2. Medusalith Amaquelin (Part 1)
Their footsteps echoed down the hallway as Medusa and her younger sister, Crystal, walked the long stretch to the Throne Room, where King Agon and his wife, Queen Rynda stood stiffly. The grim expression on their faces as she approached unnerved her. Avoiding their gaze, she let her head drop as she gave Crystal a reassuring smile, hoping that it looked convincing enough to a five year old. When they finally came to a stop before the King and Queen, she bowed while making sure her sister did the same.
"Crystal and I received your summon and we made our way here the soonest we could." She could barely hide the tremble in her voice. She had a good idea of the reason for the summon. She had hardly seen her parents around the past few days, and there had also been whispers of what the two of them had been up to.
King Agon broke the silence first. "Medusalith…"
"Is this about my parents?" She knew she was being audacious, interrupting the King like that, but she would rather have them get straight to the point.
Rather than looking offended, Agon simply stated, "So, you have heard."
"What I've heard… It cannot be the truth," she replied indignantly, switching her gaze between Agon and Rynda, searching for any hint that they might be sharing similar thoughts as herself. She was met with indifference.
"Your parents are traitors," King Agon declared, his voice even. It was a simple statement, spoken with absolute authority. Medusa knew there was no argument to be made. Still, she tried.
"You're lying." It was a feeble attempt, she knew, and downright impudent. If she hadn't been family, she would have been restrained by now for disrespectful willfulness.
Queen Rynda finally spoke up. "They may have done what they thought was right. But they tried to lead a revolution against us."
A revolution? Her heart raced as she processed what this infraction of the law could mean for her parents. The confirmation of the rumours she'd been hearing hurt.
"And why your parents have been banished." The words of the King seemed oddly distant, and before she knew it, Medusa was running along corridor upon corridor, until she heard sobbing behind her.
"Crystal!" She cried out. Her sister's tear-stained cheeks and loud pants caused her own tears to spill. "I'm so sorry, Crystal." She brushed the tears off her sister's face and hastily wiped hers away when she realised they were now out of the palace and in public.
"What happened to Mother and Father?" Fresh tears were threatened to spill onto her sister's face again. Medusa hushed her gently, pulling her into a tight hug.
"They're being sent somewhere far away." She broke the embrace and stood up, hand still on Crystal's shoulder. Confusion spread on her little face. Medusa was well-aware of the stares they were attracting, but she ignored them and focused on her sister.
"Don't worry Crystal. You're going to be okay. Even though it's just you and me now." She had meant to reassure her sister, but deep down she knew it was just as much meant for herself.
"How?" Her sister asked. Medusa wondered how much Crystal understood of their situation. "Will we see Mother and Father again?"
"We won't." She did not want to lie to her sister. "But you have me." She grasped Crystal's little hand tightly, the weight of it suddenly burdensome and daunting. She now had to be responsible for someone else's life other than herself. "We are all we need."
That night, she settled Crystal down to sleep before she broke down, finally able to do so away from prying eyes. Disconsolate, she left her living quarters and headed out aimlessly. Along the way, she bumped into Maximus. There was mutual surprise for both of them, being out this late at night. He must have noted her red and puffy eyes as he did a double take.
"Are you okay?"
Medusa kept her head low, feeling slightly embarrassed that she had been seen in this manner. Maximus shifted his weight from side to side uncomfortably. Medusa guessed he was trying to be tactful.
"I've heard… about what happened to your parents."
Medusa shook her head. "I don't want to talk about this now, Prince Maximus." Then, realising she was being a little harsh on him for being concerned, she added, "I just can't believe they are gone. I'm not even sure what I'm feeling now -this sadness, and… anger. They won't even be around for my terrigenesis in a couple of weeks."
Maximus gave a jerk of his head to suggest they continue their walk along the myriad of corridors in the royal residence. They walked in step, a comfortable silence gradually settling in.
"I'm not even supposed to know this…" Maximus seemed to consider his next words carefully. "Much less talk about it." He looked pointedly at Medusa. She shot him a questioning glance back.
Maximus looked straight ahead to avoid her curious gaze before continuing."Your parents… They were supposed to be executed in public for treason."
Medusa froze. Executed for treason? But King Agon had said that they were banished… The words sunk in and she glared at Maximus, who was now a couple of steps ahead of her.
"How..?"
"The palace walls have ears," he answered vaguely. "My parents… They fought hard with the Council for leniency with regards to your parents. As you know, treason in Attilan is punishable by death, and - "
"Royal blood does not protect one against that sentence," Medusa recited the edict. Maximus nodded.
"I'm not just telling you this because I don't want you to put the blame on my parents. I just want you to know the full picture. There were many variables that ultimately led to this unfortunate consequence that has befallen your parents."
The next week passed in a blur. Crystal woke every morning, crying for their parents. Medusa tried her best to console and talk to her as she imagined their mother would. Every morning, she would braid Crystal's hair before they attended their private lessons, just like how their mother used to do. At night, she brushed her sister's hair and sang her the lullaby they had listened to every night since birth.
"I could brush your hair," Crystal remarked one night while Medusa was combing through her hair.
"Well, do you know how?" Medusa smiled. Crystal turned around to face her. "I can try," she replied earnestly. Medusa laughed. "It's okay, Crystal. I'm too old for that anyway."
"Oh." Her sister frowned and turned away again. "But Mother used to brush your hair every night."
Medusa sighed. "Well, Mother is not around now. So I - or rather, we, have to grow up."
"Can I come for your terr-uh… terr-uh-gen thing tomorrow?" Crystal asked after a moment of silence.
"It's terr-i-ge-ne-sis," Medusa corrected her. "And no, you can't. You're too young to go alone." She tapped on her sister's head with the brush to let her know she was done. Crystal turned around immediately, looking at her with pleading eyes.
"It's not working!" Medusa commented while setting the brush down by the bedside table. "You will see me after that, I'll come back as soon as I can. Promise."
Crystal pouted. "If I can't go, then can I brush your hair? Please? Just the tangles. I promise to be gentle like Mother. " Medusa narrowed her eyes at her sister, before reaching for the brush and handing it over to her. A grin broke on Crystal's face. "Maybe the terr-uh-gen thing will give you nice hair without tangles?"
Medusa half-suppressed a snort. "What sort of power is that?"
Crystal started giggling, and Medusa joined in. She was nervous about the next day, but she could not let that side of her show when she was with Crystal. She wondered what happened to the Princes after their Terrigenesis a couple of days ago. Her parents and herself had been invited to the ceremony but she had declined after what had happened to her parents. Besides, she couldn't leave Crystal alone. She closed her eyes and imagined that it was her mother who was combing through her hair and tried to relax. Everything will be fine, she told herself.