Eden: The Eighth Day Part 1

‘Long live the emperor!’

‘Long live the emperor!’

‘Long live the emperor!’

The chants and cheers echoed off the high marble walls, floated through the lush grasses, past the orange trees and up towards the gallows, where a number of citizens stood chained with their faces covered with sacks, waiting for their last punishment.

High above the masses, the Emperor Malum Dolus marched on to the grand balcony, hand in hand with his empress, Vesta Dolus, and their son, Prince Kayin, followed. With their mature yet strong features and dressed in all their finery, the pair looked like true leaders. It was only Prince Kayin who marred the vision with his stumbling gait and wine decanter clutched in his fist.

They bowed to the crowd, who all applauded their greatness, and the empress passed the empire cup to her beloved and he drank the sweet wine deeply. Vesta watched her husband devour her secret gift.

The crowd roared their approval while Vesta bit her lip in anticipation. She waved toward the applauding crowd and stepped to the rear of the balcony, where she took a front row seat to watch her own festivities begin.

Kayin stepped forward, then, mimicking his parents’ actions. The crowd cheered again, the volume causing ripples in his own wine. He looked on blankly at a number of girls losing control of their legs as they fainted. He raised a half-hearted hand to placate the spectators before turning with visible relief and stepped back into the shadows to join his mother. ‘Must we endure this façade?’ he asked her and placed a warm hand on her shoulder.

She lifted her finger to her mouth and gave him a stern look while leaning forward in her place, waiting for a sign that the poison was beginning to circulate through the noble emperor’s veins.

Malum’s arms rose towards the inflamed sky. ‘Citizens of Mendacia,’ he shouted above the roar. ’We have come so far! We have seen such evil! We have survived!’

His aging jowls wobbled with pride. He paused to survey the many faces staring back at him. These were his disciples. He raised a hand and clenched it at his chest.

’And, as my forefathers were before me, I am proud to see what a wonderful nation we have become. His forgiveness is upon us, so let us pray to him that these men,’ he gestured towards the faceless line at the gallows, ‘are the last sinners among us and that their sacrifice will take the fire from the sky and give nourishment to our land. Now, Mendacia… let us celebrate!’

His arms flew wide as the band began to play and the first faceless citizen disappeared beneath the wooden floor, twitching and convulsing before giving in to eternal rest. Malum leant over the balcony to watch the wine flowing and looked longingly at his own empty cup. A quiet smile crept on his lips as he surveyed his empire.

A slight grimace passed over his face and, feeling like he may vomit, he clutched his stomach. The cramping pain spread like wildfire and he bolted upright, his face a picture of panic.

Malum felt the strange pain creep away from his stomach, burning in his chest, through his throat, mouth and then… let out a particularly unholy belch, shaking his head at his idiocy. Had he really feared he had been poisoned? Imbecile! He returned his attention to the skies, still amazed by how definite the divide was. It was almost a perfect circle, a mile of clear skies surrounded by a blazing furnace of reds, oranges and yellows.

‘It’s quite a spectacle for sure!’ a familiar voice roused Malum from his thoughts.

‘Agil!’ Malum beamed, straightening up in order to take the fellow’s hand. ‘What a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting you.’

‘Yes, yes, I know,’ Agil replied, twirling his auburn beard, ‘but rumours have been spreading that this could be the last anniversary we have. It would be a shame to miss that.’

‘Well, that, my dear friend, is a matter that I have no control over, as you well know.’

‘Hmm, all too well, all too well. Although, you can’t deny things are improving,’ he looked at the sky. ‘It doesn’t seem nearly as angry these days.’ He smiled and winked, tapping his nose. ‘A little bird tells me the lava rivers are cooling, what do you know about it?’

Malum leaned forward on the balcony to contemplate his friend’s words. His eyes narrowed, as a dark look crossed his face. ‘Who has travelled to the border this time? I had hoped people were beginning to heed my warnings!’

Agil raised his hands to try to calm him. ‘With all due respect, sire, you cannot blame their curiosity. Thousands of people are trapped in this furnace and the slightest chance of freedom will inspire the explorer in anyone. And—’ the pair turned to the sound of clanging and saw a flustered Vita spilling out of the palace onto the royal balcony, two wine decanters in hand.

‘Your Majesties,’ she managed, attempting a clumsy curtsey.

