A Tale Of Time

Fourteen

                                                                                                                                                Age of Vianna-Heler

                                                                                                                                                Year 2750B

                                                                                    VITALE

"WHAT ARE you doing here?" I asked as soon as my senses returned to me. Within me I knew that if I questioned everything my father did and wondered how he did it, I'd lose sleep over it for a very long time. 

Still, how did he even get access to my security code?

My father rolled his eyes as though as I should have known better, "The owner of the security company that installed your system is a friend of mine. He owed me a favor."

Note to self: Change my security company. 

I walked into the parlor and slumped on one of the leather couches, "I find it hard to believe that you wasted one of your infamous 'favors' on getting your sons security code."

Dad chuckled and rose, swirling with his glass of whiskey, "I had no other choice in the matter. I needed to see you as soon as I could and I knew that you would not have come to the house had I asked."

Of course I wouldn't have.

Olivia jumped into the conversation, by essentially jump-hugging dad, "When did you get back? I thought you would stay in Count Grey for longer."

Dad smiled the way he always did with Olivia, "I have an event here in Vianna-Heler, so I had to come back anyway. And I also heard that my only son who does not like answering any of my calls, had been involved in a terrible accident."

I rolled my eyes. Must he be so melodramatic? He was obviously here because he wanted something. 

"Straight to the point Dad." I said, waving my hand at him, "Some people that have just been involved in terrible accidents need to sleep"

"See, Olivia? " Dad said, with a faux pout," He doesn't call and when I visit, he tells me with such efficiency to hurry it along."

"I know right, Dad. I had to find out through Zayne  that he had broken up with Opal."

Dad turned swiftly to face Olivia, poorly concealed joy brightening his features, "He's broken up with her? We must celebrate, bring in the army of food and streamers and-"

He looked at me suddenly like he'd just realized that I had broken up with my girlfriend and was probably in emotional turmoil, "Oh. Ah... Vitale, it must have been so difficult. Do you want or... um... or need anything to make you feel better?"

I glared at both of them but I could barely hide my smile, " I need peace and quiet so that I can nurse my hurting, broken heart-"

Olivia waved my point away, "You should have seen him, he was jubilant."

I swore at her under my breath while Dad laughed boisterously. 

He was wiping tears from his forest green eyes when he said, " At least we know your sense of humor is not broken."

"Never." I smiled, finally. Dad and Olivia joined me in the parlor, Dad taking the lonely arm chair beside the television and Olivia sprawling shamelessly on my three-seater. 

"Don't put your shoes on my couch."

Olivia rolled her eyes and ignored me. 

Dad finished his glass and set it on the wooden center table before leaning back and looking at us like he had something serious to say.

"I hope you know that I was genuinely terrified when I heard about the accident." Dad said to me, "I have many enemies who don't like a political advocate who speaks the truth. And if they were to hurt my children because of their vendetta against me then... I fear what decision I might take."

His voice was laced with anger and disgust, "Many people in the King's cabinet and with his permission live lavishly when he knows, they know and we know that our country has been plummeting gradually since its birth."

It was true. Things had never just worked out for the kingdom but the government never just seemed to care.

And since it was an absolute monarchy...

No one could take a stand.

"There are a few things that have come to my attention and a few plans that a few friends who share my beliefs and I are setting in place," He continued, looking steadily at us, "And the first key is the fundraiser for the Living Breath charity that's going to hold in two days."

See, I knew Dad was here for something.

"Fundraisers are not my thing," I cut in, sitting forward and fixing my gaze on him like he'd taught me to, "I gladly give a huge portion of my earnings to the family pool for donation, but mingling with the snot-nosed aristocrats of our society is a big push for me-"

"Vitale-" Olivia began but Dad cut her off.

"I know that you're averse to public gatherings and I would not force you to do this if it was truly unnecessary that we be there as a family."

His eyes were steady when he said, "Alexander Knight will be there."

I stiffened. Alexander Knight was the infamous Pariah of Vianna-Heler. Thousands of stories since his exile ten years ago had circulated but none have been confirmed by the royal family or by him because he hadn't been seen for a long time.

The only thing the royal family said was that he had committed treason and since the Queen Clarisse and Alexander were best of friends, the public concluded that he had tried to harass the Queen. s****l harassment was a big enough crime here in Vianna-Heler, but harassing the Queen? 

That was probably one of the biggest crimes a person could commit against the country.

I had known Alexander for most of my life and I knew that the s****l harassment claim was not true. There was no way it could be. He was too devoted to his late sister-in-law to do that.

And he was like a father to Zayn.

Olivia sat upright with the shock and placed a hand against her chest, "Really? Uncle Xander?"

Dad nodded gravely, "He's going to tell us the real reason why he was exiled."

The air was still like it was waiting for the punchline of the joke. Like it was waiting for Dad to complete what he undoubtedly had to say.

I knew instantly that we would never be the same afterwards.

"It was because our family."

TILL THE time before the party, I thought about what Dad had said. There were many things that hadn't added up then about the exile and now I was much older, they made less sense. But I didn't know whether I wanted to hear the truth tough I understood why it was so important for Dad to ensure we hear the truth together. 

