The True Ruler, page 5
part #5 of Worlds Apart Series
“That was your father’s doing,” Jeryl growled. “That boy had no right to keep you from me once you were born.”
They were going around in circles. Cassie had no desire to repeat the same conversation they had yesterday. Although, it would keep him from asking the inevitable question about where Benko could be found today. She would leave breadcrumbs that would lead the Gatherers anywhere but where her father resided.
“My father is aware you are looking for him,” Cassie informed her grandfather. “He always knew you would never give up searching for us. I was taught at an early age how to protect myself from your men. When Shirl returned to the Troyk universe, father knew his life on Gingko Terra was never going to be the same. As soon as JoAnna returned to this world, he left Scottsdale for parts unknown. My dad knew there was a possibility I would follow my friends. He wanted to give me the freedom to make my own choice where I ultimately may desire to live.”
Her grandfather stared at her. She could see his mouth twitch as she told him of Benko’s latest disappearing act. Cassie tested the fortitude of her telepathic barrier knowing her grandfather would shortly try to connect with her telepathically. That was the power he wielded and she figured he was past due trying to manipulate her that way.
“He is trying to enter your mind,” JoAnna warned. “Can you feel his presence?”
She felt no pressure or assault on her mind. Her grandfather failed to connect with her brain and discovered the barrier that kept him from JoAnna’s mind also prevented him from entering his granddaughter’s thoughts. It was easy to believe the shield was a common characteristic of the rare fifth-generation mind control telepath.
Jeryl Jarlyn stood and walked to the small bar in the corner of the room and poured himself a drink. He must be frustrated by his failed attempt to use his mind control capabilities against his granddaughter. Her grandfather took several gulps of his drink and rejoined them.
“A seamstress will be arriving in an hour to design several gowns for you,” Jeryl shared with her. “Several off-the-rack dresses will also arrive from the very best shops in the area for you to try on and wear until the custom couture clothing is ready. Tonight you will be presented as my granddaughter and heir.”
Cassie had not expected to be named his heir, and certainly not this evening. She had no desire to rule a universe or use her powers against the Troyk people. Her father had warned her this would happen if either of them had ever returned to the Troyk universe. Jeryl wanted to start a dynasty and live through them once he was gone.
“Surely there are Prime Representatives more qualified to rule when you are ready to step down and enjoy the remainder of your life, Grandfather,” Cassie said.
“None have children who inherited the telepathic capabilities the Supreme Being gave us to rule over his people,” Jeryl said. “You and Benko are both blessed with the ability to lead the citizens of this great community. It is God’s way of taking care of his followers.”
Her father told her Jeryl believed it was his God-given duty to rule because of the telepathic gifts. The Prime Ruler did not believe it obscene to utilize those abilities to control the actions of others. Cassie had been taught everything to the contrary. Did she play along or confront him for his beliefs?
“Grandfather, I have no desire or ability to rule as you have,” Cassie admitted. “I’m eighteen years old and barely made it through high school.”
That part was true, Cassie was a terrible student. She had too many distractions to want to study, mostly Darden. Cassie would be outside gathering herbs as often as she could, so when her soul mate entered her dimension they did not have to waste time collecting the items he had to return to the Troyk universe with.
She knew it would be easy for her to enter the mind of her teachers and convince them to give her better grades. However, she never considered that option. That would be cheating. Cassie received what she earned and was content to live with that.
“That is why we will spend time together,” her grandfather replied. “JoAnna will become a valuable asset at your side as her uncle was to me. You even have both your own crystal telepath and built-in security force. Do you not see how the four of you were brought together for a purpose?”
Cassie believed there was a reason they were together, but it was not to rule over the Troyk people. The population needed to be able to make their own decisions about how they wanted to live their lives as she and her friends did. It was senseless to argue with her grandfather. She would take in everything he had to teach to buy her father time to mount his revolution.
“We might as well begin,” Cassie conceded. “There is a lot of work to be done.”
“There is plenty of time for that,” Jeryl responded. “It is imperative you are a success tonight. We never get a second chance to make a good first impression.”
Cassie did not respond to the ridiculous statement her grandfather made. If she did something incorrect tonight, Jeryl Jarlyn would merely convince the city’s population it never occurred. Any poor impression she made would be changed to a favorable one in anyone’s mind. Right or wrong, her grandfather would make sure of it. However, she wanted to represent herself as Benko Jarlyn’s daughter in a positive light. Tonight was the first step in preparing the Aster Province for the return of the True Ruler.
“I can’t wear this gown,” Cassie stated, “I might as well arrive naked.”
“Do not be over dramatic, dear,” the owner of the poshest clothing boutique responded. “You are not used to how we dress in our world. I can only imagine what passes for evening wear in Gingko Terra.”
The shopkeeper shifted her gaze and turned her nose up at the gym shorts and T-shirt Candy wore. Her friend alternated between her Troyk tunics and leggings with the clothing she was comfortable wearing in Phoenix.
