Kingdoms End

The hour was 14:09 now and Lord Haavik’s convoy was just entering the Haavik manor compound on its return from Mareda. Lord Haavik was in the backseat of one of the military-type SUVs. The cars all went off in another direction, only the one with Lord Haavik in it went up to the manor proper.

The car came to the portico covered entrance. Lizandra emerged from inside the house, four Bruttites behind her. She had on black pants, a white jacket over a long, white blouse and white, fur boots. The girl looked executive and pretty, with her curly hair ending at the top of her back. She went up to the car, just as a Bruttite opened the door for Lord Haavik to get down. Greg got down and the first thing he noticed was that Linus was missing from the scene, but he didn’t really care. Lizandra hugged her father. “Welcome home, father,” she said. Lord Haavik didn’t hug the girl back, or say a word. He just stood still and let the girl hug him. Lizandra noticed that he didn’t have his arms around her, so she let go of him.

Once the girl let go of him, Lord Haavik walked past her and up to the house. She turned and followed him, coming to walk at his side. Lord Greg gave her one glance, then looks ahead once more. The father and daughter walked to the elevator, six Bruttites following behind them. The elevator opened and they got in. The Bruttites made to get in, but Lord Haavik told them not to and so they didn’t. The elevator doors slid shut and the two Haavik’s were alone.

“So, how was the battle?” Lizandra tried making conversation. “I kept your stepfather safe, as you asked of me,” Lord Haavik replied. “At least we’re talking now and I’m glad you’re alive too,” the girl said, taking his hand in both her own. Lord Haavik looked down at the girl and she smiled up at him. The man looked away and Lizandra reached up with her right hand and tapped him on the forehead. “You’re a lot taller in real life,” said she. “Six foot five. I hope I grow to be as tall as you, I took your skin tone instead of my mother’s after all.” Lord Haavik looked down at the girl again and she just kept stroking his forehead. He looked forward again and spoke, “I have had the procedure that will see you take the Haavik name started. No one must know that you are of House Haavik. Your documents shall be prepared in secret and brought here.” “Whatever you say, Father,” the girl replied, dragging his left cheek now.

The elevator stopped and the doors opened to reveal Linus. “I see you two are bonding,” he said, seeing Lizandra toying with her father’s cheek. Lord Haavik grabbed Lizandra’s right wrist and went up to Linus. He held the hand out to Linus. “Keep her away from me,” he told his P.A. Lizandra puled her arm free, then Lord Haavik turned and walked away from where the others stood.

Lizandra massaged her wrist. “I don’t think he sees me as anything other than just another member of House Haavik,” she said. “He behaves nothing like a father.” “Please be patient, my dear,” Linus begged. “My stepfather will be arriving the capital today and he’ll take take my siblings back to Mareda tomorrow. I’d like to just go back with them.” “Please, Lizandra, just try. He doesn’t want to be around you, it’s a sign that what you’re doing has an effect on him.” “Of course I has an effect on him,” Lizandra agreed, “it annoys and irritates him. I’ve never been one to seek attention and this father of mine has no intentions of giving me any.” Linus dropped to his knees now. “Please, Lizandra,” he pleaded. “Okay. Okay,” the girl agreed, trying to pull him up.

Linus got to his feet. “I shall try again, but you will have to promise that I can go visit my siblings and stepfather at their place here later today,” she spoke. “I shall personally take you thee,” Linus consented. “Me and a hundred concealed Bruttites,” he added and she laughed. “Though you must promise to never let your father know that I even allow you out of this house.” “Agreed,” said Lizandra.

It was night time now, 20:43 hours to be exact. Lizandra had been taken by surprise when her family had come to the manor to visit her. They’d arrived about an hour after Lord Haavik’s return. Lord Haavik had refused to see anyone, so Linus and Lizandra just lied to the visitors that Lord Haavik was asleep. They’d had lots of fun and Linus had shown around some parts of the house. Lizandra had enjoyed the visit and now that they were leaving, she was fighting back tears.

