Prisoner of Darkness

chapter 3 part 2

Adriane wretched again. I went to him, making sure he was all right.

Adriane spoke up. ‘Please don’t tell mother or father. Mother says Father lost enough hair. I shouldn’t take any more.’

Zavier bit his lower lip; I could see the red line forming from how hard he was biting.

‘I will not tell anyone, Adriane. Just let it out and you can sleep it off.’

He nodded, the worst of it seemingly being over. I sat next to him; he curled up in a ball resting his head on my lap.

‘I wish I had a sister then mother wouldn’t be so hard on Stephen.’

‘We all have responsibilities Adriane; it doesn’t matter what gender a person is born the responsibility should be the same.’

‘Why did you drink the whiskey?’ I asked curiously.

‘Dad always says it makes him feel better. I don’t feel better.’

‘Because’ Zavier spoke up, ‘You've drunk to excess any and everything in excess will make you feel like you do currently. Are you going to do it again?’

He shook his head. ‘Sleep, I see you tomorrow.’

He fell asleep shortly after. Curiously, I had to ask.

‘Who does he think you are?’

Zavier produced a card from his jacket it read.

Cole Soren

Black Sun Merchants

Wears from Nicosia, Arcelia, and Halloran

‘Smart gives you cover for travel,’ I said, handing the card back.

‘I'll have you know; the Black Sun Merchants is a legitimate organization that I just so happen to own.’

‘And Cole Soren?’ I asked.

‘I took some Liberties with Nicosia lacks in paperwork.’

‘Adriane,’ I heard a voice call in the dining room. ‘Stephen,’ I called ‘In here,’ he rounded the corner, first noticing Zavier and then me with Adriane on my lap.

‘What happen?’ he asked. Leaning concerned over his brother.

Zavier spoke up.

‘I found Adriane, in the Gentlemen’s lounge, drinking under the table. I Remembered him from last night, so I tried finding someone who would recognize him. I remember seeing him with Lady Anna here, so I found her. We were just discussing what to do next when we heard you.’

‘Mothers going to kill me.’ Stephen's hand ran through his hair tightly, pulling it. Zavier looked amused.

‘Stephen, he had vomited it all up. He will be fine.’

‘No, he was my responsibility.’

‘Stephen, you brother is fourteen at what point does he get blamed for his own actions? It is not like you had an older sibling to take the blame when you were his age.’

‘I will talk to both your mother and father.’ I nodded at Zavier to help me with Adriane.

While we were all technically the same age, Zavier was taller and broader than Stephen, able to lift Adriane with little assistance.

We walked together to the Fowler's rooms. I entered first, with Stephen by my side.

‘My Lady, my Lord this is Cole Soren-’

‘Apologies my lady, my Lord,’ Zavier said, putting Adriane on the bed. Stephen's hand tightened on mine nervously. ‘Adriane was showing me around the ship this morning. I went straight to sleep after I boarded yesterday, so I wasn’t yet familiar with it.

Your son was showing me around the ship before lunch. I wasn’t aware that he was missing until Lady Ronan informed me. We were just discussing what to do when he fell asleep. Stephen found you shortly after.’

Talented liar, I thought watching him interact with others, Lady Fowler was blushing heavily.

‘Why thank you, my Lord-’ he raised his hand.

‘I am no Lord; I am a merchant.’

Thank you, Master Soren,’ Lady Fowler spoke up.

‘Might I invite you to dinner tonight, Master Soren?’

‘I would be honoured, my lady.’ We left the Fowler suits. Stephen thanked us and mentioned seeing you tonight for dinner.

I headed back down into the hall.

‘Where are you headed?’ he asked, ‘Checking on my mother.’

‘Will you be at dinner?’ he asked. ‘Just have to wait and see, won't you.’

‘Will you meet me after, please?’

I nodded, before heading back to my room. Mother was still asleep, and I had no desire to wake her. I just wanted to rest. Zavier had barely changed. He was still the mischievous boy I knew back on Coralline.

I found him while playing hide and seek with my brothers. At first, I thought he was one of my tormentors, but he assured me he had no interest in hurting me, only being my friend, he regularly got Charles back for tormenting me, whether I knew it or not.

I had tried introducing him to my family at one point. It was then he informed me that he was invisible. I was the only one who could see him. When I asked why, he had said it was to keep us safe.

I used to sneak food from the kitchen; he slept next to me every night and read stories Aswell.

Then one night, he informed me that he had to leave to protect me from danger, but as soon as it had passed, he would return. The danger came and went. But he still did not return.

I went to mother to ask why he hadn't returned. She informed me that invisible friends do that sometimes; they disappear after teaching us what we need to learn. I knew he was not a figment of my imagination, but as time went on with no contact, I began to believe it was real that he did not exist.

I remembered, once while throwing rocks Charles had hit a bird’s nest, he knocked the nest from the branch killing the bird in it. I was devastated. I had never seen a dead creature up until then. Zavier took the bird in my hands and a faint glowing appeared, and the creature came back to life, chirping the bird took flight. Zavier was exhausted. After that night, I had him sleep in my bed and the light which normally danced around his body faded. After that he became real. He could not be invisible if he could become solid like that could he.