Havoc of Betrayal

CHAPTER 36 - Scars

Chapter 36

Mathias woke up, eyes on the ceiling of his room unsure when he fell asleep. He let a small breath escape him before he turned his head to the side, seeing Axel sleeping the same way he'd put him on his stomach. He pushed up, glancing at the door when it opened and Detrick walked in.

"Oh, you're up." Detrick said, "It's almost time for you to get up. Thanks for saving me the trouble."

Mathiad yawned as he sat against the backboard saying, "Why are you still serving me? You are relieved of your duties if that is what you were waiting for."

"Nonsense. You can't get rid of me that easily." Detrick said as he got the king's clothes out. "Bath is ready. Do you want breakfast here, or the dining hall?"

"Axel won't sit still if he wakes up with us both gone. Better here. Besides..."

"You still don't want to be around others." Detrick filled in when he trailed off, nodding, "got it. I'll get them to bring your food here after your bath."

Mathias nodded, getting up and heading to the door with Detrick behind him. He got in the bath, Detrick right there washing his hair like he usually did.

"Rick. What happened?"

"With what?" Detrick asked.

"Andries."

"Oh. That." He paused for a moment then said, "It is better this way. He is king, and I, a mere servant. Besides, I want to stay here with you. He needs to go back. Him and I are not meant for each other."

"Then Axel and I aren't either by that logic." Mathias said.

"No. It's different."

"How so?"

"It just is." Detrick said. Mathias didn't ask more, realizing Detrick didn't want to speak about it. He thought he'd be able to get his brother to talk to him instead. "How are you doing?" Detrick asked, "You haven't said a word after the sentencing yesterday. Haven't even gone to see Eloise."

Mathias was quiet for a long moment before he sighed, sliding down in the tub, neck against the edge as he looked up at the ceiling. "I don't know what to say to her. I just ended her entire family to avenge mine, and it didn't make me feel differently. What do you say after something like that?"

"Maybe check on her? Ask how she is doing? If she needs anything?" Detrick suggested.

"What about how I am doing? If I need anything?" Mathias asked.

"Do you?"

Mathias gulped, sitting up, "No."

"You are as stubborn as Drai." Detrick shook his head, "Let's finish up before Axel wakes up."

"Rick..." Mathias said, Detrick humming in response, "Was I wrong to take that step off the edge?"

"I'm the wrong person to ask." Detrick answered.

"How come?" Mathias wondered, turning to watch him grab a towel before dipping it in the water to wash Mathias's arm.

"I would be a hypocrite if I said anything about it." Detrick answered, "All those years, feeling alone when I had all of you as I carried that secret, unable to even speak to Adnries. It was perhaps the worst time in my life, and every time I got to the point of giving up, I'd go up to the abandoned tower overlooking the mountains, and I would stand on a ledge much like you did."

Mathias was silent as he listened, then asked quietly, "Why didn't you?"

"You." He said, making Mathias frown, "You had Axel, but after everything that happened, you weren't the same. I ached to tell you the truth so badly, but I believed it would risk your life. I had vowed to keep you safe, and being gone... as easy as it seemed, as much as I wanted to make the pain stop, to merely be free I... couldn't leave you. Not how you were, not without having a friend, not when you trusted no one else. It felt selfish." Mathias was quiet for the longest time before Detrick asked, "What about you? How were you able to jump?"