Rebirth (boyxboy)

Chapter 20: Family

Just an FYI: The italicized parts in this story is not in Elijah's perspective. It's just the retelling of Fabian's story. Anyway, enjoy the chapter <3

Chapter 20

ELIJAH'S P.O.V.

Cyan: AWAKENED.

~Fabian's Story~

There once was a boy named Fabian. He was born to two high ranking nobles in a relatively small town in Europe. He had a brother named Darin and a sister named Natasha. He was born on a cold day mid August. Half the slaves kept in the sheds outside died that night. In the morning they were replaced. No one cried or despaired except the newborn Fabian tucked away safely in his nursery.

When Fabian turned three his older Brother Darian, age 10, slashed him in the face for getting in the way of the punishment of a slave working in the kitchen. Fabian hadn't meant to do it. He was only teetering around looking for someone to feed him some fruit, but his curiosity had forced him to enter the wrong room at the wrong time. Fabian's cheek took three months to fully heal. He never entered a room without knocking again.

When Fabian was six, his elder sister Natasha, age 20, moved back into their mother and fathers home. Natasha's husband had died at sea or so it was assumed. All of her husband's assets returned to his family and so she came home with only a handful of slaves and the clothes on her back. She gifted the slaves to her father, except for one young girl around Fabians age. She gave that slave to Fabian. He named her Aurora after the roman goddess of dawn because dawn was a new start and thats what he hoped to give the quiet girl. She was his first friend. She was his first everything.

When Fabian was eight, his father began to train him to be a nobleman. He was taught the family trade and the way someone with his status was supposed to behave. When a servant spilled water at dinner, his father had him whip another human being for the first time in his life. Aurora ran from him for almost two whole weeks after that. He cried every night until she forgave him.

When Fabian was Twelve he met his future wife. He couldn't pronounce her name right and when he tried to have a conversation with her, she only nodded dumbly. He told his father he didn't like her and his father told him that didn't matter. His older brother darin teased him for acting like a 'woman' and whining about his feelings. Darin was lucky. Darin was too ugly and cruel for any self respecting noble to marry their daughter to him. Fabian tried to be cruel to his future wife too, but when he struck her she only whimpered and kissed his shoes. He begged her to stop. He vowed to never hit his future wife again, not even if she struck him first.

When Fabian was fourteen his parents and siblings went on a trip to visit the King and Queen. He stayed behind to watch over the castle and get a feel for running his own manor. He was openly kind to all the workers and even had Aurora and the cook dine with him. It was the best month of Fabian's life. The castle was full of laughter and cheer and Aurora was sleeping in the house instead of out in the cold. Color was returning to the young girl's cheeks and the night before his parents were due to return back, she kissed Fabian directly on his lips. He didn't stop her. After that day, every second was filled with thoughts of his beloved Aurora who smelt like tea and always acted selflessly. He decided he would marry her instead, if only he could figure out how to convince his father of the idea.

When Fabian turned fifteen it was time for him to marry. He could hear Aurora weep from below his room window every night leading up to the wedding day. When he finally told his father he would not marry, his father did nothing. At the wedding he declared before everyone that he would not marry anyone but Aurora. His future wife was struck hard in the face by her own father, damned as if it were her fault. His father said nothing as his mother ushered everyone on their way. That night was the first night his father ever hit him. He struck him once, twice in the face and then landed blow upon blow against the bare flesh of his back. He had never felt the sting of a belt before but now he knew. Aurora was punished too, but how she would never say. Fabian convinced her to stay with him and pursue a secret relationship. One day, he assured her, things would be different and they could be together.