Chapter Seven
"Great work, Gorgon!" Triton snapped. "Now we're all in trouble!"
The three boys were in Karnak's room, having been told to stay there while the adults talked. Korath, Milena, Mander and Azur were deep in conversation downstairs- the hum of voices could be heard, though no words were discernable.
Gorgon glared at his cousin. "What, it's my fault I lost my balance, and Rynda heard me?"
"No, but it is your fault that you can't control your temper! Yelling at Lady Ambur like that... what business is it of yours?"
"Something is clearly wrong when the youngest person in the room is being the most responsible." Karnak input dryly. "Didn't either of you two notice the oddity with today's events?"
They both shook their heads. "What?"
"Well, we were told Maximus wasn't with us because he was unwell, but when we went to the medical wing to see Medusa, I didn't see any sign of him, did you?" Looks of worry spread on Gorgon and Triton's faces. Triton swallowed. "You don't think something's happened to him, do you?"
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Agon and Rynda had been examining the results of the tests Agon had subtly taken while treating Medusalith's injuries, when word was sent to them that Banth had recovered enough to be questioned. They went straight to the cell where the man was being held, and found Quelin and Ambur already there.
Agon raised an eyebrow. "I didn't expect you two to attend this interrogation..."
"We want to hear what he has to say." Quelin said firmly.
Agon nodded, ceding the point. "Where's Crystalia?"
"With Medusalith and Blackagar, for now."
Rynda's brow arched. "Why let her have more time when she will never keep the child?"
"For the sake of appearances. It would be viewed as odd if she never minded her sister." Quelin looked at the king and queen quizzically. "Do you intend to confront Banth without any guards?"
"He is unarmed, and I imagine that whatever he has to say will be related to Medusalith. The less people who hear it, the better." Agon stated before opening the door decisively and marching inside. Rynda, Quelin and Ambur followed silently. Banth was sitting on a bench, his wrists and ankles encased in glowing manacles formed of energy. He looked up and grinned when he saw his visitors.
"What an honour it is to be visited by the king and queen! And my little slut's parents have decided to join us as well! My, my, aren't I special?"
Quelin made a sudden move towards Banth, furious, but a glare from Agon stopped him. The king glared coldly down at the prisoner.
"This is an interrogation, and you will only speak when spoken to, is that clear?"
Banth smiled nonchalantly. "Crystal clear."
Agon gritted his teeth at the implied slight, but continued staring impassively. "What did you hope to accomplish by breaking into the palace?"
"Do you really think I'm going to tell you that?" Banth sneered. "I'd like to know exactly what that little whore did to ruin my plan, though..."
"Medusalith is no longer your concern," Ambur told him coldly.
Banth chuckled. "You are everything she told me you were. Cold. Distant. Nothing she ever did was good enough for you, was it? She was just that disappointment that would never amount to anything, the usless child you wish you never gave birth to."
Ambur went white. "What?!"
"Is it any wonder that she came to me and let me do what I wanted, begged for my kisses, in exchange for a few kind words? In exchange for me telling her that she was beautiful... But I thank you for that. She is an useless child, except for the aspect of her body-"
"How dare you?!" Ambur half screeched. Banth just laughed. Quelin clasped Ambur's shoulder in warning.
"Your son is a lucky boy," the prisoner continued to Rynda and Agon. "She's inexperienced but time will make up for that."
"Enough!" Rynda shouted. "The point of this is that you tell us who else is involved in this rebellion of yours. None of us want to hear anything else. Especially not your twisted ideas!"
"I'll talk to my slut." The four blinked in surprise. "I'll tell her everything."
Agon shook his head in disbelief. "You must be delusional. You think we're going to let her anywhere near you after you tried to kill her?"
"She wasn't my target. You were. But if you want to know, you'll have to find out from Medusalith after I tell her."
"Out of the question."
"Then I suppose you're not going to learn anything from me." Banth leaned back, smirking. One of these lot will change their mind...
"If you hurt her again, I will kill you," Ambur promised him coldly.
Agon looked straight at her. "Ambur, this is not a good idea. Medusalith is not old enough to be included in this sort of thing." Not to mention I'm actually concerned about what effect it might have on her, though I have no idea why... He reasoned that his concern was because he did not want to quarrel with Blackagar anymore.
Rynda looked thoughtful. "To be fair, Agon, the girl involved herself in this. It's only fitting that she make herself useful now."
Agon looked at Quelin. The other man shrugged.
"It can't do much harm, as long as he's restrained, and the room guarded. Let's see if she agrees first though." The king sighed as they filed out of the room. He didn't miss Banth's grin- it looked oddly triumphant...
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Crystal lay on Medusa's hospital bed, surrounded by pillows to stop her rolling over and falling. Medusa and Black Bolt were watching her as if she was the centre of their world. Both were smiling. Black Bolt's hand was twined with Medusa's again. Crystal was cooing and moving her arms around languidly, perfectly content to have all the attention. Every time her chubby hands moved in front of her face, she stared wide eyed.
I don't think she knows they're her hands. Black Bolt's thought was edged with humour.
