12: Darken: Resurrection

Chapter Twenty-one: Thespian

I returned to the room, my stomach grumbling, the search for a maid proving futile. Not long after I settled into my room, a knock echoed through the door. Opening it, I found Althaeon standing there, an unusual worry etched on his face.

"What do you want?" I asked, leaning against the door frame.

"Can we talk?" he asked, his eyes avoiding mine, looking at the ground instead.

"About what?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Is it too much to want to get to know my big brother?" His voice was genuine, almost vulnerable.

"Ah," I muttered, taken aback. This was the last thing I expected from him. Althaeon, despite being younger, was built bigger, more muscular. Yet here he stood, seeking a connection.

"If it's too much, I can back off," he said, a flicker of fear in his eyes. Althaeon, who always seemed unyieldingly strong, now looked more like an actual person. "You see, I used to have a big brother, but..."

"We can," I interrupted, my stomach growling again. I looked at Althaeon. "Do you know where I can find a maid to fetch me some food?"

"Astraea lets the maids take the nights off here. All you'll find are guards," Althaeon told me, then smiled. "I know where the kitchen is, and some already made food. Come with me."

He led me down the halls of the palace, the way only lit by candles and torches. Shadows danced along the walls, creating an eerie, almost mystical ambiance. The faint smell of burning wax mixed with the distant aroma of roasted meat and baked bread, guiding our way to the kitchen.

As we turned a corner, Althaeon broke the silence. "I used to have a brother, you know. He was everything to me. Strong, brave, always knew what to do. When I lost him... well, I guess I've been trying to fill that void."

"You lost a lot of siblings, didn't you?" I asked, already knowing the answer as we walked into the dimly lit kitchen.

"I did," he looked down, his voice heavy with memories. "Alex, Aaron, Auroa, Amelia-Celeste, and Annabelle. Amethyst is still alive but wants nothing to do with us. But, we were all close once... Alex was the one I was closest to. He was Astraea's twin, but my best friend."

"If you want to get to know me better, that's something I am open to," I told him, sincerity in my tone. "I am willing to be a brother if that's what you need. Honestly, I've known about you since you were born, and I always wanted to get to know you to some extent."

He smiled at me, then headed into the pantry. After a minute, he poked his head out, a stick of cured meat in his mouth. "If you're ever looking for a snack while you're here... or any of the palaces, I keep a stash."

He motioned for me to follow him into the pantry, where he moved a wooden crate to reveal a hidden cache. The hole in the wall was filled with a treasure trove of provisions: nuts, cured meats, jars of pickled eggs and fruits, cheeses wrapped in wax paper, dried shortbreads—everything designed to last.

I couldn't help it; I started laughing uncontrollably.

"What?" he asked, sticking another piece of meat in his mouth.

"Have you shown Astraea this?" I asked, still laughing.

"No," he answered. "Why?"

I reached over, grabbing a jar of eggs and walking back into the kitchen, sitting at the table. "Do you know much about dragons?"

"Just what Alana told me," he said, sitting across from me.

"That's your hoard," I told him as I popped open the jar and grabbed an egg with my fingers, sticking it into my mouth, the strong vinegar taste filling my senses.