It was an uneventful ride.
It is past twelve noon when they arrived at Alex's home. To save time, Kal has asked Asher and Emily to go directly in his room to pack his things.
Alex and Kal came inside his house. In Kal's eyes, the house itself looks decent. It is a typical two-story Japanese house. On his left from the door, he found the dim and messy living room. on his right, he can see that there is a set of stairs going to the second floor. Beyond that, there is a straight, dark corridor that probably leads to kitchen and the bathroom.
Alex came in the living room and Kal helped him to turn on all of the lights. He was surprised to see the state of his mother. Her pitch black hair is in a mess and there were bottles of beer on the floor. The room smells of piss and cannabis and packets of little sachets of white, powdery substance were found. There were also a couple of syringe lying on the floor and several used condoms decorated the room. She is sitting on the tatami mat, naked, her head is resting on the coffee table. He saw a naked young man in the same room, probably around the same age as Alex, with a brunette head.
When the lights were turned on, the two naked people slowly woke up from their slumber. Kal saw that his mother is watching Alex with lust visible in her brown eyes. This irritated the king and he grabbed Alex's hand tightly and pulled him to hide on his back. 'Even the mother looks like she is thinking of dirty things to him.' He thought.
His mother saw Kal's gesture and smirked. She lighted a pot that is on her reach and smoked it.
Alex do not need his eyes to know who are in the room. He can definitely feel and smell the things and presence in front of him. "I thought you have changed already...and yet, you brought a man in here." He said in a low voice.
She stood up on her feet, still naked. "I thought you are not going to do that anymore?" He continued. He finally decided to face it all. And that includes his own mother. He plans on talking to her properly about him, moving out and slowly move forward with her. But why does it have to fall like this again?
"You started it all...You brought evil spirits in our house..." She was talking about the previous astral bodies of Asher and Emily, then she stared at Kal. She saw his calculative, red eyes and she knows that he is not human. She has been involved in the dark side long enough to know the meaning of his blood, red eyes. "And this time, you brought the devil himself." She scoffed. "I didn't know I have raised a monster." She took a huge puff from her pot and blew it on their faces. "You decided who or what you will bring home, and I will do the same as well."
Kal is shaking so bad. He wants to thrash around and grip the neck of this woman. Alex has felt his shaking hand so he took a step forward before he would do anything else. Facing his mother properly, he said "Is that what you really thought of me? A monster that you have raised?
"Have you ever thought of me as your son? Or someone that you can use to pay your goods?"
She said with a firm voice, "You were my son, until I found out the evil spirits that you were keeping in your room."
Alex took another step forward until he can feel that he is close to the warmth of his mother. "How about when I was a child? Have you ever thought of me as your family?" Without knowing, a tear fell from his eyes and he made an effort to make his voice stable, "Have you ever felt worried about me?"
The naked woman stared at the dull blue eyes of his son. His next question made her think of what he really is all this time. "Was I ever a child to you?"
Tears started to gather at the edge of her eyes. She can't give an answer to his questions, or to be accurate, she doesn't have the courage to say the answer to his last question. Ever since he was young, she always thought that he is capable. He is not like other disabled people or like any child. She knows that he has heightened senses and that made her think that he is always tough and capable. This made her think that he didn't need a mother to care for him.
She never realized until now that he has always been a child. He has always been someone acting tough and unbothered, but was slowly breaking inside. She only heard him ask for her help once, the first time that she sold him to them. But she was not in the right mind to help, and she never was.
Her shoulders started to shake as more tears fell from her eyes. She covered her own mouth to stop any sound that might come. She is glad that he cannot see her right now.
Alex heard the small sound that his mother made. He can clearly hear her breathing and he knows that she is trying to cry silently. He lifted his head up and tried his best to calm his breathing. He is tired of crying. Kal tapped his shoulder and this made him remember of the reason why they came here today.
"I am going to leave this place mom. I am not coming back in here anymore. But my boss, Mr. Maximus here," He touched Kal's hand on his shoulder. "Will arrange a place for you in the rehabilitation center. I hope the next time we meet, you can answer my question."
As they turned on their heels ready to leave the room, she sat at the back of her heels and hugged her naked body, ashamed of her state. Before they completely got out of the room she said, "I'm sorry...I never thought of you as a vulnerable child."
Alex stopped on his tracks and turned back to the direction of his mother. That answer of her was enough for him as an explanation to his nightmare. "Thank you for not lying, Mom."
