It wasn't meant to happen like that.
I stared at the walls around me and held my breath, watching the olive green walls slowly become more tarnished as dark streaks rolled down and left unfixable marks in their wake. I stayed locked in spot as I heard the floorboards behind me creak loudly, unable to drag my eyes away from the scene in front of me. It was messy and all over the place, but something about it felt so right.
A cold hand settled on my shoulder as I finally let out the air I'd been holding, my shoulders drooping from both the adrenaline depleting and the weight of the hand resting on them. I didn't take my eyes away from the now completely ruined walls, silently mourning the loss of their beautiful colour and already thinking about where I could go to get a fresh can of paint that would match enough to redo them. The price to pay in order to create art such as this.
"This is not what had been planned, little one."
Their voice never failed to make a shiver roll down my spine as it rumbled into the otherwise silent room, cold and detached from emotion, but bringing me a strange sense of warmth and calm as I fully let myself sink into what had just taken place. My eyes wandered over the floor and the mess that now sat on it, scrunching my nose as I realized I'd have to be the one to clean this up.
"I know," I whispered back after a few moments had passed, worried I would upset them if I waited any longer. "I apologize, sincerely, that I went ahead without calling for you first. But I am not sorry it happened." I paused, waiting to see if this had upset them. I felt their hand squeeze my shoulder lightly, as if to urge me on, so I continued. "It needed to occur. Surely you can understand given the circumstances, my lord. I could not bare another moment."
The silence became loud as I awaited a response, the hand on my shoulder unwavering and helping to keep me grounded as I went back to scanning the simple masterpiece I had managed to put together. I was almost tempted to go and grab the easel my mother kept in her office so I could capture it forever, able to reminisce and keep it close to me for eternity. I didn't dare move, however, as the hand shifted and came to cup the opposite shoulder instead as they moved to my side, pulling me closer and almost cradling me into their large body. A sigh filled the room and I was almost taken aback by how soft it sounded, having never heard them sound so relaxed before. I let myself lean in further to their body and bit back my own sigh of comfort as I felt their body heat seep through the large cloak that always adorned their shoulders and warm my shivering body. I hadn't realized how cold I was until then, surprised that the room had cooled to such a degree without me having realized.
"You have caused much trouble for me this night, little one." My body tensed again at his words, his hand tightening slightly and I froze for a moment before counting down from 10 and allowing myself to relax into his side again.
"I know," I started again, feeling an odd sense of deja-vu. "But it was necessary. Again, I do not apologize that it happened, my lord, only that it happened without you having been here. I would have liked for you to see me, to help me, create this masterpiece that sits in front of us."
A soft and chilling laugh came from above and shook my body slightly as I stayed leaned towards them. My nerves settled further at the familiar sound, something about it pulling me deeper into comfort as I went back to watching the deep crimson roll down the wall, adding to the scene and making it look even more phenomenal. The scene was dimensional and lively, everything art should be and more. I decided then that I would make more, needed to make more, pieces such as this one. They would be seen internationally and admired, boasted for their eternal beauty and unwavering commitment.
"I knew I had been right about you. Welcome to the family, my precious son."
