The Corruption Within Us

Home Sweet Home

Scott's Perspective-

Scott woke up in bed and he looked around, confused.

"Xornoth? Xornoth!" He heard his mother shout.

Scott slowly crept out of his bed and opened the door.

Allison jumped.

"S-Scott? You're here! Oh thank cod you're okay." She hugged her youngest son tightly. She was shaking a bit, and she looked scared.

"I- I'm okay. But um...Xornoth is..."

"Scott, sweetie, do you know where he is?" Allison asked and Scott started to cry.

-

Wallis had sent out a letter to all the emperors telling them that they were going to have a meeting today about something important.

In the late afternoon, everyone arrived.

Jimmy walked over to Scott, confused. He grew worried when he saw how shaken up his boyfriend was.

"Scott? You okay?" Jimmy whispered, holding Scott's hand.

Scott buried his face in the crook of Jimmy's neck and Jimmy hugged him.

He didn't understand exactly what had happened, but he knew that his partner needed comfort.

"It's going to be okay." Jimmy whispered, rubbing Scott's back.

"Ugh split it up you two." Jaxon said, walking over, "Scott, what happened? My dad said the letter mentioned Xornoth. Did you idiots finally realize he was the demon? I told you I was right."

Scott glared at his cousin.

"Xornoth didn't do anything wrong- "

"But he's the demon, right? How can you believe it's not his fault when this happened? He meant this. This was all a part of his plan. Open your eyes, Scott."

Scott growled, "No, you open your eyes, Jaxon. I'm tired of you putting others down and never admitting that you're wrong. Xornoth didn't mean to do this! He- he couldn't do anything to fix it."

Scott cried a bit and Jimmy wrapped his arm around his shoulder.

They went to the meeting and Wallis explained what Scott had told him.

There was a loud outburst when Wallis said that the demon was at full power. People shouting why he was so incapable of taking care of anything, why he raised such an idiot son, that this was all his fault.

Scott stood up and he cleared his throat, causing everyone to look at him.

"Please." Scott whispered, "This isn't father's fault. This isn't anyone's fault besides the demons. Xornoth didn't mean what happened. He wouldn't ever do this on purpose. I should know, I've known him my whole life."

"Xornoth hurt my son." Azar said, "He mind controlled him."

"The demon did."

"Well it's Xornoth's fault for dragging Joey into this. If he never spoke to him then everything would be fine." Azar snapped.

The shouting started again, and Scott sat back down, starting to cry.

Jimmy tried to help calm him down, but Scott left his seat and ran out of the room.

-

Scott sat on one of the snowy mountains, looking down at his kingdom.

Red bits of corruption were starting to sprout in the village's farms, and Scott knew that this was only the beginning.

Scott sighed into his hands, feeling everything weigh him down.

He heard footsteps in the snow, and he felt someone put their hand on his back.

Scott looked up and saw his father.

Wallis smiled weakly and stretched out his arms. Scott hugged him and they stayed in the embrace for a minute.

"Dad?" Scott mumbled.

"Yes?" Wallis asked, leaning back to look Scott in the eyes.

"Do you think we'll ever get Xornoth back?"

Wallis looked down at the town, watching as the corruption sprouted.

"I don't know..."

"Was this what it was like when the demon was first here?"

"Similar, yes. The corruption sprouts were everywhere. But I have a feeling he has more planned."

"Is Xornoth being hurt when the demon takes over him?"

"I'm not sure, but I imagine he must be in pain."

Scott cried and Wallis hugged him tightly.

"He'll be okay. He's stronger than you think. And he wouldn't give up."

"But what if he does? What if it becomes too overwhelming for him?"

Wallis looked down before sighing.

"Scott, there's something you need to know."

"What?"

"It has to do with Aeor."

"Our god? But...but I thought he had gotten rid of his corrupted brother."

"There's more to the tale then what's taught."

Scott looked worried and Wallis brushed his fingers through Scott's hair before rubbing a bump. Scott winced.

Wallis smiled softly, "Seems they're growing."

"What's growing? What's happening?" Scott looked panicked and on the verge of tears.

"Shh, deep breaths. It's okay, it's going to be okay."

"H-how can you say that when something's growing on my head?"

Wallis chuckled quietly, "Scott, those things are the horns of Aeor."

Scott's eyes widened.

"What?" He whispered.

"The way the story goes is that if the first-born child is chosen to be the one to corrupt, then the second born is chosen to be the light that saves Rivendell."

"I- I don't understand."

Wallis sighs, "I know, I didn't understand at first either."

"W-wait did this happen to you?"

"No, the power was actually split between me and your uncle as the demon showed up on his own. He didn't corrupt someone or anything like that."

"S-so you and my uncle both had that...and- and now I have it to fight the demon?"

"Not just the demon," Wallis whispered, "Xornoth."

Scott cried, "I- I can't."

"I know, I know, I don't want you too either."

"W-why is it like this." Scott sobbed and tugged at his hair.

Wallis hugged him and Scott sobbed, breaking down.