs of his
body forgotten as his superior intellect turned the problem over and over in
his mind.
It was a strange council. The new ruler, two inexperienced
youngsters, and a boy. Together, though, they held more power then any
other faction on Nemesis, as they currently controlled the Throne. With
the throne, came a vast amount of power that had been imbued over the ages
by each of Nemesis' previous rulers. Demando had tied himself to it, and
there was no way to part him from it except death, and that would mean his
powers would then join the rest of his ancestors in strengthening the
Pellucid Throne. Any usurper would find it extremely unpleasant to sit upon
it. Saffir remembered reading of Diamonda, and the less that was said
about that little incident, the better. But some would brave it, especially
with Demando this new to power.
"Well?" he asked finally, looking at his most trusted confidants.
He spun around, the rich purple cloak swirling with wonderful flare, causing
Esmeraude's eyes to light up. Rubeus just sat sulkingly, while Saffir just
stared blankly at his brother.
"We retain the Throne for you, of course, Demando-sama," Esmeraude
said purring, batting her amazingly long eyelashes in unison with the
fluttering of her fan.
He, as always, seemed impervious to her attempts at flirtation.
"That is a given. The question is how?" His fingers idly touched the gem
he wore at his throat, the gem that bound him to the Throne. "I should have
had more time," he said bitterly. "Onyx wasn't suppose to die so young.
This makes things more complicated- I have almost no political alliances."
His reaction was typical of any Namibian citizen- not concern over the loss
of a relative, but rather the awkward position he had been placed in.
because of the loss.
"But we're stuck with things as they are," Esmeraude said. "Now we
have to make the best of the situation."
Demando frowned and sat down on the edge of his desk. "I have to
get the people to love me as well as fear me," he said. "How?"
"Give them what they want," Rubeus said.
"But what do they want?" Demando asked.
The room was silent as they all digested that question. The answer
was painfully obvious. "Earth," Esmeraude whispered, almost dropping her
fan. "We want the Earth back."
Demando nodded grimly. "I have long cherished the hope of
re-taking the blue planet. I hadn't planned on implementing my plans so
soon, but this is the only method I can think of to ensure no one attempts a
coup."
Saffir raised his head and spoke for the first time. "There is a
quote that applies well here. 'What this country needs is a short,
victorious war to stem the tide of revolution.'"
"I like that one, Saffir-kun," Demando said with a thin smile lingering
on his lips. "Is it possible?"
Saffir shut his eyes, calculating events as rapidly as he could. "Terra
is strong, but it had been at peace for centuries- aside from the Senshi,
they have no real warriors. We are a more savage people who will
understand the realities of war more quickly. Each one of our citizens is
worth ten of the common soldiers of the pacifistic Earth. While the Senshi
are neatly immortal, they are not invulnerable. With proper dedication,
they can be destroyed. The Neo King and his consort control the world and
are almost omnipotent, yet even they will fall in the end."
"How long, Saffir-kun?" Demando asked.
"Ten years. Almost nothing when one considers the life span we
live."
The group was silent. "So that's it?" Rubeus asked. "We're
finally going to reclaim Earth?"
Demando smiled in his own enigmatic way. "Hai, Rubeus. As of
this moment, Nemesis is at war."
END PART THREE
VIRGO
Part Three:
Child of the Books
-or-
Beyond the Sun
***
"Virgos crave details and facts."
***
Saffir, second son of Prince Onyx and his consort Topaz, was born
on dark day that the sun did not shine- in other words, a standard day for
Nemesis. If the Black Moon Family had bothered to keep track of his
birthday, they would have noted that his birthday fell on September
sixteenth, making him a Virgo. And he would certainly grow up to be the
quinessessional Virgo.
But they didn't. He was a second son, the 'spare' that usually
managed to get shuffled away. By the time he was six, he was already
taking care of himself, sneaking into the kitchen to make sure he was fed
(if left up to others, he would sometimes miss meals for days on end),
dressing himself, and generally making himself as unobtrusive as possible.
All in all, it was a dreary, pointless life for a small child.
Saffir, though, achieved one feat that managed to entertain himself.
He taught himself how to read.
This was an astonishing feat, especially when one considered that
he barely talked, since he had no one to talk to. One day, he stumbled onto
the Palace libraries. Sneaking inside, his eyes widened as he saw all the
heavy volumes. On one side there were a row of extremely advanced
computers, but Saffir didn't have a password to use them. He crept up to a
shelf and pulled an archaic book down, wondering exactly what is was.
