We Must Do What is Necessary

Chapter 17

"Aelia. Aelia. Aelia," I heard distantly. "Aelia. It's mummy. Mummy didn't leave you," the distorted voice continued.

"Daddy lied. Mummy didn't die. Mummy escaped." The voice persisted. Suddenly, I saw visions that I had long forgotten from my childhood. Bruises on my mother's face, the sound of raised voices behind closed doors, and a few stray tears on the night my mother supposedly "died." What was happening?

I woke up panting, and Romulus stirred.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes, just a bad dream about Cato," I lied. He rubbed my back comfortingly.

"That is a sign of a good mother," he replied, kissing my head. He pulled my head onto his chest and stroked my hair. Eventually, he fell asleep, but I remained awake, contemplating my dream. What did it mean? Was there any truth to it? And how could I find out?

The next morning I was distracted by thoughts on my dream from me last night. What had happened to my mother? Where was she? How was she talking to me? I was sitting in the garden thinking about this. Your postpartum I told myself. You are dreaming things because your hormones are all over the place.

I walked back to my room and sat at my vanity. There was a note in my mothers handwriting. It said "Everything is not what you think. Meet me at the wall tonight at 11pm." What was going on? How was I going to leave without Romulus noticing me.

Night fell and Romulus went to come into my room.

"Romulus, unfortunately my period has started," I said.

"Very well," he said as he left.

I breathed a sigh of relief now I only had to worry about my security and my ladies. As the clock turned to 9:45 I began to leave. I had tied together scarves I could use to go down the three storeys. It was not the best plan but I did not know another way I could leave unnoticed. I put on my black cloak and slowly descended with the scarves. When my feet touched the ground I felt relief. I snuck through the garden to reach the wall, I hoped my mother would arrive soon.

A hooded black figure approached me and slowly lifted the hood.

"Mum," I whispered.

"Aelia," she replied, her voice filled with urgency, "I don't have much time to talk to you."

I nodded, trying to absorb the shock of seeing my supposedly deceased mother standing before me.

"Everything you know is a lie. The Council was formed out of bloodlust and a thirst for power," she revealed.

"What?" I questioned, my mind reeling.

"Hundreds of years ago, a group of conservative individuals waged war on the rest of the world. Their destructive actions led to the downfall of democracy and nearly brought humanity to its knees," she continued.

"But why?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"They sought to control women and the lower classes. They believed that the Ancients and people from the Middle Ages had it right, that everyone in society had predefined duties and responsibilities," she replied. "They promote the notion of duty and safety, but they will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who opposes them."

"How?" I inquired, desperate for answers.

"If you disobey their laws, they either fake your death or replace you with a genetically modified clone under their control," she explained.

"But where have you been all this time? And why didn't they replace you?" I pressed.

"I've been constantly on the move, never staying in one place long enough to be noticed. Your father already had an heir, so they didn't see the need to replace me," she replied.

Suddenly, there was a rustle in the bushes nearby.

"I must go," she said, her tone filled with concern. And just like that, she vanished before my eyes, leaving me with a multitude of questions and a sense of impending danger.

What does this mean? I thought. Was this really true? And if so what could I do about it.

I made my way back to my room and went to sleep thinking of what my mother had said.