Prologue I

PLANET MORTYRA, MAIUS 14, SECOND ROTATION, TRI-ROTATION 561 (1995) —ANDRONICUS ESTATE 

I like to call this exile. I remain at home, yet cannot leave. I stretched my hand out beyond the railing of my balcony toward the horizon. The golden glow of the morning star bled between my fingers. It was warm. 

I can still see the blood under my fingernails. 

Although the day had begun, the large azure sphere of Amiculus still hung on the horizon. At least you have remained with me these seventeen rotations, my friend, planet or not. Starlings flew in the distance, and for a small moment I debated the consequences of taking flight with them. 

Juno, is this your protection for me? Should I perceive this as a way to prevent my transgressions from repeating? I devoted myself to you. It would be nice to hear from you at least once a century. 

I looked back at my ever-familiar balcony, its floor tiled in white marble and  streaked with cream. Inside lay my family’s grand estate adorned with fine furniture and beautiful silks in every imaginable color. My favorite was purple. I had a bed fit for an emperor and a wardrobe fit for his empress. 

I had tried so hard to stay away. I would give it all up for a minute back with my crew on the Charybdis. A small smile graced my face. Dio, we had been a good team of co-captains, had we not? Traveling the planets? I still remember the face you made after seeing the bugs on Terra-7.  

I wish you had not cried when they took me away.

I rose and made my way down the steps, hoping to escape to my garden unseen. The morning light glared against the marble columns as I continued down the west path from the main house. I wish we lived closer to town; it would be nice to be a spectator to the daily lives of others. Once I reached my garden, I took a moment to appreciate the field of white lilies, soon lying down among them in the center. It took five rotations to cultivate a space this large; I spent all the time I could to love my darlings. 

The sun filled my vision, small hazes of lavender clouds drifting above me at a soft pace. Soon I could hear the steps of another person approaching and a wash of annoyance filled me. 

It must be Isobel. Why must you bother me? I care not to attend to affairs on this estate; Father may train me, but I will never hold a title of significance again. There is no point. I looked to my left at the figure that towered over me. 

Tiberius. 

His long dark hair was unmistakable and the light caught against his crown. He wore a sleeveless crimson button-up today; it suited his tan complexion. I looked down at his armored boots; they were going to ruin the lilies (as if my lying in them wouldn’t do the same). He smiled and lay beside me, his fingers interlacing with mine. 

Warm. 

“Juliette,” he began. “Have the flowers told you any new secrets today?”

I let out a laugh. “No, but the day is still early, and I can always tell them a few of mine.”

“Perhaps you could confide in me instead.”

I turned to look at him, my reflection caught in his amber eyes. “You know my greatest faults, Ti; there is nothing to hide.”

His expression softened as he returned his gaze to the sky above. “Juliette, I wanted to speak with you before the Council did today.”

I scoffed, “If you are nervous, I have already been told what they intend to rule on. The proceeding is merely a formality—”

“Aurelia—” he cut me off. “It’s not about that. It’s about after you return.”

I sat up to look at him, and he followed, his face inches from mine. His hands grazed my jaw, and he pulled me into him. I selfishly accepted his kiss, my fingers traveling through his hair as his crown fell onto the floral bed below us. 

“Juliette.” We broke apart. “Marry me when you come back home. I—I know you will still be training for a few years before that, but once your charges are cleared, I wish to make you mine.”

I sat in his lap, watching his chest rise and fall as he awaited my answer. Somehow this proposal hurt more than our clandestine affair. “Tiberius— since my return to New Pompeii, you have refused to acknowledge my existence during the few excursions I have made into society. You can love the monster I am in secret, but you are disgusted with me in public.”

“Juliette, you know why I can’t—”

Closing the small distance that was between us, I cut him off, “How could I accept a hand that cannot publicly love the villain I am? We both know that while my charges may clear, I will still be as infamous as ever.” I picked up the crown that lay. “A crown prince cannot be seen with someone so beneath him.”

I stood. “I refuse to accept you. Consider this the end between us.” I began to walk away, seeing Isobel in the distance. 

“Then I will wait!” he yelled. “I will wait as long as it takes for you to believe me!”

May we both be dead by then. 

___________________________________

I stared in the mirror at my outfit for the Council meeting: a sleeveless cerulean gown with a brown leather bodice atop it, matching leather boots beneath, and my burgundy hair styled back with a small butterfly comb.

My attire was unusual; most women before the Council dressed in ornate fashion, shrouded in jewels and luxurious fabrics, but my status was more military than noble, so I fashioned myself accordingly.

“My Lady, I know you may be inclined to speak. I know they will be recounting the... event, but please—your father has tried quite hard to restore your status. It would be best to keep your head down.”

I looked over at Isobel as she put away the decorative hairpieces I had laid out. “My father is wasting his efforts; he should have let me go before the Tribunal of the Galactic Federation instead.”

She hurried over and took my hands in hers, her aged face drawn with concern. “You may see yourself fit for the guillotine, but the rest of us would like to see the other option! This trial at home is a gift from Jupiter himself! My lady, can you not try for Prince Tiberius?”

I snatched my hands away. “Do not speak of him or his supposed love for me. I believe the only people who can love me are my parents; they are the only ones not afraid to speak my name. I only go for them.”

I stepped outside the large doors of my bedroom, extending my hands to be bound once again. Guards escorted me out of my home and down the stone paths to town. I looked down, noting that my feet had not been bound, and the most devious thought crossed my mind. “Max, Vulcan,” I called to the men behind me. 

“My lady.” They nodded. 

“Forgive me, but I think I will go on ahead; do not fret. I have no intention of avoiding my trial.”