It took him a month to puzzle out the written word, but once he
did, he started to devour the library at a rate which was astounding. Ten
books a day, and that was on a bad day. He'd spend his entire day there,
leaving only to eat and sleep. New worlds opened to him, those of history,
mathematics, physics, alchemy. One book was on chess, and he quickly
scrounged up an old board and begin to play against himself, mastering
complex strategies.
It was one day, probably sometime during his eighth year, that
everything changed for the forgotten prince. He was curled up in a corner
of the library on a somewhat overstuff chair that smelled slightly of
mildew, something that was prevalent in the library. Balancing a large tome
on his lap, he looked like a miniature scholar.
He heard the soft murmur of voices in the main library, but didn't
let that concern him, continuing to read about gradients. The few times
someone else had come in, they had used the machines and left as though a
dragon were on their heels. Nemesis was a grim place to live, yet the
oppressive air of the library made even the stoutest citizen want to leave.
Except Saffir. If asked, he would say that the forgotten lore of the
library was what made people so nervous- as though all the secrets of the
world where locked up in this one place. Saffir was determined to know
those secrets.
This time, though, was different. The voices came closer, and
Saffir was able to make out three distinct ones- two young men and one
female (who had the most annoying laugh he'd ever heard). He eavesdropped
shamelessly, continuing to read at the same time- the first time he ever
successfully managed to multi-task.
"... computer?" one man was saying.
"For me to do that, someone would have had to put the information
into it in the first place. No one bothered," the other man replied.
"It'll have to be the book, but I can't find it."
"Is it really that important?" the female demanded in a somewhat
whiny voice.
"You don't have to be here, Esmeraude-chan," the first man said.
At this point they rounded the set of shelves that had hid Saffir.
He looked up at them watchfully, wondering what book it was they were after.
Setting his book down gently, he studied them closely, mentally entering
their images into his organized mind.
The female was around fifteen or so, fluttering a fan with a
careless hand. Her hair was a brilliant green, and he decided that
"Esmeraude" was certainly a fitting name. Her body still held traces of
her childhood, but in a few years, she would be stunningly beautiful.
The older of the two men had unkempt red hair- hair that reminded
young Saffir of a flame. His eyes were hard, but that was common for any
member of the Black Moon Family. What scared Saffir was that this man was
cruel- and sadistic. He made a mental note to avoid this one whenever
possible.
The last of the trio, though, was the one who held Saffir's
attention. He looked about sixteen, but Saffir wasn't sure since the
teenager held himself with a dignity that would have suited Prince Onyx.
His hair was white as was his skin and clothes. White was such a rare
color that Saffir found himself staring. He'd seen the word "charisma"
before, but didn't understand it until he looked upon this man.
The trio finally caught sight of the child who was sitting
half-hidden in the shadows. Esmeraude stepped forward menacingly, snapping
her fan at the youngster. "You! What are you doing here?" she demanded.
Saffir opened his mouth to reply, but the white-haired teenager
held up a hand to forestall him. "Esmeraude, manners. He's only a child,"
the man said in a gentle voice that still managed to convey authority.
"Children can be spies, too," the red-haired man pointed out.
"Are you a spy?" the white man asked, as though no one would dare
lie to him.
Saffir certainly wouldn't. "No," he said, his voice husky from
lack of use. "I just was reading a book."
Esmeraude sniffed derisively. "A good excuse," she said. "A
book? Why not a computer? And I doubt," she continue, yanking Saffir's
book off his lap, "that someone your age is capable of understanding "Atomic
Manipulations for the Mathematically Oriented'."
Saffir lunged forward and grabbed the book out of her hands,
knocking her fan to the floor (something Esmeraude held against him to the
end of her life). "I can, too," he said defensively.
"Oh? Then you're familiar with the library?" the white -haired man asked,
not seeming to notice the incongruity of a child understanding such
material.
Saffir nodded, his hair, long overdue for a trim, falling into his
eyes. "Hai. You were looking for something?" he asked.
"Yes. A book called 'Earth: Geography and History'. It may be in
a large set- I think there's about six of them or so, actually, but I'm not
sure."
"There's seven, actually," Saffir said.
The trio stared at him. "You know where it is?" the red-haired
man asked.
"I've read it," Saffir replied. Setting his precious book down,
he scampered over to a shelf that was a few feet away. He pointed up, as
he was unable to reach the books without assistance, and he refused to allow
them the satisfaction of watching him drag a stool over. "It's on the
second shelf from the top."
The white man reached up, extending himself to his fullest possible
length and grabbed one of the books. "This is it," he said, his voice
slightly amazed. The other two teens looked at him, and Esmeraude let out a
cackle that sent Saffir's teeth on edge.
"So the little bookworm is for real," she said, fluttering her fan,
shooting a coy look at the white-haired man.
