Secrets Within the Estate

20

Liam woke up and got off the sofa when he heard Caspian scream.
"Wh-what's wrong?! Wh-what-"

Caspian got off the bed and grabbed Liam's collar as he yelled in a panicked voice, "You! It's your fault!"
"Wh-What? Wh-what's my fault?"
"You're the one who made me sleep! It's your fault!"
"I d-don't understa-"

Soren opened the door and rushed in just as Caspian slapped Liam.
"Hey! What's going on in here?!"
"It's your fault!" Caspian ignored Soren and slapped Liam again.

Soren quickly got in between them and pulled Caspian away from Liam. "You need to stop this. Violence won't help."
"I don't care!" Caspian yelled as he struggled in Soren's grip.
Soren looked at Liam and said, "Leave the room for a bit, please."

"Ah... o-okay..." Liam left the room and sat outside the door in the hallway.
What did I do? I'm so confused...

After several minutes of listening to Caspian yell in the bedroom, Liam decided to get up and walk farther down the hall and sat on the top step of the staircase.

After a few minutes, Liam heard a familiar voice behind him.

"My, my, did the mutt get kicked out? So tragic."
Liam turned to look at Taeya leaning against the wall and glared. 
"What's that look for, hmm? Are you mad I called you a mutt? Would you prefer doggy? Or puppy? Woof, woof." He smirked.
"Wh-why are you talking to me?"
"Oh my, listen to that attitude. I'm allowed to talk to whoever I want. You should learn some manners, little doggy."

"Stop c-calling me th-that."
"Aww, puppy can't even talk right. So sad. Should I give you a little pet?" Taeya pulled away from the wall and walked towards Liam.
"Don't come c-close to me. H-how did you even know I'm here?"
"I could hear Caspian yelling at you from my bedroom. I'd recognize that man's voice within a crowd of a hundred people even if he was whispering." 

Taeya's tone was so cold it sent shivers down Liam's spine.

"Leave me alone."
"Ask nicely, little doggy. I'll even give you a treat." Taeya said as he crouched down next to Liam.
"Get away from me." Liam scooted away.
Taeya scooted closer. "Why? I think you're pretty for a mutt. You should cut this hair, though. No one likes a dog with scraggly matted hair. Especially Caspian. He hates having to take care of long hair. Ever wonder why his hair is so short? I'll tell you, if you want." Taeya smiled.

Liam slapped Taeya's hand away when he tried to grab a strand of his hair.
"Oh my, does the mutt not like his hair being touched? But it's so-"
Liam pushed Taeya away from him as he stood up. "Don't touch me. I told you to get away."
"You really have no manners, do you?" Taeya glared at him as he got up and brushed the dust off his skirt. "Tch. Maybe I should teach you some, hmm?"
"You're th-the one with no-"

"Both of you stop." Soren cut Liam off.
"Ah, Soren. Still working for that lunatic? So tragic. If I were you, I-"
"Shut up."
"Excuse me? What do-"
"Liam, come with me."
"O-okay..."

"So obedient. Go ahead, rush over to your owner, and kiss his feet for forgiveness."
Soren led Liam down the hall and turned his head to say, "No one cares what you have to say, Taeya. So just shut up and you'll get along just fine."
"Ugh." Taeya turned away and walked back to his bedroom.

"You need to stay away from him," Soren said as they walked down the hall. 
"He's th-the one wh-who came to me."
"Still, if he approaches you, walk away from him."
"...okay."

Liam stayed silent as they walked.
"Do you not want to know why Caspian was yelling at you?"
"If he w-wants to tell me, it's h-his ch-choice."
Soren sighed. "Is your face okay? His slaps are pretty strong."
"I've b-been hit harder. It's fine."
"...well, you can go back inside," Soren said as he opened the door.
"Okay..." Liam walked into the room and Soren closed the door behind him, staying out in the hallway.