The king's killer.

Broken boy.

I watched as my father drank a concoction he created. He was a maker of beers and wines yet he only drank the beers. I had learned when I was younger all the ways to anger the man when he was drunk...or sober. I got in trouble so much that that I stopped hoping it would stop someday. I recognize that nothing I did could fix whatever I had done when I was younger so I quit trying.

I cook, I clean, I do whatever he ask just to make sure he doesn't hit me that bad but I don't think it makes a difference. I always wake up in pain regardless.

I had heard stories of the kingdom's killer, specifically the king's killer, but I never believed them. How could a king be so cruel as to approve of killing? I knew how but we weren't at war. There was no reason but this was how it was. I never believed the stories till I woke in the night.

One winter night, I woke to noise from downstairs. I gingerly got up as my father had chose to focus on my legs that night so it hurt to walk. I heard my father yelling at something so I assumed he was drunk until everything became quiet. When I rounded the corner, still trying to seem small, I saw a man with a knife. He dressed in the royal colours, purple, red, and black, with the king's insignia on his back. He had his back to me but he was holding my father. My father saw me perfectly and alerted him. The man turned, his face hidden but his eyes seen. They were black, black as night. The man dropped my father and made towards me. I immediately stepped back and fell, crawling away in fear until I was against a wall. The man kneeled in front of me, his eyes locked with mine, and grabbed my hand. I pulled away to only have my wrist grabbed hard. I was pulled to my feet and picked up. My father yelled profanities at the man but he covered my ears. I couldn't understand and I shook. I wanted to disappear back to my bedroom and into my closet but the man's grip was too hard. I'm not sure when but I passed out.

When I next woke, I was in a place unfamiliar to me but there was light shining through a Crack in the curtain on the window. The bed was soft and the pillows fluffy and there was clothes laid out that looked to be in my size. I only got up after a few minutes of my eyes adjusting. The clothes didn't look that bad but I refused to touch them as I slowly made my way through the room. I was intent on sneaking out the bedroom door until I found myself in a mirror. I had a bruise around my right eye that was fading and cuts across my chest that were healing well but there was a layer of bandages on my legs. I wondered how long I had slept when the door opened slowly and quietly. In walked a man with dark hair but surprisingly normal clothes. I watched him warily as he watched me. Nothing was said for the longest time until he placed a tray on the bed.

"I'm not the best cook but I tried." The man said quietly. "You should get dressed. We can talk more when you come downstairs."

The man left and I listened closely to hear the door lock but it didn't. I looked back at the clothes then to the tray. There was a simple breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast but it looked edible. I took small bites in between getting dressed but couldn't finish all of it. I wondered whether I should bring the tray down and opted to do just that. I picked up the tray gingerly and made my way out of the room. The house was a relatively good size with a few rooms on the second floor, mainly bedrooms and a small study. I walked down the stairs to a large living room with a door leading to what was probably the kitchen. I was correct. I set the tray next to the sink before turning around and seeing the man in one of the doorways. Needless to say, I jumped and fell, my back hitting against a cabinet handle and opening a wound on my back. The man rushed to my side only to have me flinch away from his touch. The man paused in his movements as I pulled away and slowly stood up.

"S-sorry, you just scared me." I couldn't look at the man as he stood up.

"I won't hurt you, I promise." The man said in an attempt to calm me down. " You might be confused as of right now. Just ask me your questions and I'll answer."

I looked at the man, he had stepped away from me as to give me space. I noticed his features. There were dark circles under his eyes and he had a small scar on his cheek that looked to be from a knife. His eyes were worn and weary and old yet he himself looked to so young. His eyes almost matched the colour of his hair, two different shades of black yet so close. His eyes were a dark obsidian while his hair was unturned charcoal. It worked on him.

"Where am i?" It was a simple question. "Where's papa? Why am I here?"

The man frowned at my last question.

"You're at my house." The man's voice was gentle. "I don't know where your dad is, he's probably at his home. You're here because you showed signs of neglect and abuse."

"You pitied me?" His face fell dramatically at my words. "I don't need pity."

"I didn't pity you, I wanted to help." The man's eyes were filled with emotion. "I used to be in the same position. Abused and neglected and scared. I just wanted to help."

We shared a gaze for a long time before I turned away. I only had more questions but I was scared to ask them. I didn't speak again, I just looked at the floor breathing calmly. I felt the man's eyes on me, he seems fixated on me.

"My name is Xander." The man said. "I work for the king."

I didn't care who he worked for, I just wanted away but I couldn't bring myself to say that. The man seemed to have no harmful intent and kept his distance knowingly. He seemed nice if not a bit hidden but of course he would be. I was a stranger, he didn't know.me as I didn't know him. He looked to be 18 but I couldn't tell. I looked at him after a time of silence.

"I don't care who you work for." I said quietly. "Why didn't you leave me with my father? It can't be that you wanted to help because I was fine."

I could tell that the man didn't like my words but what I said next surprised him.

"Regardless, thank you." I turned away from him. "I'm Alex, I'd tell you my last name but I hate it."

"Well, Alex, you can stay here for as long as you like." Xander said.

"I'll try not to be a burden." I rubbed my arm gently and refused to look Xander in the eye.

"You aren't a burden, Alex." Xander gently touched my shoulder. "Do you want to help me in the garden?"