Brigends (The Final War Series Book 1) (20 page)

When she saw he was akin to her, she stopped crying and studied him.

With his mouth, he spoke. “Actually, you’re right. How could I possibly know?”

They shared a smile, one created by mutual understanding. He shuffled back to the comfortable chair. As he settled his tired body on the cushions, an ominous stir gripped him. What it was, he had only a dreadful suspicion. Marta felt it, too, but said nothing.

“Zoe sweetie, will you show Marta and Emil to their new quarters? The excitement has worn me out.”

“But, I have someone else I want you to meet.” She was too excited to wait.

He knew how important it was to her, but the problem of Marta awaited him and he needed to work out an answer. “Perhaps later. I promise.”

Disappointed, she conceded, “Sure.”

He patted her hand. “Don’t worry. I’m eager to meet him. For now, go and have some fun.”

She blushed and he released his kindly caress. When she tried to usher the guests to the door, the General resisted.

“Sir, I need to speak with you.”

“Soon, Emil. You and I do have much to talk about.”

“Yes we do, and we don’t have time to waste.” He made a move that didn’t bode well with Zoe. She countered with an aggressive posture of her own.

“Children, please,” the Old Man pleaded. “General, I will talk with you when the time is right. This is my final word.”

He backed off. “Are we prisoners here?”

“No, but please see that it stays that way.”

Emil left without further protest or thinking of Marta’s wellbeing. Zoe looked to her papa. “You sure know how to make friends.”

He laughed off her joke. “See to Marta’s needs will you? And, be nice.”

“When am I never?”

She took the girl with her and left him alone to rest. His child was happy, so it made him happy in turn. But, how long will her joy last? Events were transpiring faster than he had originally calculated.

His thoughts drifted to his younger days spent with Patti. She was far older than he was when they first met, but somehow she was a girl in her twenties. The secret to transhuman longevity resided with the oras. So long as they used their crystals, each second stretched to a lifetime in of itself.

The crystals also fueled their carnal appetites. With constant renewed vigor, they were always hungry for new hedonistic cravings. Temptation kept them not only ensnared to Malus’s dominance, but also to their own darker impulses. They were eternally young, lustfully in love, and never wanting to change.

And, they had been fools.

That shame was a remnant of his past. He hadn’t partaken of his ora in decades. He was a free man... free to live, free to decide for himself, and free to die as a human being is meant to do.

Marta
.

She is a linchpin for what is to come
.
Will she fall prey to the same compulsions
?
Or... is she our redemption
?

Up until that moment, the Old Man believed he had a handle on the what ifs. However, the Romanian’s actions had thrown these preconceived notions into disarray. With Marta now in Agarha, a new set of variables had to be defined and quantified.

Hard choices

Zoe rounded the corner and almost collided with Emil. He glared at her and then turned to leave.

“General.”

He stopped, but didn’t acknowledge her. “The world is burning and all you want to do is pretend it’s not happening.”

“That’s not fair. We don’t have the resources to fight back. The Old Man knows what he’s doing. It’s because of him we’ve been able to survive this long.”

“Surviving is not living, Captain.”

He walked away.

She understood his stubbornness. His country had risked a lot to ally with the United States during the war. Through the years of hell, his fidelity to his American friends never faltered. He only wanted the same faithfulness in return.

She removed any thoughts of his hurt feelings from her mind; she had better things to do than chase after a grown man.

They entered the rec-room, but neither boy cared to look. Dinx was too busy exploring the treasure trove of antique games, books, toys, and other devices of entertainment scattered around. Max sat on a table with no curiosity in the items, choosing instead to sulk. He didn’t notice his partner standing right in front of him.

“And what are you two doing?” she asked.

He ignored her, but Dinx was a ball of excitement. “Look at this stuff. How did you get this?” He held up a curling iron. Before she could answer his question, he set the device down and picked up another with no identification. “What’s this?”

She didn’t have a clue, but once again he didn’t wait for an answer. Out of breath, he asked, “Do you know how old this stuff is?”

“I don’t know. Pretty old.” She put her hand on Max’s arm. “You doing okay?”

He shrugged. “Yeah.”

“What’s up?”

