Family Tensions

A heavy silence filled the room. Barbara and Maiko looked at each other with raised and furrowed eyebrows.

She slowly removed the blanket, stood up and looked straight at him. 

"Hahahahah!" Barbara burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"You, of course!"

At first, she couldn't stop the bubble of hysteria that fell from her lips. Laughter peeled into the air.

Her brother's only reaction was a small twitch of his left eye.

He was serious.

"No," the word was soft.

"No!" She repeated it more strongly.

"You… you can't mean that," Maiko replied.

Further fight stalled within Barbara as his face fell, and he took a step towards her.

"Kill the bastard child or I will kill you…"

"What's with this threat?"

Her heart constricted and fell into her stomach.

This morning's breakfast soiled inside Barbara's belly, and her skin grew clammy.

"He's my baby. My life. If his life ends, so does mine." Once again, the words drifted between them.

Barbara knew that if he meant it, nothing would stop him.

A future without her boy's bright red eyes laughing up at her faded from her reach.

Memories of his little arms hugging her and his little voice talking with her flitted through Barbara's mind.

The taste of ash seemed to fill her mouth, and Barbara couldn't stop her knees from buckling.

A mother losing another child would be devastating. Even the thought of it would cause stomach cramps, heart palpitations, and headaches.

Thoughts of their future would feel like poison. "If you touch Karyan or even Karlin, I will poison your own son."

A short chuckle came from Maiko's lips. "Are you threatening me?" He asked her.

When Barbara was finally standing, so little like a fairy in front of her mutant brother, her eyes didn't hesitate. "No, I'm warning you." She looked deep inside his brown eyes that seemed to lose their fire.

"Yo-you," Maiko stuttered, "you're just a woman, and you can't do anything to my son."

"Oh really? Watch it."

"I dare you touch my newborn, the rightful ki-"

"King?" Barbara raised her voice. "Are you this delusional that you're calling your son a king now?" She mocked him with a squeaky voice.

"He will be. I will make him become one."

Barbara sighed and laughed at the same time. "And may I ask how are you planning to do that?"

"By killing the king, of course."

For a moment, Barbara couldn't guess but think if her brother was actually mentally challenged or the ignorance finally got him.

"Well, you do you, my dear brother."

"Kill the bastard and save yourself from this never-ending torture!"

"There's no torture. We're a family, remember?" She faked a smile.

"This family will kill you soon! The last I want is to see my sister commit suicide."

"Well, don't go anywhere near me and my child, and you'll see me healthy."

"You are a stupid woman, you know that?"

Barbara rolled her eyes and sat back onto her bed.

"Oh, the maid, Rosa was her name, right?"

"What about her?"

"I think she stole three golden coins from you," and hid herself underneath the blanket.

"This…" Maiko gritted his teeth and walked out of the room.

Barbara was left alone.

She put her thumb on her lips and started thinking. "I need a plan to save him and Karlin."

She knew Estera was going to take care of Karlin no matter what because of the promise she had made to her once.

In order to keep the secret that Estera was a water wielder, Barbara made a deal with her that when the truth comes out about which one was the cursed one, she would immediately flee with him and protect him until he's grown enough to look after himself.

"I miss him…" sour water filled her eyes and streamed down like white pearls.

"Mother?"

A child's voice spoke from behind.

"Karyan?"

Her eyes widened, and she immediately got up.

"Karyan! My darling!" She rushed to hug him. "Where have you been?"

"When you act so protective and close, it makes you look weird," Karyan replied, trying to remove himself from her embrace.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking-"

"About Karlin, I know."

"How did you-"

"I know you. You play a hateful and vengeful person, but deep inside, you're just a shattered and vulnerable person."

"You know, sometimes I really wonder what Estera was teaching you two…"

"Philosophy, math, and elements," he calmly replied.

Barbara let out a sigh. "What brought you here at this hour?"

"I have a request, a small one."

"What is it?"

"You have to promise that you won't get mad first."

Barbara rolled her eyes. "I won't, now tell me."

"It's a serious request, mother."

Barbara crossed her arms around her chest and glared at him. "What is it?"

"I need you to bring me back my fire element…"

…"

There was an awkward pause.

"Mother?"

"I mean, isn't it quite impossible to do so?"

"No. You just need to prove to the court that I was abused, and I will do the rest."

"But I will have to go against my father…" She bit her lip as her knee started to tremble.

One part of her wanted to do it, and help her son succeed in getting his rightful powers back, and the other part hesitated because of what Mateo was going to do to both of them.

"Why do you suddenly want your element?"

"To protect myself, of course."

It was reasonable enough for her.

"The dirt? Where did you go? Your pants are so dirty?"

Karyan looked down, she was right, he forgot to remove it all.

"In the garden."

Barbara walked a little in a circle. Her mind was racing about her future and consequences she would have to face, but the threat from Maiko also sounded serious.

"Okay, I will help you."