Chapter Thirty Nine: Silence is Red

Conor was dreaming of his family. He hugged his mom, dad, and sister as tight as he could. He remembered though they didn’t have the strongest relationship, they all still loved each other. He ran in the tall grass with them. Suddenly the sun was gone. Clouds hovered above them and he was afraid. The happy faces on his loved ones turned into sinister bloody thirsty ones. They marched slowly towards him. He pleaded with them to stop and return to their normal selves but all they would chant is Ximendos’ name. Conor ran and he ran. He stopped suddenly because the ground in front of him fell creating a cliff in its destruction. Conor wondered what would happen next. Would his death be by the hands of his family or by the fall from jumping off? Conor looked down the black void and lifted one foot to jump. He felt a sudden wave of happiness pass through his body and then a warm feeling on his neck.
Suri
Conor?
Conor’s eyes opened suddenly by the voice of Suri.
Conor
Oh my God, thank you!
He hugged her.
Suri
You’re welcome?
She patted his back and then he retreated.
Suri
Can you be any odder?
Conor
I was having a nightmare. You woke me up and so I am grateful. A hug is not odd!
Suri packed a few things in a backpack that she thought they’d need.
Conor
Why are you packing?
Suri
We’re leaving.
Conor
We are? We just got here!
Suri
Yes, and now we’re leaving.
Conor stood up and began to put his pants on while Suri was turned the other way.
Conor
Why? This seems like a safe place to be.
Suri
We aren’t looking for safe right now.
Conor
Well why the hell not?
Suri
Because Arkain isn’t in a safe place.
Conor was caught off guard and almost choked on his tongue.
Conor
I thought Hayden was going to bring him back.
Suri was done packing.
Suri
He was, but he didn’t. So now we’re off to go get him ourselves.
Conor
Are you sure that’s a good idea?
Suri
I don’t really care. The only thing on my mind is finding Arkain and Emmylou’s father.
Conor
Emmylou’s father? Where is he?
Suri
He’s inside the Solace Empire’s land. She was the one who proposed this plan.
Conor
Saying “Let’s go save our dad and friend!” isn’t really a plan.
Suri
Well it’s all we have. Are you coming or not?
Conor
I didn’t think I had a choice.
Suri
You can stay if you’d like. I won’t hold it against you.
She put her hand on his shoulder.
Suri
You are right, this is a safe place to be. I’d much rather you stay here honestly. I know we haven’t known each other for long, but I really do care about you. If you came and something happened to you, I don’t know what I’d do or think. So for that reason, if you want to stay, you can. It might be better.
Conor grabbed his sweater.
Conor
Thanks, but I think I can manage. Anywhere you’re going, I am going too. Besides you guys need a male voice on this mission.
Suri smiled and they hugged. The door swung open and Emmylou stood there holding things.
Emmylou
Bad timing?
They back away from each other.
Suri
No, just a friendly hug.
Conor
Totally platonic.
Emmylou dropped the things on the bed.
Emmylou
Well all I could manage to get is two guns and thirty bullets.
Conor
Awesome! I always wanted to use a gun.
Emmylou was glad he was happy with this.
Emmylou
We have to leave now.
Suri
We’re ready.
Emmylou
Just follow me.
They turned out the lights and walked out swiftly through the base to their exit unaware of the person following them.

Akasha was in bed waiting for Ximendos. He walked into the room.
Ximendos
Ready for bed?
Akasha
Yes, my love.
Ximendos got into his half of the bed.
Akasha
My love, my king, my lord, is everything okay?
Ximendos
I am fine. Why do you ask?
Akasha
It is just; I have not seen you really smile in so long.
Ximendos turned the lamp off.
Ximendos
I smile all the time.
Akasha
Not the way you used to smile. Not the way you did when we met, when we fell in love, or when we had our children.
Ximendos
A smile is a smile, my dear.
Akasha
An empty smile is equivalent to nothing.
Ximendos closed his eyes.
Akasha
Are you ready for what is to come?
Ximendos
I am always ready.
Akasha
I love you.
Ximendos
I love you more, my Akasha.


Arkain
You can talk, but I can’t promise I will be listening.
Cameron
I’m more than sure you will want to.
Arkain looked up at the stars. For the first time in a while he was able to feel them.
Cameron
Arkain, we are not enemies.
Arkain
I think that’s for me to decide. You tried to kill me.
