Poison Ivy | T. Riddle ✔

[14] Broken Trust

The next morning, Perseus's mother discovered his absence first when she came to call him down for breakfast. She was utterly devastated, not knowing where her son had gone and was not in a position to think clearly. Herbert Burke's family was called up instantly and both Demelza and her mother tried to calm down the poor woman.

Caractacus Burke was beyond furious with rage, after all he had done for his son he had truly not expected him to leave without a sign. Herbert, however, was the first to spot the letter placed on the bedside table and read it aloud for the others.

"Dearest Papa," he began, "I am sorry that I could never be what you wanted me to be. I wanted to fulfill all your expectations, to prove myself worthy but I failed. I failed so badly that I don't think I am able to show my face to you ever again. You expected so much from me and I never was capable to mold myself according to your expectations. I can't do this anymore, I can't live with you all under the guilt of being a worthless, good for nothing and absolutely useless son. Tom's resignation made me realize that it was him who was holding everything together and with him gone, I couldn't cope with all the burden on me. It breaks my heart to leave you thus but I have no choice. I have never been a good son and I can never reach the place of trust and adoration in your eyes. I don't want to drag Renata with me in this mess either. I want her to live her own life happily, with someone who is truly deserving of her. Don't ever look for me again. I am not worth it."

Herbert looked up after he had finished reading. His eyes held a puzzled look as if even he wasn't able to process what had happened that had made Perseus react so foolishly and leave them all without any proper reason. Caractacus, on the other hand, was fuming as he descended the stairs in a haste knowing his son had let him down in the eyes of everyone, once and for all.

Belvina was trying her best to console Mafalda Burke, while her daughter was equally as confused as Herbert was on the sudden disappearance.

"Father, can I see the letter?" Demelza took the letter from his hands and was even more puzzled because contrary to what she had suspected, even the handwriting was of her cousin's. She couldn't believe Perseus was capable of leaving his family in such a pitiable state, there was a feeling in her heart which told her that it was all clever forgery but of course she had nothing to prove it.

She knew Perseus had been a lot troubled lately but he was the kind of person who bravely faced all his problems; he wasn't a coward to run away like that.

And then her eyes stopped on the word Tom standing out clear from the parchment. He had warned her against him and mainly the cause of all his worries was the apparently charming apprentice.

Could Tom really have a hand in his disappearance? A bell rang off in her mind. It could be possible, it could definitely be possible.

"Father, we'll have to conduct a search in the village as well as the woods nearby. I don't think Perseus left by his own will, and if that's the case he's probably somewhere nearby."

Herbert nodded completely agreeing with her, "I will. But don't tell your Uncle just yet. He's far too angry to see sense at the moment."

"His trust is broken, Herbert, what else do you expect?" Belvina rose up supporting Mafalda as she took her out.

***

Caractacus Burke had never even dreamed that his only son, his frail little Perseus, could leave him to cope with everything all alone and that too in such an old age. He and Mafalda had been childless for sixteen long years until God blessed them with a delicate little boy.

The little boy they thought would light up their world and prove to be their support in old age.

But the same dear boy had torn apart all their dreams by running off like a coward and throwing their trust right in to the dirt.

He was sitting on his chair, rocking it back and forth impatiently, his mind replaying all the past events like a movie on fast forward mode. He remembered how glad he had been to be blessed with a boy after almost two decades of praying and pining for a child. He used to call him his little miracle, his only heir, the one person who would carry the family of the Burkes forward.

He remembered that Perseus used to be sick a lot often and even though he never showed it, each time his son was diagnosed with even a minor cold or flu, he himself would feel pain at having to see his boy suffer even in the slightest. He was afraid what would happen if God took away their little miracle from them.

He hadn't enrolled him in Hogwarts fearing for his poor health and instead had provided the best tutors and even taken part in his homeschooling himself.

And then at the fresh age of twenty eight when finally he was showing signs of maturing and proving that he could be all that his family needed, the miracle boy had somehow gotten scared of all the burden and ran off like a worthless coward not giving any heed to those years of love and care that he had received.

Of course, Caractacus's blood boiled at that, why should it not? He had expected such a lot from his son yet all his dreams were shattered like pieces of glass right before his old eyes.

Shaking with anger he stood up, directly facing the ancient tapestry which showed the family tree before him. Raising his wand with trembling hands, he pointed at his son's picture that was right under his and his wife's. With shaking hands but a fierce voice, he casted the spell and in next to no time, the face of their only son was burnt off the tapestry.

The line which connected Caractacus and Mafalda to Perseus's name was seared through and the blackish burnt mark symbolized that Perseus Burke was no longer a part of their noble family.

***