Havoc of Betrayal

CHAPTER 25 - Consequences

CHAPTER 25

After everything Mathias heard, he was unable to be shocked anymore. Things made sense but still didn't. He was confused, in pain, and most of all angry. And when he reached his room, his anger was slowly slipping, leaving him with nothing but the sorrow his heart felt, overwhelmed with.

"Izzy." He said as she took their son and sat on the couch in his room.

"I still can't believe it." She said, her eyes tearing up, "My entire family betrayed me. They hurt you so much... god..." she met his eyes, saying with a deep frown, "I'm so sorry, Mat. You might never forgive me but I'm so sorry for what they did-..."

"None of it is on you." Mathias said, "One thing I've learned over the years is that blood doesn't make family." He told her, going to her before he sat beside her, taking her hand as he said, "We are family. They no longer are yours, so do not feel guilty. They don't deserve it. They deserve nothing but death for what they've taken from us." He said, making her nod as her tears fell.

"Are you sure about letting Andries handle this?" She asked.

"There was always that one thing I was sure he was keeping from me, and when it all started making sense, as shocked as I was, I knew it was the truth. His relationship with father, I always envied it. There was no way he'd kill him without a good explanation as to why. I know he'll handle this. I trust him, even if I still feel like beating him up for keeping all this from me." He told her, then sighed, "Rest. The sun is already up, just get some sleep with Phenix, look at him, he looks exhausted." He said, seeing how he was dozing off in her arms, "You aren't leaving my sights, both of you. So, take the bed."

"What about you?" she asked.

"I can't sleep." He said, "I need to be alert in case anything happens. Might join Andries in a bit." He told her.

"Alright." She nodded, getting up but before going to the bed, she said, "You should wash up." Reaching over to touch his cheek when he stepped back. She put her hand around Phoenix again as she said, "You are still covered in his blood." With a frown she went to put her son in bed, laying Phoenix down, but when he wouldn't stay still, she lay down beside him, wrapping an arm around him and pulling him to her chest. Her exhaustion aside, mentality she was tired. She wanted to be anywhere but that world at that point, and when she saw phoenix sleep, she finally let herself succumb to the unconsciousness calling for her.

Mathias went to a basin in the corner of his room, pouring water in it before scrubbing his face, seeing the water turn rose color with the blood on his skin. He washed as much as he could, taking a towel to rub off the water from his skin, turning it also red with the remaining blood on his face before he sighed, giving up on it.

Mathias went to the window he'd sat at with his daughter in his arms before she died, the same window he'd wept his father's death, the same window he sat at when his mother died, the same spot he spent the nights without his brother, feeling lonely and unloved. And as he stood there, he felt an arm slip around his back, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him to Axel's side, where he asked, "Are you alright?"

"I don't remember the last time I was..." Mathias breathed, his eyes tearing up, "Is it fine now? Can I...?"

"I got you." Axel said, and a moment later, Mathias turned into his hold, arms wrapped around him as he pressed his face to Axel's chest, his tears finally falling. Axel's hand slipped into his hair, brushing it softly, comfortingly. "Mat, what can I do?" he asked, frowning, his heart heavy in his chest as his king broke down in his arms.

"There is nothing to do..." Mathias wept, "Nothing will bring any of them back... nothing will give me back the years I lost with Drai... nothing."