AZRAEL
Whenever I look at the empty shell that's left of my brother ever since the break up, I feel a profound load of hate towards Julian. I know it's not my place to hold such feeling towards my brother's mate but I'm only a mortal.
I wonder what kind of effort it would have taken him to trust and love my brother a little bit more than he did. How better it would be if he had at least sacrificed himself and be a little more selfless.
I wonder if he is even aware of the depth of Adrien's love for him. The passion and trust he holds for him.
Adrien deserves better.
Julian is not worth my brother's love. He gave his whole heart to Julian,only for it to be shattered into a million little pieces.
Sometimes I find myself wishing I never played cupid. I wish I never intervened that day he told me about him. Maybe, just maybe,things would've been different.
Maybe their first encounter would've sufficed and served as the last. Maybe they would've still been unable to meet again, each of them living a different life. I regret ever making the decision to look for Julian and find him for Adrien.
None of this would have happened if it weren't for me.
I regret everything now.
I wish I could turn back time and prevented any of this from happening. I wish I had the control over time and fate; I could've done everything within my means to change my brother's fate.
I wish I could exchange my fate with his.
Adrien deserves better.
He deserves someone who is willing to listen and trust him, someone to love and treasure him like he matters,someone to put Adrien first before themselves like he does the rest. I can't bear seeing him in this situation.
Julian left him.
Julian left and the life Adrien had constructed crumbled into tiny bits. What breaks my heart even further is the fact that only he can put them back.
I tried nudging Alekzanda to at least get up from the floor where he has been rotting for the last thirteen days,once more but he still won't move and I can't touch him in this state. I just have to keep him company to make sure nothing life threatening happens to him.
Alekzanda hasn't left his room,changed his clothes and let alone getting some food to eat. The thirteen days of separation are weighing on him and it's breaking my heart. I have been with him ever since the night I came to his house to check on him and find out how Julian had reacted to the information that Adrien is a merman. The situation I found him in keeps on deteriorating each day that goes by, he hasn't said a word nor has he bothered to spare me a glance.
Luciano moved in with me to help cook something for Alekzanda to eat but he didn't take even a single bite. We take turns to look after Alekzanda,while I take breaks to wash up and eat some food and rest a bit, Luciano takes over. He tries to speak words of comfort to him,reads him some books and wipes his body whenever he falls asleep.
He has been a great aid to me; I wish Alekzanda had someone like I had Luciano.
"Babe,go get some rest. I will keep him company." Luciano said.
I hadn't even noticed his presence by my side. If it wasn't for the little nudge in my side,I would still be buried in my thoughts.
"Have you rested enough? Are you sure you're okay?" I asked while checking Luciano's body to see if he was really fine. I didn't want him to be on tension especially in his condition since he's now not just him but also carrying another life in him.
He smiled weakly and raised his gentle hand to my cheek,"Look,I'm perfectly fine,babe. You don't have to worry about me right now,if there's any discomfort I'll be telling you. But now I need you to walk your ass out of this room and go get some rest." He kissed me on the side of my lips,"Your dinner is in the oven,I made your favorite food, Egyptian macaroni beshamel. The salad and juice are in the fridge." He gave me another kiss,this time round on the lips before sending me off.
I turn to my brother one last time; he is staring into oblivion,not a care about what's going on around him. Luciano wipes the tears that fall out of my eyes uncontrollably at the state in which my brother is.
"Shh shh,there big boy,don't cry. He will be fine,we shall figure a way out together. Please be strong,for him,for me." Luciano patted my shoulder gently, trying to comfort me with a smile on his face which didn't reach his eyes.
I force myself to leave before I break down any further. This whole situation has affected everyone,every single one of us. Alekzanda has lost his weight,so have I and Luciano. I haven't seen Luciano's hazel eyes smile like they used to,nor has he been to work lately. Every aspect of our lives has been affected by one man's decision.
A few steps to my room which is on this very floor,I hear loud wails and screams coming from Adrien's room. I rush back in there only to find him succumbing to pain. His screams got louder the more pain he withstood.
This is what we were all most worried about.
The agony that comes after the distance has grown between mates. Now with a bond at stake, it must be even worse. I can never imagine or compare to what he's currently going through.
"Ahh!!" He cried. "Make it stop please,it hurts!!!" He curled up on the floor,twisting and turning,trying to hold onto something or anything. I caught him to stop him from moving while Luciano held his hands to stop him from gnawing his skin off.
"It burns!!!" He cried louder. Tears started falling out of his eyes and our own,unaware of how to handle such a situation.
"The basement! Let's take him to the basement and immerse him in that water,it contains sea water. Let's go now!" I raised my voice so that Lucy could hear me over Adrien's wails.
Luciano and I carried Alekzanda through the long hallway,to the elevator and pressed the key that leads to the basement.
The moment we got on this floor,Adrien started fighting against us,he fought trying to leave but I couldn't let him leave. He had to find relief in his true form and sea water was good for merfolk in general.
"No!! It all started on this floor. Please don't remind me of what happened that day in this basement,it hurts." Adrien started begging, begging to leave this floor. It might have brought back memories of that day. The day he lost it all.
"We need to have you transform, Alek. These symptoms are just getting started,please try to understand." I begged Alek to transform but he couldn't gather his wits to do it. He kept shaking his head no, screaming how he wants to feel the pain rip him apart.
I couldn't let him do this any more,so I compelled him.
I couldn't stand seeing him in this state,and if he kept on being stubborn,I know what will happen. He will lose his mind and then his life if he keeps on like this.
Alekzanda has always been a man who wanted to have control over how he expressed himself or how others reacted to his actions. He has always wanted that balance and had to work for years on building that skill and more to perfect it that any other person couldn't tell that he is autistic.
Compelling him meant that I had taken away that control from him. I had taken over.
I knew it that he will hate me for it but that will be for later after he survives this torment he is going through right now. Only if he makes it alive.
"Step into the water,let yourself feel the taste of home and transform into your true nature." I commanded in our stepple language.
Alekzanda stopped struggling and took steady strides towards the pool. It was build like a lagoon and filled with sea water,meaning it could feed his skin and bones with nutrients he would need to fight the symptoms of heart break syndrome. He reached the water and heaved a tremulous sigh before walking further into the deeper end of the pool. He let his second form come out before passing out.
The weight of the torment and trauma must have overpowered his now weakened body,causing him to lose consciousness.
I dived in to stop him from drowning. I know, we're mermen but that doesn't stop him from drowning especially now that his body is in a vulnerable state.
"Please go back, Lucy. I'll manage." Luciano was still staring in shock, probably from the fact that he saw me compell my brother or my language which is so alien to him. But that's not important right now,my biggest priority right now is to make sure that Adrien recuperates.
Luciano left and I allowed myself to shed tears. I couldn't do that before Luciano. This whole situation could affect him and the baby but what option do I have left? I can't keep him out of sight nor can I stay away from him for so long. I get separation anxiety whenever I take an hour or two without him.
I let myself transform and now,with two mermen in this pool,I felt the energy and motivation step in,now I was ready to do whatever my mind pointed at,at the moment.
I rarely pray but when the worst possible threat beared it's teeth,I came to realize that I could actually pray.
I started reciting supplications and enchantments to the goddess,asking her to intervene. When there was no improvement I started praying to any higher deity to heal my brother.