Chapter One
Against the blackness flickered a single flame into existence. The only light to challenge the darkness, but still not enough. As if they had rehearsed, dozens of tiny flames lit up around the room like the appearance of stars at nightfall. Darkness still prevailed, a cloak hanging in the air, but light pierced through some places. Enough light to allow some sight, however incomplete.
Jylius squinted to adjust his eyes to the dimness. Other people’s shadows blocked his view of the paintings that he knew hung on the walls of the cylindrical room, forming a ring of portraits. Below a gap in the ring, directly across form Jylius lay a portrait supported by a mountain of flowers. Medals surrounded the gap where the portrait would soon be situated. Trails of black ribbons radiated from the picture, where they met in a loose knot, to each person present.
The candles allowed little perception of anything but the portrait propped up by flowers. Beyond that was the black shadow of the room and darker shadows of the people. No one could tell who anyone else was. Most certainly no one could read anyone else’s facial expressions. And that was the way Jylius liked it. It put him out of his element when he couldn’t tell what someone else knew about him. Not that anyone really knew anything about him, anyway. No one really knew him at all.
Only one knew of his secret but to that person darkness was no barrier. Knowing eyes stared straight at Jylius, into him, probing into his heart. Go on and look. Mine’s a thousand times purer than yours ever was. I have nothing to hide from you, thought Jylius.
The eyes only coolly regarded him, keeping that same arrogant stare. But Jylius knew better than to get angry. Of course the face never changed. What was painted was permanent. The dye might glow, but the real eyes would never glare again. This supposed painting of a hero was actually a caricature of the real man with the features of nobility and loyalty immensely exaggerated.
A joke. The entire memorial service was a joke, a mockery. A celebration of a man this dead guy could never have hoped to be. The irony would have been consolatory if everyone was aware of it. If everyone understood the difference and joined him in derision, it would be… it would be delicious. But they didn‘t and they wouldn‘t. They’d go on worshipping his as a Savior of the organization, while only Jylius would know the truth and have to seethe alone on the inside.
“Take your ribbon.”
Jylius bent down and followed the command. He could hear the others present doing the same. He was glad that in the darkness no one could see his usually impassionate face now glowing with fury.
He had to calm down. He had known this was going to happen, so why get so angry now? He needed to remember what the end would bring. This was all worth it for the future.
“We, members of this organization for the betterment of the world, gather here today to honor a hero. One whose qualities perfectly embody what we stand for, one whose actions are a paradigm for us all…”
The voice came from a man who was holding his candle so that his face always remained visible.
“A death of a beloved Brother is always depressing,” said the orator, “but the sudden death of a Brother who is so dedicated and so contributive, well, that, my friends, is tragic.”
Jylius felt a rush of blood warm his neck. He began reciting, “In the end all will be redressed, so for the future I sacrifice. In the end all will be redressed, so for the future I sacrifice,” over and over while he imagined the remuneration his self-discipline would bring. When the ritual finally consoled him, he could listen to the speaker again, and this time without agitation.
“Because of his dedication, because of his commitment, we are now stronger than we’ve ever been. And soon all that we stand for, all that we’ve worked for, will be actualized. A new dawn will awakening the world, peace and prosperity will blossom, and we have this man to thank for bringing it closer.”
The funeral had been a few weeks ago. Mourning was officially over. Even so, the heavy breathing of held back tears and even some sniffles could be heard. Jylius remained calm because now with his anger subsided, he could see that the traitor, despite his treachery, had done some good. Whatever evil he’d been planning, Jylius stopped it.
Still, call it premonition, call it intuition. The traitor had done something, something that could compromise the entire mission and because the Society regarded him as a god, Jylius would have to figure it out on his own.
The eyes of the picture regard him with an air of victory and haughtiness. I will still win. Death cannot stop me. You will fail anyway, because I know and you don’t, they seemed to say.
But I have an advantage, Jylius thought. I will take your place and all your secrets will be released to me.
The orator continued speaking, but Jylius ignored him having decided to engross himself otherwise while he waited for his part in the ceremony.
Sweet irony. There had been times when the elocution of this man would stir no one else, indeed these very lips pronounced the words that drew Jylius here in the first place, but this time Jylius tuned it out. The lauding of a traitor. He had to bear the disgrace and irreverence, but he did not have to listen to it.
The light had improved - no his eyes had adapted to the light. He could see everyone’s faces. The attendees all behaved as one would expect. Jylius studied countenances and body language. He perceived sorrow, yes, tons of respect, even a little anger at the unfairness of such a death, but mostly he perceived love, love of an altruist, a true Brother, forever lost. The last one was sickening, but understandable considering their ignorance of the man‘s true nature. No one suspected anything unusual about the death. More importantly, no one suspected him.
Not that they would. He was always invisible, a shadow in the corner. Until today, few would have known his name.
Still, there was one person who might not see this death as everyone else did, one suspicious person who would be searching for an unnatural cause of this man‘s death.
