“Look at you! You’re shivering,” Nikolas laughed, placing the jacket around Alex’s shoulders. “Come on.”
London was different now. Alex had come to understand a different city from the many books that he had read on its history. He looked across the helipad and saw air-cars, taxis and buses traveling to and fro in different zones of the sky. These zones started from the ground and stretched up as far as the eye could see. There was a complex network of arteries that led to different sections of the city. There were shopping areas and office areas with large skyscrapers made of glass and steel. There were also residential complexes in suburban areas where thousands of people were housed. There were large stone and marble structures, much like the Supreme Court and Headquarters of the Regnum, but bigger.
As Alex looked down, he saw a few people walking on the pavements, going about their day to day business.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” said Nikolas.
Alex nodded and his face lit up with exhilaration as the feeling that he was finally on the Earth sunk in.
They walked to the doorway, which had an elevator leading to the Main Hall. There were two guards inside, with their faces covered entirely by black helmets and wielding large plasma rifles. They came out to escort them to the Council Chambers. They entered the elevator and went down to the ground floor. The doors opened and they stepped out into a lavishly decorated lobby. Large windows brought in the sunlight all around them. To his left, Alex saw a majestic spiral staircase, with china vases filled with exotic flowers. Immediately he felt the warmth of central heating and of a large fire place, almost eight feet in height and twice as wide, near the reception desk.
The guards led them to a large hallway leading to several rooms. Before they entered, Alex noticed the receptionist was a beautiful woman. She looked like she was in her late twenties, but he somehow sensed that she was older. There was a huge man at the reception desk. He seemed to be making an important appointment. Alex registered his face, just in case it might be important; he intuited it would be.
The guards took them to the end of the dark hallway. There were rooms and offices on both sides. When they reached the end, they took a left and walked through another hallway which ended at a large double-door protected by two guards, dressed in dark suits. The guards held their palms out, stopping Daniel and Nikolas. Only Alex was allowed to enter. He turned to Nick who nodded and winked at him.
Alex entered the Chamber and sighed. He couldn’t make much out in the darkness. He had the distinct feeling he was being watched. As his eyes adjusted, he saw the outlines of the Twelve Council Elders. He hadn’t heard much talk of them except for what Daniel had said in the helicopter. He knew they had been chosen by Anaxagoras to deal with the overall affairs of the Earth. Fire suddenly blazed from torches hung on the walls. A chair was brought forth at will and Alex heard a cold, malevolent voice command, “Sit!” He did so reluctantly.
They sat around an oblong table about two feet apart. They were cloaked and their hands were gloved in black leather. To Alex, it looked as if they were weak, afraid of everyone and everything and he felt he could intimidate them. It was a very strange sensation.
“Truly arrogant to think so,” said Julius, scanning through the boy’s thoughts.
“There is great anxiety in you, I sense,” said Lord Augustus. “You have fear, anger, confusion, and hate.”
“You do not need any of these,” continued Lord Tiberius.
“All you need is obedience,” said Lord Otho.
Alex turned his head to the voices and looked at them angrily, trying to intimidate them.
“You would make a fine ally, I’m sure,” said Julius slowly, putting weight behind each word, “You are powerful. Yes! I sense much strength in you, but you are on the wrong side.”
“Do you know who you are?” spoke Lord Claudius.
“Yes,” Alex said plainly. He added, “Your enemy.” This brought about evil cackles from the Twelve.
The laughter died down. There was a long hard moment. “You have made yourself that, young Falsifier,” continued Claudius, laying a heavy ruthless emphasis on the last word.
“What do you mean by that?” Alex asked.
Vitellius said with scorn, “You think such a man as you can bring down an Empire that has been standing for two hundred thousand years.”
“Christ did it with the Roman Empire,” Alex said.
An awkward silence arose once again, this time much longer. Alex sensed their nervousness.
The Twelve were irritated. The only way to learn the secrets of the Regnum from Alex would be through sincerity, kindness and good intentions, characteristics which none of them had.
“You may leave,” Julius said quickly. The fires extinguished, leaving Alex groping around blindly in the dark. But then suddenly the double-doors opened and he saw Daniel and Nikolas waiting for him patiently.
As he stepped out of the threshold, the doors slammed shut.
“So?” Nikolas asked.
“Nothing at all.” Alex shook his head, “It was pointless, I guess.”
“Well, have they told us to come in?” asked Daniel.
“Nope. They just told me to leave.”
The doors opened once more and Nikolas and Daniel entered, while Alex looked at the guards, and wondered what was coming next.
Out of respect for the Twelve, Nikolas and Daniel walked with their heads bowed. Then they prostrated themselves before the Twelve. The fire roared up again and the Twelve looked down at them. Domitian asked Daniel, “What is the enemy doing here?”
“He, my lords,” Daniel said, smiling at Nikolas, “is no longer an enemy, as aren’t the other Rebels.”
“How can we be so sure?” asked Julius. “After all, even till the last day our king trusted him, but he played a double-game all along. Surely,” he said, a bitter irony in his voice, “you know this.”
Daniel’s face flushed. “Yes, I know.”
Nikolas spoke, his voice firm and steady, “My masters, I beg you to give us one last chance. Since the Last Battle we have been nothing but guinea pigs for you. But now we are fully ready, instead of being forced, to serve Lord Anaxagoras. If you allow it, I will get what information I can from the Falsifier, without any interference or surveillance. He knows of the Regnum and its plans. I will comfort him and since he is already in my trust, he will be easily manipulated into spilling the secrets of our enemies. Please, if you don’t believe me, let me tell you something no one knows.”
“And what that might be,” asked Julius, leaning forward.
“He is the son of Aidan and the grandson of Anaxagoras,” he said simply, with a blank face. “He is born of a human and has the blood of both races. That...” Nick paused for effect, “is why he is called what he is. I have earned your trust once before. I went to the Land of the Eight Kings, and didn’t try to escape.”
Tiberius laughed. “Escape is impossible.”
“Nevertheless,” Otho said, “we will look into the matter. For now, because of your son, you will remain free to do as you please as will all the other Rebels. If the blood analysis proves what you say, you shall be trusted. Leave us.”
Nikolas backed away, bowing before turning to leave.
Daniel remained there. As the door shut, Cassius said in more relaxed tone, “Now, Daniel. What is this turn of events? Did you know of this?”
“Yes, I did. My father told me before this meeting.”
“I don’t sense any danger,” said Tiberius.
“Nor do I,” said Vespasian.
“We must be cautious, nonetheless,” added Nero.
“And what about the projects? Shall we continue?”
“As promised, yes,” said Julius, “And now is the time to send the ultimatum. We know now, as we have always known, that they have weapons. Send it immediately.”
“How long should I give them?” Daniel asked.