Rewriting His Past

Breakfast

"She gave you the capital lands of the Thyst family and made you a Viscount," Pyrite said.

"With only three generations under their belt, they were new to their position." While in deep thought, Micah muttered, placing his hand on his upper lip. "I recall going to see them during the royal tour."

"Royal tour?" Taking a tiny strawberry that Word had offered him, Dusk inquired.

"It is when the royals alternately pay a visit to the nobility; it takes place every summer. Keeps the nobility in check." Pyrite explained while using his fingers to block Word's beak, trying to claim a cake for himself. The tour is only open to people with the title Viscount or higher.

"We will have to check it out tomorrow; the house was big." Micah's eyes narrowed. "It appears that they also operated a store in the town. What condition they will leave it in is difficult to predict. If you are ready for it. We will stop by tomorrow at both." Micah spoke while putting his hand down to turn the paper over on his lap. The process appears to be very simple.

"A neat way to connect me to the government and to royalty." Dusk said, and he noticed how that sounded. "Not you, Micah; I do not think of you; I understand that you are, but..." Dusk rubbed his forehead while sighing. He was no longer tense, and he was now babbling incoherently like a simpleton.

"Dusk," Micah muttered, cupping his face and gently kissing his forehead with his lips. "Let us get you into your cabin because it has been a long day, and we will talk about it tomorrow." Micah laughed as Dusk's cheeks began to flush and said, "I have to agree with Pyrite. You are too adorable." Once more, his face drew near, and his gentle lips caressed Dusk's hot face.

"No fair Micah!" Pyrite entered from the side, and he kissed Dusk with a slightly rougher graze of his lips. "But I agree; let us get Dusk back to the cabin."

"Kree!" Word approached him and sat down on his lap. Lifting his head up, Dusk wasn't sure what he wanted.

"Oh, do you also want a kiss?" Micah laughed and bent over to kiss Word's little feathered head. Word bristled his feathers up from his bottom to his head, his words little, tiny slits of happiness.

"Bit of a spoil brat, ya are, nointer." Pyrite shook his head, but a smile appeared on his face. With how sweet his mates were, the two of them could melt his heart. Not just to him but also to his new friend and partner, Word.

"Silly little featherball." Dusk rubbed the feathers on Word's chest. He asked, "What about my school robe?" while turning to face Micah and Pyrite. He recalled that losing a robe carried severe penalties.

"Leave that to us." Pyrite got to his feet and extended his hand to him rather than Micah.
Answering his silent confusion, Pyrite said, "The most attractive wolf people ya will ever meet are here to accompany ya; it is your turn."

"Is that the case?" Dusk smiled. Even more absurd than Word might be Pyrite. Dusk took the extended arm and got to his feet. Word yawned stiffly and rose, the last of the tea cakes falling into his beak.

"I know a shortcut; let us return to the teleportation room and transport us to your cabin." Micah grabbed a napkin and cleaned up. Word's beak was covered in berry smears.

"It has been a long day," Dusk said, keeping Pyrite's hand on his arm. Pyrite appeared to be intent on escorting him.

"We saw a copy of that crystal. The Thyst family had better hope they do not relocate to the Howlite area." Dusk followed in Micah's footsteps as Pyrite growled.

"Another day, another desire to be able to share your cabin with you." They were led down a side corridor by Micah. He summed it up as a much easier, plainer path for the servants to follow. "I do not want to provide my mother with a reason at this time."

"I understand; don't worry about me," titling his head to Word, who rubbed his face. "I have Word with me."

"True, Sunshine, but we worry anyhow." Pyrite said, "I am not ashamed to admit that I feel as though I failed you after this afternoon." Pyrite's face turned into stone. Unreadable and unlike anything Dusk had ever seen on Pyrite's face before. And it was because of him that he wore it. Dusk experienced a sharp pang of guilt. It wasn't his fault; if it was anyone's, it was his.

"Pyrite," Dusk said, tightening his hold on Pyrite's arm. "You all did not let me down in any way." Dusk said, directing his words to not only Pyrite but Micah and even Word. "And I know you don't want me to thank you." Dusk looked at the plain bricks beneath their feet. "You came back for me; you raced to my side. That's a first for me, and you have my heart-filled thanks." He needed to make sure that never happened again, though; it looked like it hit the pair hard. His own pain is one thing, but theirs, he could not bear the weight of it.

Pyrite turned his head away and grumbled, "Damn Sunshine. You know how to hit a man square in the heart." Dusk breathed a sigh of relief internally as he returned to being his lively self.

