THE DEMON'S LEGACY
Chapter 6
A sunny morning brightened the small dining room where Bane, Talia, and Henri ate breakfast. Because Bane and Talia had slept late after their night of lovemaking, it was already too hot to eat on the veranda. Talia preferred to eat indoors with Henri because, outside, the child was too easily distracted from his meal by the call of birds or the sound of voices in the courtyard below, an entire world beckoning his adventurous little mind. Also, the boy would attempt to climb the ornate veranda railing and risk a fall to his death if he was not watched every second.
Henri, finished with his meal, though he had not eaten everything on his plate, seemed momentarily deep within his imagination. Two small, plastic dinosaurs—t-rexes—kept him occupied as he made them fight on the table, complete with varied roars and screams. Bane looked up from his newspaper to see Talia watching their son, lost in thought, her brow furrowed, one hand to her mouth as she absently chewed her fingernails. Bane frowned. He would not allow her to change her mind on leaving, though he could see that was exactly what was in her eyes.
A quiet knock against the open door drew his attention to Yemi's arrival.
"Good morning," the Nigerian said. "Please excuse the intrusion."
"What is it, Yemi?" Bane asked.
"We will be ready to leave for the airstrip within the hour. Is that acceptable?"
Talia's stricken gaze went from Yemi to Bane. "I…I'm not packed. I haven't talked to Jiddah. I need more time."
Patiently, Bane said to Yemi, "Ninety minutes."
"Very well," Yemi said and slipped away.
Henri all too well knew the dreaded phrase "leave for the airstrip." The dinosaurs froze in his grip as he looked to his father, worry widening his eyes. "Papa Baba go?"
"Do not fear, my cub. I am not leaving you. I promised, did I not?"
Henri smiled, all right with the world again, and went back to his dinosaurs' fight to the death.
The very fact that Henri never considered that it was his mother who was bound for the airstrip gave Bane's heart a twist. He dreaded the boy's reaction when told the truth.
"Bane," Talia said. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all."
"I asked you to trust me, habibati."
"You know I do. But, last night, yesterday…I was just tired and frustrated. Maybe I shouldn't have said some of the things I said. Things will be better now that you're home. I'm sure of it."
"So am I, my dear. And that is why we must stick to the plan." He reached for her hand before she could say anything more, but her attention was glued to Henri. "It's for the best. You will see, once you are there." He leaned over to kiss her cheek and whisper into her ear, "Now, why don't you pack and talk to your grandmother while I entertain our cub? Then we will come to say good-bye."
Talia gave him one last beseeching, conflicted look before obeying. She kissed Henri's cheek on the way out, but he protested, "Mama!" for breaking his concentration from his toys.
Bane pushed his chair back. "Come now, dinosaur king. You have as much food on you as in your stomach. Let us remove those pajamas and take a quick dunk in the pool before a shower."
Henri beamed. "The big pool, Papa Baba?" he asked, referring to the Olympic-size swimming pool downstairs.
"No, the spa this time." He lifted the child from his chair. "We shall go to the big pool this afternoon, if you are good."
"I'm always good, Papa Baba."
"Hmmm. That is up for debate, little one. But hold onto your dinosaurs. They may enjoy a swim as well."
In the windowless spa, Bane turned all the lights on, adding illumination to the muted lights already shining in the twelve-meter by seven-meter pool. He still carried Henri, who was already squirming in anticipation. He knew better than to free the child because the boy was apt to leap into the water with his pajamas still on.
"Patience, my little worm," Bane said as he lumbered over to the steps that led into the pool.
"Turn bubbles on, Papa Baba!"
"No, we are not going to be here long enough to bother with the jets. We must take a shower afterwards and get dressed."
Bane set Henri down but held onto him.
"Hurry!" Henri threw the dinosaurs into the water.
"What did I just say about patience, Jin?" he said firmly, momentarily halting the boy's wiggling. "Do you want to play in the water or not?"
"Yes, please."
"Then hold still while I undress you."
"You swim, too?"
"Yes, I will come in with you."
As soon as he was free of his pajamas, Henri squealed with joy, and instead of using the steps into the pool, he squirted away from his father and leapt into the water from the side. He came up sputtering happily and proceeded to dogpaddle the length of the pool. Henri required no flotation devices like Bane knew so many of today's children used. Both he and Henri scoffed at such things, though Maysam often scolded Bane over his decision.
