Victor turns to leave but he bumps into a person. He steps back and looks in front of him. He sees himself in a mirror.
"Are you in a hurry?" His twin brother, Albert, smiles sweetly. His clothes are majestic, similar to Victor's.
"Yes." Victor wants to pass him but the boy grabs him by the hand." What?" Victor frowns.
The twin makes a depressed face as he looks at Victor. "Why didn't you tell me that you go to the cabin? You know I enjoy going there too." His sad tone makes Victor sigh.
It wasn't the first time Silas didn't want to tell Albert his real intentions. Victor always felt that Silas was unfair about this, but he kept the real reason from Albert in the hope that he would not be involved in any of Silas' plans. It was better this way.
"Let's go there another time. Now I have some work there." Victor grabs Albert's hand and takes it off his arm.
"Victor! Take me with you! I can help!" Albert clings more to him.
He always saw Victor as an older brother even though they were twins. Their relationship went south since Victor seemed to be controlled by their father more and more.
"Albert …. let go …" Victor growls in a whisper.
SMACK!
Silas hits the table. Every servant is getting inside and his wife too. It was a plan made by Silas to make sure that no one would see what would happen. Everyone in the castle was aware of what they were supposed to do if a table was hit by the king.
Victor grips the boy's arm. 'Fuck!' This wasn't supposed to happen with Albert present." Go …. Go …" He whispers to Albert while portraying the fear in his eyes so that Albert will understand how dangerous it is to stay.
Albert looks confused at Victor. He never saw his brother this frightened. What was happening always when they left Victor with his father alone? This question was in his mind for years. This time he will find out.
"I am not going anywhere. "Albert looks innocently and fierce in Victor's eyes.
Victor wants to go crazy. Should he just hit Albert so that his mind would come back to him? Definitely. The boy was too stupid …
Without any warning, Silas takes a chair and throws it towards the boys. Victor turns his head back fast and from instinct, he drags Albert to his chest.
"Why can't I eat peacefully? "Silas comes closer and lifts the chair from the ground. With a predictable move, Silas hits Victor again. The chair was made from a strong essence of wood.
Why is he suffering this? Victor feels like contemplating in the wrong moment. As his father hits him numerous times, his mind is more active than Silas' hands. 'Why ?.....' Was it because he was too weak to oppose? Is he giving that impression ?.... Victor knows that that's not it. He has a reason.
He needs to endure this for his happiness. In the end, all his suffering will turn out to be worth it when he sees Ilona safe and sound.
His thoughts shift from that to Albert who is under him looking terrified. The boy didn't deserve to be tangled in this, but his father must have lost his composure this time. After all, interrupting Silas 'time with their mother was one strong reason to be beaten.
"Till tomorrow I want what I asked you. Get out of my face!" Silas looks at Victor who is half dead and with a breath calms himself down. Good thing the chair broke, he would have continued the beating.
Albert carries Victor inside.
"Let's go to the doctor … Hold unto me…God…." Albert wants to cry but stops himself. He blames himself for not knowing till now what Victor went through. But how can he know, when Victor was locked in his room till he got out without a scratch?
"Don't …. I am going to my …room …" Victor tries to walk alone. Because of the pain he barely makes a few steps. Albert grabs his hand and puts it over his shoulders and in a hurry he walks towards Victor's room.
"I never knew that dad could be like this …I will talk to him …" Albert is interrupted by his brother.
Victor cuts the rumbling while pinning him to the wall." Don't …tell anyone ..what you saw and …mind your own ..business." His black eyes make Albert nod in agreement.
"Promise …" Victor whispers while he maintains the eye contact. He needs the assurance.
"I will keep it a secret …but." Albert frowns and wants to continue but once again Victor stops him.
"Good. No but! …. Now get me to my room." Victor lets out a moan as Albert puts his hand over the beaten-back.
They walk in silence till the door of his room is opened by Albert. He puts Victor on the bed and undresses him. His back is tattered. The skin on some bones is nowhere to be seen, leaving behind open wounds. Some big patches of the skin left are purple.
Victor glances at him and realizes that he should take care of himself rather than let Albert help him. He causes Albert too much grief
"Get me in the bath …I will wash myself …" Victor groans and takes small steps into the bath with his brother. Albert is not commenting on anything. He just watches Victor with a sad face having his eyes ready to let out a flood of tears.
"I can wash you …" Albert doesn't show any signs of leaving while being asked nicely.
"GO!" Victor raises his voice as much as he could. 'Is for the best ….' His thoughts make him frown and send arrows towards Albert.
The boy leaves with his head lowered. His steps are almost soundless.
The door of the room is heard last as he closes it gently.
Clack….
"Sigh…. Hmmm…" Victor takes in his palm water and looks at the reflection. His hair is bloody and the frown makes him look older than he is. A trace of madness is seen in his eyes that pierce the water.
He wishes the girl to be next to him and take care of his wounds, however letting Ilona see him like this will be humiliating. How is he protecting her, if he can't protect himself …. His thoughts make him sigh again.
She doesn't need to know anything.
"Ahh…. damn …the bastard hit me more than usual …." He lets the water across his back as he slides more under the water.
'It will be a hustle to ride like this …." He remembers that Silas told him that the plan didn't change even though he was injured. Well, what was he expecting? A day off because of a small injury? Of course not. Unless he was dead, Silas would never change his plans. As long as Victor was still breathing, then the plan remained the same.
Victor was not even surprised to hear that but he was concerned. His back was trashed out a lot. Maybe if he took a carriage he would be able to go …
Well, an update on Ilona is welcomed. Victor wishes to know if she was doing fine in the army. He sent a pigeon a few days earlier, but no news. Knowing that she was in good shape would make him feel a little better.
As he gets out of the bathroom his towel is tilted on his hips. His steps are small but steady. The salt he put in the water disinfected his wounds well but they were still pungent.
A knock is heard on the window. A small black pigeon is tilting his head waiting for his master to open the window.
'Finally …' Victor wants to walk faster but the pain is keeping him considerate of his steps. His smile was on display as he opened the small window.
"Blueberry …. Hope you bring good news …" He gently takes the pigeon in his hands and unties the small paper tied to the pigeon's leg.
//
To my friend Victor,
We fought a battle in Sarif and Ilona was with us. She wounded hundreds of men but …. She was also wounded. The reason is unknown. I sent her back to Windsor in a carriage. I did what I could to pull the arrows out of her back without making her lose blood. Only God can save her. The doctor gives her a small chance of survival. You better say your goodbyes before is too late.
From your friend, Grey
//
The letter is crushed in his palms and anger is making Victor see red.
'My girl will not die ….'