Meat Family

Chapter 18

The feast of the fire

no one told me

when i stepped into the fire

i would become it

The next day, Miguel entered his father's office, visibly disturbed. There stood his father, upright on his two legs. He was wearing his old white coat and holding his cane, his hair still unkempt as usual.

"Father? Y-you shouldn't be here, you should be resting," Miguel said calmly, placing his hand on Ramón's shoulder. However, Ramón immediately brushed his hand away. Miguel took a few steps back, surprised by his father's sudden strength. Just yesterday, he had been weak and mumbling in bed, and now clear eyes were staring at him—though they were not blue. They glowed red.

"What do you want?" Ramón snarled at him. Miguel wanted to respond, but Ramón interrupted him, "We will have a celebration tonight. Let's call it... The Festival of Flames. Send out servants to make preparations. I want many candles and torches outside."

A festival? So suddenly? Miguel wanted to ask what the festival was for, but his father had already left the room. Miguel swallowed hard. What had gotten into him? Had he forgotten about the ceremony? How could he think about the ceremony now? He had to prepare for the festival as his father wanted.

It wasn't long until evening, and everything for the Festival of Flames was prepared. Lanterns were hung from the branches of trees. Candles and torches illuminated the area. The Estrella statue was lit up with beautiful candlelight. It was Aurora, the Queen of Estrella. Llum Estrella was just a small place that stood next to her castle thousands of years ago. At that time, it must have been a large village with much trade and life, but now it was just a small remnant of old memories.

A small wooden stage was set up, and lanterns adorned the stage. He watched as Ramón stepped onto the stage and called the villagers to him. Curiously, they approached their priest, eager to hear his words. Miguel stood behind the stage, keeping a close eye on his father. It was unusual for him to be up and about so quickly. Even Doctor Korosvki had turned pale when told about it. There was no explanation for it, and those red eyes...

"My dear friends of Llum Estrella," he began his speech, "I have organized this festival because I have returned from the dead!" The people gasped in surprise and clapped enthusiastically. Miguel just shook his head; he had never been dead, he had merely been in a coma. "It shows how strongly the fire still praises me, and also my faith in Estrella. To ensure that this fire is not stolen from me again, I will put an end to these cannibals. We will burn together with our shared fire, so that our llum Estrella can finally live in peace!" He spread his arms wide and grinned broadly, his smile looking unnaturally wide. Miguel panicked. What was he planning?

Some villagers cheered and agreed with him, while others had shocked expressions.

As Ramón descended the stage, Miguel grabbed him firmly by his robes. "What has gotten into you!? Are you really going to kill them so easily?"

"Of course I am! You saw what they did to me. That boy killed me, but I won't be defeated so easily. I should have put an end to this family long ago," Ramón retorted.

"Father, you were never dead, you—"

"BE QUIET! Servants, lock him in the cellar. Better yet, lock up the doctor and him in the cellar. I don't want this fraud interrupting this sacred act."

Miguel stared at his father with wide eyes as he was dragged away by two servants. He couldn't understand it. What had happened to his father? He had always held a grudge against the Kanis, but he would never have gone this far.