Chapter 12 - The Wayward name.

Chapter 12 - The Wayward name.

I sat on my bed clutching a big stuffed teddy not being able to relax in the slightest. Out of the four knights in my room I recognized two of them as the ones who I met in the gardens once. I believe their names were Evelyn and victor however I hadn't ever met the other two knights. One of them was very tall like my brother but slender. He had dark skin tone and long black hair, his eyes however were silver. The other was the same height as Victor and had shot green hair and amber eyes with a rosy complexion. I felt a bit nervous around them as I didn't know them well. Victor seemed to pick up on this and introduced them both. "Lady Iridesa allow me to introduce these two. He started with the taller one with silver eyes. "This is Morga and standing next to him is Astro, they are both here to keep you safe, my lady just like myself and Evelyn." Morga seemed quite serious as he bowed to greet me. "It's an honor to be in your presence my lady." Astro however seemed more laid back and cheerful. "Hi, there. I hope we can become good friends, lady Iridesa." I greeted them both back "H-hello." I really felt anxious and wanted to know what might be happening but I wasn't sure how. Just then I heard a terrifying sound of Father screaming. "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT BEFORE I RIP YOUR HEAD OFF!" I jumped behind Evelyn immediately, shaking with fear. Then a sudden explosion sound shook me to my core and I ran out of the room screaming "lady Iridesa!" The knights all ran after me as I ran wanting to hide in a corner somewhere, I got to the main hall and then suddenly trip. "Waaah!" I fell forward but before I hit the ground Morga swiftly caught me. "Looks like you couldn't keep her hidden as well as you thought." I looked up at the ice voice and shuddered at the woman before me. She has pasty skin and dark eyes. Her hair was cut into a white bob and the aura surrounding her looked so terrifying I subconsciously clutched Morga who glared back at her and placed an arm around me protectively. She was surrounded by 6 other men who seemed to be her soldiers. They all looked at me with a glare as though I was nothing but a stain on the ground. Morga glared back at them. "How dare you look at Lady Iridea in the eyes, lower your gaze before I make you..." He seemed to be far more intimidating as they all averted their eyes from me.

"Why is my daughter here...?" My Fathers voice was so low and scary I couldn't help but shudder even though his anger wasn't targeted at me. The knights became pale and lowered their heads as they explained. "Forgive us but Lady Iridesa was startled at the explosion just now and ran outside the room."

The woman who looked at me as though she was trying to paralyze me on the spot spoke with an icy voice. "Your father is a very terrifying brute isn't he, I wonder just how long it'll be till he strikes you just like that poor table you heard explode into smithereens." I was stunned at her words. Before I could even react Fathers voice once again reverberated through my every being. "YOU MUST REALLY WANT TO DIE BY MY HANDS YOU-!!" Before he could finish uncle Arthur's voice interrupted him "Brother! Calm yourself you are scaring Iridesa!" Father seemed stunned as he remembered my presence and immediately looked over at me. I trembled violently with tears in my eyes at the sight of my fathers anger. Even though I know it wasn't directed at me the trauma that had built from years of abuse I used to receive from angering the innkeeper and his wife crawled back into my mind and made me completely petrified. "Iridesa, come over here." I heard the gentle voice of my brother and immediately ran into his arms. He picked me up and held me as I sobbed. Father approached me slowly but feeling quite shaken at the moment I couldn't help but react in fear "N-NO!!" I clutched Brother Tybalt tighter trying to keep distance from him. Father stood frozen in his steps. The women laughed at the sight "How pathetic, you will just weaken the child than she already is. She should be grateful I am still willing to accept her into the Wayward name." Uncle Arthur frowned at her words. "Iridesa is our most valued treasure. You must be delusional if you we think we'll ever hand her over." She laughed at his words and replied. "You think I'm stupid, I will be taking all of you to court and that child's custody will be mine it won't matter whether you agree or not." I paled at her words, who exactly was she, she didn't look or act anything like my mother I found it hard to believe she was related to her at all. She looked at me one more time before she left, I could see from her expression that she views me as nothing more than a small pest but yet she wasn't willing to let me out of her grasps, I felt so scared as I hid from her gaze in Brother Tybalt's arms.

Soon she had left and I was taken back to my room. That evening I hadn't seen my father once he hadn't even come to the dining hall to eat. (Did he hate me…?) I felt a bitter pain in my heart for such a thought and hugged my stuffed teddy as I lay in bed thinking all these horrible thoughts, not being able to sleep a wink. The next morning I hadn't seen any sign of him either and I felt as though any progress I had made with him was gone just like that.

I wandered around the gardens, with Morga and Evelyn both following me. Since that day my father has ordered them both to always stay by my side. I felt strange having them around all the time but they also helped ease my fears of the Wayward family so I was grateful for their protection. Every time I remembered my grandma's stare I couldn't help but tremble. "I found you." I stopped dead in my tracks hearing that voice once more. I looked up to see that same woman stood before me and I quickly stepped back. Evelyn and Morga, both came and stood before me protectively. "How dare you breach our territory." He said in a low threatening voice. Another voice I hadn't heard before replied. "No need to get your armor into a twist. We have official court orders even if Lord Orion wasn't allowed to deny us the right to see what should rightfully belong to the Wayward family."

