23

Chapter Twenty Three

B R U N C H : GRUBBY HANDS

"Osiris, this is Zayd Lux, and Darwin Lux. Two more of your older brothers."

"Hello."

"Hello, I guess."

".."

"Hi."

Adam was ready to go home.

He didn't know this was going to be a multiple stop sort of function. If he knew this he would have taken on the Queen's bells alone back in the castle.

"I heard you can't use aura."

Adam stared at the boy.

"Zayd, we talked about this. Think before you speak."

"So can you do it or not?"

"No, I can't."

Zayd laughed.

"Ha! I released mine when I was six."

The long haired boy stood proud.

Adam looked around.

The gazebo was a large, golden seamed monster of a plaza. It was littered with food as far as the eye can see.

"Go ahead, have fun. There are foods from all the neighboring countries, and Gladimir sent over some jerky for you. She said, and I quote, 'This is the end of our journey. Le mettre à nu.'"

Osiris pepped up over the news.

"Give it to me."

"You can get it when you open presents."

Osiris made a face.

"Now go eat, mingle, get to know your siblings."

The King stepped away for two seconds and the two boys were in his space.

"How come your castle doesn't have guards?"

"Ask your dad."

Osiris grabbed a plate and began picking at the food.

The King really went and out did himself. The variety was immaculate. The different looks, textures, and smells made his mana jump in little circles. He was able to pick out the best pieces thanks to it.

"We all had to leave ours at your gate, did you know that? My mom wasn't too happy about it."

"I bet she wasn't."

Zayd liked to talk.

A lot.

The kid was talking Adam's ear off.

"-seeing it over your skin. I heard my dad unlocked his aura when he was five, like Axel. It was-"

As the kid went on Adam was able to learn a lot about his siblings. There were five in total. Axel, Mercedes, Luella, Darwin, and Zayd. Just talking with Zayd for ten minutes has told Osiris nearly everything about everyone.

He was definitely being sheltered from things heavily.

The Darwin kid was weird.

He was attached at the hip to Zayd and they seemed to do everything together. He was like Zayd's personal inner voice that he never listens to. So far these two looked to be the only normal ones in the whole house.

"So why aren't you wearing shoes?"

Osiris didn't respond. He was looking for the King to move on with the day. He ate everything he liked so the point to stay vanished.

"Because I don't want to."

Adam spotted the wiggly bastard and walked up to him.

"What's next."

Mikael's smile strained.

"The gifts, then tea. The girls wanted to meet you in the garden we brought in for today."

"Where are the gifts."

Mikael pointed to them in the far corner and sighed as he was pulled from a conversation with a few servants. It seems Axel went to his room.

Osiris began barely opening the gifts to see what was inside before pushing them over in search of the jerky. He did not stop until he found that gift.

It was a plain brown box wrapped in brown parchment. Inside was a sack full of that golden jerky and a thick piece of craft paper.

"Oakmaker Referral."

Mikael stopped his chat with Zayd.

"What?"

The King pushed passed his sons and went over to Osiris.

There in his hand sat an Oakmaker Referral. They were impossible to get. Literally impossible. The Oakmakers did not give out referrals. Osiris flipped the card and a small little sword was on it.

Mikael held his chin.

"The Oakmakers use weapons made by the Hillmasters. That sword is their family crest."

Darwin's ears perked.

"The Hillmasters only make weapons for the Oakmakers. Their goods are of such high quality that even used and retired weaponry can get you a good sum of gold."

Adam tossed the card.

Mikael caught it like it was a delicate flower.

"Did Gladimir ever mention this to you?"

"She talked about me getting a weapon made."

Mikael looked back at the card in his hand.

"What weapon?"

Adam paused his munching.

"Talons?"

"Talons…."

Mikael stashed the card in his coat.

Lambert showed up with Richie in tow. She looked a bit winded, two toned hair wisping around her like stray grass.

"Mikael."

That single word turned the entire room on its head.

The King and Queen both became serious.

"Darwin, watch the kids."

Lambert kneeled beside Richie.

"Go play, and be nice. It's his birthday today."

Richie pouted but went over to Osiris as Darwin moved Zayd towards the wall.

Everyone but Osiris, Richie, and Zayd became busy bodies. Osiris picked the back wall behind the presents and sat down.

"What's happening?"

The child looked scared.

"Don' know. Help me find a toy, I dropped it."

"Dropped it, dropped it where?"

Osiris pointed to the pile of half opened gifts.

Richie made a pouty face, but got to work looking for his imaginary toy. After a brief chat with the King, Osiris watched Darwin glance there way mid chat. The King then left with Lambert and the Queen.

"Father wants us to stay here."

Adam fought with a piece of jerky, but said nothing.

Darwin eventually went back to Zayd who was picking at a plate he made himself.

Things became quiet.

Richie started to have fun looking through his things, even playing with some of it.

"Look at this!"

Adam looked to see what new thing Richie wanted to show him.

It was a tiny crystal cross made of green diamond.

Adam went to roll his eyes but then he saw it.

Imbedded in the crystal were thousands of interlocked hands that pulsed as they circled a tiny glowing sphere. Adam was sure there was more, but he was already disgusted.

It must have shown on his face.

Richie scrunched her face and gripped the necklaces tight.

