Bloody Curse | Book Two of Blood Trilogy

Chapter 34

Asher 

The following morning I laid in bed and stared at the white ceiling while the clock in the hallway ticked. Violet was sleeping soundly with her head resting atop my chest. Her back rose in a rhythmic pattern and I listened to her breath while counting the clock ticks. 

A soft knock came on the dark oak door and I bit my lip in anticipation whether she had heard it or not, but her face remained peaceful. So I slid from under her and tiptoes across the marble floor to open one of the double doors. 

The castle doctor stood in her white lab coat and raised her eyebrows in surprise to see that I had just gotten out of bed. 

"I can come back some other time, your highness." She whispered, taking the hint that Violet was still asleep. She pointed a thumb over her shoulder to dismiss herself but I shook my head at her. 

"Is there something wrong?" I asked with my eyebrows creased. I immediately thought of Zayden and hoped that nothing bad happened overnight. I was preparing myself to be furious if something happened since the doctor was the one who dismissed me to rest. 

She shook her head and glanced down at the floor before looking back up at me in my full height. 

"I'm here to suggest the first day of 'therapy' for Prince Zayden. I think it's best that he start the track to recovery right away because long term effects might affect his mindset as well as his brain development." She noted while eyeing me cautiously. I sighed then gazed over my shoulder to find the tossed bed sheets around Violet. Her body had not shifted since I left her. 

"Okay, give me twenty minutes, and get Prince Aidan as well. I think he should be a part of this." I declared then nodded once to relieve her from the discussion. She started off down the hallway towards Aidan's room. Hopefully he would be willing to work with me. 

I stood in the shower and basked on memories of Zayden from when he was a baby. Flashes of him taking his first steps at ten months seared my mind. His wide grin was accompanied with only a few teeth but his gray eyes glittered. I chuckled to myself. 

I also recalled the moments when he would tumble down and supported his weight with his hands and stood up on his own. I remember when he would reach out to me with his hands opening and closing while held tightly in Violet's arms. 

I rinsed my hair of the shampoo but stood with my head bowed under the shower head. Water spilled around me in a cascade. Flashbacks of Violet giving birth to our first child came to mind. She had mild complications, but Alexandria's was worse. Violet was in labor for a long time and she grew tired but she gave birth to such a strong young man. 

I stepped out the shower and was embraced in a steamy room. The doors connecting the bathroom to the bedroom was still closed so I tried to remain quiet as I dried myself and put a navy dress shirt and black dress pants on- the usual. I brushed my hair a bit but still left the natural look because I knew just how much Violet loved it when my brown hair was a bit messy. 

The steam followed me when I cracked the door open. My wife laid like an angel. Her face was pressed against the edge of my pillow and she buried herself deeper in the warmth imprint that I had left for her. 

I approached the bedside and placed a feather-like kiss on her forehead. Sleep well, my love. 

When I entered the infirmary through the locked door, Zayden was already awake but he was the only one in the room. I made sure there was a click on the lock behind me before taking another step forward. 

His head turned slowly to face me as I walked one step at a time. There was nothing to trigger his madness, so he continued staring at me. His eyes were soft and there was a part of my son that I found, which had given me renewed hope. 

My eyes never left him when I extended a hand to touch his. His gaze was glued to my hand but I proceeded to place it around his palm slowly. When I gripped onto his hand and squeezed it, a very small smile came on his face but then his expression reset and he went back to carrying emotions of a Shadow.  

One small step at a time will have great results. I told myself a few times. At that moment, Aidan walked through the door with the doctor on his trail. My brother looked like he had also just gotten out of the shower. 

"Apologies for not being here earlier, your highness. I thought I could check up on the captain and his family." She bowed her head. 

"How are they?" I asked in concern. I had been so busy now that Zayden is home, that I had forgotten about Caleb and Jillian. Caleb was also busy since he brought his family home. "How is their daughter?" Was she born prematurely since she had been cut out from the womb? My hand remain wrapped around Zayden's and I squeezed it occasionally as a reminder that I was still with him. 

"They are all well. Lady Jillian is recovering quickly since the Captain provided many doses of his blood to her. As for the baby, she is doing well. Her growth is exactly where we want it to be." She finished with a grateful smile. I nodded with appreciation then shifted my eyes to Aidan, who stood at the foot of Zayden's bed with his eyes to the floor. 

With the doctor's swiftness and agility, I hadn't realized she exited the room until Aidan looked up with a small smile. 

"I'm sorry for yesterday. I was just frustrated but I'm ok now." His small smile was still there and I mirrored his expressions with a slightly wider smile. I waved him over so he stood beside me and I wrapped my free arm around his waist. 

"Hey, I was never mad at you. Our bond is strong, nothing can break it, alright?" I announced with a grin. He nodded while revealing the dimple on his right cheek. "Try going on the other side and grab hold of Zayden's other hand. We're trying to get him to react and if he does react, then let's hope for positive things." I mumbled the last part as he walked to Zayden's left side. 

Initially, he was hesitant on placing his hand down, but did anyway. My son's eyes dilated but nothing else otherwise. He proceeded to stare at the white wall. 

With my free hand, I reached up to his head and brushed his thick brown messy hair to the side. When I did it a second time, he growled but I didn't stop since something had clearly been triggered. Aidan eyeballed me wearily but I stroked slower this time to see if another growl came. 

"Don't touch me. You're not my leader." Zayden stated with a deep demonic voice. I froze then looked at Aidan to see his eyes have widened as well. 

"I'm not your leader, but I'm your father." I refuted with intention to push forwards since he talked for the first time since he came home. "You don't have a leader. You have a family who loves you very much. Your father cares and loves you." 

His head then turned to face me. "What family? I only follow orders from my leader."