Chapter 9: Insurrection

With a sigh, Lysia watched Adam led his tearful and quiet daughter, Adra, from Ilene's room. Adam's parents had arrived with the nine-year-old just a few hours before. Although they had been aware of the seriousness of Ilene's condition, they were still shock by the appearance of their daughter-in-law.

'What will we all do if we can't help Ilene?' Lysia wondered, as Adam and his family left the medical wing. Closing her eyes, she tried to halt the tears that were threatening to overwhelm her.

"Lysia?" a gentle voice called.

Hoping that she appeared fine, she turned and met the concerned face of her husband, Dylan. Wordlessly, he hugged her. Clutching to him, she released the tears. In turn, he held her even tighter.

After a few moments, she calmed herself. Wiping her tears away, she looked up at Dylan. "Thank you."

Nodding, he kissed her forehead. "Anytime."

"Did you need me for something?"

"Caitlyn and Alex are looking for us," he explained. "We're suppose to met them in Caitlyn's office."

"What's going on?" she wondered aloud as they headed to her sister's office.

Dylan shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe it's good news."

"We need some right about now," Lysia said quietly, wrapping an arm around his waist.

They walked the rest of the way in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. As they arrived outside the office, Dylan knocked the thick oak door. When they were told to enter, he opened the door but allowed Lysia to go in first.

When she saw her sister and brother-in-law, Lysia paused in the center of the room. Caitlyn and Alexander were dressed in what they called their court clothes, the finery they only donned when they had to appear at official court functions. Stifling a sigh, she took a seat across from Caitlyn's desk.

"Naffid's has called a meeting of the Council," Caitlyn said, getting directly to the point.

"Demanded, actually," Alex added, his tone betraying his annoyance.

Dylan crossed his arms. "So, as Paul and Leda's stand-ins, you have to make an appearance?"

Caitlyn nodded. "However, we don't know what he has planned. We need you and Lysia to handle things here if something should happen."

"Like he would be so stupid as to challenge the House of Jupiter," Lysia muttered.

"His letter was a challenge in itself," Alex commented.

Caitlyn rose from her chair and moved to lean against the front of her desk. "Lysia, you know as well as I do that Naffid has been a headache for years. Now, he has finally seized control of the Mayoral Council. Who knows what he will pull, especially with Leda and Paul gone?"

"We'll do it," Lysia said, "although this is generally yours and Leda's arena."

"Believe me, Lysia, no one will be happier to have Leda back than me," Caitlyn replied.

At Alex's pointed look, she stood up and smoothed the elaborate skirt of her dress. At the signal, Lysia and Dylan rose as well and the four left the study.

"Good luck," Dylan said.

"Thanks," Alex replied, "hopefully we won't need it."

Lysia gave Cait and Alex both quick hugs. "Okay, you two better leave or you'll be late."

With a final goodbye, the older pair headed to where the transport was waiting for them. Lysia and Dylan watched them as their retreating eventually disappear. As her husband wrapped an arm around her shoulders, she leaned against him.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"

* * * * *

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Galen asked as he watched Elara throw back the blanket and swing her legs over the edge of the bed.

Elara gave him a warning look as she put her feet on the cold floor. "I can't stay in bed while you and Cami work yourselves ragged," she said. "Besides, the castle patients are my responsibility."

She rose but had to hold on the wall when her knees threatened to buckle underneath her. Galen was immediately beside her and urged her to lean against him. Using him as a support, she took a couple of steps, but her legs still felt like rubber.

"What are my chances of convincing you to get back in bed?" he asked her, taking more of her weight.

"I need to see how Ilene is doing," she said.

"The way you are now, I'll have to carry you because you won't be able to make it down the hall."

She looked up at him with a slight smile. "Is that an offer?"

With a long-suffering sigh, he got her to sit in a chair. He stared intently at her for a few moments, his green eyes boring into her hazel ones. As if he had made a decision, he kissed her forehead and then turned around.

"I'll find your shoes," he muttered, opening one of the closets in the room.

