Shadows of the Past

Prologue - Living With the Villain Pacing in my Mind

AN: This story was originally by @Nalla_Kaltaris, it is an amazing idea and I'm happy to be able to continue it.

Osivian had ordered everyone to return to their rooms and sleep. He was now at Ria's room to check that the disobedient child was tucked into bed. She had been shifting around the bed restlessly, her eyes boring into the ceiling as if it held all the answers she needed, though Osivian couldn't blame her. Unlike the rest of his children, she didn't know what he had told her older siblings about Senn.

Speaking of Senn, he was supposed to check on him next. Osivian wasn't quite sure what to be expecting to be honest. Even if he had agreed to give him a home, he was always distant with the child, unsure whether or not it was worth it to shower him with the same amount of love and care he gave his children. Osivian had kept him in a room at the far corner of Sendaria, made it clear he was not allowed to leave, and put his meals at the door three times everyday.

To say he was shocked when Ria had dragged him to the dining room to eat dinner with them earlier was an understatement. Osivian hadn't even realised she had been sneaking into his room to spend time with him until today. While she did make a point that he was also a part of the family, adopted or not, she wasn't aware of the danger Senn could be. She didn't understand why Osivian was so guarded, why he was unwilling to take chances. And he wasn't planning to tell her anytime soon. Not until she was old enough to not act recklessly on that information.

He reached Senn's room, breathing a sigh of relief at the sight of white markings. The clanless child was sitting on his bed, hugging his legs where he buried his head, mumbling words Osivian could not make out. Osivian cleared his throat, which got Senn's attention, as he immediately looked up at him.

Senn looked... well, awful. His face was wet with tears, his hair was a mess, his eyes were puffy from crying, and his voice cracked as he softly muttered a greeting, "Ky' Osivian..." Senn put his legs down, using his hands to rub the tears away, "Sorry... I'll go to sleep now..."

Osivian stood in place, unsure whether or not to enter the room. Part of him wanted to comfort the boy, tell him that it wasn't his fault, that it was Osivian's for treating him this badly, but a voice at the back of his mind reminded him that the child was a Voltaris, that he deserved to pay for the crimes his clan had committed. Deep down he knew that whatever happened in the Great War had nothing to do with Senn, that he was stupid to think venting his hatred towards the innocent child would achieve anything. Yet no matter what, the resentment wouldn't go away.

He swallowed as soon as he realised he had been standing there doing nothing but stare at Senn, his body tense and not a word uttered. Senn had his blanket over him, his eyes looking nervously at him.

Senn couldn't know the war raging in his mind. He had promised Thalleous, swore that the younger would never learn of his heritage until Thalleous told him when he thought the time was right. Osivian didn't have all the pieces to the story anyway. He wasn't the one who met up with another Sendaris in the north and came back with a child.

Before Osivian knew it, he found himself entering the room. He sat on Senn's bed, noticing the younger flinch. Not wishing to scare him, Osivian reached out a hand, brushing some of Senn's hair off his face, "It is alright. I do not blame you for what happened tonight. I do not think you would have been able to discourage Ria anyway..." A fond chuckle made it past his lips. His youngest daughter could really be a handful.

There was silence between them for a moment, before Senn broke it, "Do you hate me...?"

Osivian was taken aback by the sudden question. Not because he had asked... But because he didn't know how to answer. He didn't hate Senn, not at all... but he feared him, feared his Voltaris roots, feared what he would become. That fear was what always held him back from loving Senn like a true son. And it pained him to have to hide it from the child. It tugged at his heartstrings to be so strict to Senn, who didn't even know why he acted so guarded around him, or why his older siblings would often shoot him dirty looks, or why everyone but Ria avoided him. Everyday he saw Senn, he wished he could just tell him, thinking that Senn deserved to know, no matter what Thalleous thought.