Japhin’s Fury
3 months later Imaginese time
1 week later Earth time
Wilhelm and Wella rode down the dirt path in a hover car that they had borrowed from Mrs. Rowan for the night. “Wilhelm where are we going. I thought you said we were going to the party at the queen Mary so why are we going in the opposite direction.”
“I already told you they won’t let us into the Queen Mary we’re outlaws now.” As he said this, a lake came into view and he shut off the engine. The car hovered to the ground and stopped. Wilhelm got out and Wella followed still clearly confused. Wilhelm went to the back of the car and opened the trunk. “Wilhelm what are you doing and what are we doing here.” Wilhelm didn’t respond but instead grabbed two suits out of the trunk and handed one to Wella. “Here this is Brittney’s put it on we’re going swimming.” Wella stared at him.
“I’m not putting anything on until you explain to me what’s going on.” Wilhelm sighed
“Ok fine, there’s a tunnel somewhere in this lake that leads right into the indoor pool inside the Queen Mary. That’s how Delphis gets in all the time. Not many people know about it so we should be able to get in without much problem.”
With that Wilhelm began to pull the suit over his clothes and Wella followed his lead. Then they both pulled on their masks and dove into the water.
The water was cold but refreshing as they dove deeper and deeper down. As they got further down Wella saw a dolphin come out of a small tunnel. Her head set rumbled to life as Wilhelm’s voice broke through the stillness. “That’s where we’ve got to go. Stay to the right the left path takes you to the outdoor pool and there’s sure to be people out there.” Wella nodded automatically even though she was behind him and he couldn’t see her anyway. She followed him into the tunnel. The tunnel wasn’t as dark as she thought it would be and she noticed that the light was coming from Wilhelm’s suit and she noticed that her suit was glowing as well. She was about ready to say something when Wilhelm broke though her thoughts. “We’re almost there just a couple more feet. The tunnel suddenly ended and she headed up toward the surface. As she broke through the water she found herself in a dimly lit room Wilhelm surfaced beside her and she followed him out of the water. They both removed their suits and straightened their slightly wrinkled party clothes. Then Wilhelm turned to Wella.
“Wella I am going to get Jatar, you go and see if you can find Japhin.”
Wella nodded numbly as the realization of what they were about to do washed over her. She grabbed his arm as he turned to leave and pulled herself into his arms planting a firm kiss on his lips. He looked at her surprised as she pulled away and then understanding filled him and he gulped. “What was that for?”
“For if we never see each other again. I want you to know that I love you.”
Wilhelm pulled her closer. “Don’t talk like that of course we’ll see each other again. I love you too.” Then he kissed her on the forehead and released her. Then he turned and left the room stopping only long enough to look at her one last time before disappearing from her sight.”
Jatar sat on his bed scribbling in a book. Jatar knew good and well that he wouldn’t live forever he would probably outlast many of the people on this planet but he wouldn’t live forever. He had wanted to make this new contraption for years and he finally had the resources to do it. The invention was mixed with a bit of his own Juptan DNA to make a shield that would confuse anyone who came near and send them away.
He was starting to find it hard to breathe but he wanted to finish what he was doing before opening one of those cages and feeding off of one of the small animals brain waves. Finally, when it was nearly impossible for him to breathe, he got up and went over to one of the cages. He opened one taking one of little creatures out and stroking it reminiscing over how his life had been before he had come to live here. He remembered all the little creatures that he and his friends used to feed on, the little Midea’s had been much more filling then these Imaginess rodents could ever be. A sound from behind him broke him out of his thoughts he turned around and something crashed down onto his head and he blacked out.
Wilhelm rushed through the halls into the south wing of the house he opened the door that led to the stairs and rushed down. When he got to the bottom he didn’t even bother to knock but immediately pulled the emergency switch beside the door and the door swung open. He raced inside and looked around Jatar was no where to be seen. Where could he have gone he knows that there’s a party tonight. He rushed around the room checking every nook and cranny to be sure that he hadn’t missed anything. He soon came to the cages and saw that one had been left opened and the little critter was gone. Ok something is definitely wrong he would never leave a cage open unless something happened to him in the middle of eating. He quickly hurried out of the room and to the stairs.
There standing on the stairs was a strange Juptan man with an evil smile playing at his lips. “So are you one of the traitor’s friends?” He asked. Wilhelm was speechless. The Alien snorted. “I never did like him much, disposing of him for Japhin shall be a pleasure.”
“Why would Japhin trust a Juptan?”
“Because he knows good and well that the only way to catch a Juptan is with another Juptan.” The Alien laughed evilly and then said “By the way Wilhelm.” He smiled knowingly. “Sleep tight.” A blow from behind and Wilhelm knew no more.
Wella had easily found the party and at once began her search for Japhin. As much as she looked she couldn’t seem to find him. She spent about 10 minutes looking for him walking from one room to the next but to no avail. She tried her hardest to avoid Leena not wanting to be recognized and thrown out. “Excuse me everyone can I have your attention?” Said Leena from the small platform set up in the ball room. “Thank you, I am so glad all of you were able to make it tonight.” Wella glanced in the direction of the stage and was surprised at how pale Leena was. Her voice was shaking as she spoke, “There was quite a debate as to whether or not to cancel the party or not, what with the rising rebellion and all but I knew I couldn’t cancel such an ancient Imaginese tradition. I am sure you are aware that Earth’s Forth of July party falls on the same day as Techno and I have allowed it to overshadow our greatest holiday. But not this year.” Leena raised her glass. “A toast to our great minds.”
“To our great minds.” The room rang out
Wella smiled and lifted her glass and took a swig of the drink. a thud and a scream from the stage rang through the room and Wella looked up to find Leena sprawled out on the ground. Mattim raced up onto the stage and pulled her into his arms. He took a moment to check her pulse and then let out a cry and pulled her to him tears pouring down his cheeks. The great leader was dead.
It was all Wella could do not to run up there and comfort Mattim but before she could Mattim vanished. Wella was stunned she had always heard that the Albino Imaginese known as Mattim Baker had the ability to vanish at will but she had always thought it was just a rumor but now she realized that it was true for the man had disappeared. Leena’s body lowered to the ground and then nothing.
Suddenly something caught the corner of Wella’s eye. She looked just in time to see Japhin disappear around the corner. She hurried after him she ran out of the ballroom and into a hallway. The door to the library slammed further down. Wella stopped and took a breath. Then she knelt down and pulled a knife out of her boot she wouldn’t be stupid enough to go into a room like that without a weapon. Knife in hand she raced toward the door, threw it open and stepped inside.
“Well, well, Wella, how nice of you to show up,” Japhin’s voice said from the shadows. The door slammed behind her and she wiped around knife close in front of her a couple more arms streamed out of her body each armed with a laser ring. The lights flickered on and she found that she was surrounded. Japhin chuckled behind her. She whipped around pointing the lasers in all directions including Japhin’s direction. “Relax my dear.” Japhin said, coming up beside her and lowering her arm back to her side. It’s only me.”
Wella pulled her arm away from him, not for a moment lowering her other arms. “What you’re doing is wrong, Japhin.”
“Is it wrong to purge the evil from the world?”
“I’ve experienced first hand the so called evil that you say they possess and I realize that the one that is evil is you.”
Japhin slapped her causing her to drop her guard and her knife. “How dare you call me evil? Me the one who is to become your husband.”
“Not anymore Japhin I will never marry you, ever.”
“You’re making a big mistake Wella.”
“No, it was a mistake to follow you for all these years.”
“But you said that you thought that human lovers were evil you told me yourself.”
“I had been brainwashed I wasn’t thinking for myself I was stupid enough to believe that I was in love with you because my father told me I was. I was a stupid little girl too stupid to think for myself. But not anymore now I am ready to make my own decisions. Humans aren’t as bad as we thought I don’t know where we ever got that idea.”
“Fine I don’t need you to make my plan successful you were just my pawn but now they have turned you to their. This isn’t over yet and when I’m done with you you’re going to wish you were dead.”
Wella was back on her feet now aiming all 10 laser rings in Japhin’s direction
Japhin laughed, “Do you honestly think you can stop us Wella. I have won, both the Juptan and your friend the prince are dead and soon earth will have forgotten all about us. We will be an independent planet once again. Soon you will join them --” He paused and smiled wickedly at her, “unless you agree to marry me.”
“I’d rather die.”
Japhin scowled, irritated at her choice, “Then a living death is what you shall receive.” He turned toward one of his guards, “Take my fiancée to her bed chambers. And then you may continue on with the plan.”
