Chapter 34
When his sister appeared before them all, Capricorn saw mixed reactions from all around. For those who knew Gemini from long ago, Capricorn watched as each man smiled because they knew. Their odds had risen tenfold from what they had been. For those who didn't know her, Capricorn saw complete and utter amazement. It was a striking combination as the moment seemed to progress in its power. Capricorn felt himself swell with pride. He became almost lost in this moment until he stepped closer until he was beside her again. Basta was at his side this time. He was one of many who smiled, because he knew, he had seen what Gemini was capable of. They were going to do this. Neither of them had ever been more sure of it.
"My sister and I have been reunited, Basta, have a tent prepared for her close to mine" whispered Capricorn, Basta saw the sparkle of happiness in his eyes as the two began to walk arm in arm. That was when Basta took a vow in front of them both.
"It is good to see you, Basta" said Gemini, smiling as the man came to walk at her other side.
"Yes, Miss. Gemini, I will admit to not expecting you" said Basta, his voice gentle yet careful as he spoke, he had always been cautious around Gemini, and in that moment that did not change.
"Apparently, we're in a book, and you've all been in some other world. Now, you've returned to take over" said Gemini, her boldness surprising Basta. Not because it was unexpected, but because he was surprised by what she knew. They had left from their previous camp not hours earlier, but she knew everything already though Basta suspected not everything. He wondered as he met her gaze if she knew of the queen Capricorn had taken in his time away. H suspected not. He hadn't expected her to know anything or at least, not yet. When he started walking again, that was when he realized they were moving into the trees where Silvertongue was restrained.
"Yes, Gemini, it would appear our world is only one of many" said Basta finally finding that was all he could say as he walked at her side once more suddenly understanding what Capricorn was doing as he led her towards the prisoner.
"Where are you taking me, brother?" whispered Gemini in that moment, her voice curious, while Basta knew what his king was doing; he was proving everything he had told his sister.
"I'm showing you the living proof of everything I've told you" said Capricorn then as Silvertongue came into view tied to a tree and instantly Basta wished he'd gagged him as the man began to speak.
"Nice to see how long you remained faithful to Meggie" snapped Meggie immediately and Basta didn't need to look at Capricorn, he knew, he could feel as the red anger he knew grew within him. So could Gemini, but she didn't know why.
"Who is this man?" said Gemini, leaving her brother's arm to approach where Silvertongue was bound.
She circled the tree, smiling, as she met the stare of the man who appeared to be her brother's enemy.
"This is the man who read us all from the book long ago. We call him Silvertongue. He is using his power, but not of his own will" said Capricorn, not expecting it when Silvertongue continued to speak as soon as he had finished.
"I tried to tell Meggie what you were. She should have known you'd replace her with the next whore at the next brothel you found" snapped Silvertongue, but his voice was cut off when Capricorn suddenly had a hand to his throat. Basta knew that Silvertongue had pushed something, not just when it came to Gemini, but also Meggie. It was then that Basta understood that he loved his sister and by insulting her, Silvertongue was touching dangerous ground. Capricorn was holding himself back then as he stared the man down with pure hatred in his eyes. Gemini didn't understand that hatred, but Basta very much did as he watched it all happen. Gemini didn't need to know though, she only followed him in his vengeance towards this man. As Capricorn removed his blade putting it to his throat, Gemini was at his side, and soon there was a fire surrounding Silvertongue. It burned his feet and Basta was surprised when Silvertongue didn't scream.
"Watch yourself, sir" whispered Gemini, her voice deadly as she let her flames begin to burn him.
The two siblings were kindred spirits in that moment as their faces flashed in the low light of the flames. Basta recognized it as he stood back watching it all play out before him. He watched as they shared a smile and their eyes looked into each other's gazes trying to gauge each other's reaction. When it broke, that gaze fell upon Silvertongue in an evil stare that chilled the air even as the flames burned. Basta felt in awe of that as he watched the pair. He hadn't seen this in so long. He had forgotten the art of the sibling's magic when together. It was amazing to see it again as they came together again as if no time had passed.
