Chapter Thirteen
Brothers
Solomon stares down at his feet moving up the marble steps as he's dragged through the entrance of the Acropolis, his desire to live, long since drained from his soul. He welcomes death. It was death that took the only thing in his life that mattered to him, his mother. He openly sobs for her, longing to be with her again, as he's lead in front of the Corsair mob that now crowds the Great Hall.
Feeling their eyes follow him, he glances around at their satin black uniforms and greased hair. He's astounded by their tattoos, some completely covering their skin, as he notices Viceroy passing by, being lead away. Solomon then notices a tall man with long slicked-back blonde hair, sitting in Oriah's chair smirking at him. He can't help but to gaze at the piercing pale eyes that glint from the man's ink-blackened face.
"Now tell me boy, who is this Apollo Lex?"
Out of all the things Solomon expected, those were the last words he thought he would hear. He sneers at his captor with wonder. There was still something he had, something the man wanted. Apollo must be alive somewhere, and the maniacal Corsair leader couldn't find him. Solomon laughs to himself as he knows he would never give up his friend. He's also aware the worst Brutalius can do is kill him. This brings a vision to him of a joyful reunion with his mother, and his tears begin to curve around the fullness of his cheeks as his face morphs into mirthless laughter.
Spit flies from the boy's mouth, spreading across his subjugator's tattooed cheeks in a string of white globules. Solomon snickers, causing Brutalius to smash his fist hard into Solomon's jaw, sending him to the stone floor. With his hands tied behind him, it's impossible for Solomon to get to his feet. He can only thrash about, screaming hysterically in pain, as Brutalius repeatedly kicks him.
~
Apollo pushes the accelerator to the floor as he races off toward the walls of his beloved City. It's early morning and the sun has just cleared the horizon. He turns to the seat beside him and is perplexed by the sight. It's Antonia, not Grace, which is riding along beside him. He instantly looks in the backseat to discover it's empty. "Where's Grace and Paulus?" he asks. Antonia speaks to him but ignores his question, "Your dad sent me here to find you, Apollo. Don't worry; it's all a part of the plan." A content smile shows on her face and she turns back, staring straight ahead. He doesn't question her any further, but only hopes to get some answers once they get to Alcazar and maybe find his father. They continue on their trip, mostly in silence. The only sounds are from Antonia, impassively whispering her last phrase, "It's all a part of the plan."
When they arrive at the gate, Apollo is surprised that the guards just salute him with a clinched right fist over their chests, as they roll through the open doors with absolutely no interference. This causes him to look down at his clothes and discover he's dressed in a Corsair's officers uniform. He glances at Antonia but she only gives an assuring nod, pointing to the schoolhouse he used to attend, "Stop here. They are all inside."
Apollo doesn't exactly remember getting out of the truck, but the next thing he sees is a bunker of some sort. It's no doubt the one under the school because he instantly recognizes who he is looking at. The only three people left in this world he cares about are now knelt down in front of him. Sabrina, Viceroy and Grace look at him with wide, terrified eyes as if the expressions on their faces are pleading for their lives. Apollo can't move. He can only watch as a man in a long white robe walks up to the first prisoner, Viceroy. Apollo can't bring himself to look at the robed man's face as a blood-coated blade erupts out of his uncle's chest. The man pulls the blade back through with a jolt and his victim falls over in the floor. "It's all a part of the plan," he mutters and Apollo can't believe what he hears; that voice. It is his father's voice. He can finally see the man's face. It is Oriah. Apollo can only scream, as his father, who still holds the sword coated in his own brother's blood, moves over to Sabrina.
~
"Get him up!" Brutalius screams between heavy breaths as two guards snatch up the boy, jerking him to his feet. Blood spatters on the floor from Solomon's coughs. "And clean this up!" The Corsair leader stares down at the trembling, weakened teenager that struggles before him, "You will tell me everything, Solomon Jon."
"I know nothing! I know he's Oriah's son, and that's it! I don't know where he is or what he's doing! Just kill me! I'm no use to you!"