Cameron
But I didn’t.
Arkain
You could of!
Cameron
Could of, would of, should of, but I didn’t.
Velis
You should just be happy you’re alive!
Malic
Yeah!
Cameron stood up and faced them.
Cameron
I think it would be best if you both stood watch. We won’t be able to be here for long. It is necessary to make sure we aren’t found for the night.
Velis grabbed Cameron and kissed him. Malic walked away. They then parted ways.
Arkain
Do you love her?
Cameron
What?
Arkain
Do you love that woman?
Cameron
I don’t know.
Arkain
Strange.
Cameron
Arkain, I am no longer the monster you knew. My only objective is to stop the Solace Empire. That is all. The White Coats are no longer my sworn enemies.
Arkain
Why should I believe that?
Cameron
I just walked away from the most powerful empire in all of Earth’s history. I put a target on my head, Arkain. That isn’t something just anyone does. To be quite frank, they were going to kill me.
Arkain
Why?
Arkain was puzzled.
Cameron
That is irrelevant. What is important is we have the same enemy.
Arkain
Okay. So we’re not enemies. What now?
Cameron walked a little towards the ocean.
Cameron
It’s simple, you join me.
Arkain
Join you? You have to be shitting me.
Arkain looked down to where Cameron stood. He was now able to move his neck.
Cameron
Yes, join my New Order.
Arkain
Why would I do that? I am a White Coat.
Cameron
I see.
Cameron walked back towards Arkain.
Cameron
When you found out about your mothers death, did they tell you who killed her?
Arkain
Yes.
Cameron
Who did it, Arkain?
Arkain
They said you guys did.
Cameron
They lied. They told you a lie in order to twist you into their agenda. They made you think we did it so you’d be fired up enough to come for our heads.
Arkain didn’t understand what he was saying.
Cameron
The White Coats have been using you. Something I’d never do. If you join me, we’d both lead the new world together. We’d be unstoppable.
Arkain
Who killed my mother?
Cameron
We didn’t kill your mother.
Arkain
You said you know. Who killed my mother?
He felt his body coming back to him. He felt a sudden rage filling him.
Cameron
You know as well as I do, that truth hurts. What you don’t know is truth like this can kill.
Cameron leaned down to Arkain.
Cameron
Do you really want to know?
Arkain
Yes.
Cameron wanted to smile, but held it in. This was all going as planned.





Gemma stood on the palace wall looking towards the dark sky. She wished for a second she could see the stars. She wondered if they truly were beautiful. She felt like letting go of her tears and allowing them to fall down to the ground where her heart slept. A tear formed at the corner of her right eye. Arkain left her, again.
Krysin
(We will find him. He will be ours.)
Gemma tried to shut his voice out. She didn’t want to think about anyone other than Arkain. She couldn’t help but feel alone and hopeless with Arkain gone again. Her last chance to tell him the truth had burned up in the fire. Gemma was going to end it. She set her hands on the wall and climbed up.
Krysin
(This will not bring him back.)
Her life was now empty. She was ready to die.
Ilias
If you were wondering, they are beautiful.
Gemma turned suddenly to the entrance of the northern wall.
Ilias
Forgive my intrusion. Although I believe it was necessary.
Gemma
How did you know I was thinking that?
Gemma did not know how close she was to the edge.
Ilias
Lucky guess.
She looked his way.
Ilias
I take it you think I read your mind? I assure you that power is my sisters exclusively.
Gemma could not see him.
Krysin
(He is the enemy.)
Ilias
You are not standing on that to get a better look at the ground, are you?
Gemma turned away towards the edge.
Ilias
No, no you’re not.
He walked two steps forward.
Krysin
(Tell him to back away!)
Ilias
Is death calling you already?
He took two more steps.
Ilias
Or are you calling it?
Gemma
Why do you care?
Ilias stopped.
Ilias
That is a very good question.
He put his hand on his chin.
Ilias
I was on my way to speak with you when I noticed you were not in your room. I figured I’d just have a word with you in the morning until I saw you here.
Gemma wondered why he’d want to speak with her.
Ilias
You are wondering why I’d want to speak with you.
Again Gemma wonder if he’d read her mind.
Ilias
Judging by your facial expression, you think I read your mind again, don’t you?
Gemma nodded.
Ilias
Oh Gemma, you do not understand me.
