Tentyrian Legacy (4 page)

New Canaan was the location of choice for New
England’s and the nation’s wealthiest. Ranked number one in the US
for the highest median income, its sprawling mansions were spread
acres apart and were separated by stonewalls and electric gates.
New Canaan was a country paradise, especially for New York’s
investment bankers, brokers, lawyers, even the occasional rock
star. The day Officer Lefkowitz could afford to live there would be
the day he won the lottery and his ex-wife wanted him back.

“Not to worry, ma’am, it’s our job. I just
feel sorry for your daughter. But she’s a tough one. No tears
there.”

“Yes, well Arianna is very strong willed. She
is also a very sick girl. Unfortunately, she suffers from
schizophrenia and very severe headaches that have forced her to
remain confined to this house for most of her life. Her father and
I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars treating her
condition, which has been quite the cross to bear. Arianna has a
very strict treatment regimen that, if not followed, can have
terrible results. Over the past few years, her episodes have mostly
stopped, thanks to the medication. But I fear she may have
experienced one again today.”

“Why do you think that, Mrs. Parker?” he
asked quizzically.

“You should know that Arianna hears voices in
her head. She says she doesn’t know what they say. Most of the
time, it sounds like a low hum for her. When she becomes agitated
and is around too many people, the humming and voices get louder.
With the onset of an episode, the voices overwhelm her, and her
reactions can range from passing out to screaming and even hitting.
In one of her episodes, when she was six, she began screaming at
the Food Emporium, knocked down four food displays, and broke
Irena’s hand and nose when she tried to remove Arianna from the
grocery store.”

“It sounds like a bad temper tantrum,” said
Lefkowitz.

“Officer, it’s much more than a temper
tantrum. Afterwards, Arianna is usually so exhausted she can sleep
for days. Her headaches will set in and she needs to remain in a
quiet, dark room to limit the pain. It has been terrible for our
family.”

“I can’t imagine,” said Lefkowitz
sympathetically.

“Well, most people can’t. What did Howard say
about the incident?” “I want to first advise that in he-said
she-said situations, it is often very difficult to determine the
truth,” Lefkowitz replied. “Unfortunately, there is no eyewitness;
this situation could become difficult if either party decides to
press charges. Of course, we respect that Arianna may be a victim,
and we will uphold the law should you decide to take legal
action.”

“Officer, what did he say?” Gloria demanded.
Her demeanor had evidently cooled.

“He said that Arianna invited him to the pool
and tried to seduce him. Then she suddenly had an unexplained
outburst and began punching him, saying she would kill him.”
Gloria’s face was expressionless. Lefkowitz wondered what she was
like at poker. “Mrs. Parker, these are serious accusations, but to
be honest, he could be lying. He doesn’t have any priors or a
history of deviant behavior, but this could be the first time. For
now, Mr. Watkins will be in the hospital for a couple of days. He
has not yet indicated if he wishes to press charges. He did request
that he speak with you, though. I personally would not recommend
that. I am advising you to take some time and talk to your
daughter. Maybe talk to a counselor. Think about if you want to
file charges against him. Luckily, Arianna has no injuries, other
than some swelling in her hands.”

“No. No charges. We will handle this matter
quietly. I will speak with Howard directly. Again, thanks so very
much for coming all the way out here. I hope we have not
inconvenienced the department.”

“Not at all. It’s our job, as I said. I know
you are trying to protect Arianna, but Mrs. Parker, you should take
some time and think about it. If Mr. Watkins really did do this,
he’ll probably do it again.”

“Thank you for your time, Officer. I will
show you out myself.” With a gracious smile, Gloria ushered Officer
Lefkowitz to the black and white marble foyer and shut the thick
walnut door behind him as he exited. Gloria breathed a sigh of
relief. She needed to call Walter immediately. Arianna’s father
would not be happy. He rarely ever was.

Gloria went back to her office and picked up
the old-fashioned rotary phone and dialed her husband’s office.
“Hello,” answered Walter gruffly. He hated being interrupted,
especially when he was working on a difficult case. Gloria could
just imagine him, sitting behind his desk littered with files and
leftover takeout containers. She told him no more takeout. His
cholesterol was out of control. He had gained at least twenty
pounds since she’d married him. Not to mention his once full head
of hair was almost gone. Years ago, she’d fancied him a Clark
Gable—Clark Bar was more like it now.

