Bernardo and I looked at one another standing alone at the door. My family were waiting in their cars. I could feel their impatience as I was giving my goodbye. Bernardo sensing my uneasiness leaned in for a hug. His scent was making it hard to leave. "I'm going to miss you." I said as we let go of each other.
"Me too, we have spent little time away from each other since the wedding." He caressed my back, turning us slightly so our faces were out of view from prying eyes. "Promise me you will stand up for our people, me, and yourself. It's time they treat you like the adult that you are and for that to happen you have to show them your strength." I gave him a nod, "I will do my best. I promise to protect myself and the things I care about."
I turned to look at my family, who were more like a pack of rabid wolves. After he gave me a kiss on the forehead, we parted for what I knew to be a long week. Bernardo got a lucky draw, getting to spend the weekend with his lovely family. Still, I walked to the car, waving at Alejandro who was taking the week off to see his family, before I stepped in. The moment I closed the door, the car raced off. Luckily I only had to ride with Celine and Nova, who asked a few questions about Bernardo, but didn't move into the prying territory. We then transferred to the jet, which I slept on until we touched down at the palace I used to call home.
I didn't stop to talk after we landed and made my way to my room. When I stepped inside, I saw that was the same as I left it. The television was still playing the same channel I had left it on. The maids changed the sheets, leaving them smelling of vanilla, and they left the lights on in the warm setting.
Compared to the rest of the palace, my room was drab. It was a place I used to get away from all the overt luxury. I picked furniture made from an affordable, neutral toned wood. I based most of the decor in the early twenty-first century. Blush and Lilac fur pillows on couched, and a bed made from lamb's wool. The room fit a wealthy child better than the palace.
"Sir, your family is gathering in the subterranean room for a meeting. I was told to inform you to meet them there," a mousy girl said. She was a maid based on her uniform of all brown. I could tell this would not be the best place for her. I had seen many spunky workers get chewed up by my mother. It was like a sport, and the girl in front of him with huge red eyes would be no different.
"I will be down there momentarily, I need to shower first," I said, dismissing her with a nod before she had the chance to bow. After I sealed the door, I stripped out of my formal uniform and quickly showered. After that I dressed in a simple black outfit someone laid out on the bed, followed by a broach in the shape of my kingdom. The little decoration made me smile, but only for a second. After that, I made my way to the elevator.
"Welcome, Prince Myles of Panama. Where would you like to go?" The digital voice was the kindest thing in the palace. "Subterranean meeting room," I said. The elevator moved as I was speaking and in seconds the bell chimed revealing the cold dark corridor that I walked down months ago. Stepping out of the elevator, I powered down the hallway all the way to the guards at the door who immediately opened the doors for me and secured them after I was inside. I immediately noticed the woman with the beige-toned hair still cropped at her jawline. She had her eyes sealed shut as she wove the mana suppressing barrier around us.
My family all sat around the table and watched as I took the open seat between my sisters, Gina and Viola. I was directly in view of my father. We sat in order of age as Celine was closest to my father and Morris was on the other side next to my mother. My hands rested together on the metal table and I looked around as my siblings whispered to themselves.
"So glad we got to wait on you," My brother Iman, who was the youngest of the triplets, said to me with an annoyed expression. I rolled my eyes at him, knowing it was better to ignore him rather than engage with him. That act earned me an electric shock. My hands shot from the table at the pain and I suppressed the yelp that wanted to build.
"Don't make him cry in front of everyone again," Oliver said. I cut my eyes over to my brother. He was an enhancer like me. They put him on the same track as I was and became a strategist. We were never close, but when I mastered the optical enhancing spells, our relationship completely deteriorated. All because he couldn't do them at the level I could. The middle triplet, Donovan snickered as he raised the surrounding temperature, causing me to sweat.
"If you three are done playing childish games, I would like to begin this meeting," I said as I placed my hands back on the table, now red from the heat and shock. "Yes, let's not waste my time. I have three little girls to get home to and lots of work," Nova said. It was more of a warning as she looked each triplet in the eye, causing them to sit up straight. Kendrix, her twin, gave them the same look. It was not for my benefit, but because of the bond he had with Nora. The two of them got the triplets to straighten in their seats.
Gina placed a hand on my shoulder. I gave her a smile, then looked back over to my father. "Father, why did you call us here today? As you know, they need Viola and me in the talks for the separation of the Arabian Peninsula from the Asian Empire," Gina asked, her tone its normal sleepy drawl. "We need to discuss how we can make contingencies for our Southern issue," my father announced.
I looked over, noticing that the only person besides myself that was surprised was Amara. Not that big of a surprise since she spent lots of time undercover. "What Southern issue?" Everyone snickered at me. "If they decide to attack us, we need to be prepared to take them down," my mother said. She wore that same smile she put on when she thought someone was dumb.
"That makes no sense. They believe in blood bonds to a fault, breaking it is against all of their moral codes." It felt good to speak out, especially when I truly believed in what I was fighting for. My new family were traditional with pacts and would not break it as easily as my family would.
"If the time comes, we need to know how to dominate them," Morris spoke up. "Also, gutting that dopey king would be a grand time," Tevin added, to further express his point he created a fist causing his earth manipulation magic to shake the room a little.
Ignoring them both, I looked to my father. "You will do nothing to harm my husband or his family. He has shown me he has the capacity to be a great leader and human being," I said defiantly. "You are a fool if you believe he isn't planning just like we are."
