The Symbolon (29 page)

“Have you seen Alexander since the last council meeting?” Jeremiah demanded. Valeria looked at Alex and saw him close his eyes. She knew this expression, it was the same one she had seen when Paolo had entered his petition four months before.

“Yes.”

Paolo interrupted, “Yes, and as the petitioner, I am aware of these meetings.”

Jeremiah very nearly smiled as he leaned toward her
. “Was last night one of them—the evening of your engagement party to Paolo?”

Paolo sighed heavily, and then Valeria could have sworn
she saw a flash of intense pain in his eyes. He squeezed her hand and then turned to look at her with a combination of love and loss. For an instant, she could see the man that had lost his Isabella and she wanted to touch his face and tell him that it would be all right. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, his face was filled with something new that she couldn’t identify. She wondered what had changed.

“Council, I would like to respond.” Paolo drew a deep breath. “I know that it is your responsibility to ensure that the marriage is right
, and I must admit that—since last night—I
have
had some reservations.” Valeria suddenly felt concerned. Then she felt Paolo’s grip tighten on her hand, again, and then he released it. “Last night, Cassandra did disappear.” He looked down and then glanced up toward Alex. She saw their eyes meet for an instant. “Lars and I discovered her in Trento and in Alex’s arms.”

Of all the things she was prepared for, betrayal was not one of them! She glared at Paolo
with a mix of stunned shock and outrage as angry tears formed in her eyes.
She had trusted him!
Trying to catch her breath, she realized what his betrayal meant. She recalled Alex telling her that there was only one punishment dispensed by this council: death.
She would be beheaded tonight!
Had this been Paolo’s plan all along? Had his betrayal been a plan that he and Shinsu had concocted months ago to get even? The room got dim as she realized what was to come.

Then she realized that Alex would watch. She couldn’t bear to think of that! What if Alex was found guilty?
Oh, God, what had she done?

Jeremiah almost smiled in glee. “She violated the petition? Why didn’t you inform this council?”

Paolo sighed. “She returned with me and confided that she felt remorse for her actions.”

Now Paolo had lied. Her ears began to loudly ring and she could barely hear what he was saying.
What was his game?

He continued, “Last night, I believed Cassandra when she told me that she required time to say goodbye to Alex. Then tonight, I discovered them alone again.” Paolo refused to meet her eyes.

Alex’s voice rang from his position near the back of the room. “You bastard! You promised to protect her!” He raced near them.

“ALEXANDER!” Jeremiah roared
. “I warned you months before that this council will not tolerate your outbursts! You shall treat your fellow immortals and this council with respect! Anymore outbursts and you will be dealt with before the present issue is concluded.”

Alex’s face was red with rage. But there was something else. She wondered, was it
fear?

Another council member spoke up, “Cassandra, did you go to Alexander twice?”

“Council! May I speak?” Alex requested.

Jeremiah raised a finger. “Alexander, you will be permitted to speak when you are asked.”

Her voice was breathy and nervous. “Yes. I…I went to him. Alex didn’t know that I would do that. It was my fault. And then tonight, I followed a man…I didn’t know if it was Alex until I was alone with him. It was not a planned meeting.” The council shook their heads in accusation. “Truly, Alex didn’t do anything to encourage me. He has followed your rules. I was the one who broke them, only because I couldn’t bear...”

Jeremiah’s voice rang out,
“Bear what?”

She had to answer it, but how
could she without further incriminating herself? “I couldn’t bear to marry someone else without first telling Alex, without knowing that he was all right with it.”

Paolo’s face became enraged
. “Our laws are our laws! They are both to be punished!”

“Paolo we will require your testimony!” Jeremiah demanded.

Shinsu stood. “Excuse me, Jeremiah, but I have known Paolo longer than most of you and he has developed a skill that permits him to manipulate his testimony. This was a well known fact by my late husband. Paolo, this council will require witnesses to your very serious allegations!”

“Who do you think could have taught me that skill
, but an oracle? Alex showed me many of his tricks when we were in Carrara!”

“Alexander, Paolo,
are there others who might testify? Paolo you mentioned that Lars was with you last night?”

“Yes. Camille also witnessed my fiancée’s disappearance.” Paolo glanced toward Camille as she hissed a curse under her breath.

Jeremiah nodded. “Lars and Camille, please give your testimony.”

They both stepped forward, looking devastated. Camille glanced toward Valeria with tears in her eyes, and placed her hands on the quartz plates. The council glanced up at the screen and saw the events unfold from Valeria’s transference to Jeremiah and then her disappearance. They also saw the conversation that Valeria had with Camille that morning, confirming that she had been with Alex.

“Thank you, Camille.” Jeremiah nodded. “Lars?”

Lars looked at both Alex and Valeria with great sadness as he placed his hands on the quartz. The council saw Valeria disappear and then saw her with Alex. Lars removed his hands and walked back where Camille was standing.

Jeremiah nodded. “Camille and Lars, you are pardoned from any wrongdoing here.” Jeremiah spoke to Paolo and said, “Paolo acted admirably. Alexander, as much as I disagree with many of your actions, this council finds only Cassandra guilty of violating the laws of this council.”

This fueled Paolo’s anger
. “Alex betrayed our agreement and caused Cassandra to doubt my love for her. Last night I found her with his arms around her.”

She turned to Paolo glaring incredulously.
“Who are you?”
She took the engagement ring off her finger and threw it at him. It struck him in the face and he closed his eyes as the ring rolled down to the ground. Paolo glanced down at the ring but refused to pick it up. She saw a hint of pain in his eyes but she was unable to feel any compassion for him. He had just signed their death warrants!

