101. Juliet And Qadir

Juliet: Eight Months Pregnant

Louis

Carl, Kubra, and I were traveling back to the compound. We were coming from Washington. The meeting with Qadir was set up. I didn’t tell Juliet. I was pushing to stall as long as I could.

Juliet was waiting for me to come home after a few days. They were on the patio area. Music on. Charlene was having a drink. Liam and Cindy were putting up fairy lights all along the corridor, surrounding the lawn area. The four of them were talking. Juliet was sitting and giving input from the side. Charlene was rather tipsy. Juliet was actually having a beer. It had been boring for her. I wasn’t going to make an issue. Juliet was in limbo, but together they were always like that anyway. Charlene indulged Juliet most of the time. It was a Friday night… I was planning on staying that weekend. I had really tried to spend as much time with her as possible.

The many prisoners that had flooded the compound were challenging to manage. The women that came had all forsaken their veils instantly. They were not ordinary compound women. For various reasons, they have failed their conditioning camps. With the choice of execution or jail… most chose the latter.

***

It had been challenging to coordinate with Marcus. What the rules were going to be for us… Vs. what the rules were on En-gannim.

The two hundred thousand men wanted the option of taking a wife. They wanted time off. Not just one day a week for the rest of their lives. Forced into service year in and year out. I could understand that. But would Ahasuerus allow it? The auctions had stopped. How would they marry if not given a wife…? Who would they marry? None of them wanted to return to En-gannim if Marcus wasn’t in control.

***

“Hey, baby.” I sat next to her and took her hand.

Carl took a beer out of the cooler, and for a second… We were back in France. It had been Juliet and me for months. And even if it was tough, I still enjoyed having her all to myself.

“Hi.” She never kissed me when I came home. So I didn’t push.

“I need to talk to you. Well all of you…” She wasn’t listening to me. Her eyes were fixed on the pair behind me.

When we entered the gates, Charlene happily jumped up and ran to Kubra. He had indulged her by grabbing her in his arms, holding her in front of his chest… They were talking. He slowly took her to her room, whispering into her ear… The scene got Juliet all hot and fantasizing.

I felt kinda bad that I would have to bring her… bad news. Boring news. At that stage, our relationship wasn’t very fun… We were all thrown into the deep end. We either sank or swam.

“Baby! Qadir wants to talk.”

The smile on her face fell. Her eyes slowly met mine. “About what?”

“He says he knows what Ahasuerus is planning, and he wants out of the cage. Bertram is rather inclined to agree if it means that Marcus is moving in the right direction to be king on En-gannim.”

“How does he know it will be, though… Will you be there?”

“Of course.”

She looked to Liam… who was thoughtful and contemplating the news. “You want me to go with Julie?” He asked.

“Can I talk to him behind glass? I don’t want him to hurt the baby? Maybe we should wait. I don’t trust him. If he thinks it’s Marcus’s.”

“He doesn’t know.” I cut her off.

“Are you a hundred percent sure. Have you figured out who still wants Qadir to come back and who played both sides back then? Still playing both sides… Mateo and Michael?”

“There hasn’t been anyone with him for months.” I didn’t want to tell her about Sita. Have her worry.

“There has to be someone close to him. A guard. A watcher. Someone that comes and goes. You can’t cover every angle, Louis.”

She stood up and walked back to our room. Katty ran after her, following and going into the room with us. Drinking at the small waterfall running into the koi pond. I saw a stack of books on the bed.

“Where did these come from?”

“Charlene.”

I nodded. “Juliet what’s wrong. Nothing is going on in your mind.”

“I’m tired Louis. I want to stop worrying about Michael… I want Marcus. I want Chris and Caleb back. I know I’m supposed to fight with my mind… but I’m finding it really hard… You guys put way too much confidence in me. So, you know what! If I clear my mind for an evening… you can’t blame me that I’m not unloading, so you can feel better.”

I could have reminded her that she once said that if I wanted… It could be… just her and me. Could she not just be content with me? But she had been through so much. I just wanted to be selfish and push her down…

“S-!” I turned to the door and yelled out. “Carl!” Liam and Cindy jumped up. They had never heard me scream before. Not like that. I stepped out quickly, taking the key and locking the door. I felt myself go down that path... Not in control of myself. Juliet banging on the door behind me. “Louis!” I heard her say. “I’m sorry!”

