REFLECT: A Minecraft Diaries Fan-Fiction

five - the kill zane alliance

"Congratulations, Zane!" Garroth exclaimed. "You found me. Want a prize?"

"Stop getting aggressive with me," I spat, but deep down I was very, very afraid.

I knew what he'd done to me.

I knew he'd do it again.

I knew he'd do it over and over.

I tried not to shudder at the thought.

Ignoring what I'd said last, Garroth went on to say, "So, how long did it take for you to finally find me? How much of father's abuse did you have to hear?"

I gritted my teeth. "It's not going to happen again after I bring you back to O'khasis."

"On what grounds?" Another voice interrupted. Garroth and I both turned to Aphmau, who seemed to be taking in the situation rather coolly.

Her eyes were piercing into my soul, however.

"On the grounds that the heir to O'khasis is actually alive and must return to get married, as I'm sure you already know," I replied.

This was sure to get Garroth busted, but Aphmau merely blinked.

"This new information," she continued coldly, "changes nothing. I hope you know forcefully taking a citizen to another land is illegal."

"So is faking one's death," I countered.

"You're not wrong," commented Garroth, "but you, of course, need prove, don't you?"

I didn't know where he was going. "What? You're living proof right here!"

"If I'm not going back, you have no proof." Garroth smiled. "After all, who would believe someone who murdered his younger brother?"

I clenched my fists. "You and I both know I had nothing to do with Vylad's death."

"But does anyone else?" Garroth asked.

I said nothing.

What was there to say?

Everybody knew me as the cruel, murderous High Priest.

Everybody knew him as the kind-hearted heir who tragically died.

I was pretty sure they thought I was in on his death, too.

I was cornered.

"With all due respect," said Aphmau without a hint of respect in her voice, "we don't want things to get messy, now. I doubt you want there to be tensions between O'khasis and Phoenix Drop."

I scoffed. "O'khasis could easily crush Phoenix Drop."

"Is that a threat?" She raised an eyebrow.

I stiffened. "N--No, that wasn't what I meant--"

"I hope you know I do not like threats one bit, your Grace," she said, her words cutting into me like knives.

"I..." I stammered.

"I think you've overstayed your welcome," continued Aphmau, dangerously calm. "You and your guards are expected to leave by tomorrow morning."

I was totally defeated.

There was nothing more I could say.

But I knew for a fact I'd just made another enemy.

And both of them together made a dangerous duo.

I looked at Garroth in the eye one last time before leaving, and I was suddenly nine years old again.

Hiding under the dining table seemed like a good idea. There was no way Garroth could find me here!

"Found you!" his voice called out from a few rooms away.

Another voice giggled. "How come you always find me?"

"Well, you always hide in the same spot, Vylad," replied Garroth, which sent Vylad into another burst of laughter.

After a few moments when the laughter died down, Vylad quietly said, "Did we really have to include Zane in our game?"

I bit back my disappointment. I didn't know why Vylad didn't like me. Had it been because of something I'd said or done to him before? I couldn't recall doing anything like that.

Was it something Garroth had said?

"You know how Mom always urges us to play with Zane as well," muttered Garroth.

I heard Vylad sigh. "Yeah, I guess."

"Alright," said Garroth, piping up again, "let's split up. You go search for him upstairs, and I'll cover the rest of this floor trying to find him."

"Okay!" Vylad's footsteps quickly faded away.

I held my breath in anticipation for Garroth. Soon, I heard the door to the dining hall open, and Garroth entered. I went completely silent as he walked around the room, not a muscle moving.

"Where are you, baby brother?" He called out, but there was a sinister tone to his voice. I didn't know what that was all about.

I heard him opening drawers and cupboards. There was no way he thought I was hiding in them; they were too small, even for me.

"I know you're in this room, Zane," Garroth whispered, malice tainting his voice.

Peeping under the tablecloth, a vase came falling from the table and shattered on impact with the floor, causing me to flinch away.

"There you are."

I quailed suddenly, turning to see my older brother crouched down under the table.

"Well, you found me," I said, my eyes slowly moving down to his hand.

His fingers were crawled around a knife.

Unease stiffened my body. Garroth inched closer to me.

"Wh--What are you doing?" I asked nervously, but Garroth said nothing. He was just smiling with a glint of hatred in his eyes.

"Garroth, what--wait, please--stop!"

I looked away from Garroth. I didn't want to relive that moment again.

I clenched my fists and faced Aphmau. "My guards and I will leave in no time," I said, nodding.

I quickly turned away and began walking towards the guest houses to inform Katelyn and Jeffory about our departure.

I had no idea what I was going to tell my father when I returned to O'khasis.

If I didn't tell him about finding Garroth here, I was going to go back to sending search parties for him and getting called useless time after time.

If I told him I'd found Garroth, he'd scorn me for not bringing him back and treat me even worse than before.

Either way, I was defeated.

Garroth had won once more.

•••

A/N: poor zane. smol, innocent cinnamon roll who deserved better.

anyway, i hope you enjoyed the chapter and the little flashback! in more chapters to come, there will be continuations of the flashback scene, explaining what happened afterwards, so be excited for that.

i'm tired right now. just thought i'd let you know. i'm always tired.

yeah.

until then.