Mistletoe (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 15

Blood pools from Phillip's mouth. His arms numb from the suspension and his mind ravaged from the pain.

"Still nothing? Gods you have to be the most stubborn fool in the realm!" Katia yells, throwing a glass across the room. It shatters, shards falling to the ground like the first snowfall.

Phillip chuckles earning her ire.

"What's so funny?" She asks, bringing her knife to his throat.

He struggles to lift his head, meeting the beautiful sea of green he's longed for.

"You would always tells me that when we argued." He says weakly. "You would always say—"

"The Gods bestowed you with the strength of a Byba but the brains of a Pippy." Katia drops the blade, hand flying to her mouth. She stares forward, in shock of the words she'd allowed to slip.

She turns away from him, humming her tune. She takes a deep breath, clenching her eyes as tight as her body would allow.

"Kat," He whispers, coughing and spitting up blood, "you know this isn't you."

"What do you know, Phillip?" She shouts facing him, tears rolling down her fsir cheeks. "What do you know of dying?"

"I've been dead everyday since I lost you."

"Then why did you let me die?" The questions hits like a whip forcing silence between the two.

It angers the Huntress more.

"Now you've nothing to say?" She seethes. "You left me on that mission and I lost my life! Because of you!"

"I don't know what delusion fuels this but that is not the truth, Kat." He says, forcing his head to reaming steady. "Look at me." She turns her head.

"You lie." She says, voice wavering. Hee tune becoming louder.

"Kat, My Love, please."

Against the thralls of the magic that compels her, she forces her eyes to meet his. That everlasting pit growing as something else is shoved aside to make way for this part of her.

"Not in this life or any other would I have ever left you behind. When Paris killed you, I never thought I'd get this chance." He lets out a ragged breath, but maintains eye contact. "I'm sorry, Kat."

"For what? If you didn't kill me then—"

"I'm sorry for letting her take you away. For letting her rob you from our son. You deserved better."

Katia takes a step toward the suspended Headmaster, her fingertips reaching out to touch him. Mere inches away she hesitates.

Was this fear? Fear of what it could mean? Fear to uncover the truth of his words to unravel the truth she believes she's fighting for.

"By the Gods." She whispers, allowing herself to feel her husband's skin delicately.  She checks to assure his pulse, feeling a relief when the soft strum taps against her fingers.

Phillip was no liar. Not even the corruption of her souls could make her believe that. But two truth can exist simultaneously and if the one narrated by Tanuos isn't the only one that means some part of the story is missing.

Katia steps out of the room looking around for Felix and any of his prying Cantu. She swears the boy has employed them to spy on her at any given moment.

She makes her way to the Council Hall, finding her Brother-in-Law at the table with a map in front of him.

"Still plotting your war?" She asks, straightening herself out to look somewhat presentable.