Cindy ran to Charlene’s room with Mine in her arms. Liam and Carl stood across from me. My body didn’t like the threat from all angles. It was the first time I was going to change. Kubra came out staring at the scene across the yard. He wasn’t afraid. My body knew who the real challenger was. He took off his coat. Before I was there, he was just in pants.

***

Since the other night with Francesco… I was a little scared of my power. I handled him so quickly. I knew what was going on, but my body had control.

Kubra was just as adapted to fighting as Marcus, if not more. He was bigger and stronger and gave me a good run for my money. I did give him a liver shot that made him double over. Carl used this opportunity to jump on my back and smothered me into submission with a plate that covered my mouth. It felt horrible. I hated it and fought it, trying to get it off. If that was what Juliet felt like, I wanted her out of it. We needed to go through the treatment once she wasn’t pregnant anymore.

“Louis, stop it,” Carl yelled. My body obeyed, and I submitted. Shutting down. Staring into the abyss. “Come back to yourself, man!” My eyes were the first things to return to normal. He quickly got the thing off my face. It was a mistake…

I was still too angry. My fist shot out, and I hit Carl in the nose. The blood ran down his face. I didn’t care… Kubra jumped me and held my arms behind my back. “Are you good? Louis?” Liam yelled at me, standing in front of me.

“Arghh!” I screamed… I was so frustrated… Having no control. I knew what Juliet went through all those months of pregnancy… going crazy and how angry she was after coming back. I ripped out of his arms and wanted to make my way to her.

“Hell no!!” Three guys yelled and jumped at me… Drove me right into the ground. Kubra reached for his pocket and stuck me with the little black tube for the first time. Carl smothered me again just for good measure.

***

Juliet

I had a whole entourage teleporting to Washington. Towards the devil. It was the first time I would see the Embassy. I had dressed for the occasion. Or Louis dressed me... Louis, Carl, Kubra, and my dad came with me. Before crossing the threshold, I ensured he was tied to the wall like a dog. That there really was nothing he could push into my stomach.

I didn’t believe Louis knew what was going on. That was how much confidence I had in him to keep the compound running the way it was. Just as much as I had in Marcus. That he would stand up for me. Marcus had to prove himself. Louis would have to do the same.

Qadir saw us. He was on his knees. Hands and legs tied behind his back. The chains in Rodrigo’s secret interrogation room sprung to mind. Had Michael been tied up like that?

When I rounded the corner, he took in my frame. The massive baby bump made me walk slower than I would have liked. That little one was taking out more of me than the last one. His face, though… Louis was right. He had no idea. The thought of Marcus being the father made Qadir’s very blue-grey eyes go black. Betraying his emotions back to cold and cruel. He had a difficult time controlling himself.

“It’s not Marcus’s… If you can believe me… It’s actually another Riphath. But I’ll send you a picture in two weeks so you can sleep easier.”

His top lip curled up to his nose in disgust. “If there is one thing about you, Juliet… it is that you can’t be trusted… so please indulge me.”

I nodded and sat down in the chair they put by the door. Louis was seated across from me in the corner closest to Qadir. My dad sat in between my enemy and me.

Technically… If Louis read his opponents, shouldn’t he have an unfair advantage? “It has nothing to do with muscle memory,” he whispered.

Qadir jumped right to the point. “Michael… Juliet!” My heart sunk. “He was on the compound for some time. Then Ahasuerus took him… The plan that they have for you is to play Martyr. If you kill yourself, the branding process can be broken between you and Marcus.”

He paused. Took a breath.

“The one thing my father wants… Is Marcus free of any bondage? If you do it. Marcus and Louis would have no bond… He would be out of the picture… Or at least controllable…. Getting to know you and your weaknesses… I’m almost sure that you would do it. But… I need Ahasuerus dead. I need Marcus to fight him. I have never been a good fighter…

I need Marcus on earth. I will go back to En-gannim. We will keep the benefits between the planets… You guys can live your lives out here. Just the way you want to run the compound. I wanted earth because it was the only way to get Marcus back home. To his grandfather’s side. I will even tell you that I am using you… using Michael. That my father has no idea of my plans… Of what I’m about to say to you.”