Stripped of his own clothes, Bane entered the pool, chuckling over his son's happy shouts. When Henri swam back to him, Bane knelt so the boy could clamber onto his back and ride his father like a sea serpent. The pool was only a little over a meter deep throughout, so Bane walked in a crouch more than swam. Now and then he would rear up out of the water and make sounds like a monster, drawing giggles from Henri. Other times he would submerge, Henri clinging around his neck, laughing underwater.
When Bane finally carried the boy out of the pool, Henri protested.
"Silence, little one. Here, take your dinosaurs. Let me dry you off a bit so you don't drip all the way down the hallway."
Bane reached for one of the immaculate white towels that lay folded on a teak bench against the near wall. Wrapping his son in one of them, he instructed the boy to sit on the bench while he used another towel to dry himself. Then he put Henri on his lap and sighed, considered the shimmering surface of the pool.
"When I was a little boy your age," he said, hugging his child, "there was a pool where I lived. It was a little bigger than this one, but it was not for swimming. It was for drinking and washing. But your mama was determined to swim in it." He chuckled at the memory, though at the time the prospect of Talia swimming in the pool and potentially revealing her true sex through her threadbare clothing had terrified him. "I had a devil of a time keeping her out of it for a while."
"Mama swim with us in the big pool today?"
Bane hid his frown from the boy and only grunted, noncommittal. "You must appreciate this spa and your big pool, Jin. You must appreciate everything. That means you must always be thankful. You must never think you will always have these wonderful things. Do you understand, little one?"
"Yes, Papa Baba," he said, though Bane knew he was too young to truly understand the significance.
"Not all children are as lucky as you. They live in poverty, not in palaces. They don't have enough to eat."
"Why not?"
"Because they don't have money. They were born into poor families, like I was. So you are a lucky boy." Bane secured the towel around his waist, then stood with Henri still in his arms. "And you must never forget how lucky you are, not just to have a beautiful home and all the food you can eat, but to have a mother and father and great-grandmother who love you dearly."
Henri made the plastic dinosaurs kiss Bane's cheeks. "I love you, too, Papa Baba."
"I know you do, my son. Now, let us take a quick shower, then we shall go see your mother."
The prospect of more aquatic fun made Henri smile. He clutched his toys as he and his father left their clothes behind for Hisham to gather later and wash.
###
"I think you should stay out of the village until Diya Panjabi's daughter is gone," Abrams said.
Maysam eyed him over her cup of tea as they sat on the veranda outside the salon. While the early heat made Abrams perspire, Maysam was impervious to its influence this early in the day when the veranda lay blanketed in shade. The diffused light made Abrams's brown eyes appear much darker, familiar lines of concern lowering his broad brow. To Maysam, there was something amusing about seeing such a rugged man so worried.
"Very well," Maysam said. "If you feel it wise."
"I do. I'll try to learn a bit more about this Nyssa woman today through our contacts. In the meantime, Davos will keep an eye on her."
"He will have a boring day. Diya's daughter will be tending her mother's wares in the bazaar again." She smoothed the deep tangerine silk of her blouse. "Well, Aaron, if you will forbid me from shopping locally, perhaps you will agree to take me to the Johari Bazaar in Jaipur. I'm sure Talia would love to come, too. I'd like to buy some things for John's baby, and Henri, of course."
"Until we learn whether Nyssa poses a threat, I think it's best if all of you stay here in the palace."
"How much of a threat can Nyssa pose to me in Jaipur, sitting here in the bazaar all day or at her mother's bedside?"
"Maybe none. But we don't know. If she's harmless, she'll probably be gone soon, then you'll be free again."
Maysam studied him. He held her gaze longer than usual but eventually looked away. He was so different from both Siddig and Barsad. Bold, forthright men, those two. With Abrams, everything was veiled except his inner strength; Maysam saw that clearly. Getting to know him was like peeling back the layers of an onion, yet his layers failed to peel away easily. She was determined to do it, though. He was a challenge, and she enjoyed the game. Maybe if she could get him away to Jaipur or Jodhpur, and if she went alone, maybe he would feel less inhibited by the palace presence of Bane, Barsad, and the others. Perhaps he was more concerned with insulting them than with shocking her with an advance.
Maysam's cell phone on the tea table between them sounded a small chime to notify her of a text message. She frowned at the timing and almost ignored it, but she never did because of her great-grandson's presence in her home.
"Do you agree to stay within the palace?" Abrams pressed.
With a sardonic smile, she reached for the phone and said, "Will my jailer at least allow me to go outside, as long as I stay within the compound?"
