Everything happened so fast.
The Emperor's grip broke, and he fell to the floor.
Caoimhe was shoved backward by Veta.She put herself between the Emperor and her.
The guards advanced, weapons out, in uniform, their feet and movements echoing in the common room.
Veta held her weapon at the ready.The blade shined in the light.
Bianca and Eleanor came to Caoimhe's side, both of them wrapping their arms around her.
Caoimhe was in a strange state of shock.Her father had always been a physical person, and his strikes were not unexpected.However, this felt different.There was something else in his eyes beyond anger at her for leaving their world.
"Veta, how dare you!"The Emperor cried out.One of the guards helped him stand.
The fury in his face multiplied if that was possible.
Anger radiated off him.
Veta held her position."You pay me, Imperial Majesty, to protect Caoimhe and Eleanorat all costs.That includes you."
Caoimhe leaned into Bianca, and she patted her cheek.
The Emperor got in Veta's face."You will be punished for this insubordination."
"I am following the orders you gave me."Veta didn't back down."And if you want to hurt her for going to the space station, then you had better kill me first."
"I likely will," the Emperor said.
Bianca glared at Bron."You have had plenty to drink.Go back to your room and sleep it off, Bron," she said."We can discuss any punishment for her leaving the system later.Which is why you're mad--that she left the system without clearing it with you personally.Right?"
"You have no idea what she's done.I know what she's doing.She's lying, and I'm going to find out the truth."The Emperor's fury radiated off him.Or maybe that was fury mixed with drink.
Caoimhe trembled where she stood, but she didn't back away.She couldn't cower to him.She wouldn't.The frustration of his arrogance and control started to bubble up inside her.Her own kind of anger.Anger at his years and years of lies about everything, the way he manipulated them all their lives.
It was a powerful feeling, this anger boiling up inside her.But she held it tight, kept it underneath, for she knew as angry as she could be, her father could be ten thousand times worse.
Well, she let a tiny bit come out."What truth?"she asked."I cannot do anything without you knowing what I am up to.I would not be surprised if you had my bathroom visits monitored!"
"I will know what you're doing, Caoimhe!You will be the heir of this Empire.I am not turning over my legacy to a fool."His gaze darted over to Eleanor, then back."Or a waste."
Eleanor's shoulders dropped, and she put her head down.
Which only made Caoimhe angrier.
She stood up straight and took a step toward her father.
"I am not lying," Caoimhe said through gritted teeth."I did what I said.You can check with the shops I visited.And if you walk in here again without knocking, I will have you removed."
"Listen to me, little girl," the Emperor snarled."You are lying, and every one of you females is covering for her.I will see you all punished for your crimes," he spat.
"Prove it," she whispered.
He didn't speak.Instead, he turned away.As he walked out, his voice echoed off the walls."I don't have to prove anything.I am the Emperor."
The room remained silent for a few moments
"Well, he was pissed," Veta said.
