Author's note: VictorianDream – thank you for your kind reviews, I'm glad that one other person at least is enjoying this crazy story as much as I am! I can't stop writing it because I can't stop wanting to know what happens next:P Oh, and just for future reference - a "cannon" is something you use to blow holes in Jack Sparrow's ship. I think the word you're looking for is "canon". ;)
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Erik woke around midmorning when the sun finally climbed high enough to reach his windows over the mountain ridge on the horizon. He blinked and stared at the ceiling. It took a minute for him to remember where he was, and the memories of the previous evening rushed back to him with the force of a blow to the head. He groaned and rolled over, pulling the blanket over his face. What the hell had he gotten himself into? He should be laying in his mother's bed underneath a Paris opera house right now, preferably dead, and certainly not halfway across the galaxy on another world. There was nothing for it now, though. Despite his constant mantra to himself of the nonexistence of God, he was too much a Catholic to ever kill himself. He didn't have his rope with him anyway.
Since suicide was not an option, he sat up and climbed out of bed, stretching his stiff muscles. He grabbed Tess's bag from the floor and changed into the clothing she'd bought for him. They were indeed quite comfortable, if rather plain. He walked out into the hall intending to head to the gardens to find Oro as he'd been instructed the night before, but realized he had no idea where they were.
He started wandering the halls, noting rooms as he passed them. There were many bedrooms on the same hall as his, and the next turn brought him to a massive library. He turned around and made another turn down a hall in the opposite direction. He nearly ran into Endo. Endo balked at the sight of Erik and quickly ducked into another hallway. Erik was tempted to follow him just for the sake of antagonizing his unhappy uncle, but decided that Oro would not appreciate the added strife in his home. He continued down the hall until he finally ran into a servant who could point him in the direction of the gardens.
He found Oro sitting at a table underneath a large tree with bluish angular leaves intently studying text on a datapad, likely the details of something related to his family's business. Erik stood a few feet away, waiting for Oro to notice him and invite him to sit. Oro did not look up but eventually cleared his throat and spoke to Erik.
"Are you going to stand there all day or sit down and join me? I don't bite, you know."
"I simply did not wish to be rude and interrupt your task."
Oro put the datapad down and leaned back in his chair.
"Well, sit down already! You're not interrupting anything urgent."
Erik sat down next to Oro at the small table and looked at the datapad. He could not read the alien language. Oro cleared his throat again and drew Erik's gaze to his.
"Erik, about last night… I am sorry for Endo's continued rudeness with you but if his claims are true, it could… complicate matters… for you. If you are not careful, that is. Now, he may have just been dreaming the whole thing, but there's a quick way to discover if his accusations are true. I won't force you to do anything you aren't willing to, but I want you to sing for me what you were singing last night."
Erik stared at his hands in his lap. Singing was easy for him. He could use his voice to comfort or destroy as he chose, yet he was gripped with fear to sing before his grandfather, as though his voice had suddenly become a shameful secret. Oro waited while Erik hesitated for over a minute, then heaved a long-suffering sighed. He looked skyward as though seeking advice from the Winds.
"Erik, I am sorry if this distresses you, but I must know. It is important for many reasons, not the least of which is your own safety."
"I apologize, sir. I am not generally called upon to perform by others."
Oro scratched at his throat.
"'Sir'? How formal. Call me 'grandfather', please. That is what I am to you, after all."
"Yes, grandfather."
Erik closed his eyes, trying to block out the bright sunlight. It had been years since he'd stood under its full power and it made his head ache. Was it really so much to ask, after all his grandfather had done for him already? In a single day, the aging man had invited him into his home, his family and, if Erik were honest with himself, likely his heart.
He began the simple folk song again, quietly at first, but eventually at full volume. He opened his eyes to find Oro slumped over the table in a dream-like state with hooded eyes, his jaw slack. The reaction was not new to him; many entered such a condition under the power of his voice. He stopped his song shortly when he heard numerous footsteps approaching. A quick glance at his surroundings revealed many of the servants suddenly halting in their steps and blinking as though waking from a daze. Oro began to stir a moment later. He stood slowly and took Erik's hand into his own, pulling him to his feet.
"Hmmm… Yes. Come, let us discuss this in private."
They walked back toward the house and Oro waved off the servants sharply, telling them sternly to return to their duties and speak nothing of what they heard to another living soul. They eventually made their way to Oro's private study and Oro pulled up a second chair next to his desk so he could sit directly opposite Erik.
"Endo was right, I'm afraid. You have what is known as the Voice of the Winds, Erik. I suspect you already know much of its power. You can draw all but the most stubborn people to you or cast a trance over them or bring them to a state of ecstasy. You've likely also discovered that you can order about the weak-willed with little trouble. This gives you great power, Erik, but power attracts the powerful, and if your gift becomes common knowledge you will be a target for those who would abuse you and your talents. Your gift is a rare one. The last Voice to appear lived about a century ago, and came to no good end. Use your voice wisely. I would not think it advisable to give any more impromptu performances, Erik. I apologize for my earlier indiscretion, but I did not believe Endo could possibly be correct, considering its rarity and your mixed heritage. I do not think the servants will betray us, though. They have proved trustworthy in the past and I have means of convincing them that it is in their best interest to be discreet if the need arises."
