"Oath before trust."
❅❅❅❅❅❅
'The Sealers? What're they?' I ask.
Brother Brutus and Brother Xander both remain silent, their heads down.
'Sealers are oathkeepers,' Grandpa Roberts says calmly.
'You can't trust them,' Brother Xander grumbles.
'You can, though,' Grandpa Roberts sighs. 'They will keep any and all oaths secret. Not even the royal family can change that.'
'So anyone can use them?' I ask.
'Only if you know about them.'
'What does an oath do?'
'It binds you to a promise. It can be anything you want, but if you break that vow, you will die a most gruesome death,' Brother Brutus warns.
I shudder at the thought of a gruesome death. Would it hurt like the poison did?
'So it'd be between me, Brother Brutus, Brother Xander, Grandpa Roberts and Emilia?' I ask. 'Can that work?'
'Yes, and also the Sealer involved. The Sealer, as an oathkeeper, must add their own life to the mix for it to work,' Grandpa Roberts adds.
'That must be scary!'
I look over at Emilia. My little sister is still sitting there like a puppet, no spark in her eyes. The lively little girl has disappeared.
'Is there a way to erase her memories?' I ask quietly.
'…Maybe…But people with the ability to change memories is very rare.'
'Do you know any, Grandpa Roberts?' I ask pleadingly.
Grandpa Roberts shakes his head.
'I do not. That doesn't mean there isn't someone out there who can.'
We fall silent as everyone thinks about what to do next.
'Can you take the oath?' I ask my brothers.
They look at each other, taking their time to think before answering.
'D-do we have to?' Brother Xander asks.
'…I-i want to trust you… but I also need assurance that you won't tell anyone…'
'And our word won't do?' Brother Brutus adds.
'What if you were ordered to tell? If you're oathbound, then you won't be able to tell anyone…'
Minutes tick by as I squirm in my seat, waiting for their answer.
Brother Xander takes a deep breath.
'I'll do it,' he says quietly.
'Really?' Brother Brutus asks.
'Really,' he nods.
Brother Brutus sighs.
'Then I'll do it too…'
'…Emilia will have to take it too,' I say quietly.
Brother Brutus nods.
'I know.'
'Very well then,' Grandpa Roberts smiles, standing up. 'Let's be on our way.'
Leaving the house where Emilia grew up is hard. She just follows along wherever she's pulled, no voice, no smile. Nothing, her eyes still vacant.
In front of the house is a black limo, similar to the one that brought me back home from the hospital two years prior.
'Where's the car?' I ask.
'The driver took it back,' Grandpa Roberts says calmly.
'Then who's driving?'
'Me,' he says with a smile.
'You can drive?' I ask, surprised.
Grandpa Roberts frowns, looking slightly offended.
'I'm an old man, Princess. Of course, I can drive.'
'Sorry,' I apologise, blushing.
'That's alright, Princess. You don't know me very well, after all,' Grandpa Roberts says cheerfully.
We all hop in, sticking to the corners instead of grouping together. As the limo pulls away from the house, I rest my head against the door, looking out the window as the scenery passes us by.
The smooth ride and lack of energy lulled me into a restful sleep.
I hope I'm doing the right thing, I think as I drift off.
I don't know how long I was asleep for, but I wake up as we arrive at our destination. Looking out the window, I see a stone mansion full of marble. It's absolutely beautiful with a mix of white and black. The garden is well-maintained and full of roses and orchids. My favourite flower will always be the moth orchid, so I am enchanted by the many variations of orchids found in the garden.
Soon, the limo rolls to a stop, and Grandpa Roberts steps out of the front. He opens the door for us. Brother Brutus leaves first with Emilia, Brother Xander right after him. I leave the limo last, falling in behind my siblings.
'Welcome to Mansion Orchid Rose. This is where our Kingdom's Sealers live,' Grandpa Roberts introduces.
'It's beautiful!' I breathe.
'Yes,' he says with a smile.
A brown-haired young man stands at the front, his silvery eyes cold and almost blank.
'Ink,' he says calmly, looking at Grandpa Roberts.
'Seal,' Grandpa Roberts responds.
'What're you doing here?'
'I've come to help these kids.'
'Royals,' he spits.
'Of course,' Grandpa Roberts says with a cold smile.
His eyes darken.
'I want them off my property.'
'You know you have to do your job.'
'I don't have to do anything.'
'You know that's not true.'
Grandpa Roberts stares at the man, but the man breaks eye contact first.
'I'll give them five minutes to state what they need.'
'That's all that's needed to seal an oath.'
The man twirls around and walks inside. Grandpa Roberts turns to us and smiles warmly.
'Let's go inside.'
'Who's that, Grandpa Roberts?' I ask.
'Caine Seal. He's the current Head Sealer.'
'What's a Head Sealer?'
'They're the ones in charge of the other Sealers.'
'He's so young,' Brother Xander murmurs.
'Yes. He may be eighteen, but he's exceptional at using his magic. He worked hard to get to where he is today.'
'I hope I can become stronger, too,' I mumble, my eyes shining with vigour.
Walking through the mansion, it captivated me from the walls to the high ceiling. Everything in the mansion flowed, down to the most intricate detail.
Emilia sighs, drawing my attention.
'Emilia! Are you alright?' I ask, hurrying forwards.
Emilia shakes her head, tears filling her midnight blue eyes.
'I'm sad, big sister,' she whimpers.
Tears fill my eyes, as I smile weakly.
'I know,' I whisper.
She buries her face in my chest, hugging me tight as we walk.
'I'm scared too…'
'I'm just glad you're okay.'
I'm just glad you're eyes are full of life again.
