The Empress sighed as she said on the golden throne and the smiled, ignoring her blood-splattered gown. The deaths of those who had been so foolish as to allow harm to come to her husband were very necessary. She could see no way to allow them to live. For now, her Emperor was, simply, missing. Those who were meant to protect him had come back without him, uncertain where he had gone.
It must be kept quiet, the loss. But how could it? He was their God! But she…she was their goddess now. She had a duty to the Scatterrans she now ruled, along with her own people, and she would not fail. Of course, the fact that this was her second husband that had disappeared would cause suspicion. Wing sighed and sat back in the throne.
“How does one handle the loss of one’s husband and god? With dignity.” And perhaps he was not fully lost. The empress ignored as acolytes were called to remove the body of the fools who had severely complicated her life. Or was it Josef who deserved her ire? Really, men complicated things. She should have just remained his lover, rather than wed him. It would have made things significantly easier. The Empress steepled her hands as she sat on the golden throne and considered things.
“Abbess, I am informed that the private medical facilities for my husband and I were destroyed in a fire?”
“Yes, Empress.”
That was all too suspicious and spoke of possible rebellion. The facility held the secret to Josef’s lack of aging and the inability to kill him. There were others of course, other possibilities, but only if the other facilities had not been destroyed as well. News from them had yet to return to her. That alone made her rather suspicious.
“Very well. Call the head of the Landwachter to me. I would speak to him.” And after she spoke to him, she would speak to her people. But first, she needed heightened security where her husband’s clones were stored, in stasis, along with the material that should contain the majority of his memories. “And the head of my Seraphim. I would have the royal protection on my heirs doubled until whoever dared attack the crown in that way is caught.” She considered things carefully. Her people would need a scapegoat, someone to purge for the loss of their emperor. If he appeared later, then that only solidified his Godhood, but who knew when her Josef would appear once more.
“In the meantime, Director I need a house or a people to blame for the loss of the Emperor’s Earthly form. Of course, only his earthly form was destroyed, and I want that to be made clear. I will hold a press conference shortly to ensure that is well known.”
“Of course Empress.” The director, nondescript as ever, assured her. It would be done, evidence would be planted for the Landwachter to later find. The Director and his people never hesitated when it came to following the Empress’ orders. “I will come up with an appropriate enemy within a half hour. Would you like me to write the announcement as well, Empress?”
“Yes, yes. Now go. We’re both going to be rather busy. Someone inform my press secretary that she’s to gather the press for a conference in, say, three hours.” It would be done. The Empress’ will was always done. Years of war and conflict had hardened her heart and now, well, none would stand against her. She hesitated after a moment and then closed her eyes. “Abbess? See that the Seraphim bring my heirs and their children to the palace. I believe it is time for ranks to close in the imperial family, however briefly. And Abbess? That includes my heirs not in line.” They would not be left out, and whatever had taken her husband would not also take her children. She would not allow it. Now, the question of whether to change. Perhaps, but perhaps not. She’d decide after reading the statement her people put together for her. She had the bloodlust of two very different people to consider after all.