Wilhelm awoke has head hurt like the dickens. He sat up to find that he was sitting in one of the cells that had always been in the Queen Mary but had never really been used. He turned to find Jatar lying beside him his nose broken off and a small mouth where his nose should have been. He had heard that this is what happened to Juptans when they lost there noses so that they could eat even when they couldn’t mind control. But of course he had never seen it. A light was coming from the small window in the side of the cell. He got up and peered through the window. Flames licked the sky. He realized that it was the hotel. The last of his mothers works to be destroyed. He watched it for some time and as the last of the flames died down so did his last hope.
Brittney rushed into the living room where Evan sat on the floor playing with his sister Olivia’s 2 year old little girl Paula. Evan’s family had been overjoyed when they found out that he was going to be on earth for 4th of July this year. Evan glanced up as Brittney entered the room and grabbed her belt from the peg by the door. Evan was up in a flash he grabbed Brittney’s arm and pried the belt from her hands. “Are you crazy?” He asked.
“No, it’s crazy to stay here having a good time when my family could be dead or in the very least in trouble.”
“You don’t even know for sure that you can trust Gaylin.”
“I don’t want to take that chance.” Brittney said trying to snatch the belt from Evan’s hand. Evan moved it out of her reach.
“Brittney think for a minute if you go there then you’ll die too. You’re safer on earth. Besides what can you do to stop them? You’re just one person.”
Brittney began to cry and fell against Evan knowing full well that he was right she couldn’t do anything. She could only hope that her family would somehow make it through.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Rebellion (Chapter 3)
Wella’s choice
Japhin knocked on the door of Wella’s house early the next morning. An old Imaginese came to the door. “Japhin! what is it? Come in!” Japhin stepped inside the house and pulled off his coat then moved into the living room where he took a seat on the couch. “Can I get you something to drink?” Wella’s father asked.
“No thank you Punt. I’m fine.”
“So to what do I owe this visit?” The man asked settling down into a chair
“Well everything is just about set for the attack on the Zotac all that’s left is the poison.”
“Ahh yes I have it up in the lab I’ll be right back.” Punt got up and shuffled into another room. While he was gone Japhin took a look around the room. Pictures of Wella and Punt’s late wife, Wella’s mother hung on the walls. The place was well taken care of due to Wella’s artistic nature. But the thing that he cared the most about-but that no one would know by looking at this room-was the riches of this family. Although Punt Kinder didn’t like to flaunt his wealth to the world, this was what drew Japhin to this family
Punt, who had grown up rich and spoiled, had fallen in love with Yolana, a poor girl with out a care in the world for money. When they had married Yolana had insisted that they buy a smaller house and sell most of Punt’s valuables. Because of Punt’s love for her he agreed and when Wella was born Yolana’s dying wish was that her daughter would not know how truly wealthy she was. And so far Punt had kept that promise to his wife. But Japhin knew better.
Something that not even Punt knew was that Japhin was the son of Yolana’s late best friend. His mother had told him many times of the riches of Punt and so he had vowed that one day he would marry the girl.
Punt returned then, shuffling over to him carrying the potion in one of his many hands, “Now be careful whose cup you put it into.” Punt said before dropping it into Japhin’s waiting fingers, “It’s strong and will most likely kill instantly.” Punt lifted a finger to shake at the young Imaginese standing before him. “If my daughter gets any of this you’d better leave the planet because if you stay on this planet you won’t live for very long.” Japhin took the small glass bottle with an arm in his stomach and pulled it inside himself.
“Don’t worry, Punt, you’re daughter won’t even be at the party.” With that he pulled on his coat and walked out the door.
Brittney grabbed another dish off the kitchen counter and dipped it into the water. She grabbed the rag and absently wiped the old food off of it. She jumped as another firecracker went off down the street. She pushed back the curtain and looked out into the blackness as the young boys slapped each other five, laughing in the dim light of the street lamps.
There was only one more week until the Forth of July and every firecracker that went off was a painful reminder of how close they were getting to her mothers inevitable death. The boys were beginning to set up another one as Brittney let the curtain drop back in front of the window and put the clean dish into the other sink.
Her heart jumped again as the next shot rang out. Will it be a gun that will end her life? she thought she gritted her teeth as yet another one rang through the house each one seemingly louder than the last.
She slammed the bowl she was washing down. Soap and water spilled on the counter and dripped down the sides but she ignored it. She leaned up against the wall, clutching her ears with her wet hands, trying to block out the horrible sounds and slid to the ground as she began to cry.
Wella awoke the morning after her meeting with Japhin and the first thing that popped into her head was that in three weeks she was going to betray Wilhelm. She wasn’t sure why this mattered so much to her. It’s because you love him you idiot. No that’s impossible you love Japhin. Are you sure that you love Japhin? Or you just enamored by his strength and Charisma? You know the truth you don’t love him and he doesn’t love you.
Then why does he want to marry me? You know it’s your status, more your father’s status and riches that he wants. He thinks you don’t know about your fathers riches but that’s where you’ve outsmarted him. You’re no one to him just a pawn a way to get rich and you know it. He’s using you. Wilhelm’s the only one who’s ever really cared about you and now you’ve just betrayed him. Him and his entire family. Wella sat up in her bed now as the thought completely dawned on her. What had she done? In three more weeks Wilhelm and all his family would be dead and it was because of her. The man that she had come to love so deeply was to die in a three week’s time. And it was all because of her.
She slipped out of bed and pulled on her robe, she looked in the mirror and shuddered at the look of utter hopelessness she found there. It was so horrifying that she decided not to worry about her hair for the day. She opened a small jewelry box and pulled out a simple, silver hoop earring. She hadn’t worn it since she had first met Wetam. How could she when she was trying to hide the truth of her engagement from him?
She pushed back her hair and slipped the earring painlessly through the hole in her ear. In three months time, when her and Japhin were wed the earring would be joined by another similar hoop placed in her right ear, this one gold. She fingered the hoop gently and examined her reflection in the mirror.
She sighed and spoke gently to her reflection. “Well, it’s about time you tell Wilhelm the truth. I can’t live a lie any longer.” With that she turned and slipped out of the room in search for Wilhelm.
Wilhelm knocked on the big, steel door at the bottom of the basement stairs. The clanging of machinery sounded on the other side of the doors and then swung open. “To what do I owe this visit?” Jatar asked as Wilhelm entered the room. Wilhelm hesitated and looked around the room, his eyes resting on the simple bed that Jatar slept in night after night and felt guilty for the luxury he lived in while this alien lived only a little better than a prisoner. “One of these days Jatar I’m going to get you a better place to stay.”
Jatar chuckled, “No Wilhelm, this is how I like it simple living working hard day after day for my stay.” He returned to his table then felt obliged to add, “it’s not like I’m a prisoner after all, your mother has told me often that I don’t have to stay down here as long as I stay away from her office where people are constantly coming and going. It’s not that I can’t go upstairs it’s that I don’t want to.” He cleared some books off of another chair and motioned for Will to sit, “Now what is it you wanted, surely you didn’t come down here to discuss my living conditions.”
“I have a question I need to ask you.”
Jatar waved his hand in a welcoming gesture, “Well ask away.”
“Well,” Wilhelm began positioning himself comfortably in his chair, “I know that no matter how hard you try you can’t help but invade people’s minds, especially people you just met.”
“Yes that’s correct,” Jatar admitted, a bit embarrassed at where this was going, “although I hate to admit it.”
“Well I was wondering what you saw in Wella’s mind?”
“Ahh, ahh, ahh,” Jatar chided, waving his finger in Will’s face, “it’s none of your business what I can’t help but see. That is between me and Wella.”
Wilhelm frowned and nodded in understanding, “Ok, then can you answer this. Is Wella part of the conspiracy against my mother?”
“And why would you think that?” Jatar settled back into his seat his face not betraying even a hint as to whether or not Will had struck a cord
“Well last night I saw her sneak out of the house. I followed her to the gate where she met with this man. I wasn’t close enough to tell what they were saying but I have a feeling that she may be a main part of the conspiracy against us.” Will paused, “She…she was wearing an engagement ring in her ear.”
Jatar sighed. “It is true it was written all over her mind she is most definitely not what she seems.” Wilhelm’s shoulders slumped and put his head in his hands.
“What am I going to do? I can’t tell my mother or father they’ll order her to be put in prison and…and I love her.
“Well does she love you in return?”
“I don’t know I thought she did. But that could all be part of her act. You would know better than I would Jatar. Does she?”
