Broken wings

Chapter 18

"So I've been thinking. Logan is probably gonna want new glasses." Aimee speaks up. I hum. Not sure where she's going with this.
"You think he'll take me with him when he comes back here?" She wonders.
"If you learn to hide your wings." I look at her knowingly. I already hid mine the moment we started our way back to the castle. She looks a bit guilty before hiding hers as well. I smirk softly. I'm so relieved she's okay.
"I could just buy him one." Roman offers. I look at him and he shrugs. "It's really not that special. They're just glasses." He replies my unspoken question.
"Well, don't let him hear that." I tell him amused. By the time we're almost back at the castle, I start feeling uneasy. Worry, panic and deep sadness rolls over me.
"Something's wrong." I mutter before I make Stormcloud go faster. I hear Roman and Aimee fasten their pace behind me as well. The closer we get, the stronger I feel the emotions. It's not just from one person. It can't be. When we get out of the forest I see most people stand outside.
"What?" Roman looks just as confused before rushing ahead of me. I quickly catch up with him. We don't even bother putting the horses in the stables, but go right up to the people. Some look up startled, but most are looking at Polly, Tim and Janet who're standing over someone who's laying flat on his back. No. I push people aside and see Patton. Multiple bones are broken and he's bleeding severely. His glasses lay shattered beside him. The grass underneath him soaked with his blood despite de bandages they already put around him.
"What happened?" Roman demands to know. I kneel beside the broken man and rest my hand on Patton's head as I concentrate.£
"He fell through the window. I don't know how it happened." Yenny cries. Roman and I both look up. To my horror I see one of the large windows broken. Now also noticing the shards of glass on the grass. Some covered in blood from piercing Patton's skin before someone took them out.
"Alright. Okay. Everyone inside." Roman orders the people then. They look at him as if he's insane.
"Virgil is a doctor. His sister a nurse. They're his best shot, but to do their work, they need space. So go inside!" He lies smoothly as he starts pushing people back. With another glance at their comrade they start going inside.
"Yenny, dear, can you get us a bucket with water and some clean cloths?" He stops the ginger girl who's crying. She nods and runs inside. As soon as everyone is gone he kneels beside me to look at his stableman and friend.
"Can you save him?" He whispers worried.
"I'm trying." I mutter between gritted teeth. "Aimee." I gesture my sister closer and she kneels down on his other side. Her hands over the worst of the wounds as she closes her eyes as well.
"Why isn't it working?" She looks up at me in despair.
"Keep trying." I order her.
"What does she mean?" Roman asks concerned.
"Shht." I shush him.
"I-I-It's o-okay, k-k-kiddo's." Patton speaks up with a weak voice. Gurgling softly as he slowly drowns in his own blood.
"Save your strength, Padre." Roman tries to stop him from talking more.
"H-He s-said n-nothing w-w-would b-be a-ab-able t-to s-save m-me." He whispers. His blue eyes are filled with fear and pain.
"Who said that?" I snap my head up at him. He tries to shake his head. He doesn't know his name.
"M-M-must-mustache." He utters before coughing up blood.
"Remus." Aimee whispers in shock. I feel as if ice cold water washes over me. The thing I felt when I woke up that first day. It was the same thing I felt when he touched those women. Was he here then as well? Did he use his powers on Patton? Fuck, I should've pushed through. I should've found him before he could disappear again. I shouldn't have been so weak that first day.
"What did he say, Patton?" I ask him as I concentrate harder on healing him.
"H-He t-thou-thought i-it w-would b-b-be f-fun i-if I d-died i-in c-case h-his b-bro-brother w-won." He looks confused into my eyes. The color leaving his face as he loses more and more blood.
"Well, we're not going to just let you die." Aimee mutters with a concentrated frown.
"I-It's o-okay." He whispers again bravely. "I-I'll b-be w-with L-Lisa." He smiles softly before his face twists in pain and he groans.
"No, no, no. You can't die, Patton." Roman pushes on his wounds as well in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Tears in his eyes.
"C-Can y-you p-promise m-me s-something, s-sire?" Patton looks at him.
"Anything." Roman nods.
"T-Take c-care of T-Thomas f-for me?" The smaller man requests.
"I won't have to because you'll survive. You'll live and you'll watch him grow up yourself." Roman shakes his head.
"P-Please?" Patton begs him. Roman lets out a sob as he rests his head on Patton's chest.
"He'll have a good life." I promise him when I notice Roman can't.
"Th-Thank you, V-Virgil." The smaller man tries to smile at me. "I-I'm gl-glad I-I met y-you." He whispers. I square my jaws as tears start filling my own eyes as well.
"Me too, Pat." I nod softly.
"T-The h-horses-" He starts. I shake my head.
"They'll be okay. I'll take care of them. And when Thomas is old enough he'll take over. Just like the rest of your family did." I tell him. Patton nods softly before groaning again.
"I-I'm s-sorry. I sh-shouldn't h-have l-let th-the man i-in." He looks regretful.
"Don't apologize." Roman whispers with a hoarse voice from the lump in his throat. Patton tries to smile, but it falters. He rests his head back and his eyes look up at the sky. His last breath is weak and shaky.
"No." Roman whispers when he sees it.
