To Kill a God by C.S. Wilde
Chapter 24
By now,Mera had spent a great deal of time in the Night Court’s throne room, but today, it felt different.
A round table had been set up in the middle of the space, and the councilors sat around it, their voices loud and angry as they argued with one another. Corvus stood next to Councilor Adams, his fangs sharp while he barked at the witch councilor. Adams had always been the voice of reason, but even he engaged in a heated argument with Harry Trotter.
On and on they went, clapping back at each other so viciously that they barely noticed when Mera and Beta Three stepped into the space.
The moment they did, however, a group of five supernaturals wearing black uniforms walled them in a circle—a bulky warlock with a thick beard, a thin-as-a-stick Summer fae, a werewolf in human form but with his canines on display, and a vampire as old as time—since she seemed to withstand sunlight. Plus, a bitter-looking human carrying an M-15.
“Is this our welcoming party?” Beta Three asked her, his metallic tone hinting at genuine curiosity.
“I suppose so.”
Their escorts glared at Mera and the automaton as if they were a bomb about to explode. To be fair, they weren’t entirely wrong in Beta Three’s case, but if this was how the council handled the presence of one waterbreaker, she could only imagine what would happen if they knew about the thirteen sirens currently hidden in the palace’s east wing.
Thankfully, Belinda knew how to hide their powers—using the same magic she’d harnessed to block Corvus’ winnowing. Mera learned to do it too, since she felt what strings her friend pulled when she’d stopped the Night King’s magic.
The power block was so effective, that it also hid the sirens’ scents. After all, one had to be careful around shifters and vampires.
The councilors silenced when she and Beta Three moved forward. All guards followed along, standing between them and the exit at their backs.
A portal of night and stars suddenly opened ahead, and out came Bast. Crossing his arms, he arched one eyebrow at the soldiers. “Is this necessary? Mera is a guest, not a threat.”
“This is preposterous!” The vampire councilor cried from the table. “Our warlocks blocked any winnowing around this room!”
“They did.” Bast winked at Mera discretely, both hands behind his back as he strutted toward Corvus.
His message was clear. She might not be a threat, but that didn’t mean Bast wasn’t. Also, she was pretty certain that if the council decided she had to stand trial, her hart would winnow her out of there before the squad had a chance to arrest her.
Councilor Adams nodded a silent greeting at her. “Welcome, Detective Maurea. I trust you’ve been well?”
“Thanks to my people, I have.” Taking his cue, she addressed the other councilors. “You have seen what Beta Three can do. Forgive me for my candor, but this meeting is a waste of time. You know the danger circling us, and it’s past time to act on it.”
“Aligning with Atlantea two millennia after the Great War is not a small feat, or an easy decision, Ms. Maurea,” Harry Trotter spat, his hand fisted over the table. “Especially considering your antics.”
Mera let that slide. She had to if they were to move forward.
“I betrayed your trust, and I am sorry for that. But you should see for yourselves that we’re not the monsters history says we are. Tagradians and Atlantians are both trying to lead peaceful lives.”
With that, Beta Three stepped forward. The plates in his chest opened to reveal a small, blue holo-screen. The engines inside him whirred, and the screen blinked, only to pop up again against a wall. When the projection grew ten times its original size, discrete gasps escaped the councilors’ lips.
Uncle Barrimond soon appeared on the display, then bowed at the council with respect. “Greetings, esteemed rulers of Tagrad. I am Barrimond Wavestorm, king of Atlantea.”
The councilors shifted awkwardly in their seats. None said a word, except for Councilor Adams, who smiled at him. “Greetings, King Wavestorm. I hear we have an enemy in common.”
The human councilor might not have the power to strong-arm his peers, but he would certainly try. For that alone, Mera couldn’t thank him enough.
“Indeed,” her uncle confirmed. “For years, he who calls himself Poseidon has been wreaking havoc in our society. It seems recently, he’s taken to doing the same to yours.”
“Quite right,” Councilor Adams said in an encouraging manner. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to solve this situation together.”