Jatar shook his head smiling, “Maybe you should confront her and find out for yourself.”
“You’re right I’ll talk to her.” Will stood up and Jatar followed suit. Will glanced at the bed again. “Really Jatar, as soon as I can I’m going to get you some more comfortable lodgings,”
“Stop worrying so much about me, it’s Wella you must worry about right now.” With that Jatar pushed Wilhelm out the door closing the door firmly behind him.
Wella sat on a bench in the courtyard, a gentle breeze stirring her short-cropped gold hair as she said there thinking and worrying about what she would say to Japhin. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would be furious and may even threaten to kill her as well. But she knew she had to do it she had to protect the one she loved. And I have to warn Wilhelm too. She sighed at the thought of having to admit to Wilhelm that she had been a major part of a plan to kill him and his family. “I’m so afraid,” she whispered into the wind, “There are worse things than death in this world.”
“What’s the matter?” Wilhelm said coming up behind her. She jumped and spun around on the stone bench her eyes wide with the fear of what he may have heard.
“Wilhelm.”
“Wella I need to ask you something.” He seemed distracted and she realized that he hadn’t heard her thoughts.
“I need to tell you something too.” She said turning completely to face him now and taking a deep breath, “But you first.”
“Wella do you love me?”
She was taken aback by this question for a moment before answering, “Of course I do, Will.”
“Then answer me honestly. Are you making plans against my family?”
“Wilhelm I—“ How could he have possibly known, he knew for sure and now he was testing her loyalty. This was the opportunity she had been looking for and here it was practically falling in her lap, “Yes I am. But you have to understand,” she added quickly, “I’m done with that I don’t want to hurt you or you family. They don’t have my help anymore.” Then Wella began to cry. “But it may be too late I already have said too much they have enough information to destroy your family without my help. I just wish I had quit sooner.”
Wilhelm was speechless he couldn’t believe that she had actually admitted everything.
Finally he spoke, “Is there anything we can do to stop them?”
“No, not Japhin hates humans and therefore hates your mother because she has brought the humans to Imaginess. He’s ruthless. I think this has been part of his plan all the time, to attack when our world is the weakest and make himself ruler instead. He could care less about the rightful ruler, he’s the only ruler in his eyes that could ever be good enough. There’s no way to stop him. Even if she canceled the 4th of July party it would do no good. Japhin has been planning this for years and he won’t be thwarted so easily.”
“We only have one choice.” Wella looked at him expectantly through tear filled eyes, “We have to warn my mother. She needs to know of this so she can take the necessary measures to stop it.”
“I can’t do this, Will.” Wella said placing her hand on Will’s shoulder as he lifted his hand to knock on the door, “What if she gets angry.”
Wilhelm turned and cupped Wella’s face in his hand, “Just tell her what you told me and I’ll be here to defend you.” She nodded and Wilhelm turned back and knocked on the door. There was a gentle call from inside and Wilhelm opened the door.
Leena was sitting in her office reading a note that Rowel had just sent her when they entered.
“Hello Wilhelm what is it Sweetie?”
“Mother we have come to warn you of an uprising. Some people are planning to take over and will kill us all if you don’t do something to stop it.”
Leena looked up at him suddenly a cloud of pain filled her eyes. “Don’t think that I’m clueless about this uprising,” She said to him sadly, “I know more about it than most.”
Wilhelm stared at her curiously and tried to get her to look into his eyes. “What do you know?”
She brushed away a tear and crossed to the window. “The end has begun for me my son and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
An irrational fear gripped Wilhelm but he wasn’t sure why, all he knew was that his mothers talk was beginning to scare him. “What are you talking about?”
She turned to him a wild fear in her eyes. “You must get out of here, both of you, Japhin is going to kill all the humans and human lovers in just a couple of days and there’s nothing we can do stop it.”
Wilhelm and Wella exchanged looks; she really did know what was happening. Will took a step towards his mother trying to reassure her that all was not lost. “Mom, you can stop all this, cancel the party, set up guards, something.”
Leena shook her head. “It’s no use, Will, Japhin will stop at nothing to rid Imaginess of the likes of me and he will succeed.”
“If you keep thinking like that he will.”
Leena shook her head, “I’ve already done everything in my power to protect as many people as possible. Your sister and her husband have returned safely to earth. I have ordered all human serving stores to be closed or humans rejected in the hopes of sending as many of them home as possible. I have warned your father and my workers of the coming attack asking them all to flee for safety, though many would rather stand by my side and now I ask, no, command you to get out of town.”
“I won’t.”
Tears were pouring down her cheeks now, “You have to. You are the true heir and only through you and Wella can our world be restored.”
“We won’t leave.”
“Than I banish you.” She said angrily, “get out of my presence, get out of Zora and don’t let me ever see your face again.”
70 year old Mrs. Rowan answered the door at the soft knock. “Wilhelm to what do I owe this visit?”
“We need a place to stay Mrs. Rowan. My mother has banished me from Zora.”
“Oh dear come in, come in.”
“I never thought I’d see the day when that sweet, young girl would turn against her own family.” Wilhelm was too upset to correct her assumption as he moved into the living room and sat down. “I was 30 when she first came here,” The old woman was saying, “and she was such a sweet little thing and now she’s losing her head. If my husband hadn’t already had a heart attack he certainly would have when he heard this. You can definitely stay with me until all this is passed. I’ve been quiet lonely since my husband died and I don’t see the children often.”
Wilhelm recovered his voice enough to speak, “We do plan on going to that party still whether my mother likes it or not. We have to be sure she’s safe. And…” he said taking Wella’s hand in his, “We plan to be married by then we have three months still before all the chaos and I want to be married before it’s too late.” Wella smiled and nodded.
“Of course you can be married whenever you want.”
“Tomorrow.” Said Wella quickly “The sooner the better.” And then she looked out the window close beside her “And no one shall know it must be a secret wedding. Japhin can’t know that I’m married or he will do everything in his power to get revenge.”
Japhin knocked on the door of Wella’s house early the next morning. An old Imaginese came to the door. “Japhin! what is it? Come in!” Japhin stepped inside the house and pulled off his coat then moved into the living room where he took a seat on the couch. “Can I get you something to drink?” Wella’s father asked.
“No thank you Punt. I’m fine.”
“So to what do I owe this visit?” The man asked settling down into a chair
“Well everything is just about set for the attack on the Zotac all that’s left is the poison.”
“Ahh yes I have it up in the lab I’ll be right back.” Punt got up and shuffled into another room. While he was gone Japhin took a look around the room. Pictures of Wella and Punt’s late wife, Wella’s mother hung on the walls. The place was well taken care of due to Wella’s artistic nature. But the thing that he cared the most about-but that no one would know by looking at this room-was the riches of this family. Although Punt Kinder didn’t like to flaunt his wealth to the world, this was what drew Japhin to this family
Punt, who had grown up rich and spoiled, had fallen in love with Yolana, a poor girl with out a care in the world for money. When they had married Yolana had insisted that they buy a smaller house and sell most of Punt’s valuables. Because of Punt’s love for her he agreed and when Wella was born Yolana’s dying wish was that her daughter would not know how truly wealthy she was. And so far Punt had kept that promise to his wife. But Japhin knew better.
Something that not even Punt knew was that Japhin was the son of Yolana’s late best friend. His mother had told him many times of the riches of Punt and so he had vowed that one day he would marry the girl.
Punt returned then, shuffling over to him carrying the potion in one of his many hands, “Now be careful whose cup you put it into.” Punt said before dropping it into Japhin’s waiting fingers, “It’s strong and will most likely kill instantly.” Punt lifted a finger to shake at the young Imaginese standing before him. “If my daughter gets any of this you’d better leave the planet because if you stay on this planet you won’t live for very long.” Japhin took the small glass bottle with an arm in his stomach and pulled it inside himself.
“Don’t worry, Punt, you’re daughter won’t even be at the party.” With that he pulled on his coat and walked out the door.
Brittney grabbed another dish off the kitchen counter and dipped it into the water. She grabbed the rag and absently wiped the old food off of it. She jumped as another firecracker went off down the street. She pushed back the curtain and looked out into the blackness as the young boys slapped each other five, laughing in the dim light of the street lamps.
There was only one more week until the Forth of July and every firecracker that went off was a painful reminder of how close they were getting to her mothers inevitable death. The boys were beginning to set up another one as Brittney let the curtain drop back in front of the window and put the clean dish into the other sink.
