Chapter 65: Chapter Sixty-five: Damien’s Story V: I’m here too mama!
Sitting curled like small balls were the dirtiest, unkept children Mira had ever laid eyes on. The had black smudge on their faces from working tirelessly with coal obviously and their small hands were breaking from the loaded truck transporting it.
One of them looked up and instantly saw the queen. In a flash, he got up and sped towards her. Oh? He’s a vampire?
Mira felt her heart tear into two at the sight of the boy. He had black hair, was dressed in rags that had tears everywhere and looked deathly pale.
"Please madam. I am sorry to have stopped you on your journey." the boy said softly in a breaking voice. Mira was completely held captive by him. If there was one thing that could be called her greatest weakness, it was being human.
When her grandpa had sent her to the human realm, he attached a piece of himself to her. She quickly found this out when she noticed she could no longer use her witch’s powers again. Because of that, her blood and scent of a witch that could easily give her away was hidden.
But Alexandria was no fool. He had found out some days after their wedding. But it was already too late. He had slept with a witch and one that he loved to death at that.
Being left with no choice, he performed a soul-clashing rite that would turn her to a vampire so she wouldn’t contaminate the royal blood. Although that was easier said than done too. The bone-crushing pain was still very much vivid in her mind.
Mirenelle crouched to the small boy and took his chin. "Have you eaten dear?" she asked softly.
"No my lady. My brother and I have been starving. We have tried to catch some animals for blood but we were too weak to kill them and the town’s people aren’t too friendly either." the little boy said in one breath, wringing his small hands together.
"If you would please but give us just a morsel of bread. Our heads will thank you every day."
At that moment, the other little ball curled up on the pathway, unfolded. He crawled towards his brother and tugged at his sleeve. The one in front of her tore her already pieced heart into more pieces. The boy was lean and skinny with a long, tattered shirt draped over his body.
Mira bit her lip. What mother would be so irresponsible to make life so hard for children this little?
"Hello you." she said, shaking her head to fire back the tears that were threatening to spill. The boy looked at her with lifeless, dull eyes and it only pricked her the more. All she wanted to do was pick him up and hug him so tight.
The boy still held unto his brother’s sleeves. "Please give us bread my lady. You can take us as slaves back to your mansion to work for you."
"Slaves?"
"Yes yes." the first one piped up immediately. "We’re very useful and strong. Any work at all, even the washing your carriage. We can do it."
Oh dear, what monster would give such a tiny thing a whole carriage to wash?! She had children of her own. How could she make slaves of another woman’s?
"And what are you names dear?"
The other boy instinctively hid himself behind his brother and that was when she noticed it. The other side of his head held a striking while attached to it.
"I’m Lucian ma’am and this is my brother—"
The other boy tugged harder at his brother’s sleeves. "Jesse." he continued. "This is my little brother Jesse."
Mira squinted her eyes at them. She was no fool. Obviously she knew he was lying but decided not to probe. He must have his reasons for keeping it.
But she couldn’t care less about that. Mira motioned to one of the guards who had followed her. "Prepare a horse for them. When we get to Veylar, lodge them to an inn and make sure they get something to eat and wear."
"Yes, your grace." the man said and beckoned on the boys to follow him. The older one, Lucian, grabbed his hand and pulled him along gently. As they walked by, Mira couldn’t help but stare at his head. He had a beautiful, luscious heap of white and black hair flowing over his shoulders.
She instantly understood him. Probably he was called an outcast...like her.
Mira got up and turned around when she saw that Cassian was already up. The guard taking the boys stopped moving and bowed his head to him. " Mama." he said rubbing his eyes and rushing to her with his arms outstretched. Mira took him in, patting his head gently.
She picked him up and stood up for her kneeling position. Cassian’s eyes caught sight of the two, dirtied boys.
"What are those mama? Why are they so dirty?" Cassian asked, looking wide-eyed at his mother.