Brutalius leans down and his eyes shift intently into Solomon's, searching for any flaws in his sincerity. Then he begins to speak to young boy, "Oh but you are of value. He'll come for you, I'm sure of it. Don't play this game with me, boy." Solomon shakes his head in puzzling amusement, "He wouldn't come for me, and why are you looking for him anyway? You already have Alcazar. What are you afraid of?"
Blood sprays from Solomon's mouth again as the sharp pain shoots through his ribcage from another kick. Lying on the floor, death seems more painfully elusive than ever before, almost mocking him. "Please kill me," he utters. The reply that follows, gives the boy an ironic inkling of hope, but it also frustrates him.
"In due time Solomon."
Then suddenly, a warm, but strangely hollow feeling begins building in the pit of the boy's gut. His spine tingles as it rises, burning up through him. It floods his face, and he can feel it pulsate behind his eye sockets. Rage, Solomon thinks to himself as he realizes he's never felt like this before. Although growing up without a father, his mother worked hard to fill the void that would have existed in his life. She was more than good to him, and he was always content. But now, what once filled his being is gone. Her death left a cavity within him that was now being replenished with whatever fiery emotion that consumed him in this moment.
"I said kill me! Get it over with!"
Through the thick cloud of the swirling sensations now surrounding him, only a single thought pierces through Solomon's psyche, speaking to him. Earthquake. His logic latches onto the concept and he immediately understands that it is what is going on all around him. He opens his eyes to see Brutalius stepping backwards, looking up at the ceiling in disbelief. Corsair soldiers run in panic as the entire building shudders beneath them. The distraction catches Solomon's attention and the burn he felt before gradually dies. After a few moments, the quaking stops. Brutalius glares at Solomon for a long moment as if he's trying to make some connection. He finally flashes his crooked teeth in a cocky grin and bellows out, pointing down at the exhausted prisoner "That was you! This must be the Nephilim! Guards kill him!"
~
Oriah rears back his weapon and looks at Apollo, "It's all a part of the plan." He sends the sword through his mother and the woman gasps, spewing blood. Oriah jerks the blade back swiftly and she falls to the floor, slumping against Viceroy's body. Apollo can now feel movement in his own body and he goes to lunge at his father. He stops when he feels something in his hand. He looks down and is shocked to see two frightened eyes staring back at him. It's Solomon. Apollo has a hold of his shirt as the boy looks up at his friend, blood running down from his gaping mouth. He pleads with Apollo, "I said kill me! Get it over with!" Apollo feels the familiar frigid sensation in his other hand and he knows a conjured weapon is ready to strike. He cries out, anticipating his body is about to do something he definitely doesn't want.
But then suddenly he hears his father's voice again. This time it sounds different. It's clearer, kinder, and more pronounced, there's a distinctively urgent tone to it, "Apollo this was not part of the plan. You've got to save your brother." In a flash, Oriah is stand directly in front of Apollo; he brings up his left hand and gently holds up the boy's chin, "Wake up my son. This wasn't part of the plan. Wake up and save your brother. The time has finally come for you to unleash your potential."
Apollo jumps up in a cold sweat in the cold forest. He immediately notices it's still dark. Grace rises up, looking at him with concern, "Are you okay?" But before Apollo can answer, a low rumble growls all around them as the ground begins to violently shake. It doesn't take long for Paulus and Antonia to join them, and they all look around in terror, bracing themselves against the trembling ground. Paulus finally addresses the group, "It can't wait until morning we have to go now."
~
What seems like hundreds of rifles and pistols point at Solomon at all angles as a barrage of clicks echo throughout the Hall. Brutalius looks mystified as he pulls out his own pistol, puts it to the boy's head and pulls the trigger. Nothing. Frustration explodes within the callous man as he slams the butt of his gun into the back Solomon's skull. This sends the boy rolling the floor once again, only this time into unconsciousness.
Brutalius looks up at a man standing off to the side. The Corsair officer's conspicuous mohawk, pitch black with bright orange tips, is distinctly different than anything in the unvarying group. He reeks of an apathetic attitude, which makes him seem bored. "Furious, take this boy down to the Chamber before he wakes up. I'm going to find your brother and check in on our little project."
