nfelsleep.

    InherdreamsVioseemedtoreturntothequietafternoonofthedayofthei.ShewassittingonKingDimitri’sgoldthrone,lookingaroundthedazzling,magnifitpuregoldpace.Shehadfaithfullyexecutedhermother’sinstrusgiventoherinherdreamsandiepssuccessfullydestroyedDimitri’sKingdomofDreamsandtookoldpaceforherself.Shewasdeliriouswithjoythatshehadsuccessfullyfulfilledhermother’sdyingwishforrevengeandwasnowthemistressofthegoldpacethathadbeenherdreamforsolong,butViosoonfoundthateuphoriaandcuriositysoonevaporatedandwasfollowedbyemptiness.Whathadtotauthorityandenormouswealthbroughther?Atthispointshewasactuallynostalgicforthesafehavenireeholewhichshehaddecoratedintoasmall,cozyhome.Everythingtherewassimpleandprimitive,buteverypieceoffurniture,everytable,everychairhadmadewithherownhands.Thesmallroomhadbeenfilledwithwarmthanddelight,especiallyaftershemetherhusband,Mr.Finger,atlepersonlikeherself.Hewasslyanddeviousattimes,buttheyhadbeenalovingcouple.Theybecameestrashecouldn’thelpwwhetherhewasaliveordeadorwhathadhappeohim.AhingonhermindwasthefactthatwhileshewasdestroyingKingdomofDreamsandaftershetookDimitri’sgoldpace,themanhimselfhadinanappearance.Couldhehavebuiltanerandmuagnifitkingdomiherdimensionoftime?Vio’shatredforDimitrihadnotabatedandthirstforrevengewasburningasstrongaseverinherheart.Shesatohrohonehandcuppingheranddrowsilydozedoffwhenthesoundofaman’ssobbingwokeherfromhernap.Itwastheexpressionofintensegriefandsorrowinhisheartwhichheseemedtobestrugglinghardtostiflebutfailed.ItcameoffandoninfitsandstartsanddisturbedVio’snapwhichmadeherveryangry.“Whodarestobesoboldastoearmythrone?”shethought.“Iwillcutoffhisweepingheadforsuchaffront!”Shecalledoveranattendantandasked,

    “Whoisthatg?”

    “It’sKingCyclinthecorridoroutside.”

    Viowasgreatlysurprisedandstooduptoseeforherselfwhatwasgoingon.

    Cyclops’imposingphysiquewascrouchedinaerofthecorridbitterly.Hetriedhisbesttosuppresshissorrowsothathissobswouldnothisbeloveddaughterwhopingohrone.Viocametohimalyasked

    “Sire,whyarey?Istheresomethingnottoyourliking?”

    “Oh,no,no”repliedCyclops,hastilywipingawayhistearswhenhesawViohadetomakeinquiriesabouthisemotionaloutbreak.“Everythingisfine.Iamperfectlysatisfied.AftertakingDimitri’sKingdomandhisgoldpacewehavebeenlivingaveryluxuriouslife,celebratingwithsongs,music,liquorandbasnightandday.IwasjustthinkingaboutyourpoormotherwhoisstillsufferiureofthedamhefiresofGehenna,andmyheartfeelssuchpainthatitseemedtobetorninhalf.ThatiswhyIwasg.IwouldliketogoandsaveherbutIwasafraidyouwouldnotagree.”

    “Whywouldn’tIletyougoandsaveher?”askedViogreatlysurprised.“Infact,Ihavebeenthinkingofdoingjustthat,buthaven’thadthecetotalktoyouaboutityet.IwasabletotoppleKingDimitri’sKingdombysuccessfullycarryingoutmother’sthree-steppnofrevenge.Iammorethanwillingtosharethefruitsofourborwithher,whywouldn’tIwantyoutosaveher?”

    “Perhapsyoudonotquiteknowwhatkindofpersonyourmotheris”saidCyclopsafteramomentofhesitation.“Sheisveryambitiousandhasaninsatiablelustforpowerandauthority.Iwasafraidthat

nfelsleep.

