An unnatural luminescence bathed the room, casting an eerie glow on Trace's pale skin. Gone was the vibrant pink hair, replaced by an unsettling white that contrasted sharply with the imposing raven wings sprouting from his back, marking him as one of Anthony's "feathers." His electric-blue eyes, though, remained, yet they held a chilling emptiness as they surveyed the tense faces around him.
The air crackled with unspoken hostility. One figure, Alucard the Fenrir, growled a challenge at Trace's presence, his eyes blazing with fury as a surge of power crackled in his hand.
Trace, however, met the fenrir's glare with a cold amusement, a humorless chuckle escaping his lips.
"Artemisia," he called out, his voice surprisingly calm. The sound of his own voice after death seemed to surprise him. "There's no need for such hostility."
Alucard's master, Artemisia, stood, her amethyst eyes flashing a steely glint. "There's more at stake here, Trace," she said, her voice cutting through the tension. "Calm yourself, Alucard."
With a low growl, Alucard slumped back in his chair, forced to obey his master. Though he couldn't attack, his glare never left the detestable form of Trace.
Death had opened Trace's eyes. He understood Alucard's reaction. They'd fought before, and Trace had forced the fenrir to battle undead Alucard personally knew in their living days.
A sigh escaped Trace as he shifted his attention to Vin and Saint. He recognized Vin from before his death, and a flicker of gratitude passed through him - the rabbit-man must have told Anthony what he needed to know. He wasn't surprised by the disbelief in Vin's eyes. After all, the only Trace Vin knew was the malevolent force behind the recent battles.
Across from him, Saint stared at Trace with wide-eyed fascination. Trace couldn't blame him - he was no longer alive, yet Saint's reaction surprised him further. He knew Saint's father had been a patron of his former master's "farm," but here was the young man, seemingly untainted by his father's darkness, who had befriended Anthony and exposed the truth.
Shaking his head in amusement, Trace had to admit a grudging respect for Saint's courage. "You're definitely a better man than your father," he said, "and much easier on the eyes."
Saint surprised him by bursting into laughter. "Guess the dead have a better eye for beauty than the living," he shrugged, his smirk still plastered on his face.
Trace offered no reply. He closed his eyes for a moment, a strange sensation in his current state. He no longer needed to breathe to calm himself. Back when he was alive, his heart would be pounding with anxiety in this situation.
He knew it was time to face his consequences. Anthony might not see him as family anymore, but just a weapon, and Trace would accept that. As long as he could help his nephew, that was all that mattered.
With a swift movement, Trace knelt on one knee, his wings fanning out in a gesture of complete submission. A stunned gasp escaped Aegir's lips – never had he imagined seeing their former enemy so humbled.
"I am unworthy," Trace began, his voice heavy with shame, addressing his words to Anthony. "But if you would allow it, this dead man offers himself to you. Use me as you see fit. I will accept any punishment and burden with all that I am, My Liege."
If Anthony reacted with fury, Trace wouldn't complain. He deserved the anger and the guilt would be his eternal burden.
Aegir felt the weight of Trace's words. His show of obedience spoke volumes about his regret. A strange certainty laced Trace's voice, a sense that he wouldn't shy away from any pain or punishment Anthony might inflict. But it would be a second death for Trace if his nephew cast him aside.
It was a suffocating sight - the struggle of a man who understood his mistakes far too late. Yet, Aegir knew Anthony was a kind man. He might accept his uncle without offering forgiveness, and that was alright. They could start there, and Aegir would be happy that Anthony still had family to rely on.
Aegir yearned for his master's happiness, a freedom from the dark shadows he was forced to carry. It's what someone with a kind heart like Anthony deserved.
Aegir stared at Anthony's face whose expression was contorted with a complex of mixed emotions - there was rage, sorrow, and pity laced on his golden orbs. He was clenching his fist as his jaw tightened. Anthony wanted to lashed out on his uncle but he could feel where he was coming from - the dull, throbbing pain that stayed for many years that turned into blinding cold fury. He also had those feelings to the people who hurt him but he was able to contain every bits of it for his own good. He doesn't want to impose pain on others because he already understood how it felt being a victim.
