Hatter

THE TRUTH

The room was dead silent. All that could be heard was the humming of the air-con and the slight whispers of the wind. They all sat solemnly. Sebastian had just confessed that his allegiance lay with the Queen of Hearts- ergo, Lilith.This was the first time his eccentricity was siding with reality, and not against it.
The silence was broken by hysterical laughter. It was Oscar.
"Do you all really believe he would change sides so quickly? Why the hell would he agree to listen to Lilith after fighting with her in Aether for almost two years?" he scoffed.
"A twenty-nine year old man with child-like indecision."                                                                          "Has there ever been a time you haven't uttered a snobbish remark?" growled Ace.
Oscar waved his hand flamboyantly. "I'm just saying we're treating a grown man like a child."
Ace slumped in his chair. "Like I said before, he's been through a lot. He helped you get over your fear quite a bit, didn't he? Why are you being such a snobbish idiot now when we have to help him instead?"
"You always say he's been through a lot, but we have too- have you forgotten? What makes him special?" Oscar spoke nonchalantly.                                                                                          There was a pause.
"Nothing," replied Lilith.
The two of them blinked.
"I beg your pardon?" Ace and Oscar spoke in unison.                                                                                             "You think he's special, or helpful, or kind, or even childish, just because he's your friend- in reality, though he's not special at all. It's your friendship that defines him that way." Lilith smiled.                                                                                                                                           "That's a morbid way to put it," said Ace, crossing his arms.
"No one's special; we're all the same- that's what you're saying."
"Is it such a terrible thing to be the same? People are made by their experiences. A person is not special. The way they feel and experience things is what makes them special," said Lilith.                                                                                                                                     "Your words are so twisted, yet they make sense to me. That's why I chose to stand by your side now," said Sebastian, putting down his tea cup.                                                                                          "Speaking of experiences, Lilith- there's something I didn't tell you," Cath spoke softly. Her eyebrow curled and her eyes grew large; she looked like a sad kitten.                                                            "What is it, Cath?" Lilith asked.
They all looked at her.
She sighed softly. "The truth."
They all looked bewildered and mortified of what she told next; all but Sebastian, for he knew this tale all too well.                                                                                                                                             "Well, you see-" She paused and looked at her husband. He looked at her with great concern; she felt as though she was drowning in his eyes. Alas, she had to tell them before anything else happened.
She took a deep breath. "You remember Lucius, don't you?"
Lilith nodded.
"Well, it was no accident that killed him." Cath looked at Sebastian again; he looked as if someone had pierced his heart with a knife. The pain in his eyes was indescribable- but this was for his own good; he had to let go, she thought.                                                                  She inhaled deeply and spoke: "After Sebastian's mother Celia passed away, Lucius-" She hesitated, "-became distant. He was really close to her and couldn't bear losing her. He would lock himself in his room and not eat or drink for days until Sebastian would force him to eat."
"Don't," whispered Sebastian. His head was in his hands; he was in a slumped position. Ace put his hand on Sebastian's back, and Oscar even patted him slightly.                                                                  "Continue," Lilith said, her tone harsh but sincere.                                                                                    "One day, Sebastian went to give him lunch and-" Her voice cracked. "And... he found Lucius hanging from the ceiling fan."
She closed her eyes, remembering that day.
She heard a loud thud coming from upstairs, and she ran as fast as she could. When she reached the landing, she noticed that Sebastian was on his knees crying between Lucius's doorway. She went closer and stood petrified to the spot. Lucius's lifeless body hung from above,a thick rope choking his neck. Behind him was his mirror which had the words scattered across the glass:
'I'm sorry, Sebastian. I can't go on much longer. I know I won't meet Mother in heaven, but- I rather go to Hell for my sins than start a new life again without her. This is the only way I can finally be free.'
Sebastian's cries echoed across the house. She couldn't look at the horrifying image before her, and neither could she let her boyfriend endure this torture anymore. She slowly closed the door. Tears rolled down Sebastian's cheeks, and his hair was a tangled mess. Cath wordlessly embraced him in a hug that seemed to last an eternity.
"Catherine, are you alright?" Lilith's face was a mixture of worry and concern.
Cath brushed strands of hair away from her face. Translucent tears fell from the corner of her eyes.
She looked up at Lilith. "I'm okay."
He lost both his mother and the closest person to his heart, watching his own brother commit suicide before his very eyes. No wonder this family is an absolute raving mad mess. I need to help them, no matter what, thought Lilith
"MADAME LILITH! Something's-" Ace's voice was shaky and concerned. "Something's wrong with Sebastian."
Sebastian was breathing rapidly; his skin looked paler than usual, and he was sweating profusely.
Oscar touched him. "Why's he so cold? His heart's also beating really fast." Oscar's voice was uneasy.
"Is he going to be alright?" Cath asked Lilith. There was fear in both hers and Lilith's eyes.                                I have to save him.
"He is going into cardiogenic shock. We have to take him to the ER quickly!" Lilith spoke firmly to Henry, who just arrived.                                                                                                                                 "We'll take him to the ER room- you go set it up," yelled Ace at Henry as he and Oscar picked up Sebastian.
"Yes sir," squeaked Henry.
'Well, looks like you're more commanding than I am, Ace," Lilith laughed and Ace smirked in response.
Oscar rolled his eyes. "If you two are done flirting, we have a friend on the line here."                                                                                                                                       Cath looked at all of them with concern.                                                                                       "You won't lose him," Ace said to her.
She nodded.
Lilith grabbed Cath's hand. "We will save him."
They all stared at her in shock, then smiled. Cath nodded again and they rushed out of Lilith's office to face a demon far worse than any of them could imagine: the jabberwocky.