The Sound of Austria

*9*

"The attack in Bratislava was shocking as now a total of nine people are dead and twenty others are injured. Reports are coming in that the attack has possible ties with Genesis and the on-going war that is brewing outside the nations. Many world leaders are pondering the thoughts of what to do in case-"

"We don't need to hear that depressing news." Hildegard stated as she turned off the TV.

Delilah all but came off her chair at the woman's actions. Roderich was in Slovakia, in that very city that was attacked and right as they spoke more of it the woman turned the damn thing off.

"Hildegard! Roderich is there, how are we to-"

"Trust yourself, my dear." the woman chided her, "Remember, he is a nation and cannot die like others. He can get injured, yes, but he cannot die."

Delilah's head swam with the news of the attack, Roderich not answering her calls and Hildegard's words, it was slowly turning into a whirlpool of swirling hell. Yet she wasn't wrong. Roderich was the nation Austria and immortal to boot, so why was she so scared?

"You care for him that much don't you?" the old woman asked.

She couldn't answer as she glanced back down at the book he gave her weeks ago, "I'd lie and say no but my heart is telling me otherwise."

"Don't let past fear control you or any notion of the future for you. You are in control of that better than anyone, Delilah."

The woman wasn't wrong. Since gaining her hearing and even before that, she was deeper with Roderich than she ever believed and the onset of worry and fear was the tall tale sign to show how much he meant to her. Morning tea as they spoke to one another, listening to him play the piano before they worked on their own personal business, even him within her classroom, waiting patiently for her to finish just to take a stroll with her. And every moment she had with him she hung onto for dear life. As her mind whirled around him, something else came to mind.

"Hildegard?"

She heard the woman him, "Was it true what Roderich said, the little boy in Auschwitz..."

"That he was my father and my uncle and grandfather died there? Yes, yes it's true. He blames himself for it sadly, we all know it wasn't his doing."

"What do you mean?"

Hildegard sighed as she sat in his chair, "You see, before the second world war, Roderich knew something bad was coming as Adolf grew in power. He wouldn't tell my family outright what it was but made sure they were away when it came. For twenty-five years he kept my family hidden away in the city of Feldkirch, under the eyes of Vash and Lili as I was told. But as WWII came about, it got stronger and harder for my family to hide. Then one day, someone had given them away. My grandfather stowed away my grandmother and great aunt with my cousins only then did he and my uncle and father got captured."

"Wait, so did Roderich know it was them?"

"I don't think at first." Hildegard replied, "Remember, he had not seen my family in twenty-five years. My grandfather was a young boy when he must've encountered Roderich last. He found out the day he took him home, seeing my great-grandmother coming out of the home after the war. From there on out he felt enormous guilt. He felt that he failed her and my family, that he lost my uncle and grandfather, but as my family always said, it was never his doing."

She couldn't fathom the guilt he carried as Hildegard told her the truth, so much hurt and anger laid in him that she never knew it was there, "Thank you for telling me."

"You're welcome Delilah." she smiled at her, "Best be on our way home then, it's getting dark."

Glancing back out the window, she saw the evening sun set lower in the distance. Her thoughts trailed back to Roderich as the knowledge of the attack pecked at the back of her mind. Maybe, just maybe he was already home and waiting for her.