Her heart jumped again as the next shot rang out. Will it be a gun that will end her life? she thought she gritted her teeth as yet another one rang through the house each one seemingly louder than the last.
She slammed the bowl she was washing down. Soap and water spilled on the counter and dripped down the sides but she ignored it. She leaned up against the wall, clutching her ears with her wet hands, trying to block out the horrible sounds and slid to the ground as she began to cry.
Wella awoke the morning after her meeting with Japhin and the first thing that popped into her head was that in three weeks she was going to betray Wilhelm. She wasn’t sure why this mattered so much to her. It’s because you love him you idiot. No that’s impossible you love Japhin. Are you sure that you love Japhin? Or you just enamored by his strength and Charisma? You know the truth you don’t love him and he doesn’t love you.
Then why does he want to marry me? You know it’s your status, more your father’s status and riches that he wants. He thinks you don’t know about your fathers riches but that’s where you’ve outsmarted him. You’re no one to him just a pawn a way to get rich and you know it. He’s using you. Wilhelm’s the only one who’s ever really cared about you and now you’ve just betrayed him. Him and his entire family. Wella sat up in her bed now as the thought completely dawned on her. What had she done? In three more weeks Wilhelm and all his family would be dead and it was because of her. The man that she had come to love so deeply was to die in a three week’s time. And it was all because of her.
She slipped out of bed and pulled on her robe, she looked in the mirror and shuddered at the look of utter hopelessness she found there. It was so horrifying that she decided not to worry about her hair for the day. She opened a small jewelry box and pulled out a simple, silver hoop earring. She hadn’t worn it since she had first met Wetam. How could she when she was trying to hide the truth of her engagement from him?
She pushed back her hair and slipped the earring painlessly through the hole in her ear. In three months time, when her and Japhin were wed the earring would be joined by another similar hoop placed in her right ear, this one gold. She fingered the hoop gently and examined her reflection in the mirror.
She sighed and spoke gently to her reflection. “Well, it’s about time you tell Wilhelm the truth. I can’t live a lie any longer.” With that she turned and slipped out of the room in search for Wilhelm.
Wilhelm knocked on the big, steel door at the bottom of the basement stairs. The clanging of machinery sounded on the other side of the doors and then swung open. “To what do I owe this visit?” Jatar asked as Wilhelm entered the room. Wilhelm hesitated and looked around the room, his eyes resting on the simple bed that Jatar slept in night after night and felt guilty for the luxury he lived in while this alien lived only a little better than a prisoner. “One of these days Jatar I’m going to get you a better place to stay.”
Jatar chuckled, “No Wilhelm, this is how I like it simple living working hard day after day for my stay.” He returned to his table then felt obliged to add, “it’s not like I’m a prisoner after all, your mother has told me often that I don’t have to stay down here as long as I stay away from her office where people are constantly coming and going. It’s not that I can’t go upstairs it’s that I don’t want to.” He cleared some books off of another chair and motioned for Will to sit, “Now what is it you wanted, surely you didn’t come down here to discuss my living conditions.”
“I have a question I need to ask you.”
Jatar waved his hand in a welcoming gesture, “Well ask away.”
“Well,” Wilhelm began positioning himself comfortably in his chair, “I know that no matter how hard you try you can’t help but invade people’s minds, especially people you just met.”
“Yes that’s correct,” Jatar admitted, a bit embarrassed at where this was going, “although I hate to admit it.”
“Well I was wondering what you saw in Wella’s mind?”
“Ahh, ahh, ahh,” Jatar chided, waving his finger in Will’s face, “it’s none of your business what I can’t help but see. That is between me and Wella.”
Wilhelm frowned and nodded in understanding, “Ok, then can you answer this. Is Wella part of the conspiracy against my mother?”
“And why would you think that?” Jatar settled back into his seat his face not betraying even a hint as to whether or not Will had struck a cord
“Well last night I saw her sneak out of the house. I followed her to the gate where she met with this man. I wasn’t close enough to tell what they were saying but I have a feeling that she may be a main part of the conspiracy against us.” Will paused, “She…she was wearing an engagement ring in her ear.”
Jatar sighed. “It is true it was written all over her mind she is most definitely not what she seems.” Wilhelm’s shoulders slumped and put his head in his hands.
“What am I going to do? I can’t tell my mother or father they’ll order her to be put in prison and…and I love her.
“Well does she love you in return?”
“I don’t know I thought she did. But that could all be part of her act. You would know better than I would Jatar. Does she?”
Jatar shook his head smiling, “Maybe you should confront her and find out for yourself.”
“You’re right I’ll talk to her.” Will stood up and Jatar followed suit. Will glanced at the bed again. “Really Jatar, as soon as I can I’m going to get you some more comfortable lodgings,”
“Stop worrying so much about me, it’s Wella you must worry about right now.” With that Jatar pushed Wilhelm out the door closing the door firmly behind him.
Wella sat on a bench in the courtyard, a gentle breeze stirring her short-cropped gold hair as she said there thinking and worrying about what she would say to Japhin. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would be furious and may even threaten to kill her as well. But she knew she had to do it she had to protect the one she loved. And I have to warn Wilhelm too. She sighed at the thought of having to admit to Wilhelm that she had been a major part of a plan to kill him and his family. “I’m so afraid,” she whispered into the wind, “There are worse things than death in this world.”
“What’s the matter?” Wilhelm said coming up behind her. She jumped and spun around on the stone bench her eyes wide with the fear of what he may have heard.
“Wilhelm.”
“Wella I need to ask you something.” He seemed distracted and she realized that he hadn’t heard her thoughts.
“I need to tell you something too.” She said turning completely to face him now and taking a deep breath, “But you first.”
“Wella do you love me?”
She was taken aback by this question for a moment before answering, “Of course I do, Will.”
“Then answer me honestly. Are you making plans against my family?”
“Wilhelm I—“ How could he have possibly known, he knew for sure and now he was testing her loyalty. This was the opportunity she had been looking for and here it was practically falling in her lap, “Yes I am. But you have to understand,” she added quickly, “I’m done with that I don’t want to hurt you or you family. They don’t have my help anymore.” Then Wella began to cry. “But it may be too late I already have said too much they have enough information to destroy your family without my help. I just wish I had quit sooner.”
Wilhelm was speechless he couldn’t believe that she had actually admitted everything.
Finally he spoke, “Is there anything we can do to stop them?”
“No, not Japhin hates humans and therefore hates your mother because she has brought the humans to Imaginess. He’s ruthless. I think this has been part of his plan all the time, to attack when our world is the weakest and make himself ruler instead. He could care less about the rightful ruler, he’s the only ruler in his eyes that could ever be good enough. There’s no way to stop him. Even if she canceled the 4th of July party it would do no good. Japhin has been planning this for years and he won’t be thwarted so easily.”
“We only have one choice.” Wella looked at him expectantly through tear filled eyes, “We have to warn my mother. She needs to know of this so she can take the necessary measures to stop it.”
“I can’t do this, Will.” Wella said placing her hand on Will’s shoulder as he lifted his hand to knock on the door, “What if she gets angry.”
Wilhelm turned and cupped Wella’s face in his hand, “Just tell her what you told me and I’ll be here to defend you.” She nodded and Wilhelm turned back and knocked on the door. There was a gentle call from inside and Wilhelm opened the door.
Leena was sitting in her office reading a note that Rowel had just sent her when they entered.
“Hello Wilhelm what is it Sweetie?”
“Mother we have come to warn you of an uprising. Some people are planning to take over and will kill us all if you don’t do something to stop it.”
Leena looked up at him suddenly a cloud of pain filled her eyes. “Don’t think that I’m clueless about this uprising,” She said to him sadly, “I know more about it than most.”
Wilhelm stared at her curiously and tried to get her to look into his eyes. “What do you know?”
She brushed away a tear and crossed to the window. “The end has begun for me my son and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
An irrational fear gripped Wilhelm but he wasn’t sure why, all he knew was that his mothers talk was beginning to scare him. “What are you talking about?”
She turned to him a wild fear in her eyes. “You must get out of here, both of you, Japhin is going to kill all the humans and human lovers in just a couple of days and there’s nothing we can do stop it.”
Wilhelm and Wella exchanged looks; she really did know what was happening. Will took a step towards his mother trying to reassure her that all was not lost. “Mom, you can stop all this, cancel the party, set up guards, something.”
Leena shook her head. “It’s no use, Will, Japhin will stop at nothing to rid Imaginess of the likes of me and he will succeed.”
“If you keep thinking like that he will.”