A lopsided smile managed to enliven Abrams's gaze as he got to his feet. "That's fine. But I'll have you watched to make sure you stick to the agreement."
"Just make sure I don't notice the guards," she teased. "At least give me the illusion of freedom on my own property."
Abrams gave a slight snort, followed by a brief bow of his head before turning to enter the salon. Maysam's gaze lingered upon the rear of his military-style khaki pants. Abrams worked out every day in the gym, and it showed. She appreciated his effort.
Maysam read Talia's text: Can you come to my room right away?
On my way, Maysam quickly replied. What had Henri done now?
When she reached Talia's suite, she found her granddaughter pacing beside her bed where a suitcase lay, packed but still open. They were alone in the room, yet Maysam could hear Henri's laughter from down the hallway, answered by the deep tones of Bane's voice.
"Where are you going?" Maysam asked, immediately worried by her granddaughter's agitated state. "Is something wrong? You didn't mention—"
"It's Bane's idea."
"What is?"
"Going away." Talia gestured to the luggage.
Maysam saw only one suitcase. "You are going away?"
"Bane thinks I should. He says I need to get away."
"For how long?"
"Two weeks."
"By yourself?"
"I will have protection, but, yes, just me. Bane is staying with Henri. He thinks it'll be good for Henri to be without his mother for a while. He thinks it might help improve Henri's behavior."
Maysam hesitated, collected herself. Before Bane's last mission, he had spoken to her about Talia's need of a break from motherhood, so Talia leaving now did not take Maysam by complete surprise, only the abruptness of it.
"Where will you go?"
"Chateau Blanc."
Maysam reached for her granddaughter's hands to stop her from pacing. "Hafida, Haris knows what's best for you. And I must say I agree with him. You need a break, not just from Henri but from here. You have been a caged bird for so long now."
"But Henri—"
"He will put up a fuss, but he must learn independence."
"I don't want him to feel abandoned."
"Abandoned?" Maysam tsked. "He will have me and his father, as well as Barsad and—"
"I know, but… I mean, I know how I felt when my mother was suddenly taken from me."
"Hafida, it's not the same."
"But to him it might be. Even after all these years, Jiddah, I remember what that felt like, how terrifying and heartbreaking it was to be with my mother one minute, then to lose her the next."
Maysam hugged her, the memory of her daughter's death as painful now as it had been so many years ago. "Henri is strong. After he cries for a while, he'll be distracted by playing with his father, and before he knows it, you will be back." She held Talia at arm's length, crushed by the sheen of tears in those gorgeous blue eyes, and forced a smile. "It will be hard the first couple of days for you, but then you will enjoy yourself and be glad that you went."
Talia frowned, but her lack of response told Maysam that her granddaughter knew she was right.
###
Bane finished dressing Henri in cargo shorts and a gray t-shirt, and as soon as he let go of the boy, Henri bolted out of his bedroom and sprinted down the hall, calling to his mother. As quickly as he could, Bane followed.
"Jiddah!" the boy cried in surprise.
Maysam swept the child into her arms and smothered him with kisses, making him giggle and struggle.
"Good morning," Bane said.
"Good morning, Haris."
"It appears Talia told you the news."
"Yes, and I think it's a wonderful idea."
Henri paid no heed to the luggage, which now lay closed upon the bed. A suitcase signified nothing to him; when Bane left on League business, he carried only a pack. Neither did the child notice his mother's anxiety.
"Henri," Bane said as he crossed the room and settled in his leather massage recliner. "Come here, son."
Brimming with morning energy, Henri darted across the room and into his father's arms. Bane sat him on his lap just as Yemi rapped on the door and announced that Talia's car awaited.
"Go ahead, Yemi," Bane said. "She will be down shortly."
"Where we going, Mama?" Henri finally acknowledged Talia's presence.
"Henri." The serious tone of Bane's voice drew the boy's attention back. "We are going to have a little talk, you and I, so you must pay attention. Understand?"
"Yes, Papa Baba." Henri shot his mother one last glance before smiling at Bane.
He's expecting a scolding for something and is already trying to win leniency. Well, my cub, this will not work. Bane cleared his throat, felt Talia's unrest, hoped she would not fight him on this, especially in front of Henri.
"I understand that while I was away, you were a very naughty boy."
"Nuh-ah."
"Don't 'nuh-ah' me, young man. I know better. I have seen the proof."
Henri's smile vanished. His next tactic was false contrition, bowing his head and looking up at Bane from beneath his feathery soft, defined eyebrows.
"I have told you before, there are consequences to our actions. When you choose to be naughty, there is a price, a punishment."
