CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
In the Netherworld, a small house sat in the middle of nowhere with only a single dead tree for company. Inside, Sara moped near a window.
Leon slowly paced back and forth nervously. At one point, he veered toward Sara but then decided it best to leave her alone.
“I can't believe you, Leon,” Sara finally said. “How could you?”
Leon felt a tinge of relief that at least Sara spoke to him. The friction between them was palpable. “Sorry,” he said.
Sara grew teary-eyed. “Sorry? You're sorry?”
“What would you have done?” Leon asked.
“You lied to me,” Sara snapped. “And worse you told no one about Nibiru. All this time, you knew. You knew, Leon and you didn't say a damn thing!”
Leon lowered his head in shame.
Sara turned, glaring in anger. “You said sunlight wouldn't kill them.”
Leon stood by the window opposite of Sara. “Okay, it probably will. But good luck getting them anywhere near it. They avoid it like the plague.”
“What about you, your Vesuvian Starlight?” Sara asked.
“I tried, once,” Leon answered. “Almost killed myself.”
“But did it work?” Sara asked.
Leon shook his head. “The other guy just got a bad sunburn. I can't generate the light needed to kill them. It takes too much out of me, and I'm no good to Rhea if I'm dead.”
“There has to be a way,” Sara insisted.
“If you have any ideas, I'm all ears,” Leon said. “But short of taking the sun and throwing it at them, I doubt anything else is going to work.”
“What about Nibiru?” Sara asked.
“I wouldn't worry about him.” Leon answered.
“What?” Sara said in shock. “You know what he's capable of. You know that at any time he feels like it, he can erase our entire world.”
Leon seemed like he wanted to laugh. “Please trust me. Nibiru won’t do it.”
“What makes you so sure?” Sara asked.
“Think about it,” said Leon. “If he uses the Shadow Seed, then he changes me as well. And where does that leave him? He needs me to join him as a Myrmidon.”
Sara was at a loss for words. She didn't think of Leon as the egotistic type. Though at the same time, she couldn't argue with him. There was a certain sense of logic to his chutzpah.
Leon moved close to Sara. “As long as I'm around, we'll be fine.”
Too mad to even look at Leon, Sara walked away and sat on the couch. “What happens when Nibiru changes his mind and decides he doesn't need you?”
“It won’t come to that,” Leon said confidently.
“How can you possibly say that?” Sara asked. “How do you know?”
“Nibiru would have done it by now,” Leon said, “If he could have gone somewhere else, we wouldn't be here right now.”
Sara leaned over, running her hands through her hair. “Just tell me one thing, Leon. If and when that Shadow Seed is hanging over your head, what are you going to do?”
Before Leon could answer, a portal opened with Lilith stepping through. “Are we ready to go back to Vesuvia?” she asked.
“Not yet,” Leon said. “The second we go through; the Kanara will know everything Nibiru told Sara. They can’t read me because I was made with the Council’s blood.”
“They need to know,” Sara demanded. “Everyone has a right to know.”
Lilith closed the portal and stepped away.
“What for,” Leon asked. “Telling them won't help anything. It'll make it worse.”
Sara was feeling more stressed by the second. “Maybe there's something that can be done. Something you haven't thought of.”
“No,” Leon said. “We've both seen what Nibiru is, what he can do.”
“You have to tell them, Leon,” Sara countered. “Doesn't it bother you at all that the whole world is fighting and dying for you?”
The coldness in Leon’s eyes was reflected in his tone. “Let them die. It’s better than living in fear the rest of their lives. They'd all be slaves right now if it weren't for me.”
A strange silence filled the room. The kind you get when everyone is beside themselves.
Knowing what the argument was about, Lilith wanted nothing to do with it.
Sara got up, slowly walking toward Leon. “Did you ever think of joining Nibiru? Do you think he’d spare the rest of us if you just give him what he wants?”
Leon barely gave the idea a second thought. “No, and I can't say what Nibiru will do, but I'm not taking any chances.”
After another short moment of silence, Lilith opened a portal. “Maybe I should come back.”
“Forget it,” Sara said. “Do Leon a favor and send me to New Haven. There’s no point in fighting anymore.”
In an instant, the sight of Sara being so upset made Leon begin to question himself. He gently grabbed her by the arm when she began moving toward the portal.
Depressed and angry, Sara pulled away.
“Please wait,” Leon begged. “You're right. And I'm sorry if I hurt you. I’d take it back if I could. You have to believe that I was only trying to protect everyone. But you're right. I should have told them.”
Lilith stood by Leon. “Do you know what you're saying? Sara, I understand your concerns, but trust me. People can easily lose all resolve if they believe there is no hope.”
“No,” Leon said. “I can't do this alone. Not anymore. Send us to Vesuvia. The Council will need to see what Sara saw.”
Doubtful, Lilith changed her portal’s destination with a mere thought. “Good luck.”
Back in his house, Leon stood patiently a short distance from the front door as Sara sat at the table and waited.
Minutes went by.
Angry with Leon as she was, Sara didn’t want anything bad to happen to him. She sobbed as her thoughts of Nibiru and the Shadow Seed raced uncontrollably through her head. Thoughts she knew would be used against Leon.
It wasn't long until Leon sensed several people approaching. The door swung open with Marus and Helen entering with a few others escorting them.
Marus strolled right up to Leon. “Have you peeked outside your window recently?”
Helen sat with Sara. “The Council wishes to express their deepest apologies. I promise we will do all we can to find a solution. And don't worry about Leon. We're not quite as unforgiving as you think.”
Sara said nothing as she simply stared at the table.
Parting the curtains slightly, Leon could see his home completely surrounded by fellow Vesuvians. It didn't look like an angry mob, but they didn't seem too happy either.
“Leon, you fool,” Marus said. “Over half the city knows your little secret. You should have told the Council at least. The elders are up in arms.”
Leon scanned the crowd. “There was no need to cause a panic. Take my word that these people are either not going to fight anymore, or they’re going to try to cut a deal with the Pelasgians.”
Marus put his hand on Leon’s shoulder. “Right now may not be the best time to be in the city. You need to get out. Take Sara back to New Haven. Hopefully, everyone will have simmered down by the time you return.”
“Do you really think I was wrong?” Leon asked.
“Between you and me, no,” Marus answered. “But I have to play the uptight politician. You, you're in a tight spot. There's absolutely no way we can guarantee your safety. Not with everything going on. The Council has to focus on the Pelasgians.”
Leon sunk with a feeling that he had more to worry about than ever before. “Thanks. We'll be on our way then. If I don't see you again, it's been miserable.”
Marus barely contained his laughter. “I can only imagine.”