FAKE BROTHERS (on hold)

11. Secrets

Sitting in the car on the way home Ariel was half asleep leaning on Thane's shoulder. They managed to leave the capital on time and weren't caught by a patrol. Sun was about to set and casting it's last reddish almost rays on Ariel's sleepy face. They still had about an hour before they reach Mirana's estate.

Thane was still contemplating about Ariel's medicine. What was it for? Why such importance placed on taking it promptly? There is not much medicine with such a strong impact on the subject if forgotten to take it a few times, so what it is? And it seems Ariel was taking it past 5 or 6 years. Any medicine affects one or another aspect of health especially when taken for so long. What illness Ariel has?
"Ariel?" finally decided to clear some doubts Thane and ask Ariel about all that worries him now.
"Hmmm" just hummed Ariel without moving, keeping his head comfortably on Thane's shoulder and with closed eyes.
"About your medicine and illness..."
" Don't ask about it." Stopped his asking right away Ariel and lifted his head to look at disappointed Thane's face. He gave a sigh and put his head back on Thane's shoulder. "What you want to know? Or rather WHY you want to know about it?"
" I'm just worried...
" Worried?!" A bit surprised said Ariel with a smile. "Well, it's a first for me then. So far no one worried about me so much."
"You just exaggerate, Ariel, you have brother and father to worry about you."
"Well, I wasn't that lucky maybe like you."
"Lucky? I'm glad you weren't THAT lucky like me. My sister died in a car accident, and a few years later my parents died in a fire accident at home. Lucky, sure I was."
"I'm sorry." Said Ariel and silence hung in the air for some time.

"It's to suppress my female hormones to keep the boy's appearance." Suddenly out of nowhere, Ariel whispered to Thane's ear just in case driver could overhear him. Thane's eyes got bigger in shock. Who on Earth would go to such lengths just to keep Ariel's secret?! With such strong medicine at that! Who knows how much damage has it already done to this fragile child's body?! It might be too late already to reverse the damage done!

Thane turned towards Ariel and hugged him tightly as lonely tear run down his cheek. Who's done this to Ariel? It definitely wasn't Ariel's wish nor choice. Who was so cruel? Deceased mother? Mr. Anderson? Someone else? WHO?!

"Hey, Thane! I can't breathe. Let go of me." Almost shouted Ariel trying to push himself away from Thane's hug.

After releasing Ariel from his arms Thane still had few questions to clarify, but they were approaching Mirana family's mansion gates so talk had to be postponed.

Because Ariel was still not feeling well, he went to his room for the day. After a shower and stressful afternoon, he soon fell asleep. The nightmare in his dream continued.

Beautifully decorated room with big windows. Next to the window is standing a little girl about 6 years old. She was wearing light blue, fluffy dress. She was looking out the window and then turned back towards the bigger boy standing a few steps away behind her dressed in a tuxedo-style suit. When the girl turned toward him he could see she is sad, she's been crying. He said something (inaudible for the dreamer ) to her and next, he knows pillow lands straight on his face. Side of the pillow stitches got loose and the room became like white feathers snowing wonderland. Girl's eyes got bigger and smile appeared on her face, she began jumping and almost like dancing in the room. The boy smiled too seeing her smile and happy.

But it didn't last long. In a panic, the lady servant entered the room and said something to the boy and fear appeared on his face. White feathers turned to blood-stained ones. The boy grabbed the girl's hand and left the room. The girl could feel he was afraid and shaking, even though he was much older than her, double her age maybe, but he was afraid! What could have happened?

They came to another room. There was a lady in the room. She ran towards girl and hugged her tightly, she was crying. But soon she pushed a little girl away and gave something to her. Little dagger, but in girls hands, it was almost like the size of a sword. The girl held it looking at it in confusion, woman clasped with both her palms girls hands that held the dagger. "Remember what I have taught you so far about... (inaudible)..." The girl shook head refusing and dropping dagger on the floor. The woman picked it up and pressed back again into little girls hands and left the room with last words for the boy that came with a little girl. He went on one knee in front of the woman. "I will do my best, your Highness, to protect your daughter at all cost to get her out of here safe."