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STEFANOS SHOT AN EAGLE eye glare at Parker when she entered the Roost. She frowned and tried to unspool the reason for the summons and his distasteful expression. Belliza, positioned in the corner of the room, remained aloof. Hmmm, something’s up, and it wasn’t good.
The Roost, now devoid of sound, only a hint of the light rustle of the Sky King’s robe. Parker, perplexed by the silence and Belliza’s atypical distance, waited, determined not to speak first. The quiet tortured her. This was Stefanos’ domain, and he had demanded her appearance. Let him begin the conversation.
With abrupt directness, he finally spoke. “I am not in favor of your plan. Contrary to what I voiced to the Great Ones. I wanted to raise my objections without an audience to save your embarrassment.”
Parker’s heart dropped to her stomach.
“I cannot justify these drastic changes on Katamoor when the Underworld will benefit. They will thrive at our expense. That was not the goal.” His voice remained at a monotone, yet Parker knew his tone belied his feelings. “I have kept the Underworld at bay. They are in their place, where they belong. We’ve sustained controlled peace.” As he spoke, his feathers trembled—his agitation more evident. “And now, you decide to help them? You were ordered to help the Upperworld!”
Parker retreated to her shell.
“Now, the Underworld will have light?” His feathers fluttered and rose perpendicular to his body. His eyes squinted. “I am not stupid, and I am beginning to think you may presume I am. This filter you have developed for the Viragos will reduce the murkiness of the waters of the Underworld. It will permit essential light to reach their ecosystems and aid in survival of the Underworld and the whole of the species below the sea. Perhaps, even better for them than for us.”
“But, wouldn’t that be good for the planet?” Parker asked.
“Why would I want the Underworld to flourish! How will I ever be able to protect our world? Was our war for nothing? We survived the devastation of our planet. We evolved and constructed a way to live simpler lives. And now the evil lurking below us, those who seek to harm us, will be able to cross into our world? Not acceptable!”
Tears gathered in her eyes as she struggled to fight them back.
He continued to ramble, like a runaway train propelled by its own motion. “You must put an end to this, Parker. You can help us clean and protect our water sources, but only for us. You will find an alternative, and quickly. My time is waning. I will not be here to protect my people or you for much longer. I will not permit this plan to continue.” He cast a shadowy frost at Belliza, daring her to move. “And you! You Belliza, you brought this on by giving Parker your mother’s bracelet.”
The little bird quivered. Parker stood in shock as she witnessed Stefanos disfavor Belliza.
Parker tried to understand what brought about this frightful change in Stefanos. Was this the first time Belliza noticed he had lost control? His behavior appeared uncharacteristic—at least from the short amount of time she had come to know him.
Belliza didn’t reply. Stefanos grimaced. “Parker would never have been able to untangle the Virago trees. With the amulet, Parker has found her power. She will learn how to control it. And before her time! You knew this could happen, Belliza! You think you can just give this power to the young earthling without my knowledge? You gave it to her while in the Underworld. You know my vision is blocked below the Spyridon Sea. Is that why you chose to give it to her there? So, she could usurp my power?”
Belliza turned away, casting her beak down.
“Do not lie to me, Belliza!” His voice shook the air.
Belliza found the courage to speak. “I never planned on giving Parker the amulet. When we were in the Underworld and I thought I heard zcreaming in the Grotto, I felt rezponzible. Nothing muzt happen to her. Zhe needed the protection and I thought zhe could benefit more than me from the powerz. Zhe will need it for the future. The amulet can only help thoze with the power. You and I both know Parker’z power comez from within her. The amulet can only zhow her what iz already inzide.
“Ztefanoz, at firzt, thiz waz about our zurvival. But the earthlingz have zhown me we can make thingz better. Pleaze hear me out. We muzt think about zaving our planet firzt—the whole planet, not juzt the Upperworld. It’z the only way we will all zurvive.”
