Siren

Siren - Chapter 19

"Tell me you are still being responsible." Octavious said, fuming.

"You are not my father." Mallach replied bitterly.

"The hell I'm not!" he roared. "For years I've looked after you like you were my own flesh and blood. What that man on the throne has done for you is left you a legacy, nothing more!"

"Then I am old enough to make decisions on my own. And my first one will be to retire you once I receive the crown!" He cried, pushing past Octavious and heading back towards the festivities. Octavious grabbed him then, and shoved him against the wall.

"Now you listen to me, and listen well," Octavious said calmly, "I may be old. But that does not mean I have not seen ten times as much as you. You think you know heartache? You think you know pain?" Octavious had never really opened up about his past to Mallach. "You know nothing." He let go of Mallach and turned from him, leaning his forehead against the cool stone of the wall. It took Mallach a moment before he realized just how much he had hurt him.

"I am sorry, old friend. You have no idea what this curse is doing to me. You know this isn't me." Octavious closed his eyes.

"I know. And that was not me, either." Mallach shook his head.

"You are only doing what is best for me. But I love her." Octavious stood, and put his hands on Mallach's shoulders.

"Can you honestly and truly tell me it is more than the curse?" Mallach sighed.

"Octavious, I never was going to kill her. The moment I saw her, standing there, alone, it pierced my heart. She lost everything. I had seen that look staring back at me, haunting me, for years after mother died. I couldn't do it. And it was when she looked into my eyes that I knew I loved her."

He squeezed Mallach's shoulders.

"I am sure her beauty did not hurt, either." Mallach laughed.

"No, no it did not." They headed back to the banquet hall. Mallach's eyes flashed with jealousy as he took in the sight of Jupiter and Clara dancing together.

"Easy old friend," Octavious said, "it's nothing." Mallach squared his jaw, but nodded. He walked to his seat and sat down. Octavious did the same.

"We must make plans to find a ship in the harbor to take us to the Edge," Octavious began, "and as Raven has said, if someone would be stupid enough to take us. I suggest we ask to borrow some funds from Jupiter, if he will accept." Mallach was trying to pay attention, but the curse was getting the better of him, watching Clara and Jupiter out of the corner of his eye. They were talking as they danced. He wished he could be a fly on the wall.

"Why did you get so emotional?" Jupiter asked. Clara sighed.

"As I am sure Mallach has told you, we are on a mission to break the curse. Once it is broken, Mallach will no longer love me as he does now, and I will be left with nothing. The king has made me ambassador to Valeur."