Chapter 11
Artemis strolls out onto the arena floor. He brushes the hair that has fallen out of my ponytail back behind my ears.
“Welcome home, Trea,” he says, as he helps me to my feet.
I look up at him, sorrow in my heart, pleasure in my soul.
I feel as if a switch has been turned on, a cloud lifted from my eyes.
“It’s good to be home,” I say in a voice I don’t recognize.
He wraps his arms around me pulling me in tightly as several Regulators enter the arena. Numerous tiles in the center of the floor open, revealing a staircase. The group of us walk down in silence while the announcer declares the events for today have been canceled and will resume tomorrow at noon. We walk through the holding area, passing fighters too stunned to speak. I glance around but don’t see Aidan or the others.
We move through the expanse and further into the arena’s sublevel, stopping outside an elevator that is encased in steel. One of the Regulators enters a code onto a screen by the door, which slides open upon acceptance. Artemis and I go inside alone and get out when we reach the top.
The room we enter is finely decorated in plush red carpeting, white wainscoting, deep cushioned couches, white granite support columns, and a window expanding the length of the room with a view of the entire stadium. The elevator door closes behind us, preventing our escape. I spot an older man in a tailored gray suit standing to the far right side of the windows overlooking the arena. He holds a small tumbler in his hand filled with ice and a caramel colored liquid. He doesn’t turn to look at us, but I can sense his anger.
“You have been holding out on me, Artemis,” the man says, sipping his drink.
“Being a business man, I must protect my own interests,” Artemis responds, in a defiant tone.
“Indeed.” The man turns around and approaches us. His face I recognize instantly, it hasn’t aged in sixteen years, except his hair is a lot grayer now. The High Ruler of Tyre, Aldus Vladim, stops directly in front of us, one hand behind his back and the other holding his glass. “So, you have found one of the lost Antaeans. Which one is she?”
“This is Trea,” Artemis says, as he places his hand on the small of my back, pushing me gently forward.
“Not that I don’t believe you, Artemis, but I would like to check the young lady myself.” Vladim focuses his attention towards me.
I shake slightly as I remember when he visited the Dormitories how powerful he seemed
“Trea, would you mind bending your head down?”
I obey, lowering my head till my chin rests against my chest. I feel him push aside my hair. The gentle touch of his fingers sends shivers down my spine and ice through my veins.
“Thank you, dear,” he says, as he lifts my chin up. He reaches out and clasps Artemis’ hand in his. “You have done well, son. As promised to anyone who brings me an Antaean, you can have anything you like.”
Artemis smiles, and points to me. “I want her.”
“Absolutely not, out of the question.” Vladim dislodges himself from Artemis’ grip, pushing the man’s hand aside. “She is the property of Tyre and has been since birth. You can have any woman you want, just not this one.”
“I see.” Artemis steps forward, practically nose to nose with Vladim. “What if I tell you she isn’t the first Antaean located, that she in fact is the second, what would you say then?”
“I would you say you are bluffing. No other Possessors have indicated they have found one, nor has any Collector come forward for the reward. No, Artemis, I’m sorry but you are lying.”
“I never said the other one was here in Tyre. There are two other cities out there, all with their own Collectors looking for them.”
“If Acheron had found one, they would have made it a public spectacle to rub it in our faces. The city of Nuceira would have destroyed it, as they see the Antaean as an abomination to their twisted ways of living. They would have made it a public execution. No, Artemis, you are lying.” Vladim walks over to a small bar against the far left wall and refills his now empty drink.
“I know how to locate Kedua, but I need Trea to do it.” I can sense Artemis grasping at straws, trying not to lose his prize possession.
“And how could you possibly know how to find this one?”
“Simple. I know the person who sold her.”
“Someone sold Kedua? Did this idiot not know what they had?”
“Obviously not, but the good thing is, the city of Acheron doesn’t know they have her in their midst. So it’s imperative that I have Trea with me.”
Vladim seems to be mulling it over, pacing back and forth for some time, his drink splashing onto the floor unnoticed. He finally stops, shaking his head.
“No, Artemis, Trea is too much of an asset to this city for me to just hand her over to you to go on some wild goose chase for Antaean number two, if indeed she has been located. You will be rewarded handsomely for your find, but that’s all.” Vladim places his hand on Artemis’ shoulder after having set his glass down and escorts him back to the elevator. “Since I currently don’t have a place to house Trea I will need to use your quarters, so I will need you to move your fighters as well as yourself to another floor for the duration of the battles.”
Artemis looks back towards me as the door to the elevator opens. I want to wave a sarcastic goodbye, but I refrain. He’s forced inside and the doors close on his stunned face. Vladim returns to me, hands clasped behind his back.
“Do you think he’s telling the truth about Kedua?” I ask Vladim, as he stands silent by my