"If you didn't like it you should have just said-"

"Dr-"

The crystal popped, spraying shards glass into one of Richie's eyes. She screamed. Adam ran up to her as he watched the little white ball of mangled hands grow as it rose to the roof.

☁️POOF☁️

W E I G H T

The world turned gray.

Its bottom half resembled an arapaima with large, beautifully, golden and royal blue scales. The top half that carried blue had a orange, thick back fin that flared out in surprise.

It's head was snake and cat-like with two small front hands that looked like lizard feet with wings.

Water poured onto the floor in gallons.

Osiris flinched as the water hissed on contact, drying out his feet in an instant. Adam felt his heart sink. He grabbed Richie's hand and pulled them to the edge of the gazebo. The beast fell from its perch and started flopping around like a fish out of water. One knock of its tail snapped the metal plaza in half.

Adam's eyes zig zagged across the plaza looking for the other children. He could see their heads of hair already halfway across the yard.

They were left for dead.

Richie's crying aggravated the beast.

Adam pushed his ego out and grabbed the child, forcing them to duck. Adam was nearly thrown off his feet from just the turbulence of fintip.

"Hold on." Adam met her eyes. "If you let go I will not go back for you."

Richie crossed her arms around his neck and feet around his stomach. It was a bit awkward because they were both nine and the same height, but she made it work.

Another dodge.

"Fuck, this thing is huge."

Richie held on tighter.

Adam began to run but his splashing attracted the fucker's attention. Jumping off the patio the two landed on their side. Osiris could feel pieces of rock cut into his skin. Richie held on.

The beast flailed around, destroying more and more of the gazebo and blocking the way to where the adults went. Adam looked around.

They were alone.

Then he spotted the garden.

Right, there was that.

Adam hoped and prayed someone would be there, anyone. Even if he had to use them as a decoy. Adam's feet splashed in muddy grass as the beast charged them.

It's movement we're sloppy, big, it really was a fish out of water. Then it got its claws into the ground and its speed doubled. Adam ran as his lungs and legs burned. For all his preparation and plans and watchful eyes he still could not see this coming.

Adam looked back.

Where the skin looked softest sat three black shards embedded in its chest. Each bore an eye and one laughed at him.

The Queen.

It was getting closer.

Osiris grit his teeth as he tried to push mana into his feet again. Nothing. He wasn't sure if it was the water, or if he ate something, but it wasn't working well. Richie shook.

They made it.

Like a bat out of hell Adam busted in gulping in mouthfuls of breath.

The garden had rows of white and blue flowers in the shape of an upside down thermometer. On the other side sat two young girls. They were startled, both standing and causing cutlery to fall from the table.

"What the fuck w-"

The beast tried to shove its way into the door, catching itself on its fins. Someone screamed.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!"

At the top where the girls stood a barrier popped up.

"Oh thank god."

Luella sat back in her chair. Seems like her mother set something up again. Mercedes stood with shaking knees.

"W-what…"

Adam booked it to the barrier as the beast pushed more metal out of the way. He ran straight into a wall.

Luella laughed.

"Let us in!"

Adam stomped on the shield. It didn't even waiver. The Queen's eye stared back.

"Only someone with a key can open it."

"I have a key…"

Mercedes searched her bag. Luella's face scrowled.

"Hurry up!"

The beast was halfway in.

Mercedes found the key and walked to the barrier. She then paused. She didn't have her mask. Mercedes stopped before she touched the barrier.

"What's the hold up?!"

It was in.

"I'm sorry…"

Adam's stomach dropped. He turned around to face the barrier. She looked sheepish.

"I forgot my mask…"

"And?"

"My family says you have dirty blood. I don't want to get sick."

The beast was halfway across the room.

"At least take the girl."

"Who?"

Adam's stomach clenched.

The barbed end of its find clipped Osiris's thigh. He moved. He dodged again and again, frantically looking for anything desperately.

In the opening the creature created there was a sharp, jagged edge facing in. He went for it.

"Stay here."

Adam dropped Richie from his back and motioned for her to go around the back of the barrier. She didn't argue with him.

Adam ran.

He forced his lungs to pump as he jumped and weaved through the upheaved floralry.

Faster.

Adam slid across broken tile and cement until he reached the outside. Twisting around he saw the dumb bitch run its head straight into a jagged piece of a metal pole. It flailed around like a dying fish before coming to a stop.

The sound of his heavy breathing filled his ears.

After a few seconds Adam slowly made his way inside, making sure not to touch the dead thing on his way in.

It smelled like stale lake water.

Once he jimmied his way in, Osiris spotted Richie squatting behind the barrier with one of those bitches talking to her softly. Kindly. Adam filled with rage.

A sharp pain in his chest.

He looked down. The bastard bitch stabbed him with a fin barb. Adam was flung into a wall like a piece of used tissue. The beast continued to spasm until it dropped dead. Again.

Osiris coughed up blood.

His human heart was stabbed. Osiris groaned as his other heart spluttered off beat.

"He's dying!"

"—- - "

"-but dad-"

"We tell them you lost the key."

"But-"

"You lost your key. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes."

Osiris stared at the busted roof above him as he bled out. His limbs grew heavy. He was cold. He tried to lift his hand. Nothing. Osiris could feel his lungs stop. He tried to sit but could only cough up more blood.

He didn't want to die.

Osiris Von Lüx was pronounced dead on arrival.