Chapter 10: Suspicions

The quartet assembled themselves in the main room of the bottom floor of the house shortly after dawn. No one seemed willingly to discuss the events of the night, so their small breakfast was consumed entirely in silence. After the meal was finished and all their possessions accounted for, the group left the house and entered the vacant streets.

Ganymede placed his arm around Jupiter Moon’s waist, pulling her gently toward him as they walked down the streets. Looking up, she saw his concerned gaze and gave him a weak smile. However, she was still unwilling to discuss her nightmare and just leaned against him as they followed the Guardians.

‘Just tell me when you are ready,’ Ganymede silently begged his wife. Her pained expression before he had finally succeeded in waking her still haunted him. It had been so long since he had seen Leda so shaken emotionally and it worried him.

To add to his worries, he noticed that the Guardians were disturbed as well. Ganymede was at a lost as to what the women were going through, but it was just too coincidental for all them to be plagued by something, especially during the same night. Ganymede had felt something as well, but his concern for his wife seemed to dampen that effect.

“We will be in the royal district of the city soon,” Cassandra informed them, speaking the first words of the day.

“How soon will we reach the palace?” he asked.

“By this evening or tomorrow morning,” the Guardian of Hope replied. “It depends on how much progress we make today.”

“Ilene is still holding strong but she will need the treatment soon,” Dido stated. “We haven’t even gathered the necessary herbs.”

“Then we will have to reach the palace by this evening,” Jupiter Moon said.

* * * * *

Iphigenia nudged Scylla with an elbow, pointing her head in the direction of the pair at the other end of the corridor. “I’m seeing what I think I’m seeing?” the younger Guardian asked, her brown eyes sparkling with amusement.

“It’s about time,” Scylla replied, watching Elara give Galen a quick kiss before they parted to perform their respective duties.

“You knew?” Iphigenia gasped.

Down the hall, Dr. Cross grabbed Elara’s wrist and pulled her back into his embrace. The castle healer laughed, giving him a playful slap on the shoulder. Her chiding was abruptly silenced by another kiss.

Pulling Iphigenia’s protesting form into another hallway, Scylla tried to hide her own chuckles. She hoped that the new couple was too occupied to notice the Guardians’ presence. Once assured that they were a safe distance away, Scylla addressed her companion.

“I didn’t have to use my empathetic powers to realize that something has been brewing between those two for a while,” she stated.

“So, why didn’t I notice it?” Iphigenia’s thoughtful scowl made her companion want to laugh again, but she fought the urge and spared the younger Guardian’s feelings.

Scylla simply shrugged as they headed to the garden. “I spend more time with them because of Ilene’s situation, I guess.”

They found most of the benches of the garden in use. The two continued their stroll and finally found a vacant portion of the botanical paradise, but there were no benches in sight. Without further ado, Iphigenia jumped and sat down on the top of a nearby wall. Scylla followed her example. After a few moments of silence, Scylla forced herself to open the topic that the pair had been avoiding all morning.

“So, how’s the investigation going?”

Iphigenia sighed, staring at the skyline of the capital city. “I’m afraid that there’s nothing worth reporting. Whoever is responsible is pretty good at covering their tracks. I’m still trying to find out when exactly the attack was made.”

“That will be difficult,” Scylla stated, leaning back against her hands. “The curse can be applied in a variety of ways. It will be difficult to narrow down to which method was used and when it was administered.”

“Just another problem to add to the list,” Iphigenia commented.

Scylla gave her a questioning look. “Such as?”

“There are a lot of things that bother me about this, Scylla. Why would someone use a curse from Cignus on Lady Ilene? Why would they attack now, all these years? Why would Lady Ilene be the target anyway?”

“Wait, Iphigenia, what are you saying?”

“Think about it, Scylla,” the younger Guardian said, turning her eyes to Scylla. “There is no apparent benefit from Ilene’s illness. It would make much more sense to place the princess or the prince under the curse. Just imagine the chaos that would have ensued.”

Scylla gave Iphigenia a disbelieving look. “You think that there was a mistake?”

“It would make more sense,” Iphigenia replied with a shrug. “If the application of the curse is anywhere near the difficulty you have suggested, it’s not that farfetched.”

“I just have trouble believing that someone who has the skills required for the curse would make the mistake of placing it on the wrong person,” Scylla stated after a thoughtful pause. “However, we know too little to rule anything out at this point.”

“Agreed,” Iphigenia said readily. “So, how’s your part coming?”

“Nothing worth reporting,” the older Guardian stated. She hated using her empathetic powers to investigate people, even after the years she spent as Guardian and using them to protect the House of Light.