Leena shook her head, “I’ve already done everything in my power to protect as many people as possible. Your sister and her husband have returned safely to earth. I have ordered all human serving stores to be closed or humans rejected in the hopes of sending as many of them home as possible. I have warned your father and my workers of the coming attack asking them all to flee for safety, though many would rather stand by my side and now I ask, no, command you to get out of town.”
“I won’t.”
Tears were pouring down her cheeks now, “You have to. You are the true heir and only through you and Wella can our world be restored.”
“We won’t leave.”
“Than I banish you.” She said angrily, “get out of my presence, get out of Zora and don’t let me ever see your face again.”
70 year old Mrs. Rowan answered the door at the soft knock. “Wilhelm to what do I owe this visit?”
“We need a place to stay Mrs. Rowan. My mother has banished me from Zora.”
“Oh dear come in, come in.”
“I never thought I’d see the day when that sweet, young girl would turn against her own family.” Wilhelm was too upset to correct her assumption as he moved into the living room and sat down. “I was 30 when she first came here,” The old woman was saying, “and she was such a sweet little thing and now she’s losing her head. If my husband hadn’t already had a heart attack he certainly would have when he heard this. You can definitely stay with me until all this is passed. I’ve been quiet lonely since my husband died and I don’t see the children often.”
Wilhelm recovered his voice enough to speak, “We do plan on going to that party still whether my mother likes it or not. We have to be sure she’s safe. And…” he said taking Wella’s hand in his, “We plan to be married by then we have three months still before all the chaos and I want to be married before it’s too late.” Wella smiled and nodded.
“Of course you can be married whenever you want.”
“Tomorrow.” Said Wella quickly “The sooner the better.” And then she looked out the window close beside her “And no one shall know it must be a secret wedding. Japhin can’t know that I’m married or he will do everything in his power to get revenge.”
The Rebellion (Chapter 2)
Wilhelm's Girl
Wilhelm walked through Utavi woods and stopped in the middle of the clearing. He vaguely remembered a time when he and his sister would come running down this same path on their way to the Utavi village. A village of oval shaped people that had crash landed on Imaginess before either of them was born. The aliens had been banished from the planet long before he was born but he had always loved it when Brittney had taken him here and told him the story even though she had never met them herself.
The village was considerably run down now a place long forgotten by the people of Imaginess. What a shame. He thought as he looked out over the edge of the hill he was on toward the glistening lake. Such a beautiful view. Some people still visited the lake but few ventured up the hill to the village many missed this experience.
He tried to imagine the place back when it had been well cared for but the image of the weeds and vines that had mostly overrun the place now invaded his mind. He walked to the middle of the ruins to a fairly new statue that was erected in the middle of the place. The statue was of a dragon on its hind legs breathing fire, a girl was on his back grasping a sword. Not a very realistic statue he thought. He bent down and cleared the dirt and leaves from the name plate, it read: here lies Seurmiera savior of Imaginess and beloved of many. May her memory remain even in death. He stared at it for a moment remembering life with the dragon. “I wish you were still here Miera.” He whispered. “Things have been so different since you and Tidwit died but especially you. The two of you went through so much and now your gone. Mom’s practically gone insane. You always seemed to know when something was wrong, you always helped to keep her sane.”
Wilhelm sat there examining the statue and thinking about the dragon. Wilhelm had loved the dragon he was just glad that she had died a natural death and not the tragic death that Tidwit his mother’s chimp had. The poor chimp’s skull shattered when a careless child threw a rock and knocked him out of the tree he had been sitting in. Tidwit was buried in the court yard at the Queen Mary under his favorite tree. Seurmiera had been buried in the courtyard as well until his mother couldn’t stand the sight of the statue anymore and she had it moved out here. Her excuse being “Seurmiera knew about the Utavi even before we did so it’s only right that we bury her there.”
Wilhelm stood and Vito came and landed on his shoulder. The two examined the deserted village “What do you think Vito do you think the two of us could make a living here.” The bird made some twittering sounds and Wilhelm nodded although he couldn’t understand animals like his sister could he liked to pretend and besides he had been with Vito long enough to know somewhat what the bird was saying “Yeah I think we could make it work. It will definitely need some fixing up but it will be worth it.
Wilhelm examined the houses until he was certain he’d located a suitable house. He had decided to move out not long after his mothers declaration. As big as the mansion was it just felt to crowded and he was tired of feeling as if he was stepping on his sisters toes by being there. He needed escape however temporary it may be. He began clearing away some of the debris and doing what little he could to fix it up without any tools. Even without tools the place looked quite good by the time he was done. He was thirsty from working so hard and dirt stuck to his skin so he climbed back down the hill in the direction of the lake with Vito not far behind him.
As he sat there washing the dirt from his hair and skin a sound from outside the clearing caught his attention and Vito went flying off into the woods “Vito? Vito come back here.” There was a crunch and Wilhelm froze waiting to see what would come out of the woods. “Who’s there?” he yelled out hopping he sounded braver than he felt. A girl stepped out from behind a tree her clothes were tattered and her hair was a mess. She had mud splattered on her clothes and a couple scratches and bruises on her face and arms. “Are you all right?” Wilhelm asked running over to where the girl had collapsed and pulling her into his arms.
“I need…water.” The girl whispered hoarsely between dry lips. Wilhelm ran over to where his things were and filled his canister with fresh water from the lake he brought it over to her and she drank greedily. She drank three fourths of the thing before taking a breath then she wiped her mouth and put the canteen down. “Thank you.” She gasped.
“What happened to you?” The girl shrugged.
“Nothing much just had to go through some hard underbrush. It was a long trip.”
“Where are you from?”
“Alinta.”
“Alinta? That’s halfway across the planet did you walk that far.” She shook her head.
“Of course not I hitched a ride from a couple people.”
“Still that’s a long trip. Why did you come so far?” She shrugged again and looked around. The thought that her behavior was strange crossed his mind but fled when she tried to stand. He stood up and helped her to her feet stepping back when she got her footing. “Easy now I don’t think your in any condition to walk yet.”
“I’m fine, I little scratched up but not beyond standing on my own two feet.”
Wilhelm stepped back in obedience and shook his head. “Still I’d feel much better if you rested a bit before continuing to where ever it is your going.”
The girl nodded “I’m actually staying here in Zora. I have an aunt who lives here.”
“Well the least you can do is join me for lunch I was just about to eat.” Wilhelm motioned to a basket sitting on a stone.
She nodded and turned back to him. “First I have to know your name.”
“Wilhelm. It’s Wilhelm.”
“I’m Wella.” He took her hand and shook it.
The trap was set and Wilhelm had been caught in it.
Brittney knocked on the beautifully engraved door of one of the most beautiful mansions in Arlington, Virginia where she lived. A woman came to the door. “Hey Brittney come on in don’t mind the mess I’m in the middle of something.” She turned and walked back inside the house motioning for Brittney to enter.
“When are you not in the middle of something Shanti?” Brittney asked as she walked past her friend into the house.
“When the president stops trying to convince your mother to build houses for humans on Imaginess.” They had moved into the living room now and Shanti removed a laptop and stack of books off of the couch moving them to a paper covered coffee table before sitting down. “Have a seat.”
Brittney sat and continued the conversation. “Yeah well maybe you need to start convincing my mom about that.”
“You don’t mean she’s going to,” Shanti practically shouted, “that would destroy everything I’ve worked on the last 7 years.”
“No not quite.” Brittney shook her head trying to calm her friend
“Then what.”
“She wants me to rule Imaginess.”
“WHAT.” Shanti stood now. “That can’t be right has your mother completely lost her head. That’s just asking for a rebellion.” She began pacing the room angrily
“That’s what I tried to tell her but she wouldn’t listen. But what’s worse is that I had this dream of this guy telling me to get off of Imaginess before the 4th of July party. He said that my mom had failed him and that now my mom wouldn’t live much longer and that the planet was going to fall into chaos. He also told me that everyone else would be safe and not to worry about them. I don’t know I’m worried.”
“Gaylin.”
“What?”
“You were wise to listen to him Brittney. Gaylin has visited your mothers dreams many time and always with good council. He gave her this prophecy ‘that when the Imaginese and Earthling stand together him and his wife would be released.”
“But who is he.”
“He’s Leena’s father who was put into some dream world when she was two that’s why she was adopted.”
“What could have my mom done to make him so upset.”
“I don’t know but I would stay far away from Imaginess until after the 4th of July party.”
“That’s what my mom said. She was really freaked out. I think she knows she’s done something wrong but she’s unsure as how to fix it. She seemed to think that it was too late for her.”
