A Series of Traumatic Events

Chapter Eleven

"He's not breathing, why isn't he breathing?!" Quirin cried. His voice sounded panicked and devastating.

"Varian! Open your eyes, please son, open your eyes!" He was crying, something he hadn't done since his wife passed.

"Captain, get Quirin out of here. He doesn't need to see this." The King instructed.

The Captain went to try and pull Quirin out of the room, but Quirin wouldn't have it.

"No! No, don't make me leave! I need to be here for him. I need to be here when he wakes up!" He pleaded.

Eventually Quirin stopped fighting and let the Captain guide him out of the room.

"I'm sorry, Quirin. I really hope he'll be alright." The Captain said. "Why don't you stay in the next room over? You can be close to Varian, and you can try to get some rest."

Quirin didn't respond. He just walked into the guest room he was offered and closed the door. He knew he wasn't going to get any rest, not until he knew Varian was going to be okay.

He hadn't seen him breathing. He had stopped breathing. Quirin felt sick to his stomach, and he had to sit down. He buried his face in his hands, and he cried for his son.

-

Zhan Tiri smiled to herself. She had succeeded. Finally.

The little brat wouldn't die no matter what she threw at him. She switched the chemicals, and that didn't work. She gave him a dream, and that didn't work at all. None of it had worked.

She knew she had to get rid of the boy. He was destined to become the next Demanitus, and she couldn't have that.

He was the only one who could defeat her.

She had to resort to actually going into Varian's head, which was too much for his little body to handle. It didn't take long, but it had physically drained her, and she needed to rest.

After all, she had a kingdom to overrun.

-

Quirin heard a quiet knock at the door. He jumped up and quickly made his way to the door. When he opened it, he saw an exasperated Rapunzel. Her eyes were red and swollen, like she'd been crying.

Eugene was there too, accompanying Rapunzel on her visit. She was going to need him there.

"How's Varian? Has he woken up yet?" Quirin immediately asked.

"Quirin...I'm so sorry. Varian hasn't woken up. When he stopped breathing...he never...he didn't-" She halted, tears forming in her eyes.

Quirin's whole world came crashing down on top of him. He gasped for air, suddenly feeling like the room was becoming smaller. His breathing became fast and uneven, and he couldn't think.

Varian was dead.

His whole family was gone. Just like that. Varian wasn't ready, he was just a kid, and he didn't deserve to die. What had happened? Why did he suddenly collapse with pain, screaming like someone was torturing him?

Quirin wanted answers. And he wanted them now.

-

Cassandra noticed a change in her small friend. She was normally angry, or trying to get Cass to do something that would help her reach her destiny. But now, she seemed happy. Giddy, even.

"What's up with you? You've been acting strange since this morning." Cass inquired.

"Never mind me. I've just accomplished a small task that will later help us fulfill your destiny." The girl responded.