And I had to think of Zayn too.

Zayn who hadn't gotten a single phone call from his father figure in so long, who'd tried every possible way to contact him and had failed, concluding that Xander hadn't just wanted to be found.

Was I supposed to meet with him behind Zayn's back when he was still bearing that grudge?

Was I supposed to tell Zayn that someone so important to him had been cut out of his life because of something he knew about us?

Was I even allowed to disclose the content of this meeting?

I looked at myself in the mirror and nodded at my appearance. It was imperative that I always appeared put together. Imperative for myself and my own set of principles. Opal had been correct about me in many ways. Knowing who I was, what my family was and the part I had to play being a Vinchesi have been instrumental to the adoption of the persona I had today. A rich family who was insistent on staying on the straight and narrow was the subject of much discussion. Everyone was looking for a fault so they could throw you into the pile of hypocrites. Because of this, we had no choice but to be perfect.

Today was an ash colored suit with a silver chronograph watch and shiny black leather shoes. 

I sighed. I would rather be sitting in bed and reading a good book.

Olivia knocked on my open door, bringing me out of my thoughts, "You look good, Vitale."

She looked great too if I could say so myself, "You look amazing as always."

Olivia batted her lashes playfully and closed the door behind her, "I'm the one who does the fashion here. Of course I look good."

I rolled my eyes at her.

She really did look good with her lime green, ruffled high low dress paired with silver lace-ups. Lime green as Olivia would never fail to let me know was not a color that could fit anyone, but she said and I quote that, 'I just make it work.'

She walked over and straightened my ash-colored tie, "Do you feel dizzy or sick?"

"I don't," I responded with exasperation, "You ask that question every day. If I wasn't fine, I'd tell you."

"You wouldn't. You enjoy making us worry about you."

I really didn't. But I didn't tell her that, only settled for taking a last look at the floor to ceiling mirror before leaving the room.

After the family meeting, Olivia had offered to stay with me (regardless of my wishes) and Dad had gotten a hotel room in town. We'd been talking over the phone, checking the plan and finalizing tiny details. The only reason why I put up with it was because I was a perfectionist about everything I did.

A trait I'd gotten from my dad.

So I had the plan from beginning to end in the back of my mind as Olivia and I drove up to The Calas.

The Calas was a huge event hall in the middle of Old Helirix. It was a mountainous six-story building with blinding lights that illuminated the entire street. Being the largest building in Old Helirix and having even more exclusivity than the Royal Theatre, booking an event here alone took more than what most could pay and that was without talk of their catering and service options.

We parked in a reserved spot at the back of the building and crossed the extensive and fully-packed parking lot. Many bigshots in the country and their plus ones had assembled outside the building, some leaning over the stanchions and velvet ropes to take pictures and advertise their own products. The Living Breath charity attracted many people for many reasons. One, it was the biggest and most successful charity in the country, educating over a million poor and working class citizens and finding employment for two-thirds of that number. And that was on the part of the education. Housing, the most important aspect of the charity was undoubtedly the most prominent. In half of the twenty-five states of Vianna-Heler, Safe Houses have been successfully constructed, spanning . People seeking refuge are giving home in one of the buildings and are helped back on their feet. Over the years my father had developed a system connected to the government population census department (another favor of his) and could find anybody in the system and their grandmother.

Lying to the Safe House computers was virtually impossible.

As soon as Olivia emerged hand in hand at the beginning of the red carpet, the press took pictures of us rabidly as though seeing the heir and heiress of this charity empire together was the biggest news since Alexander's exile. It was, in a way. Olivia and I lived in different countries and I was allergic to public events. 

Not to mention that I hadn't been photographed since the accident...

"Mister Vinchesi!"

"Miss Vinchesi!"

"What do you have to say about the accident?

"How do you feel about the success on your new line, Entirety?"

"Why are you here together?"

Olivia smiled and leaned against me whispering, "Because we're siblings. Why can't be here together?"

I chuckled and slipped her hands in hers, waving and ignoring questions with pomp that should be illegal.

When we were halfway down the carpet, I heard a familiar voice,

"Vitale!"

Turning around with barely concealed surprise, I spotted Emma running over to where we were standing. She was in a bubblegum pink floral ruffle dress with matching Mary janes, but her bright, dimpled smile was the piece de resistance in her ensemble.

She wrapped her tiny hands around my waist and the cameras flashed wildly. I had no idea what they would make of this, but I couldn't ignore her.

"Hi Emma," I greeted with as warm a smile I could muster, "How are you now? No more tommy bugs?"

"Mh-mm! The nice doctor said I was all better now!"

I ruffled her ponytail tied hair, "Good."

"Emma!"

There are many times when you try to push life along. When you try to do things at your own pace but fate pulls you back...

Then surprises you down the line.

Moments like these.

Violet Girl walked up to us and took Emma by hand, "You know better than to run off."

"Sorry, Aunt Adrianna," She said excitedly, then pointed up at me, "But I saw a friend."

She looked up...

I couldn't look away...

Her smile was shaky when she said, "Hello, Vitale."