"Paulus isn't here, bro." Furious scoffs at his cousin as he remarks, "No one has seen him since this morning, him or his girlfriend." The man laughs openly now as he grabs Solomon by the arms and starts dragging him, "Someone help me!" Two other soldiers rush in to assist Furious take the unconscious teenager outside to transport him to Corsair Territory. But Brutalius hasn't paid any attention to the mockery, his mind left the scene at the first mention of Antonia. He wants her badly; not only as his lover but for her expertise. She helped design most of the devices being developed to thwart the eventual reprisal of his enemy. If he could have her, he wouldn't need either one of his cousins anymore. He could even rid himself of Vitus and start his own lineage, free of his blood rivals.
I've got to get her back, is the phrase that reiterates in his mind as he paces about. He never intended to hurt Antonia, let alone, have her executed. It was all a ruse to get the goods on Paulus. Out of all his family, Paulus was the one Brutalius hated the most. He was always envious of the Paulus' favor in the eyes of his father. Varius never could relate to his own son. He loved him, but the boy's tendencies even as a young child worried Varius with the thought that one day, he may become Corsair Leader. But now his father was dead, and Brutalius was finally in control. He knows though, his power hangs precariously in the balance of staying one step ahead of his cousins, and planning for their ultimate demise.
~
As they approach the gate, Apollo remembers the dream he had maybe only an hour ago. Oddly, he expects the guards to salute them once they get there. Paulus is driving with Antonia up front. Their two companions are in the back, disguised as prisoners. Paulus handcuffed them for good measure which made Apollo uneasy. Apollo could feel Grace's apprehension too, but paled in comparison with the belief in her hero. All this made Apollo extremely anxious and he feels heat in his abdomen rising once again.
Paulus slows the vehicle and Apollo concentrates on quelling the feelings growing within him. The searing pressure pushes on his eyeballs, strong enough to makes him squint. It aches for release but Apollo keeps his composure. "Brutalius has been looking for you." One of the guards say to Paulus as they both move toward the truck with their rifles raised. They still don't have any idea their weapons are useless.
"Tell him I have the Nephilim."
The guard stares harshly down at Paulus, "There has been word that the Nephilim has already been captured. We're under strict orders to arrest you, Paulus Kaine. Now step out, with your hands behind your head!" Paulus slowly begins to get out of the vehicle, and Apollo immediately feels panic, but it's different somehow. It doesn't feel like him. His awareness tells him it's Grace, but not just her, Antonia and Paulus too. Somehow the stirring heat in him has heightened his senses. He realizes he can feel what everyone is feeling, even thinking. But unlike before, the scorching emotion reconciles with the rest of him, giving him full control.
Another truck comes rolling up from the other side of the gate. It slams on its brakes and a pale man with towering, flame-rimmed hair leans his head out from the side, dark sunglasses cover his eyes, "Get this piece of crap out of my way!"
"Sir, we have your brother."
Furious gets out of the truck, and walks slowly toward Paulus with a stalking gait. His inquisitive look soon relaxes with a broad smile shining across his face. He shakes his head and wags his finger, like a parent disciplining a two year old, "Shame, shame little brother. Our fearless leader is very, very upset with you!" He chuckles devilishly and pats Paulus on the shoulder. He turns around to the pair of arresting officers behind them, "Get away from us, now! Back to your post! Grunts!" The guards scurry back to their places at the doors, and Furious turns back, another wide smile beams on his face.
"Well what do we have here? Been hunting Alcazarians again brother?" Furious stares at the couple in the backseat. He glances over his shoulder at Paulus as one of his eyebrows pop up over the rim of his dark glasses. Paulus nods toward the boy in the truck. "I have what our cousin fears the most. Apollo here, is Oriah's son."
"Don't believe everything you hear, Paulus. Our cousin has been torturing some poor, kid who's supposed to be the son of Oriah. He's back there." Furious points to the back of his truck and Apollo can't stay silent any longer, "That's my brother."