Chapter 12

The chamber door opened as Orion had called out “enter,” and Klaus walked in, stopping just at the doorway. Orion noticed the look of concern on his most trusted Dreamkiller – he liked to think of Klaus as his assistant.

“May I speak with you, Sir?”

Orion stood up from his chair and walked around his desk to meet Klaus. “What is it, my friend?” Orion ushered Klaus deeper into the room and gestured to the chair he had just risen from.

Klaus had never been offered the chair of his master. He didn’t know what to think, and instead he chose the chair on the other side.

“The assassins orders, Sir,” he began as Orion sat down and placed his white hands on his desk and folded them.

“What of them?”

“Well, Sir.” He tried to think of a way to put his concerns out before his master. He had recited his speech many times in his mind, but now he couldn’t remember what he really wanted to say.

“Come now, it can’t be that bad,” chuckled Orion. He didn’t want to read Klaus’ mind; he liked surprises.

“I’m curious to know why you’ve ordered them to kill the mother. Surely by taking out Mykella first, victory will be yours.”

So it comes to this, thought Orion as he sat back. He’s beginning to question my authority.

“The blood spilt by Mykella will be for mankind – this I know. But I intend on making her pain greater than even Christ knew. By killing her mother, then her friends, she will weaken to the point of forfeit.” Orion paused and then leaned forward, showing malice. “Then, and only then, will her blood have meaning. She can’t kill me, deep down she knows this.”

Klaus was silent for a moment and then he sighed. “I still believe that if we kill Mykella first, the war will be over and done with and we can go on living without fear.”

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This surprised Orion. “You fear Mykella?”

Klaus was frightened by his disclosure, but he nodded slowly nevertheless.

Orion stood, walked around the desk, and towered over Klaus with fire in his eyes. “If you fear that little girl, then you distrust me.” He looked into Klaus’ mind and gave him another malicious smile. “Yes; you had better be afraid of me. I am your King. I can end your life just by thinking about it.”

Klaus didn’t move a muscle. He wanted so desperately to look away, but he did not for fear of being killed.

“You had better watch your tongue from now on. And your mind, for that matter. I can read your thoughts as if you were speaking – don’t forget that.” Orion turned away. “You had better leave.”

Klaus didn’t hesitate. He stood up and made his way to the door in long strides to get there faster.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Orion called.

Klaus stopped and turned around to look at his master. It was the last sight he saw; for the next second, he felt a sudden pull at his neck, but he didn’t feel it as his head ripped off his shoulders and flew toward Orion.

Orion caught the severed head in his white open hand and he turned to look at it with curiosity. On the face there was a look between surprise and shock.

“It looks like I’m going to have to call a meeting in court today,” he whispered to the beautiful head, green and black blood sliding through his fingers.

Orion looked down at the headless body and slowly waved his free hand. The body disappeared, along with the blood. Orion never knew where these bodies went once he made them vanish. He never thought too much about it, either. The bodies were gone, so why fuss over physiological matters?

As for the head, Orion placed it on the corner of his desk. “You have served me well, my friend – until now. You may retire in a lap of luxury for eternity.”

He heard a rustling and looked up. The dove had flown down to the middle perch and kept a fixed gaze on him.

“What?” Orion gave the bird a hurt expression. “I will not allow people to question my authority – it spells out mutiny.”

The bird looked down and began cleaning its wing.

“What would you have me do? He was beginning to become dangerous.”

The bird said nothing.

“To hell with you then.” Frustration overcame Orion. And he turned away from the bird and looked, once again, at the head of Klaus. “We need to get that meeting going; it’s almost dawn and they’ll be asleep then.”