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  Garrett adored his father. He admired his strength, his drive, ambition, and his intelligence. His father mentioned frequently how he could not wait for his son to Awaken so he could truly teach him everything he knew. Garrett was taught and shown all the amazing things that Actuals could do; the potential that each person had in themselves; Caitlyn began to understand the place the Garrett came from with his thinking. Although she may still not agree with his thinking, she could understand how his father’s teachings would make him believe that.

  It was all very magical and inspiring. Caitlyn was amazed at how charismatic Nathaniel Livingston could be. It was not until Garrett turned around the age of nineteen that his father’s true colors began to show.

  What used to be lessons in what Garrett could be began to twist into lessons on how the Actuals were far superior to regular humans. Caitlyn hated seeing that Garrett had actually agreed with him on this point.

  Young Garrett, although he thought them superior, still held a soft spot for the average human. He thought humans were still worthwhile, just that they were on their way to extinction. His father’s thoughts and notions became more and more insane as Garrett’s memories moved on. Garrett feebly tried to argue that we all started as humans, the potential was in all possibly. His father dismissed that possibility, stating that the normal humans would only continue to cause problems.

  The final memory that Garrett showed of his father was one she would rather forget.

  Garrett lay in his room, reading a book. His father burst into the room, the doorframe splintering as he shoved the door with enough force to knock it off its hinges. He held a note in his hand, shoving Garrett off the bed, his body landing with a loud thud on the floor.

  “What the hell is this?”

  Garrett eyed him and then the crumpled piece of paper in his hand. “Where did you get that?”

  His father towered over him menacingly, making Garrett seem tiny in comparison even though they were the same height. “Doesn’t matter where I got it. I had told you when I first accepted you into this household that you were no longer to have any communication with anyone from the Trust.”

  Garrett sat up, rubbing his head. “Dad, it’s just Isla. We’re friends. I wanted to let her know I was okay.”

  “I don’t care who it is. You asked her to let your mother know you were alright.”

  Garrett stood up, but kept his eyes securely on the floor in a passive manner. “I miss Mom. I was wrong to leave the way I did.”

  Nathaniel’s tone became deceivingly sweet. “Do you regret seeing your father?”

  Garrett eyes darted around the room, looking everywhere but his father. “No! I just know that Mom has been worrying about me since I left without as much as a note. I wanted to make sure she was okay. I love Mom.”

  Young Garrett was not prepared for what happened next. Nathaniel flung back his fist and punched him square in the jaw. “Your mother was nothing but a dirty whore. The only thing she did right was bear me a son and then she proceeded to take you from me.”

  A spark lit in the young man’s eye, defiance in his voice as he shakily stood up. “Mom is not a dirty whore. Don’t you dare say that.”

  Nathaniel laughed. His laugh was cold and calculating, and his true persona came out. “No. I said was, son. It’s called past tense. Your mother, as your call her, is dead. She died from illness years ago right after you left. I think it was from a broken heart from her son leaving.”

  “You lie! She is not dead! I hate you.”

  “I don’t lie, Garrett.” His father turned from him, fingering some of the books that were on Garrett’s shelf. “If you are going to take over for me someday, you have to learn a few facts and it is time you learned them now. One, we are superior. We were made this way, we were made to be special and there is nothing wrong with feeling that way. Two, people are expendable. Whether it is friends, family, or just people in general. You need to be cold and calculating to be on top, Garrett. And finally, three, you may hate me Garrett, but never forget, you are exactly like me. In the end, you will turn out just like your father and live out his legacy the way it was always intended.”

  “I will never be like you. I don’t have to live this life. I’ll leave, or worse, I’ll kill myself to make sure you don’t get the pleasure of having someone to hand your legacy to.”

  His father turned and laughed at him. “Leave if you like, But remember this. If you leave, you will come back to me just the same begging for forgiveness and I will not be so merciful. And if you by chance happen to stay away long enough, I will come and get you, and let me assure you, the lesson I will teach will be much harder than you would wish.”

  The scene turned into another, this one with Garrett standing with a suitcase, his head down in shame. Jonathan McPherson stood there with his hand on his shoulder.

  Garrett looked up. “I was wrong to leave, Councilman. My father is evil. I know I do not deserve to come back to the Trust. My mother risked everything for us to come back here and I ruined it. But I am hoping that since you did so for my mother, you will show me the same forgiveness and have the Trust take me back.”

  Jonathan’s voice was quiet. “I took your mother back because she wanted a better life for her son. A life that her son threw away.”

  The remorse in Garrett’s voice was obvious. “I made a mistake. My father had sent me letters throughout the years; I thought he loved me. Like any teenage boy, they want to know their dad; they want that father figure in their life. So I left in search of it. And for the first few years, I was happy; but then his real side slowly came to light. Councilman, the things that he plans to do are atrocious. I promise, if you let me come back, I will be loyal to the Trust.”

  “Do you agree with everything the Trust believes in?”

  Garrett shook his head. “No. But does everyone who is a member believe every aspect? But I can promise you this. I don’t agree with what my father is planning. The Trust is the only thing that can stop him. I promise I will do everything in my power to help the Trust’s cause, if only you will give me a chance. Let me take my families place in the Tribunal.”

