Ephemeral

Numb

I didn't know how I ended up sitting at the large dinner table with Don at the head of the table on my left, Aidan across the table, and Xavier sitting on my right. I wasn't able to feel my arms or...I couldn't even feel my legs -- I knew that the numbness that I felt from the night before still carried over to the morning after.

I blinked my eyes, staring down at the breakfast that was plated in front of me.

"We're missing two this morning," Don spoke observantly, crossing his arms as he placed one leg over the other. He leaned back in his seat and looked over at Xavier, as though he would have all the answers. "Tell me -- did my guests leave without informing me?"

"What you wished to happen, father, happened," Xavier spoke, looking over at the head of the table. "Faye Willems is deceased."

Don raised an eyebrow at the news – I noted that it wasn't in surprise. He was simply mulling over the information that he was given, not feeling any emotion towards it.

"Ah," he tilted his head and looked at me. "What of your sister?" Don asked me as I flinched at the news.

I opened my mouth to answer but found that no words escaped my lips – I didn't know what exactly had happened to my sister or if...she was still alive at this point. I had been too afraid to ask Xavier about how she was --

"In the medical wing," Xavier answered quietly.

"I see," Don placed his feet on the ground, sitting up straight in his chair. He cleared his throat and pursed his lips in thought for a few seconds. "Is it related to the prior incident?"

Xavier let out a stern frown before responding -- "Unfortunately."

"I suppose it could be seen that way from an outside perspective..." Don muttered, picking up a glass filled with a clear liquid. "She outwore her welcome decades ago. I only needed her for an heir until Vera was given to me..." He let out a dry chuckle and took a sip.

"Don't speak her name..." Aidan mumbled form across the table. Don quickly glanced at his son before placed the drink back on the table. "You don't have the right to speak her name," he narrowed his eyes at his father. "You were the one that mistreated her."

Don smirked.

"Perhaps – though, that was not my intention," he placed an arm around the back of his chair and turned in his seat. He began to wave his hand in the air mindlessly as he continued to talk: "I would not easily forget what drove her to the edge..." He peered up at Aidan with a cold smile. "You."

Aidan stood up from his seat.

"I would not forget who made Zander and I act coldly to her in the first place..." Aidan accused, glaring daggers down over at his father. "You only wish to shift the blame," Aidan added before lowering his voice. "This is why love is a concept that I will never accept."

"We've all learned lessons – I, to never approve of forced marriages," Don boasted as he placed his still raised hand on the back of his seat. "And you, to never love anyone in your life..." Don remarked. "They are hard lessons to learn, no doubt," he shifted his attention towards Xavier and me. "And what of you?" Don added as he smiled mischievously. "What have the two of you learned that you would like to share?"

"I could never have a true family..." Xavier spoke quietly.

Don's smile dropped from his face and he stood up from his chair as well.

"You disappoint me, Xavier..." He hissed out, not pleased with how Xavier responded.

I looked over at my half-brother to see that he was staring down at his food and clenching his hands tightly in his lap. It wasn't normal for him to be this reserved and not bouncy and unreadable –