Brother Brutus watches us, envy on his face. It's clear he wanted Emilia to run to him first, but maybe it's because I'm a girl, Emilia chose me instead.
When Emilia finally releases me, Brother Brutus gently rubs her head.
'Are you feeling a little better?' He asks.
Emilia shakes her head.
'Big Brother, I killed Mummy…'
'You didn't kill her.'
'I did… I touched her and she fell. She went splat and broke into lots of pieces…'
Brother Brutus stops her. He kneels in front of her, gently holding her shoulders so she would look at him.
'You didn't kill her. She was already dead. You don't need to feel guilty, Emilia. There's nothing you could've done to save her.'
Tears stream down her face as she releases loud sobs.
'Mummy's dead, Big Brother!' She cries.
He hugs her tight.
'I know, Sweetie. I know. It's alright. Everything's going to be alright.'
Brother Xander and I watch silently, guilt filling my entire being. I killed her. It's my fault Emilia feels like this. If I hadn't lost control, Emilia wouldn't know the pain of seeing her mother die in front of her. Lady Kaitlyn might be her real mother, but Natalie was the one that raised her. Seeing the person that raised her shatter into hundreds of pieces would be traumatising for anyone. After all, I'm still not over Mamma's death. How can Emilia deal with it if I can't?
'Are you all done?' A harsh voice cuts through the crying.
We turn to see Caine Seal standing there, looking irritated.
'Make the child cease crying. It's annoying and painful for my ears.'
'You shouldn't be so mean,' Brother Xander frowns.
'She's making a racket. Her voice is echoing through this mansion, so make it stop.'
Brother Brutus turns to glare at him, but Caine shrugs him off.
'You can't touch me, Prince, so glaring won't help you. I want all of you to hurry up and get out of here, so stop her crying and get a move on. I don't have all day waiting for you.'
Finished, he turns and walks away.
The harsh scolding quietens Emilia's sobbing, but she can't seem to stop. Brother Brutus gently rubs her back as he slowly guides her after Caine, while still glaring at the young man's back.
Brother Xander and I follow along when I notice Grandpa Roberts has disappeared. Where did he go? I didn't notice him slipping away. Looking around for him, I don't realise when we reach a door. Different from the other doors we passed through, this one goes from the floor to the ceiling, imposing and dark in colour. Intricate designs, different to the rest of the mansion is inscribed in the wood, so delicate, it'd be difficult to carve by hand.
Caine pushes against the brass handle, opening the heavy door bit by bit. When a small opening is made, he stops, steps back, and gestures for us to enter.
'Get in,' he says calmly.
Brother Xander enters first with Brother Brutus and Emilia following in second. I follow last, glancing at Caine as I slip through.
Bang.
We jump a little as the room goes black, unable to see in front of us. Emilia cries out fearfully.
Soon, a glow shines from under us, forming a pattern, lighting the room up a little. Grandpa Roberts stands in front of us with Caine beside him.
'Are you ready?' Caine asks, looking at all of us carefully.
We nod.
'Very well. This oath is binding. If you break it, you will die an excruciating death.'
'What does this death entail?' Brother Brutus asks.
Caine grins cruelly.
'You will be squished by magic. You will feel as if your organs are burning as your bones break, your skin folds in, your eyes pop and you go splat on anyone in front of you. All that'll be left of you is a sticky, mushy pool of blood and flesh.'
I shudder, rubbing my arms to calm the hairs standing on end. That kind of ending would terrify anyone, and not something you want happen to you.
'Now, let's begin.'
Caine looks at me.
'What's the oath?'
'No one must talk about my use of magic. And no one can talk about Emilia to anyone who may do her harm until Lady Kaitlyn is dead.'
Brother Brutus looks at me in surprise, and I smile weakly at him.
'Do you all agree to this oath?' Caine asks seriously.
Brother Brutus nods.
'I agree,' he says calmly.
He gently nudges Emilia.
'I-I agree,' she hiccups.
'I agree,' Brother Xander finishes.
'Very well. Ink? How about you?'
'Of course, I agree.'
Caine closes his eyes, lifting a hand until it's level with my face.
'The oathmaker has made the oath. No one shall discuss these matters unless the oath is broken by the oathmaker or death.'
His palm shines a pale silver, forming an eye. Patterns all over his body also start shining, wriggling around his body as if they're alive, glowing brighter and brighter, until we shield our eyes from the pain.
'What was that?' I gasp.
'The oath forming,' Grandpa Roberts says calmly.
'I can't see,' Emilia cries.
'I'm right here, Emi,' Brother Brutus assures her.
Unable to see, I can only listen to my siblings until the light fades and my eyes re-adjust to the darkness once more.
When my eyes adjust, I see Caine slumped on Grandpa Roberts, looking exhausted. I blink in surprise.
'Is that it?' I ask.
'Of course that's it,' Caine spits weakly.
'Well that was anticlimactic,' I mutter.
'A-anticlimactic,' he splutters as he stares at me incredulously. 'How is it supposed to be climactic?'
I shrug.
'I thought there'd be more ritual to it or something. Maybe a boom or a bang at least. There was just a bright light and then nothing.'
Brother Brutus and Brother Xander just stare at me as if I have two heads.
'What? I know you were thinking the same thing!' I pout.
'Doesn't mean I'd say it out loud,' Brother Xander mutters, looking away.
'Out!' Caine cries, his body trembling from anger. 'Get out! All of you! I never want to see any of you again!'
They're bound now. To keep my secret or they die. Even a small mishap can kill, and who knows if Emilia might slip up accidentally. There's nothing I can do now, though. It's done.