  “We will need to think on this, Garrett. For now, you are to remain in neutral territory. I will make sure that you have protection from your father, at least for now. When a decision has been made, we will come to you. Is that understood?”

  Garrett humbly nodded. “Yes. I thank you, Sir.”

  Jonathan shook his head. “I would not thank me just yet.”

  Caitlyn was beginning to feel dizzy from the changing scenes.

  Garrett stood humbly in a large room that Caitlyn did not recognize. The various men and women that sat around him, similar in a manner to the Council chambers, looked down at Garrett imposingly. Each wore a ring on their finger and a sash around their neck, of various colors and embroidered with their family crest.

  When they stood, Garrett instantly held his head down and got to one knee. His eyes never leaving the tiled floor, he began to talk. “Tribunal, I come here today humbly to ask for not only forgiveness for my actions, but also to ask to become a permanent member of the Trust. I want to restore my family’s honor once again to this Tribunal as the living heir to the Livingston family. I ask to be made Head of Household and help lead the Trust to victory against the Cine Tofa.”

  A woman’s voice in a thick Scottish accent spoke up. “Garrett Livingston, please stand up.”

  Garrett did as he was asked and eyed the impressive figures before him.

  Her voice continued. “The Tribunal has made a decision. The Tribunal, after much deliberation, has agreed to allow you to stay in the Trust’s protection. However, you will not be allowed to be known as your true identity. As was agreed by your mother, you will remain Garrett Stevens, and will not be allowed to take your place as Head of Household. Your family’s seat shall remain empty as to a time when we feel, if ever, that your family deserves its place of honor again. Your family has broken not only our
traditions, our ways, but has broken our people. Despite that, it was your father that caused that, the child must be burdened with the father’s mistakes and it is his responsibility to make up for those transgressions against the Trust. If you do not do so, then the burden falls to your child, or your child’s child. But it is a burden that you must bear and until then, no honor will be bestowed amongst the Livingston family. Do I make myself clear?”

  Garrett’s face reddened and he wiped discretely at the tears that threatened to fall. It was apparent that it hurt him that he could not take his spot on the Tribunal. “Yes. Very clear.”

  A man with a Spanish accent now spoke. “Good. We also have the condition that you are required to work for the Trust as the Trust sees fit, without argument. You may also be subject to random checks and searches. If you do not adhere or comply with these rules, you will be punished accordingly and harshly. Furthermore, you will not be granted the security access of a Descendant for obvious reasons. Is there anything further you would like to say?”

  Garrett’s voice reverberated throughout the room. “Although you do not see me fit for this Tribunal, I shall prove you wrong and show that I truly am. I will restore my family’s name eventually, but I accept and respect your decision in the meantime. I thank you Tribunal and consider it an honor to be in your presence.”

  “An Honor,” came the reply from the Tribunal in unison.

  Councilman McPherson spoke up. “I speak for the Tribunal when I say that we look forward to the day when we can welcome you back to your family chair and can embrace you like the brother we know you to be.”

  The rest of the Tribunal did not appear pleased with that last remark, but Garrett gave a small smile, grateful for the Councilman’s generosity of his words.

  With that last thought, Caitlyn was then consciously brought back to the training room, her mind attempting to process everything it just witnessed.

  Chapter 32

  Monroe sat in his chair, fingering the worn binding of his favorite book. He usually found comfort from the words etched in between the covers, but not today. All of the confirmations that he had received today that everything was business as usual was wrong. He just knew it.

  Monroe could not shake the feeling that something major was brewing. The Cine Tofa had been unusually quiet as of late, and his contacts with the Trust were virtually impossible to reach, which was not par for the course. Something was happening alright, he just needed to figure out what it was and he hoped that it was soon.

  The minutes passed as he found himself re-reading the same passage for the fifth time, not really absorbing the words. His head shot up as he heard the doorbell ring, his butler answering the door. Monroe was not expecting any company. He sat up straighter as he recognized the voice that was invited in.

  Declan McPherson was shown into the room as Monroe shut his book with a resounding snap, rising to greet his unexpected guest. Declan motioned for him to stay where he was.

  Monroe cleared his throat. As much as he tried, he could not keep the surprise out of his voice. “Declan.”

  “Monroe, I am sorry for intruding.” For what it was worth, the young McPherson genuinely appeared guilty for interrupting him.

  The elder gentleman stood up anyways, placing his novel back on the bookshelf before turning back to the young man. He did a quick assessment of the unexpected guest in front of him. Declan had heavy bags around his eyes, but that was not what concerned Monroe as those were par for the course with Declan at times. Instead it was the finality that shone in them that really bothered him. The Descendant carried a heavy burden of that much Monroe was certain. This was no casual visit, not that it ever was when there was a McPherson involved it seems. “No need to apologize.”

  “Thank you. But it is not every day that someone just pops into your home.”

  “It’s not the first time, Declan, and I am sure it will not be the last. What brings you here on this Sunday evening?” He decided to get right to the point.