Wilhelm and Wella made their way through the woods and toward the mansion in the middle of the city. It had been about a week since Wilhelm and Wella had met in the woods that brisk morning and they had met there everyday since. She helped him fix up the house that he hoped to make into his home and they always had a picnic lunch. It had been nearly a whirlwind romance and sometimes Wilhelm wondered if things were progressing too quickly, until he saw her that is. She had a way about her that calmed all his fears. She had such an innocence about her that she was hard to resist, she seemed almost shy but yet when in the middle of a full blown conversation he had found a very opinionated young girl. Someone that was much too hard to resist.
They walked inside the mansion and Wilhelm led her toward his mother’s office. “I don’t know of this is such a good idea, Will.” She said letting her shyness surface.
“Don’t worry about it my mom may be busy but she always has time for her people especially her kids.” He knocked on the door and opened it and pulled her inside. “Mom.” He began pushing Wella in front of him slightly. “I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine.”
“That’s nice Hon,” she said not looking up from her paperwork. Sira who was standing behind her gasped and clapped her hands joyfully.
“Oh, about time, Will good for you.” Leena cleared her throat to get Sira’s attention and handed her a stack of papers.
“Get these to the decoration committee so they can begin to prepare for the party in a week.” Sira frowned and took the papers and started out of the room as she left she turned to Wilhelm. “Maybe you should try your father he’s in the library.” Wilhelm nodded then turned back to his mother as Sira hurried out of the room. Leena still didn’t look up.
“Fine then,” Wilhelm said hotly, “if you don’t care enough to take a two minute break then don’t bother even asking if you can use my wing of the house for the party because you can’t. And it would serve you right if I didn’t even show up for this stupid party. Come on Wella.” He grabbed Wella’s hand and hurried out of the room and started in the direction of the library.
If he had had looked more closely he would have seen the single, large tear that fell from her eye, the shaking hand, as she sorted through her papers and the look of pain in her eyes as she watched him disappear.
“Well you’ve found yourself a girl. Good for you Will.” Wilhelm had found Mattim in the library just like he had been told and his father’s reaction had been much what he had expected from his mother. “So Wella are you coming to the 4th of July party?”
“No offence sir” Wella responded letting her shyness fade for the moment and her opinions surface, “but I find it revolting the way your wife seems to have forgotten that 4th of July falls on the same day as Techno a day that as you may well remember is very, very important to the Imaginese’s. I well understand that you and your wife were raised on earth but she lives here now. And if you don’t mind me saying I think she works too hard to please the Earthlings.”
Mattim’s eyebrow rose as he said. “Well, well Will it looks like you found yourself a tough cookie she sure speaks her mind. That’s good it’s nice to know what people are thinking sometimes and to tell you the truth I agree. I don’t know what’s gotten into my wife lately I’m sure it will pass but just to be safe, Will, would you mind having a talk with Jatar just to be sure.”
“Yeah no problem,” He grabbed Wella’s hand, “come on. Wait until you meet Jatar”
Wilhelm and Wella made their way down, down, down into the depths of the mansion. The place was humid and dank and covered in cobwebs. They soon came to a big metal door. Bubbling and banging sounds came from inside. Wilhelm knocked on the door. There was a pause and then a grating sound and the door creaked open. Wilhelm entered followed closely by a once again timid Wella. “Don’t worry Wella, Jatar’s not dangerous.”
“But what about all those story’s about monsters and stuff.”
“Their just that…stories. they aren’t true.”
“Who goes there?” Came a new voice from out of the smoke that flooded the room. “Wilhelm is that you?” A grinding sound was heard and then the smoke parted and a face appeared it was coming towards them.
It was a friendly face a bit grayish and strange, a long nose covered most of his face with nostrils on the top near his eyes, he had two mouths one on either side of the nose and he looked much like an elephant. The room in which they were standing in was filled with all sorts of lab equipment and a couple cages of smaller creatures that Jatar used as food.
Since Juptans feed by controlling them Jatar had decided that he would get a bunch of small creatures and control them when he was hungry that was what most of the people on his planet did when there was no war to be fought. The little creatures had become more than food though they had become his friends. He didn’t get visitors very often since he had to stay hidden. Leena had told him that the Imaginese would not approve if they knew that a Juptan lived on Imaginess. Brittney came to visit him when she was on the planet and his friend Tucker who ruled the planet Saturn came and visited sometimes and of course Mattim, Leena and Wilhelm visited often but those visits lately had become few and far between.
“To what do I owe this honor?” He said wiping his three-fingered hand on a cloth
“Two things actually.” Stated Will stepping forward “for one I would like you to meet someone,” he pulled Wella to his side. “This is my new friend Wella.”
Jatar stuck out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” Wella took it and gave it a timid shake. “So what’s the second thing?” Jatar asked stepping back from Wella and looking back at Wilhelm.
“The second thing is my mom. She’s been acting strange lately Dad says the last time she acted like this was on their honeymoon.” Jatar cringed.
“Yes, the honeymoon I’ll never forget that day. Bless that wonderful monkey for breaking my nose and saving that poor girl from what I was about to do.”
“Yeah well it’s happening again have you seen anything that might explain her behavior?” Jatar went over to a table and shuffled through some papers he frowned and then went over to a computer and clicked on a couple things, jotted down a couple notes and then stood up shaking his head. “It seems to me that Leena has been having some highly adrenaline-laced dreams.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” he held up one of the papers that he had been looking at, “These are normal brainwaves during sleep,” he pointed to the computer, “these are Leena’s brainwaves. As you can see hers are considerably higher.”
“Is there anything you can do?”
“Not unless she comes down for testing but good luck convincing her that there’s something wrong. She’s a stubborn one that mother of yours” Wilhelm nodded agreeing.
Wella sat on a bench in Wilhelm’s vine covered balcony. Wilhelm stood leaning over the railing looking out over the city to all the people most Imaginese but a couple humans walking around totally oblivious to the problems that the people in this house had been having lately. Wilhelm had gone to see his mother to ask if she would go and see Jatar, but as Jatar had said she had refused to go.
“So Will are you really going to go to that party that your mom is holding or are you really going to bail?” Will turned around surprised by Wella’s sudden question she had been pretty quiet since leaving Jatar and now for the first time she spoke again.
“Of course I am, I have to.”
“Apparently you don’t your sister doesn’t as is obvious by the fact that she left.”
“So what are you suggesting?”
“Well are you still planning on not letting your mom use your wing?”
“Yeah I was considering it.”
“Will think about it. Think about what you have. You have a whole wing available to you and remember 4th of July is on the same day as Techno the people would love it if you held a Techno party while your mother’s party is going. What type of image would that leave your mother if neither of her children turned up and not only that but one of them was holding his own party.”
“I don’t know.”
“Think about it, Will” She said standing up now and coming to his side. “Just think of the impact that would make.” She placed her hand on his arm now and he glupped. “Please Will, for me.” She batted her eyelashes looking at him pleadingly.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
There was a full moon that night as Wella snuck out of the mansion and into the damp air, she ran to the servant’s gate and opened it she waited there under an awning pulling the light shawl which was the only thing she had thought to grab tighter around her shoulders as the mist got heavier.
Suddenly a figure loomed out of the darkness. The figure ran under the awning to join her, wiping the water from his face. Wella ran into his arms clinging to him as if her life depended on him. He pushed her off “Well there’s no time for this now we need to get down to business. Tell me what you found out”
Wella frowned at Japhin put off by what had just happened. She recovered quickly realizing that it would do no good to let him see her disappointment, “It seems almost impossible to get Leena to change her mind nothing her son does seems to get through to her even her own husband doesn’t agree with half the decisions she’s making. And as it turns out her oldest daughter the one that’s supposed to become leader left Imaginess she didn’t even stay for the celebration of her favorite holiday and Wilhelm isn’t letting his mother use his wing of the house which is the best wing of the house if I do say so myself. I suggested to him that he hold his own party a Techno party.”
Japhin’s eyes lit up. “What did he say to that?”
“He said yes, we start the decorating tomorrow.”
“Wonderful! Anything else I should know.”
“Not that I can…wait there is one more thing,” she hesitated and Japhin grabbed her by the shoulders shaking her slightly to get it out of her.
“What? What is it?”
“They have a Juptan in their basement apparently that’s what keeps them safe and why we never have any attacks anymore. He could be a problem.”
Japhin released Wella’s shoulders and began to pace, “A Juptan, they are practically impossible to defeat.”