“Everyone seems pretty concerned about Lady Ilene and the sudden disappearance of the prince and princess,” she continued.

Iphigenia swung her legs against the wall, the heels of her boots keeping a steady rhythm. “I guess a good, truthful explanation could be given for their absence.”

“No, it seems not,” Scylla agreed. “I doubt the people of Jupiter would like the idea of their prince and princess digging through some old ruins in the hope of finding a lost book.”

“Let’s hope that they are successful, for Ilene’s sake.”

Scylla nodded and slid off the wall. “I’d better go and check on Lady Ilene’s condition. Also, there are few people I want to check out again.”

“Anyone you want to tell me about?”

The Guardian of Mercy shook her head. “I’ll let you know what I find out.”

“Okay,” Iphigenia replied, letting the subject drop. She knew better than to force any information out of Scylla. “Find me later and let me know.”

“I will,” she promised. With a final wave to Iphigenia, Scylla returned to Lady Ilene’s room.

* * * * *

Scylla drummed her fingers on the arm of the chair in time to Ilene’s breathing. She had checked the few people that had drew her suspicions to no avail. The lack of information was beginning to plague her nerves.

‘Could there have been a mistake, placing Ilene under the curse instead of Leda or Paul?’ She had been running that thought through her mind over and over again. ‘I just can’t believe that someone could make that kind of mistake?’

Yet, she conceded that Iphigenia did have some strong points. Lady Ilene’s illness did not benefit that many people. In her honest opinion, no one really gained from it.

‘So, why did they chose Lady Ilene?’

Scylla bowed her head. She didn’t have any answers. All she had was a multitude of questions and a couple of suspicions. ‘So far, our little investigation isn't too fruitful,’ she thought bitterly.

She rose to her feet and walked over to the window. She wanted to know the answers to all these questions, to find out who had dared to harm the family she had grown to love and placed under her protection. Waiting was beginning to make her restless.

She felt a presence of something off before she heard the soft footsteps coming behind her. She turned in time to receive the blow intended for the back of her head on her cheek. Moaning, she fell to the carpet and stared up at her attacker.

As she watched the next strike come at her, she wished that she had told Iphigenia of her suspicions, outrageous as they had then seemed. ‘Who would have thought?’ she wondered absently. Then she surrendered to the overwhelming darkness.