"Mama spank me."
"Yes, I know she has, many times. But it seems to do little good because you keep being naughty, don't you?"
Now a hint of color reddened Henri's cheeks. "I sorry."
"Yes, I'm afraid you will be now, little cub. Because you have been so bad for so long, your mother is going away for a while."
"You come, too?"
Bane shook his head. "I'm staying here, and so are you."
"Why?"
"You have made your mother very tired and sad. She needs some time away, so she can rest and be happy again."
Henri began to squirm, looking to his mother, who had drawn closer and sat on the edge of the nearby sofa, her expression pained. "I go, Mama."
Talia started to speak, but Bane broke in before she could surrender. "No, Henri. You are staying here with me. Your mother's car is waiting, so say good-bye."
Henri stared from Bane to Talia and back, as if waiting for one of them to tell him that this was merely a ploy.
"I won't be gone long, baby," Talia said, her voice catching.
"Say good-bye," Bane said flatly, directed at both mother and son.
"I go with Mama."
"No." Bane patiently shook his head.
The tears came then, and Henri pushed away from Bane and ran to his mother, who folded him in her arms and kissed him.
"I go, Mama. I go."
Talia could no longer speak, eyes pressed shut against her tears. Maysam stood nearby, wringing her hands.
Bane allowed Henri to cling to his mother a moment longer, then stood and said, "Your mother must go now, son. Come here."
"No!" Henri clutched Talia with all four limbs.
"Bane…" Talia's eyes pleaded with him. "You've made your point with him—"
"No, my dear, he only wants you to believe that."
"He's just a baby."
"A very wily one. Now, Henri, let go of your mother."
Anger in the child's voice now. "No, Papa Baba! I go with Mama."
"Henri," Maysam intervened. "Listen to your father."
Henri buried his face in his mother's thick hair. "No!" He was trembling now.
Bane stepped over and snaked one arm between the boy and Talia. No matter how Henri tried to cling to her, screaming, he was no match for Bane. Henri turned his fury on his father, kicking and punching. Bane pinned the boy so tightly against him that the blows had very little range or effect.
"Go," he said stolidly to Talia. "Contact me when you arrive."
Talia wavered, staring at Henri and wiping at the tears on her cheeks.
"Go, habibati," Bane said over his son's shrieks.
Hisham was at the door now, and Maysam let him in so he could take Talia's suitcase. As Hisham left, Maysam put her arm around her granddaughter's shoulders.
"Come now, hafida. I will go with you to the airstrip."
"Let Abrams know," Bane said. "He will want to accompany you."
"Mama!" Henri sobbed over and over, his body vibrating with grief.
Maysam forcibly ushered Talia from the suite.
"Come, Jin," Bane said calmly. "You may wave good-bye from the veranda."
"No! Wanna go with Mama!"
Bane leisurely made his way to the veranda, swaying slightly in an effort to succor the boy. Once in the shade outside, he looked over the railing to see a white SUV waiting below, armed men standing around it. Hisham was putting Talia's suitcase in the back.
"Show your mother how brave you are, Jin. Stop your crying. Here…look down. There is her car. You will see her any minute now, and she will look up to see her. Let us dry your tears and show her a brave face."
"Wanna go," Henri pouted.
"Yes, but that is not happening, so here…" He loosened his hold on the child and turned him to ride on his hip. "Look down."
No longer struggling, Henri dragged his forearm across his snot-glued nose. Bane saw a light of hope spark in the boy's eyes. Bane made sure his grip was secure in case Henri planned to jump down to his mother.
"There she is," Bane said.
"Mama!" Henri cried forlornly.
Talia looked up, wearing sunglasses and a dark mustard-colored hijab.
"Don't go, Mama! I be good. I promise."
Talia lifted her hand but words failed her.
"Don't go!" Henri called, tears coming fresh. He reached for the railing, but Bane kept a tight hold. "I be good!"
Maysam gently turned Talia to the vehicle, and at last they climbed in. Abrams rushed out of the palace, appearing confused and harried. Hearing Henri's shouts, he looked up to the veranda. Bane nodded. With a frown that reflected Abrams's dislike for unexpected changes in Maysam's agenda, he got into the SUV with Yemi. The closing of the door ramped up Henri's anxiety, and his protests grew hoarse and louder. As the vehicle pulled away, the boy could no longer form words, only quivering sobs. He was too stricken to fight against his father as Bane drew him close and watched Talia's SUV leave the courtyard in a swirl of dust.