United (Magics AU - Part 1)

Chapter 32 - Falte

For the second time in his life, Falte didn't know what to think or what to do. His coherent train of thought had completely scattered into a million different paths, ones that he didn't want to explore. He was too shocked and confused, even though almost everything that they knew already had been explained in Falte's own office. Though there was still so much to discover and work out, Falte had already heard quite enough. He didn't think he would be able to process much more, which was the worst thing about this. Falte was normally the reasonable and rational one, the one who knew the solutions to most situations and how to handle things. 

But right now, Falte could hardly put together a cogent thought together in his mind without either interrupting himself with questions, or interrupting himself with overwhelmed assumptions. He didn't know what to think about the most recent discovery - the discovery that Falte's own son was the one who had abducted and killed so many of the Arielians. 

Kai had claimed - and Linda had surprisingly backed him up - that he didn't remember ever doing such things. From what Falte could gather, Kai's mind refused to let him remember anything when he was in his "Shadowbeast form", but why? How could Kai be two things in the same person and not even know about it? 

The problem was, Falte didn't know whether to blame his son - to be mad at him, to be upset that Kai would do such things - or to be supportive of Kai - to forgive him, to tell him that it wasn't really his fault if he didn't know what he was doing - and it was driving Falte crazy. He wanted to forgive Kai, he wanted to trust him again; but there was an unwanted, horrible feeling of uncertain fear locked in Falte's heart that made him want to tear it out. 

Another angering fact was that Falte didn't know where to lay the blame. Kai had done all of those things, whether he remembered them or not. He had been the one to take and kill so many of Ariel's citizens, so how could it not be his fault? Then again, Kai had been under the custody of a Shadow named Thorn, and Falte couldn't even begin to imagine what had been done to Kai while he'd been there. Was it Thorn's fault that Kai was like this and had done those things? 

Suddenly, Falte was startled out of his thoughts by Kai shifting behind him on the bed. Three hours ago, Ruby had dismissed everyone to work things out with Marcus and Aaron. She had welcomed Falte to stay and provide any advice he held, since he was her adviser - but Falte could hardly put a sentence together, and had politely but firmly declined. He had silently taken Kai to the washing room, where Kai cleaned himself off after only he know how long since his last shower. He'd been provided with some spare clothes from some of the guest rooms, and when he'd exited, Kai had looked a lot more refreshed. Since it was getting late, Falte had decided to bring Kai up to his bedroom and try to sleep. The whole time, Falte's son would not meet his father's eyes and didn't speak a single word.

It was almost midnight now, and Falte hadn't even lain down. He was sitting on the side of the twin bed that he now shared with Kai, his left side facing his pillow. Kai had curled himself into the blankets with his back to Falte almost immediately, but Falte couldn't tell if he was actually asleep. Kai had always been a quiet sleeper, even when he was eight. 

Sighing, Falte gently pulled his glasses off his nose and rested them on the dresser beside the bed. He yanked the ribbon out of his loosely tied hair and coiled it up beside his glasses, running one hand through his shoulder-length hair. He needed to get some sleep, because who knew what would happen in the morning? 

Throwing his corner of the blankets aside, Falte lay back against the pillow with another small sigh. As he pulled the blankets over himself and blinked up at the ceiling, Kai shifted again. If he even was asleep, the tossing probably meant he was having nightmare. Even when Kai was an infant, he hardly moved in his sleep. Which meant that Kai was either having a nightmare or awake.