How the Mighty Have Fallen

Chapter Three: Proditor

"Macellarius dear, calm down and let us speak like civilized people," Leviculus tried to calm her husband down. I could hear her feet coming up to the place I was cowering on the stairs. "Lux is here only on business, not here permanently--" 

"He is influencing our children!" He raised his voice once more. "Just his very presence is turning Amore and Amora into rebels! We need him out!" 

"Father, I am very much contained," Amore commented drily. "I do agree with you, however. This traitor," he spat. "Needs to be out before Amora and our dear Animator Peri start thinking about joining him in his betraying ways." 

"Lux--" I said quietly. "I didn't--I thought I had finally found someone to talk too--I didn't know.." 

"It's not exactly something I like to bring up when I'm introducing myself," he muttered through gritted teeth. A loud popping sound was heard and I covered my mouth when I heard Lux groan in pain. Was I in the presence of barbarians? 

"Father, please stop it!" Amora cried, her padded shoes clamoring up the stairs. "Please don't hurt him, please stop! No! Father you have to pop his shoulder back in, look what you did! I can't stand you people, what did he ever do to you?!" I heard her voice rising in hysteria at the last few words. 

Tentatively, I held my hand out to her, hoping that she was in near me, rather than behind. Amora gripped it fiercely and sat down next to me, crying into my shoulder. "Oh, Peri, why are they hurting him? He didn't harm us, he didn't harm us.." 

"Macellarius, as the woman in this household, I command you to stop!" Leviculus boomed. By the sound of her voice, I assumed she was right in front of us. 

"And as the only authority figure in this damn household, I command him out!" Her husband replied darkly.

"Yes, and I quite well agree!" Amore said loudly. He is trying way too hard to impress his father..

"Look at what you've done," Leviculus said, her voice raising an octave or two. "Turning one of my own children against me just so you can get Lux out of the house because you believe he is a traitor. Amora is hysterical and Amore is worried!"

"I am not!" Amore exclaimed indignantly, but there was obvious worry in his voice. Did their parents fight like this all day?

"And look at Periculum! I have tried so hard to welcome her into this household and she is cowering in fear on my staircase because--"

"She is an Animator!" Macellarius roared. "She has no feelings, why try to make her feel welcome in my Manerium?"

"Even if she is different, it doesn't mean she should be treated like a dog! She is only a child, Amora's age. What happened to you?! I would like to take this outside and talk to my husband, not some monster!"

That must have struck deep because Macellarius responded quietly, "Yes dear." Lux was dropped to the floor loudly, which made me assume he had been up in the air. Amora scrambled over to his general direction.

"I'm all right," he gasped, breathless. "I'm all right."

I looked in his direction and nodded uncertainly. "Are.. are you sure?" I asked him hesitantly, moving towards were he was sitting. 

"Peri," he said closer this time and cupped my face in his hands, before dropping them. "I'm all right, I'm positive." 

I let out a sigh of relief, but turned my head away from his direction, my head spinning. This was a little too much for just one night.

"I think I will retire for the night," Lux said. I heard the stairs creak as he left back to his room. Amora grabbed my arm.

"Let's go back too," she choked. "I think I need some sleep or something, I don't feel very well." I patted her arm consolingly but didn't say anything. I couldn't think of something to make her feel better.