‘About time, Miss Dulcas,’ Malum replied, lifting his cup. ‘I am as dry as the desert sands.’

He gestured to Agil. ‘Go and enjoy the celebration Domine, Miss Dulcas and I have urgent matters to discuss.’

‘Yes, sire,’ said Agil. ‘I believe I will.’

Empress Vesta walked to the girl, a cold look in her eyes. She pushed past Vita, causing her to lose her footing. ‘Imbecile,’ she muttered as she exited the balcony.

Vita struggled to recover her balance and when she looked up, she was nose to chest with the prince. Just for a moment, she smelled that familiar rich scent of his and was overwhelmed by the sense of home. She wondered how, after all this time, she could fall into his arms and forget all that had passed. It seemed every corner she turned he was there, some memory waiting to spin its beautiful web of lies, snaring her in place and making it impossible to escape. She stepped to the side decisively. ‘Apologies, Prince Kayin.’ She would never be tricked again.

‘Miss Dulcas,’ he nodded and followed his mother’s exit.

‘I have been informed of your little adventure today,’ said Malum when they were alone.

Vita was shocked; she had thought she was in the clear. Kayin, she growled inwardly.

He looked down at his still empty cup and across to Vita, a look hinting at panic crossing her face. ‘Vita! Wine!’ he demanded, shaking his head in bemusement.

She crossed the balcony trying to steady her shaking hands, Vulcan’s earlier attack sending shockwaves of pain through her ribs. Still, this was her emperor, she must do her duty. She raised a heavy decanter to fill the emperor’s cup, her arm and ribs struggling with the weight.

She yelped with pain and the decanter began to tremble and shake, her sweat-covered hands unable to keep a tight grip on the slippery ceramic surface. A helpless shock overwhelmed her as she felt the wine slipping through her fingers and they both watched, mouth agape, as the contents spilled out onto the emperor’s crisp white robes.

‘You incompetent fool,’ the emperor jumped backwards.

‘Emperor Malum, I – I,’ Vita stammered, her face turning purple. ‘I’m so terribly sorry, sire. P-please, let me get that for you.’

The emperor’s face was a picture of fury as she approached him, cloth in hand, kneeling to access the spill.

‘Vita,’ he started, his face softening. ‘I have tried to help you, have I not?’ He gazed down at her youthful face.

‘Yes, sire,’ she nodded.

‘But you make it very difficult for me. I have upheld my promise to your father, but next week you are a grown woman and I think it is clear,’ he gestured at the wine stain, ‘that your place is not at the palace.’

Vita gazed up at him, lips parted, piercing eyes wide with uncertainty. She saw his eyes darken with desire for her and pulled back with a shiver.

‘I have been approached by a number of viable suitors,’ he continued, ‘and under the circumstances, I am certain you would be much happier and more comfortable as a housewife. Since you appear to be in such high demand, I have arranged an auction for your hand. I believe Vulcan Bilo stands a good chance.’ He gave her a knowing smile, implying this was good news.

Vita stopped, dismayed by the news. ‘Vulcan Bilo is a pig!’ She pulled herself to her feet and stared at the emperor, her sense of hopelessness and anger overriding her rational mind. ‘And you would sell me to him like a piece of meat? After all my father did for you!’ A moment passed before her logic caught up and she recoiled. What have I said? He could hang her for such insolence.

The emperor was stern. ‘Remember who you are talking to, Miss Dulcas. I fear you have been spoiled under my affections. Let it be known that as of your twenty-first birthday, I will consider it a sin if you behave as you have and I will send you to the arena. I just hope married life will help to settle you down.’

’But sire,’ she begged, ‘please!’

’Vita,’ the emperor scolded, ‘I will hear no more. The day of your birthday, you will leave this palace. Do you understand?’

‘Yes,’ Vita squeaked. She turned and ran from the balcony, darting through the corridors, narrowly avoiding colliding with other servants through her tear stained vision until she was back in the safety of her own dormatory.

Vita was sat cross-legged on her hay bunk atop a threadbare woollen blanket. The lantern light illuminated the arched stone ceiling and dimmed out the orange glow through the slit in the red brick they called a window. The russet curtain was pulled across the doorway, affording her at least some privacy. Sera’s bunk, on the opposite side of the dorm, was empty and Vita was glad of it. She couldn’t cope with any questions right now.

