Path Of The Broken

17. Meetings-2

The dagger slapped into Alex’s palm as he sat waiting. Having lived in the palace his whole life, appearing here from the veil hadn’t been difficult. He knew these rooms in the palace almost as well as he did his own. Better, actually, since he’d spent more time in these rooms than he had in his rooms at the Complex of the Fourth. Moving back into the complex was something he’d toyed with and discarded many times over. He wasn’t ready yet. If he was honest with himself, he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t kill everyone. Restraining his temper, his increasing powers, was not an easy proposition. Although he didn’t think he’d kill William. Alex tossed his blade again, catching it as it slapped into his palm.

The door to the room opened and his brother walked in. He was halfway across the room, stripping off his formal vest, before he stopped in his tracks, suddenly aware that he had a visitor. Alex smiled at William’s obvious shock and reaction to his presence.

“Hello, brother. It’s all right, I won’t kill you. Or at least I don’t think I will.” Alex waited, impatient as his brother stood, still frozen.

Alex felt his anger rise and let it build. He was still confident he wouldn’t lose control. At least, he wouldn’t lose his temper with William. Alex smiled as William decided, dropping his vest on a nearby chair. He watched as his brother walked over to the drink counter and poured two drinks in tumblers. Placing the stopper back in the bottle, William picked up the glasses, handing one to Alex.

Alex sipped the drink, savouring the strong, smooth liquor. It was much better than he had been drinking of late, bringing back strong memories of better times.

William sat down in the chair next to him, regarding him for a moment. Alex returned the gaze. His older brother looked well but tired; it was likely that he himself was the cause of some of that stress. He knew they looked much alike, both inheriting their father’s height and broad shoulders. He smiled. He knew he had more muscle on his frame than his older brother, courtesy of William spending more time sitting down in council meetings while Alex trained. That and constantly using the veil burned energy, managing to strip all the spare flesh from him. All of them—including his sister, he now realised, since he’d recently come face to face with their mother—had inherited their dark brown hair and blue eyes from her.

“How have you been?”

Alex laughed, closing his eyes, the bitterness clear in his tone. “I’ve been better. How much did you know, William?”

“That’s a broad question, Alex. How much did I know about what?”

An instant hot flush of anger ran through Alex.

“Don’t play games, William. How long did you know our dear brother was trying to kill me? The Killiam Order, Kin and Elder. How much do you know?” Alex took a deep, settling breath, feeling anger roll over him, as it often did.

Transition—such a simple word, yet its effects were dramatic, hard for normal people to understand. His access to the veil, or perhaps just his ability to use it, had increased. It pulsed and thrummed through him, different power lines swirling around him. That was a change he could track back to that first major attack on his party as they’d ridden between the Winter and Summer Palace. He’d drawn so much power he’d burned out his mind and nearly killed himself. That moment had heralded the start of the disintegration of his life. Or, more rightly, the kidnapping attempted that had preceded that moment, but it had been that attack that had been the start of his powers increasing and getting out of control.

Alex steered himself away from this dangerous train of thoughts. Thinking about that time and all the people he’d killed, even in his own defence, triggered a burst of memories which made him shut down. The cycle of madness then continued.

William sat, not saying anything. He waited for Alex to regain control. If anything, that told Alex he was correct. His big brother was not shocked. He’d known more than he’d ever let on. Whether he had known before or after Alex had broken was another matter. William spoke, his assured, familiar voice causing Alex’s mind to settle and calm.

“Daniel always had an issue with the Sundered, and so with you. He sided with the Killiam Order when he was young, under the influence of Scholar Clements. Please believe me, Alex, neither I nor father were aware he’d joined the Order.” William closed his eyes, pain flashed across his face before he took a breath and steadied himself. “We would have stopped him if we’d known. You were the one who killed him?”

Alex smiled, yet there was no humour in it, the flicking memories of those last few days at the palace playing across his mind’s eye. The events had left him feeling betrayed. It had been an inescapable realisation that his father and brother had known far more than they had ever let on to him. They had kept him in the dark, not trusting him or how he would react.

