Part 7

The entry hall was incredibly large. It was decorated in an old-fashioned style, but the theme was dark and unpleasant. In front of me, there were two opposite staircases, leading up to the second floor. The walls were covered in portraits of serious-looking men and women. There were no windows. All the light in the hall came from one gigantic crystal chandelier hanging from the middle of the ceiling. The floor was made from cold, black tiles. It had been warm outside, but here it was so cold I could see my own breath.

My eyes fell on a disturbing detail I had missed before. There ran a trail of small splatters of something red over the floor, all the way across the hall. I kneeled down and touched it with one finger. It was warm. I looked at it more closely than I actually wanted and sniffed it. I smelled a metallic and even a little sweet smell. It was blood. Without a doubt.

I remembered the blood drops on the second letter and realised that this was a trail for me to follow. I stood up and cleaned the blood off my finger using my cloak.

I started walking, following the blood trail towards the staircases. It led me to the long hallway that ran in between. There were countless doors and rooms one both sides, but I entered none. The trail brought me a couple of floors higher and eventually to a large wooden door, not much smaller than the door I entered the castle through. The trail stopped right in front of the door.

I took the doorknob in my hand and stopped moving for a second. My breath was shaking and so was my body. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breath for a moment. Then I pulled the heavy door open with all of my strength.

The room I entered was big and round, with twelve open doors on the side and a chandelier in the middle. I had expected someone. Maybe guards, maybe even him. I had even expected to be dead by now. But there was no one. The room was completely empty. I examined the floor, looking for the trail, but it had ended. I walked towards the middle of the room, waiting for something to happen, but nothing did. It was still cold enough to see my breath, and silent enough to hear my own pounding heartbeat.

"Hello?" I asked the emptiness. "I'm here, like you asked."

Suddenly I heard a loud bang behind me. I turned around immediately and saw that one of the doors had closed. The door next to it followed with a loud boom and then the next and the next until I was standing in a closed room with only a chandelier above my head. I stood like frozen on my spot on the floor, unable to move. All the doors suddenly opened at the same time. One guard entered per door and then all the doors closed again with a loud noise. The guard right in front of me stepped to the right, revealing a person that had been standing behind him. A person, fully dressed in black. He had long black boots, tight black trousers and a long black cloak covering most of his body. The cloak's cap covered his face in the darkest shadows.

"Hello, Makatza." He said in a hissing voice. I nodded, not knowing what else to do.

"You know I've been expecting you." I nodded again.

"I see you didn't bring the boy? You must be very brave," he said. "I guess you take after your father."

"My father was Lorcan." I suddenly said. "It was him and no one else. You killed him." My voice was still soft and shaking, but now it was drenched in anger. The man took off his hood. And revealed his face. It was covered in scars and scratches, but it had once been handsome. He started laughing.

"You know that Lorcan was not your father. I did you and your mother a favour killing him. He was a nasty, filthy..."

"He was a good man!" I interrupted him. "He was an amazing man. He was brave and nice. He was a good father."

It fell quiet for a few seconds. Then he said, "Makatza, call me by my name." I didn't understand him. "Abrus?" I asked.

"Yes. He said, coldly. My name is Abrus. Do you know what I was named after?" I shook my head.

"I was named after the Abrus Precatorios. One of the most deadly plants that exist." He stopped for a moment. His voice had become louder and he took a few steps closer to me. I couldn't help but step back. "But," he continued, "that is not what I am to you. Is it?" He smiled melancholy. "Tell me, what is it that you call me?"

Evil, mean, disgusting and horrible, I wanted to say. But I knew what he wanted to hear. I knew what he was after and if I didn't say it, he would force it out of me in some way or another.

"Father," I said softly.

He smiled. He looked as if he had won a big prize. "Yes." He said slowly, taking in the word. "Yes, yes, yes." I looked him straight in his cold, bloodshot eyes. "You were never my father." I hissed.

Abrus acted like he didn't hear me.

"Lysandra was a special woman. She knew me better than anyone. She loved me, I still love her."

"You killed her."

"Yes, I did. I don't like traitors."

"She didn't betray you, you betrayed her." I defended her. "You went crazy. You wanted to control everything and you ignored and neglected her. She got pregnant with me and saw that she couldn't raise a child with you. That is why she left."

"No." He yelled. "She left because your mother and that Lorcan were both filthy traitors. That is why I killed them. That is why I will kill you. You remind me of them and are just like them."

"Come on then." I clenched my teeth together. "Do it then, that is why I came. That was our deal."

He slid his hand under his cloak and revealed a magnificent long sword decorated with stones and jewels. He stepped closer and pointed it towards me. "Do you want to say anything?" He asked. "As your last words?"

"Remember our deal, no war," I said.

He stepped a little closer so I could feel his breath on my forehead. He aimed the blade right for my heart. He took his arm just a little back to be able to give more power.

I closed my eyes.

Waiting for the blade. Waiting for the pain. Waiting for death.