Background
MC meets his brother again as he separated from him many years ago as he turned out to be a malicious person and only wanted to use you for your talents. He's your last surviving family member and you have to make a tempestuous decision to make.
As I made my way through the corridor, my stomach continued to do flips. I don't know the person who lies behind this door anymore. It's been over 20 years and so much has changed. I practically raised myself with no one to support me. I've always had to stick to myself since I'm always used. No matter what the situation is, I'm always being used as a pawn or deprived of power so others can feel better about themselves but no more will I have this.
After rambling in my head and silently walking through the many throngs of hallways in this castle, I've finally made it to the familiar door. Many memories lay behind these doors. The tears I wept in here are forever ingrained in the floor and in my mind. But, I can't think about that now.
I opened the door and tried to shake any negative feelings that tried to arise. I'm stronger now, better now. I've improved so much that whatever lies behind these doors cannot phase me. But boy was I wrong.
The room was dark with a foul decaying smell to it. I can't necessarily describe it but it smelled like someone left rotten eggs and covered it with manure. The ground was marsh-like and I could only imagine what I'm stepping in right now. The walls glistened with black stones and various vague-paintings of "family" members I wish I didn't remember. There was a weird haze to the room. It was foggy almost and the deeper I went into the room the deeper the red haze got. My vision became blurred and I could barely breathe. There was an echo that sounded like cries for help but I couldn't quite make anything out anymore. My knives felt heavy around my waist.
I kept trudging until I ran into an object. I reached out and felt rods. As I kept walking and reaching out, I realized it was a cage. Before long, I heard a long, loud bang. I kept my cool and tried to maneuver through the rods. The soft cries I heard got louder and became wails. I tried to pin-point the wails and found a curled shadow in the distance. The closer I got, the more I understood the wails.
"I am not free, I am not a bird. I wish my roar was heard."
Wait a minute.. That voice sounded familiar. The voice was definitely masculine, it could only be one person. Kenneth. I'm confused now. Why's he crying? Is his dismay his own fault? Why's there a cage? So many questions but time isn't on my side this time.
I continued to walk and I was right in front of him but he didn't even seem to notice I was there. I reached out to touch him until a loud voice boomed.
"Don't you have any intelligence? No brother of mine can be this incompetent."
Kenneth? But.. he's in front of me..
"Kenneth...?" I called out.
"Yes, it's me you fucking idiot."
His tone of voice didn't get to me but how much I miss the verbal abuse from him.
I said nothing and started to feel my blood boil. A rush of feelings and emotions swept over me as I started to stand my own ground.
"Look at you, turning red. Does my presence bother you that badly, brother? Can you not handle being an adult for one moment? You haven't changed at all."
He laughed humorlessly before he scoffed at me.
"Pathetic. And to think I was going to make you an offer."
I started to grit my teeth as my jaw clenched furiously. He continued to go on.
"Still an emotional wreck and couldn't live up to the name king even if you were given a manual."
He laughs at his joke before continuing.
"Just like when we were younger. You were always groomed to be king. They always took a liking to you. Everyone did. And me? I was always in your shadow even though I was older, stronger, smarter and ALWAYS helping you. You were never fit for this role. Besides, YOU killed MY parents. How selfish of you to even think you could become a leader just to run away when times got rough-"
The memories of the tragedy ran through my mind. The sticky, smeared blood was all over my body. My hair stuck all over, covered in ash and blood. My eyes widened. The tears ran rampant down my face. I didn't realize what I'd done. My slain parents laid before me with their limbs scattered over the dining hall. I don't know what came over me. I couldn't control the feeling that came over me. I remember the members of society came and looked on in horror. Many are shouting to kill me. No one wanted to approach me as if I was some monster.
I couldn't mutter a single word and I was breathless. My vision went black and I'm back in the present day.
My face turned stone cold before I became one with my emotions. I understand my brother felt left out but he was favored by many. You see, he was injured in a very important duel against another prince many years ago and he was deemed no longer fit for king. My parents still loved him and gave him much of their attention but to society's rules, he could no longer serve. He was at the bottom of the totem pole. My dad always fancied him over me as I was pretty timid and took up the majority of my time making new gadgets. Some were tools used in war. One day, I felt this urge enter my body and made a nuke. I didn't tell anyone this except my brother. My brother set the bomb off without my permission and killed over 100 civilians. He blamed everything on me and I was banned from ever welding again. That trend continued as we got older. Not only did my brother try to live vicariously through me but he blamed me for all his wrongs. My parents grew to hate me but continued to take up time because I was their only other successor. Kenneth hated this and had some personal vendetta against me. Honestly, I'm not sure why I've let the anger and evil overcome me but what's done is done and I can only regret something for so long before I have to move on.I killed his parents like he said. I'm nothing but a second option, always have been. But no more. I've come back to make things right.
I allowed the rage I felt again when I killed my parents. All of those boiling feelings came into a collapse and created a feeling similar to a black hole.
Before I knew it, I could see clearly again. I saw the entire room, which resembled a haunted graveyard more than anything.Kenneth was perched on the throne with his parents' heads beside him. He was fat. His eyes were dark and looked like he hadn't groomed in years. His stench was astounding and I saw the filth built up on him. He really went downhill. I walked to Kenneth at lighting speed and slit his throat with one of my hidden talons. His face turned blank and his eyes rolled back. Without a second thought, I made multiple incisions in his neck and chest to expose his ribs. I felt the fibers rip and tear as the blood from his body began to spew. I punched and kicked and even screamed as I broke each bone and shook with anger.
"Get his heart." My mind went.
I kept at it until his weak beating heart was exposed. I ripped out with my bare hands before taking a bite. The flesh tasted of acid and I instantly spat it out. I started to calm down before I saw the crown on his head. I decided to scalp him. The crown was embedded in his skin anyway/ I released the skin from his skull and quickly placed it on my head. It felt right on me because it only belongs to ME. The anger rush subsided by the truth began to set in. I killed my brother and I didn't think twice about it. My hands grew shaky but I still sat down at the throne. I closed my eyes because I simply didn't want to see the sight before me right now.
I began to wonder if I should have heard him out. Should I let him make his offer to me? More questions began to run rampant but again, it's too late now. I'm king now.
I can only hope I made the right decision.
