Victoria slowly let go of Kai's neck when she realised he had been unconscious long enough. She slowly took her trembling hands by her side. She went out of the room and saw a familiar figure. Her right hand woman.
She was wearing gloves and had chains hanging from her pocket. "I have taken care of matters in your office. I'll be able to take Kai out inconspicuously without anybody out of the estate knowing." she said, fixing her white gloves with her teeth.
"Great job, Begonia." Victoria praised, making way for her to pick up the body. "Has my husband shown any signs of waking up?"
Begonia picked up Kai in her arms, though she was a woman. She was muscular and her muscles were visible. She picked up the kid with ease. "No. Our doctor said it'll take him a week at most to wake up." She walked behind Victoria.
"That'd give me time to mentally prepare myself for his scolding. And I need you to double check if I had left any trace of communication with Lord Bellaire. I don't want Huxely to have a single clue on where Kai had gone." Victoria instructed, it seemed like she had got herself together in a short span of time.
"I'll take note of that." Begonia answered, looking at the deep red hand print on Kai's neck. It looked like it hurt. His body was also oddly light for his age almost, almost weighing like a sack of clothes. She could slightly feel his spine poking her arm from the way she carried him. For a moment, she felt pity for the boy but knew she wasn't in such a position to feel these feelings.
Begonia successfully went out of the back door with Victoria and placed the boy into an old dirty wooden carriage. For safety precautions, she used the handcuffs and legcuffs on him, making sure it's locked and passing the keys to the carriage drivers.
After all the trouble was taken care of and the carriage rode off into the night. Victoria turned her back and didn't even spare a glance back. She didn't care anymore. She had no hesitation in selling her son off. In fact, she had planned it since last month. She didn't even bother to wait till the end of the day to see if he had the Whitlock abilities.
Victoria didn't even acknowledge it was his birthday. To her, that day was just his failed awakening. Nothing more, nothing less.
After that day, Victoria got more busy with her office work and taking some pills. She thought she'd finally get a break from all the work pile but she heard the news that Huxley woke up after 3 days.
It was chaotic, Huxley was screaming and rampaging around the Manor like a wild beast. Screaming the forbidden name like it was his lifeline. He could not find his dear son anywhere. The servant's lips were sealed.
The only thing they told him was that it had been 3 days since he fell into an unconscious state. And that Kai was not here anymore. He couldn't believe his ears, there was no way. It had to be a dream. A nightmare he'll wake up from soon.
Huxley fell down the stairs and felt the pain in his ankle. It was scraped and blood was stained on the staircase. He could feel it. The sensation of being in pain. This isn't a dream.
"No..no.. " he said, he could feel tears welling up in his eyes. This couldn't be happening right now. He swore he'll protect his lovely son.
Just then, a person who had been watching him all this time stepped up to lend him a helping hand. She took out bandages as if she had known it was going to happen. She wiped his blood stain with her white shirt while she carefully handled his ankle as if it was a national treasure.
"You can treat me so gently. That it almost makes you seem like a different person. Why couldn't you do it for our son!?" Huxley yelled, pushing her away while tears rolled down his cheeks and red sunken eyebags.
"You know I can't." Victoria replied. "I'm sorry." She apologised, not daring to make eye contact with him. With just a drop of his tears and his cracked voice, she wanted to comfort him. But she dare not to, or else he might hate her more.
Huxley sniffled and wiped his tears but no matter how much he wiped, the pain and loss he felt was still stinging. "Where is he? You can still bring him back! I'll forgive you and everything. You don't even have to stay with him. I'll give him a house on the other side of the continent. I just want him to be safe. I'll sacrifice myself for him. So please..bring him back to me!" He pleaded.
Victoria wanted to give in. But she would never forgive herself if she did. It was too late for regrets. "I killed him in our garden where he loved most. And I buried him under his favourite flowers. That was the most I could do."
Huxley suddenly stood up and limped hurriedly towards the front door, the guards blocked him with their weapons but he shoved them off.
Victoria raised her hand and ordered the guards to back off. It was not a good idea to stop Huxley while he's mad like this. What if he harmed himself even more?
She ran after him.
Just as Victoria vaguely described. In Kai's favourite spot of the garden. Beneath the golden tree was a pile of snowy pure white lilies. And below there laid a mess of dirt that had obviously been dug up and placed together.
"No..no.." Huxley couldn't believe his eyes, he dashed towards the tree while he tripped over the stone path but he regained his footing and fell to his knees at the tree. His son…he couldn't save him. He picked up the lilies and buried his face in it. It smelled just like him.
Kai reminded Huxley of the spring season. His gentle and forgiving nature was his charming point. He emitted warmth from everything he did. From the way he smiled, the way he was handling plants. He always smelled like a bouquet of flowers. He always smiled brightly no matter what he did. Even if he got hit, he would still smile shortly after. Would he still keep the same bright smile in the afterlife?
"I wanna see his body to confirm.." Huxley said. Not wanting to believe the tragic sight that had befallen in front of him.
"You might not want to. I..slashed his body into pieces. I gouge out his eyes. I cut his tongue. I-" Victoria murmured out.
Huxley felt something coming up his throat, he dropped the flowers and vomited on the flowers. He had soiled such a pure object. Was there even anything left that could be kept to remember the child?
The child didn't have any painted portraits. He didn't have any possessions. Except for the garden of warmth be left behind. Huxley looked around and could still see light translucent figures of Kai watering the plants and changing the pots. He clenched his shirt and felt a pang in his heart. How was he not able to protect such a precious being?
"You..put a sleeping drug into one of the water I drank. You did all this monstrosity while I was drugged." Huxley claimed, glaring at Victoria.
"I'm sorry. I really am. But you ought to understand." Victoria said, getting mad. Not Huxley but at Kai. For leaving such a mess behind even though he was already gone from here.
Victoria went up to Huxley and hugged him from behind. He didn't struggle. He laid there silently. "It was for our safety." She attempted to convince him.
Huxley could feel himself about to choke on his words. He couldn't bring any strength to continue rebutting Victoria. She had won. He accepted the situation as it is and stayed silent.
Maybe Kai will be angry at him for not being able to save him, but he'll forgive. He had always wanted a sibling. Huxley prayed to the gods that the next child will be luckier. And that Kai will watch over him.
'Just know that. I have never once stopped loving you.' Huxley thought. Hoping Kai would know this. His beloved child had suffered a cruel fate.
The couple sat there beneath the tree until the moon arose. It shined magnificently around the Manor but left the garden untouched.