Chapter Nine
Black Bolt sat beside Medusa's bed, watching her carefully. She was sound asleep, and somehow looked far more fragile than she had before.
A knock on the door made him look up. Gorgon stood in the doorway. Black Bolt motioned for him to come in and he did so hesitantly.
"Is she alright?" Gorgon eyed Medusa's sleeping form worriedly. "She's so pale..."
Black Bolt nodded, pillowing his hands against his face to indicate she was just asleep. He pressed a finger to his lips as Karnak and Triton joined Gorgon- he didn't want her woken yet!
"She's very brave," Gorgon murmured. There were nods all around.
Karnak looked up at Black Bolt. "I know you probably don't want to be pestered right now, but... has anyone seen Maximus? We've noticed he hasn't been around for a while..."
Black Bolt frowned. He of course knew that Maximus was 'staying elsewhere', according to Agon, but was unsure on whether he should tell his cousins that. He lifted his shoulders.
"It wouldn't surprise me if he's finally snapped," Gorgon said angrily. "He's probably locked away somewhere."
"Gorgon!" Triton sounded horrified. He looked apologetically at Black Bolt. "Sorry about that. Gorgon and Maximus have never really gottten along..."
"But it makes sense," Karnak offered tentatively. "Maximus is unstable, and he's only gotten worse."
Black Bolt looked thoughtful- could that be what had happened? He didn't think Maximus was that bad, but, he admitted to himself, he didn't really know him...
The silence was broken by Medusa murmuring, turning her head back and forth quickly in her sleep. Her eyes roamed under her eyelids, and she began breathing faster.
"What-"
"Is she having a nightmare?"
Black Bolt gestured at his cousins to keep back, while he tried to wake her, touching her shoulder gently.
"No," she whimpered. "Stop!"
Black Bolt frowned, shaking her gently, hoping to rouse her.
"No.. please, not Crystal... Banth, stop!"
Medusa, it's okay, you're safe, he sent into her mind.
Her eyes flickered. Blackagar?
I'm here. You're safe.
She opened her eyes, looking more vulnerable than he'd ever seen. Tears ran down her face, and she was trembling. "I- I thought-"
Ssh. It was just a dream.
"I didn't love him," she whispered.
I know, it's alright. He gestured behind his back for his cousins to leave. They did so quickly, perhaps guessing that this was a private moment.
Medusa's green eyes locked on his. "Are you going to leave me?"
Never. He promised.
She clung to his hand, still looking frightened. "Everyone else has..."
He pressed his lips to her forehead gently. I'm not going anywhere.
Medusa squeezed his hand and her eyes drifted shut again. He watched her sleep for a while. A clearing throat alerted him that he had an audience. He turned to see his father, and he stood and bowed out of habit.
"No need for that, Blackagar, this isn't a formal occasion." Agon looked at Medusa. "Has she woken yet?"
Black Bolt searched for writing utensils. Briefly, after a nightmare. Not since.
"A nightmare? About what?"
I don't think she'd want me to tell you.
Agon raised a brow. "And if I ordered you to?"
Are you going to?
"...No. I would have thought you'd trust me, though..."
The look on Black Bolt's face was ancient, haunted. Would you trust the person who stole your only chance at a normal life before you were even born? He held Agon's gaze, wanting to see his father's reaction- he had been hiding these feelings for a long time, and was tired of it.
Agon had no idea what to say. He stared at the floor for a long minute, thinking. Black Bolt shook his head again when no reply was forthcoming, and returned to sitting beside Medusa, not looking at his father. After a few minutes, Agon walked away, shoulders slumped, eyes on the ground.
When did my son and I become strangers?
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Gorgon slipped into the room where Karnak and Triton's mother paced angrily. Azur didn't see him until he cleared his throat.
"Yes, Gorgon, what do you want?"
"Ambur isn't going to let Medusa have Crystal back, is she?"
Azur blinked rapidly. "How do you know about that?"
Gorgon shrugged. "I hear things. I'm right, aren't I?"
Azur nodded sadly.
"I have an idea... Medusa deserves to at least see her!"
Azur looked at her 'nephew' wearily. "Look, I agree with you, but I have no power to alter the king and queen's decision, no matter how much I know I should. What do you think you can do?"
"Me, nothing, but you could take Crystal. You have much better access to educational facilities and you're richer. You could hire tutors. That will be a good enough excuse, won't it?"