"Silvertongue, I don't believe you've met. This is my sister, Gemini" whispered Capricorn withdrawing his blade from the man's throat. Basta wasn't expecting it when Capricorn stepped back giving all his control to Gemini. He had only ever seen him do this with Meggie before. It was fascinating to see as she tortured the man in her own magical way until finally her time ended. She stepped away and looking at her brother, her look seemed to say, what now?
"Let us leave him, sister, we have much to discuss, you and I" whispered Capricorn, already walking away into the trees, and as Basta walked alone by her side her couldn't deny he was nervous at the prospect of it.
Basta left the, in Capricorn's tent and as soon as they were alone, he knew the question that was coming.
"Who was that man speaking of?" whispered Gemini, sensing something as silence remained. Then she saw it. As her brother smiled, the type of smile that Gemini didn't recognize as she stood there waiting for an answer. It drew her to him, claiming every ounce of her curiosity as she searched for whatever seemed to come over her brother. The smile was not sinister or even evil, but bright. Like the sun, it was something she had never seen in him. At first, she didn't understand it until she saw a glint that could have been happiness in his eyes. It was then that Gemini realized she'd never seen that in him before. In the course of their lives, they had very rarely been happy, and yet now, she saw it. That brief glimpse of happiness that Gemini herself had never felt. It shook her as she watched it bloom in her brother.
Their whole lives, they both had only known the same thing, survival. In answer to her question, Capricorn removed a gold watch from his pocket, and opening it, he passed it to her.
"Meggie is my wife…and Silvertongues daughter" whispered Capricorn, looking over his shoulder at the life like portrait inside the watch.
"Capricorn?" whispered Gemini then looking to him now for more of an explanation before letting her eyes stray to the woman again, finding she couldn't deny she was very beautiful, but young making Gemini question what her role would be in the grand scheme of things. This pretty thing was not strong enough, or wise enough to be the queen that would be needed at her brother's side. Gemini was quite unsure of what to make of her as she gazed on the portrait. This young thing wasn't even a woman yet, but a girl. Gemini didn't completely know how to feel about her as she summed her up using just the photo before her. She couldn't come to any definite conclusions though, not until she understood her brother, and the motives behind taking this girl to rule at his side.
"You married this girl, but why, brother? I could understand if it was to have power over the father by possessing the daughter—" exclaimed Gemini, but she didn't have a chance to finish. Before she could, her brother was walking away from her, his eyes intent on the woman's face within the watch. After a moment, Gemini recognized the look in his eyes when he looked at her. One of love. She couldn't pretend to understand it as she watched him.
"No, Gemini, I married her because I love her. Meggie has become my greatest strength…she is my true queen" whispered Capricorn, smiling as he looked down at her. Gemini suddenly wondered if he even knew she was there. His eyes were so intently focused on that photo that there was something almost startling about it. It was like he was replaying something, more then a memory, but his very life before his eyes she just couldn't see it. As Gemini witnessed it, she found she almost envied him. For he knew something she herself would never know, but that quickly dissolved, for Gemini knew something better then love; she knew the sweet bitterness of power.
"When we first captured Silvertongue and his daughter with him, I'll admit, I planned to use her as a pawn. Something to hold over her father, so he would do my bidding, but over time, something came over me. Meggie, in her awestruck way, needled her way into my heart until I found I needed her. That I loved her. It took me quite by surprise" said Capricorn, his voice soft as he was taken back to that first glimpse of her. When she had been so devoted to her father and so scared of him. When she had looked at him with such distain. Now though, that had changed, and she looked at her father with that same emotion. She was no longer that little girl from those days, but a woman. A beautiful vibrant woman that had showed him nearly as much as he had her. As Gemini watched him then, she seemed to sense that, and yet, she still failed to understand it.
"She is like her father, but far more powerful. Where Silvertongue must be given the words, Meggie creates them" exclaimed Capricorn, turning to her now with a look of wonder in his eyes.
It was then that Gemini realized that her brother truly was in love with this girl. She approached him then and held him by the shoulders.
"What do you need of me, brother?" whispered Gemini, immediately seeing a type of sorrow in his eyes.
"Our mother, her father, they have done so much to harm both my queen and I, I need you sister. I need you to help me make this world mine. To bring it to its knees, so I will no longer have a need of them" whispered Capricorn, desperation in his eyes now.
"It would be my honor, brother" said Gemini, smiling.