“Lady Juliette, you cannot—” Vulcan tried to speak, but I was already gone. The uneven roads passed quickly as I ran. I snapped the chain between my wrists, my arms now free to sway in rhythm with my quick steps. I inhaled deeply as the hot summer air filled my lungs and the wind pulled apart my carefully styled hair.

One moment. 

I want to see the town before they take me to trial. To smell the fresh bread, to see the children running like animals, to see couples happily walking hand in hand. 

I wish to see their freedom. 

It was not long before I came across the sea of white buildings, beautifully decorated in delicate greenery. Perhaps this is what Olympus looks like. I ran straight into the center, wishing to see the many stalls before me. They were selling fruits and cakes today at Minerva’s. I’m glad to know she is still open after the many years. Isobel once told me her daughter would be taking it over soon. I looked to my left. Across the obelisk, Sir Marcus still kept his bakery, setting out fresh breads to sample. I tried to memorize the sweet smell. 

A small tug on the bottom of my dress drew my attention downward. A CHILD. A little girl. Her beautiful blonde hair looked like sunshine.

“Are you a princess?” she asked, peering nervously up at me.

I crouched down to meet her at eye level. “Maybe. Why do you think that?”

She smiled. “You’re pretty.” I couldn’t help but mirror her smile. I removed the jeweled comb that was now failing to hold back my hair and placed it in the little girl’s hair.

“What is your name?” I asked. 

“Leticia.”

“Nice to meet you. I am Juliette. The butterfly is yours now; it looks much prettier in your hair.”

“Really?!” She jumped up and down. 

“Yes, really!” I said. 

A man came running up from behind her. “Lettie! Why are you bothering this poor wo—” He stopped himself once he caught sight of me. 

“Lady Andronicus.” 

He bowed nervously, and his eyes fell to the jeweled butterfly in Lettie’s hair.      “How generous of you. Though I’m afraid my daughter doesn’t understand the significance of accepting gifts from certain company.”

Ah. 

Certain company.

A few civilians gathered around us. I had been noticed. 

“Father, she said I could have it; she said it suits me,” Leticia told him, still smiling.

How precious.

“It does suit her; your daughter is beautiful. Sometimes, it can be acceptable to receive gifts from poor company, is it not?”

He held his hands up in surrender. “Miss Andronicus, I never said poor, I—” 

“MY LADY!” Isobel ran up to me, breathless. “How could you desert Max and Vulcan like that? You know they will get reprimanded if you show up without them!”

I turned to her. “Isobel, I simply wanted a moment in town before the trial; I had no intention of leaving them for good.”

She threw her arms around my shoulders. “LOOK AT YOUR HAIR! IT’S RUINED! HOW CAN YOU FACE LUCIUS LIKE THIS?!”

“You act as if I am respected in the first place, Izzy.” 

“Juliette.” She began to pull me away from the small crowd. I waved goodbye to Leticia, and she joyfully waved back. “Please, for a moment, be serious. I wish to spend many more days as your servant. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IF YOU DIE? What if they make me go serve some smelly Centurion from the south?”

I felt a pang of guilt and decided against answering her. Max and Vulcan caught up behind us, and I was escorted farther downtown to the Basilica.

____________________________________

I surveyed the assortment of old men before me. They all sat, blank-faced, uninterested. My father, Lucius, sat on the far left. It was not hard to see the resemblance between us, although his once-deep mauve hair, so like mine, was now heavily streaked with grey. Beside him sat Meninus and Emperor Severus, who bore a striking resemblance to Tiberius, though his face was considerably older. On the other side were Coriolanus and Titus. 

The most powerful men on New Pompeii, the ruling forces on Planet Mortyra. What old stiffs. My gaze drifted across the Basilica. It was a vast, open-sided arena; four colossal Corinthian columns supported the marble ceiling above, while the ice-white floor beneath me remained pristine. I inhaled the fresh air as I waited for the proceedings to start. Spectator stands rose around me, already crowded with onlookers.

So many new faces. 

Tiberius was seated to my left, his expression pained but focused, his arms crossed. Our eyes met, but his expression did not change.

Of course.

I returned my attention to the council as Severus began to speak.

“JULIETTE AURELIA ANDRONICUS. BY EXTRAORDINARY PETITION OF YOUR FATHER, LUCIUS ANDRONICUS, YOU STAND BEFORE THE WAR COUNCIL OF NEW POMPEII ON THIS DAY, MAIUS 14, SECOND ROTATION, OF TRI-ROTATION 561.”

Titus took over. “Juliette Andronicus, Roman Fi. Age: 43.7 Tri-Rotations. Discharged Federation Rank: Fleet Captain.”

“On Ianuarius 23, 554, rotation one, on Planet Trierdon-0, you were charged with a complete and total ABUSE OF POWER.”

I couldn’t hear what he was saying anymore. I didn’t want to. My hands began to shake. Why must we recount the event? Everyone knows what happened. Must we revisit it?

I finally brought my attention back to Titus. “There are fifteen thousand deaths unaccounted for, their bodies never recovered. The Federation stripped your rank of Admiral, demoting you to Captain, and dishonorably discharged you. After five rotations in Federation custody, you were relocated to New Pompeii, where you served the remainder of your sentence under strict arrest until a proper punishment could be determined.”

My father finally stood to face the council and the silent crowd in the stands. 

“Juliette Andronicus, to clear your charges and atone for your crimes, you have been assigned a reconnaissance and recovery mission. You will train for the next five rotations in preparation to recover the ancient Etruscan Codex, the Volumina Mortorum.”

He stood before me, and I met his gaze. 

Bitter. 

“Do you accept?” he asked. 

“I do. I thank the council for their mercy in my sentencing.”