Lizandra, her stepfather and Eliza, all stood a few feet away from the car in which the younger kids sat waiting. Four Bruttites stood a few feet away from Lizandra, ready to spring if anything went wrong. “I’m truly glad you all came to visit, father,” Lizandra spoke. She and her half-sister were holding hands. “You’re so lucky, Lizandra,” Eliza said. “You belong to the wealthiest family in all of Huberg.” “House Haavik can’t possibly be the wealthiest family in out entire work, Eliza,” Lizandra stated. “The entire Queendom? Maybe. But the whole world of Huberg? I doubt it,” she added. “I doubt there are more than five other families in this world who own a skyscraper like this as just a private residence and not a business,” Eliza spoke. “Remember, Eliza,” said Lord Berron, “We must keep your elder sister’s relationship to House Haavik a secret. If anyone asks about her when we get back to Mareda, you tell them she decided to go and stay with your mother’s family.” “Yes, father,” Eliza replied. “Now, go and wait in the car with your younger ones, I need to have a word with your elder sister in private.” Eliza turned to her sister and hugged her once more. “Don’t let the money make you forget us, my sister,” she whispered into Lizandra’s ear. Lizandra could hold the tears back no more. She squeezed Eliza in tight and began crying. Eliza began crying also and Lord Berron had to step in and separate the girls.

Eliza ran to the car, still crying, while Lizandra stayed back with her stepfather and watched her sister go. “I wanted to tell you that my gates will always be open to you, Lizandra,” Lord Berron told the girl in a serious voice. “Of course they will,” the girl said, hugging the man. “I’m your firstborn.” “And you always will be,” he spoke, putting his hands on her back. The two let go of each other and Lord Berron began wiping Lizandra’s tears with a handkerchief from his pocket. “If anybody those anything wrong to you here, my firstborn and your father doesn’t handle it properly, just contact me, okay?” Lizandra nodded in reply and a tear rolled the left side of her stepfather’s face. She wiped the tear with her hand and the man skilled. “Take care of yourself, my daughter,” he told her, patted her head, then went toward the the two cars that awaited him. The Lord of Mareda git into the car with his kids and they all waved at Lizandra as the cars drove off.

Lizandra watched her family go, returning her waves as their cars drove off. She waved until they were gone from sight, then turned and headed back into the house, her four Bruttite guards following behind her.

She got into the elevator with her guards and the thing began going up. Linus was nowhere to be found, he’d spent some time with Lizandra and her other family, then slipped away. “Why wouldn’t Lord Haavik see my family?” Lizandra asked one Bruttite who was looking straight at her. The soldier had no reply for that, so he just shrugged and looks away. “It’s not like he’s doing anything important up there,” she added.

The elevator came to a halt on the top floor, the ninety-first floor. Lizandra got out of the elevator and went straight to the doors to the main living room on this floor, the one with glass indoor glass wall. She saw the back of Lord Haavik’s head over the back of the sofa as she passed the indoor glass wall and was glad that he was still awake. As she got to the doors, one of the two guard at its sides, pulled one open and held it for her.

Lizandra entered the living room and when she got to the sofa on which her father sat, she found two large, framed portraits set before him on special stands. He didn’t even look at her when she got to him, he was muttering to the portraits and just kept at it. The pictures were of two dark-skinned women, one looked at least thirty-five and the other looked about Lizandra’s own age. “Your mother and sister?” Lizandra him gently, but he ignored her. “It’s not healthy for someone to talk to pictures,” she advices, but still got no reply. “It won’t be said that I didn’t try,” she spoke, then rolled her eyes and sat down at the other end of the sofa. “I’ll just see what’s on the TV,” she said, reaching for the remote controller which was on the chair between she and Lord Haavik. She picked up the remote and was about turning on the TV, when she heard the door open behind them. She turned around and what she saw, transfixed her instantly.

Walking in through the open door was the ruler of all Sanel, Queen Zurnich Halel, in the flesh. Lord Haavik didn’t even turn around to see who’d entered. “Greg Haavik?!!” the queen thundered as she approached the sofa from behind. No guard followed her into the room, Lizandra saw some royal guards outside the door, before it was shut. The queen came to stand in front of the sofa and Greg looked away from his pictures now. “How dare you defy me twice in the presence of my council?!” the woman barked with anger, then seemed to notice Lizandra for the first time. “And you are?” the queen asked, staring straight at the girl now.