As Belliza spoke, Parker saw Stefanos’ eyes narrow, scrutinizing the hummingbird’s every word.
“Parker’z plan opened my eyez to other wayz we can live, zide by zide. You can lead the way, Zky King, for all of Zpyridon, reztore our planet. Frezh water for uz. More land for uz. Light for the Underworld, which will help plant life thrive. We all will be better off–”
Stefanos’ eyes widened, stopping Belliza mid-sentence. He breathed, almost inaudibly, “No…”
Without another word, Stefanos soared to the height of the Roost. A fierce rumble erupted. Had Stefanos shaken the whole of the Citadel? Or were the tremors in the Roost a physical reverberation of his anger?
The filmy walls of the Roost shook and swayed. He beat his wings, and Parker felt the unseen hand of his power take hold of her.
The thrust shot Parker up to the height of the Roost. Stefanos dropped beneath her to catch her in his wings, steadying himself as the castle walls quaked. From within his grasp, Parker lifted her head to find the horizon outside the glass walls, searching desperately for the isle of Katamoor and the Virago trees. A veil of smoke curled and smothered the tiny island. Blazing eruptions of fire shot high into the air above the smoky cloud cover.
Explosions! Was the Underworld attacking them again?
The sea surrounding the continent bubbled and foamed. The waves of the Spyridon Sea rose higher. They washed up against the reeds and marshes and onto the shores. The Virago trees shook violently. Shockwaves from the explosives ripped limbs off. The anger of the rising waves submerged the island, the perimeter dipping below sea level. Parker feared the landmass would disappear entirely.
Fragments of bone and feathers flew everywhere. Bodies plummeted into the sea. Debris, tree limbs, particles of fiber and membrane littered the air, the sea, and what remained of Katamoor. Stefanos peered out of the largest glass wall and closed his eyes. Parker sensed he was communicating with his leaders.
Moments later Vibius appeared.
“You summoned me, Great Sky King?” a battle-weary Vibius said between breaths, as he swooped into the Roost. His wings quivered visibly as he landed. Parker worried about the poor soul. He moved as if in shock and carried the smells of the Katamoor wetlands. His robe splattered with a dusty grey gunpowder.
“Where have you been, Vibius? I hope you were not caught in the explosions on Katamoor.” Stefanos asked, scanning his debris covered feathers.
“Yes, I nearly got hit, within a fraction of an inch. The Spirits must have watched out for me, Sky King. I had been overjoyed by the progress. Then, this tragic turn, our poor sacred Virago trees.” He wept and dried his eyes with his talon and cried out loud, “Fate tossed us an unexpected blow. A travesty. All the bodies tumbling into the sea. I don’t understand.” The poor elderly hawk’s incoherent, Parker thought. “Diadora would never do this! Why? Why?” His eyes blurred, and he wore a dazed expression. “You know all, Great Sky King. Why would the Spirits of the Sky abandon us?”
“War changes us. We know that. There must be a reason for this,” Stefanos had somehow returned to his former self, fortified with strength and regal power. “The Spirits know more than we do. We must keep our faith. We must carry on.”
He eyed Belliza and with a wave of his talon dismissed Vibius. “You are a good soldier, Great Vibius. You need your rest. I’ll call for you when the Titans and the rest of our leaders arrive. They should be here shortly. I’ll need you by my side then.”
Stefanos turned back to Parker. “I was not in favor of your project Parker, but this is worse than any of my fears. I wanted a peaceful resolution. I hoped you would understand my concern about the Underworld.” He shook his great head and muttered, “...the holiest place on our planet! We must right what has gone wrong, at whatever the cost.”
Parker, caught in the embrace of his wings, whispered, “Sky King I know your heart is good. You only wanted what was best. But, please, I must go and see if Edison and Henley are all right.”
His feathers were moist with sweat. He relaxed his grip on her. “I await your return, Parker. May the Spirits be with you. Be safe.”