Zenix and his Past [ABANDONED]

Chapter 17 - Zenix

Garroth has noticed that I haven't been myself these days. I can just tell. He just isn't treating me like normal. But I am very excited about going to Bright Port tomorrow! My head has been hurting though, so I should go see Zella about that... wait, what in the name of Irene does that guy think he's doing?!
"Wow, thank you, Brendan!" Zella says, blushing, "I didn't think my eyes were as pretty as a night sky!" That... that boy is flirting with my girl!
"Aw, but it's true!" he replies to Zella. Then he hands Zella lilacs- her favorite flower! How does he know what her favorite flower is? I feel my face getting hot with anger. I casually walk into Zella's home and this Brendan guy jumps in surprise. "Uh, I am sorry, I'd better get going..." he says as he walks out. I smirk. He must know who his enemies are.
"Hey, Zella," I greet her, "Do you have headache potion by any chance?" She giggles.
"Not particularly," she replies, "but headaches are caused by stress, head-hits, or... crying..." she looks at me hard when she says "crying", but she knows I don't cry. "It must be from stress," I sigh.
"I am just... so sorry!" I fess up, "This is worse than anything! I feel like my 'Worst Things in Life List' has a new first place moment ever week!" Zella puts her hand on my shoulder. I stare at the hole in her chest.
"It's okay, I told you," she assures me, "It wasn't you, really," I look at my sweaty palms.
"Yeah, I guess not..."

*****

"Alright, now. To get to Bright Port, we will get in a boat and sail due East, until we come across a mountainous hill with the village on top. This should only take us ten minutes to get there. Then we spend the night in the guard tower- yes, you too, Zella- and then stay there for two days. Sounds good?" Garroth babbles instructions out to us.
"Sounds great!" Zella replies.
"Yeah," I respond a little duly. Garroth whacks me upside the head.
"Brighten up! You're going to Bright Port! Be happy." I feel dizzy... he hits hard! We get on a boat and I stand near the edge, looking at the water. I can't feel guilty forever... but maybe it will just haunt me for the rest of my life. Garroth might not want to train me anymore. Maybe I should just resign as a guard apprentice because I am just not... no! Shut up Zenix! You can get through this! No quitting! Before I know it, we are at the Bright Port docks and I get off and I help Zella off.
"Okay, now. First we are going to go to the main guard tower, to check in with Azura, then you two can do whatever for the rest of the day. But when the sun sets, come back to the main tower and we'll head to the west tower together. Sound good?"
"Yeah!" Zella and I say in unison.
"Great! But one more thing. Some people around here are a little... weird, you could say... Like, big time weird. Like some of these people are- nevermind. Don't worry about it. Just don't be stupid. Zenix, that is meant for you. Clear?" I stop myself from talking back, so I just nod. Garroth leads us to the guard tower and we meet Azura. She is a petite woman with emerald green eyes and caramel colored hair.
"Hello, Garroth." She says happily, but I could hear tension in her voice.
"Azura, you're looking well. How's the new position?" Garroth answers, with the same awkwardness.
"Great, great. I've really gained people's respect around here." She gloats. She turns to me and Zella. "Hi! I'm Azura, the head guard here in Bright Port, you must be Zenix." She says pointing to me.
"Yeah, I am," I say while standing as straight as possible, "And this is Zella." Azura extends her hand out formally towards Zella.
"Nice to meet you, Zella." Zella shakes her hand and smiles. "I've heard you're skilled with potions?" She asks.
"Yes I am, ma'am. Mainly with healing potions," Zella responds formally.
"Hmm, interesting. How long have you been interested in potions?" Zella blushes from the attention.
"Well, I started making traditional healing potions when I was eight," Zella replies, shyly. I can tell she doesn't like all the questions.
"Very nice, very nice. Now Zenix," She says turning to me. "How long have you wanted to be a guard?" She questions. Now I blush. I hate attention.
"My whole life, really," I reply confidently.
"Well, that's quite interesting. Garroth, you come with me, and you two can go explore town." She starts walking to ladders leading up the tower. Zella and I stare at each other and smile. We hold hands and walk out to the busy sidewalks.
"Wow, this place is huge!" Zella remarks.
"Yeah! It has lots of people!" I reply. We turn to face each other.
"And lots of horses!" We say in perfect unison. We crack up, until I fall down from bumping into something. Zella helps me up and we face an angry man with long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail wearing merchant clothes.
"Just what are you doing, running into an important man like myself? Do ya have something you want or are you just being carelessly stupid?" he snorts. Zella flashes him an angry look.
"That is very rude of you!" she snaps at him. I am surprised that she is standing up for me like this, "It is a big village with a lot of people and it is hard not to bump into anyone!"
The merchant glares at her. "You watch what you say, Missy. People around here don't take kindly to young girls disrespecting their elders." Now it is my turn to defend Zella.
"Well why should we respect you if you can't give us any courtesy?!" he stares at me hard, but his gaze seems to turn to confusion.
"Y- you look like someone I know... wait, you look like my brother. Which means that you must be Zenix, his son."
"How... how do you know who I am?" I ask nervously.
"I might not have a fancy degree, but it isn't rocket science. You look too much like him to not be related to him, and I know he had a son named Zenix... who... who... who killed him... YOU KILLED HIM AND HIS NEW WIFE AND HER DAUGHTER! YOU'RE A DISGUSTING MONSTER! HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITH YOURSELF?! AND YOU!!" He says turning to Zella. "WHY ARE YOU HANGING AROUND HIM?! HE COULD KILL YOU, TOO!!"
"What you say is false!" She yells at him, "He DID NOT kill his step-sister! I am his step-sister! And if you had seen what your brother was doing to us, you would understand..." Zella starts to tear up. "HE BROKE BOTH MY LEGS FOR IRENE'S SAKE!!!" she wipes her eyes and I put my arm around her. I look at a tag attached to the merchant's bag. It says his name on it: Logan.
"No, you are mistaken, my brother couldn't hurt a fly. You're both crazy. Go on ahead and hang around this monster, and die. Whatever. Now leave my plot before I call the guards." Logan threatens. Zella grabs my hand.
"Come on, Zenix. Let's go," she growls and glares at Logan. But he is right. I am a monster.

*****

"Don't worry about him, okay?" Zella assures. She still looks red in the face from anger.
"But he's right! I did kill my parents and I tried to kill you!" I yell back. We are at a little pond near the village and I stare at my monstrous reflection.
"Zenix, a Shadow Knight did all that!" Zella seems to be getting angry at me now.
"YOU'RE RIGHT!" I scream at her, "I WAS TRYING TO KILL YOU! AND I STABBED YOU IN THE HEART, ZELLA! THE HEART!" I take a deep breath. "I just wish these terrible days were done." I feel my eyes start to hurt and I stare at them in the water as they turn red. "See? It is already happening..." Zella hugs me tightly and I feel the pain in my eyes go away.
"Come on," she says softly, "Let's go back to see Garroth." I take her hand and we walk to the guard tower.
"THERE IS A KILLER IN TOWN I TELL YOU! A KILLER!" I hear a familiar voice yell. When we enter the tower, Logan is talking to Garroth and Azura. He faces me and Zella. "SEE?! THERE HE IS!" Logan screams.