"Love is eternal. Parting can be brief."
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Stepping out of the mansion, I stretch, feeling a little tired from the events of the day. Seeing the sun go down, I didn't realise just how long we'd been out of the palace. We need to go back soon or someone will notice something wrong.
'Brother Brutus, do you have to go back?' I ask.
'Back where?' He asks in confusion.
'To the palace,' I say, nodding to the sunset.
'No,' he says, shaking his head. 'I was ordered by father to leave, so I was just saying goodbye to Emilia before going. I didn't think it'd take so long.'
'Well, we need to take Emilia to a safe place then. Let's go. I'll take you to someone I know.' I say as calmly as I can even though my insides are churning.
Am I doing the right thing? Bringing them to Uncle Nox. It's dangerous, but he's the only one I can trust to protect Emilia. No one else will do.
'Who is this person?' Brother Xander asks.
'Oh, an old friend of Mamma's.'
'Your mother's friend?' They ask, confused.
Of course they'd be confused. After all, Mamma didn't visit anyone and no one visited her. She was all alone.
'Mamma does have friends, you know. She was born here, after all.'
Both my brothers nod.
'I'd never noticed this before… but she never had any visitors, did she?' Brother Brutus asks.
'Because she didn't want them to visit,' I shrug.
'Why not? Wouldn't she be lonely?'
I can understand why they'd ask that. Whenever foreign dignitaries came, their mothers would bring people they know over to their living areas with large smiles. Mamma, however, never had that.
'Why would Mamma contact them when she's in trouble? She doesn't want them to be in trouble too.'
Realisation shines on my brothers' faces.
'Are you really twelve?' Brother Brutus asks, gently patting Emilia on the head.
Emilia was back to being silent. You can tell she still feels guilty about the woman that raised her, and is unable to pull herself out of it right now.
'Of course I am,' I huff.
'You're too smart,' Brother Xander muses.
'Girls can be smart too! We're not dumb, you know!'
I glare at them, puffing up my cheeks.
Brother Xander pokes my puffed up cheek.
'So, where would you like to go, Your Highness?' Grandpa Roberts interrupts.
'The Tavern, please, Grandpa Roberts,' I smile.
'Very well.'
'We're going to a tavern?' Brother Brutus frowns.
'Yes. That's where he works.'
'Can't we go somewhere else?'
'But we're coming uninvited and abruptly. We can't ask him to accommodate us in such a short time.'
'Is he reliable?'
'I think he is,' I say flatly. 'He's the only one I'd trust with Emilia.'
The trip takes a good half-hour, but we're soon near The Tavern.
'Park over there, Grandpa Roberts,' I say, pointing to a more hidden car park.
This way, we'd be able to keep the limo hidden better. Curious people would be disastrous for Emilia.
We enter The Tavern, and I see Uncle Nox almost immediately.
'Uncle Night!' I call out, waving at him.
Uncle Nox looks up and smiles at me, before it falls after seeing the people behind me. Of course he'd recognise my brothers.
'What're you doing here, Adi?' He asks, walking up.
'I need your help,' I smile apologetically.
He looks at us all, focusing on Emilia. Seeing her midnight blue eyes, realisation flashes through his own. He looks at me, a question in his eyes. When I nod, he sighs, and gestures up the stairs.
'Come on up,' he says calmly to my brothers.
Turning around, he walks up the stairs and I follow.
Settling in the room upstairs, Uncle Nox sits in front of us, leaning forward, his hands clasped in front of his face, his elbows resting on his legs.
'Are you sure we can trust him?' Brother Brutus whispers to me.
I nod.
'We can trust him,' I respond.
Uncle Nox looks us over a few times.
'What happened?' He asks.
'We found out we have a sister,' I say softly, looking tired.
'Are you okay?' He asks kindly.
'Not really,' I croak.
'Come here,' he says, opening his arms.
I rush over, hugging him tight for a few minutes. He eventually releases me, motioning for me to sit beside him.
'So, what would you like me to do?' He asks, leaning back.
'Please protect and keep Emilia hidden,' I say, looking at him.
'She's a royal child. Why not bring her back to the palace?'
'She's in danger of being killed by our birth mother, Lady Kaitlyn,' Brother Brutus responds.
'Why?'
'Because she's the living proof that Lady Kaitlyn lied about her child all those years ago. She's the reason why Mamma and I were locked up.'
'What?'
Uncle Nox looks startled.
'But the child was a Prince?'
Brother Brutus shakes his head.
'The child was always a Princess…'
As Brother Brutus and Uncle Nox talk, my mind wanders. Is this the right thing to do? Introducing Brother Brutus and Brother Xander to Uncle Nox? Can I trust them with everything? Or will they betray me? So many thoughts swirl inside my mind, it's hard keeping my thoughts straight. But I knew one thing. I made the right choice. Emilia, so reminiscent of Deirdre, needs her big brother.
'Would you like to stay overnight?' Uncle Nox asks.
'Are you sure? I wouldn't get you in trouble, would I?' Brother Brutus asks.
He must really be eager to stay with Emilia. He knows she needs him, and is willing to do anything to stay by her side one more night.
'No one will find out you're here,' Uncle Nox says with a smile. 'There's a room on our left. You can stay there with the little one.'
'Are there no extra rooms?' Brother Brutus asks with a frown.
'No,' Uncle Nox says, shaking his head. 'Besides, I'd think you'd want to stay as close to her as you can. She will need your presence tonight.'