“Yes. How could I ask anyone else to? You realise the Order was behind the assault on Mother?” Anger flared through him again, as it always did when he thought about Daniel’s actions and his mother. He closed his eyes, battling to stay on that tightrope of emotion without falling off either side.

Once again silence stretched between them as William gave him time to battle his demons. Alex heard the cork come out of a bottle, the flow of liquid into his glass. He waited, hearing the creak of the leather seat as his brother settled near him again and opened his eyes, taking a sip, savouring the taste as it slid down his throat.

“Only when Kyle accused the late Lord Vannen in court. The man had enough time to confirm his involvement before he begged forgiveness. Kyle snapped his neck for treason.” William watched Alex and, assessing he was calm enough, continued. “We did not know about the Order’s involvement in Mother’s death. It was attributed to the actions of the Sundered because of your testimony. As unbelievable as some found it, your account was verified by Aaron when he arrived at the palace to take up his post. There was evidence of other involvement, with the arrow wounds, and the guards scoured the countryside. Other than clearing out some unsavoury types, the search achieved nothing that pointed back to involvement in Mother’s death. We are still uncertain how they managed it, but we accept your word.”

Alex shook his head, took another sip and contemplated what William had said for a moment. He almost whimpered as power surged through him again. He took a shuddering breath; his hand shook.

“Kyle and Jess confirmed other involvement when I showed them what happened from my memories. The Skull Lord, Simon, one of the Kin, is one of Great Uncle Edward's contemporaries. He denies they were involved. The involvement of the League of Skulls never made sense. Jess followed Daniel to one of the Order’s meetings. He engaged with the other conspirators about their plans and came away with more of the toxin, and with a promise to dose us all again so they could attempt to take us again.” Taking a deep breath, Alex opened his eyes. “She overheard them admit to getting away with having a hand in the attack on Mother. They kept that piece of information from Daniel.”

“I wish we'd realised sooner. Things might have been different.”

“You know more about the Kin, Elder and me than you have ever let on.” That last was a statement rather than a question; he could tell by William’s reactions he was aware of a great deal more than the average person. When he thought about it, it was not surprising, yet it still hurt that they had cut him adrift, left him to muddle through on his own.

“Records have been kept in the locked Royal Archives for generations. I’m sorry, Alex.” The last was said softly.

Alex finished his drink in silence and placed it on the low table beside him. He looked at his brother, then nodded.

“In hindsight, we should have told you more. Father thought you were under enough pressure and didn’t want you worried.” William didn’t look all that sorry, not that Alex really expected him to be. As the heir to the crown, there were many matters that he knew and kept his own counsel on. It was expected; their father took William into his confidence on most issues of state. He had been doing so increasingly for years now.

Alex sat for a moment, staring off to the far side of the room trying to gather his scattered thoughts. “Great Uncle Edward, as in, the one that I can blame for that ridiculous legend of the Fourth? He’s not dead. Neither are Lord Callum Barraclough or Lady Leanna Katrina Shaddin.”

Alex found it was his turn to smile as the small plate of food William was holding hit the floor. Clearly, while his brother knew a great many things, that had not been one of them. It was nice some things could still shock him.

“What do you mean, not dead?” It was clear that William, usually so quick on the uptake, was struggling to understand.

“The usual meaning of not dead, William. They never died. I was a little disconcerted when I worked it out myself.” Alex’s felt his lips press together. “That little deceit is something I intend to discuss with them next time I run into them.”

“Alex, they lived generations ago.” The concern in William’s voice was clear. Alex didn’t know if he was amused or irritated by William’s disbelief.

“I know that, William. Imagine my surprise—and Kyle’s and Jess’s—when our dearly departed ancestors kept showing up to talk to us and give some basic instructions on the veil.” Alex paused, observing his brother. “William, you already know that the Kin and Elder exist, yet you are struggling with Uncle Edward and his friends being alive and among their number?”

William opened his mouth, then closed it again, laughing weakly. “You have a point. I didn’t say I am consistent. They’re immortal? You are immortal?”

