Potent

“Papa!” A chorus of voices called out to Cornelius and his family surrounded him, hugging him, asking all sorts of questions.

“Calm down, let me start at the beginning…” Cornelius chuckled.

He told them the whole tale of how he pleaded with Lord Valentine—Mastermind Valentine—for help and that he helped him.

“Cornelius…I’m just happy you’re alive.” His wife, Norma, told him later in their bedchambers. Norma, his ever encouraging and long-suffering wife. He never tired of seeing her brown eyes full of life but also full of worry. It brought a wry smile to his lips to see the matching gray hairs among her dark brown locks.

“And I’m just happy we are all together.” He hugged her. But Norma couldn’t see his face that was etched with guilt and worry. He had lied. He’d told his family that Valentine gave him the estate and brought them back for free. He couldn’t bring himself to tell them all that one of his daughters would be given to Valentine. He had two more days to worry, tell them, and decided who would go. Otherwise, Cornelius knew that Valentine would take whomever he pleased.

Gemini sat there, mute. Her father had just confessed that he lied. Mastermind Valentine had asked for payment.

To her horror, it was either her or one of her sisters.

Andromeda and Carina, the twins who were only twelve, were both struggling not to cry or sob. Both of their blonde little heads were in their pale hands and their blue eyes were full of tears. Little Vela was only two and had no idea of the dilemma. She tumbled around, her brown hair pulled into a messy ponytail, her blue eyes blinked at everything new. Orion was fifteen and a boy. Mastermind Valentine obviously wanted a girl but Orion was still outraged.

“He can’t just take a person as payment! We’re not currency,” Orion vented, running a hand through his dirty blonde hair. His blue-eyed stare of anger could’ve burned a hole in the table.

“He can,” Cornelius said, firmly. He sighed and closed his eyes. “And he will choose someone if we don’t.”

“Vela’s out of the question,” Norma, her mother said, quietly.

“Andromeda…Carina…Gemini…”

As Cornelius said their names, all the girls looked up at him, sadly. “I would never ask this of any of you. But Mastermind Valentine will never take no for an answer. Negotiating with him will only make it worse. But that doesn’t make this task any more pleasant. Please, think about this. Your mama and I won’t ask a specific person. If you are willing to do it, let us know by tomorrow afternoon.”

All three girls nodded their heads. Gemini sat at the table as everyone else slowly trickled out of the kitchen. She stared at the fine cedar wood, carved so elegantly. And she cried. The emotion of the last few days had bottled up inside her.

Her home village had been burned to ashes, her husband had died in the fire, her father had been banished to the land of darkness, and now--just when they were all together--one of them had to leave. Time had the cruelest sense of humor.

The only tragedy that she wasn’t too sad about was Quinn, her husband dying. Their marriage had been arranged for a long time. Quinn had seemed nice enough but after the wedding, Gemini realized how much he had been marrying for status. He had only wanted a wife for the sake of having a wife. Nothing more. Thankfully, they had only been married for three years. She could no longer imagine living with him for the rest of her life.

Gemini had felt the strangest sense of relief in the midst of the chaos. But she couldn’t let Andromeda or Carina live with the cruelest man in Dunstorria. Who knew how long they had to stay? Most likely forever, as a slave to his will or a plaything for him. She was the oldest. She had to be the one. She would be, even though she was just as disgusted and fearful as they were. She tried not to think about it at all.

Be brave. I must be brave. Maybe I can escape somehow.

Gemini knew she was just lying to herself. She fled up to her room, fell on her bed, and cried into her pillows. She just needed to cry and get it all out. Millions of thoughts rushed through her mind. She let it overwhelm her.

Unfortunately, everyone was so busy with their daily tasks that it was suppertime when they all came together again. The question sat in the room like a large, out of place item.

Who was going with Mastermind Valentine?

Gemini tried to gather her courage but every time she tried, tears came to her eyes.

Someone walked into the kitchen, making everyone at the table jump.

It was him. Mastermind Valentine was here.

Gemini realized that she had seen him before--the day Ozean was destroyed. But she was shocked to see how young he really was. He had been alive for a little over thirty years but looked as if he was only twenty-three or twenty-two. Although up close, Gemini saw just how intimidating he was. He had seemingly flawless features, dark hair, marble skin—everything that made him a beautiful nightmare. His attire made him blend in with the shadows yet stand out in the room. He wore a tunic with threads of gold woven into a rough, black material. His trousers were black too, made from a scaly material. His boots were leather and black as well.

But Gemini, even though she had seen him once before, was still surprised by his eyes.

They weren’t a piercing color as she had imagined. They were a dull, misty green, making him only a tiny fraction less scary. The look on his face said otherwise. He was ready and happy to do business.

“Who’s it going to be, Cornelius?” Valentine asked. Gemini wanted to cover her ears. She instantly hated his voice. Her father said nothing as he stared at Valentine, glancing at all of them too.

“We…we were just about to decide.” Cornelius sounded more terrified than Gemini had ever seen him.

“Touching. I don’t have time for a family squabble--I gave you two days. Pay me willingly or I’ll take it.”

She swallowed hard. She had to stand up. She had to sacrifice for all of them.