“Young woman!”
Jeremiah’s voice echoed throughout the chamber. “You have committed crimes and now you have crossed the line with your disrespect! I will have you bound and gagged for the rest of the proceedings if necessary.”

Paolo turned back to the council
. “She would not have gone to Alex unless he had indicated it was all right.”

Valeria stepped forward
. “That is not true! Alex didn’t know I was coming!”

Paolo spat, “I saw him kiss her!

She could see her family looking as if they were witnessing a murder. Valeria looked toward Alex, but she couldn’t read his expression.

Jeremiah asked Valeria, “Do you deny this?”

“Alex did nothing wrong. I was the one who went to him last night. I was the one who followed him tonight. Please, I am the only one who should be punished,” she said, knowing that it made no difference now.

Jeremiah nodded
. “I tend to agree young woman! You have caused this council considerable trouble in less than a year.” He lifted his arm, and called, “Erebos!”

A giant of a man wearing a green silk toga stepped out from the shadows behind the council, carrying an ancient, double
-sided axe.

Alex stepped toward Paolo.
“No!”
His eyes filled with rage. “You did this to us! If you had not filed that ridiculous petition, Valeria and I would be married now!”

“Alexander I’ve warned—” Jeremiah started
, but was interrupted by Paolo.

“She wanted
me!
Ask Jeremiah!”

“A
lexander! I will not tolerate anymore—” Ignoring Jeremiah, Alex turned toward Valeria for half of a second, and then his fist raised and slammed into Paolo’s jaw.

Stunned, Paolo brought his hand to his face as a caustic smile lit his eyes.

Jeremiah’s voice boomed, “Alexander, you are in violation of this council’s orders!”

Valeria was suddenly thrown into a nightmare she never even imagined. She couldn’t catch her breath. She and Alex would die tonight. Alex pulled her into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he whispered in her ear.

Four dribs approached and pulled them apart. The man with the double-sided axe gave her a frightening smile. It was happening now! These were her last minutes on earth. At least she was going first. She couldn’t bear it if it was the other way around. Valeria was dragged by her arm and hair to a stone block and forced onto her knees as her head was pressed onto the cold stone. The room went gray as she struggled to maintain consciousness in the face of the threat. She heard Erebos’s rough, low breathing and then a terrifying sound that resembled a laugh.

Her eyes met Alex’s and she saw his pain. She tried to focus on him. The room was in absolute silence.

“Alex, I love you,” she choked.
“I will always love you!”

Suddenly, a familiar
and joyful laughter echoed off the walls of the cave. The guards released Alex and Valeria as they went back to investigate. Alex pulled Valeria from the ground and into his arms, brushing the side of her face. He whispered in her ear, “I’m so sorry for all of this, Val,” he said, his voice filled with remorse.

“Wow! Hey, this is cooool!”

Valeria looked to Alex. “Caleb? How did he…” Valeria remembered that Caleb had been kayaking. He must have followed them in.

Alex continued to hold her, not responding to her question, but intensely watching the scene.
“Oh, Alex! I don’t want him to see what’s going to happen!” She pushed her face into his chest and he ran his fingers along the back of her neck.

One of the council members yelled, “Who is that? Isn’t that the boy
who lives with the Trento Family?”

“Yes,” Paolo responded.

Two dribs moved toward Caleb who was wearing cargo shorts and a T-shirt. One of them tried to grab Caleb. “Oh, dude, I wouldn’t!” Caleb said sympathetically. But the guard reached for him anyway and was instantly shocked. Caleb looked at him apologetically. “Sorry.” But then Caleb’s laughter escaped. This caused the guard to try it again. And, again, the guard was shocked. Caleb apologized once more, but continued to laugh heartily.

Valeria could do nothing but try to grasp what was going on. She started shaking and Alex rubbed his hands along her arms. She hated that because it made her feel weak. She didn’t want to be weak. She wanted to have the words to end this. Somewhere
, there were words that would end this!

Lars approached Caleb, concerned and totally baffled by the boy’s appearance in Delos. “Caleb? How did you find this
place? What are you doing here?”

Caleb shrugged
. “I just wanted to see where you guys were going. I followed in my kayak.” He looked around wide-eyed. “And this is so cool!”

Jeremiah and the council members shook their heads. Shinsu spoke up, “The boy is not an immortal.”

Lars responded, “We aren’t certain if Caleb is an immortal. He’s lived over 2,000 years. But I can assure you that Caleb would not divulge this location or this council.”

Jeremiah said, “We do not have the luxury of allowing foolish children into our sacred grounds. I’m afraid that the boy must join Alexander and Valeria
.”

“N
o!” Valeria screamed. “Caleb
is
immortal! He has simply not been recognized!”

Alex raised a hand. “Please
, council! I’m certain that satisfactory evidence of Caleb’s immortality could be presented by Mani within days.” Jeremiah’s eyes became wary.

Shaking her head, Shinsu added, “Jeremiah, you know full well that we cannot punish the boy without a hearing.”

Paolo spoke up for the first time since Alex had struck him. “I would be willing to fund the expenses incurred for a delay in the proceedings in order to ensure justice for the boy.”

“Lars, can you provide evidence in two days time that the boy is immortal?”

“I’m certain I can provide adequate evidence,” Lars breathed, in a sigh.

“We obviously cannot
punish these two,” Shinsu pointed to Alex and Valeria, “with the boy here.”

“What do you suggest, my dear
,” Jeremiah asked.

Shinsu placed her hand on her neck and stretched it, to relieve the tension. “Jeremiah, I suggest we hold off until we can make a determination on the boy. After all, what does it matter if we wait a day or so? I am certain that Erebos will be
all too pleased to oblige at any time.” She sighed. “Besides, there has been enough business tonight and the council is getting impatient—particularly me!”