I had such a pregnancy brain that I couldn’t put two thoughts together. One of the reasons I was leaving Louis to everything. I didn’t trust myself to make any decisions. What Qadir said seemed plausible. That meant that Michael was on En-gannim. Our dinner appointment was only in two and a half months. I found it hard to breathe… I had to step out. Step out of the room. It was almost impossible to juggle everyone’s fate in my hands. My chest was burning… Having to get to Chris and not knowing how I would do that… Having to save Michael or let him suffer for the sake of the baby. Louis turned into a monster last night… We were not in a good place. Was Qadir even telling me the truth? Will Marcus come home if Ahasuerus is dead? He was a teleporter away and hadn’t come home once. If we stayed on Earth, I would never get to Caleb.

“Juliet!” Qadir’s voice was somewhat calming.

That leisurely droll of my name off his tongue was always disconcerting. “You can challenge Ahasuerus to the throne because of the two brandings. All three of you may fight and kill him.”

We were all staring at him. It made sense why the men made the brandings disappear… If they needed a woman to take control… All my problems dissolved in one sentence. Qadir knew precisely what I needed… Wanted… I frowned. Even if he was gambling. He was going all in.

“I need to be out of here to do what I want.” Qadir’s voice was low.

He even knew what I was thinking. My gaze traveled to Louis, that hadn’t moved from the corner. His eyes closed slowly to show me that he thought Qadir wasn’t full of BS.

“You couldn’t start the treatment because you’re pregnant again. If you want to stay alive to fight with Marcus and Louis, you’ll have to do this slowly. You can’t let saving Michael be your sole goal here….”

He was talking me into being just like him. Calculating human suffering above my own goals… Above another life… Michael had been gone for so long! Every day he was… It would be more difficult to bring him back… To save his mind. If I could bring him back… at all. Life was drifting me out to sea. The dark water was consuming me. Fear gripping me. I doubled over. Louis jumped up. Grabbed my upper arm and pushed me down the hall.

“I can’t do it, Louis…”

“What’s your prize, baby? Are we going to take over three planets?”

“I don’t know… I didn’t have one in the ring that morning… And I have less of one now. I said that because…”

“It’s the only way?” I nodded… “We have to get Caleb back, baby?” My jaw quivered, and my eyes burned. Tearing up immediately. “What about being happy?” I nodded. “Killing that man in there.” A tear escaped down my cheek. I nodded again. I pushed myself into his arms. He never denied me.

“You keep on thinking that I can’t do this, babe… And you know what… I can’t. I’m not even going to try. Proving myself to you.” Louis shook his head. “You’re love might be conditional to me not cheating on you. But I know there is really nothing else that can take me from your side… And you know what, I can’t do this alone…. I…. really don’t want to. If we don’t do this together and you give your input being by my side… working. I don’t want it… Because up until now… all you do is sit around… Not once have you tried coming out with me… Going to meetings with me or standing next to me when I need to kill someone… I want to give you a gap because you’re pregnant. In the beginning, the pressure and the power got to me… We got through that. It’s your last month. But I really hope after that I won’t be so alone anymore. You are not the only one that’s… scared. Everything you want, I want.”

“You know what, Louis… I can’t read your freaking mind….”

He chuckled. “I’m thrilled you can’t.” A smirk played at the corner of his mouth.”

“Why?”

“Because the girls on the compound… the prisoners coming from En-gannim. And all that they want to do… You know… Are really pretty.”

I let out a chortle. “You should introduce me.”

“I will… Come on… let’s go hear what the Devil has to say… Michael will be okay. And if he is gone, we will bring him back together, okay… I won’t leave you to do that all alone. Or take any of this on your little shoulders… Marcus handled whatever they were doing to Michael for two hundred years… Michael knew the risks and did it anyway…. Everything for you. So let him love you, okay.”

“I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“I don’t want to see that day… ever!” I nodded, and we went back inside to make a deal with the Devil.

***

Sita

Every time I came to earth, I made a point of visiting my grandfather. Making sure I spent time with Mateo after figuring out who it was. Frustrated at myself that I had come full circle. I had to throw myself out there to get Chris’s attention. I had to do it again for Mateo. Unfortunately, I had given them a taste of what I was like.

“Did everyone hear Juliet is about to give birth? Just a few more weeks.” Benjamin said as we sat around a fire outside. It was a bit of a shock. I didn’t know.