Walter had called in his “A team” over the
weekend to strategize on a high-profile case in which they were
tasked with defending an accused money launderer. They had lost an
important appeal, and if their next move wasn’t planned just right,
they would lose the case. Walter Albright Parker did occasionally
defend the innocent. And those he defended who weren’t innocent,
which was most of the time, paid a pretty penny for Walter’s
services and subsequently funded Gloria’s shopping habits.
Unfortunately, Walter’s stress level was already high, and this
news wouldn’t help . . .

“Walter, I need you to come home early
tonight. We have a problem,” said Gloria quickly.

“What is it, Gloria? I’m busy,” replied
Walter tersely.

“Walter, I came home today to find that
Arianna had beaten her physics teacher unconscious by the pool.
They are saying he will need to have his jaw wired shut.”

“That doesn’t sound like her. Gloria, what
happened? And make it quick.”

“She told the police that Howard attacked her
and tried to take her clothes off. But I know she didn’t take her
medication this afternoon . . . and Howard is saying she attacked
him . . .”

“Jesus, the police came? Did he say he wants
to press charges?” “Not yet. But he told the officer that he’d like
to speak with us.” “Everyone has a price,” responded Walter flatly.
He certainly knew better than anyone. “Is Arianna hurt?” he
asked.

“No. She’s fine. I’m concerned about what we
should do with her, though. What if this happens again? Maybe it’s
time we send her away. We have talked about Silver Hill. And it’s
close enough that we can visit. Maybe they can reach her. I
certainly can’t. She flat-out denied she was responsible. I just
don’t believe it.”

“Gloria, she hasn’t done something like that
in at least nine years.”

“Walter, our daughter is a diagnosed
schizophrenic with a history of violent episodes. Anything is
possible.”

“Maybe . . . but we need to handle this out
of court and without the police. I for one don’t want our names
anywhere near the police blotter. It’s not good for our reputation
or my firm.”

“I agree,” answered Gloria with relief in her
voice.

“The best way to do that,” said Walter, “is
to ensure no charges are filed and that this doesn’t reach the
media. I’m sure Howard has some student loans and the officer who
came to our house today has a mortgage to pay.”

“Yes, but Walter, what do we do with
her?”

“Gloria, you are her mother. Figure it out. I
have to go.”

“Fine. I’ll see you later tonight. Dinner is
at seven-thirty.” With a curt good-bye, Gloria hung up the phone.
Not a surprise, thought Gloria. Walter always left the parenting to
her. It was time to send Arianna away, she determined. Arianna was
a quiet teenager yes, but the stress of worrying about her health
or if another episode would occur was like a shadow that constantly
followed Gloria around.

Gloria was not the maternal type. In fact,
she hadn’t wanted children to begin with. She would have been happy
playing the trophy wife, but Walter wanted a son. Arianna was the
disappointing result. Maybe if she were born normal, things would
be different. Maybe if Arianna were even affectionate toward her,
Gloria wouldn’t be sitting here pondering their relationship or
lack thereof. Whenever she saw mothers and daughters embrace or
appear as if they were in each other’s confidences, Gloria didn’t
understand it. Even as a small child, Arianna had demonstrated that
she didn’t want to be around Gloria. While Arianna’s condition had
improved in the last few years, they still never had a connection,
and Gloria wasn’t going to try building one now.

Her daughter was impeccably polite—manners
were certainly drilled. But Arianna always had a way of seeming
detached. The doctor said it was because of her schizophrenia, but
Gloria couldn’t help but feel that sometimes Arianna just didn’t
like her. There were times when she would catch her daughter
looking at her with those piercing green eyes and she could sense .
. . judgment.