"I suppose... but Agon and Rynda will still restrict Medusa's time with her, even if my request is granted..." Azur thought for a minute. A girl, to raise as my own... and I could always say I want her to know her sister, hence why I would bring her to visit Medusa on a regular basis, that will settle any gossip... "I will discuss it with Mander tonight. But we did not have this conversation, understood?"
Gorgon nodded, looking relieved.
"You'd better go now," Azur warned. He left immediately, knowing he wasn't even supposed to be here- he was meant to be in a lesson right now! He darted off to join his cousins.
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Ambur bounced Crystal in exasperation, trying to get the infant to quiet. Quelin watched worriedly as the baby continued grizzling.
"What's wrong with her?"
"I don't know!"
"You're rocking her too hard."
"Then you put her to sleep!" Quelin took Crystal with a sigh. Her grizzling turned to full-on wailing as he shushed her.
"Maybe if she had her soother..." Ambur retrieved it, but Crystal spat it out as soon as she had it, crying harder. It seemed almost as if she was looking past Ambur, searching for someone else, Quelin mused, but stopped himself. She's only two months old, I mustn't let my imagination run away with me!
"She's just like Medusalith was!" Ambur said tiredly.
"Perhaps we should have given her to an orphanage..." Quelin sighed. "We're too old to go through all this again..."
"Too late to change it now."
"I know... I think we both forgot how much effort caring for an infant takes."
"Are we doing the right thing? Keeping her from Medusalith?"
Quelin nodded firmly to answer his wife's question. "Yes. She is far too young to give up her future for the child's sake. And I know you don't want to see her betrothal ended."
Ambur sighed. "Quelin... earlier, Prince Blackagar informed Rynda and I that he was willing to take the place of Crystalia's father. It doesn't all have to end..."
Quelin's jaw dropped. "What... why... It doesn't matter, anyway. Agon and Rynda will never allow it."
"I know, it's just... as angry with our daughter as I still am, I know how I'd have felt if someone took her from me in infancy... It feels wrong..."
"It's the only choice we have." A knock on the door distracted them from their discussion. Even Crystal stopped wailing briefly. Quelin went to see who it was.
"Azur," he greeted. "What are you doing here?"
Azur's face was resolute. "There's something we wished to discuss with you and Ambur." Only then did Quelin notice Mander standing behind her, face serious. He blinked, but nodded.
"Of course, come in." The two entered. Crystal started wailing again. Mander took his first good look at the child.
"She doesn't look much like Medusalith..."
"It's better that way." Ambur's eyes flashed.
Quelin glanced from Mander to Azur. "What did you need to speak with us about?"
Azur settled down on the sofa, her eyes steely. "You'll remember our last conversation, Ambur, about Crystalia's future?"
Ambur's face hardened. "What about it?"
Quelin glanced from his wife to his sister in law, then turned to Mander for an explanation.
Mander sat beside Azur, taking her hand. "You are aware, of course, that we often wished for another child, but were unsuccessful. Now, with this little one to consider, and taking into account that we can provide a richer life for her..."
"Spit it out." Ambur said scathingly.
"We're taking Crystalia," Azur said bluntly. "And you can either choose to explain it away by the fact that we have better resources and access to resources, or you can go through the lengthy court battle declaring you unfit guardians. But you won't like the outcome of that."
Ambur's jaw dropped. Quelin eyed the other couple thoughtfully.
"You're really willing to do this?"
"Yes."
"Well, that seems like a rather neat solution," Quelin said.
Ambur sighed. "You do have better care to offer the child..." She and her husband exchanged looks. "Take her now, if you're both certain." Ambur walked over to her sister and passed the baby into her arms.
Mander and Azur left quickly, Azur holding their new 'foster daughter.' The door closed behind them with finality.
Quelin exhaled heavily before turning to his wife. "You do realise that Agon and Rynda may object to this?"
Ambur sighed. "I know, but... at least this way, Medusalith won't be utterly excluded from the child's life. If that's all we can do..."
"Then it is for the best." Quelin completed, understanding.
"Yes. I am still livid with her for almost throwing her life away, but... she is still our daughter. Our contact with her may be restricted now, but that doesn't mean I don't care."
Quelin nodded solemnly. "I just hope she is able to find happiness in her new situation..."
"Happy or not, her life is as it is. She will adjust, either way. Everyone does. It's a part of growing up."