Finding them and her stockings, he returned and knelt in front of her feet. With quick, sure movements he pushed her skirts up over her knees and out on the knee-high stockings, which would be hidden by the ankle-length skirt. Above him, Elara gave a contented sigh.

"Enjoying yourself?" he asked, hiding his face from her as he fiddled with a shoe.

"I just wonder what else those talented fingers of yours can do," she replied cheekily.

He smiled and slipped the first shoe on. "For that pleasure, you will have to wait, my lady."

"I know, I know," she replied, laughing softly. "Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder."

"The expression is absence," he corrected, fastening the buckles on her shoes.

She smiled down at him. "Both work."

He shook his head, but he smiled in spite of himself. In a few moments, he had her other shoe on and her skirts in their proper place. Rising to his feet, he offered to help her up.

Like the time before, when she stood, she swayed. As her knees buckled, she wrapped both arms around Galen, almost taking him down with her. Grabbing her waist, he held her steady and slowly pulled her to a standing position.

"Do you still think this is a good idea?" he asked softly, his face so close to hers that his breath fanned her cheeks.

She gazed into his eyes and tightened her hold around his neck. "Are you asking about us or about me checking on patients?"

As if to answer the first part of her question, he pressed his lips against hers. When he moved to pull back a few moments later, Elara whimpered and held the nape of his neck firmly. Needing no further encouragement, he deepened the kiss.

However, before things grew too heated, he reluctantly pulled his face away from hers. Smiling, he took a strange pride in the dazed, happy look on her face. Blinking, she looked up at him and noticed his smug expression.

"I love you," she whispered.

He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek. "Say it again."

Her heart melted at the gentle look in his eyes, promising he would never hurt her like she had been by Reese so long ago. "I love you, Galen."

Dipping his head, he brushed his lips against hers briefly. "Elara, I love you, too."

Slowly, a smile formed and grew until she was grinning from cheek to cheek. Wondering what she was thinking, he brushed some of her hair off her shoulder. "Yes, my lady?"

"I think we should go check on the patients now," she said.

"And just how do you intend to do that, Elara?"

She batted her eyelashes. "I was wondering if your offer was still open."

"And what offer would that be?" However, before she could remind him, he swooped her up and carried her into the hallway.

* * * * *

As they headed the Council Room, Caitlyn continuously scanned their surroundings. She had been to the meetings of the Mayoral Council as part of her training as part of the House of Jupiter, and she knew how they were to be conducted. However, now, something didn't feel right. Yet, she couldn't put her finger on the source.

"Are you okay?" Alexander whispered into her ear, noticing her tension.

She smiled. "I'm fine."

However, by the watchful expression on his wife’s face, Alex knew that something wasn’t right. They quickly came to the tall, wide doors leading to the chamber where the Council was waiting. With a brief nod to the guards, Alex waited for the doors to be opened.

As they entered the main room, she noticed some of the surprised glances that she and Alex were receiving. 'Surely Naffid informed the Council that Alex and I would here instead of Leda and Paul?'

Rising from his chair with a leering smile, the new leader of the Mayoral Council greeted the pair. With a gesture, he signaled for the guards to close the doors, indicating the start of the meeting. When he turned back to the pair, he gestured again and four guards approached.

"Lord and Lady Donnell, by the authority of the Mayoral Council, you are hereby placed under arrest," Naffid announced, gasps of surprise filling the room.

"What's going on?" Alex demanded, pulling himself from the guards' grasp.

"On what charge?" Caitlyn cried, reaching into the pocket of her cloak.

"You are charged for your crimes against the people of Jupiter. You are both charged with treason."

"That's ridiculous!" Alex roared. "Naffid, the Council doesn't have the power to arrest citizens of Jupiter. You are exceeding your authority."

"And you were exceeding yours by posing as the Prince of Jupiter," Naffid countered.

Alex gaped openly at the man. "You're mad. Leda and Paul have left Jupiter on an important mission. During such times, their powers revert to me and my wife as next in line."

"Enough! Guards, take them away!"