"He's dead." Aimee looks up at me in shock. A single tear rolls down my cheek and I wipe it away. Leaving a smear of his blood behind on my cheek.
"He can't be." Roman tries to shake Patton awake. I stop him. "No." He tries to fight me.
"He's gone, princey." I whisper as I hold him back. "He's gone." I repeat and Roman breaks down in my arms. I hear a bucket drop on the floor. Water splashing around.
"Please, no." Yenny shakes her head in denial. Tears streaming down her face. Aimee stands up so she can kneel down beside her close friend.
"P-Patton-" The ginger girl begs softly as she looks down on his lifeless body. When he doesn't respond, she rests her head on his chest and sobs loud. I look at it with a bleeding heart. Holding Roman close to my chest as I try to calm him down. Did Remus know who he picked? Had he seen Roman together with him? Or was this just all one big sick coincidence? I shush Roman softly while Aimee rests her hand on Yenny's shoulder. She looks at me with big eyes. Before today she never witnessed death. She didn't realize how fragile life and especially humans are. The sun slowly sets. I lean over to close Patton's eyes. Roman wipes his face clean and looks down on his friend. He clears his throat.
"He needs to get to the city. He needs a funeral." He speaks up a little hoarse. Yenny looks up at him and nods softly.
"In the same graveyard as his sister." She agrees as she tries to control her sobs. I never realized just how much she cared for the smaller man. Maybe I should've paid better attention to them. Maybe I should've just prevented this all together. I square my jaws.
"Aimee and I can get there fastest." I suggest. Roman shakes his head.
"No, he'll go in the carriage." He decides. I nod softly. Whatever he needs.
"Yenny, I hate to ask, but can you get John and James to ready it? I'll give the others the news." He whispers as he pushes himself on his feet. His eyes lingering on Patton. Yenny uses one of the cloths she brought and wipes her nose before nodding and getting to her feet as well.
"I'll get his blanket." I offer.
"Take mine." Roman's eyes shift to me. I nod softly and fly in and out of his room the moment Yenny is out of sight. I place the blanket on the ground and gently put Patton down in the middle before wrapping him up. Aimee looks at me in silence.
"You can go home, Aims." I tell her softly. She shakes her head.
"You might need me." She replies with a soft voice. I notice John and James run outside. They stop to look at Patton all wrapped up now. I can see and feel their mourning before they walk over to the carriage.
"Was he a friend?" My sister wonders. I rest my hand where Patton's golden heart would be beating if he was still alive. My head hanging. I never considered any of these people my friend, but I guess...
"Yes." I whisper before looking up at her again. "He was a good one." I tell her. My voice starts to shake and I look away again when more tears threaten to spill from my eyes. He was a good one. Arguably the best. He'd never harm anyone. He didn't deserve this. I hear a baby cry inside and know it's Thomas. "Can you-?" I point at Patton. She nods.
"Thank you." I kiss the top of her head before going inside where I'm overwhelmed by everyone's deep grieve. I stumble for a moment as I go inside the common room. Roman stands in front of the fireplace. Tears rolling silently down his cheeks again as he tells everyone the fate of their friend and colleague and what they're going to do now. Polly desperately tries to calm little Thomas down as she rocks him up and down. Wiping away her own tears from time to time. I feel dizzy by all the sadness that comes at me and walk up to her. Without exchanging words she hands me the baby. I nod softly before focusing on Thomas. Calming down his confusion and fear. At least this is something I can do. I clench my jaws as I think of the promises I made this little guy's uncle and surrogate father. Soon Thomas stops crying. He's the only one.
"Can I ask you a question, dear?" Polly speaks up softly so only I can hear her. I look at her while not letting go off Thomas's mood for a second.
"Are you an angel?" She wonders. My eyes darken and I shake my head.
"An angel would've been able to save him, ma'am." I reply bitter.
"I will never understand the lord's will." She reacts. "Why take such a kind young man instead of an old lady like myself?" She shakes her head miserably. There's nothing I can say that would make her feel better so I just remain quiet. John comes back inside.
"The carriage is ready." He announces gloomy. Roman nods before looking at me. A question clear in his eyes. Will I come along? I nod. Of course I will.
"Sire?" Yenny speaks up hesitantly.
"Call me Roman, Yenny. There are no ranks when it comes to grieving a friend." He tells her disheartened. I see some people look surprised at his request, but no one reacts outwardly. She nods slowly.
"R-Roman-" She starts over. "Can I come along to the city?" She wonders. "I-I can take care of Thomas-" She adds to help her case.
"Of course you can." Roman replies with a curt nod. "If anyone else wants to come as well, you can. I only need one person to stay behind to take care of the horses." He announces to the rest of the group. I know there should never be just one person in the castle, but I understand he's trying to give everyone the chance to mourn in their preferred way. In the end only a handful of people decide they want to come too. Tina and Eric, Polly, Yenny and Tim. Roman nods and gestures they should pack quick before we leave. I stay behind with Thomas in my arms. Roman comes closer and looks at the little guy.
"First his parents and now his uncle." He whispers. "His life already started cruel." He adds sad.
"He'll survive." I reassure him.
"He's my responsibility now." Roman lets out a soft sigh and I can sense there's more he want to say.