He turns to me with concern.
'Do you want to stay as well, Adi?'
'No. Brother Xander and I need to return to the palace.'
'Okay. But you'll be alright, right?'
'I'll be fine, Uncle Night,' I smile weakly.
He stares at me for a few moments, before nodding slowly.
'Alright. I'll trust you on this. But if you ever need me, you know you can come any time.'
'Of course I do, Uncle Night!'
'Good.'
Saying goodbye doesn't take long. Grandpa Roberts takes us back to the palace not long after. The trip back is silent, Brother Xander looking out the window.
'…Are you mad at me, Brother Xander?' I ask quietly.
He turns to look at me.
'Why would I be mad at you?'
'…Because I didn't tell you anything…'
He looks away, his face almost expressionless. It's a face he shows when Father is around and it scares me.
'I-… I'm not mad at you.'
'You're not really talking to me either, though…'
'I have a lot to think about, Adi.'
'Like what?'
'How much I can trust you. What I should do next.'
Him saying that sent a flash of pain right through my heart, as if it is pierced by a scorching blade. It hurt a lot to hear him acknowledge the idea he might not trust me, especially when I decided to try and trust him.
'…I'm sorry…Brother Xander…' I whisper, my head down.
He turns to look at me.
'It's got nothing to do with you, Adi,' he sighs. 'It's mine alone.'
We don't speak for the rest of the trip and part with a quiet goodbye.
Falling onto my bed, I sigh, tears slowly forming.
What am I doing, Mamma? I wonder. I don't know anymore. I wish I could talk to you, Mamma. You always knew how to make me feel better. I wish you were with me. Do you know that I killed someone today? We always talked about learning how to freeze living things, but I didn't think I'd have to do it so soon after you left me…I feel so lost right now. Will I see you even though I killed someone?
And why don't I feel that guilty about it? She was another human being! So why don't I feel sad or guilty that I killed her? I feel sad that I don't feel guilty. I know she's a bad guy, but still… If you were here, Mamma, you'd be able to give me advice. I really need it…
I have a sister, Mamma. A little sister. Her name is Emilia. Did you know about her? With her, we can clear your name! But if we clear your name, she'll be in danger. I'm so angry, Mamma. Not just at myself because I can actually think about turning her in, but also at Lady Kaitlyn. She ordered her maid to kill a baby! A baby, Mamma! She's so disgusting! Look at what she did to Brother Brutus. He can't even live a happy life because of her.
I do want to help him, but I don't know how. He and Brother Xander know about Uncle Nox now. I hope they won't hurt Uncle Nox. Do you think they'll betray me, Mamma? Can I trust them? I miss you, Mamma. I really miss you…
Rolling over, I drift off to sleep, a tear trickling down my face and into my pillow.
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'Will you be alright tonight?' Night asks me as he hands me pyjamas.
'We'll be fine,' I respond, guiding Emilia into the room. I pause, before looking back at him. 'Thank you for this.'
'Of course,' he smiles. 'Anything for Adi.'
I give him one more look before closing the door behind me, my focus now on my little sister. She looks up at me, her expression almost blank. I can see the struggle warring in her eyes. Seeing her in so much pain hurts me. She's the baby I've raised and protected all this time, and here she is, growing up faster than she should be. This is what I've been trying to keep her away from, but now it's as if I just made things worse. Do I even deserve to be her older brother when I cause nothing but bloodshed and hatred?
'Big Brother?' She whispers.
'Yes, Emi?' I ask soothingly.
'I'm scared…'
I bring her to the bed, sit her down on it and kneel in front of her.
'Why are you scared?' I ask softly.
'Because I'll never see Mommy again… or Daddy… I want them, Big Brother!'
I hug her tightly.
'You have me.'
'B-but I have to go away!' She sobs in my shoulder.
'I know, I know.'
'I don't want to leave you, Big Brother! I'm really scared!'
I pull away so I can see her face.
'Emi, can I ask you a question?'
She nods, wiping away her tears.
'Can you trust me?'
She nods.
'Do you trust that man outside?'
'I dunno…'
I take a deep breath, not sure if I'm doing the right thing.
'I trust him,' I say calmly.
'Is he your friend, Big Brother?'
'Yes. He's my friend.'
She looks confused.
'B-but you were frowning at him…'
'I was just sad.'
'He is good?'
I nod.
'He is good.'
'…Can I see my friends again?'
'When Lady Kaitlyn is gone.'
'When will that be?' She asks, tilting her head.
'When she is gone, I will come find you.'
'You promise?'
'I promise.'
We pinky promise, and I lift her up.
'Let's go to bed.'
'Will you sleep with me, Big Brother?'
'Yes. I'll sleep with you, but you won't see me tomorrow.'
'Do you need to go again?'
'I need to go again.'
'Will you get hurt?'
I shake my head.
'I won't get hurt.'
Snuggling beside her, she hugs me tight.
'Stay safe, Big Brother,' she whispers as I soothe her into sleep.
Throughout the night she wakes periodically from nightmares, but I gently send her back to sleep until she falls into a deep sleep. I nap for a few hours before waking up as the sun rises. I slowly slip out of the bed, scared I'll wake her. Luckily she remains asleep.
'Goodbye, Emi,' I whisper, pressing a kiss on her temple. 'Remember, I love you. You are safe. No one will hurt you. I will come back for you, so wait for me.'
Giving her one last look, I leave, determined to make it back and kill my mother.