The two boys who heard him, shrunk back in shame but the older one pushed his brother behind him.
"Don’t call them that my love." Mira chided warmly. He was a child, but he needed to know how to treat people.
Cassian shrugged it off, wrapped his arms around her neck and dozed off again. The guard led the boys to where the carriage was with the queen right behind them.
By the time they got to Veylar, it was already dusk.
"I’ll lead you to the kingdom, your grace. The other guards will take care of the boys."
"Very well then." she said. Mira peered from the windows as the two boys alighted from the horse. Their tiny hands gripped the edges of their big shirts as they stared around them with fear in their eyes.
What was that? Were they afraid of being there?
Mira wished she could ask what was wrong, but she didn’t want to run late especially when she was the was standing in for the king now. So she let it pass, brushing it off as first time jitters.
As they approached the palace, the lights from it dazzled before the carriage. Cassian was already wide awake while Damien was still sleepy. The carriage pulled over and the door swung open.
"Get down loves. We’re here." Cassian got down from the carriage and stretched out his hand for his mother to take it but instead, she wrapped her arms around sleeping Damien and walked off. With the Chamberlain!
Cassian looked completely disappointed. He stood there quietly, unmoving. "Mama...?" he called out softly to her but Mira just kept on walking, cradling Damien like a baby. A bubbling yet barely noticeable annoyance stirred within him. ’That should be me in mama’s arms." he mumbled to himself. Cassian quickly shook his head and ran towards his mother who was almost entering the house.
"Sir, my son is still very much sleepy from the journey. Is there a room I can lay him in?" Mira asked as they approached the door leading to the banquet hall. Cassian had just caught up with them and heard what his mother had said.
"Of course, milady. But I’m afraid he’ll have to be left alone since the banquet will begin fully any minute from now."
"Alone?" She peered down at him. He was completely knocked out.
"Well—"
"I’ll stay with him mommy." Cassian chimed in. Mira looked down at him. She didn’t want to leave her two sons all by themselves. She would surely have avoided it if she could or if the king were here but she was the only one representing their kingdom. Still...how could she leave her babies alone?
After a few seconds of contemplating, she agreed.
"Alright then. Where can I lay him?"
The Chamberlain led her to the main palace where several, endless corridors and rooms swept across the towering mansion. The entire palace sparkled and gleamed in cream and gold, giving it the solitary vibe of humility and peace. The Chamberlain pushed open the double doors and ushered them in.
Mira quickly placed Damien on the bed and was about to leave when she turned around.
She grabbed Cassian’s shoulders, gently squeezing them. "You’re his big brother ok? Make sure you stay with him till he wakes up and when he does, come outside with him and ask this kind gentleman for directions. He’ll bring you to me, alright?"
Cassian flashed her a gummy smile. "Mm! Don’t worry too much mama. I know how important this is to you. I’ll be a good boy."
Mira giggled shortly at his little speech, running her hands through his golden locks. He was growing up so fast.
She waved goodbye to him and followed the gentleman out the door to the banquet hall.
When the door shut behind them, silence enveloped the entire room.
"I really love you Damien but lately, mama has been showing you more affection than she shows me...and it hurts." Cassian said, resting his hands on his arms which were placed horizontally on the space beside him. He knew he was fast asleep and couldn’t hear him but he still continued.
"Maybe she loves you more than me..." he resumed sadly.
"Mmrr..." Damien groaned slightly and Cassian immediately shutup. He didn’t want to disturb his brother’s sleep so he remained quiet.
*Clank*
The sound of a stone hitting the window sill echoes in the pin drop silence. Cassian looked up questioningly at it then walked over to the mirror. Innocently, he opened the mirror and looked down but there was no one there. Strange. Who then had thrown the stone?
He was about to close it when a dark shadow slipped through it and entered the room with him. The minute he turned around, the invisible shadow entered him and he fell to the floor lifelessly...