"-If he doesn't listen then hang his body right in his mansion, they should know to fear the Plague Doctor-"
He stopped when he noticed me holding a wry expression, certainly not pleased with his methods of work.
"You're awake?" He asked, passing me a smile. I guess now I understood when everyone feared him.
"I couldn't sleep after knowing I have a Brother.." I replied, coming and taking a seat, forming my lips in a thin line.
"Think how I must have lived considering you dead." He chuckled dryly before turning to the guy again.
"Retrieve all the debts and kill anyone who refused to pay. And yeah, De Villiers-"
He called the guy of his age as I interrupted, "De Villiers?"
"Yeah, that's his name. I borrowed it." He hummed, making me giggle.
"Come back to me as soon as you can. Alive." He ordered seriously.
"Obviously, I will. You relax for now. Leave the work to me, Boss." He nodded and left.
When it was two of us, he came and stood in front of me.
“So… how are you?” He asked casually.
We were not sure what to do but curling my lips in a faint but empty smile, I looked at the sky.
"It's strange… how I was living a normal life. A job, loving family, affectionate fiancé and then… look at me. Bride of my fiancé's uncle. A Mafia Queen's daughter and now.. A sister." I chuckled dryly, looking down.
"It must be hard for you…" He said, putting his hand over my head.
I looked up at him with tears brimming in my eyes, "At one point, I lost my own identity. That's the promise I made to Prince. He wouldn't let me become what I hate. I.. Don't want to be in this life." I said as a tear rolled down.
"Why? When this power is in your fate, why are you running from it? You must have realized it, Cinzel your mind is darker than others-"
"I don't want it! I don't want… it… I hate what I am becoming. I hate it. I hate it." I growled, holding my dress tightly, biting my lips to not cry.
“I tried to run away too. Believe me, I tried so hard to leave this fucking swamp and become a doctor but look what I have become.” He told me sorrowfully, the harsh truth of our tainted bloodline.
“I prayed to save our family from this too, to be like our Father, a normal man, but once you are in it. There was no way out. What happened? They died.” He whispered, running his hand in his hair from frustration.
“If you faced this outcome doesn’t mean I will too. I have faith in Prince. If he said he will take me away, he will. I am not like you or Valencia.” I enunciated in a broken tone.
He was taken aback for a second but soon regained his posture and sat beside me, leaning his head back.
"It would be better if you embrace your inner demon like I did if you don't want to turn insane." He said softly, gazing at me with a sad smile.
"I believe in Prince, he wouldn't let it happen." I smiled weakly, wiping my eyes.
"It's all a façade, I am not what I seem. I am very shy and timid, I even get startled easily. I don't want to be fake. Prince won't let it." I mumbled, curling my lips in a smile.
"I swear if it wasn't for you, he wouldn't be alive for hiding you from me all this time." He sighed, turning to look at the sky.
"Leave it. Tell me about you, how old are you?" I asked, turning to him.
"Hmm. I am thirty."
"That's eight years from me. Did Valencia have such a gap or do we have another sibling too?" I asked in amazement. He laughed a little emptily turning to me as well,
"Yes. You even had a sister four years older than you. " He smiled, "Really?! Where is she now?"
"She died… everyone did. Mama, Dad, Persephone… you. Did you know Mama was pregnant too? We were supposed to be- leave it." He whispered, moving his hand to the side of my face but stopped and pulled it away.
“All it took was a moment to spill your sister’s blood on my face, Cinzel. An hour and I lost my family.” He whispered sadly, looking down.
"Which day?" I asked timidly.
"We were attacked when you were three years old. Me and Prince had a fight, he broke my leg so Mama and Papa, Prince's Dad, coincidentally everyone was present and that day, I lost my family, Prince lost his Father.. We both lost the people we love the most and part ways. I decided it could be dangerous to lead from the front. I took advantage of my powers from the dark and became a beast…” He explained, voice cracking in the middle.
My eyes widened to fathom how harsh it was for him to witness that at such a young age.
“I was too young to realize what happened.. All I could remember was you were crying when they shot Persephone right before my eyes, her- her blood was all over my face… she was so young… I love you two so badly…" His tone gradually turned croaky, swallowing hard to not cry, remembering that day.
“I failed to protect my sisters. I am such a terrible brother. I couldn’t do anything for you guys except hiding. I am sorry but I deeply loved you two. You and Persephone were my world.”
A powerless tear rolled down his cheek, lowering his head, slamming his hand down, gritting his teeth. Tears brimmed in my eyes, seeing how traumatizing it would be for him.
Her blood… on his face. His childhood was ruined in a moment.
“I-I swore to myself to protect you two… I failed.” He chuckled hollowly, wiping his tears, shaking his head.
“It’s not your fault, Nathaniel. What could a kid do anyways?” I whispered, putting my hand over his shoulder to reassure him.
“Persephone was shot right in her head in front of my fucking eyes. Do you realize how traumatizing it would be for me?” He growled but paused and took a deep breath, straightening his back and pushing his hair behind, regaining his posture.
“Fuck it…. I don’t want to make you depressed. Let’s talk about you.”