Caitlyn raised her transformation pen in the air. "Callisto Moon . . ."

However, she was never able to finish the phrase as one of the guards hit the back of her head. With a sick thud, she collapsed into a heap on the flooring. Alex struggled against the guards, trying desperately to get to his wife.

"Caitlyn! Honey, talk to me! Caitlyn!"

Naffid watched the struggle with barely concealed glee. He eyed the leader of the guards. "What are you waiting for? Remove them now!"

As he turned to address the other Mayors, he missed the shadowy figure that slipped out the one unguarded door.

* * * * *

“Lady Hosan, Lady Hosan!”

Lysia turned as the servant ran to her. “Yes, Treq?”

“You have a message, my lady. It’s very urgent,” he explained breathlessly.

“From whom?” she asked, as she followed Treq, his quick step conveying his anxiety.

“From Benedict Martin, my lady.”

Lysia paused momentarily. It had been a long time since she had seen the man. As one of Leda’s main sources of information, he kept an extremely low profile. He was contacting the castle directly, the news must be important.

“My lady, are you alright?”

“Yes,” she replied, catching up with Treq and matching his fast pace.

Within a few moments, they arrived at their destination. Forcing down a sense of panic, Lysia strode purposefully to the large screen. “Benedict, it has been a while.”

The man on the screen bowed. “Indeed, it has. I have distressing news for you, my lady.”

“Then, by all means, tell me,” Lysia said.

“Naffid has control of the Mayoral Council. At the meeting, he had the guards seized Lord and Lady Donnell. They are charged with treason.”

All color left Lysia’s face and she clutched the chair in front of her with white-knuckled hands. “Treason?” she whispered.

“He has charged your whole family with it. It won’t be long before he moves toward the palace. You must prepare yourselves.”

“What do you suggest?” she asked, the calm voice surprising even her.

Benedict sighed, lowering his head. “I don’t know, my lady. If you move against Naffid, it could lead to bloodshed. If you don’t, I hate to think about the fate you could suffer at Naffid’s hands.”

“Where are Alex and Caitlyn now?”

“I don’t know,” he answered sadly. “I will do my best to find them and help them.”

“Thank you.”

“I hope to see you again soon, my lady, with much happier news.”

She nodded absently. “I do, too, Benedict.”

With a final bow, he severed the connection.

“My lady, there is another message.”

She turned. “From whom?”

“Mayor Naffid.”

Clenching her jaw, she turned back to the screen. “Display,” she ordered.

“Lady Hosan,” Naffid greeted, his leering smile invoking her anger.

“Mayour Naffid,” she replied stiffly.

“I demand to speak to Paul and Leda Rodan.”

“They are on a mission, Naffid. You know that. Where are Alex and Caitlyn?”

The leer grew with satisfaction. “They are in custody.”

“On what grounds?”

“Treason.”

Lysia clenched her fists, trying to control herself. “The Mayoral Council does not have the authority to arrest citizens of Jupiter. They are detained illegally.”

“I am asking that the throne of Jupiter be turned over to me and the Council.”

Lysia shook her head. “I can’t do that.”

“Since the Prince and Princess are gone and Lord and Lady Donnell are in custody, succession falls to you, Lady Hosan. What is your decision? Refusal on your part will mean conflict.”

“Do you think that the people will stand by you, Naffid?”

The leer wavered for a second. “The people will believe what I tell them.”

“My answer is no.”

“As you wish. Prepare yourself.” Then, the screen went black.

Lysia closed her eyes, suddenly aware of the deadly silence of the room. Taking a deep breath, she turned and faced the other occupants. “If you want to leave, I suggest you do so now.”

She waited but no one made a move to leave. “Very well, we have a lot to do. I need someone to find my husband, Adam, Iphigenia, Cami, and the twins and bring them here. I need a connection to the palace in Crystal Tokyo. Also, I need the captain of the guards.”

Three or four people ran out the room to find the named individuals. One of the technicians worked furiously on her computer. “I have your line to Crystal Tokyo, Lady Hosan.”

