Marcus Caesar Monologue

Marcus looks back to him.

“There are times. I wish I could live by my mother’s words. And times when I understand…I cannot,” Colet professes. “My mother would have me carry a bucket of water, everywhere I went, when my power first presented itself.” He recounts, “When I was five, I went fishing with my older brothers at a stream near our home. I never caught any fish and my brothers would tease me relentlessly for days after.” (He was transported back to that time in his mind.) “It was close to supper, and my brothers had already caught three each. I still have not caught any. Out of sheer frustration, I threw my rod into the stream, and my brothers force me in to retrieve it. I was climbing out when I heard my eldest brother scream and ran

to see him being attacked by a savage boar. I threw up both my hands in a panic. I never had been so scared before,” he continues. “Then instantly, I felt this heat echo throughout my body and into my hands. I heard a squeal…then a whine…then a thud sound. I open my eyes to see the boar on fire and my brothers staring at me. My mother must have heard the commotion from the house. She raced outside with her eyes glowing.” He recalls, “Unlike my brothers who seem frightened of me. My mother saw my confusion over what had taken place. She immediately took me in her arms. She smiled and jokingly said, ‘I see you have caught supper.’ That night we ate the boar. And after that night, my brothers never tease me again, for I was the one that caught the biggest catch.”
Marcus gradually started to trust Colet, after hearing his childhood story that was almost similar to how he discovered he too was a Haghar. He has never met another like himself that understands what he is feeling.
“I will not harm you or your mother,” Colet assures him. “I just want to know what happen to my men. Just as you and your mother are a family, my men and I are. We will do anything to protect each other. Just like your mother would risk her own life to protect yours.”
Marcus stares at his hands. “I didn’t mean to,” he said. “I don’t know how to control it. It just happens when I get mad.”
Colet slowly eyes the door…the hole…a still unconscious Sara…and then Marcus.

He thought long and hard, knowing the ramification that will befall this family, due to the transgression that has taken place. “You’re going to have to take responsibility for what you’ve done. Just as my men would have for disobeying orders,” he tells him: feeling a kinship with Marcus that is making it hard for him to order his death.

“Are you going to kill me?” Marcus questions. His childlike innocent made it hard to forget that he was just a young boy: a victim of his circumstance that did not understand the ramification of his actions.

A pang expression took over Colet’s face. He felt a sentimental woe in the pit of his stomach that made him feel ashamed, at the very thought of executing a child: especially one that was only a few years younger than him, when he committed his first killed, using his power to protect his family. Although, he knew Marcus would have to pay for what he did and that the commanders will never believe Sara acted alone. He was still reluctant, twisted up inside with the choice he as both a Lieutenant and a Kingsman, has to make. He knew what he needed to do, but he wonders if he truly can go through with

it.
Sara stirs a moment later to the sound of her son’s voice. She at first thought it was a dream: ‘til she woke in horror to see him standing with Lieutenant Colet. She struggles to rise. Her facial expression is one of panic and disbelief. “My Lord, if someone needs to be punished. Take me instead.”
“I already promise the lad, no harm will touch your head or his.”
Sara pulls her son out of Colet’s reach. “Please, Lord. He’s all I have. I’ll die without him.”
“I have no choice,” Colet contends. “Your house was named by the family of the Elder of the village.”
Sara glances down to Marcus and then back to Colet. “My Lord, tell the commanders you never found him,” she pleads. “He’s just a boy. You did not believe the one that killed your man was a child, and no one else will either. ”
“You and I both know I cannot,” Colet maintains. “The royal seeker will see the truth of this night, and more will come in my place. None will show him the mercy that I will.” He humbles himself when approaching her with a warmness that made her want to believe that he was genuine in wanting to protect her son. “You have to trust me, this is for the best.”
“Why are you offering such charity, Lord…when a moment ago you threaten to kill him?”
Colet glances to Marcus, peeking out from behind his mother. “Because I know what it is like to possess something you cannot control,” he reveals, earnestly. “I vow one day, he’ll return to you…no longer a boy, but a man in control of his power with a stature that’d rival anyone in this village.”
Although Sara believed Colet, she still could not let her son go. “No,” she cries, her eyes switching to amber. As Kingsmen with glowing eyes and drawn weapons are now surrounding her. “I will not let you or any of these men take him. I’ll fight you all to my dying breath.”
“I do not want to harm you, especially in front of your son. But if you continue to opposed me…this will not end well,” Colet threatens. His blue eyes change to scarlet. “Guardsman Francis is alive, but Guardsman Richardson is dead. You both attack them, which mean you both will die. However…the second commander has agreed to look past your actions for another Haghar he can groom. This agreement spares both your lives.”
Sara stares him down, her amber eyes are ablaze.
“To spare both your lives from the executioner’s blade, you have to surrender him to me,” he continues. His scarlet eyes are shifting back and forth between Sara and the Kingsmen that are ready to pounce.
“Please…mother,” Marcus cries, stepping from behind her to Colet. He stands beside him and glances back to his mother with tears in his eyes. “I don’t want to watch you die.”
Sara’s eyes are fading back to brown.

The sound of her son’s voice brought her to tears. She did not know how to respond to losing her child. She falls to the floor. She could barely move. Her exhaustion has taken over. Her body was drain of every bit of strength she could muster. She strains her neck looking up to Colet. He tries to help her up, but she did not want his assistance.

Colet bends down to her and whispers in her ear. “I promise your son…someday you’ll understand.” He sees the bloodstain on her gown has grown in size and realize Sara is still bleeding. “Let me summon you a Devine. He can help treat your wound.”

“Leave me,” Sara snivels, staring past him to a Kingsman tying Marcus’s wrists together. “I now understand how men like the King stay in power,” she speaks on her knees with tears streaming down her face, as Marcus disappears from her view. “As long as he has callous men that tend to his needs, regardless of the pain they bring to others…then man like him will always stay in power.” She peers back to him with watery eyes. “I pray…Lieutenant.” She nearly chokes on the word. “You never feel this scathing pain that you have gifted me with.”

Colet steps back from Sara, feeling the sting of her words pierce his heart. He heads to the door, where he lingers in it. “I’m sorry for my cruelty,” he said before

leaving.
ONCE OUTSIDE, the Kingsman in charge of a bound Marcus approaches Colet with others observing. “Lieutenant…the first commander is not going to believe this child was solely responsible for Richardson’s death,” he argues. “The woman inside must pay. We cannot let her transgression towards our brethren go unanswered.”
“Guardsman Dane, you will not discuss anything with the first commander. I will speak to him,” Colet said. “Now, take the boy to my horse.”
“Sir, Guardsman Dane is right,” another concurs. “Francis accused the maiden of attacking him. She must be punished, sir. For that is the King’s law.”
Colet glances through the door to a broken Sara, cripple emotionally by her loss. “Do not worry about her, just do what you’re told,” he commands to everyone listening. “Guardsman Dane, do what I asked and take the young boy to my horse.” He proceeds to the marketplace with the other Kingsmen following.
Guardsman Dane peers back to the one that spoke up.
The Kingsman did not move with the others. He stares at Sara’s home, glancing periodically at Lieutenant Colet, making certain he was out of sight, before heading back inside and exacting his own form of justice.