"Dusk, we will always be by your side." Turning toward the entrance to the teleportation room, Micah said. "That is what love is," he said. In addition to rubbing his face, Word let out a trilling holler. Word concurred with Micah; Dusk could sense it. "We should get you into bed, please." Micah waved him forward into the room, and under the cold eyes of the guards, they left the castle.

Thanks to the token's flawless operation, Dusk felt relieved. His mates led him into his own cabin faster than the token could break. Upon entering, he yearned to relax in his bathtub. Even Micah spoke up when Pyrite blocked his way to his bedroom because he was afraid he would nod off in the bathtub. Dusk ultimately pledged that he would not take a bath until the morning because they had to leave for curfew soon. With agreements to meet the following morning. They parted ways by giving Dusk several gentle kisses on the face.

After they left, Word flew and closed the bedroom door and shut off the lights. Dusk and Word fell asleep faster than the time it took to lay on the bed. Dusk was thankful for both of them. Due to the healing he received, Dusk slept soundly with no dreams at all. He slept in for an hour longer than usual. Dusk spun around so quickly that his neck ached, and he winced in pain in his back and arm. He had woken up alone; Word was not present.

Pyrite popped his head into his bedroom and greeted it with "Morning Sunshine. Word, let us in," he said, instinctively assuaging his concerns. Dusk blinked at him, feeling a little sluggish and a lot sore. His mind immediately entered a hazy fog as soon as he received confirmation that Word was fine. "I drew ya a bath." A dream, perhaps? Dusk rubbed his eyes, blinked, and then did it again. He usually had a clear mind in the morning. "Go ahead, sleepy head; let us go." When Pyrite entered, he led him to the bathroom, where a bubbling tub was waiting for him.

"By the time you are done in there, I will have breakfast ready." Micah called out from the kitchen.

"Do ya need a hand?" Pyrite tucked his long hair behind his shoulder and grinned toothily at him.

"I do not feel that worn out." With sleep-drunk eyes, Dusk said as he turned to face Pyrite.

"The next time!" Pyrite chuckled before slipping out of the restroom. "Leave the door open in case your back or shoulder decides to act up. If ya need a helping hand, holler." Dusk stripped off and jumped into the bath, filling it to his shoulders. The heat soaking into his shoulders felt great. He enjoyed the way the heat felt on his shoulders. Was this the current state of things? After grinning, Dusk started to lather. If it was, he had no better things to wish for.

He did not scurry through his soak, but he also did not linger. When Dusk emerged from the bath, she was less sore and felt more awake. He dried himself off, put the clothes on, and noticed the stack of clothing on the sink counter. He wore it with the white trousers, despite not having any memory of purchasing anything in this dark blue color. A brand-new white school robe was on the bottom, and it felt good to put it over his shoulders. Today marked a new beginning for school. At least, that is how Dusk would handle it.

"Dusk, hurry up before these gluttons eat all the meat!" Micah chuckled and waved a big spoon at him to come over.

"I will be there!" When Word and Pyrite started fighting, Dusk entered the fray and said. Unexpectedly, the two resumed their argument after they stacked a plate for him. Fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, fried ham, and toast were all over his plate. He noticed the spice-scented bun with the dark swirl in the center. First grabbing that one. Dusk decided it was his new favorite after biting it. Although the sweetness of the stickiness provided him with a much-needed pick-me-up, the spice seemed to warm him up. He shifted the spiced buns to his side of the counter and let Pyrite and Word finish their portions of the meat.

"This morning, I reviewed that paperwork." Micah reported that he was consuming his own, less crowded plate of food while leaning against the kitchen sink. "You should not feel bad about it because the Thyst familiar is relocating to the Lady's family's lands."

"I don't," While he was somewhat relieved that they would be leaving the area, he was more worried about the question he had forgotten to ask. "I am embarrassed to admit that I neglected to inquire about the disclosure of my personal information." Dusk slipped into a formal way of talking as his mind drifted back to his conversation with the queen. Even though it was one of the most urgent things on his mind, everything had happened too quickly for him to formulate any questions.

"We've got that covered, Sunshine!" Pyrite said, turning his attention to Word, "Ha!" Pyrite laughed at Word, who was visibly upset as he snatched a rather large strawberry out of his grasp.

"Watching the way they eat is like watching the wolf pups." Micah shook his head and ignored the two, turning to face Dusk. "Our end had a leak in the administration. They have been dismissed and are no longer permitted to work for any royal companies."

"How far did the leak spread?" Dusk inquired about the leak's circumstances while sipping the sweet and vibrant orange juice. Saying they would never work for a royal company, however, was akin to being given the death penalty in the capital. Dusk was adept at moving on, and he was content with that. Their fate was similar to the Thyst family's. In general, he received less than that. Damage control was his main priority.