"Indeed," the white-haired man mused thoughtfully, running a hand
over his smooth cheek. He knelt down so their were on level, and for the
first time, Saffir looked into the most remarkable pair of amethyst eyes he
would ever see. Years later, he would remember this as one of the defining
moments of his life. He was aware of being weighed carefully, and for some
reason, a slight gleam of approval appeared in those violet orbs that
brimmed with vitality. "My name is Demando, child. Who are you?"
Saffir's eyes brightened, and a brilliant smile illuminated his
tiny face. So this imposing man was his older brother he had heard
whispered about? "I'm Saffir, oniisan!" he exclaimed gleefully.
Esmeraude stopped fluttering him fan. The still-unknown man's jaw
dropped. Demando's expression didn't change a hair. "You're that
Saffir?" he said.
The blue-haired child nodded. Then he averted his gaze slightly,
recognizing that he was talking to the Heir to the Pellucid Throne. By all
rights, Demando should hate him- a second son was always a threat.
Demando's mind, always cunning, started to shift through the news.
Here was his little brother, a child who had never really been interested
in. He'd heard a few things here and there, but all and all, the child was
a nonentity. Now here they were together, and Demando looked down at him.
The child was startlingly intelligent, and that was dangerous for an older
son. He could, of course, arrange for an assassin, but Demando firmly
believed in making lemonade from lemons. This child was still young and
malleable. And besides, something in the boy's eyes called to something in
Demando that he hadn't know existed.
"I would like to speak to you at a later time. Unfortunately, I
don't have the time right now. For your future reference, my companions
are Esmeraude and Rubeus." They nodded as he named them.
The Heir and his entourage left the library, leaving Saffir to his
books. He headed back to his chair, picking up his book. His mind
absorbed the information, though for once, his heart wasn't in it.
Finally, he set aside the book, cupping his chin as he assumed a classic
thinker's position. His face furrowed as he thought of the man he had just
met.
Beautiful. That was the only word that summed Demando-sama up.
He was beautiful physically, but Saffir had caught the look of intelligence
on Demando's face, which made his physically beauty pall. Even though he
didn't realize it, Saffir was more then half in love with his older brother.
The next two days were tense ones for the young boy, the waiting
enough to drive him crazy. He started to dream, something he had never
done before during his short life. His dreams were full of vivid images of
Demando, a dream of the White Prince -but wasn't he only the Heir? and why
the White Prince?- sitting on a throne, beloved and respected by his people.
Saffir stood in the corner, watching and loving Demando more then anyone
else. Purple eyes fixed on a goal only he could see, Demando opened his
mouth to speak, and then the dream ended.
Those dreams should have terrified him, yet Saffir felt strangely
refreshed after each dream. Yes, he was on the side, but Demando was
there. Demando was everything.
Three days after the encounter in the library, Saffir again ran
into the man with flaming hair who Demando had called Rubeus. This time
the boy was darting through the Palace kitchens, scrounging up a meal. He
never bothered thinking of it as breakfast, lunch or dinner, for Saffir
would only eat when he felt hungry- sometimes going many days without food
for lack of hunger.
Rubeus walked into the kitchen, a look of disdain on his fox-like
face. He looked down at his boots in disgust, not relishing the task that
had required him to descend to the level of commoners. He was NOT an
errand boy, but for Demando, he would make an exception. That didn't mean
he had to like it.
"You there," he said bluntly, pointing a finger at Saffir.
"Demando-sama wants to see you."
The boy swallowed the hunk of cheese he had been chewing on.
"Now?" he asked, rather surprised. He hadn't been expecting anyone to
actually bother tracking him down- rather, he had believed that they'd ask a
servant to keep and eye on the library or something to that effect.
"Of course, now," Rubeus responded testily. "When Demando-sama
states he wishes something, he means NOW. Get up, boy, and come with me."
Saffir ran a hand through his over-long hair, wishing he had time
to prepare. His clothes were old and ink stained from his attempts at
calligraphy (he'd swiped a set of pens and ink from a beurocrat's desk), and
he was sure his face could use a good scrubbing. But Rubeus was tapping
his foot impatiently, and Saffir decided that arguing would be futile. With
a wistful glance at his half-eaten meal, he followed Rubeus out the door.
Rubeus led him through a maze of corridors that would have dizzied
most people- but Saffir wasn't most people. His mind recorded his
surroundings automatically, noting the dark passages that led off into the
unknown. The occasional resentful glances Rubeus threw at the youngster did
nothing to endear him to Saffir. It was the start of the rocky
relationship that would sometimes shake Nemisian politics to their core.