He put his back against the wall.
Krysin
(Don’t listen to him Gemma. He wants to kill us.)
Ilias
Unfortunately for myself, I don’t understand you either.
He flipped his hair.
Ilias
I am prideful in my ability to figure out someone within my first encounter with them.
Gemma was confused.
Ilias
I’ve met you and I can’t seem to put your puzzle together. I’ve never been in this kind of predicament and I find it to be rather tedious.
He stood up straight.
Krysin
(I can smell his blood.)
Ilias
If you were to die that would leave me here to wonder for the rest of my life.
Krysin
(I want his blood.)
He extended his hand towards her.
Ilias
Gemma, please take my hand.
Although Gemma could not see his hand she knew it was there.
Ilias
Death is not nor will it ever be the answer.
Gemma
Why should I trust you?
Krysin
(We have to get away from him.)
Ilias
Because I am your friend.
Gemma felt as if she had just been bashed in the head with a hammer.
Gemma
Friend?
Ilias
I’d like to think so. We’re not enemies and I hold no grudge towards you.
Krysin
(He is the enemy.)
Ilias lowered his hand.
Ilias
When I met you I put you under my control. You stabbed Arkain below his rib. While you have memory of doing it, you hold no memory as to why you would. That was my doing.
Gemma was afraid. Gemma began to feel hate towards him.
Krysin
(He made us hurt Arkain. He made us do it.)
Ilias
I made you forget you ever knew Arkain. What I didn’t do was force you to stab him.
Gemma was confused again.
Krysin
(He’s lying!)
Ilias
You stabbed Arkain yourself without my intervention. The reason was because you were told to do so. The reason why you felt no urge to stop was because you had no memory of Arkain.
He turned his back to her.
Ilias
I made you forget most of what you knew in order for you to live with us. I did it for one true reason though.
He walked towards the wall and look out towards the dark world.
Ilias
It wasn’t in order for you to kill Arkain. It wasn’t so you’d follow my every command.
Ilias turned and looked Gemma in the face.
Ilias
It was so I could silence the sorrow in your heart and the monster in your head.
Gemma felt as if all the air had left the world.
Ilias
My sister informed me of the other voice in your head. She also let me in on the pain you inflict on yourself because you murdered Arkain’s mother.
He took his eyes off of her.
Ilias
I don’t know what it was exactly that triggered my sudden interest in you. Was it because of your pain, your beauty, or your intriguing split head?
He walked away from the wall.
Ilias
I’d say it was all three together. I made the choice then to do what I had to do. I made your pain go away, your tears dry up, and that voice in your head silent.
Krysin
(He’s lying. Do not listen to him!)
Gemma
You did that for me?
Ilias
Yes, for you.
Gemma
I don’t know what to say.
Ilias
You don’t have to say anything. You do owe me one thing though.
Gemma
And that is?
Ilias
I’d like you to take my hand.
He raised his hand again towards her. Gemma didn’t know what to do.
Krysin
(Do not fall for his words. He only wishes to silence us again!)
Gemma
I am afraid.
Ilias
Of what?
Gemma
You.
Krysin
(Run, you have to run!)
Ilias
You have no reason to be, my dear.
Gemma
You aren’t going to hurt me?
Ilias
Never.
Gemma
Promise?
Ilias
I promise.
Gemma reached for his hand.
Krysin
(No! You can’t do this Gemma!)
Ilias grabbed her hand gently. Gemma felt her cold hand in his warm one. She now stood in front of him below his height.
Ilias
Gemma, forgive me.
Krysin
(No! Gemma, please!)
Ilias moved his face in front of hers.
Krysin
(He’s going to kill us!)
Gemma
No, just you.
Ilias brought his face in as close as he could to look into her eyes without touching her.
Ilias
Silence.
Krysin’s voice was gone. Ilias moved back and stood up straight. Holding her hand he brought it up to his face and kissed it. Gemma blushed.
Ilias
They say silence is golden.
He let go of her hand.
Ilias
I don't think they've ever seen the color of your cheeks
He turned and began to walk towards the door.
Ilias
Off to bed. We have much to discuss in the morning, you and I.
Gemma
Do you have to kill Arkain?
Ilias stopped where he stood.
Ilias
Gemma, you must understand.
Gemma
Understand what?
Ilias
It is just business.
He was gone. Gemma fell to her knees and began to cry.