“Thank you, Iria.”

As the concerned faces of Serenity and Endymion appeared, Lysia hoped that she could hold out longer enough for help to arrive.


Insurrection With a sigh, Lysia watched Adam led his tearful and quiet daughter, Adra, from Ilene's room. Adam's parents had arrived with the nine-year-old just a few hours before. Although they had been aware of the seriousness of Ilene's condition, they were still shock by the appearance of their daughter-in-law. 'What will we all do if we can't help Ilene?' Lysia wondered, as Adam and his family left the medical wing. Closing her eyes, she tried to halt the tears that were threatening to overwhelm her. "Lysia?" a gentle voice called. Hoping that she appeared fine, she turned and met the concerned face of her husband, Dylan. Wordlessly, he hugged her. Clutching to him, she released the tears. In turn, he held her even tighter. After a few moments, she calmed herself. Wiping her tears away, she looked up at Dylan. "Thank you." Nodding, he kissed her forehead. "Anytime." "Did you need me for something?" "Caitlyn and Alex are looking for us," he explained. "We're suppose to met them in Caitlyn's office." "What's going on?" she wondered aloud as they headed to her sister's office. Dylan shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe it's good news." "We need some right about now," Lysia said quietly, wrapping an arm around his waist. They walked the rest of the way in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. As they arrived outside the office, Dylan knocked the thick oak door. When they were told to enter, he opened the door but allowed Lysia to go in first. When she saw her sister and brother-in-law, Lysia paused in the center of the room. Caitlyn and Alexander were dressed in what they called their court clothes, the finery they only donned when they had to appear at official court functions. Stifling a sigh, she took a seat across from Caitlyn's desk. "Naffid's has called a meeting of the Council," Caitlyn said, getting directly to the point. "Demanded, actually," Alex added, his tone betraying his annoyance. Dylan crossed his arms. "So, as Paul and Leda's stand-ins, you have to make an appearance?" Caitlyn nodded. "However, we don't know what he has planned. We need you and Lysia to handle things here if something should happen." "Like he would be so stupid as to challenge the House of Jupiter," Lysia muttered. "His letter was a challenge in itself," Alex commented. Caitlyn rose from her chair and moved to lean against the front of her desk. "Lysia, you know as well as I do that Naffid has been a headache for years. Now, he has finally seized control of the Mayoral Council. Who knows what he will pull, especially with Leda and Paul gone?" "We'll do it," Lysia said, "although this is generally yours and Leda's arena." "Believe me, Lysia, no one will be happier to have Leda back than me," Caitlyn replied. At Alex's pointed look, she stood up and smoothed the elaborate skirt of her dress. At the signal, Lysia and Dylan rose as well and the four left the study. "Good luck," Dylan said. "Thanks," Alex replied, "hopefully we won't need it." Lysia gave Cait and Alex both quick hugs. "Okay, you two better leave or you'll be late." With a final goodbye, the older pair headed to where the transport was waiting for them. Lysia and Dylan watched them as their retreating eventually disappear. As her husband wrapped an arm around her shoulders, she leaned against him. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" * * * * * "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Galen asked as he watched Elara throw back the blanket and swing her legs over the edge of the bed. Elara gave him a warning look as she put her feet on the cold floor. "I can't stay in bed while you and Cami work yourselves ragged," she said. "Besides, the castle patients are my responsibility." She rose but had to hold on the wall when her knees threatened to buckle underneath her. Galen was immediately beside her and urged her to lean against him. Using him as a support, she took a couple of steps, but her legs still felt like rubber. "What are my chances of convincing you to get back in bed?" he asked her, taking more of her weight. "I need to see how Ilene is doing," she said. "The way you are now, I'll have to carry you because you won't be able to make it down the hall." She looked up at him with a slight smile. "Is that an offer?" With a long-suffering sigh, he got her to sit in a chair. He stared intently at her for a few moments, his green eyes boring into her hazel ones. As if he