Suspicions The quartet assembled themselves in the main room of the bottom floor of the house shortly after dawn. No one seemed willingly to discuss the events of the night, so their small breakfast was consumed entirely in silence. After the meal was finished and all their possessions accounted for, the group left the house and entered the vacant streets. Ganymede placed his arm around Jupiter Moon’s waist, pulling her gently toward him as they walked down the streets. Looking up, she saw his concerned gaze and gave him a weak smile. However, she was still unwilling to discuss her nightmare and just leaned against him as they followed the Guardians. ‘Just tell me when you are ready,’ Ganymede silently begged his wife. Her pained expression before he had finally succeeded in waking her still haunted him. It had been so long since he had seen Leda so shaken emotionally and it worried him. To add to his worries, he noticed that the Guardians were disturbed as well. Ganymede was at a lost as to what the women were going through, but it was just too coincidental for all them to be plagued by something, especially during the same night. Ganymede had felt something as well, but his concern for his wife seemed to dampen that effect. “We will be in the royal district of the city soon,” Cassandra informed them, speaking the first words of the day. “How soon will we reach the palace?” he asked. “By this evening or tomorrow morning,” the Guardian of Hope replied. “It depends on how much progress we make today.” “Ilene is still holding strong but she will need the treatment soon,” Dido stated. “We haven’t even gathered the necessary herbs.” “Then we will have to reach the palace by this evening,” Jupiter Moon said. * * * * * Iphigenia nudged Scylla with an elbow, pointing her head in the direction of the pair at the other end of the corridor. “I’m seeing what I think I’m seeing?” the younger Guardian asked, her brown eyes sparkling with amusement. “It’s about time,” Scylla replied, watching Elara give Galen a quick kiss before they parted to perform their respective duties. “You knew?” Iphigenia gasped. Down the hall, Dr. Cross grabbed Elara’s wrist and pulled her back into his embrace. The castle healer laughed, giving him a playful slap on the shoulder. Her chiding was abruptly silenced by another kiss. Pulling Iphigenia’s protesting form into another hallway, Scylla tried to hide her own chuckles. She hoped that the new couple was too occupied to notice the Guardians’ presence. Once assured that they were a safe distance away, Scylla addressed her companion. “I didn’t have to use my empathetic powers to realize that something has been brewing between those two for a while,” she stated. “So, why didn’t I notice it?” Iphigenia’s thoughtful scowl made her companion want to laugh again, but she fought the urge and spared the younger Guardian’s feelings. Scylla simply shrugged as they headed to the garden. “I spend more time with them because of Ilene’s situation, I guess.” They found most of the benches of the garden in use. The two continued their stroll and finally found a vacant portion of the botanical paradise, but there were no benches in sight. Without further ado, Iphigenia jumped and sat down on the top of a nearby wall. Scylla followed her example. After a few moments of silence, Scylla forced herself to open the topic that the pair had been avoiding all morning. “So, how’s the investigation going?” Iphigenia sighed, staring at the skyline of the capital city. “I’m afraid that there’s nothing worth reporting. Whoever is responsible is pretty good at covering their tracks. I’m still trying to find out when exactly the attack was made.” “That will be difficult,” Scylla stated, leaning back against her hands. “The curse can be applied in a variety of ways. It will be difficult to narrow down to which method was used and when it was administered.” “Just another problem to add to the list,” Iphigenia commented. Scylla gave her a questioning look. “Such as?” “There are a lot of things that bother me about this, Scylla. Why would someone use a curse from Cignus on Lady Ilene? Why would they attack now, all these years? Why would Lady Ilene be the target anyway?” “Wait, Iphigenia, what are you saying?” “Think about it, Scylla,” the younger Guardian said, turning her eyes to Scylla. “There is no apparent benefit from Ilene’s illness. It would make much more sense to place the princess or the prince under the curse. Just imagine the chaos that would have ensued.” Scylla gave Iphigenia a disbelieving look. “You think that there was a mistake?” “It would make more sense,” Iphigenia replied with a shrug. “If the application of the curse is anywhere near the difficulty you have suggested, it’s not that farfetched.” “I just have trouble believing that someone who has the skills required for the curse would make the mistake of placing it on the wrong person,” Scylla stated after a thoughtful pause. “However, we know too little to rule anything out at this point.” “Agreed,” Iphigenia said readily. “So, how’s your part coming?” “Nothing worth reporting,” the older Guardian stated. She hated using her empathetic powers to investigate people, even after the years she spent as Guardian and using them to protect the House of Light. “Everyone seems pretty concerned about Lady Ilene and the sudden disappearance of the prince and princess,” she continued. Iphigenia swung her legs against the wall, the heels of her boots keeping a steady rhythm. “I guess a good, truthful explanation could be given for their absence.” “No, it seems not,” Scylla agreed. “I doubt the people of Jupiter would like the idea of their prince and princess digging through some old ruins in the hope of finding a lost book.” “Let’s hope that they are successful, for Ilene’s sake.” Scylla nodded and slid off the wall. “I’d better go and check on Lady Ilene’s condition. Also, there are few people I want to check out again.” “Anyone you want to tell me about?” The Guardian of Mercy shook her head. “I’ll let you know what I find out.” “Okay,” Iphigenia replied, letting the subject drop. She knew better than to force any information out of Scylla. “Find me later and let me know.” “I will,” she promised. With a final wave to Iphigenia, Scylla returned to Lady Ilene’s room. * * * * * Scylla drummed her fingers on the arm of the chair in time to Ilene’s breathing. She had checked the few people that had drew her suspicions to no avail. The lack of information was beginning to plague her nerves. ‘Could there have been a mistake, placing Ilene under the curse instead of Leda or Paul?’ She had been running that thought through her mind over and over again. ‘I just can’t believe that someone could make that kind of mistake?’ Yet, she conceded that Iphigenia did have some strong points. Lady Ilene’s illness did not benefit that many people. In her honest opinion, no one really gained from it. ‘So, why did they chose Lady Ilene?’ Scylla bowed her head. She didn’t have any answers. All she had was a multitude of questions and a couple of suspicions. ‘So far, our little investigation isn't too fruitful,’ she thought bitterly. She rose to her feet and walked over to the window. She wanted to know the answers to all these questions, to find out who had dared to harm the family she had grown to love and placed under her protection. Waiting was beginning to make her restless. She felt a presence of something off before she heard the soft footsteps coming behind her. She turned in time to receive the blow intended for the back of her head on her cheek. Moaning, she fell to the carpet and stared up at her attacker. As she watched the next strike come at her, she wished that she had told Iphigenia of her suspicions, outrageous as they had then seemed. ‘Who would have thought?’ she wondered absently. Then she surrendered to the overwhelming darkness.


Jupiter's Gone