I followed the sound of that voice to see a man who looked very cold like my grandma stood next to her. He had similar pasty skin with white eyes and white hair that was slicked back. He seemed like a puppet following his masters orders and even though his lips were smiling his eyes were not and I couldn't help but feel goosebumps. He stood by her side, and judging from his uniform he was Eridas butler. "How dare you talk about Lady Iridesa as though she's an object." Evelyn replied to that man. He laughed at her words and then looked over at me. "Well it seems the child has no manners whatsoever and doesn't even greet her grandma. How appalling." I felt embarrassed at their words and tears welled in my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do is make the Orion family look bad. Morga looked back at me and put a hand to my head to comfort me. "Do not worry, my lady. There is no need for you to entertain clowns such as these." Erida and Claude both twisted their faces in annoyance at his words but remained their composure. "Move out of the way. I want to speak to the child." I flinched at Erida words and gripped Morga tightly. Much to my relief the both of them didn't move.

"Just because you have that stupid court order to see my daughter doesn't mean I won't dismantle your bodies if you try to piss me off in the slightest." I knew that voice, I peeked out from behind Morga and saw father standing there with a terrifying glint in his silver eyes, behind him was uncle Arthur. "It seems like you haven't learnt your lesson from last time, Paris Orion. I would love to see your daughter's face as you kill in cold blood right in front of her." After hearing those words I recalled the time at the brothel when my father flung that huge man across the room. The insane strength had terrified me and the dark aura that surrounded my father gave me goosebumps. I looked over at him and his face was grim and dark as he stared at Erida. I felt a shudder run down my spine and my throat go tight. "I would never hurt my daughter. I will rip out your tongue if you mention her again." I didn't want to be here any longer and risk having to witness such horror "I-I…w-want…" I tried to tell Morga and Evelyn to take me back inside but my stutter was a lot worse as I felt fear take over me. "How pathetic. If she can't even speak one word without stuttering, how can she do anything at all? Useless child." My lips trembled at her words and I felt my tears run down my face feeling her words strike me in the gut. "What did you just say…?" My fathers voice came out as a small whisper. I was afraid of what might happen so I tried to tell him it's okay "I-I'm F-F-Fine-!?" But before I could finish my sentence my father suddenly snapped "STOP LYING!" I fell back in shock as I felt his thunderous voice directed at me for the first time. "Iridesa!" Uncle Arthur immediately ran over to me and as soon as he picked me up I clutched him and wailed as I couldn't hold back anymore I felt so terrified I couldn't breathe. "I-I…hic…I'm s-s-sor-sorry…hic…!" I quickly apologized, not wanting my father to hate me. He looked at me with his expression scarier than before and he clenched his teeth. "Get out of my house! Now both of you before I rip your throats out!" Erida and Claude both smirked at having seemed satisfied with the situation before them and both left.

I couldn't stop my tears and shaky breath as I continued crying in my uncle's arms. He gently stroked my back trying to help me calm down. Father then approached me and I flinched. Seeing his expression harden and I quickly apologized. "S-so…sorry…hic…" He didn't say anything and stood in silence before he turned around and walked away. (He hates me…) I felt my tears pour as my heart ached from the throat. I wish I wasn't so weak. I wished I didn't make him mad. Uncle Arthur carried me inside and Lady Delphine came rushing over after hearing the news. "Lady Iridesa!" Uncle Arthur put me down and I immediately ran over to her and she held me in her arms as I sobbed uncontrollably. We went back to my room where I stayed all evening refusing to eat. I had no appetite. All that I could think about was my fathers anger and how he must hate me for being so weak and must be ashamed of my stutter. "Lady Iridesa, please have something. Everyone at the castle is worried about you, chef Jaqcue's even prepared your favorite, roast duck." Miss Delphine gently encouraged me as I sat solemnly on my bed with my eyes puffy and my nose red. I shook my head silently, not able to bring myself to eat. I heard a Soft knock on my door and a gentle voice spoke. "Irides it's me Tybalt can I come in?" Miss Delphine opened the door and he entered. "I'll take it from here Delphine, thanks for taking care of her." Miss Delphine bows her head and leaves the room. Brother Tybalt came and sat next to me. He peered into my face. "Hey. What's with the long face?" I remained silent. "You know you can tell me anything, I won't tell anyone I'm your brother after all." I hesitated for a while but soon decided to ask him. "A-am I in t-trouble…?" Brother looked at me confused. "Of Course not. You did nothing wrong. Father wasn't angry at you in the slightest." I sniffled as I spoke. "D-does he…h-hate me?" Brothers eyes went wide in shock and he lifted me up and sat me on his lap, wiping my tears. "Father could never hate you. Neither could I or uncle Arthur or even Miss Delphine. You're precious to all of us." I wanted so much to believe his words but I was too terrified of taking it all for granted. What if everything changed one day and they decided not to keep me around anymore. Brother noticed my hesitation and asked me something I hadn't thought about before. "Have you ever wondered how I happened to be your brother?" I looked at him, realizing for the first time that I never thought to ask how Tybalt was my fathers son. I don't think he and I have the same mother. He smiled at my curiosity and explained. "I'm not Fathers real son." I was stunned at his words.