“I’ll go.” Gemini stood. She couldn’t look at her family’s faces or at Mastermind Valentine.

“Gem, no!” Andromeda cried. Carina shook her head as she started to cry too. Cornelius gripped the table, his knuckles whitening.

“No--” Cornelius stopped. He looked he was trying to talk but he couldn’t. No else but Gemini and Mastermind Valentine could speak.

“Someone is being noble. A cause to rejoice, not mourn,” Valentine chided.

Like something had snapped inside him, Cornelius lunged at Mastermind Valentine. Orion rushed to help his father. Everyone else shrank back from the three of them.

Valentine just casually raised his hand and Cornelius was shoved away with such force that his head hit the side of the table. Cornelius slumped on to the floor. Orion froze, just meters away from Valentine, who lazily rolled his neck out causing a few sharp pops. “How sweet. Father and son protecting their family… or rather, not really.”

That made Orion completely unfreeze. He gritted his teeth and threw a fist at Valentine, who stopped it easily. Orion cried out as soon as they made contact. He shuddered as his whole body contorted with pain. Orion tried to hit Valentine but kept missing. Valentine flexed his hand. Orion yelled something incoherent and stopped struggling, his face clenched with pain. Valentine stopped moving his hand and Orion breathed in relief. Orion moved to kick or hit Valentine but screamed when Valentine moved his hand again.

Horrified, Gemini watched as this Mastermind of Magic punished her brother like he was an animal being taught to stay still. All with just a movement of his hand. It was as if he was saying: If you fight, I will hurt you. She covered her mouth, wanting to check on her father but didn’t dare to move.

Finally, when Orion was shaking from the pain, he stopped fighting. But she could see in his eyes how much he wanted to attack Valentine again. Valentine scoffed, a smirk on his face.

“I’m tempted to take you… but your sister is still a fine prize.” Amused, he looked straight at Gemini, making her flinch. “I promise that she will be… taken care of.”

Her mother and her sister’s mouths fell open at his double meaning. He grinned like a cat and released Orion, shoving him away so he landed against the wall. Gemini lost all courage.

She tried run but he grabbed her arm and yanked her next to him. His touch was so awful. The urge to pull away was extremely hard to resist but she didn’t dare to. He could hurt her and she would earn his displeasure.

Orion groaned as he pushed himself off the wall, cradling his head as if it ached. But that didn’t distract Valentine. He studied her with a tilt of his head. Gemini shrank and squirmed beneath his gaze. Valentine started to drag her away by her arm.

“Wait! Mastermind Valentine, please let me say goodbye!” Gemini pleaded.

“Then say it.” He shoved her forward, not letting go of her arm and not letting her embrace her family. Gemini swallowed her shock and tears. She looked at her heartbroken family.

“Goodbye.” I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please know that.

Before Orion could lunge at Valentine again, Valentine raised and waved his hand, surrounding the two of them with black smoke. Her family disappeared.

Gemini suddenly found herself inside an enormous room. It had a black throne, surrounded by beige colored walls. A sparkling, gold chandelier hung from the gaping ceiling.

Valentine finally released her arm. Gemini stumbled a few steps away from him. She said nothing. What could she say? He was her master. Her mind was racing with thoughts and scenarios of what would happen now. He might make her his plaything, his toy to be picked up and discarded at will. After all, he said that she would be taken care of. Abruptly, Valentine spoke.

“Well, Gem, I’m at an impasse of what do with you. Would you rather clean my entire manor day in and day out? Or do what your family thinks you’re here for?”

Gemini dropped her jaw. His stare only became wider and more twisted. Her first response was to clean and she wasn’t sure what he meant by: Do what you’re family thinks you’re here for. It was too vague with too many horrible possibilities.

“I…I’ll…”

“Decide.” The hard, cruel look was back again.

“I’ll clean,” Gemini blurted.

“I see. That isn’t nearly as fun though.”

“Mastermind Val—“

“I am Lord Valentine to you now.” The menace in his voice was obvious.

“Lord Valentine,” Gemini corrected, shakily. “Please let me clean. Please.”

Valentine considered her, with a thinking tilt of his head to one side. “Very well. You start cleaning tomorrow. Mira will give you your instructions.”

“My lord?” A new voice came from the other side of the room.

“What?”

Gemini nearly whimpered when his tone of voice changed. Did he have a bad temper?

A guard stood timidly by one of the entrances to a long corridor.

“My lord, we have a—“

“Do not bother me with manor reports. I have enough time for that later but at the moment I AM OBVIOUSLY OCCUPIED.”

His voice echoed throughout the room. Gemini cowered.

Lord Valentine flicked his hand. The guard’s head jerked sideways, snapping his neck. He crumpled to the ground. Gemini jumped back, gasping in horror.

Valentine turned back to her with a little fury still left in his murky green eyes. “Now. You’ll stay in the servant’s quarters. Mira will come to your room tomorrow morning. Goodbye.”

With another wave of his hand, she disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. She reappeared in a tiny, cold room with only a bed, a wardrobe, and small desk. Gemini walked forward in a daze on to the bed. Eventually, all the stress, fear, and shock overwhelmed caused her to cry. She sobbed into her pillows, hoping Valentine didn’t punish people for crying loudly.