Foretold

Chapter 10

“We cannot do it, Mother! There is nothing!” Vasiliki whirled to face her mother, eyes sparkling with tears. Her hands were clenched tightly. “I’m sorry. But we can’t find it. And not only that, after all that Alex has told me, I don’t think we want to find the way back out. We’re safer here. Or we would be if you hadn’t decided to continue a tradition that will lead to our extinction!” She hissed.

Her mother’s gaze traveled around the white washed walls and out into the distance where the rich, thick foliage of the jungles waved. She always did that when she was annoyed. Her voice was hard when she finally spoke. “I told you we would not speak of that again. And if you cannot find a way out, Alex dies. So keep that in mind if you decide that you might sabotage the exploration to keep us here.”

“Why should it matter to me if he dies?” Vasiliki took a defiant stance beside the window, gazing out across the jungle. Her feet were spread apart, arms crossed, and she was balanced lightly on the balls of her feet.

Her mother’s voice oozed with disgust. “You’re infatuated with the boy.” She spat. “You think I don’t see how you look at him? It’s disgusting. You look like a moonstruck puppy when he’s around, and when he’s not, you mope about, fiddling with this and that but utterly without purpose. Honestly, I might kill him anyway just to keep you away from him permanently.” Her mother smiled. “You’ll see someday, dear. This is all for your good.”

Vasiliki rounded on her mother. “You do that.” She hissed. “You just try it. But you’ll kill me before you kill him. And you’ll be one daughter less if you do.”

Her mother’s face went pale. “You wouldn’t stand in the way of discipline!”

“When it concerns those who hold my heart, I will.” Vasiliki retorted.

“He doesn’t have your heart. That isn’t possible. I’ve trained you better, and if anyone holds your heart, it ought to be me!” Her mother spat back.

“Because you’ve done me a whole lot of good in my life. You’ve been very nurturing. Such a good mother.” Vasiliki smiled bitterly. “I think not.”

Her mother’s eyes glittered with rage and unusual tears. “I’ve done everything for you, for the tribe! I’ve done everything I can for you. And in my opinion, I’ve done a good job. Up until now, that is.” Her voice trembled. “Until now. Now you’ve turned into an ungrateful wretch.”

Vasiliki’s whole body trembled. “Mother, if you’d really cared about me, you would have allowed me to know my father as such! You would have allowed me to be free to talk to my own brother. To any of the men. I was too young at first to understand the truth about the men. And when I was old enough to do so, I blocked it out. I remained naïve because it was easier than fighting. Now I see I was wrong. I want Daedalos on my team working with Alex and I. He might bring a good, fresh perspective to our research.” She paused. “Though I must admit, it isn’t looking positive. I don’t think we’re going to find anything.”     

Her mother’s gaze hardened. She stood up, and as she swept from the room, she turned to look at her daughter. “As I said, you’d best find a way, or he dies.”

Vasiliki held up a hand. “Wait! Can I have Daedalos on my team or not?”

Her mother turned back for a moment. “Fine. Have him if you want. But he’d better not slack in his chores. If he does, you lose him.”

Vasiliki stared silently at her mother as she walked briskly down the hallway. When she was certain her mother was gone, Vasiliki collapsed onto her bed, tears trickling down her cheeks.

She wiped them away. What’s the matter with me anyway? Why am I crying over Alex? Her heart ached. Because you love him, and your mother’s going to kill him.

She shook her head. I can’t let him succeed at finding a way back. I can’t. I know what that may mean for both of us, but if he finds a way back home, I’ll lose him for sure. I might lose him anyway if I do this, but at least this way, I have a fighting chance to keep him.

She closed her eyes, tears brimming behind her closed lids. She turned to face the wall, burying her face against the pillow and crying herself to sleep.