After the incident in the living room of his house, a few men came inside to escort his mother in the rehabilitation center. Kal asked Alex on what he would want to do with his home after it was cleaned. He thought of having it sold but he changed his mind. He will keep that house for now.
***
The two familiars are silent inside the limousine the whole time that they are on the road.
They both sat on the opposite side of their master and the king. They are both staring on the entwined hands of them. Alex is facing the window as if he can really see the things outside while the king is staring at the back of his head.
Alex can't take anymore the heavy stares of his two familiars and said, "You can let my hand go, your majesty."
"Why, is this not a safe spot for you?" Kal asked.
Alex subconsciously turned his head on the direction of the king and he is trying to see the same blue eyes of his. This time however, he cannot see it because he is not using his abilities. "Safe spot?"
"Parts of your body that I can touch without you getting nervous. So, is your hand a safe spot?"
"Yes." This one simple answer from him made the king smile. "So why would I let go of your hand?"
Alex inhaled sharply and his eyes grew wide in surprise. He can feel his cheeks getting warm. He tried to pull his hand back but the king gripped it tightly. "Stop struggling. I won't let your hand go until we reached the castle."
"Are you flirting with me?" Alex asked with accusatory tone.
Kal leaned closer to Alex and he can feel the warmth from his body. "I am flirting with you. Tell me your other safe spots."
This is the first time that a man has flirted with him while he feels warm and nice inside. It did not disgust him, rather, he felt happy with it. "Uhm...my head."
"Your head?"
"Yes, you can touch any part of my head. Uhm...my arms as well. And from waist down." He continued as he flushed. 'What the hell am I saying! Why did I say from my waist down!' He thought.
He wanted to cover his face but he forgot that Kal is holding his hand. The king felt satisfied with his reaction and he wants to tease him more, "So can I give you a kiss?"
Alex lifted his face abruptly, "What?! But I am a man! Why would you kiss a man?! And why would you even flirt with me?!"
Kal closed the distance of their faces and said, "So what if you are a man? I can flirt with you as much as I want because I want you. And also, you want my help to remember your sin, right?" Alex nodded. "Hurry up and fall in love with me. You will remember it." Then he kissed him.
Alex didn't know if he will really remember his past if he fell in love with him, or if that is just a part of his antics.
Emily is beaming and she is squirming on her seat while hitting Asher on his arm. She feels giddy with her master's love life finally blooming!
Asher is staring at his master and the king kissing. He felt embarrassed but nevertheless, happy with how things are now going on with him. He just hoped that his master will make more happy memories with them and the king and things would go smoothly for him.
Alex felt his heart beating loudly and made his head dizzy. When the king pulled his lips away from him, he is panting so bad. Kal gently touched his face and said, "I hope you will remember your past soon." He ran his thumb over his slightly parted lips, "So that you would know who I was in your life."
Alex paused his giddiness for a while and started processing his words. "Huh? I thought you are just another person who knows my sin. Were you a part of my past life?"
Kal stopped running his thumb over his lips and blinked. Asher answered the question for him instead while leaning his body forward. "He had a scandal with you in your past life. That is the only information that I can say. You have to remember it by yourself sire."
***
It was already early evening when they arrived back at the castle. As promised, Alex is going to stay in the guest room next to the king's chamber. They were guided by Vanciel, the butler and assistant of Kal. The familiars saw him once from the Night kiss bar. He is that long haired butler. His brown, shoulder length hair is once again, tied lowly and his red eyes are getting impatient as time passes by.
Asher was assigned a room next to Alex and Emily's room is supposed to be in a room next to his. However, the butler is getting a headache as both of them wants the room next to their master. He called their master to deal with this properly but it seems that even their master can't get a hold of the two once they started fighting.
"I am gonna stay in this room! I am assigned in here anyway! You have been clinging to sire all the time since we became his familiars!"
Emily raised her voice as she became more upset, "No! I should be with sire all the time!"
Their pointless banter went on for a while before Alex said nonchalantly, "Ah, if none of you wants to give up this room, why won't you sleep together in here?"
Vanciel stared at Alex seriously and said, "Are you sure it is fine to keep a woman and a man in one room? Even if they are your familiars, isn't it a little inappropriate?"
"Don't worry mister. She is not a woman in any way." Asher commented which earned a smack on the head from Emily.
Alex smiled apologetically towards the presence of Vanciel. "It is fine, Mister. Trust me, not an inch of romance is budding between them." He is sure of this. Just like a parent, he knows what is going on with his two familiars. It is like a natural instinct when it comes to these two.