"The disavowing has been made public." Micah spoke while twitching his mouth. "I began spreading the word that you had to do that because you were in a martial arts world and had mage blood. Not due to who you were... due to the..." Micah faltered in his speech and had to settle for chewing on some fruit slices. His head tipped away from him, and his eyes darted to one side. Micah wanted to know, but he refrained from asking. Dusk could tell.

"Of the abuse." They never inquired, but he should tell them, Dusk said in a halting tone. No, he needs to let them know. He had faith in them to tell the truth.

"Was it that awful?" Micah asked, and the pair beside him settled in, listening and waiting for what he was about to say. The two sat next to Dusk, listening and anticipating what he would say.

"Things were better in recent years." Dusk got off to a good start. Searching for indications of rejection on their faces. "I was largely ignored and only required to look out for the Black siblings." He made the decision right there and then to refer to them as "Blacks" if they valued that identity so highly. "Lord Black would step in when he was at home, but he was typically absent attending to his duties." Word rustled across the table to sit on Dusk's lap as he exhaled a trembling breath. When he bent down to stroke his head, his hands began to tremble.

"Sunshine, ya can choose not to if it is too difficult." Pyrite put a hand on his shoulder and said, "We will not push you." He couldn't say it, but that was why he had to tell them. Why he wanted to tell them. Nobody had ever shown him such concern before.

"No, no, you should know." Dusk had to discuss it right away because he did not know when he would have the courage to bring it up again. "Do you recall that nightmare you rescued me from?" Pyrite nodded, and Micah drew nearer to them, putting his hand to his mouth and pushing his plate against the counter.

"How am I able to forget?" Pyrite did not growl, but his lips did curl over his fangs.

"For me, that was not a dream." Dusk looked at the window behind Micah and passed him. "That was the worst physical harm she ever caused me or that she had the eldest do." Dusk's thoughts immediately went back to the recent beating he had received. The darkness had a long whip reaching out to him. They emerged to drag him into the shadows, just like the rest of his memories had.

Dusk recalled, trembling at every turn, "She was always lurking." His heart raced as if it were taking place right then. The Black house was very dark, and to him, she represented the darkness itself. "She burned my picture books because they had nothing to do with martial arts and were therefore a weakness." She was constantly ready to render judgment and administer punishment.
"Attempts to care for plants?" Dusk shook his head, hearing them die beneath her heels spikes. He dared to express interest in donning something other than black, but he did so only once. After his muscles were torn with pain, he realized his mistake. He was unable to leave his bed, much less his room, for a week.

"She even poisoned me once; how often will it happen after that? That it was eliminated by my body and magic without my knowledge. Was a miracle." He recalled the nights when he had woken up drenched in a deep, dark sweat. "The maid who dared to feel sympathy for me and attempt to assist was killed as a result." That she had murdered the maid who had the audacity to feel sorry for him and try to assist. Pecked away at him. "Months later, the sound of her screams still rings in my ears." Her passing had not been justified. His heart could not bear to see someone else suffer or even pass away in his place.

"The screaming was the simplest." Until her voice broke, she would scream. However, it was better than when she hit him, blaming him for making her weak after giving birth. After just one blow, her strikes had already split his skin and spun his head. "When she called for doctors or had the servants do it, the servants feared for their safety." Despite his inability to see, he continued to speak. It was the first time he had discussed it; prior to that, he had only done so in a clinical, cold manner. His heart had never been so shaken before as it is now.

"It was constantly cold. The darkness never ended." While his tears were falling, dusk briefly cleared his vision. What made him cry? He did not ever cry. He did not allow his tears to stop him from speaking because if he had, he might have never been able to start again. "When I learned about disavowing in the library, I knew it was my only option for getting out. My only way to be free" He was happy to see that there were more than just martial arts books in the library. He would have never been permitted to leave if she had known that.

"Come here." He was dragged in and pressed against Pyrite's chest. Word, who was now vibrating on his chest, was drawn in by Dusk. Under his hands, his gentle feathers were soothing. The soft vibration helped steady his heart, along with Pyrite's steady body heat. Aided in keeping his speech flowing despite the waves of trembling that were sweeping across his body.

Dusk thought about the scars on his back, shoulders, and upper arms and said, "Even free, she haunts me." Scars that were thick, ropey, and ugly. He did not think about them anymore, but they served as a reminder—a hideous reminder. "My back has scars that are so unsightly they would make a young nurse turn green." In front of his blind eyes, the hospital scene stumbled. Even though everything was chaotic, how could he forget the color that faded from her skin and the way she hastily left the room? She made an effort to be covert, but he caught on, and that image came back to him so effortlessly. How would you feel if Micah and Pyrite turned out to be the same?

