The Four Kings by Scott Spotson Page B

beeped as it digested the papers, then a door slammed shut. Amanda had no idea where the papers headed; all she knew was that eventually Justica would see them. Anytime she wanted to retrieve these papers, she’d dictate what she wanted. Upon hearing the command, the slot would open up again, allowing her to reach inside to pick up these exact papers. It saved her countless hours of having to search for files.
    Suddenly, a figure materialized right beside Amanda. Startled, she glanced over to see Demus, wearing his typical red-themed shirt. This time, he proudly displayed wide bands of alternating hues of grayish-red and fire brick red. It was a short-sleeved tight shirt, with the trim hugging his considerable biceps. He was sitting on top of her desk, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
    “You scared me,” Amanda said, holding her hand over her heart.
    “Sorry,” he said. “I just came by to see how you’re doing.”
    “I’m fine, thanks.” She felt annoyed. What was he doing here?
    “Working hard, I see.”
    She sighed. “There’s so much stuff to do. This is like a mini-United Nations in here.”
    He chuckled. “But better.”
    She turned her head away from him. “I’m supposed to stay neutral. But, yes, I’m excited about the future.” She adopted a dreamier trance. “What if we had the power – to really change the world for the better?” She glanced at him. “What if we could eliminate poverty?”
    Demus nodded thoughtfully. “That’s one goal of the Liberators. We’ll get there.”
    Amanda stared at him with a hint of defiance on her face. “What are you doing here?”
    Demus pretended to be hurt at the suggestion he wasn’t welcome. “This is my headquarters.”
    “No. It is the headquarters of the Supreme Liaison. I report to the people of North America.”
    Demus shrugged. “Same thing.”
    “No, it’s not.”
    “The goals of the people are the goals of the Liberators. We’re one and the same. The only difference is that we have magic and you don’t,” he told her.
    Amanda felt a little offended, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Honestly, it’s been so extraordinary, I haven’t had time to sit down and really think. What’s this magic? How did you get it?”
    She saw a gleam in Demus’ eyes. “You really want to know?”
    She hesitated. “Yes, I do.”
    “Make it so.” He snapped his fingers above her head. In a split-second, they both disappeared from the headquarters of the Supreme Liaison.

Chapter Sixteen
    A startled Amanda glanced around, knowing she had instantaneously entered new surroundings. The air felt cool and moist on her skin. As she had been sitting just a moment ago, she would’ve fallen onto her backside with the chair now gone, but Demus clasped her hand just in time, steadying her. She stood up straight, a little shaken.
    They were standing on a gleaming marble floor, in the middle of a huge cavernous enclave. The sun’s rays filtered through, giving the gigantic space an aura of natural light. The area seemed to be half a mile wide, with cave-like formations making up the sides – only that the walls weren’t earthen or rock; they gleamed like sheared glass.
    She was enchanted. What was this material?
    She craned her neck to look up at the ceiling, which seemed about twenty stories high although there were no structures to measure anything like ‘stories’. She gasped.
    Although the ceiling was very far up, she thought she observed a rain forest canopy, with its palm leaves, woody vines, and Balizia elegans tree crowns.
    “Where do you think we are?” Demus slyly asked her, observing her closely.
    “I’m – I’m not sure,” said Amanda, still drinking in the spectacle surrounding her. She kept her gaze on the ceiling. “It looks like we’re in a rain forest or something,” she said.
    “We are.”
    “But these crystals over there.” She pointed toward the gleaming walls. “They look like ice.”
    “Yes,” Demus said. “You