Vanciel sighed, "Very well. By the way, Mister Chen, let me guide you to master's office. He is asking for your presence after I showed you your quarters. We can leave whenever you are ready." He said as he stood waiting near the door of the room.
"Yes, mister. I'll go with you in a minute. I'll just have a quick word with them." He said. Vanciel closed the door to leave the three alone.
Alex placed his hands on the shoulders of his two familiars and released an authoritative aura. He is smiling but it is sinister. "Behave." Was his only word and this is enough to make the two feel tensed.
'This is absolute will where the familiars can't disobey!' Asher thought as he felt his muscles being frozen in fear.
Emily can't understand what is this feeling that she is getting from her master but she is scared to her wits! It feels like she is pressured to obey his words at full marks!
Her body started to shiver as she said, "I will. I'm s-sorry..."
Alex blinked multiple times before he completely snapped out of his trance. 'Did I scare her too much? I was just trying to be serious.'
He sighed and hugged his two familiars. He said in apologetic tone, "I'm sorry. I am just trying to be serious because I really want you to behave while I am gone. We are strangers in this place. I don't want them to be troubled by us."
Emily and Asher hugged their master, "We will behave." They both replied.
"Don't come with me tonight. I am going to in the king's presence. Don't worry." Alex said after pulling away from the two. "Go and have a rest." He smiled and ruffled the silver hair of the two.
***
"If I may ask, why would the king ask for my presence tonight?" Alex asked after he went out of the room.
For him, it feels like they are taking a turn to a lot of corridors and he is having a hard time remembering how many left and right turns are because he is getting distracted with the presence of other workers and things in this place! Just how far is his office?!
"He is going to discuss the nature of work that you are going to do from now on." Vanciel replied in a formal tone.
After a few more turns, he finally stopped. He just stood in his place for a while before Alex asked, "Mister Vanciel, is there something wrong?"
Vanciel turned around and faced Alex. His silver hair looks curly and wild. His dull blue eyes are staring at him questioningly. He doesn't look and act disabled for a blind person. So he wanted to test him a little.
His eyes glowed red and with full force, he threw his left fist flying towards Alex's face.
Alex, on the other hand, felt the sudden surge of energy from Vanciel and this put him on alert! His senses became more heightened and he blocked his fist using his right hand. The impact has made a few strands of his hair fly away from his face. "Is this your way of welcoming your guest?"
He was sure, if that punch hit his face, his familiars would run wild in this huge castle once they saw it!
Vanciel saw that while he effectively blocked his punch, his dull blue eyes stared straight at him and never flinched. It is as if his eyes are not aware of the punch that was coming to him! 'He is seeing through his senses.' He thought. Nevertheless, he was impressed by this. As expected of the taboo god.
He composed himself and cleared his throat. The glow in his red eyes died down. "I am sorry Mister Chen. That was inappropriate of me. I promise that it will not happen again." He bowed. "I just have a question for you before you go in master's office."
Alex put his guard down a little before lending his two ears on the question.
Vanciel stared intently on his blue eyes, "If you are going to be presented a chance to redeem yourself from shame by killing the person you value, would you do it?"
Alex caught up quickly on the reason why he would ask this. He just found out today that the king was involved on a scandal with him from his previous life. He understood that it is natural for his servant to be hostile towards him. Because if it was the other way around, he is sure Asher and Emily would be hostile towards the king as well. "What do you think?"
He thought of his answer for a while before saying, "I think you would choose to redeem yourself."
"Hmm. So I think you should keep an eye carefully from now on if that is your answer. However, my own answer to your question is a taboo and I am not allowed to say it. It should be known between me and the king only." Alex gave him a sly smile, "But who knows, I might sacrifice someone else to redeem myself."
'Lies.'
Alex entered the office of the king and was surprised when he was suddenly dragged away from the door. He felt his back hitting the softness of the couch and his warmth hovering above him.
'Lies, Lies, Lies.'
His manly strength pinned him down and disabled the possibility of his resistance. The king gave him a passionate kiss that reminded him of Kal's presence, and not the woman from his past. He is expecting a panicked reaction from his body but surprisingly, his scent of forest in spring delighted his senses, he is relaxed and even felt dizzy.
He feels warm inside. He is not disgusted of the thought that a man is kissing him as if his life depended on it. He can feel his longing towards him.
'You know the answer.'
Yes, he knows the answer to Vanciel's question. And as he answered it by responding to his kiss, his answer became more clear.