The room was tiny and, if she so wished, she could reach out and take Sera’s hand in the dark hours. Apart from the two beds, they had a small table between them with a drawer each. This was enough for their one dress. Their sandals just fit beneath. Even so, this dorm was a luxury dorm within the servant halls. Most of the same size would house four occupants crammed inside the tiny shell.

She tried to let Malum’s news sink in. If Vulcan Bilo did get hold of her, she was done for. She imagined walking with him to his home, stepping over the threshold, his slimy hands all over her and the pain he would inflict on her. She felt her heart freeze and spread its white fear through each tiny vessel of her body. She inhaled sharply, realising she had ceased breathing.

There had to be something she could do. There was always an answer buried in there somewhere. If she could just search deep enough. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander to all the possible solutions.

She could run, but where? There was nowhere in this city that she wouldn’t be found. She could kill him, but that was not in her nature, and besides he was much too strong to take alone. She could throw herself into the lava rivers and hope for a miracle, or she could give herself over to him and hope that he would forgive her for rejecting him.

How different her life would be if her parents were still alive. Where would she be if her birth mother hadn’t passed her to the snakes? What could even cause a mother to do that? Maybe things would have been different if she could see her now, broken by the land and afraid of her and her brother’s future. So many questions, yet so few answers.

She needed a distraction. She reached under her bunk and felt the soft leather cover and brought out the book it enveloped. She paused for a moment before opening it, letting her eyes close as she ran her fingers over the gold-leaf print. Her first ever gift from him, a soothing reminder of that overwhelming optimism that it would all be alright in the end. She turned to the page she was looking for and smiled down at the beautiful golden dragon. She let her finger trace its outline and let herself get lost in its pained eyes.

But then that memory.

His fingers slipping between her own and how she had jumped, her nerves all on edge. She had known him for so long, but now she was older, his mere presence had turned all her senses on high alert. Every touch had a possible hidden meaning, each look seeming to search her. She felt her pulse begin to race and cursed herself for her stupidity. He was the prince.

He was the most beautiful creature she had ever known. He had the kindest soul and she hated paining herself with the possibility that he may feel the same. He was her best friend and that was all it could ever be. She leant her head against him and gazed up, as she always had, watching his enchanting eyes.

His pupils had seemed darker than usual, his breathing shorter as he gazed back down towards her. She heard herself moan as his hand slipped through her hair. Her skin began to tingle with electricity as his finger stroked her neck. And then he had moved towards her, a look resembling anxiety etched in his features.

It looked like he was going to kiss her. She’d felt her stomach begin to dance as she watched his painfully slow advance, stopping right in front of her lips. Her body began to tremble as she felt the moisture from his breath settle on her lips. This was it. All she wanted. But then he had pulled away.

She looked up towards the doorway, feeling a presence. She waited and a moment later, Sera walked in through the curtain. She jumped at Vita, who was already sat looking at her.

’I ’ate it when you do that,’ said Sera.

‘You must have heavy feet,’ said Vita, smiling.

‘Hmm,’ said Sera, unconvinced. ‘I’m just glad y’can’t get in my head like you seem to do everyone else’s.’

Vita stuffed the book away under her pillow. Sometimes she felt intimidated by Sera. She was strong and lively, always laughing and joking with the other servants, even the guards and the emperor, whereas Vita always felt quiet and reserved, her past weighing heavily on her.

As much as Vita hated to admit it, there were times when she had imagined possessing even a pinch of her best friend’s charisma. She had the confidence of a woman who knew she was beautiful and in control, and laughed at Vita’s simple fanciful ideas, like dragons.

Sera began to giggle now, throwing her head back a little. ‘Is it that blasted dragon book again?’

Vita nodded, feeling like a child caught stealing.

‘Honestly,’ Sera continued. ‘Come back to reality, Vita. You can’t live your life with your head in the clouds. There’s a whole empire out there! The emperor has given us leave to attend the fights t’mora, why don’t you come? Y’might even enjoy it. It’s high time you let go of that mysterious man of yours. Holding on to old books ain’t gunna bring him back.’ She paused and perched on her bunk, patting her shoulder. ‘Never mind Vi Vi,’ she said.

Feeling her duty as a friend was done, she leant over to Vita with a twinkle in her eye. ’There’s only one thing out there that they want and when you give ’em that, they’ll give you anything,’ she winked and then paused, waiting to make sure she had Vita’s full attention. ‘I’ve got a secret, will you keep it?’