had made a decision, he kissed her forehead and then turned around. "I'll find your shoes," he muttered, opening one of the closets in the room. Finding them and her stockings, he returned and knelt in front of her feet. With quick, sure movements he pushed her skirts up over her knees and out on the knee-high stockings, which would be hidden by the ankle-length skirt. Above him, Elara gave a contented sigh. "Enjoying yourself?" he asked, hiding his face from her as he fiddled with a shoe. "I just wonder what else those talented fingers of yours can do," she replied cheekily. He smiled and slipped the first shoe on. "For that pleasure, you will have to wait, my lady." "I know, I know," she replied, laughing softly. "Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder." "The expression is absence," he corrected, fastening the buckles on her shoes. She smiled down at him. "Both work." He shook his head, but he smiled in spite of himself. In a few moments, he had her other shoe on and her skirts in their proper place. Rising to his feet, he offered to help her up. Like the time before, when she stood, she swayed. As her knees buckled, she wrapped both arms around Galen, almost taking him down with her. Grabbing her waist, he held her steady and slowly pulled her to a standing position. "Do you still think this is a good idea?" he asked softly, his face so close to hers that his breath fanned her cheeks. She gazed into his eyes and tightened her hold around his neck. "Are you asking about us or about me checking on patients?" As if to answer the first part of her question, he pressed his lips against hers. When he moved to pull back a few moments later, Elara whimpered and held the nape of his neck firmly. Needing no further encouragement, he deepened the kiss. However, before things grew too heated, he reluctantly pulled his face away from hers. Smiling, he took a strange pride in the dazed, happy look on her face. Blinking, she looked up at him and noticed his smug expression. "I love you," she whispered. He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek. "Say it again." Her heart melted at the gentle look in his eyes, promising he would never hurt her like she had been by Reese so long ago. "I love you, Galen." Dipping his head, he brushed his lips against hers briefly. "Elara, I love you, too." Slowly, a smile formed and grew until she was grinning from cheek to cheek. Wondering what she was thinking, he brushed some of her hair off her shoulder. "Yes, my lady?" "I think we should go check on the patients now," she said. "And just how do you intend to do that, Elara?" She batted her eyelashes. "I was wondering if your offer was still open." "And what offer would that be?" However, before she could remind him, he swooped her up and carried her into the hallway. * * * * * As they headed the Council Room, Caitlyn continuously scanned their surroundings. She had been to the meetings of the Mayoral Council as part of her training as part of the House of Jupiter, and she knew how they were to be conducted. However, now, something didn't feel right. Yet, she couldn't put her finger on the source. "Are you okay?" Alexander whispered into her ear, noticing her tension. She smiled. "I'm fine." However, by the watchful expression on his wife’s face, Alex knew that something wasn’t right. They quickly came to the tall, wide doors leading to the chamber where the Council was waiting. With a brief nod to the guards, Alex waited for the doors to be opened. As they entered the main room, she noticed some of the surprised glances that she and Alex were receiving. 'Surely Naffid informed the Council that Alex and I would here instead of Leda and Paul?' Rising from his chair with a leering smile, the new leader of the Mayoral Council greeted the pair. With a gesture, he signaled for the guards to close the doors, indicating the start of the meeting. When he turned back to the pair, he gestured again and four guards approached. "Lord and Lady Donnell, by the authority of the Mayoral Council, you are hereby placed under arrest," Naffid announced, gasps of surprise filling the room. "What's going on?" Alex demanded, pulling himself from the guards' grasp. "On what charge?" Caitlyn cried, reaching into the pocket of her cloak. "You are charged for your crimes against the people of Jupiter. You are both charged with treason." "That's ridiculous!" Alex roared. "Naffid, the Council doesn't have the power to arrest citizens of Jupiter. You are exceeding your authority." "And you were exceeding yours by posing as the Prince of Jupiter," Naffid