Aegir placed his hand on Anthony's shoulders, gently squeezing it. Even with the presence of wrath and other emotions - his master's kindness still remains.
Anthony mustered a sigh before pushing himself to speak, "I...I cannot forgive what you've done. " Anthony choked out. Trace stiffened, he bit his lips. He already anticipated it but it still sent ripples of pain in his heart. He was already dead but the anguish never left.
Anthony faltered yet he decided to continue, "But perhaps... " he paused; trying to find the right words that'll fit, "If moving forward with you means correcting the mistakes that was done for several years... who am I to stop your desire for repentance? " A small smile etched on Anthony's lips. "By all means, uncle... Help us. "
A sliver of hope struck Trace and it was that moment when lifted his head. Trace opened his lips to tell the truth and to offer them all the evidence that could also convict the nymph elders and some others who were the reason why this war was happening.
"Your enemy was no other than Hale. The first victim of the nymph elders. " Trace's revelation took a sharp turn. Artemisia stood up from her seat; a feeling of unease clouded her heart. She has suspicions because Hale was never found - he was even pronounced dead but she never expected that all of these was his revenge.
But Hale was a nymph but isn't their enemy a vampire?
Trace rose from his current position and pointed his index finger in Artemisia's direction. "You failed to protect a victim from those nymph elders. If it's not for Hale the human and the cat-person wasn't apprehended but instead of thanking him - those nymph elders used the opportunity to rationalize their hatred towards Hale. They killed him and you did nothing. "
Artemisia's face paled. Realization dawned on her; she knew what he was talking about because it is one of the guilt she has inside her heart.
She was grieving due to the loss of her lover - the past village chief of the nymphs. She shut everything up and didn't care what had happened after that. She let another victim suffer.
Artemisia's body felt cold - her heart hung heavy on her chest. Alucard, who had seen the expression on his master's face, went rigid. He couldn't accept that his master was being blamed! It's not Artemisia's fault that they chose to be wicked!
Alucard stood up and shielded Artemisia with his hand. He was growling at Trace; his teeth were clenching. "Don't put my master into this! " he shouted, anger evident in his voice. Trace just sarcastically laughed with Alucard's remark.
"You don't know anything, kid. " Trace shook his head in dismay. Alucard became more infuriated; his knuckles ready to attack Trace any minute.
"And you think you know everything? you bastard! " Alucard spat back at Trace, launching a powerball towards Trace's direction. Trace immediately parried the magic hurled at him by swallowing it whole using his right hand.
With his palm stretched forward - aiming at Alucard; his hand glowed crimson. It immediately confined Alucard's body, preventing the fenrir to move. The fenrir tried to flee himself from the barrier Trace have casted on him but with no avail.
Trace looked at Alucard blankly, he pointed his index finger at Artemisia. Her hands were shaking and eyes now tearing up. "Why don't you try to ask her? She knows what she did and nothing could be fixed here without accountability and let's start with her. " Trace was aware that he doesn't have the right to speak about accountability but death made him realize that nothing will change until the roots of all of these will be cut.
Artemisia's voice cracked. Her heart was heavy and she knows that Trace was right. She lowered her head while tears flowed in her eyes. "I am sorry... " she apologized again and again, making Alucard's shoulder drop.
Trace could see the remorse in Artemisia's voice. He knew that it was genuine because he too sounded the same before but he cannot stop now - they need to know everything. "You cursed the cat-people, didn't you? " Trace's eyes darted around the only cat-person present inside the room - Aegir whose eyes widened in shock.