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Dinx’s rummaging unearthed an old record player. Excited, he flipped it over and shook it. He was good at naming any piece of technology he put his hands on and figuring out its operation, but with this gadget, his intuition deceived him.

He held up the mysterious instrument. “What is this?”

“Ah, that’s a record player.”

“A what?”

“A record player. You know, for playing records.”

He still didn’t recognize it.

Laughing, she took the box from him. “Here.”

She sat the gadget on a table and inserted the power cord into a jury-rigged outlet. The speaker crackled as the turntable warmed up. Dinx studied every step religiously.

She then picked up a crate of weathered vinyls and dropped it on the table beside the player. Flipping through the selection, she found her favorite and pulled it out. With care, she removed the frayed cover and placed it off to the side.

He took the sleeve and examined the beauty of its artwork, made ever more poignant by its faded appearance. The cover depicted a woman standing under a tree with rain from grey skies pouring down. The woman in white was waiting for someone whom was never coming.

She positioned the disc on the turntable and set the needle. A mild jazzy tune played, delighting the kids. Zoe did something out of character, she lowered her tough guise and allowed the music to move her. Marta, shy at first, swayed to the song, mimicking her movements. Dinx tried to copy what they were doing, but couldn’t stay in rhythm. No one teased him. They were enjoying themselves.

Max watched the others having a good time. Their fun didn’t bother him, but he didn’t feel a part of it. Not wanting to ruin the mood, he tried to steal away, but Zoe caught him. With persistent tugging, she convinced him to join in. She held his hands and they danced to the song. Maybe because of her enthusiasm, he loosened his posture and moved to the beat.

“There you go. You’re doing great. You’ve danced before?”

“Yeah, but just to get girls. They love this crap.”

She shook her head. “Just another one of your amazing skills, huh?”

“I do alright for myself, thank you very much.”

When the tempo quickened, he took charge and twirled her. Her delight was infectious. Nothing in the world could have taken her away.

The song ended and another started. The party continued for some time before the kids gave up and sought out new diversions, leaving Zoe and Max with the floor to themselves. With room to move, they competed to see who the better dancer was. It was a one-sided contest as his partner easily bested him with dance steps gleaned from years of experience.

Exhausted and tired of losing to an
old woman
, Max signaled time-out. “I give up. You win.”

She wasn’t content with only a win. “Oh no, you’re not getting off that easy.” The quick song transitioned to a smooth ballad. Her eyes shined and she reached for him. “Just one more. Please?”

When the rain falls outside

She listens to the tide

He knew she wouldn’t accept no for an answer, so he surrendered and allowed her to pull him back. He felt a connection with her, so the intimacy of the song didn’t feel strange or off-limits.

When the rain falls outside

She comes to you and cries

She disappeared into the lyrics. There was no better way to express her feelings than to let the song sing it out in hushed acceptance.

Through the lonely years

She waits with quiet tears

He smiled in spite of his melancholy. She recalled that look. Its remembrance floated on a mild breath of air. She was at an officer’s club and the same song rolled from hidden speakers. There was no one on the dance floor except for her and the tall, handsome officer with his arms around her.

Counting the lonely days

When you come home to stay

Zoe was young and in love. The man, pressing her against his body, never strayed his eyes from hers. They were one. Theirs was a world onto itself. The soldier with the last name of Zander was her world.

More than ever she reaches for you

Hoping you feel the same way too

Can you see the love in her eyes?

Don’t deny you feel it too

When she reaches to hold you

Living in the past was something she hated. It served no purpose except to remind her of what had been and never will be again. She was used to fighting such weak urges, but now, it was different.

Through the lonely years

She waits with quiet tears

Counting the lonely days

When you come home to stay

Her sadness worried him and they stopped. She tried to quell his concern by smiling, but she couldn’t form the impression.

“I’m okay.”

More than ever she reaches for you

Hoping you feel the same way too

“You don’t look okay.”

“Do you want to go for a walk?” she offered.

“Sure.”

Zoe wiped a tear. They didn’t say a word to the others as they left the room. The song neared its emotional end.

Let her hold what you share

It’s there if you want it

Let her hold you

Let her hold you

The Old Man hadn’t expected Emil to surrender, so he wasn’t surprised when the General barged into the chamber. Sitting the copy of René Descartes’s
Discourse on the Method
on his lap, the Old man graciously accepted his guest’s intrusion.