countered. Alex gaped openly at the man. "You're mad. Leda and Paul have left Jupiter on an important mission. During such times, their powers revert to me and my wife as next in line." "Enough! Guards, take them away!" Caitlyn raised her transformation pen in the air. "Callisto Moon . . ." However, she was never able to finish the phrase as one of the guards hit the back of her head. With a sick thud, she collapsed into a heap on the flooring. Alex struggled against the guards, trying desperately to get to his wife. "Caitlyn! Honey, talk to me! Caitlyn!" Naffid watched the struggle with barely concealed glee. He eyed the leader of the guards. "What are you waiting for? Remove them now!" As he turned to address the other Mayors, he missed the shadowy figure that slipped out the one unguarded door. * * * * * “Lady Hosan, Lady Hosan!” Lysia turned as the servant ran to her. “Yes, Treq?” “You have a message, my lady. It’s very urgent,” he explained breathlessly. “From whom?” she asked, as she followed Treq, his quick step conveying his anxiety. “From Benedict Martin, my lady.” Lysia paused momentarily. It had been a long time since she had seen the man. As one of Leda’s main sources of information, he kept an extremely low profile. He was contacting the castle directly, the news must be important. “My lady, are you alright?” “Yes,” she replied, catching up with Treq and matching his fast pace. Within a few moments, they arrived at their destination. Forcing down a sense of panic, Lysia strode purposefully to the large screen. “Benedict, it has been a while.” The man on the screen bowed. “Indeed, it has. I have distressing news for you, my lady.” “Then, by all means, tell me,” Lysia said. “Naffid has control of the Mayoral Council. At the meeting, he had the guards seized Lord and Lady Donnell. They are charged with treason.” All color left Lysia’s face and she clutched the chair in front of her with white-knuckled hands. “Treason?” she whispered. “He has charged your whole family with it. It won’t be long before he moves toward the palace. You must prepare yourselves.” “What do you suggest?” she asked, the calm voice surprising even her. Benedict sighed, lowering his head. “I don’t know, my lady. If you move against Naffid, it could lead to bloodshed. If you don’t, I hate to think about the fate you could suffer at Naffid’s hands.” “Where are Alex and Caitlyn now?” “I don’t know,” he answered sadly. “I will do my best to find them and help them.” “Thank you.” “I hope to see you again soon, my lady, with much happier news.” She nodded absently. “I do, too, Benedict.” With a final bow, he severed the connection. “My lady, there is another message.” She turned. “From whom?” “Mayor Naffid.” Clenching her jaw, she turned back to the screen. “Display,” she ordered. “Lady Hosan,” Naffid greeted, his leering smile invoking her anger. “Mayour Naffid,” she replied stiffly. “I demand to speak to Paul and Leda Rodan.” “They are on a mission, Naffid. You know that. Where are Alex and Caitlyn?” The leer grew with satisfaction. “They are in custody.” “On what grounds?” “Treason.” Lysia clenched her fists, trying to control herself. “The Mayoral Council does not have the authority to arrest citizens of Jupiter. They are detained illegally.” “I am asking that the throne of Jupiter be turned over to me and the Council.” Lysia shook her head. “I can’t do that.” “Since the Prince and Princess are gone and Lord and Lady Donnell are in custody, succession falls to you, Lady Hosan. What is your decision? Refusal on your part will mean conflict.” “Do you think that the people will stand by you, Naffid?” The leer wavered for a second. “The people will believe what I tell them.” “My answer is no.” “As you wish. Prepare yourself.” Then, the screen went black. Lysia closed her eyes, suddenly aware of the deadly silence of the room. Taking a deep breath, she turned and faced the other occupants. “If you want to leave, I suggest you do so now.” She waited but no one made a move to leave. “Very well, we have a lot to do. I need someone to find my husband, Adam, Iphigenia, Cami, and the twins and bring them here. I need a connection to the palace in Crystal Tokyo. Also, I need the captain of the guards.” Three or four people ran out the room to find the named individuals. One of the technicians worked furiously on her computer. “I have your line to Crystal Tokyo, Lady Hosan.” “Thank you, Iria.” As the concerned faces of Serenity and Endymion appeared, Lysia hoped that she could hold out longer enough for help to arrive.


Chapter 10: Worries and Duties Jupiter's Gone