Finally, they reached a large door that had the Black Moon Family
Crest on it entwined with a crown- the royal chambers of Nemesis. Saffir
had seen this door before, but had known better then to enter. Even though
this was, technically speaking, his family's rooms, he didn't doubt that his
presence would be most unwelcome. Rubeus, though, forced the door open
without a second thought.
Saffir entered this unknown place with a sense of wonder. There
were gems littering the room as thought thrown by as thoughtless hand, thick
carpets that his slippered feet sunk into, luxurious tapestries that were
frivolous displays of wealth... and more. Enough that Saffir was barely
able to contain a wince. His parents were fond of such things?
Rubeus seemed oblivious to Saffir's feelings of revulsion and
stomped through the room to knock heavily on a door that bore a diamond, an
eye, and the Black Moon all entwined together. "Saffir is here, as you
commanded," Rubeus said in a more respectful tone then he had used towards
Saffir.
"Let him in," came a quiet voice.
Rubeus opened the door and Saffir went in, preparing his senses for
another assault of gaudiness. To his relief, he found the room almost as
austere as he could have wished. Demando sat in a throne-like chair, calm
radiating from him.
Saffir wasn't exactly sure what to do. He bowed low and hoped
Demando would be happy with that. To his surprise, a light chuckle escaped
the Heir. "Don't bother, Saffir-chan," he said. "I get more then enough
of that from the courtiers- my own brother shouldn't stand on ceremony."
Saffir's smile nearly took in his ears. "Hai, oniisan," he said,
relishing the feel of that word on his tongue.
"Now, I must admit that I never really gave you and your...
situation any particular thought. I always assumed... well, that servants
had been taking care of you and that you would be reared in a manner
suitable for a Prince of the Blood. Since running into you in the library,
I have done some research, and I must admit I am appalled by the current
situation. You have no servant?" he asked.
Saffir shook his head. "Not for... almost two years now. Old
Quartz was looking after me, but she died unexpectedly," he said. He
remembered watching her cough up blood, seeing the old lady fight for each
breath. It had not been a pleasant experience.
"And you've had no schooling?" Demando asked.
"Aside from what I've taught myself, no," Saffir answered.
"Then how do you know how to read?" Demando asked. This question
had been bothering the Heir since he had learned how neglected the child
was.
"I just figured it out on my own," Saffir answered.
Demando grasped the arms of his chair tightly, his knuckles
whitening under the strain. This boy was dangerous- too intelligent for his
own good. What a brilliant, brilliant mind he must have, Demando thought.
Now if I can channel it in the right direction, he'll have no cause to
desire my throne. I would not like to have to kill him.
Saffir was unaware of Demando's plotting. His eyes scanned the
room during Demando's contemplative moment, final falling on a few books
that he hadn't read. His fingers itched to touch them- they looked far
more interesting then anything they had in the library.
Demando looked at the sudden longing on the boy's face and realized
that this child was a prodigy, an academic whose potential could be sculpted
into a tool for Demando's usage. "I think I'm going to see about arranging
for a tutor for you, child."
Rather then the instantaneous acceptance and gratitude he had been
expecting, Saffir bristled slightly. "I'm doing very well on my own,
oniisan," he said somewhat arrogantly.
Most other people would get swatted back down for speaking that way
to the Heir, but Demando only smiled slightly. It seems he has a trace of
that stubbornness so prevalent in our family, he thought with amused
acceptance. I had better encourage him to be strong, so no one else can
turn him against me. "Yes, you are. But you have no one to guide you in
your studies. You will need that guidance if you are to become one of my
advisors," Demando said.
Saffir's eyes widened. "Your advisors?" he said. "Me?"
"Yes, ototochan," Demando said.
"But I'm only eight!" the boy protested.
"And I'm barely fifteen," Demando confided. "It will be a long
time before I ascend the throne. Before that, though, I wish to gather
loyal followers around me to form my cabinet. That's why Esmeraude and
Rubeus are around me so much. And I can't think of anyone else that I would
more desire to have beside me then my brother," Demando said smoothly. I'd
rather have him beside me then behind me with a knife.
It was then that Saffir fell completely, hopelessly, irrevocably in
love with his older brother. For the first time, it seemed that someone
actually wanted to have him around. The empty child was gone- now he had a
purpose, a purpose fueled by the love that burned so intensely inside of
him.
"I'll do my best, Demando-sama!" he exclaimed. "I won't
disappoint you!"
"I'm sure you won't."
Demando smiled as the boy was escorted out of the room, feeling the
beginnings of regret. For some reason, manipulating the boy like that was
enough to make him feel lower then a snake. He quickly squashed that
sentiment down- sentiments had no place in the Heir of the Black Moon
Family.