"You are violating the laws with this plan to threaten the upcoming King of Panama, in front of the fellow King of Panama." I was now using a tone against my father I never knew I could use. I had made a promise to my husband, people, and myself. There would be no rolling over and showing my belly.
"You will hold your fucking tongue, boy," my father said, his nose flared and eyes slanted. "You will speak to me as the King I am to become," I said, no I warned. With those words Morris shot out of his seat, startling the guard at the door. She quickly returned to her duties.
"You little bitch, where do you get off speaking to us as if you actually earned a crown. The land you supposedly rule is barely relevant to our kingdom." He trained his eyes on me like a lion to its meal.
I could feel the temperature in the room falling, which made me stand. I knew Morris well enough to know that he didn't bluff. "Brother, I wish to not argue with you. I am trying to show that if we set precedent for distrust, then there will be no real peace between the western continents."
He huffed, blowing out air that was visible to the naked eye. "So you stand against your own family?" He moved the seat away from him and his body language read one thing, danger. "Morris, I'm not trying to fight you, we can discuss this as adults," I said, but began preparing my mana for defense.
"Morris, sit down," Celine said, her voice wavering. "Shut the fuck up," he shouted back at her, which enraged me. "Watch how you talk to her," I growled out.
"Make me, bitch" Morris taunted. He began stalking towards me. I knew I had a decision to make, either allow him to beat without the help of anyone, or I could show them that my dislike for violence didn't mean I was incapable of it. I thought of how Mileta and Alejandro would jump in to protect me at any moment, I also thought about what Bernardo would do in that moment.
With a deep breath, I jumped onto the table and tried to pick up as much speed as I could along the table. As I passed by Iman, I reached a foot out, kicking him in the face which had him on the floor holding his nose. I knew he wasn't expecting it, which is why the blow landed. I didn't slow down to see how he would react, instead I turned on my God's Eye. After watching Bernardo spar with my enhanced eyes and knew each move down to the muscle group being utilized. Next, I enhanced the flow of my mana and used that strength to launch myself to the ground in front of Morris.
He launched a jab towards my face, but I had seen my guards avoid simple attacks like that before. Using the enhanced strength I was giving myself, I slid under the punch and taking advantage of the opening I punched him in the chest. He being in obvious surprise of the attack almost fell back. "Don't look so shocked. You should remember that I too am a royal with the same power level as you, if not higher. Is this how you want to settle things?"
With my enhanced sight, I saw the twitch in Morris's fingers and watched the frost building under his feet. Thinking quick I hopped back narrowly avoiding two pillars of ice encasing my feet. My family moved back, their eyes on me. "Don't get cocky brother, the only reason you still draw breath is because I have not frozen you where you stand. Your position is what's keeping you alive," he said. "The only reason you are still standing is because I have not pulled the water from every cell inside of you," I shot back.
He smirked, just before two poles made of ice sprouted from the pillars he had created. I dodged them easily with the help of my enhancement, but Morris kept them coming, knowing I couldn't dodge forever. I had also seen Morris in spell practice, so I knew he was creating large amounts of ice so he could form one of his never melting creatures. His magic was more refined than mine was in combat situations. That meant I wouldn't be able to beat him if he created a creature.
In the seconds I had between dodging, I thought of a counterattack. I knew he was cornering me between a wall and his ice. So I was going to have to attack fast, and I know I had a spell that would catch him off guard. I created some distance between us as I was moving backwards; I gathered the water vapor in the air into solidified water serpents. My family watching gasped seeing the spell of my grandmother in use. The serpents opened their mouths, revealing daggers formed from a high pressure current of water. I used those blades to cut down the bolts of ice that came my way. The spell was potent enough to stop a few bandits, but it would only slow my brother.
Morris snarled at my spell and began forming his ice into a mound. I had to hasten, so placing my hands together I allowed the streams to combine. I had only seen this spell in my grandmother's writing, but she had explained how it was one of the most powerful things she had created. Around me water gathered into a scaled beast with fin-like wings and a head of a viper with two rows of teeth, that rose just above my head. My grandmother had called it the Leviathan, at a tenth of its power because of the lack of water around.
My brothers at my side moved forward, and I used my physical eyes to stare them down. The power coursing through me made me feel like I could take all of them on. I raised my hand towards them and focused on the water in their body bring them to an abrupt halt. The other hand controlled the serpent and pointed at Morris.
"Enough," Celine shouted. It was like she shot me in the chest. Pain swirled around. I lost focus on my spell, which caused the water to revert to vapor, and I fell to my knees. I lost control of my visual spell as well and had to look up to see Morris hit the ground, his ice turning to air. "No more fighting," Celine said, her hand moving. She was creating threads from my blood, causing pressure to build in my chest. It was rare that she showed that ability.
"As the next in line to the North, I invoke the period of peace. This power is given to me by the authority of the covenant that created our kingdom. This meeting is over. Father and Mother, I ask that you leave. Your presence here makes my siblings feel the need to prove themselves in stupid ways," she ordered.
My mother and father left without a word because of the peace period being called. With them gone, she released the wires, allowing me a deep breath. "We are going to sit at this table and air our grievances as the royals we are. There will be no more fighting between us. Morris, you picked a fight with your little brother and almost got killed because of it. Myles, you used spell that should never be raised against family. I want no more of this, understood," she shouted.
"Yes," we all said. I stood trying to act like I wasn't bothered and took my seat. When I looked up, Morris was at the opposite end of the table staring me down. I knew this would be a long talk.