“What’s on your mind, Emil?”

“I know what you are. I remember what Nadiya said about you.”

“And your point?”

“You’re not at all how I pictured. She called you quiet but strong.”

“She was a generous friend, especially with her praises. So, what is really bothering you?”

“How can I trust you, knowing what you are?”

“I can say the same thing about you.” The retort was an implied statement.

“I’m not the one destroying the world.”

“Do you think that I am?”

“I misspoke, but you know my meaning.”

“You’re letting hate cloud your judgment. Be calm... be patient.”

“How can you tell me to be patient? If the Alliance activates the Spire, then we lose the whole damn world.”

“Why are you so sure of things that haven’t come to be?”

“Because I’ve seen their war machines. I’ve fought against their armies. I know the enemy. Zolarians are monsters.”

“That is an unjust belief, born of ignorance and misunderstanding.”

“Do you deny what your race has done? They have killed millions chasing after their utopia.”

“No, I can’t deny the truth. For the longest time, I’ve watched them tear down everything I’ve loved. I know the sins of my people better than you.”

“Then why did you do nothing to stop them? Nadiya wasn’t afraid to take a stand. You let her die.”

The accusation of supposed cowardice affected him. “My apparent lack of action, I swear, was and has always been part of a grander plan.”

“Good strategy, letting everything burn and doing nothing to stop it. No thanks to you, we’re long past saving the world.”

“You should not be pessimistic. No matter what, there’s always hope.”

Emil’s frustration intensified, more with himself than with his host. “There is no hope. I lost the only thing that could have helped us.”

“You’re talking about the ora?”

“How do you know about that? Did Chacon tell you?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know?”

“I know a great many things, but I’m not a clairvoyant like Nadiya was, so I cannot assume to know the future.”

“Then how can you speak of hope? How?”

“Your misplacement of the crystal is meaningless.”

“I wish I can be like you, but I know better.”

“Then you’re a fool, Emil Pavel. You place your hopes with the wrong salvation. Marta is the wellspring of power, not the crystal. It’s only a key, a means to an end. Nothing more.”

The General folded his arms and chewed on the inside of his cheek. “Was it you who led me to it?”

“No. There is another force already at work here, and has been since the beginning. Believe me, it is beyond either of our earthly comprehensions.”

“You know more than you’re willing to admit.”

“Maybe, but if I were to lay it out for you, hold your hand and tell you what to do next, then you wouldn’t learn what you need to learn.”

“Your riddles are infuriating.”

“So I’ve been told by Zoe many times over the years.”

“If Marta is anything like her mother, then we must use her.”

“For what end? She could bring about peace, but for which side?”

It was a difficult question to answer, so the Old Man waited patiently for a response.

“What will you do if I try to take Marta from Agarha?”

“Nothing, because you won’t.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No, of course not. You misunderstand me. I don’t make threats. I’m only saying what you will do.”

“Does it mean I can’t count on your help?”

“That is not what I said either. You can’t see the whole picture, because you won’t take a step back to look at it in its entirety.”

Emil stomped to the door, but stopped. “We have to do something. Please, tell me what we can do to end this war.”

“There is a solution, but only when you think with a mind free of hate will you be able to see it.”

Emil opened the door to leave, disgusted and angry.

“Why are you so willing to risk your daughter’s life? What about your responsibility to her?”

The directness of the question touched a nerve. “Don’t lecture me about responsibility. You’re no better than the rest of your kind.”

“Does the hate you feel for my people extend to the woman you loved, or maybe even to yourself? Is this why you can’t see Marta as anything other than an object to be used?”

“You know nothing about me. I will do what I have to do to get justice.”

Emil stormed out.

Zoe didn’t say much. She stared at the concrete floor. The silence didn’t bother Max. He spent the time rolling his anxieties over and over in his mind.

He thought about her and her puzzling gloom. She was his friend and he wanted to console her.

Friend?

The epiphany that he considered Zoe Chacon a friend surprised him. How did it happen? He could have debated the how and why, but in the end he understood two things: she needed him, and their relationship... well, it was what it was.