Erik squeezed his eyes shut against the pain in his heart. Was he destined to destroy everyone who got too close to him?
"If I am a threat to your family, I should leave—"
"Erik! I told you before that you are a part of my family. Your gift changes nothing! You are still my grandson!"
"Gift? It has ever been a curse. I destroy all that I touch."
"Stop it, Erik. Stop it now! You're beginning to sound like Ohte in his youth and I will not hear it again! Never again! The Voice of the Winds can be used for malicious ends, yes, but you may or may not know that your voice can also expedite healing in the sick and injured, and bring peace to troubled hearts. Like all talents, whether your ability is a gift or a curse is entirely up to how you choose to use it. I should hope you would use it wisely from now on, however you may have employed it in the past."
Erik stood and walked to the window, staring at a small reptile-like creature sitting on its haunches eating a berry on a tree branch.
"So I must hide my voice, then. I was compelled to hide my face –this face that frightened all who saw it- I hid it behind a mask from the day I was born, and now I must hide my voice? Will I never be free?"
Erik cried quietly despite himself. His voice and music had been his one solitary comfort in life, and now he was simply never to sing again? He normally appreciated good irony, but this one was too cruel for him to find any humor in. Oro stood behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder blade.
"Oh Erik, I am sorry. I cannot tell you how sorry I am, but this is how it must be. I only wish for you to be safe. You must be careful. Your voice is beautiful and it carries far. It would be too easy for it to reach unfriendly ears."
"You are right, of course, grandfather. I would not risk your family's safety lightly."
Erik stepped away from Oro and slumped into a chair. If somebody hurt Oro in an attempt to get to him, he'd never forgive himself. The gentle-spirited old man who reminded him so much of Giovanni did not deserve to suffer on his worthless account. He knew he should leave immediately, at least the house, and preferably the planet. He had no idea how to contact Tess or anyone else, though. He wasn't sure if he had the strength to make himself leave this new found refuge anyway.
"The family's safety is my responsibility. I will deal with whatever problems arise from this situation if and when they present themselves. For the time being, I don't want you worrying needlessly over what is beyond your control. Come, it is nearly lunchtime and as you slept through breakfast, I know you are hungry."
Endo was again present at the table before he and Oro arrived. He did not immediately protest Erik's presence again, but glanced warily at him from time to time, trying to avoid Erik's gaze. The servants brought a light meal consisting of some kind of fruit, a type of soft cheese and some bread. Oro chose to ignore the strain between Endo and Erik and proceeded as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
"How did the deal with the Chaga outpost go?"
"As planned. I accepted their bid as you instructed. The shipment will go out this afternoon. They expressed interest in a long-term contract."
Oro smiled. He didn't say "I told you so" but the message to Endo was obvious.
"Did you offer them one?"
"I told them I would speak with you first and give them an answer tonight. Can the Zeon keep up with the supply demand on a monthly basis?"
"I do not know. You ought to send an enquiry as soon as you are finished with your lunch. You may get a response in time to give Chaga an answer before tomorrow if you are lucky. You should not make presumptions about my knowledge, Endo."
"No, of course not. I apologize for my error in judgment."
"You have no need to apologize to me, Endo. The authorities at the Chaga outpost, however, are not likely to be impressed if you cannot keep such a simple promise."
Erik continued to watch the verbal tennis match, mostly keeping his eyes on Endo's tense expression. His staring, however, was not going unnoticed. It was not long before Endo's patience finally snapped.
"Must you continually stare at me with those strange dull eyes of yours, half blood? It's bad enough having a… a… freak under our roof!"
Oro stood instantly, sending his chair clattering to the floor. He loomed over Endo, anger making his eyes shine all the brighter.
"Enough, Endo! I am at my wits' end with you! Apologize to your nephew now!"
For once, his father's anger did not cow Endo in the slightest. It seemed only to serve to fuel his ire. He stood toe-to-toe with Oro and matched his father's gaze, despite being several inches shorter.
"I will not apologize to that mongrel off-worlder! It is bad enough that he is a half blood, and that alone could ruin our reputation for good, but that unnatural voice of his is a threat to the safety of us all! He could have us all walking off a cliff in our sleep!"
The sound of the hard slap to Endo's face echoed off the high ceiling.
"Why, Endo? Why do you say these things, that pain me so? Erik has done nothing to offend you, nothing! He does not deserve your scorn! You bring shame to this family with your actions today, I am only grateful your wife is not around to witness this!"
Endo seemed to deflate slightly at the violent rebuke and meekly bowed to his father, but the look of pure loathing he gave Erik as he left the room betrayed his lack of true humility. Erik, on the other hand, honestly felt that he should be grateful had the floor opened up and swallowed him at that moment.
"Please, grandfather… Do not fight with your son on my account. I do not want to be the cause of the destruction of your family. He is right, I should leave."
When he looked up, Oro looked like he was about to give him a slap as well.
"It is Endo's arrogance that once again brings discord to my home, not you! Never suggest otherwise again! You will not leave because of Endo's stubbornness. I will not lose another child because of that boy's ignorant words! He drove Ohte away from my nest, and he will not chase you away as well if I have to throw him out myself, and that is final!"
With that, Oro stormed out of the room toward the garden, leaving Erik alone to stare in confusion at his unfinished lunch.