“He said something about a monkey breaking his nose if that helps anything.”
“A monkey broke his nose?” he had stopped now and was staring at her curiously, “What exactly did he say?”
She told him.
“Well this is just wonderful. A new way to defeat the Juptans.” He leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek in an instant changing from sinister to sweet. “Thank you sweetie. Now you should get before they realize that you’re missing. I’ll meet with you again in two days.” Wella nodded and turned to run back into the mist.
As soon as she was within the gate she stopped, leaning up against the
wall ignoring the mist that surrounded her. She wiped her cheek where he had kissed her. What is wrong with me? She thought Japhin’s going to make this all better and besides Japhin isn’t a human lover. But maybe it’s ok to be a human lover maybe it’s not necessarily a bad thing to be a human lover. Maybe we’ve just misjudged them. Oh I don’t know I’m so confused maybe I just need to sleep. With that Wella turned and ran back into the mansion.
Wilhelm walked through Utavi woods and stopped in the middle of the clearing. He vaguely remembered a time when he and his sister would come running down this same path on their way to the Utavi village. A village of oval shaped people that had crash landed on Imaginess before either of them was born. The aliens had been banished from the planet long before he was born but he had always loved it when Brittney had taken him here and told him the story even though she had never met them herself.
The village was considerably run down now a place long forgotten by the people of Imaginess. What a shame. He thought as he looked out over the edge of the hill he was on toward the glistening lake. Such a beautiful view. Some people still visited the lake but few ventured up the hill to the village many missed this experience.
He tried to imagine the place back when it had been well cared for but the image of the weeds and vines that had mostly overrun the place now invaded his mind. He walked to the middle of the ruins to a fairly new statue that was erected in the middle of the place. The statue was of a dragon on its hind legs breathing fire, a girl was on his back grasping a sword. Not a very realistic statue he thought. He bent down and cleared the dirt and leaves from the name plate, it read: here lies Seurmiera savior of Imaginess and beloved of many. May her memory remain even in death. He stared at it for a moment remembering life with the dragon. “I wish you were still here Miera.” He whispered. “Things have been so different since you and Tidwit died but especially you. The two of you went through so much and now your gone. Mom’s practically gone insane. You always seemed to know when something was wrong, you always helped to keep her sane.”
Wilhelm sat there examining the statue and thinking about the dragon. Wilhelm had loved the dragon he was just glad that she had died a natural death and not the tragic death that Tidwit his mother’s chimp had. The poor chimp’s skull shattered when a careless child threw a rock and knocked him out of the tree he had been sitting in. Tidwit was buried in the court yard at the Queen Mary under his favorite tree. Seurmiera had been buried in the courtyard as well until his mother couldn’t stand the sight of the statue anymore and she had it moved out here. Her excuse being “Seurmiera knew about the Utavi even before we did so it’s only right that we bury her there.”
Wilhelm stood and Vito came and landed on his shoulder. The two examined the deserted village “What do you think Vito do you think the two of us could make a living here.” The bird made some twittering sounds and Wilhelm nodded although he couldn’t understand animals like his sister could he liked to pretend and besides he had been with Vito long enough to know somewhat what the bird was saying “Yeah I think we could make it work. It will definitely need some fixing up but it will be worth it.
Wilhelm examined the houses until he was certain he’d located a suitable house. He had decided to move out not long after his mothers declaration. As big as the mansion was it just felt to crowded and he was tired of feeling as if he was stepping on his sisters toes by being there. He needed escape however temporary it may be. He began clearing away some of the debris and doing what little he could to fix it up without any tools. Even without tools the place looked quite good by the time he was done. He was thirsty from working so hard and dirt stuck to his skin so he climbed back down the hill in the direction of the lake with Vito not far behind him.
As he sat there washing the dirt from his hair and skin a sound from outside the clearing caught his attention and Vito went flying off into the woods “Vito? Vito come back here.” There was a crunch and Wilhelm froze waiting to see what would come out of the woods. “Who’s there?” he yelled out hopping he sounded braver than he felt. A girl stepped out from behind a tree her clothes were tattered and her hair was a mess. She had mud splattered on her clothes and a couple scratches and bruises on her face and arms. “Are you all right?” Wilhelm asked running over to where the girl had collapsed and pulling her into his arms.
“I need…water.” The girl whispered hoarsely between dry lips. Wilhelm ran over to where his things were and filled his canister with fresh water from the lake he brought it over to her and she drank greedily. She drank three fourths of the thing before taking a breath then she wiped her mouth and put the canteen down. “Thank you.” She gasped.
“What happened to you?” The girl shrugged.
“Nothing much just had to go through some hard underbrush. It was a long trip.”
“Where are you from?”
“Alinta.”
“Alinta? That’s halfway across the planet did you walk that far.” She shook her head.
“Of course not I hitched a ride from a couple people.”
“Still that’s a long trip. Why did you come so far?” She shrugged again and looked around. The thought that her behavior was strange crossed his mind but fled when she tried to stand. He stood up and helped her to her feet stepping back when she got her footing. “Easy now I don’t think your in any condition to walk yet.”
“I’m fine, I little scratched up but not beyond standing on my own two feet.”
Wilhelm stepped back in obedience and shook his head. “Still I’d feel much better if you rested a bit before continuing to where ever it is your going.”
The girl nodded “I’m actually staying here in Zora. I have an aunt who lives here.”
“Well the least you can do is join me for lunch I was just about to eat.” Wilhelm motioned to a basket sitting on a stone.
She nodded and turned back to him. “First I have to know your name.”
“Wilhelm. It’s Wilhelm.”
“I’m Wella.” He took her hand and shook it.
The trap was set and Wilhelm had been caught in it.
Brittney knocked on the beautifully engraved door of one of the most beautiful mansions in Arlington, Virginia where she lived. A woman came to the door. “Hey Brittney come on in don’t mind the mess I’m in the middle of something.” She turned and walked back inside the house motioning for Brittney to enter.
“When are you not in the middle of something Shanti?” Brittney asked as she walked past her friend into the house.
“When the president stops trying to convince your mother to build houses for humans on Imaginess.” They had moved into the living room now and Shanti removed a laptop and stack of books off of the couch moving them to a paper covered coffee table before sitting down. “Have a seat.”
Brittney sat and continued the conversation. “Yeah well maybe you need to start convincing my mom about that.”
“You don’t mean she’s going to,” Shanti practically shouted, “that would destroy everything I’ve worked on the last 7 years.”
“No not quite.” Brittney shook her head trying to calm her friend
“Then what.”
“She wants me to rule Imaginess.”
“WHAT.” Shanti stood now. “That can’t be right has your mother completely lost her head. That’s just asking for a rebellion.” She began pacing the room angrily
“That’s what I tried to tell her but she wouldn’t listen. But what’s worse is that I had this dream of this guy telling me to get off of Imaginess before the 4th of July party. He said that my mom had failed him and that now my mom wouldn’t live much longer and that the planet was going to fall into chaos. He also told me that everyone else would be safe and not to worry about them. I don’t know I’m worried.”
“Gaylin.”
“What?”
“You were wise to listen to him Brittney. Gaylin has visited your mothers dreams many time and always with good council. He gave her this prophecy ‘that when the Imaginese and Earthling stand together him and his wife would be released.”
“But who is he.”
“He’s Leena’s father who was put into some dream world when she was two that’s why she was adopted.”
“What could have my mom done to make him so upset.”
“I don’t know but I would stay far away from Imaginess until after the 4th of July party.”
“That’s what my mom said. She was really freaked out. I think she knows she’s done something wrong but she’s unsure as how to fix it. She seemed to think that it was too late for her.”
Wilhelm and Wella made their way through the woods and toward the mansion in the middle of the city. It had been about a week since Wilhelm and Wella had met in the woods that brisk morning and they had met there everyday since. She helped him fix up the house that he hoped to make into his home and they always had a picnic lunch. It had been nearly a whirlwind romance and sometimes Wilhelm wondered if things were progressing too quickly, until he saw her that is. She had a way about her that calmed all his fears. She had such an innocence about her that she was hard to resist, she seemed almost shy but yet when in the middle of a full blown conversation he had found a very opinionated young girl. Someone that was much too hard to resist.
They walked inside the mansion and Wilhelm led her toward his mother’s office. “I don’t know of this is such a good idea, Will.” She said letting her shyness surface.
“Don’t worry about it my mom may be busy but she always has time for her people especially her kids.” He knocked on the door and opened it and pulled her inside. “Mom.” He began pushing Wella in front of him slightly. “I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine.”