“Not so fast,” the witch councilor leaned forward on the table, her curly blond hair grazing the left side of her face. “We’ve seen what your technology can do. If you decide to turn it against us—”
“We never have.” Uncle Barrimond shrugged. “We could, of course. It wouldn’t be terribly difficult.” The members of the council gawked in offense, but the king promptly raised his hands. “I do not mean to insult you. However, I must highlight the value of an alliance with us.”
The werewolf councilor scoffed. “If your kingdom is so well developed, why can’t you handle Poseidon yourselves?”
“His danger lies not only in his power, but in his words. His ideology. He targets those with weak minds, our angry and ignorant, and they follow him blindly.”
Mia Hammond, the witch councilor, puckered her lips. “It seems to me that’s your problem.”
Uncle Barrimond watched her for a moment. “I fear I’m not being completely honest, Councilor. They follow Poseidon because I have refused to attack Tagrad for years. They see me as weak for never trying to conquer the mainland.”
A deep, uncomfortable silence filled the space.
“Atlantea’s defense system is weakened,” Uncle Barrimond continued. “With a third of my city adhering to his ideals, it’s not a matter of if civil war will break out, but of when. And if Poseidon conquers us, our technology will be at his disposal. Trust me, he will not be as kind to your peoples as I have been.”
“What he means is that Azinor will have access not only to phasers, but to an army of automatons that, although not as advanced as Beta Three here, can cause a great deal of damage,” Mera added. “This is not the time to fight amongst ourselves. It’s time to unite.”
The councilors exchanged a wary glance, except for Councilor Adams. He knew where he stood, what he was willing to do for the greater good. No wonder Ruth had liked him so much.
Trotter leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “As far as we know, Poseidon attacked Tir Na Nog to get his hands on Ms. Maurea. Why he did it remains a mystery to me.”
Councilor Adams exchanged a fearful glance with Mera.
“If she’s to avoid a trial on land, then I say we at least send her to him,” Mia Hammond added. “That should keep him out of our territory until we can raise a new barrier.”
“That might take weeks, if not months,” Adams countered. “Also, we shouldn’t be giving him exactly what he wants on a platter! Mera is a powerful agent in this fight, and has proven herself to this nation over and over again. I am getting tired of this.” He slammed a hand on the table. “Focus on what matters, Councilors!”
The werewolf cleared his throat. “If that’s off the table, for now, then there’s another solution. If Atlantea is evacuated, we will send bombs that should obliterate everything in there, including your technology. It’s the only way to ensure Poseidon won’t get his hands on it.”
“You have bombs?” Mera turned to Councilor Adams, waiting for an explanation, but he stared at his own hands instead.
No surprise, really. She hadn’t known the human borough had jets, either. Still, the idea was so ridiculous, that she saw right through Trotter’s game. “You want to destroy decades of hard work; an entire city filled with technology that could actually benefit Tagrad, only to secure a stronger political position?”
The werewolf shrugged. “Everything has a price.”
Uncle Barrimond expelled water through his gills, but he seemed to consider it. “Bombing the city would be the best way to ensure Poseidon doesn’t get our technology, albeit a painful one. It might work, especially if we shut down the dome. But what about my people?”
“I’m sure you can find another place to live.” Mia Hammond tucked a blond curl behind her ear. “The ocean is vast, is it not?”
“You’re asking them to start from scratch without any support?” Mera snarled. “Bombing Atlantea will slow down Azinor, but it won’t stop him. If he goes after them, they’ll be completely defenseless!”
“Not our problem,” the witch countered.
Uncle Barrimond stared at someone off-screen, despair clear in his eyes. “Harold, they’re out of their minds.”
“How dare you insult us?” she barked.
“How dare you, Mia?!” Councilor Adams pushed his chair back and stood. “You just told them we’ll bomb their home, and that they’ll be left to fend for themselves. Your lack of compassion is astounding!”
“Cowardly shigs,” Bast growled, and soon enough, the room exploded in argument.
Colin and the vampire councilor, however, watched the brawl unfold in silence. Mera wondered when they would step in, if at all.