"I did not require her affection. I did not even require her approval." Dusk said, his voice cracking. All he wanted was for her to forget about him. With his voice quivering, Dusk said, "I could not do martial arts, but that is not my fault!" Dusk shouted, his voice becoming brittle, but he persisted. He had made an effort. "Swords never acted as I wanted them to." All he attempted was to make the sword look bad. "Striking things only resulted in failure and injury for me." He gave it everything. "When I found my magic when I was twelve, it only made things worse!"

Micah's trembling voice called out to him, "Dusk," and he felt more arms encircle him. His shoulder got damp from Micah's tears.

"Why was she not able to leave me alone?" Dusk curled up into a ball on Pyrite's lap and began to sob uncontrollably. "What made her unable to leave me alone?" Dusk questioned her once more, but whether they were mates or familiar, neither had an explanation for what she had done. Tears snatched the last of his brittle voice. He was not the only one crying. On his head and shoulder, respectively, he felt Micah's slow river and the hot, enraged tears of Pyrite. Even Word expressed concern on his behalf. Was it wrong that their sorrow over his suffering made it feel a little less intense? After some silence in his arms, Dusk calmed down and stopped sobbing. Dusk felt better.

"My-" Dusk started to apologize, but Micah cut him off by placing a hand on his lips.

"Do not you dare apologize to us for the behavior of your previous family!" Micah had red eyes and streaks of dried tears on his face. "You must not dare. I am going to wash my face, but if I sense or hear a whisper of regret, you can be sure I will be back to show you my love." Dusk glanced at Micah, who was still hiding his mouth. "You will also be late for school, which you will not like, will you?" Dusk shook his head. "Now do you agree? Do not apologize." Micah lifted his hand and dashed to the nearby restroom as Dusk nodded his head.

"Our mate has a way. Doesn't he, Sunshine?" Pyrite smiled and pulled him into a more upright position on Pyrite's lap. Pyrite reached for Dusk's unfinished bun and raised it in front of Dusk's face while holding one arm around his waist. "No more clouds in my ray of Sunshine; let me pamper you a little, 'k?" Dusk noticed that his face was growing hot. After a brief moment of hesitation, he took the offered bun in his mouth. When Word was given a piece, he was sent flying into the air, where he caught it mid-twirl before landing on the counter covered in food.

"Nice catch," Pyrite praised the preening Word. When food was just a swallow away from being finished, Dusk laughed. It was a hoarse, far from polite, laugh. He started to choke halfway through, and Pyrite patted him on the back. Micah came running out, handing him his cup of juice. Word did not seem to care and stuffed the berries that appeared to be his favorites into his beak. Even amidst the turmoil of feelings, Dusk made a mental note of it.

"I am grateful you two are not discouraged." After drinking all of his juice, Dusk placed the cup on the table. Which, in his opinion, he ought to do given what he had set out for. Considering what he had caused, he felt that he ought to say, "Without you three entering it, I would have missed the greatest gift of my life." Dusk included Word. "I really like you guys, and I am glad these destinies of yours brought us together." He will have to put in a lot of effort to prove that the stress he caused was worthwhile.

"Here you are making me cry once more, and we need to leave." Micah spoke while raising his hands to his eyes and forcing a quick and vigorous blink.

"Sunshine, I am glad you are our third as well." Pyrite sank his head into the crease between his shoulder and neck. Little kisses were given until Dusk shivered.

"Pyrite," Micah said in a toned voice, like a warning. Pyrite made a TCH sound with his tongue, and Dusk could feel it in the hollow of his neck.

"Fine, fine." Dusk slipped away and put his hand to his neck as Pyrite let go of his waist. Heat overwhelmed his face until he didn't know what to feel.

"Before we go, I will wash my face." Taking a cue from Micah, Dusk made her way to the restroom. Where the chilly water made no difference in slowing his agitated, heated thoughts. His pale face was flushed red from the forehead to the neck that Pyrite was kissing as he looked up into the mirror. School, think of school.

"Dusk, we have to go!" Micah called out.

"Hurry before this nointer starts in on the left-over buns!" Pyrite chuckled under his breath, and Word screeched in disagreement in tandem with Pyrite's voice. Dusk dried his face on the damp tower, Micah left behind and walked out to join his mates. Although his back and shoulder were still sore from yesterday, his heart felt lighter. Was this a turn-around for him?

"First-class Leadership." Dusk hoped that none of his classmates were overly curious about the rumors. He inhaled deeply and let it go. Dusk would do his best, despite being anxious about the responses the other students would give him. Knowing he had some amazing people by his side.