Treason On The Family

"Please schedule a meeting with the High Commission, Estaban." I flipped through the pages of this document that was proposed. The many pages went over the tactics of how they wish to handle the Civil War in Eurtsha. I have said countless times that this is the Prime Minister's problem, not mine, but for the past 4 years, I have been bombarded with notes, bills, documents, and so much more.

I set the papers down and rubbed my eyes, the stress has caught up with me. I need a break. My brain is pounding, my eyes are burning, I'm exhausted.

"It's in the next hour ma'am at Pavillion-C. Unfortunately, Opa will be unable to attend, so Miss Cruch will be filling his place." Estaban returned to my office, shuffling around the several papers.

"Of course, Opa cannot attend. She can never. Waste of space she is." I scoffed and flashed my hand at him. The white glove wrapped around my fingers down to my elbow. Opa, President of Ruscani, avoids any contact with our world's leaders. Nothing about that woman surprises me.

I looked up from the stacks of papers on my desk to see my daughter, her hair in tangles, strands pointing in all directions, her skin pale, her hands up to her chest. Her clothes were different. She's wearing sweatpants and sweaters more, she's always worn boots and jeans, khakis, dress pants. She's always looked professional.

"Nora?" She jumped when I called her name. Her eyes were quivering, her hands were so tight around one another. Her eyes darted to Louis who gave a peculiar smile. Not his friendly smile, no. This one was...

"Ye-yes?" She was shaking, adjusting her sweater and pants.

"Are you okay?" She gulped.

"Yeah, just..." She stopped and looked at Louis, "tired..." She turned and walked the other way.

"Alright, dear." it is three in the afternoon. She's been sleeping and cooped up in her room for weeks.

"What was that about?" Louis muttered his hand on my shoulder. "She must be on some drugs." Or you know something.

"I' check on her." I rushed from my office and to her room. My dress tugging around my waist. I knocked on her door. Something is up.

"Nora, how are you?"

"Fine." She was laying under her comforter, her room was a mess. Clothes everywhere, plates stacking up, her sheets looked dirty, her chest was open.

"I can tell something is wrong," I sat on her bed. Her body shifted, "tell me, hun." I rested my hand on her arm, a sudden shock ran through my body, my pupils were dilating. She jolted off the bed, crashing onto the floor.

"I'm so sorry, are you okay?"

"Just go!" She was hugging her knees, her face buried in them. "Please..."

"Okay, but please clean up... You look a mess. Hot shower and some tea." I left her in her room.

"Louis, do you know what's wrong with Nora?" I spoke as I returned to my office. He was shuffling through the papers.

"No, Madam. Haven't spoken to her in weeks."

"Uh-huh." I reached for his hand, holding it tightly. "Stop concealing your magic, we're all comfortable here." I rubbed the back of his hand. The soft skin, the small patches of hair.

"Of-of course, suppression would only mean treason." He let in a deep breath and let it out. The air didn't change, his breath smelt of coffee, his magic was still buried. This man is powerful, strong, but he cannot hide anything from me.

* * *

"Welcome to Pavillion-C, Maam Testafaunti, can I get you anything?" A man with dark skin and pale blue eyes looked to me. I smiled and told him no and carried on.

"I hate that. Having people tend to my needs when there is no need for them to be there. That man, Jacobson." I looked at Louis. He was sweating. "He's here as a butler," I air quoted, 'Butler'. "He graduated top of his class at Yoakam University, went on to Law School, and now he's here. Why is that?"

"I'm not... Not entirely sure ma'am. Maybe he couldn't find work." Louis pulled at his collar, beads of sweat rolling down his neck and forehead.

"I doubt it. Get him a position in my Council, he deserves it. I can just feel it."

"Of course, ma'am." He was blazing hot. I had been releasing energy near him since we left. He did something to my daughter and I can feel it. There's just something about how she's acting so quiet and how he's acting so coy, I am not ignorant.

The halls of Pavillion-C were white. Pillars holding up the hexagonal roof. Painting of great leaders was hung, Yaokam, Tesla, Foragan. Their leadership guides our world. There were six large doors on each side of Pavillion-C and in the center of this building was a brown, round table for us all to sit. It was engraved in stone that if Pavillion-C were to fall, so would the United Territories--the countries that have little to no money to support themselves that they fall under the wing of conquering worlds, such as Ruscani or Pace.

As the meeting slowly began to start, I took my seat across from Louis, who had residing stains under his arms and on his chest.

"Shall we begin?" The Ambassador of Yutni spoke loud and clear. An elderly man with no hair, a sagging face, dark eyes. "We are here today to speak on the behalf of Eurtsha and their ongoing Civil War that must come to an end because not just for the many resources they hold, but for their people."

"May I add?" Miss Cruch uttered. "Ambassador Stephan has a reputation for making things about resources and trade, but I will say on the behalf of Opa that she has sent several aids to Eurtsha for the people."