Medusa laughed. "I wonder what she thinks they are?" She slipped her index finger inside the baby's hand, and it closed around it, as it always did. Black Bolt stroked the golden hair again, before gently caressing Crystal's cheek. She gurgled, looking straight at him, and smiled. Medusa's happy smile faded. "We could be a family, couldn't we?" If only our parents would let us... She let Crystal chomp on her finger. "I wish..."
Black Bolt's eyes were sad. He knew what she was going to say, and wished there was some way it could happen. The moment was broken by their parents walking into the room. Black Bolt stood immediately, but everyone's attention seemed to be on Medusa. She bit her lip nervously. Agon wouldn't meet her eyes. He spoke hesitantly.
"Medusalith... we've just been questioning Banth."
She went pale. What's he told them now?
The king continued, sighing. "He says he'll only speak to you, alone."
Medusa visibly began trembling. Black Bolt shook his head vehemently.
Rynda looked straight at Medusa. "I understand you might not want to, but we need answers."
Medusa took several deep breaths, holding Black Bolt's eyes for a long minute before standing and wordlessly handing Crystal to Ambur. Black Bolt was scowling, plainly not happy, but Medusa spoke bravely. "Alright."
Agon's heart sank. He'd actually been hoping she would refuse... this would be incredibly difficult for her. He had to admire her courage though.
"At least one of us will be just outside the entire time, and he will be in restraints. I'll tell you what to ask, to make it easier, and you can leave whenever you want." He paused for a minute. "Thank you for doing this."
She nodded, though she was still pale. Heavy-hearted, he led the way back to Banth's cell, not surprised to see Blackagar following. He looked furious, and Agon knew he hadn't heard the last of this. Rynda walked just behind him, followed by Quelin and Ambur, though neither of them said a word to Medusa. Agon told her explicitly what he wanted to know as they walked, and when they reached Banth's cell, the girl took a deep breath, obviously steeling herself, and stepped inside. Agon closed the door behind her, his face grim. Now we wait.
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Banth smiled at Medusa. "Feeling better, my little slut?"
Medusa shuddered. "Tell me-"
"Come sit on my lap." He held his arms out the best he could.
"No!"
"Then you won't learn anything from me."
Medusa wrapped her arms around herself. "You said you wanted to talk to me!"
"I do. And I will. Once you do as I say." Banth's voice became persuasive, gentle. "Come on, you didn't used to mind me holding you..."
"I was a lot more naïve back then," she replied. "And that was before..."
"Didn't you like what I did? You should have stopped me then."
"I told you to. You wouldn't listen."
"You didn't fight me. If you hadn't wanted it, you would have found a way to stop me."
"I didn't want it!"
His eyes darkened. "If you didn't want it, you shouldn't have encouraged me so much."
"I didn't!" Did I...?
Banth laughed. "Stupid, stupid girl. What else would you call it? Now if you want information for your king, come sit on my lap!" She froze, unsure. She had been told to get information, but every instinct she had screamed at her not to go near him. If she didn't get answers, Agon and Rynda might think her loyalties were in doubt, but if they were watching, and saw her going to him, the same thing would happen! She wrung her hands, uncertain. What should I do?
Banth raised an eyebrow. "Well?"
"You'll hurt me."
"No, I won't. See? All chained up."
Swallowing hard, Medusa compromised, moving to sit beside him rather than on his lap.
"Did I tell you to sit there?" Banth snickered, patting his knee.
She shook her head. Banth reached over and pulled her onto his lap. "There. Now we can talk."
Medusa was tense as a wire, her heart racing. This felt so wrong now...
"Why did you want to break into the palace?"
Banth chuckled. "That's going to cost more than a cuddle, sweetheart."
Medusa tensed. "I'm not doing anything else..."
"Then I'm not talking." Medusa wrung her hands. Now what?
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Maximus blinked blearily as the sedative drugs wore off, allowing him full consciousness again. Where was he? He looked around. He was in a sparsely decorated room, definitely not his... what had happened? He struggled to remember... he'd been talking to Medusa, trying to make her remember that she loved him, then somehow, there had been demons everywhere, visible only to him for some reason, and... he couldn't remember anything after that. He sat up, groggy.
"Where am I?"
"Safe," a man's voice said. Maximus turned to see a man standing in a shadowy corner.
"Father?"
"No, young prince, the king is not here right now."
Maximus tried to sit up, only to find his hands were in restraints. "What is this?!"
"Your parents have requested you be placed on our care indefinitely, Maximus. We have been told you experienced a disturbing hallucination earlier, and actually caused harm to the queen. You are here to be treated."
Maximus blinked rapidly. "Attacked... I didn't..." The demon that had Mother's voice. Could it really have been...?
"It doesn't matter what you believe happened, my prince. You are here to receive help."
"You're the Pacifiers, aren't you?" Maximus shuddered. The group of psychically powered healers who treated ailments of the mind were well-known in Attilan- and feared. "What if I don't want help?"
"That decision is not yours to make. We will begin our work to heal you immediately." The man stepped out of the shadows, and was joined by several other visibly non-human people in healers' garments. Maximus struggled against the restraints to no avail. He could feel them diggging into his mind, viewing all his memories... and suddenly, the sense he always had of his powers faded. His ability was locked away from him. He would no longer be able to manipulate others. A wave of hate spread over him- hate of the Pacifiers, and of his parents for doing this to him. I will get my powers back someday, and make them ALL regret what they've done to me...