ASCENDANCY (Feyd-Rautha)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"I have an overbearing desire to see the Baron's eyes dangling from their sockets, and his stumpy cock stuffed in his mouth." I declared to Amma as I burst through the door to her room, my voice dripping with loathing. 

She was seated by a small table, a plate of breakfast in front of her. The air was filled by an aroma of fresh bread and berries, but I was too consumed by my rage to notice.

"Has something happened?" She asked, a startled look on her face as she set down her fork.

"I cannot wait to get off this wretched planet," I uttered, throwing myself onto a lounge chair that stood in the corner of her room. The plush cushions did little to soothe my agitation. "You ought to start packing, we are leaving for Chusuk soon."

"Chusuk? What business do you have there?" She asked as she resumed eating. She pierced a berry with her fork, the crimson juice staining the tines like blood.

"It is the seat of House Metulli. The Baron wants Feyd to parade around the known universe, dragging me after him on a leash, to show the Landsraad their newest possession," I spoke, my voice exaggerated and sarcastic when mentioning the leash. "House Metulli is facing financial ruin. The Baron, ever the predator, wants to exploit their vulnerability for his gain. We are to find an angle to benefit from their impending failure."

"That does not sound too bad." She remarked, though her eyes betrayed a hint of scepticism.

"It wouldn't be, if my Sister Ysleva had not told me the other day that the Sisterhood wishes me to hinder the Harkonnens from gaining further power." I explained, my gaze fixed on the black ceiling.

"Is that not confidential information?" Amma asked, a worried look clouding her face.

"It is absolutely confidential, but it just so happens that you are my confidant, the one person on this planet I trust," I spoke, looking at her with a serious expression and raised eyebrows. "If I have to keep all my thoughts in my head and not speak them to anybody, I believe I might burst." I continued.

"Well then, I promise I shall listen keenly." She replied, her voice steadying as she committed to her role.

"Good," I murmured, placing my hands on my stomach in a futile attempt to calm the turmoil within. "I must find a way to hinder the Harkonnens from gaining at House Metulli's loss, without Feyd or the Baron suspecting anything," I continued, my thoughts spilling out. "I feel I am at the verge of frenzy, like control is slipping through my fingers like sand," My voice was thoughtful as my eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. "I fear I am carrying a fatal flaw that I have not yet identified. It is clouding my judgment, making me second guess my every decision. I must take control of my circumstance, for I believe the consequences may be dire if I do not."

Even though our traveling party was small – consisting of only Feyd and I, Amma, and an array of servants and guards; we travelled using a massive starship. The grandeur of the vessel was likely meant as a show of force and wealth, a means to impress the Metulli family before even having spoken to them. 

Chusuk was renowned as a planet of music and festivities, a world blooming with life and colour. The sight of the enchanting palace came to view as we loomed closer to land. It looked to be about four stories high, not much for a palace of such grandeur, but the vast broadness of it made up for the lack of height. It was surrounded by acres of gardens, fields filled with vibrant flowers, and beautiful fountains, a contrast to the lifeless lands of Giedi Prime.

The Count and Countess Metulli stood waiting to greet us on the landing strip, a short distance from their opulent palace. Their three children stood arranged behind them. The youngest, a boy of four, clung shyly to his mother's skirt, looking up at us with wide eyes, curious yet frightened.