Alex couldn’t help the laughter that erupted from him. “I’m sorry, William, you should know better than most that those with power can die. You know I’ve killed enough of the Sundered. Let's just stick with the potential to live longer than most, with the ability to possess great power.”

They sat for the longest time in silence while William processed the information he’d just been given. Finally, William stirred again.

“You never mentioned it before, none of you did.” The accusation in his tone was clear.

“If our situations were reversed, would you have admitted that to me?”

“Of course, I—” William rubbed one hand over his face. “Sorry, you’re right, I probably wouldn’t have.”

“If the healers had found out, I would have been medicated until I was insensible. Besides, I was worried for some time that it was a sign I was going mad. That all of us were. I only worked out that they weren’t actually dead right before things got messy.” Alex’s expression closed down a little as he thought back. “Transition—they call it transition. It hit, William… you have no idea. I could access power before, but it was nothing compared to the power I can reach and use now. The power levels surged. There are times where I black out… I think it's just too much, and my brain just shuts down.”

William’s voice was soft. “The ancient ones couldn’t help you?”

Alex smiled as William shied away from using Uncle Edward’s name.

“I really don’t know. I was a little preoccupied the last time I saw him. I needed to get some control and calm down first,” Alex admitted candidly.

“Understandable, I guess. In your shoes, I’m not sure I’d be terribly happy.” William grinned, the mood in the room lifting.

“Believe me, given the circumstances, that is an understatement.” Alex pushed the memory of the last time he saw Edward firmly to one side. He looked back to William to find his brother watching him.

“You haven’t asked about Amelia.” William’s voice was quiet.

Alex winced. Before his transition, Amelia had been the only thing he could think of, she’d become his whole world. Since their enforced separation when he’d fled the palace after killing Daniel, it was like all the feelings he’d had for her had disappeared. If anything, when he thought of Amelia he’d reverted to thinking of her with the affection as if for a little sister. The realisation caused him guilt and embarrassment now, since unbidden the images of their time together flashed in his head. He’d thought he was in love with her and their relationship had certainly not been platonic. He was under no illusion about his growing attraction for Isabella, so this change wasn’t just a side effect of going through transition. None of this was a confession he wanted to make to his big brother right now. Or rather, the crown prince, since the whole circumstance had potential political mess written all over it.

“How is Amelia?” Alex did his best to smile as if nothing was wrong. The way William looked at him, he wasn’t certain he pulled it off.

“She misses you. You should come back, Alex.”

“No. I… can’t. Not yet. I still have too many periods where I black out, it's too dangerous until I’m back in my headspace all the time.” Alex heard the hesitation in his own voice and stood up, knowing it was time to leave.

“Look after yourself, Alex. You are welcome back home anytime.” William stood and walked across to the sideboard, withdrawing a heavy-looking money pouch from a drawer. He threw it at Alex, smiling as he adroitly snatched it out of the air. “I’ll make sure the supply is checked regularly and replenished. Take it when you have need.”

Alex paused and closed his eyes before looking back at his brother. William had always supported him. Still, it was too soon to speak of the things he had done, even if William guessed a great deal of what he was going through.

“I’m tracking the other Sundered, when I can. There is something odd about many of them, things that make little sense.”

Alex contemplated the other pressing issue that weighed on him. Kyle and William had always been close and, if he could break away from his new mistress, it was likely that he would show up here. William had the uncanny ability to fix all kinds of unusual problems.

“Be careful, William. Kyle is… well, compromised. He is bound to another as he was with Alyssa. I doubt he’ll show up here, but do not try to separate him from his mistress. She is not as psychotic as Alyssa was, but she will not take interference well.” Alex tried to hide his concern, yet he had to warn his brother.

He didn’t wait for a reply, simply pulling in the veil and disappearing down the paths he was now as familiar with using as breathing. He didn’t have to think or concentrate on travel within the veil anymore, he just did it. Still, it was on his list to analyse the process one day to see what he was doing. Right now it was not a high priority.