‘Of course,’ said Vita.

‘Good.’ Sera paused, her excitement threatening to explode from her. ‘I’ve been spending time with the prince. He told me he loved me last night, Vi.’ She let out a strange squeak.

Vita’s face dropped. Her head spun and her heart stopped and she tried to force out some words, anything, to stop Sera suspecting. She wanted to say, ’No, absolutely not. That’s not true,’ but instead she managed ‘Oh.’

Sera could have any man she chose. Why did she have to choose him? Why should it matter anyway? It wasn’t as though she had any feelings for him. She had told herself so, countless times. And of course, she knew his secret. How could she ever forgive him knowing what she did? ‘That’s – that’s—’ she spluttered, feeling her hands begin to shake.

‘I know,’ said Sera. ‘I couldn’t believe it either.’

Vesta sat back with her tea leaves, praying for some good news. She had been foolish to expect the venom to take to a man whose entire being was consumed by poison. She had thought the venom could work. She had felt such power seeing him take the cup and a whole new life had materialised for her and her son.

That feeling had planted a seed deep within her mind that she knew she wouldn’t shake; a small fragment of hope, so strong, amongst a dense background of horror and cruelty. She could feel that seed taking root and spreading a dangerous golden light within her. He hadn’t suspected a thing. Next time, she would make sure she got it right.

With that thought, a breeze seemed to blow over the tea leaves, shifting them to a new perspective. She jumped at the action and brought her face closer. She reached up to a shelf, never removing her eyes from the bowl and its contents and let her hand find what it needed. She pulled down a book and began urgently flipping the pages. Could it be so? After all this time? She laughed, feeling her sense of power return. Minerva.

A knock on the surgery door startled her.

‘Mother?’ Without waiting for a reply, Kayin strode into the grand room with high white ceilings. A streak of gold ran along the huge window arches and the ceiling arched up towards painted cherubs above his mother’s day bed. Elegant marble pillars supported the room and led to a fine balcony where she could sit and watch life around the palace.

She smiled at his appearance, exiting the surgery for a seat at her dresser.

‘Why must we put up such a show every year?’ Kayin asked her, as he fell back on the ivory satin of her day bed.

Vesta turned from her dresser to face him. ‘You know why, darling. Peace in a place such as this does not come easily.’

He nodded. ’I know that, but I can’t help but wonder why. Every year it’s the same ridiculous façade and every year, Father tells them it will be the last. “And let us pray, that these sinners are the last among us.” Why do they never get wise? They worship him and yet it never gets any better. He has spun the same lies over and over and sacrificed the lives of hundreds of innocent men.’

‘I know, son,’ said Vesta. ‘I truly do, if I could only go back…’ She stopped herself, shaking her head from the memories as if the action would take them all from her.

‘You say that often,’ said Kayin, ‘but never tell me why.’

‘When the time is right, my son—’

‘The answers will come,’ Kayin finished for her with a sigh.

He let the room fall into silence for a few moments. He knew not to push the subject, she had told him the same thing time and again but yet he was still none the wiser. But then, he wasn’t wise about much anymore. During his teen years he had been playing on his mother’s balcony when he had slipped and plummeted down to the rocky earth. Although he had recovered physically, his memory from before that day had been entirely erased from his mind. Except for that one. That one had haunted him for three years now.

‘I am still having the nightmare,’ he said. ‘I am being driven insane.’

His mother looked in his direction. The pain was evident through her eyes. ‘Oh, Kayin,’ she said.

She walked to his side, placing a hand on the side of his face. He shrugged off her touch and reached for his cup of wine.

‘I deserve no sympathy, Mother,’ he said. ‘It is my own doing and is my burden to bear.’ He looked at the ground and sighed.

‘Not everything is as it seems,’ said Vesta.

‘So you say,’ he said, ‘but that is of little comfort if you won’t give me the truth.’

Vesta turned her lips inwards and moved away a little. ’There is so much. So much. And I know you are in pain. I have battled with my wills to take it from you, to give you just a snippet to ease your restless mind. But to do so could put you in great danger and I could never do that. I promise you that when the day comes I will be so happy to return all that you have lost. But please, do not blame yourself for that day. Just trust me when I tell you, you did nothing wrong.’

‘It’s always riddles with you, Mother.’