Saffir quickly proved to be more intelligent then anyone could have
guessed. In a year, under the guidance of a skilled tutor, he was asking
questions about alchemy and physics his teacher was hard-pressed to answer.
His mathematical skills were almost as good, yet Saffir showed a disdain for
magic and its uses. When his sensei asked him why, Saffir had replied that
it was simply impractical- why expended large amounts of energy to teleport
when walking was exponentially more energy efficient? If he would have had
his way, he would have ignored the Magick Arts completely, but Demando had
insisted.
Originally, Demando had managed to meet with the boy once a week,
sometimes just dropping in on his lessons. He did so to make sure that
Saffir knew where his loyalty lay, but as time wore on, he came more
frequently. There was something about the soft adoration in Saffir's eyes,
the knowledge that this boy truly loved him above and beyond anything else.
No one (aside from Esmeraude, but Demando just wasn't interested) ever just
wanted Demando for nothing aside from himself.
Sometime during Saffir's ninth year, Demando summoned him to his
study rather unexpectedly. A groggy-eyed Saffir walked into the room, his
clothes loose on his young body. "Whaddya want, oniisan?"
Demando resisted the urge to smile. Saffir usually was so formal
that his slurred speech was rare and amusing. Saffir seemed to think he
could make up for his lack of years by being painfully proper. "I wanted to
see if you would join me for a morning stroll," Demando said lightly.
Saffir nodded eagerly. "Hai!" he said eagerly, ready to grasp any
opportunity to spend time with his big brother.
The two brothers quickly went through the hallways, Saffir
following in Demando's shadow, his silent presence somehow very reassuring
to the teenager. Their soft shoes slid across the dark floors, not a sound
coming from either of them. Saffir didn't bother asking Demando where they
were going- it really didn't matter. It was enough to simply be with
Demando.
Demando led the way to one of the doors that opened outside. "I
feel like seeing the world beyond our Palace today," he said in his soft,
yet compelling, voice.
Saffir pulled a face, revolted by the very thought. "Why?" he
asked.
Demando reached down and tousled the younger boy's hair
affectionately. His expression grew far away, as though he was seeing
something Saffir couldn't perceive. "It reminds me what my goals are," he
said to his brother in a low voice. "Let us stroll for a while... I will
tell you of my plans."
Together they walked out of the door into the dark day of Nemesis.
"Day" and "night" were terms that held little meaning on this world, but its
inhabitants had stubbornly clung onto the old standards of their homeworld.
Exiled though they were, they were Terrans. They refused to give up
anything they didn't have to- it would only be a triumph for the Neo-Queen
and her heathen Senshi.
The air was cool on Saffir's pale cheeks, and he resisted the urge
to shudder. Dark, black... little life. Soon the pair was beyond the
protective walls of the Palace, and Saffir surveyed the foreboding landscape
with loathing. The few animals (or what passed as "animals") that were
around slunk back into the darkness before the young prodigy was able to get
a good look at them. There was nothing but bleakness....
A flash of color caught his eye. Rushing forward, confident that
Demando would protect him should anyone attack, he bent down and looked at a
clump of plant life. "Oniisan! Oniisan! What are these?" he asked. He
carefully touched one, surprised that such beauty existed on Nemesis.
Demando smiled down at his younger brother, a crack appearing in
the icy facade he presented everyone else. "They're called flowers. Smell
them-- they have a pleasant fragrance."
Saffir did as he was told. The scent was heady and he sighed in
pleasure. "Very beautiful," he murmured.
Demando knelt down beside his younger brother. "These are the only
flower that can survive on Nemesis. On Earth, though, there are fields of
them."
"I wish I could see them," Saffir said wistfully. He had
unknowingly taken the first step towards the bitterness that marked a
Nemisian- the longing for Earth.
Demando raised the boy's chin with strong fingers so he could look
him straight in his eyes. "Someday, ototochan, you will," Demando said.
"But I thought we weren't allowed on Earth. Are you going to sign
a treaty with the Neo Queen when you become Prince?" Saffir asked.
"No. I would never betray our people in such a matter. What I
plan is..." He shut his eyes, purpose etched on his face, "what I plan is
to conquer Earth for the Black Moon Family."
"What!?" Saffir gasped.
"It's been centuries since we were banished to this wasteland," the
Heir said. "Since then, our people have grown strong, stronger then anyone
would have believed possible. This planet is barren, yet by living here, we
have become stronger then any of us would have dreamt possible! Our magics
will rival that of the Senshi themselves, and we will have a whole army of
such powerful warriors! Earth will be reclaimed by her true masters- us."
Saffir wasn't sure he agreed with the idea. "But many of our
people will die," he said softly.