"Hale cheated death. A vampire, later his wife, saved and turned him. But hatred festered among the cat people. They detested Alec, the one who beguiled you, and the cause of why their race was cursed. Their elders, fearing charm and manipulation, deemed such powers evil. This prejudice saw some cat people become vampire hunters. It was one of them who murdered Hale's wife and their unborn child, setting him on this path, " Trace further revealed. This was the story his ex master had told him and the other generals. He clearly remembered how his eyes turned to bloodshot red and his anger caused the room to loom in darkness making it impossible to breathe.
All of the people's faces present in the room turned white in terror. The revelation hung heavily in the air. Trace's eyes never left Aegir, he placed his hand on his chin; suddenly remembered something, "Their malice never ended there. It runs deep. You protectors are blind. " Trace chuckled humorlessly, "Like the nymphs, they also harm their own kind. Years ago, they even allegedly killed one of their chief's children for having a power related to charm. "
Upon hearing what Trace had said, Aegir's face went completely drained of its colors. His hand flew instinctively on his chest, his breathing catching on his throat. Trace could tell that what had flickered on Aegir's eyes spoke the truth. The truth that mirrored his own - because he was the very person that was mentioned in his tale.
Aegir never wanted to remember his past. He doesn't want to have anything to do with it. They never found out that he was still alive. He was a defenseless child before when it happened and one of his brothers - who was kind - unlike the other was the one who had thrown him to the human city where he lived all his life.
Across the room, Anthony could sense Aegir's distress. He immediately went to hold Aegir's arm to support him. Trace could only smiled faintly upon realizing that it'll be complicated for the both of them but he could attest that both of them are stronger together.
Anthony squeezed Aegir's shoulder as a form of silent encouragement. He doesn't know why Aegir is reacting this way and he doesn't want to ask. He knows Aegir will tell him until he's ready and he'll wait for that.
Trace stepped towards Artemisia. The woman wiped her tears away, with a hoarse voice full of remorse, she spoked, "I... " Words failed her, the weight of her past burden crushed a heavy burden in her heart.
With words full of authenticity, Artemisia bowed her head towards everyone, especially Aegir. "I'm sorry... I truly mean it," Artemisia choked a sob. Aegir in return, weakly smiled. He doesn't know if Artemisia already found out who he was but if it's about the curse Artemisia had placed towards his race - he doesn't want to live in the past anymore.
They couldn't change what had been done. But if they could do something in the present to prevent it from happening again - it'll be the choice that must be put in action.
Aegir took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "The only thing we need to do is to end this cycle. " Aegir never thought he'd be able to bravely say things like these but he wants a better future.
With a curtly nod, Trace agreed. Artemisia heaved a long sigh - her face now stern; with a voice full of authority she proclaimed, "We will call the elders and representatives of each race. Before we discuss our next move with them - we'll hold a trial against the elders of the nymphs and cat-race. "
She looked at Anthony and Aegir then continued, "I will proclaim you two officially as my people and also as witnesses against the elders... Do you accept it? "
Aegir gulped. He was getting nervous. But if it's the only way to move forward - he'll do it if he fears it. He looked at Anthony whose gaze was also fixed with him; mirrored his nod. "We accept. "
With one thought in mind - to fight for each other's sake to secure a peaceful future.
Amidst the seriousness looming in the air, Saint re-entered the living room with a plate full of newly cooked pasta in his hand. Vin wasn't able to stop him from leaving after Trace's revelation.
Vin facepalmed and mumbled incoherent words; each firing insults to the crazy human. The idiot really chose a good time to become someone he's good at.
Saint placed the pasta on the table; the people inside the room were staring at him. He smiled happily, nonchalant about the situation. "Pasta, everyone!" he chirped, oblivious to the tension.
"And drinks! You guys look stressed." He gestured toward the kitchen, then to Trace, a confused frown marred his features. "Excuse me, but does, uh, the dead guy eat? No offense, dead... uh... Anthony's uncle?" He scratched his head, an awkward smile on his lips.
The weight of the moment momentarily lifted as bewildered stares met Saint's innocent inquiry.
-