Lizandra opened her mouth to say something, but all that cane out was, “You’re Queen Zurnich Halel.” “I asked you who you are, girl and not who I am,” the queen stated. “I can’t believe I’m actually seated before you, the queen of all Sanel,” the girl blabbed on. “Leave us, Lizandra,” Lord Haavik ordered. Lizandra got to her feet now, though her eyes were still fixed on the queen. “Wait one second,” said the queen. “Greg, are you molesting little girls now?” Shock was evident on the woman’s fave as she spoke and the weight of her words brought Lizandra out of her trance. “He didn’t do anything to me!” the girl said I’m a harsher tone than she’d planned.

Queen Zurnich was surprised by the girl’s outburst. “Such impunity,” said the royal gently. “Go to your room, girl!!” Lord Haavik roared. “Her room?” the queen asked Greg, looking at him and by so doing, noticing the photos before him.

Queen Zurnich looked from the pictures, to Lizandra. She grabbed Lizandra by the right shoulder and dragged her to the front of the pictures. The queen looked at the the older Oman in the picture this time, not the girl. “By the gods!!!” she exclaimed in a low voice, then looked back at Lizandra once more. “You’re Greg’s daughter,” the woman stated. “Apologies., my queen, but I don’t know what you speak of,” Lizandra tried denying, but the similarities were obvious. “Look, child,” said the queen, putting both hands on Lizandra’s shoulders, “I am an ally of House Haavik and would never wish to see it fall. I have been trying to help your father and he knows how many times I’ve told him how I’d like to him wed to another woman and bring his children to visit me at the Palace of Enders.”

The queen hugged Lizandra now, laughing. She held the girl tight for awhile, then let her go and sat down next to Lord Haavik. “How dare you keep this from me, Greg?” she asked, slapping the man hard on the left lap. “He only found out about me three days ago and had me brought here from Mareda two days ago,” Lizandra explained to the queen. “So this was why you rudely walked out on me and council and rushed down to Mareda?” the queen asked, slapping his lap again, harder this time. “Go to your room, girl” Lord Haavik ordered again.

“Ignore your grumpy father, baby,” Queen Zurnich told Lizandra, pilling the girl to sit next to her. She put an arm around Lizandra and dragged her close. “Your father is not a bad man, my dear,” she told the girl, “He’s just been going through a very long phase which I believe that only you can end. If you give up on him, then he’s just a walking corpse. He wasn’t always like this and I promise you’ll really love him once his back to normal, understand?” Lizandra nodded in reply. “You also have to keep your identity a secret,,” The queen said next. “If anyone asks you who you are and why you’re at the Haavik manor, just tell them you’re a refugee from planet Setuh and you were in service to the Priestess of Halo-Bir, so I was a little partial towards you and Lord Haavik took some interest. I agreed that he could have you stay here and spool you with wealth, am I understood?” “Yes, majesty,” the girl replied. “Call me Aunty henceforth,” the woman spoke. “Yes, aunty,” Lizandra replied and the queen laughed.

Queen Zurnich was so happy to see that Greg had a child and Lizandra was so happy to be this close to the great monarch she’d admired all her life. “Your mother must have been Claire Burben, as your father has only been very friendly with three women in his life and I am one of them,” the queen deducted. “You are correct, majesty,” Lizandra replied. “What did I just tell you?” the queen asked. “I’m sorry, aunty,” Lizandra quickly corrected herself “I heard of your mother’s passing, my dear. You have my condolences.” “Thank you, aunty.” “You go to your room now,” the queen told Lizandra and the girl rose from the sofa. “I need to discuss some things with your father. I shall come to spend some time with in your bedroom when we’re done here.” “Yes, aunty,” replied the girl. Lizandra made to go, then stopped and turned to the photos. “I’ll take these,” she said, carrying the portraits out of their stands. Lord Haavik gave her a death glare, but she ignored him. “You shouldn’t talk to pictures and I need to know who these people are that I resemble so much.” “They are your father’s mother and elder sister,” the queen explained. “I shall find a place for them in my bedroom,” Lizandra stated, walking away with the portraits. Queen Zurnich saw the look on Lord Haavik’s face and laughed aloud.

Once Lizandra was in the hallway and the door to the living room had been shut, she turned to one if her House’s guards. “Take these and follow me,” she ordered and the guard immediately took the portraits from her. Lizandra Haavik headed for her gigantic bedroom now.

And so it was that Lord Haavik found what he believed would make his life easier, some other member of House Haavik to push the continuity of the family onto.