Descension

CHAPTER 30

Tiberius grips the edge of his desk until his knuckles frost over white. His jaw clenches, molars grinding together so rough they may crack. His face, red with fury, contrasts greatly against his snow-white beard, and his sclerae are bloodshot with stress, eyes like crimson pools flooding his hazel-blue irises. His breathing is ragged and choppy, chest straining against his wrinkled uniform.

He mumbles, "Antonov, I want you to send everything we have to the port of York with the intention of killing Bennett Anderson," he spits his name with the venom of a libel.

Antonov nods to him and sweeps out of the room, gliding with long strides. Liam stands petrified, staring at the screen of a holopad that repeats Ben's speech, the piles of dead guards, and the smoke billowing out of York. In the corner of Liam's eye, he spots Onyango smirking, almost as if he's entertained by Liam's grief in an ironic kind of mirth.

Tiberius pinches the bridge of his nose, "We can't let this get out of the Ternary."

Onyango raises an eyebrow, "The march?"

"The speech," Tiberius hisses.

Across from Tiberius, Holden's face drops, eyes widening.

Tiberius takes notice and narrows his eyes, "...What?"

Holden gulps. All eyes turn to him.

Holden takes a deep breath and plants his hands on the table, "...Sir, the speech was broadcast in every Ternary."

Liam's jaw drops. His gaze flashes to Tiberius, who slowly tilts his head, eyes widening even further as he leans off the crescent shaped table. The air is thick with tension and silent as the void of space. Tiberius roars a guttural, deep thrash of sound from his chest, cursing with every possible word imaginable. He slams his fists down on the desk and plummets into his chair, groaning with rage. Liam stares at him, his heart thumping violently.

I'm a part of that rage by proxy, Liam thinks.

Onyango leans down to whisper to Liam over his shoulder, his voice dripping with arrogant poison, "Would you look at that?" He seemed to read Liam's mind, "Just to think that's your brother... maybe you could have prevented this. Everyone knows it's your fault."

Liam clenches his fists at his sides and a muscle in his forehead twitches. The thought of swinging his fist into Onyango's jaw draws a carnal, hungry rage from the pit of Liam's gut. Onyango knows just how to get under Liam's skin and proceed to crawl around within. He always liked picking on him, perhaps because Liam is the youngest of the council, perhaps just as a psychotic kind of game, perhaps Liam put a target on his back as easy prey for a power-trip.

"Speaker Onyango," Holden calls, "Perhaps you may like to present a statement to the city."

Onyango's smile drops and he straightens his back, smoothing his shirt down with a swoop from his chest to his waist, "Yes, Holden."

Liam raises his eyes to Holden who gives him a subtle wink. Liam sighs quietly, shoulders dropping. He leans against the table and closes his eyes, attempting to calm his jittering nerves. In his mind's eye, he can't wipe the slate to darkness, finding visions of moments where, maybe, he could have supported his brother more.

Tiberius raises slowly with a long hiss, his face still red as a burning sun, "Out. Both of you."

Liam and Holden near-simultaneously spin on their heels and scurry out of the room, guards shutting and locking the doors behind him.

Holden wraps an arm around Liam's shoulders, "It's not your fault-"

"It is," Liam objects before Holden finishes his sentence, "I should have listened to him- Ben. I had the power to oppose the rulings against Omnicore."