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I must admit that joy had taken place in my heart. Was it due to the excitement of the past few days and the success of our operation ? This palace was no longer that of Eleusis since we had led him outside the city’s walls. Despite the lightness I felt, I understood that I still had several tasks to accomplish. Until now, and although I had the rank of leader, I was no match for this boy; the young Venusis whom I had taken away from his parents and brought to my cause. Drinking and sitting on a low wall in the palace's hanging gardens, I enjoyed being the only master of my surroundings. I had no intention of killing Venusis, as that would be like shooting myself in the foot. People feared me, they mourned the queen who found death by the hands of the army in her late palace. To maintain my position in the government and prove my legitimacy through means other than my firmness, I needed to create the illusion that this fallen dynasty hadn't truly ended. That only one chapter had closed. This child, son of the king, is my guarantee of survival, my banner as well as my pedestal.
Chirping through the bushes, a bird flew my way. I lent my arm to welcome its melody and then, someone at the end of the path stepped forward. A small head emerged from among the vibrant camellias that encroached upon the narrow vegetated passage. It was the prince, the Emperor to be. The bird stood on my left shoulder and I smiled at the young boy. He was probably following the bird.
“Venusis, what are you doing here instead of studying ?” I didn't bother to look up from my wine, I could hear his light footsteps on the gravel.
But since he stared at me without saying a word, I ended up turning my gaze upon him. I realized he was looking at my face and uncovered hair. It must have been the first time since we seized power that I appeared at such. I was being observed like a stranger. Perhaps it was strange to see me wearing that red suit when my face evoked other memories. After all, I became a new man.
“It's not really what I want.” He moved forward to my level and looked behind me, at the horizon. “You're a better teacher for me, Nemesis !”
The wine on my tastebuds felt sweeter. “You are a good child. But what have I left to teach you after your father ? I'm only a soldier at your service.”
He turned to me, his innocent but wise eyes betraying the blood in his veins. Eleusis, if only you knew how similar he is to you.
“Father didn't teach me anything.” He pouted, his gaze low.
Of course, as a king my dearest friend rarely had time to take care of his education himself. This unfortunate child probably stayed confined to the study room and dreamed of learning from the brightest of all, as he did before our encounter.
“A man who can't find time for his children doesn't deserve to rule an entire kingdom.”
He sat next to me and let his legs swing in the air since they couldn't reach the tips of the grass below. How foolish, can children truly forget that fast ? The young Venusis was always under good care, he lived a happy existence that many would dream of. A smile of satisfaction creeped on my lips and I couldn't help but put my wine down on the stone of the low wall and place my hand on his little shoulder. The little bird silently flew away.
“Do you understand the truth, Venusis ? Your father was a traitor. He betrayed Tartessos and Atlantis and that, for the sake of what ?” I scoffed at the amusing thought. “Humans ?”
The boy's wide-open eyes hung on my every word. What admirable docility.
“It was his choice to leave his own people behind and to associate with low creatures.” My expression took a serious look and the hand on his frail body rose, pointing one finger at his forehead. “Prove to me that you don’t have that in you.”
With agitation, he pushed himself up onto one of his knees to pull himself up to my sitting height. “It’s a promise, I won't make the same mistake ! I don't want to abandon the people of Tartessos who cared about me and m—”
“That's enough.” He seemed to shrink into himself when I used that tone. “Only your actions will speak in your favor.”
He nodded in silent agreement. Too easily. After a sigh, my smile returned. The wind, as if we were in the eye of the storm, swirled endlessly around the palace. The smells from the market below and the royal garden were all too familiar. Silent, Venusis and I remained seated there. The sea breeze, the desert breath, the gusts sweeping through the narrow alleyways of distant cities…Tartessos was too small for me, and humans, they possess more than what their condition dictates. Venusis' right hand played distractedly with a flower beside him, without even picking it up to have it close. The magnificence of this garden remained unsurpassed, the work of the ancient gardeners of Eleusis must be praised. Artificial streams, fountains, sculptures, the vegetal diversity of the planet was gathered in this small ark, for our eyes and ours alone.
“Nemesis.” The boy displayed a shyness that was unlike him and hesitated. “You could be a better father to me than that man, Eleusis, was.”
Oh. I forgot what my face expressed at this instant, but I was taken aback. Quickly, it followed with a small, joyful laugh. The child looked at me with the confused look of a young one waiting to know what would be appropriate to be feeling. He didn't know how to react. In other circumstances, how sweet it would have been to hold him against me.
“You, my child ?” I brought a hand to my chin and moved closer to Venusis. “Above all, do you understand your position as my master ? I will serve you from below.”
You were too kind to me. I can't have everything at once so quickly, were is the satisfaction of the victory otherwise ? More than anything, your ways would frustrate me. I must embrace the euphoria slowly in order to savor it fully.
“You're not going to stay with me ? Will I be too busy ?” He clenched his fists on the cold stone of the low wall, exposed to the shade.
“Venusis, are you scared of becoming our emperor ?”
The child's face changed, he used to be so expressive back in the days. He didn't want to disappoint me, that good boy.
“Very well…I will grant my teachings to you.” Because I hated to see that tearful expression. I was not here to dry the tears of a poor orphan. “You can rely on me, I'll show you the way to rule.”
“Is that true ? You are making me so happy !”
“I wouldn't make false promises to you.” I lied warmly. My hand ruffled through his hair, which almost started to reach his shoulders.
The boy's cheeks quickly regained the colors of happiness. “You'll be impressed by my progresses !” With his furrowed brows, he looked serious and determined.
“I know how you are, Emperor…Compared to other children.” Leaving behind my glass of wine, I stood up and crossed my arms behind my back.
Before me, my shadow started growing thin and long on the bright ground. Not knowing what to think of it, I observed this sight in silence. The unease gradually overcoming me, I turned around. This is how everything ended, how your new existence came to be. With a burning glow in the sky, that of Babel.
Eleusis, you cannot take him away from me. Are you ready to go this far for your ideals ? That day, I thought I was ready to do anything to prevent my main asset from slipping away. I ran towards Venusis who was getting up in terror, looking over his shoulder at his world lighting up. With my arms outstretched, I pushed the boy tightly to me, he let out a small cry of pain. The air burned my skin and cut my breathing. Why did the boy seem to be boiling between my hands ? My nails dug into his shoulders couldn't hold him against me. At this moment, his body must have been coursing with the same energy flowing out from the core of the Tower of Babel. I took a step aside, blinded. The child slipped away from me. Falling to the ground, I saw the gusts of wind from the impact lift the stones as easily as the trees. A deafening silence. Sky turning white. Dust made of the city fell on the ruins.
During that first step of the cataclysm, only one clear sound reached me. The one of a glass carelessly left behind, falling to the ground and shattering. The red wine, warm, flowed between the cobblestones.