Gloria had risen to the occasion, hadn’t she?
She became an advocate for her daughter’s illness and raised tens
of thousands of dollars. Arianna had everything that she could
possibly want. Beautiful clothes, a beautiful home—she never wanted
for anything. “I am a good mother, damn it!” Gloria said to the
flames in the fireplace. She glanced at the antique grandfather
clock in the corner of the room. It was almost five o’clock—too
late to call Silver Hill. It would have to wait until Monday. It
was time to dress for dinner.

53 BC, August Tentyris, Egypt Temple of
Hathor

Hathor entered her temple with bodyguards
Argus and Cadmus trailing in her wake. As they passed into the
central chapel, the walls seemed to watch in anticipation. The
carved reliefs, highlighted by the glow of torch light, showed
Ptolemy VIII and his brethren dancing with offerings in her honor.
The walls were laughing now. The Ptolemies had long been allies,
but now they were quickly becoming enemies. The current reigning
king, Ptolemy XII “Auletes,” was back from his exile in Rome, and
his fear of growing factions was increasing. Egyptian unrest was
palpable.

Cries for shelter and food fell on deaf ears,
and the angry protests outside Auletes’ palace walls raged on. If
it weren’t for the Gabiniani mercenaries stationed throughout
Alexandria to uphold his and ultimately Rome’s authority, the
palace would surely be stormed in a matter of days. Hathor thanked
the gods Tentyris was at least nine days’ distance from Alexandria
and the bulk of the unrest.

The Egyptian people had watched for decades
as their Hellenistic puppet king recklessly emptied their coffers
for his master—Rome. The tipping point was near. However, Auletes’
suspicions and mistrust were misdirected at Tentyris. Tentyris,
home to Hathor and her people, was not the enemy. The Egyptian
people that Auletes conveniently ignored and Rome were.

As Hathor approached the main chamber that
was covered in a ceiling of stars, she saw her daughters and
trusted advisors waiting in the ceremonial circle. They were the
Council of the Zodiac. Stationed at the edges of the circle’s
quadrants were her four daughters—the Royal Luminaries. It made
Hathor’s breath catch looking at them. All Tentyrians were blessed
with unusual beauty and youth. After coming of age, they never
appeared a day older than twenty-five. Yet no one surpassed her
daughters’ magnificence.

From their delicate faces to their tall
stature and matching violet robes, they looked so much like her it
was like looking at herself. Their angular features, like the rest
of their kind, echoed a blending of Greek and Macedonian ancestry.
With the unique pale skin tone of all Tentyrians, their looks
contrasted sharply with that of the Egyptians’ golden brown.

Her daughters’ waist-length hair, each
possessing its own unique shade, hung freely down their backs,
which were held straight in anticipation of the night’s meeting.
Interspersed evenly among her daughters was the rest of the Zodiac
Council. The thirteen leaders stood patiently in their blue pallas,
embroidered with the symbols of their Covens.

“Greetings. Blessed be,” Hathor said. With
the shake of her sistrum and the loud clank that followed, the
Council sat in unison on their stone benches that lined the
circumference of the room. Standing in the center, Hathor addressed
them. “Thank you for joining me tonight on such short notice. I
know many of you just returned from Alexandria a few hours ago.
However, this meeting could not wait. I wish to be frank. I have
had a vision that will affect the future of Tentyris.” Heavy
silence filled the room. “Although I am the clan’s Visionary, you
all know my prophecies are never absolute. The world is a
collection of possibilities that can shift easily with one small
action. However, I have foreseen my own death. I suspect that our
dear friend Auletes is in the midst of crafting my demise as we
speak. That is, if he can tear himself away from his goblet of wine
and precious flute to devise a strategy. Even so, in less than one
year’s time, I may no longer be here,” said Hathor. The Council
appeared uneasy.

She continued: “Precautions have been put in
place, and the Tentyrian Guard has been increased throughout the
complex and outside the walls. At almost all times I will have
Hita, Argus, and Cadmus with me. Daughters, as the clan’s
Luminaries and second in command, you as well are to have guards
with you. You all are to ensure your Guardians keep a close eye on
the children. Coven leaders, I am leaving you to discern the level
of protection you wish to employ for your people. I know all of you
are already well equipped, but of course you are welcome to utilize
the Tentyrian Guard as well.”