Demi-Deus by Mark Chapman

Author:Mark Chapman [Chapman, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2023-07-30T04:00:00+00:00

III - 15

The grand symbol of Olympus adorned the golden, arched entrance to the Esperons’ residence: a circle surrounded by three rings, split down the center whenever the huge door opened.

Kayne gazed up at it, savoring the sense the moment, before touching his palm to the door. He half-expected to be denied entry, still suspecting a ploy of some sort from Esperon, despite his ceding of authority.

However, serving tangible confirmation to his newfound position of power, a chime sounded and the entrance began to slowly split before him, granting entry. Feeling like a conquering hero, the Colonel stepped inside. He passed through an ivy-covered foyer and then halted, mouth agape.

So, this is the life of a trillionaire!

With his Retinal Display furnishing the living area’s walls with a view of the cosmos, Kayne stared at the ancient-looking gold, white and black fig tree, astonished. The genetically modified behemoth was surely the most bizarre sight among the many he’d seen since arriving on Olympus. It looked otherworldly, the starry blackness surrounding the room simultaneously lending it Earthly and alien qualities.

Gazing at the living work of art, housed inside the vast living area, the Colonel felt anger stir. The botanical wonder evidently received more care and attention than the refugees ever had. What’s more, this room alone could have easily housed everyone stranded in the stark corridor of Temporary Accommodation with ample space for more.

Looking down to the elegant tree’s root system spread through the transparent floor, the Colonel noticed a ripple of water far beneath his feet. Curious, he approached the golden-railed, red-carpeted, spiraling stairway and grasped its rail as he descended, step by step.

The room below had clearly been designed to house items of immense value.

Encircled by a moat-like channel of water, the stairway alighted on a circular island, set in the center of the underfloor room’s circumference. The walls were covered in gold and white tree roots - innumerable and perfectly curated - they descended from their parent above until neatly dipping their tips into the circuitous waterway. The room had an eerie, subterranean quality to it - cool and filled by the babble of gently running water.

Populating the island were a number of black, faceless manikins - clothed in the golden robes of the Doctor, forgotten in the haste of his abdication. At the island’s center, housed in an ornate glass display case, was the most prized item of all.

The golden laurel wreath.

Holding his breath as he opened the case, the Colonel withdrew the delicate wreath, gently turning it over as he marveled at the delicate nano-engineered filigree running through every exquisite golden leaf. The wreath was synonymous with Esperon - a symbol of his ultimate power and prestige among humanity. Even the youngest child on Earth had known exactly who the man was that wore the golden wreath.

And now it’s mine.

The Colonel smiled as he looked from the wreath to the robes, an idea forming - one he knew would add insult to Esperon’s injury.

Five minutes later, he exited the subterranean room and ascended the stairway, transformed.

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