BROKEN

My dear star, who were they?

Unfortunately, nothing ever stayed dead in the past.  

Days after the incident, tension was still high. Percival couldn’t relax, not after being in danger’s way again. You couldn’t, not after the last time… 

That week you had to fend off panic attacks and nightmares, and by the weekend you were exhausted. Your body couldn’t hold you up anymore, and while preparing lunch it collapsed. Hearing the thud coming from the kitchen, Lucifer came running. He found you unconscious on the floor. Although panic gripped his heart, he remained composed, knowing that it wouldn’t have helped him if he lost his cool. Taking in your pulse he was relieved to feel it beating loudly and rhythmically. But he couldn’t help but notice how much those dark bags under your eyes grew darker, how your hair thinned and how you became lighter than he remembered. 

Taking you to the bed, he deposited you there, rapidly going to the en suite bathroom to fetch a cold rag. While he waited for you to wake up, he called his sister, Liah to ask for help. Logically he knew that the stress had finally gotten to you, but he wanted to make sure nothing else caused the collapse.  

“Doctor Morningstar, how can I help you?”, said a professional female voice. He chuckled at the professionalism his sister always portrayed. “Now now, why so professional? I’m your dear little brother yet you treat me like a common patient” teased the brunette. She laughed, amused by the response, “why yes, I do not always know who could be on the other side, but there must be a reason for your call, isn’t it?”, sharp as ever and straight to the point. You loved your dear sister for that. 

“Yes, my husband...collapsed and I’m worried it has something to do with the latest events, could you come over and take a look at him, please?”, it took a moment to register what had been said. “Wait...describe the symptoms to me, would you?” asked a suddenly very concerned Leah, “The past week he had nothing but panic attacks and nightmares, and as you can imagine he’s exhausted. I was changing when I heard a thud in the kitchen, and then I found him lying on the floor. Unconscious” finished Lucifer. 

Shit. 

“I’m coming, keep an eye on him” 

Meanwhile, he called his assistant and told him to take care of things for the time being. He was confident in the skills of his people.  

“I see, luckily, it’s nothing some rest and prescriptions can’t cure. But I suggest you change place as soon as he’s fit to fly out of the country. A change of air may do him good. Didn’t you have that house in the countryside of Auckland?” asked her. “Yes, I do. And it’s been cleaned as we speak. I had intention to move again, new job opportunity and all, but mostly because of what happened. I want him to have a nice life, and I will stop at nothing to achieve that”. 

Days went by, and Percival was looking better and healthier. It didn’t take much to convince him to move again, mainly because they had talked about the possibility before. 

Yet he couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was still amiss. 

Something wasn’t right. 

. 

. 

. 

Days turned into months, and everything was going smoothly: the children were ecstatic to have a massive garden to play in; he had managed to set up another firm company and that left him time to spend at home with his dears. But the idyllic moment didn't last long. 

One day, the doorbell rang. Percival stood up from the couch and answered the door. Two black clad figures were knocking insistently at the door but stopped as soon as they spotted him. 

“Mister Satorius, we’re here on behalf of your family. We’d like you to follow us to...” and with that he slammed the door shut. 

It couldn’t be happening, why now? 

Hearing the sudden slam Lucifer ran downstairs to see his husband pale as a sheet, and the door rattling under the forceful knocking on the door. 

“Dear, what happened? Who are they?” he asked worried, but he didn't answer. Instead, he hid behind him when the hinges almost acme off. He heard only a whisper, but his blood ran cold. 

They’re back. 

“Go hide upstairs and call your sister, we’re going to put an end to it, one way or another” stated firmly. He didn’t need to be told twice. 

Steeling his emotions, he opened the door again. “Gentlemen, how can I help you?”, his voice was laced with venom, clipped and gelid. Fear passed through their eyes, but they remained there, “We are here on behalf of the Sartorius family to bring back their heir. We would like to have him ba-” he glared at them, making them shake in their boots, and continued, “I seem to have misheard you. Here does not live anyone under the surname Sartorius, so I politely ask you to leave before I call the cops.” 

Something went through his yes, and the two figures scurried away. He had bought them time, but not much. 

Inside, once he closed the door, appeared Percival, relieved but not by much. “What have they said?” asked the taller one, embracing and protecting his soulmate in a warm hug, “they’re going to speak to the Council about it. I'm worried, though. I don’t want to go back...”  

Gently he shushed the other, rocking them gently, “We’ll protect you, don’t worry love. Why don’t you rest? You had an eventful day”.  

Nodding, he went up the stairs, and once he heard the door closing, he sat down. 

He had so much to think about, and he wasn’t going to worry his poor husband with it. He didn't deserve this, and he would make sure to never ever let them near him again. 

It was time.