    InherdreamsVioseemedtoreturntothequietafternoonofthedayofthei.ShewassittingonKingDimitri’sgoldthrone,lookingaroundthedazzling,magnifitpuregoldpace.Shehadfaithfullyexecutedhermother’sinstrusgiventoherinherdreamsandiepssuccessfullydestroyedDimitri’sKingdomofDreamsandtookoldpaceforherself.Shewasdeliriouswithjoythatshehadsuccessfullyfulfilledhermother’sdyingwishforrevengeandwasnowthemistressofthegoldpacethathadbeenherdreamforsolong,butViosoonfoundthateuphoriaandcuriositysoonevaporatedandwasfollowedbyemptiness.Whathadtotauthorityandenormouswealthbroughther?Atthispointshewasactuallynostalgicforthesafehavenireeholewhichshehaddecoratedintoasmall,cozyhome.Everythingtherewassimpleandprimitive,buteverypieceoffurniture,everytable,everychairhadmadewithherownhands.Thesmallroomhadbeenfilledwithwarmthanddelight,especiallyaftershemetherhusband,Mr.Finger,atlepersonlikeherself.Hewasslyanddeviousattimes,buttheyhadbeenalovingcouple.Theybecameestrashecouldn’thelpwwhetherhewasaliveordeadorwhathadhappeohim.AhingonhermindwasthefactthatwhileshewasdestroyingKingdomofDreamsandaftershetookDimitri’sgoldpace,themanhimselfhadinanappearance.Couldhehavebuiltanerandmuagnifitkingdomiherdimensionoftime?Vio’shatredforDimitrihadnotabatedandthirstforrevengewasburningasstrongaseverinherheart.Shesatohrohonehandcuppingheranddrowsilydozedoffwhenthesoundofaman’ssobbingwokeherfromhernap.Itwastheexpressionofintensegriefandsorrowinhisheartwhichheseemedtobestrugglinghardtostiflebutfailed.ItcameoffandoninfitsandstartsanddisturbedVio’snapwhichmadeherveryangry.“Whodarestobesoboldastoearmythrone?”shethought.“Iwillcutoffhisweepingheadforsuchaffront!”Shecalledoveranattendantandasked,

    “Whoisthatg?”

    “It’sKingCyclinthecorridoroutside.”

    Viowasgreatlysurprisedandstooduptoseeforherselfwhatwasgoingon.

    Cyclops’imposingphysiquewascrouchedinaerofthecorridbitterly.Hetriedhisbesttosuppresshissorrowsothathissobswouldnothisbeloveddaughterwhopingohrone.Viocametohimalyasked

    “Sire,whyarey?Istheresomethingnottoyourliking?”

    “Oh,no,no”repliedCyclops,hastilywipingawayhistearswhenhesawViohadetomakeinquiriesabouthisemotionaloutbreak.“Everythingisfine.Iamperfectlysatisfied.AftertakingDimitri’sKingdomandhisgoldpacewehavebeenlivingaveryluxuriouslife,celebratingwithsongs,music,liquorandbasnightandday.IwasjustthinkingaboutyourpoormotherwhoisstillsufferiureofthedamhefiresofGehenna,andmyheartfeelssuchpainthatitseemedtobetorninhalf.ThatiswhyIwasg.IwouldliketogoandsaveherbutIwasafraidyouwouldnotagree.”

    “Whywouldn’tIletyougoandsaveher?”askedViogreatlysurprised.“Infact,Ihavebeenthinkingofdoingjustthat,buthaven’thadthecetotalktoyouaboutityet.IwasabletotoppleKingDimitri’sKingdombysuccessfullycarryingoutmother’sthree-steppnofrevenge.Iammorethanwillingtosharethefruitsofourborwithher,whywouldn’tIwantyoutosaveher?”

    “Perhapsyoudonotquiteknowwhatkindofpersonyourmotheris”saidCyclopsafteramomentofhesitation.“Sheisveryambitiousandhasaninsatiablelustforpowerandauthority.Iwasafraidthat