In any case, she’d had enough. Opening her mouth, she let out a quick siren’s shriek that was uncomfortable to hear, but not painful. The councilors winced, so did Bast, Corvus, and the black-ops soldiers near the exit.
“Enough! You’re so blinded by your fear and hate, that you’re missing the point. Azinor started the Great War, and—”
“He allegedly started the Great War,” the werewolf councilor corrected.
How Mera wished she could punch the asshole right in the middle of his face. “Azinor started the Great War, period. Sirens had their own borough back in the day. We were Tagradians untilhe ruined it, and he’s about to do it again. Do not let him!”
“A piece of Tagrad has been missing ever since the Great War,” Bast stepped in, addressing the council. “A piece we must welcome back home if we’re to survive what’s coming.”
The councilors seemed unconvinced, and Mera was tired. So fucking tired. What came next left her throat more out of instinct than anything else; a flurry of sentences she couldn’t bring herself to halt.
“I am Mera Maurea, first of my name, citizen of Tagrad, and heir to the Atlantean throne. I am the Princess of Atlantea.” She swallowed dry, watching the shock in the councilors’ faces. “I abandoned my people once. I will not abandon them again.”
Corvus stepped forward, standing tall with his chin raised proudly like the king he was. “If we’re to obliterate their home to stop Poseidon, the minimum we can do is offer refuge. Any Atlantean seeking shelter in Lunor Insul shall have it, as long as they agree to be mind-screened to ensure they’re not on the suket’s side.”
“You can’t do that!” Trotter snapped, his canines sharp. “You don’t have the authority, and you’re not a part of the council. The topic hasn’t even been up to a vote!”
“I’ve heard enough.” Colin Asherath stood from his chair, and Mera braced for disaster. “I can support many things, but destroying an entire city and leaving innocents at a madman’s mercy isn’t one of them. Therefore, the southern part of Tir Na Nog, which used to be a piece of the akritana borough, will be restored to its original owners.”
“Colin?” Bast muttered, shock clear on his face.
The fae councilor smirked at him, then pointed at Corvus. “I can’t let this baku take all the glory, can I?”
Mera expected a great many deal of things, but not that, and certainly not from Colin.
Councilor Adams was quick to follow. “The human borough would like to make the same offer as the Night King, and I also propose an exchange program to learn about Atlantean technology.” He turned to Uncle Barrimond. “We’ll give you the infrastructure to rebuild Atlantea once Poseidon is defeated. Do you accept?”
Her uncle blinked, still surprised by what was happening. “Yes.”
“This is outrageous!” The werewolf slammed a hand on the table. “Have you forgotten what these people did to our nation? This is a council! We must put our decisions to a vote!”
“These people have always been a part of our nation, even after we banished them,” Councilor Adams stated harshly. “It’s time to put an end to this. All in favor of aligning with Atlantea to fight Poseidon, and to offer asylum to its people, say ‘aye’!”
“Aye,” he declared it himself, almost at the same time as Colin. Corvus followed, even if his vote didn’t count.
The witch and werewolf councilors didn’t react, which meant it was up to the vampire.
“So, we’ll shelter Atlanteans, then bomb their city to oblivion. I have a bad feeling about this, but…” Her palm lifted. “Aye.”
Three against two.
The room erupted in cheers, when a loud boom suddenly reverberated through the screen, followed by a piercing shriek in the distance. A howl that seemed to come from a hungry beast, and it sounded eerily like…
A waterdragon?
Mera’s pulse raced in her veins as she stepped closer to the screen. “Uncle?”
“Azinor broke through the barrier,” the king muttered with horror, then faced someone else. “Guide groups A to D out, Harold, as we planned. The Guard and I will hold him off.”
“I cannot leave you!” Professor Currenter countered off-screen.
“You must.” Uncle Barrimond lifted the golden bracelet around his wrist to his mouth. “Automatons, engage. Now, Harold! Save as many people as you can!”
A second blast roared across the room, and the screen blinked out of existence.
Fear gnawed at Mera’s stomach, her heart beating in her ears. “Uncle!”
Only static answered her.