19 YEARS AGO

The front entrance to the Zahíno property was an expansive glass archway. The surrounding walls were frosted glass that offered some measure of privacy from the outside world. Just beyond the arch was a courtyard with a domed stained glass roof that doubled as a greenhouse. Exotic flowers bloomed all year long, cared for with love and tenderness by the lady of the house.

The rest of the three-story mansion was designed in a similar fashion. The Zahíno House was like light and air when compared to the dark rigidity of the rest of the houses that surrounded us in Fate's district.

Our neighbors' houses were far more traditional, following the standards set by the Executor Fate. Beyond our glass, domed roofs were spires, sharp and angular.

As a child I looked out at the towers of steel and glass and hated how they marred the sky with their steely fingers. They were not soft and beautiful and none of them had a courtyard.

Our tutor had told us that Mother had asked Father to build her a house that was like her childhood home, in Insight’s district.

My mother spent much of her time in the courtyard and my brothers were there often, as well. Whenever they weren’t in lessons with our tutors, they would play in the garden and spend time with her. I was almost always glued to my mother’s side but would stray from her when they came down to play. Even as they got older, becoming more like little men than boys, they still came without fail to visit Mother in the gardens.

Perhaps more so towards the end because it wouldn’t be long until we were no longer able to gather like this again.

My oldest brother, Beñat, was about to start his training as a protectorate for the Fate of the Republic. It was an honor not normally bestowed on a middle family like ours, but Father had spent his life rising to a position of favor within the government and was now an undersecretary for the Executor Fate. With that title came certain privileges.

It was because of such privileges that Beñat had been granted this wonderful opportunity. And Guifré, my 2nd oldest brother, wouldn’t be too far behind.

Father had petitioned for Guifré to train as a secretary of an Executor, hopefully to one day replace Father. That training started earlier than protectorate training so Guifré would also be leaving home, and only a few days after Beñat did.

Father, of course, was overjoyed that both boys had been accepted into their respective programs. So proud, in fact, that the week before Beñat and Guifré left, Father threw a lavish party and invited everyone who was anyone from the Fate’s office. He even invited members of the Insight’s office, which was the talk of the town, since the branches of the government did not often mix. But, Mother was from Insight so maybe that made it okay.

Atilio and I were not allowed to attend - Father said we were too young at the tender age of seven.

That didn’t stop us from hiding in one of the coves on the third floor, the family floor, that overlooked the grand ballroom.

It was all so glamorous. The women wore flowing dresses of soft colors, creams, and lemon yellows, lavenders, and the color of the sky on summer days.

Some of them danced, their skirts flowing around them in a mesmerizing display as the gauzy fabric floated around them like wisps of clouds.

More than anything I wanted to be one of the pretty ladies. Fated women always had the best fashion.

But, it was Mother who stood out most of all. Father was by her side dressed in a traditional suit of cream and gold, the colors of the Fate, while Mother wore the colors of her birth family, steel and dark blue, the colors of the Insight. Compared to the pastel shades of everyone else, she shone brightly in her sumptuous navy gown, her sleeves capped in silvery gray and the bodice of her dress twinkling with silver stars.

As Mother and Father entered the room, a hush fell over the crowd and the guests turned to look at them.

Farther practically beamed as he spoke. His voice was projected throughout the grand space by the small button-like wireless receiver that was attached to the lapel on his suit jacket.

“Greetings esteemed guests. We are gathered today to celebrate my sons, Beñat, 1st born of Igon Zahíno, and Guilré, 2nd born of Igon Zahíno. Both are going on to train for important careers for Fate. Beñat will be a protectorate, maybe even a personal guard,” my father waggled his eyebrows and the crowd laughed as if it were actually funny. Atilio and I looked at each other, our faces sour. Father was never funny.

He continued, “Guitré will be taking after his old man and maybe even advance well beyond undersecretary. Both of my boys are exceptional. To them.” He raised a glass. Mother and the rest followed suit.

Music began to play again and everyone went back to what they were doing.

Atilio nudged me in the ribs. “Parties are always so boring. Nothing fun ever happens.”

I shrugged and kept watching, I didn’t think it was boring at all.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

After a few hours, Atilio had fallen asleep against my shoulder and my eyelids were beginning to drop as well. I was about to wake him so we could go to bed when a crash rang out across the hall and I bolted upright. Atilio, still fast asleep, slid back, his head cradled against the wall.

Below, the hall erupted into activity. I peered over the edge, my eyes round with fear.

Groups of people dressed in red and black filled the hall. It was as if they materialized from the walls. Red and black was the color of the Might.

The Might soldiers fanned out around the room, making a cage with their bodies as they herded everyone towards the center of the ballroom.

I saw Mother and Father standing near the podium at the front of the hall. They didn’t seem to be afraid like everyone else was.