"Yes, Ivy, we know. You bring up all the time. Opa is generous we know, but we would prefer if she was her." President Tyler--Tutra- interjected. The leaders soon began to argue.

I turned my attention to Louis who was having trouble with his... Everything. He was sweating so much he looked like he was thrown into a pool, he was panting. Time to step it up a bit. I shut my eyes, my lips began to murmur to myself and my body relaxed. I let out a gentle breath. I stood and began to stride over to Louis. His eyes were glossed over. I turned back to see myself paying attention to the other World Leaders, jumping in and out of conversation from time to time.

Louis looked shocked.

I straddled his lap, his eyes traveling up and down my body, his hands were wandering, his hips were solid against the chair, but with every breath, he let out, he yearned to do something, anything.

"How are you here?" his eyes drifted from me to my other self. She was listening, writing notes, twiddling her pen from now and then. She'd look over at him and give a crooked smile and continue listening to the different members of the Commission.

"I am everywhere. I am there and here, I can be everywhere." My hands wandered down his arms, taking hold of his hands, and directing them to grip my waist. I let myself wander, my fingers rubbing over his thighs and hips. His eyes were glazed over, his body was trembling, his focus was rattled his concentration gone, all he could do is was sit here and take the torture he earned.

"But- Uh." He let out a raspy groan, my hand sliding between our legs. Faces had turned to him. Their eyes confused, estranged, belittled.

"Sorry, cramp." he rubbed his thigh--my hand.

"Better stay quiet or else, they'll know exactly who you are. What a disaster you are and how you writhe." My hand flexed, his body jerking, nearly missing the large wooden table. "How?" He whispered, voice hoarse and on edge.

"You expect the daughter of Genevieve the boundless, grandchild of the most powerful leaders since the start of the Empire to not hold in the palm of her hand such a potent Magic?" My hand came up from his thigh and ran a finger across his neck, "you ignorant man."

"Now shut your damn mouth." I forced my hand against his mouth, his throat flexing. The muscles in my arms began to tug against my bone, my arm straining between our bodies. His body wanted to move, wanted to do something with itself, stuck in his seat, mouth shut away from saying a word, making a noise. The veins in his forehead and neck began to bulge under his skin, blue tints running across his fair skin like rivers.

"Louis, what do you think?" My voice called from behind. he was in complete disarray. A wicked grin crawled across my face.

"I agree." Is all he could say. My primary self-was confused along with the other leaders.

"Louis, leave the room," Ivy spoke out, noticing his wet hair and soaked clothing, and undressed pants.

"Yes, Ma'am." He darted out of the room and down a hall and into the bathroom. I followed.

His pants were still unbuttoned and unzipped, his underwear was taught.

'How could you do that to me?!" He exclaimed, not bothering to pull his pants together.

"You did something to Nora and I will not stand for it." He looked surprised, caught off guard as if he didn't expect me to say it.

"I touched, I could feel her emotions, she was in trauma. She was hurt something happened, I don't know what but it led back to you."

"But.."

"I touched your hand. I couldn't see anything, but suppressing your energy in front of me, Your Empress, thinking you could get away with it. I may not be a descendant but Honey I am strong. Do you really think!" I yelled my voice rasp, my hand upturned in the air, his body lifting off the ground. I stepped close, his broken expression, his pants falling to his ankles.

"Do you really think I am a fool? That I would just look past it? I have been Empress for 20 years and you will not look me in the eyes and say you don't know something when you are the cause of that something?" My voice was booming, the building was shaking.

"I should kill you right now?" I squeezed my hand and he choked.

"But I won't." My hand fell to my side. He fell to the ground, his bare knees on the brown tile, his breaths were heavy, he coughed once or twice. "You will leave Pace or else I will make you leave this world and no one will remember you. You will be forgotten in time if you do not follow my instructions."

"You will travel to the territory of Sigan and you will live there. And if I catch you anywhere on Pace, and don't worry I will, you know I will, I will erase you from this world and you will be forgotten, you will suffer something worse than death. Understood?" He nodded and coughed.

"Good. Now, one more thing?" I snapped my fingers his clothes withered into shreds, leaving him in nothing but his undergarment. "You will walk into that room and explain what you did."

He almost cried, but he stood and walked out of the room. I shut my eyes and reopened them in the meeting hall.

"Louis, is there something you'd like to say?" Everyone's attention turned to Louis standing in the room in nothing but his stretched underwear, the women and men gasped. Some gagged.

The words he spoke ripped through the air. An onslaught of pens and books were thrown at his face. The many men in the room stood from their seats and escorted him out.

My jaw locked, my eyes burned, my nostrils flared. Humiliation would mean nothing to him. The anger, the resentment I felt for him was nothing such as what I felt for myself. My failure to do the one most important job in all of Planatia. The most respected job I could have ever taken. I failed to do. I failed to be a mother.