Demando normally would have royally flayed anyone who dared
question his judgment, but this was his younger sibling. "Sometimes,
Saffir, those losses are acceptable. If you grow up and have children,
would you want them to live in such a dark place?" he asked, waving an
emphatic hand around their dark surroundings.
Saffir cringed. He himself had no plans on ever having children,
but he could see Demando's point. "People will die in the hope for the
future generations."
Demando nodded. "And it's up to us, as their leaders, to make sure
that as few of them die as possible- it would be senseless for them to waste
their lives needlessly."
"Why are you telling me all this, oniisan? You won't be able to
act until you are Prince-- and that won't be for a very long time," Saffir
stated.
"Because, Saffir, I need you to do something for me."
The boy smiled eagerly. "Anything!" he declared hurriedly.
Demando's hand tightened slightly. "No, child, listen to me
first. What I need you to do is prepare yourself for this upcoming battle.
I need you to become a tactician- that means studying like you never have
before. It means giving up much of your spare time- you will have to learn
many things, many of them tedious and boring."
"Why me?" Saffir asked, surprised.
"I trust you. You're brilliant, as I'm sure everyone has told
you, but it's more then that. You have the gift of creativity- if I give
you a problem, you will solve it without complaint. That is what I need-
and you're young enough to train yourself into that role."
Decision time. Saffir shut his eyes, trying to understand why
Demando was so serious. Could being a tactician really be so terrible? "It
would be an honor to serve you, oniisan," he said. It seemed that that
advisor position Demando had once mentioned would actually become a reality.
Demando smiled. "I swear this to you, Saffir-chan," he said. "If
you do your very best for me, then I will give you fields of flowers when we
conquer Earth."
Saffir's smile was more brilliant then the sun that never shone on
Nemesis. "Hai!" he exclaimed eagerly.
***
"Virgo is fantasy in nature. Existing in a world of their own, Virgos seem
to invent and re-invent reality as they wish it to be."
***
Twelve year old Saffir looked up from the book he was studying as
his cousin Esmeraude entered the room. Esmeraude wasn't once of his
favorite people, but he looked up at her and smiled pleasantly enough.
"Having more problems with Calculus?" he asked sweetly.
She glowered at him in the way only she was capable of, but then
her expression softened slightly. "Saffir-chan, you are needed. Prince
Demando has summoned you."
His eyes fluttered as he still the instinctive confusion. Prince?
Since when? he wondered. "Then Prince Onyx is dead?" he asked.
She nodded. "If you had left this room sometime in the last year,
you would have heard of Prince Onyx-sama's illness," she answered
scathingly.
Saffir let her insult roll off of him like it was made of water.
It was true he seldom left his study, but then, he had little cause to. He
was on a quest for knowledge, and there were few who he could share that
with. Even though Esmeraude was almost seven years older then him, Saffir
had already far outdistanced her in anything involving academics.
Esmeraude possessed a native cunning that almost made up for that, but her
vanity wouldn't let her admit she was jealous that this child had something
she didn't- Demando's love. "Very well, then," Saffir said. He rose to
his feet, indicating that she should leave. "I assume he'll be in his
court?" he asked rhetorically, even though the court hadn't been Demando's
until an hour ago.
Esmeraude fumed as he turned away to gather something from his many
drawers of knickknacks. "Don't turn your back on me, Saffir-kun! I am NOT
a mere messenger!" she spat.
Saffir looked at her pityingly. She acted flamboyant and self-assured
(this was, he reminded himself, the self-proclaimed most beautiful woman in
the galaxy), but he recognized the fact that she was desperately in love
with his older brother. This was, in his opinion, the only redeeming thing
about her... mentally. "Maybe you should turn your back on me,
Esmeraude-chan," he replied, a thin smile on his face. "I need to prepare,
and unless your tastes run to young boys, I suggest you leave," he said.
Her mouth opened slowly as she tried to articulate her feelings of
rage, but Saffir used her distraction to gently shove her to the door.
Clicking the lock close (something she could easily get around if she had
the wit to magic it), he pulled out a blue outfit.
Sliding into his navy-blue clothes, he wondered if he should feel
sorry that his father was dead. With his excellent memory, it wasn't hard
to summon an image of Onyx- black hair, flat black eyes, skin that rivaled
Demando's for whiteness. Shaking his head, he banished the memory from
his thoughts- he could count the times he'd ever seen Onyx on both hands
with fingers to spare. Onyx might have been his sire, but he wasn't his
father.
The crystals on his shirt gleamed brightly, and Saffir glimpsed
into a mirror. His body was starting to stretch out and he could see
images of the man he would one day become, but he still wasn't an adult.