One of the red clad soldiers stepped forward out of the circular formation. In one hand he had a large red flag with the silver seven pointed star of the Republic. In his other, he held out a small disc. The disc blinked twice and took flight, hovering over everyone's heads.

A man appeared as a holographic projection. His projection was so large that I could see it clearly even from so far above. I recognized him from classes with our tutor; it was the Executor Might of the Republic, Muiris Reydon.

He scanned the crowd before landing on my parents. His eyes seemed to light up and he smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

“Ah, Igon Zahíno and Ai Hirose. Lovely to see you again. By the order of Might, in accordance with the laws of Will and the judgment of Fate, I place you under arrest for treason against the Collective Republic of Free States.”

My parents didn’t move or protest.

My hands gripped the railing tighter.

“Atilio,” I whined softly. “Atilio, wake up!” I waved behind me without looking, my hand smacking into his face.

He sputtered awake and looked at me incredulously. “What was that for?”

I looked back at him, my finger to my lips. I didn’t know what he saw in my expression but whatever it was, his face turned serious and he crawled up beside me, looking out at the scene below.

Below us, our parents exchanged a look, something passing between them, before they turned to face the Executor Might of the Republic.

Mother’s voice, high and clear, carried across the room and up to us, “We are loyal to the Republic and will not resist. Our trial will show our innocence. We give ourselves to your generous care until that time comes.”

The holographic man’s smile widened considerably. “Ai, always the diplomat.”

Mother bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement before continuing, “We ask that Beñat, and Guilré be allowed to continue on to their selected studies.”

“Why, of course. We would not wish to waste such talents. The sins of the father should not rest on the sons.”

I scanned the crowd for Beñat or Guilré, but did not see them. My chest suddenly felt tight. Would I see them again?

The Might looked over his shoulder at something we couldn’t see in the projection before turning back to my parents, his smile gone.

“Your sons have already been placed in their respective training facilities.”

I could see Mother’s hand tighten on the sleeve of Father’s jacket. “And the twins?”

“I think you have misunderstood the position you are in, Ai. This is not a negotiation. You will be placed under the custody of the Might until your trial before the Fate.” He waved two fingers and the soldiers came forward, moving through the crowd of gawkers. Collars of light were placed around their necks. Both were surrounded by guards as they made their way to the far end of the ballroom and out into the courtyard.

The sound of heavy boots echoed through the hall while everyone watched in silence as my parents disappeared from my view. Atilio and I were so wrapped up in what was going on below that we did not see the men appear on either side of us. One grabbed Atilio and the other me.

In a blind panic, I kicked out, screamed, and tried to claw the eyes out of whoever was holding me.

A hand came over my mouth and a deep voice whispered in my ear, “You are safe. You and your brother are going to your uncle, Creator Shou. Be still.”

Shou, I knew that name. Mother’s older brother worked for the Insight in a sector of the Capital City far from us. Someone else must have told Atilio something similar because he had also quieted down.

The man who had been trying to contain me set me down on my feet. Ahead of me, Atilio was being pulled away, a large man gripping his arm tightly. He looked back at me, his eyes large and wet.

I looked up at the man who held my arm in an iron grip. He was tall with tan skin and dark eyes. His shirt was dark grey with a silver seven pointed star of the Republic on the right breast. My dress clothes had a similar emblem but my star was gold on cream. He worked for the Insight. His eyes met mine and even though his face was hard, his eyes held something akin to sympathy.

Everything was moving so fast. Where were Mother and Father? Where were my brothers?

“Mother… I need to tell Mother we are going.” I pleaded with my captor. “We aren’t supposed to go out on our own.”

The man continued to tow me along, his voice clipped as he responded. “Your Mother knows. She had us sent here to take you to Creator Shou.”

They loaded us into a hovership, my brother and I clinging to each other as we watched our home grow further and further away until it was a pinprick in the distance.

It might have been the late hour or the emotional exhaustion but we both fell asleep on the ride across the Capital City.

I woke up in an unfamiliar room, on an unfamiliar bed. I sat up in a panic, searching for anything familiar. I was about to scream in fear when I saw Atilio asleep on the bed beside mine. My heart still beat out of my chest, but at least he was there with me.

In the far corner of the room, a man sat in a plush chair, his face illuminated by the helo-screen in his hands. He looked at me for a long moment before he turned off the device and stood.

Uncle Shou looked a lot like Mother. He had the same dark, almond eyes, the same straight, dark hair, and the same lithe build.

He crossed the room and knelt down by my bedside, so that we were eye level.

“I’m sorry,’’ he said hoarsely. “I couldn’t stop it. But I made sure all of you children were safe.” He leaned forward and ran a thumb over my cheek. I hadn’t realized I was crying.

“Your brothers are safe and you are too.”

Hearing that lifted a weight from my shoulders I hadn’t even realized I was carrying.

“Can we go home?” My voice was barely audible as I fought back more tears threatening to fall.

Uncle’s eyes met mine and I knew the answer before he spoke. “This is your home now.”