Chapter 18: Slade
The next morning, Iris woke up to Sarai standing beside her bed, looking upset. Iris sat up immediately. "What happened?" she asked. "It's Slade, my Queen," Sarai told her quickly. "He has been shouting at Ebony since early this morning, and has been demanding a boat to leave." Iris sighed and dropped back onto her pillows for a moment. "Do I even have to ask what they are arguing about?" she asked. "In all honesty, Majesty, it isn't an argument," Sarai explained as Iris slid out of bed. "Ebony is just standing there quietly listening to Slade berate her. She didn't even move when he shook her."
Sarai moved to ring the bell to call the other ladies in to help Iris dress, but Iris shook her head. "No ceremony today, Sarai," Iris said as she hurried into her bathroom. "Just tell me everything that was said while I get ready. This needs attending to immediately." Sarai sat on a chair outside the bathroom while Iris got dressed and freshened up. "It began early, around dawn," Sarai began. "I heard shouting and went to see what it was. Slade and Ebony were in the front hall." "Whatever were they doing there so early?" Iris asked as she spread toothpaste on her toothbrush.
"I think Slade had just come into the hotel," Sarai said musingly. "It looked as if Ebony had just been about to go look for him and they happened to meet there. Anyway, I don't know what began the fight, but I did hear a lot of what Slade was shouting." "And that was?" Iris asked before splashing water on her face. "He said that he just couldn't believe she was responsible for Ruby's death. He kept asking how she could have pushed a pregnant woman in front of a truck." "What did Ebony say?" Iris asked. "She didn't say anything, Majesty. She just stood there, looking straight at Slade with this sad look in her eyes. I kept expecting her to hit him . . . at the very least shout back. But she didn't."
Iris said nothing so Sarai continued her story. "Anyway, I think it irritated Slade that she wasn't saying anything, so he grabbed her shoulders and shook her so hard I swear I heard her teeth cracking together. But she still didn't do anything, and the guards pulled him off of her. They told him to calm down. Slade's face grew all red and he glared at them. He asked them what they would do if the woman they loved murdered the woman who was pregnant with their child. Neither of them said anything, so Slade turned back to Ebony. He told her she was a murdering, terrible woman and he couldn't see how he had once loved her."
Iris came out of the bathroom wearing a pale green dress and a necklace, earrings, and bracelets made from strands of pearls. She had left her hair loose down her back, with a pearl headband holding it in place. Sarai smiled at her, nodding her approval, and the two of them hurried out into the hallway. "What happened then?" Iris asked. Sarai fell into step behind her mistress. "Slade walked out of the hotel and slammed the front doors as hard as he could," Sarai continued. "He kept pacing around the driveway, pulling at his hair and crying. That was when he began shouting for someone to give him a boat, he had to leave the island or he would kill himself or Ebony."
Iris' expression grew worried and she quickened her pace. Soon they were downstairs, where several Mallrats had congregated. Trudy, Ellie, Ram, and Salene were standing in the hall, watching as Jay and Amber attempted to reason with Slade, who was still pacing outside and shouting obscenities. Ebony was seated in a far shadowed corner of the room, her face in her hands. "Slade says he's going to kill Ebony," Ellie informed Iris as she approached. Trudy looked sorrowful. "The poor guy," she said, shaking her head. Iris felt Ram's eyes on her, but ignored him. "I will speak to him," Iris said with a sigh. "Does he still wish to leave?" Salene and Trudy nodded.
"He is saying he won't leave until Ruby is avenged," Salene whispered. "This isn't like Slade at all," Ram put in, his eyes still on Iris. "He has never acted like this since I've known him." Iris turned to look at Ram with hardened eyes. "Why aren't you out there talking to him?" she asked. He shrugged. "I wouldn't mind it if Ebony got what's coming to her," he said bluntly. "She did, after all, kill Java as well as Ruby. And I don't think Lex would mind Ebony's death either. He loved Siva." Iris fought the urge to roll her eyes. She felt irritated that she had allowed the drama-filled Mallrats and those who came with them on her island, but immediately squashed the feeling.
Without another word, Iris walked out to Slade. Two guards immediately fell in behind her, in case Slade grew violent. Amber glared at her as she approached, while Jay looked relieved. "If you two would leave us . . ." Iris said regally. Amber opened her mouth to protest, but Jay took her arm firmly and led her away. Slade took one look at Iris and slumped to the ground. "I know what you want to say," he said. "What do I want to say?" Iris asked, sitting beside him. "That I can't harm Ebony, and that I should leave," Slade said glumly. Iris smiled at him. "That is only half right, Slade. How can I blame you for wanting revenge?"
Slade pulled up a clump of grass and shook his head. "Amber's been telling me that revenge will only cause harm to myself . . . blah blah blah." He glanced at Iris. "I don't truly want to harm Ebony. I just . . . I just wish I had never been the cause of all this." "You blame yourself?" Iris asked. He nodded. "There were a lot of things I shouldn't have done. If only I hadn't slept with Ruby, knowing I didn't care for her. If only I hadn't slept with her again, once I knew I wanted Ebony. It wasn't fair to either of them . . . but I did it. If only I hadn't stayed at Ruby's saloon and caused her to love me. If only I hadn't brought Ebony there. I should have taken better care of Ruby once I knew she was pregnant."
"Those are a lot of 'If only's'," Iris told him, looking up at the sky. "Did any of these bother you before you knew Ebony hurt Ruby?" Slade stared at her for a moment. "I felt as if I shouldn't have gotten Ruby pregnant," he said finally. Iris hugged her knees to her chest. "One of the lessons I've learned as Queen," she said, "is that you can never look back on things and say 'If only I hadn't done that'. You can only look back on what you have done to learn not to make the same mistakes again. You are no fortune teller or psychic . . . how could you have known what would happen?"
He shrugged. "I was warned about Ebony," he said dully. "But I didn't listen. I wanted her too badly . . . lusted after her too hard." "Lusted . . . or loved?" Iris asked quietly. Slade looked at her, then up at the sky. "I believe I loved her. But I am sure I don't feel anything for her anymore." "It shows how good of a guy you are that you didn't listen to anyone's warnings about Ebony," Iris said, putting her hand over his. "You didn't take someone else's opinion of someone, and found out for yourself. God knows I'm sorry about what happened to Ruby. I know it is something you will always remember. But it is Ebony who will never forget it. She is the one who hurt her, not you."
"She killed her," Slade said. Iris nodded. "I believe she did it with the intent on killing the baby Ruby carried, not to kill Ruby herself. Is that what you believe?" Slade shrugged. "I don't know," he told her. "But intending on killing an unborn baby is just as bad. It was still a life she wanted to take." "I agree," Iris said. "Life is precious. That is why we don't allow abortions here on Genesis." Slade looked interested. "Could you perform them, even if you did allow it?" Iris nodded. "Yes. Our Healers know of herbs that can abort babies. But it isn't allowed."
Slade looked back down on the ground. "This is a good place you have here," he said. Iris smiled. "I like to think so. We've worked hard enough for it." "I don't think I can stay," Slade said quietly. "I understand. What will you do?" Iris asked. "Go back to the mainland," he answered. "Find my destiny." "You are always welcome to return if you wish," Iris told him. He smiled at her and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Thanks. I'll remember that. And . . . don't worry about me. I won't hurt Ebony." "I hope you won't. You don't want that on your conscience," Iris said soberly.
Several hours later, Slade said his goodbyes and left the island. Ebony locked herself in her room.