“Relax,” Candy replied. “I have one of your creations in the other room and I will change before the event this evening.”
Shirl and JoAnna were stunning in what they wore and they had yet to change into their formal wear. She imagined her two fashion plate friends would see to her clothing as they had with Alex and Candy. Cassie was closer to the other two when it came to what she wore. Comfort first, fashion not even in the running.
“You represent your grandfather and his government tonight, young woman,” the lady responded. She had introduced herself, but Cassie had not been paying attention when the shopkeeper started talking. Cassie was engrossed in looking at the sheer, barely there clothing she was laying out.
“Do any of you know this woman’s name?” Cassie asked.
“Madame Gigi,” JoAnna answered. “For some reason, this dimension is captivated by French designers from Earth. They have tailored a segment of their high end outfits from the latest French fashions. Several shop owners pay a crystal telepath to open a portal to Paris and stay long enough to grab the latest fashion magazine. They put their own Troyk spin on the outfits, though.”
“What is the other segment?” Cassie asked.
“Sheer tunics and leggings for second seating at local restaurants,” Shirl answered. “If you think these are obscene, just wait until we go out to dinner when Darden returns.”
Cassie did not know how she felt about Darden seeing nearly naked women when they went out. Not to mention what the outfit exposed of her body. He had never seen her naked. The closest they got to nudity was a bikini she wore when they went swimming in her Scottsdale home’s pool.
“The rest of you should start dressing while I finish with the Prime Ruler’s granddaughter,” Madame Gigi said. “Guests begin arriving in an hour. Your grandfather will greet the guests and you are to make your grand entrance as soon as the last guest arrives.”
“JoAnna and I will change,” Shirl said. “When we return, Candy can go dress while we do your makeup and hair.”
Her friends were true to their word. Since arriving this afternoon she had never been alone. They had not left her grandfather’s receiving room. At one point, Candy even accompanied her to the restroom. Until they returned to Zane and Leenea’s, at least one of her friends was attached at the hip.
“If she sticks you with a pin, do you want me to kill her?” Candy asked. Cassie knew she was kidding, but the levity in the question helped to boost her spirits. She was more nervous about tonight then she expected.
Madame Gigi finished making the minor alterations to the outfit and left Cassie alone in the room with Candy. She was dreading this evening and was uncomfortable in the clothing she was forced to wear. Her eyes continually wandered down to her exposed breasts.
“Just pretend you are in some strange fairytale dream and have fun,” Candy said.
Cassie’s nervousness must have been obvious to Candy. She would have preferred to return to the Childers’s home and visit with her friends and get to know their soul mates better. All the men were very sweet and doted on their mates, particularly Tarsea now that Alex was pregnant.
“I was expecting intrigue and boring governmental discussions, not parties,” Cassie admitted. “We lived a very solitary life on Gingko Terra. None of us wanted to draw attention to ourselves.”
“Don’t worry,” Candy said. “Shirl and JoAnna will make you beautiful, so all you have to do is stand around and let people worship you. Haven’t you ever noticed how men start acting stupid around those two? It’s actually quite amusing to watch.”
“If I knew I was going to have to wear outfits like this, I would have gone on a diet before entering the portal,” Cassie admitted.
“You’re perfect,” Candy said. “Women are supposed to have curves. All that work Chartail probably forced upon you has toned your body. It’s probably a good thing Darden is not going to be there tonight. I don’t think he would be too happy about how you look in that outfit or the adoration you are going to receive.”
JoAnna and Shirl entered the room in their finery and Cassie felt a little better. No one was going to bother to look at her with these two around. They herded her out of the receiving room and into one of the bedroom’s bathrooms so they could work on her hair and make-up.
Shirl worked on her face while JoAnna used the Troyk version of a curling iron. Cassie followed every instruction Shirl gave related to closing her eyes, looking up, pursing her lips, and a myriad of other commands. When both women moved away from the mirror, Cassie saw herself for the first time. She was shocked by her appearance.
Her mildly wavy hair was in an array of curls, crowning her face. Cassie’s eyelids were highlighted with a black liner and a very dark shade of brown while her lips had a nude shade of lipstick that shimmered. She looked like she could be on the cover of Vogue.
“Wow!” was all Cassie managed to say. She could barely believe the woman she saw in the mirror was her. Once again, she wished Darden was by her side.
“Let’s get Candy and conquer this party,” Shirl said.
Cassie followed in shoes she struggled to walk in. As long as she never had to move, Cassie might make it through the night. They would wait in the receiving room until they called for her. The party was on the first floor and Cassie was going to take the elevator down. If she wanted to live through the evening, she was not going to traverse the stairs in the high-heeled shoes.
Candy joined them and was white as a ghost.
“What’s wrong,” Cassie asked anxiously.
“I’m not sure,” Candy said. “It’s just a feeling. Whatever is causing my anxiety may have nothing to do with you or this evening.”
