Chapter 2: Marilyn Holmes

The woman was tall and striking, a beauty with classic features, arched brows, bright eyes, and a high nose.  The military cut of her uniform sharpened her silhouette, and there was a steel in her gaze that did not yield to any man. "Greetings, Chief Warden." The guards on both sides called out in unison. Netherworld Prison had three chief wardens, each from a different country.  The one from Corvaina stood before Luciano, a female War God known as Victoria.  Rumor had it she was not only Corvaina's first female War God, but she also came from a powerful family.  She had taken this post to boost her credentials. "Have you decided? Khester or Dristopia?"  Victoria motioned for the guards to step back, then turned to Luciano. "Khester, of course," Luciano said. Victoria studied him for a long while before drawing a small, embroidered sachet from her breast pocket.  The woman who commanded armies hesitated, the coldness in her eyes softening with a tenderness she rarely let anyone see. "This is my family's token. I have worn it since I was born. Take it." "A love token?" Luciano's mouth tilted. He did not take it. "Chief Warden, I may have saved your life, but that was my duty. If anyone else in this prison had done the same, I would have done the same. And most importantly, I am married." "Believe me," Victoria said, lashes trembling, yet her voice remained firm. "After what you went through these five years, you and your wife will have nothing to talk about. You were thrown in prison on your wedding night. Five years in isolation. Do you think she waited?" "You do not understand what we have." Luciano smiled. "What we have does not fade with time. You should get off now. I have to go." Victoria clenched her teeth and stared at him.  He did not look away.  Minutes later, a shadow of grief crossed her pretty face. She slipped the token back into her uniform and climbed down from the helicopter.  For someone like her, softness was allowed, but pride could not be discarded. "Thank you. I will remember our friendship." Luciano's tone was sincere as he raised a hand in farewell. The helicopter roared to life and soon lifted into the sky.  Standing on the lawn of the island, Victoria watched until the aircraft dwindled into a dot and vanished on the horizon. Her eyes stayed fixed on that empty patch of blue. Three years earlier, she had just arrived at Netherworld Prison. Careless for a moment, she had been taken hostage by a newly transferred inmate and nearly died.  The man had been deadly.  Without Luciano, she would have been a corpse. "Chief Warden, Mr. Griffith has already left." Victoria had stood there so long that a guard finally ventured a reminder. Victoria let out a long breath, gathered herself back into the aloof poise of a War God, took two steps, then paused.  "Tell those inmates who were making a racket just now, give them ten days in solitary, all of them." The guard shivered.  This tigress had a temper, yet she seldom took it out on them.  Still, one glance at her cold, no-nonsense face, he could only trudge off to execute the order. ... One day later. "Mr. Griffith, we notified your family last night. You are free to go whenever you are ready." In the Druginia Prison warden's office, Luciano had already changed into plain clothes.  The warden, Justin, hovered at his side, respectful to a fault.  Days earlier, he had received notice from above that a very important inmate would be transferred in, then released.  The procedure was unusual but not unprecedented, so he had not thought much of it. Then, last night, he had seen Luciano step down from a military helicopter bearing the designation AC313A, and his blood ran cold.  A former soldier himself, Justin knew exactly what that meant.  The AC313A was Corvaina's most advanced military helicopter, a project over a decade in the making.  It had rolled off the assembly line less than a year ago.  Many air bases hadn't even obtained it yet. Yet Luciano had been transferred on one, accompanied by pilots and officials from Corvaina's War God Camp. This was not a man a Khester warden had any business guessing at. "You have done well, Warden Justin." Luciano adjusted his cuffs, satisfied with how ordinary he looked. "Serving Mr. Griffith is my honor." Justin was flustered and flattered. For someone of this caliber to be so gracious felt unreal. "It is getting late." Luciano glanced at the clock on the wall. Nearly eight. By now, Marilyn Holmes should be waiting outside.  The thought of his wife, the bride he had been torn from five years earlier, set his chest burning.  He could not wait to meet her. "Of course, I will arrange your release at once." Justin handed him a crossbody bag. "Mr. Griffith, there is a note inside with my number. If you need anything afterward, please call. I can still get things done in Khester." "Thank you." Luciano took the bag.  Inside were Justin's number, his release papers, some basic items, and a Druginia Prison uniform. He had asked for it. His family did not know what he had been through, so he had chosen to be released here. He was the only inmate walking out today. Even if there had been others, Justin would have delayed them. Ten minutes later, the heavy, bar-locked gates rumbled open. Through settling dust, Luciano stepped into the light. Fifty meters away, a red Mercedes waited.  Two women stood by the car.  He spotted one of them at once, her hair falling to her waist, and an air of freshness.  Even a simple, elegant long dress could not hide her beauty. It was his wife, Marilyn Holmes. Compared with five years ago, she looked even more radiant, with a mature grace. Luciano took a few quick steps, then stopped, meeting her gaze across the distance.  They had fallen in love at university and married soon after graduation, only to have their life together delayed for five long years.  In Netherworld Prison, not a day had passed that he had not thought of this woman who haunted his waking hours and his sleep. At last, the dream stood before him. "Marilyn..." His throat worked. Heat prickled at his eyes, tears ready to spill. Marilyn said nothing.  She looked at him, surprise flickering in her eyes, and something else he could not read, a complicated, heavy tangle of feeling. Words would be useless. Action mattered more.  Luciano drew a long breath, gathered his courage, and stepped in to pull Marilyn into his arms. What met him was not a warm embrace but two palms braced against his chest.  He stopped dead, startled, his body going rigid. "Luciano, congratulations on getting out." Her voice carried a chill that held him at arm's length.  Perhaps they had grown unfamiliar.  Back at university, she had been known as an ice queen, after all. He chose not to dwell on it and tried a shaky smile. "Marilyn, we are husband and wife. No need for polite congratulations." "No." Marilyn shook her head and took a folder from the woman at her side, then offered it to him. "Divorce Settlement Agreement." The words on the cover struck him like a thunderclap.  He jerked his head up to stare at her.  "Marilyn… you want a divorce?" Her lips parted. No answer came. "Why?" Luciano could not help it.  For five years, she had been his lifeline.  He had planned a hundred ways to start a new life with her once he walked free.  Divorce made no sense. It could not be real. Marilyn failed to hold back her tears. Her voice trembled.  "Luciano, you know it has been five years. Do you have any idea how I got through these five years?"