Caged

13

(Early update yayyy!

uhh... angst?? idk.. that's all this book is anyway-

TW: suicide mentioning)

Sullivan was snappy.

Eh.. that's an understatement.

Sullivan was brutal to anyone and everyone, more so to Zwei than all else.

Zwei almost forgot what outside looked like as it'd been no more than a month since Amelia and Archimondt's passing, a beautiful funeral held for the two in wonderful memory of them. Zwei thought he was finally free from Sullivan's abuse before the prince and princess died, but the damn assassin had to ruin everything! His blame did not lie with the royals, nor did it lie with anyone else. All he wanted was for Sullivan to stop hurting him. Slowly, it was breaking his fragile glass-like mind, and eventually...

He'll break.

Zwei felt like there was no escape from this hell he called home. He wanted someone to tell him what to do to make it all feel better. He was all on his own, and he'd lost all his friends after he was instructed to never speak to the butlers or maids any longer. He told himself it wasn't Sullivan, it was him! Forgiving anyone and anything for their wrongdoings towards him, his heart was simply too big for his body. He wanted peace. To be free.

The boy internally laughed at himself.

'I'll never get out of here..'

Zwei's body jolted with each wave of air that scratched his throat, covering his mouth as he coughed. He looked down into his hand and grimaced at the thick red splotches of blood. Brushing it off as just the aftermath of a few punches to the stomach, he hurried to his bathroom and washed his hands before dinner.

"Zwei, eat the bread," Sullivan ordered. "B-But Sullivan, I do not want the bread.." He mumbled just above a whisper. "Have I asked for your wishes, Zwei? Eat the damn bread," Sullivan glared. Zwei disobeyed, lowering his head. "Eat it, or I'll make you," The man warned, clutching his hand. The smaller male finally obliged, grabbing a small loaf and bringing it to his mouth, taking small bites, further irritating his husband. "Zwei, do not make me hurt you," He grit. "I-I'm eating it..!"

..Zwei had back-talked.

In an instant, Sullivan abruptly arose from his seat, grabbing the boy by his collar and snatching the bread from him, forcing it into Zwei's mouth. He coughed uncontrollably as the dry food was shoved down his throat, shaking intensely. Tears brimmed his eyes as he felt his jaw begin hurting, Sullivan pushed it further into his mouth until the disgusting sound of his mandible snapping echoed throughout the dinette.

Zwei shrieked in pain, tears flowing down his face. Sullivan clicked his tongue, slowly getting off of the boy. "You," Sullivan's icy glare shifted to a nearby knight posted on the inner frame of the dining room that shook in their boots. "Get him that one maid... Betty, was it? Have her fix him." He instructed, walking off. The knight hesitated to leave his post, caving and rushing to Zwei's side. The boy had spit out the bread and vomited, sniffing as the knight rubbed his back soothingly, "S-Sir Zwei! My name is Hans, I will get you medical help!" Hans introduced, picking the smaller male up bridal style and hurrying to the sewing room where he'd find the plump woman.

"Ms. Betty!" The knight called out, barging in through the doors. Betty stood up, confused as she squinted her eyes, "Hans..? And... Sir Zwei?" "H-His jaw may be broken.. o-or fractured!" Hans explained. "Oh my.." Cho-Eun murmured. "Every time he comes back the harm just keeps getting worse..." Nancy lowered her head solemnly. "I hope it is only a small fracture and that he will be able to heal on his own without talking for a while..." Betty wished, signaling" Hans to follow her.

"My apologies, Sir Zwei, but you will not be able to speak for about six to eight weeks to ensure you heal effectively.. in the meantime, you may communicate with paper and a pen," The seamstress explained, smiling warmly. Zwei nodded, gesturing for said objects. Betty looked around, grabbing an envelope and an ink pen on the nearby nightstand. Zwei took the pen and paper, scribbled on it, and handed it to the maid. "Betty, do you think he will ever love me the way I love him? He's done nothing but torture me, when do you think he will get sick of me and just kill me off? He could find someone so much more pretty than me... I am absolutely hideous." The woman read aloud.

Betty frowned, "You are no such thing, Sir Zwei. Out of all the noble women that have attempted to have Master Sullivan's hand in marriage, he chose you. And not only were you a male, but you aren't even from a noble family!" Betty comforted. Zwei took the pen and paper, once again writing one more thing.

The words on the envelope almost had Betty in tears.

"He makes me want to kill myself to end the pain..." she repeated.