“Chris is the father.” My heart stopped beating for a second. My anger flaring… I observed Mateo. He didn’t seem shocked. Neither did my grandfather. Both of them were close to the brat… I wasn’t there enough to make my plan pan out. It was going to take forever.

“Qadir was let go,” Francesco added.

“Will he be coming back?” Francis asked nervously.

“He is not allowed. To be shot on site… or something.” Francesco said. “Or that’s what Julie said the last time we spoke.”

Julie… nicknames. I sighed. They were on better terms with her than I thought. I was the odd one out. I was dancing around the idea of just drugging Mateo and sleeping with him. Or just laying down my cards. Either one, I was going to hope for the best.

Watchers were giving the werewolf men birth control under Qadir’s directions. That little secret came out months ago. The werewolves were livid, and Qadir showing up would mean a fight. There was no way he would be able to take over again.

A lot more werewolf women were getting pregnant. Mateo’s phone buzzed, and he went inside, opening the sliding door and closing it again. After a moment, I followed him. There wasn’t going to be another chance. I was going to have to be direct or leave it.

He was in the kitchen alone, sitting on a stool at the breakfast nook.

“Hey.”

He looked up from the screen and greeted me. He pressed the button on the side to make the screen go dark, putting his phone face down on the counter. A little overkill, but okay. Mateo had that no BS. Face. That his eyes could see right through you. I felt like he knew why I was there so much. He was dark and Spanish. Thick hair and handsome. Average height. And he dressed well.

I stood with my back against the kitchen counter. I had done many things to sell my soul over the last few years. Making him an offer would probably not be my lowest point.

“So now that you know who I am… what will you say to me?”

‘He speaks’… Always quiet… You never knew what he was thinking. Or even what he liked.

“It had to be you… And Nick… He is the only one that would know… how to get the Royal emblem to shine in the light of earth’s Full moon.”

Yeah I was right… straightforward would be my best play. “The question isn’t really what I want, Mateo, but what you want?”

He lowered his head and eyes to the counter. Rubbing his hand through the back of his hair. It was long and hung around his face.

“Why would I tell you? You are a nobody that can’t even help herself.”

I never pegged him for a mean guy. “It’s not just hard for the men on Palmyra Mateo. It doesn’t really look like you are suffering… Or ever have… I have been here my whole life. What you have been here for four years.”

That seemed to get his attention. Was there some reason he would want to go home?

“How long is your sentence from mommy dearest. Will you live here in this prison until then? Even if you are free on earth, what will you do here that will mean anything when you have to go back.”

He picked up his glass and made the ice in his drink clink on the sides of the glass. Just staring at the brown liquid.

“It has to be better for the queen’s son to be on Palmyra than this hell hole? And… how old is the cutoff… Before she forces you into service?”

Angry eyes glared at me… He took a big gulp of alcohol, drowning the last of the liquid. Slamming the glass down. He pushed the chair out behind him. His eyes didn’t meet mine while he walked around the counter. He came to stand in front of me. His hands grabbed my ass and hoisted me up. I was roughly dropped on the cold surface. He spread my legs, pushing forward. I never pegged him for a dom either. The short dress I had on left me exposed. His hands started at my knees and moved up towards my thighs.

Slowly he rubbed the flesh of my leg until his thumbs stroked my underwear. His hands slide around my waist, pulling me closer to the edge.

“Touch me.” His voice was menacing and low.

I reached out my palm to cup his crotch… to feel him. There was nothing… He wasn’t getting hard… Small frown lines crossed my brow. His eyes stayed on my face, but he didn’t look at me. He grinded against me, cupping my breast and feeling me. His face was in my neck, and his lips grazed my skin. It went on for about a minute…

“Touch me again.” I press myself against him. There was still nothing.

“I don’t think I’m your man Sita… You just don’t do it for me… Beautiful as you are. I’m one of those guys that have to feel something mutual… Like attraction.” He pushed away from the counter. “Deals and underlying agendas isn’t really what get’s me off. Why do you think I’m here? Why do you think my mother is… so disappointed in me.”

He scoffed.

“Like you are the first woman to offer me her body for entrance to the palace…. What a fine Luna you make.” He turned away from me and made his way outside. But not before he picked up his phone, pushing it into his pocket. Way too cautious about his phone. I would actually have to speak to the devil again. My plans were not panning out.

***