He recognized that he was just beginning to enter adolescence, and the
thought terrified him. His body was beginning to do things he had no
control over. The dreams he'd been having in the last few months were
embarrassing, and if Esmeraude ever found out, he was positive his superior
intellect would be little defense against her rage.
His eyes were sparkling sapphires as he stared deeply into the
mirror, tugging on his unruly hair. There was one lock that seemed
determined to do what it wanted to, and he had given up the battle long ago.
Still, he looked respectable enough and he probably wouldn't embarrass
Demando too terribly. It was horrible to have a fully developed mind in a
child's body.
He slid through the hallways meekly, trying not to draw attention
to himself. Unlike Demando, who was able to draw attention by merely
breathing, Saffir had to make a conscience effort to be noticed. He was
learning to be grateful, especially at times like this. The palace was in
an uproar... the Prince was dead, and now there was a new ruler... and
whenever someone new inherited the throne, it was almost inevitable that
there would be uprising. Saffir had every confidence in his oniisan, but
some of their citizens obviously didn't.
It was simple enough to slip through the crowds to the take a place
on the edge of the court. He looked up at where Demando was standing,
telepathically sending out a greeting and a burst of adoration. Demando's
face was blank, yet Saffir could feel his inner tension extend towards his
oniichan. Demando raised one of his elegant hands and the court stilled,
waiting with baited breath for what the Heir would do.
"Prince Onyx-sama has died. As his heir, I now assume the
Pellucid Throne," Demando stated. He moved to sit upon the marble throne,
yet was stopped by a shout from the crowd.
"You are not his only heir! The people have the right to choose!"
a voice called with safe anonymity.
Demando's eyes narrowed dangerously, and Saffir's mind caught his
determination. The boy, though, felt a chill run through him. Someone was
actually putting him forth as Heir? he wondered incredulously. Why would
they want to do that?
The answer came almost as quickly as the question had. I'm still
young. They probably want a puppet prince, he thought cynically. Too bad
I'm not going to let that happen, he thought viciously.
"I was Heir, now I am Prince," Demando retorted angrily. "No one
will challenge me for the throne.."
"Bring Saffir, son of Onyx, forth and let him speak!" a voice
called from the other side of the Court.
Saffir was growing increasingly uncomfortably as the crowd started
to shift, searching for him. Esmeraude and Rubeus flanked Demando.
Esmeraude looked over her fan, scornfully surveying the crowd, though Saffir
could tell she was nervous from the way she was tossing her hair every three
seconds. She only did that when she was worried or trying to flirt with
Demando. Rubeus stood with his arms crossed over his chest, staring
forward with a sneer on his handsome face. Saffir could see the tension
etched into his stance, and realized that if he survived this, it would be
wise to avoid the flame-haired advisor for a while.
Facing the unavoidable, Saffir sidled to the front of the room, for
once taking center stage. He could feel the eyes on his back, and hated
it. He wished that Demando-sama could get him out of this one, yet this
was something he would have to do. "You summoned me, Prince Demando-sama?"
he asked bowing briefly, acting as though he had just arrived there.
There was a gasp from the crowd. No one could be called Prince
unless they had taken the Pellucid Throne, and for Saffir to call his
brother that was more then gauche. It was almost treason to the minimal
laws that tied their society together.
Demando ignored this. "Yes, Saffir-san," he said, addressing him
with the honorific for the first time. "There appears to be some confusion
as to the rights of inheritance, and I was hoping you could sort it out for
me," he said gently.
Saffir nodded. "The rights? You mean how the Heir is chosen and
assumes the throne? Since Prince Onyx-sama's reign lasted two hundred
years, I can see how most normal people might not remember the exact law,"
he said with just the right amount of derision lacing his words. He turned
around and faced the crowd, staring right out in the middle of them, yet not
really seeing any of them. "From the Laws of State, Book Three, Section
Sixteen: The Pellucid Throne shall pass through the paternal line upon the
death of the reigning Prince. The Heir is the oldest male child of the
Prince. In the event that the Prince has no male relatives, the Throne
shall first be offered to his brother, then any nephews... the line shall be
traced until a suitable Heir is found. If there is any doubt over who is
the Heir, the people of Nemesis have the right to question the assumption of
the Throne. However, once the Throne has been claimed, the Prince shall
retain it until the end of his life," Saffir recited from memory.
Silence met his little demonstration of his talented memory.
Demando nodded gravely. "My thanks, Saffir-san," he said. "It appears
that there should be no question as to who inherits."
"Indeed, oniisan," Saffir said, prompted by Demando's telepathic nudge.
"Besides, I'm the only other possibility, and I fully support your reign,"
he said, trying to muddle through this political gibberish to the best of
his abilities.
