The Legend by Melissa Delport Page B

weaving of flowers. No doubt Sienna’s work. Henry has rustled up an old suit, which has been lovingly pressed, and the smile creasing his old face makes him look years younger. Archer stands proudly beside him as the best man. Sienna, tall and regal in a simple cream dress, coaxes a collective sigh from the guests as she sweeps up the aisle, walking slightly too fast for the shorter Sofia who is tripping along behind her. As usual, Sofia looks astonishingly pretty with her dark hair swept off her face in a low bun, from which loose tendrils are already escaping. She manages to smile at Aidan while simultaneously scowling at me as she passes our row.
    The service itself is short and sweet, and I join the throng making their way to the dining hall for lunch-cum-reception.
    â€œDid you have a wedding, Mom?” Alex asks, linking arms with me. He is holding Aidan’s hand on his other side and over his head I meet Aidan’s gaze.
    â€œYes,” I answer, smiling down at him and a look of disgust crosses over Aidan’s face. Aidan and I never got married, not legally. But I did marry Eric Dane in a lavish ceremony fit for the First Family. What I don’t add is that I would have traded that extravagant affair for the simple, sincere ceremony I had just witnessed, in a heartbeat.
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    chapter 7
    M ercifully, with each day that passes, I can feel my body becoming stronger. Michael is delighted with my progress on the track field, not letting me miss a day’s training. He is getting far too into character, bossing me around like a drill sergeant. We are not deterred even when it rains, moving instead to the indoor track in the Field House. Kwan is slowly putting me through the motions of my original Taekwondo training and I am pleased that while I am nowhere near my former capability, it now takes Morgan at least ten seconds before she pins me to the floor.
    I spend more time with Alex, and only with him do I let my guard down. Alex is my son, and I will not let my hatred of Kenneth Williams and NUSA destroy the one good thing left in my life. My relationship with Aidan, on the other hand, is deteriorating rapidly. I find that I am distancing myself from him more and more as the days go by, for numerous reasons. For the first time Aidan’s weakness becomes apparent. Although Gifted with the ability to heal, Aidan is neither strong nor fast, and he is no fighter. I need to surround myself with only the strong and the powerful if I am to have any hope of winning this war. I am also irrationally starting to blame Aidan for my abilities not returning, as if he is rubbing off on me. Whenever I spend time with him, which is sometimes unavoidable because of Alex, I feel that he is weakening me, slowly breaking down my resolve. Being around Aidan makes me softer, more compassionate, and these are not qualities that will help me defeat NUSA. In fact, they are just the opposite – they could likely be my downfall.
    Every now and then I catch sight of the Lakeside Five on the grounds, but they avoid us as far as possible. Adam tells me that they have their own section of the Academy and seldom venture out of it.
    â€œThey’ll be glad to see the back of us,” he adds.
    â€œWhen we take back the States they can have the Academy back, all to themselves.”
    He sighs at this. “I just wish I could get through to them.”
    â€œWhy?” I ask.
    â€œBecause they’re people, Rebecca. Just like us. And we weren’t designed to be alone. The Deranged are proof of that – look at what being abandoned and isolated has reduced them to. It’s a slow descent into madness.”
    â€œYou can’t force them to accept us, or to become a part of our community.”
    â€œNo, I can’t. But hopefully I can convince them.”
    Personally, I think that Adam is wasting his time, but I keep that to myself.
    The raids continue but I barely monitor their progress, leaving