  “Business. Like always.”

  A sigh escaped his lips. “Well, I figured. It was too much to hope that you were just stopping in because you were in the area. Let me start by advising that I’ve heard about the security breach.”

  “You and the rest of our kind it seems. Not a very well-kept secret.”

  “No, I guess it was not. How is Garrett Livingston doing?”

  Declan’s eyes narrowed. “You know about that?”

  Monroe smirked. Both sides always thought he knew less than what he truly did. In truth, that made his job much easier a lot of times, but it was rather insulting at others. He liked to remind them now and again that he should not be underestimated. “You know it is my business to know everything about everything. On both sides. But yes, I’ve known for years his true identity. When you find out that Nathaniel Livingston’s son just mysteriously vanishes one day, you investigate. No matter how much both parties tried to cover it up.”

  “Why did you keep that secret?”

  Monroe told him the truth. “It was not my secret to tell.”

  “I don’t like it, but I can respect it.”

  The middle-aged man shrugged. “Thank you. You know I’m neutral. Will always be neutral. Even though I may have opinions of what is right and wrong, if there is not someone who can be objective, then what chance do we have as a people?”

  “Someday you will need to choose, Monroe. You cannot stay neutral forever.”

  With that, the room took on a more somber tone. Monroe sensed the change in the atmosphere. They were finally getting down to business. All jovialness in Monroe’s voice disappeared. “So what brings you here?”

  Declan looked him straight in the eye. “I’ve come to deliver a message. And as you are a neutral party, you are the appropriate person to convey it to the other side.”

  Monroe could feel his shoulders tensing. This was not going to be good. “And what exactly is this message?”

  “As of this moment, the treaty is null and void.”

  Monroe paused. He knew that the recent events revolving the security breech would have a negative impact, but could have never had imaged this. With one sentence, all the work that he had put in over the years, trying to maintain peace between their people, would unravel. If it would unravel tomorrow, this month, or next year, he didn’t know yet. But he knew it would. He was careful with his next words. “Declan, this will have dire consequences.”

  “I know.”

  Exasperated, he responded. “I know? I know? Is that all? You cannot simply throw away twenty-five years of diplomacy!”

  “Monroe, trust me when I say that there is nothing simple about this.”

  He paced around the room, thinking if there would be anyway to salvage the tattered remains. He knew the answer, but asked it anyway. “What about all the neutral territories?”

  “The neutral territories are still just that.”

  “There is nothing that is going to enforce that now.”

  Declan’s silence was just further confirmation that he was right. He finally replied. “The Tribunal will do what it can.”

  “The Tribunal are the ones that are causing this, so please forgive me if I do not find that a comforting thought at this time. Unbelievable.” Monroe had always had the utmost respect for the Tribunal, but this was plain foolish on their part.

  Declan bristled. “Monroe. You know as well as I that it was only a matter of time till this happened.”

  “So obviously, the international negotiations are off.”

  “Yes.”

  The negotiator in him groaned internally. All the hours he had wasted setting it up was for naught. “This is a dangerous move.”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?” It was a simple question, with a not so simple answer.

  “Because this chapter of our story has ended and the Tribunal, the Council, and even I finally recognize that. Our people cannot hide forever. We also cannot continue to live under the false belie
f that the treaties were keeping peace between our people; they weren’t. You of all people know that.”

  “Declan, I have tremendous respect for the Trust. But I do not agree with it. Now is not the right time.”

  “If we wait, they get stronger. If we do this now, well, it will set them on edge, hopefully make them pause and think. It will buy us some time.”

  “It could do the opposite. Nathaniel Livingston is not exactly known for thinking things out.”

  “It’s a chance we have to take.”

  Monroe looked down. “I will need time to put this into the proper channels.”

  Declan reached into his jacket, pulling out a thick document. When Monroe did not reach for it right away, Declan placed it down on the table next to him. “They are out of time. This is the declaration we drafted up, confirming that everything is voided as of this moment. There is also an offer of immunity and protection to anyone who wishes to switch sides and provide information.”

  Monroe rubbed at his temples. “You mean, once you confirm that they are not spies for the Cine Tofa.”

  “Well, yes. Not that they would be given any kind of security clearance that would grant them access to anything important.”

  “And here I was thinking that this was just a regular Sunday evening.”

  “It’s never just a regular Sunday evening. And with how quickly everything is spiraling, I am not sure you will ever have another one either.”

  Monroe pinched the bridge of his nose. “That is the understatement of the year.”

  “Agreed.”

  Monroe began to feel a headache coming on. “I need a drink and from the looks of it, you could use one too. Care to join me?”

  Declan smiled. “More than you know. Please.”

  It was easy for Monroe to forget that Declan was not his age sometimes. The fact that the Tribunal had always given him so much responsibility had to weigh heavily on him and gave Declan this air of maturity that his peers would not achieve for years to come. Monroe had known Declan very well for almost ten years now. While he was frustrated at the situation that was now laid out before him, he could not find it in himself to be angry at Declan. Instead, he sympathized with the situation that the Tribunal and Council placed him in time and again.