"I'm glad to hear that, Saffir-san," he said. "I am Prince,"
Demando pronounced. He sat back into the throne, sitting there as though he
was used to the experience. The Throne started to glow, every shade known
to human-kind (and some that weren't) shooting forth as it welcomed its new
occupant. Magic ties wrapped tightly around Demando, and it was difficult
for Demando to keep his face from displaying the ecstasy the new power was
forcing into him. The throng let out a half-hearted cheer, and Demando
realized he would have to establish his authority quickly, or be overthrown.
He looked over at Rubeus and Esmeraude, who took positions behind
his throne. Though Onyx had been ill for a while, no one had expected him
to die so young. He had barely entered his second century of rule, and
should have live to see at least another four, giving Demando time to
prepare for the assumption of the Pellucid Throne. Now he the Throne was
his, yet he had few political alliances to hold it with.
Saffir managed to blend back into the crowd, yet his usually
striking eyes were dark with concern. Young as he was, he recognized how
tenuous Demando's position had become.
"Let my reign commence with three days of festivities- let there be
music, games and dancing!" he pronounced, using ancient tradition. "On the
eve of the fourth day, my council shall be called!"
***
"Virgos are usually observant, shrewd, critical, and patient. Supporters of
the 'status quo', and conservative in all areas of life."
***
Demando paced up and down rapidly, making Saffir dizzy just looking
at him. Rubeus and Esmeraude were perched on chairs like birds ready to
take flight, while Saffir sat with unnatural stillness, the needs of his
body forgotten as his superior intellect turned the problem over and over in
his mind.
It was a strange council. The new ruler, two inexperienced
youngsters, and a boy. Together, though, they held more power then any
other faction on Nemesis, as they currently controlled the Throne. With
the throne, came a vast amount of power that had been imbued over the ages
by each of Nemesis' previous rulers. Demando had tied himself to it, and
there was no way to part him from it except death, and that would mean his
powers would then join the rest of his ancestors in strengthening the
Pellucid Throne. Any usurper would find it extremely unpleasant to sit upon
it. Saffir remembered reading of Diamonda, and the less that was said
about that little incident, the better. But some would brave it, especially
with Demando this new to power.
"Well?" he asked finally, looking at his most trusted confidants.
He spun around, the rich purple cloak swirling with wonderful flare, causing
Esmeraude's eyes to light up. Rubeus just sat sulkingly, while Saffir just
stared blankly at his brother.
"We retain the Throne for you, of course, Demando-sama," Esmeraude
said purring, batting her amazingly long eyelashes in unison with the
fluttering of her fan.
He, as always, seemed impervious to her attempts at flirtation.
"That is a given. The question is how?" His fingers idly touched the gem
he wore at his throat, the gem that bound him to the Throne. "I should have
had more time," he said bitterly. "Onyx wasn't suppose to die so young.
This makes things more complicated- I have almost no political alliances."
His reaction was typical of any Namibian citizen- not concern over the loss
of a relative, but rather the awkward position he had been placed in.
because of the loss.
"But we're stuck with things as they are," Esmeraude said. "Now we
have to make the best of the situation."
Demando frowned and sat down on the edge of his desk. "I have to
get the people to love me as well as fear me," he said. "How?"
"Give them what they want," Rubeus said.
"But what do they want?" Demando asked.
The room was silent as they all digested that question. The answer
was painfully obvious. "Earth," Esmeraude whispered, almost dropping her
fan. "We want the Earth back."
Demando nodded grimly. "I have long cherished the hope of
re-taking the blue planet. I hadn't planned on implementing my plans so
soon, but this is the only method I can think of to ensure no one attempts a
coup."
Saffir raised his head and spoke for the first time. "There is a
quote that applies well here. 'What this country needs is a short,
victorious war to stem the tide of revolution.'"
"I like that one, Saffir-kun," Demando said with a thin smile lingering
on his lips. "Is it possible?"
Saffir shut his eyes, calculating events as rapidly as he could. "Terra
is strong, but it had been at peace for centuries- aside from the Senshi,
they have no real warriors. We are a more savage people who will
understand the realities of war more quickly. Each one of our citizens is
worth ten of the common soldiers of the pacifistic Earth. While the Senshi
are neatly immortal, they are not invulnerable. With proper dedication,
they can be destroyed. The Neo King and his consort control the world and
are almost omnipotent, yet even they will fall in the end."
"How long, Saffir-kun?" Demando asked.
"Ten years. Almost nothing when one considers the life span we
live."
The group was silent. "So that's it?" Rubeus asked. "We're
finally going to reclaim Earth?"
Demando smiled in his own enigmatic way. "Hai, Rubeus. As of
this moment, Nemesis is at war."
END PART THREE