Chapter 43. Brother’s eyes.
Kane’s dark brown eyes bored into mine, the fire from the torch flickering in his irises. The tips of his gray, wavy hair wore crimson, a freshly inflicted wound crossed his face. Kane’s lips stretched into a grimace as he studied me as though I was prey.
I stood in front of the two men as they stayed unmoving; the Royal steel sword sparkled against Caleb’s neck. His tired, empty eyes stared behind me.
I followed his gaze until my eyes landed on Francis’ fading away body, before averting my gaze back to Kane’s.
The fire shook on the stone walls as my hand held the torch in its firm grasp; an unnatural calmness enveloped my body whole.
“You see, these two bastards thought they could outsmart me.” Kane’s voice banged through the dungeons as his gaze jumped from Caleb to Francis. My heartbeat quickened in an instant as the realization of his presence settled in my mind.
“Thought they could somehow play me for a fool with their priceless act,” Kane continued, his lips stretching into a grin.
“Oh, Cordelia, how I wish you could’ve seen how hard your lover tried to save you from the same fate,” he tsked.
“How many lies have spilled from his mouth, trying to spare you from my revenge.”
I swallowed the growing terror, taking a step forward: my torch a few yards away from the man that called himself my father.
Spare Francis, dear Moon, take my soul instead. I beg of you.
“But he had forgotten one thing...” Kane sighed, unbothered by the deadly weapon in my hand. “The bastard had forgotten that I knew him well, for I offered my castle to his homeless family, I offered him my meal, and I offered him safety.”
“Let him go,” I heard myself speak, yet the voice was foreign to my ears.
“Let them all go, and take me instead!” I spat out, taking another step forward.
The fire was close to the men, close to their end, yet I could not find it in me to let the flames take their lives: not when Caleb was among the ones that would have to pay for my doings.
Spare Francis.
“I cannot.” Kane lowered his blade from Caleb’s neck slightly, sidestepping from the shield.
“You see, daughter,” his voice lowered. “I knew you would come for Francis, hence why I only planted my blade through his body once the Wurdulacs left the palace for Silverstone.” A dark chuckle pushed past his lips.
“You think I kept him alive as a bargaining chip?
Oh, my dearest Cordelia, he remains for nothing more than my amusement.
" His lips stretched into the most disturbing smile.
“I left it up to fate to decide whether you would see him alive one last time before you pay for your mistakes.”
My heart skipped a beat at his words; everything in my body screamed at me to flee, yet my legs refused to obey.
Take my soul instead.
“I always wished for a daughter,” Kane spoke again; the fire from my torch danced in his eyes.
“After having two sons—one of which did not know of my existence—I dreamed of a daughter,” he sighed.
“Your mother only allowed me to see you once before she tossed me out of the palace forever. Every night, I thought of you; I thought of how you were growing up within the walls that were lying to you.”
I beg of you, dear Moon.
I shortened the distance between us, pushing the torch closer, yet my legs froze when Kane forced Caleb in front of him anew.
Spare my family.
Only a few yards separated me from setting Kane on fire, only a few yards separated me from killing an injured Caleb in the process.
Only a few yards separated me from ending my own life, for if I were to send the torch free, Kane’s mere touch would take me with him.
Take me instead.
“I had given you a choice, remember?” Kane crooked his head to one side, forcing his blade against Caleb’s side; Caleb’s eyes met mine before he glanced at the torch in my hand.
“I allowed you a chance—something I don’t give out often,” Kane continued, unbothered by the fire I had pointed at him.
“For Mories, oh dear long–resting Mories, vouched for you. Too bad you couldn’t deliver what she had promised, revealing her blatant lies to me. ”
Please, dear Moon, grant my dying wish.
The strength at which my heart beat could not compare with the strongest of storms; my mind drowned in a hurricane, my mind calmed in the morning breeze.
One last wish.
The fire of my torch slowly started to ease: soon enough it would cease at once.
One last, dying wish.
My hand shook as I studied Caleb’s features—the ones that reminded me of Brian. I searched my brother’s eyes one last time.
So many things could go wrong, so many—I’d lost count.
The vulnerability I would be forced into once the torch left my hand... I only had one chance.
“The Moon has a humor of her own, doesn’t she?” Kane laughed, taking a step closer; the tip of his Royal steel sword pressed against Caleb’s side. Kane’s hand tightened around Caleb’s shoulder, keeping him in place.
Crimson covered every inch of Caleb’s face when his lips tugged upwards; his shoulders rose and fell in even rhythm when he offered me a barely visible nod.
Forgive me for the sins.
“The Moon had given me three children that I longed for,” Kane continued. “And yet, every single one of you betrayed me in the end. Every single one of you deserve what I—”
I’m sorry, I mouthed to Caleb; my hand ready to let the fire free—
My body stilled. My heart stopped.
The long–forgotten torch—stuck in my grasp, for the blade that sparkled golden pierced Caleb’s side, freezing his silent scream for eternity.