Something was wrong and Cassie knew she was somehow involved. Candy’s feelings of impending doom usually proved to be worth consideration. Was she attending a party or her funeral?
Chapter 6
If another man slobbered on her hand, Cassie was going to scream. The first few kisses were flattering, but the adoration over the Prime Ruler’s granddaughter shtick grew old fast. Jeryl Jarlyn was going to have a long wait if he expected she was going to react to any of these men.
“Evening, Cassandra,” a familiar voice said.
Cassie looked up from her hand and stared into the light brown eyes of Barash, the C.T. Guard she met yesterday on the mountain trail. He looked handsome in his Troyk formal wear. His dark brown hair curled over his tunic’s high collar.
“Barash’s father was just elected to the Prime Council,” her grandfather informed her. “He ran a successful business before running for office. His family has produced several crystal telepathic offspring in the past.”
Jeryl Jarlyn provided the pedigree of several of the men after the initial introduction. He probably believed the likelihood of finding her soul mate was slim, so he was calculating which mating would produce a superior great-grandchild. After all, he never found his soul mate.
“It would be my honor to escort you to The Palace after buying you lunch tomorrow afternoon,” Barash said.
Before Cassie could reject his proposal, her grandfather accepted on her behalf. It would be rude to do anything but smile and prepare for the next introduction. The line of eager men seemed to only get longer as the evening progressed.
A man with a lazy eye came forward and placed a wet kiss on her hand. She had the urge to wipe her hand against her sheer clothing. How much more of this was she going to have to endure?
“Your beauty suits the granddaughter of such an austere man as the Prime Ruler,” the stranger before her said. She noted his eyes rotated between her breasts and her grandfather.
“Oh, God,” Shirl communicated through their closed channel. “I have to get some air.”
“No fair!” Cassie exclaimed. “If I have to suffer through this, so do you.”
“That’s the beauty of there being three of us and only one of you,” Shirl replied. “Candy and JoAnna are better suited to protect you in this environment, anyway. I would only create a spectacle.”
Cassie still did not have a clue of the power contained within her blond friend. She continued to ponder that thought as another man came forward. It was going to be a long evening.
After another thirty minutes of greeting strangers, a familiar face stood before her. Karlon Flonder was a sight for sore eyes. A friend in hostile territory, he had a faint smile on his nondescript face.
“Prime Ruler, your granddaughter has been receiving your subjects for over two hours,” Karlon said. “Perhaps a short break is called for where she can stretch her legs. The orchestra is about to play a waltz. There are many beautiful women who would be honored to dance with you.”
Her grandfather considered Karlon’s recommendation. A grin crossed his wrinkled face and Cassie breathed a sigh of relief.
“That is an excellent idea, young man,” Jeryl Jarlyn replied. “It would appear my head of intelligence surrounds herself with bright individuals.”
“Solfa is merely an extension of your ability to select the right people for the job,” her soon to be dance partner responded.
“A bit of a sycophant, are we?” Cassie said in a volume only Karlon would be able to hear. “I would be honored to dance with you.” The last sentence she said loud enough for her grandfather and the line of gentlemen to overhear.
Cassie took Karlon’s hand and he led them to the dance floor. It finally dawned on Cassie she had no idea how to waltz. She had taken social dancing in junior high school, but did not learn that particular dance.
“I can’t waltz,” Cassie whispered.
“Open your mind to me and I will lead you through it,” her partner answered in a barely audible voice.
She had no idea he was a mind control telepath. Solfa had not mentioned that fact, neither had any of their friends.
“You are full of surprises, aren’t you?” Cassie commented.
Cassie opened her mind to Karlon. He was only the fourth person she allowed in her head. His entry was subtle, barely noticeable.
“It makes things interesting,” Karlon said. “My abilities came upon me later than usual. By that point, I had already determined how the government’s manipulation of the population was wrong. I never bothered to share what had occurred.”
“Even to Solfa?” Cassie asked.
“Some secrets are best kept to oneself,” Karlon stated. “As more people enter the warrior pathway, it is only a matter of time before someone slips up. The fewer people who know of my capabilities, the better.”
“But you shared it with me,” Cassie pointed out.
“You are different,” he admitted. “As soon as you connected in the warrior link, I knew it.”
Cassie felt sick to her stomach. No one had ever sensed her in that particular channel before. “As you said, some secrets are meant to be kept.”
She had been waltzing and had not noticed her graceful movements. Her motor functions were taken over and she danced perfectly in three quarter time in his arms. She wondered how many crystal telepaths danced in European ballrooms over the years.
Karlon whirled her around the dance floor. Cassie felt like she was floating. She wished she could keep this up all night and not be forced back into the receiving line.
“May I cut in?” a beloved voice asked.
Cassie’s legs were once again hers as Karlon released her mind. She looked up into her soul mate’s face.
“With pleasure,” Karlon replied and went to seek another partner.
Darden took her into his arms and they moved together, no longer waltzing. Couples skirted around them but Cassie was oblivious to them. She was in a world of her own.