The woman stood on the right of the speaker, her gaze on the floor, seemingly intently listening to the eulogy and being comforted. Jylius scanned his mind for what he knew about her. She was the traitor’s wife, yes. She had joined the organization shortly before she married him. Jylius was certain they had had kids. He had seen the son before at one of the organization’s gatherings. He wasn’t here today.
Jylius studied the woman’s face. All the normal emotions of a widow seemed present. He tried to look beyond that at the underlying emotions. Was it nervousness in the way she tightly gripped the ribbons? Sorrow in how she always hung her head down and never looked up? Was there any suspicion? She seemed incognizant enough, but after what the traitor did, Jylius would never let his guard down again.
“What he has done has greatly strengthened our Web. His impact will not be fleeting because of his death, but permanent because he’s used his life well.”
The woman looked up. Their eyes locked. For a few seconds Jylius couldn‘t breathe frozen by her knowing stare.
Then the woman looked away. He exhaled.
“-but now is the time for him to leave our pattern and join the weave of the Honored.”
Damn, Jylius silently cursed over and over. How could he be so careless? If his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, then of course everyone else’s had too. His staring at her had to have been obvious to the whole room.
His eyes darted around the room. Did anyone notice? Would someone suspect him? Perhaps someone had seen, but now everyone else, including the woman, was watching the speaker place the frame in the sacred spot, defiling it.
The man gave the signal and everyone obeyed by pulling their ribbon. The loose knot on the portrait unraveled and the ribbons fell unconnected to the floor. The traitor had joined the Web of the Honored. He was no longer connected to the Society.
Good riddance, Jylius thought, calmer with the attention off him.
The room broke into applause and Jylius reluctantly joined in. Some Sisters and Brothers walked over to the wife and embraced her. Tears flowed down her cheeks and she seemed to have forgotten her encounter with Jylius.
If Jylius had been an astute, socially skilled leader, he would have gone over there and joined the others in congratulating her. After all she was the wife of one of the Society’s Honored. Any suspicion of him would certainly decrease.
But he didn’t. The gaze couldn’t have lasted for but a few heartbeats, but what passed between them in that infinitesimal time could not be devalued as insignificant. Jylius knew he had given something away, and he was afraid of giving away anymore.
He stayed in his spot waiting until the praises were done and the members had returned to their spots and were holding their ribbons again. The speaker began again.
“His death has left a hole in the pattern which must be filled. Taking his place will be a man of strong character, a man who has worked hard and loyally for us.”
The wife looked at Jylius. He pretended not to notice and kept his eyes on the speaker.
“This man has proven his dedication numerous times and is irrefutably the best candidate to take the place of -”
Jylius shut out the name of the traitor. He resumed listening when he was sure it would not be mentioned again.
“This honorable man will take over all his previous duties, including taking my place as the director of the organization when I die.”
Jylius took a deep breath.
“Jylius Evesqi, please step forward and take your place in the Web.”
He exhaled and walked to the other end of the room, staring straight ahead. When he reached their leader, he turned around facing the rest of the room. He avoided all eye contact and simply stared at the empty spot where had been standing.
The speaker said something to him and he subconsciously obeyed holding out clasped hands.
Any social situation made him nervous. It took all his discipline to remain calm now. What made things worse was the woman on his right, the wife. Jylius knew she could see his face clearly in the full light where he stood.
The speaker began tying the ends of the ribbons around his hands.
“You killed my husband!” the wife would yell any second now. And the Society would search his face and see that it was true.
Stop, Jylius told himself. He was speculating too much. She couldn’t tell just by looking at him.
The speaker stepped back; the knot tied, and said, “Our web is complete.”
Now was Jylius’ time for a speech. He mumbled the speech he had memorized and ended with a thank- you to the leader.
The room cheered. Applause from these people who hadn’t known Jylius’ name until today.
The ceremony was over. The room began clearing out. Jylius was to wait until everyone exited before taking his hands out the knot. Jylius was next in line to lead the organization and more importantly, now Jylius had access to the traitor’s secret files.
A hand touched his shoulder. Jylius quickly snapped around. It was the wife. She seemed startled by his reaction.
“I‘m sorry,” she said. ”I didn‘t mean to scare you.”
She waited expectantly. For what, Jylius didn’t know. He just switched repeatedly between staring at her and the spot behind her on the wall.
“Congratulations on taking my husband’s place. I hope you are as successful. I know he would have approved.” She smiled slightly.
Jylius said nothing. Her small smile diminished even more. “Congratulations,” she said again and walked away. He watched her back as she exited the room.
The leader looked questioningly at Jylius. He helped release Jylius from the knot and began lecturing on how to handle social interactions with the other members
Jylius pretended to listen, but he had heard this all before. He thought of the wife. The wife might be dangerous, but he had been too jumpy. He needed to calm down. He acted too suspicious. She may or may not suspect. Tonight wasn’t the time to make decisions. He’d get some rest and think clearly when he was alone at home. He’d also keep an eye on her and if she did become a threat, he’d handle it.
