Deliver Us Huis

I sat on my new throne, overlooking our progress on the chart Petrus had given to me. The room had been emptied of everything but my throne, and the dais on which it sat. Of course there was the massive computer system around the throne, tracking the Anthrolems, and controlling them.

Many people had come in and out of the throne room, mostly region leaders pledging allegiance. In the last week eighty four of the ninety seven huisic regions had accepted our rule, and I was assured the others would soon.

As I looked over the map of the planet I was given a thrill of satisfaction looking at the regions I now governed. It was amazing. I had gone from staring out the window dreaming, to ruling everything I saw.

I looked up from the throne, to the windows overlooking the gorgeous balconies and smiled.

The door to the throne room creaked open and Petrus came strolling in.

“Your most illustrious majesty and high queen of all she sees, your humble servant begs to have a word with you.”

I laughed and jumped off of the throne, the train of my black dress swishing behind me, “Petrus, I get enough of that crazy talk from the dull region leaders.” I sighed, “With you, can I just be Tel?”

He smiled, “Of course.” He cast a glance about the room, “There’s an awful lot of room in here.” He bowed, “May I ask you for a dance?”

I smiled, “But we don’t have any music.”

“I guess you’ll have to imagine it then.” His arm went around my waist and he twirled me through the hall.

I smiled. Somehow everything felt right when Petrus was near. My reign wouldn’t have felt right without him. Sure, we hadn’t yet begun the changes that I had envisioned yet. Petrus insisted we needed to assert dominance and make the lands kneel to us.

But it would all come about in good time, I was assured. We deserved a break from plotting and planning, our success deserved reward.

Petrus gently led me out onto the balcony and we sat overlooking the Capitol in silence for a moment.

“I almost can’t believe we did it,” I said, quietly, “But then I realise that the hard part is over. Now all that’s left is for us to work to make our kingdom whatever we wish. And,” I looked up and smiled shyly, “I know I never could have done it without you.”

“You’re the one who made it all happen Tel,” He said, leaning close, his face inches from mine. I closed my eyes in anticipation of a kiss.

But it never came.

Instead my stomach exploded in sudden fireworks of pain. My eyes snapped open as I slid to the floor, gasping.

I looked up to see Petrus holding a knife glittering with blood.

My blood.

“Petrus?” I asked, my voice coming out in a strangled cry filled with disbelief, overpowered by the pain surging through me.

He knelt before me, lifting my chin so as to make me meet his eyes.

“You are too trusting, my dear.” he smiled, “And I’m afraid that’s a weakness that cannot be tolerated.”

“Weakness? I… I don’t understand.” I gasped, clutching my abdomen as if that could make the bleeding stop. Already I was dizzy, I had little time before I passed out from lack of blood.

“You really didn’t see this coming did you?” he stood, smiling, as if this was but a game we were playing, “I had hoped you were smarter than that, but your optimism blinded you. Your dreams of a better world... it didn’t take much to let you believe they would come true.”

“They would’ve…” I managed, feeling my eyes burn red with hate, “If you hadn’t...let your greed...change you...” I groaned, my pain cutting my words short, “What happened…. to the Petrus I knew? The one who wanted….who wanted nothing more…. than to change the world? What… what happened to you?”

He smiled pityingly, “Tel, nothing happened, I haven’t changed, your perspective of me has. You saw good where there was none. You blindly believed that all I would want to do was help you.” His face contorted as he spat out the words as if the very idea disgusted him, then his features stilled as they slipped back behind their calm mask.

“Your optimistic nature was what made you valuable to me…” he laughed, “and now it’s the reason you are now so irksome.”He tilted his head, “I had hoped you’d join me, but instead you had to continue with your annoying hopes for the future.” He shook his head, “You thought yourself so good, and yet we both know the only reason you did it was to make you feel better. You didn’t like the thought of people in pain, it made you feel guilty. You wanted to feel important and significant.”

He laughed, “What’s that you always like to say? People see what they want to see?” he smiled, “You wanted to see me as a hero, it didn’t take much from me to encourage that belief.”

Darkness started to swirl over my eyes, and I knew I didn’t have much time left.

After all I’d done, all the work, all the pain and loss… was this really how it ended? My pursuits had put the world in the hands of a monster.

Had I really been so foolish as to think that I could help people?

All I had done was bring more pain and bloodshed.

How fitting that I should die, when I had killed so many innocents in the name of peace.

As my eyes closed I heard shouts, scuffles, and the sound of broken glass.

But whatever their cause, it was no longer my concern. I let out a final sigh as my consciousness left me and I was embraced by the oblivion of darkness.