“That’s nice Hon,” she said not looking up from her paperwork. Sira who was standing behind her gasped and clapped her hands joyfully.
“Oh, about time, Will good for you.” Leena cleared her throat to get Sira’s attention and handed her a stack of papers.
“Get these to the decoration committee so they can begin to prepare for the party in a week.” Sira frowned and took the papers and started out of the room as she left she turned to Wilhelm. “Maybe you should try your father he’s in the library.” Wilhelm nodded then turned back to his mother as Sira hurried out of the room. Leena still didn’t look up.
“Fine then,” Wilhelm said hotly, “if you don’t care enough to take a two minute break then don’t bother even asking if you can use my wing of the house for the party because you can’t. And it would serve you right if I didn’t even show up for this stupid party. Come on Wella.” He grabbed Wella’s hand and hurried out of the room and started in the direction of the library.
If he had had looked more closely he would have seen the single, large tear that fell from her eye, the shaking hand, as she sorted through her papers and the look of pain in her eyes as she watched him disappear.
“Well you’ve found yourself a girl. Good for you Will.” Wilhelm had found Mattim in the library just like he had been told and his father’s reaction had been much what he had expected from his mother. “So Wella are you coming to the 4th of July party?”
“No offence sir” Wella responded letting her shyness fade for the moment and her opinions surface, “but I find it revolting the way your wife seems to have forgotten that 4th of July falls on the same day as Techno a day that as you may well remember is very, very important to the Imaginese’s. I well understand that you and your wife were raised on earth but she lives here now. And if you don’t mind me saying I think she works too hard to please the Earthlings.”
Mattim’s eyebrow rose as he said. “Well, well Will it looks like you found yourself a tough cookie she sure speaks her mind. That’s good it’s nice to know what people are thinking sometimes and to tell you the truth I agree. I don’t know what’s gotten into my wife lately I’m sure it will pass but just to be safe, Will, would you mind having a talk with Jatar just to be sure.”
“Yeah no problem,” He grabbed Wella’s hand, “come on. Wait until you meet Jatar”
Wilhelm and Wella made their way down, down, down into the depths of the mansion. The place was humid and dank and covered in cobwebs. They soon came to a big metal door. Bubbling and banging sounds came from inside. Wilhelm knocked on the door. There was a pause and then a grating sound and the door creaked open. Wilhelm entered followed closely by a once again timid Wella. “Don’t worry Wella, Jatar’s not dangerous.”
“But what about all those story’s about monsters and stuff.”
“Their just that…stories. they aren’t true.”
“Who goes there?” Came a new voice from out of the smoke that flooded the room. “Wilhelm is that you?” A grinding sound was heard and then the smoke parted and a face appeared it was coming towards them.
It was a friendly face a bit grayish and strange, a long nose covered most of his face with nostrils on the top near his eyes, he had two mouths one on either side of the nose and he looked much like an elephant. The room in which they were standing in was filled with all sorts of lab equipment and a couple cages of smaller creatures that Jatar used as food.
Since Juptans feed by controlling them Jatar had decided that he would get a bunch of small creatures and control them when he was hungry that was what most of the people on his planet did when there was no war to be fought. The little creatures had become more than food though they had become his friends. He didn’t get visitors very often since he had to stay hidden. Leena had told him that the Imaginese would not approve if they knew that a Juptan lived on Imaginess. Brittney came to visit him when she was on the planet and his friend Tucker who ruled the planet Saturn came and visited sometimes and of course Mattim, Leena and Wilhelm visited often but those visits lately had become few and far between.
“To what do I owe this honor?” He said wiping his three-fingered hand on a cloth
“Two things actually.” Stated Will stepping forward “for one I would like you to meet someone,” he pulled Wella to his side. “This is my new friend Wella.”
Jatar stuck out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” Wella took it and gave it a timid shake. “So what’s the second thing?” Jatar asked stepping back from Wella and looking back at Wilhelm.
“The second thing is my mom. She’s been acting strange lately Dad says the last time she acted like this was on their honeymoon.” Jatar cringed.
“Yes, the honeymoon I’ll never forget that day. Bless that wonderful monkey for breaking my nose and saving that poor girl from what I was about to do.”
“Yeah well it’s happening again have you seen anything that might explain her behavior?” Jatar went over to a table and shuffled through some papers he frowned and then went over to a computer and clicked on a couple things, jotted down a couple notes and then stood up shaking his head. “It seems to me that Leena has been having some highly adrenaline-laced dreams.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” he held up one of the papers that he had been looking at, “These are normal brainwaves during sleep,” he pointed to the computer, “these are Leena’s brainwaves. As you can see hers are considerably higher.”
“Is there anything you can do?”
“Not unless she comes down for testing but good luck convincing her that there’s something wrong. She’s a stubborn one that mother of yours” Wilhelm nodded agreeing.
Wella sat on a bench in Wilhelm’s vine covered balcony. Wilhelm stood leaning over the railing looking out over the city to all the people most Imaginese but a couple humans walking around totally oblivious to the problems that the people in this house had been having lately. Wilhelm had gone to see his mother to ask if she would go and see Jatar, but as Jatar had said she had refused to go.
“So Will are you really going to go to that party that your mom is holding or are you really going to bail?” Will turned around surprised by Wella’s sudden question she had been pretty quiet since leaving Jatar and now for the first time she spoke again.
“Of course I am, I have to.”
“Apparently you don’t your sister doesn’t as is obvious by the fact that she left.”
“So what are you suggesting?”
“Well are you still planning on not letting your mom use your wing?”
“Yeah I was considering it.”
“Will think about it. Think about what you have. You have a whole wing available to you and remember 4th of July is on the same day as Techno the people would love it if you held a Techno party while your mother’s party is going. What type of image would that leave your mother if neither of her children turned up and not only that but one of them was holding his own party.”
“I don’t know.”
“Think about it, Will” She said standing up now and coming to his side. “Just think of the impact that would make.” She placed her hand on his arm now and he glupped. “Please Will, for me.” She batted her eyelashes looking at him pleadingly.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
There was a full moon that night as Wella snuck out of the mansion and into the damp air, she ran to the servant’s gate and opened it she waited there under an awning pulling the light shawl which was the only thing she had thought to grab tighter around her shoulders as the mist got heavier.
Suddenly a figure loomed out of the darkness. The figure ran under the awning to join her, wiping the water from his face. Wella ran into his arms clinging to him as if her life depended on him. He pushed her off “Well there’s no time for this now we need to get down to business. Tell me what you found out”
Wella frowned at Japhin put off by what had just happened. She recovered quickly realizing that it would do no good to let him see her disappointment, “It seems almost impossible to get Leena to change her mind nothing her son does seems to get through to her even her own husband doesn’t agree with half the decisions she’s making. And as it turns out her oldest daughter the one that’s supposed to become leader left Imaginess she didn’t even stay for the celebration of her favorite holiday and Wilhelm isn’t letting his mother use his wing of the house which is the best wing of the house if I do say so myself. I suggested to him that he hold his own party a Techno party.”
Japhin’s eyes lit up. “What did he say to that?”
“He said yes, we start the decorating tomorrow.”
“Wonderful! Anything else I should know.”
“Not that I can…wait there is one more thing,” she hesitated and Japhin grabbed her by the shoulders shaking her slightly to get it out of her.
“What? What is it?”
“They have a Juptan in their basement apparently that’s what keeps them safe and why we never have any attacks anymore. He could be a problem.”
Japhin released Wella’s shoulders and began to pace, “A Juptan, they are practically impossible to defeat.”
“He said something about a monkey breaking his nose if that helps anything.”
“A monkey broke his nose?” he had stopped now and was staring at her curiously, “What exactly did he say?”
She told him.
“Well this is just wonderful. A new way to defeat the Juptans.” He leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek in an instant changing from sinister to sweet. “Thank you sweetie. Now you should get before they realize that you’re missing. I’ll meet with you again in two days.” Wella nodded and turned to run back into the mist.
As soon as she was within the gate she stopped, leaning up against the
wall ignoring the mist that surrounded her. She wiped her cheek where he had kissed her. What is wrong with me? She thought Japhin’s going to make this all better and besides Japhin isn’t a human lover. But maybe it’s ok to be a human lover maybe it’s not necessarily a bad thing to be a human lover. Maybe we’ve just misjudged them. Oh I don’t know I’m so confused maybe I just need to sleep. With that Wella turned and ran back into the mansion.
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