Chapter Seven

"Well, you have a thick skull, I'll give you that. Besides the concussion, everything seems to be in place. You'll feel tired for a while and a little dizzy. If you feel like you're getting any headaches, come to me and I'll get you something to ward them off."

Clicking the tiny light off, Jane wrote something on her chart and smiled as Nightmahre rubbed his eyes. He blinked a couple of times before they fully adjusted. Then he remembered he wasn't the only one in the room. Sohrrow had stayed by his side as they rushed him to the mansion. Zsadist did a good job in giving the brothers a fight for his life because if he stayed asleep any longer, he would've stayed asleep permanently. Now here he was in the Brotherhoods infirmary with V's shellan giving him a checkup. What made the checkup feel like an interrogation was because Vishous was in the room staring bullets at him.

Nightmahre ignored the Brother. Even though he was the reason why the male's chest was wrapped up like a mummy, he didn't like the way he was staring at him. Sohrrow didn't seem to care because he sighed in relief and slumped in the chair he was sitting in. His brother was bandaged up as well. In fact, all the males had to have some work done on them. Nightmahre had to get some stitches from the wounds he received from Tohr and he still couldn't see out of his right eye because of Z. The brother didn't sound so apologetic when Nightmahre came to. In fact, he almost sounded glad he inflicted some damage on the male.

Collecting her things, Jane gave Nightmahre the okay for him to move around and left with her hellren right behind her. Once Nightmahre and Sohrrow were alone, the oldest brother flopped down on the bed he was sitting on and groaned. His chest still hurt like a bitch and his vision slightly danced around.

"It seems we're in a pickle," mumbled Sohrrow.

Nightmahre stayed silent for a while. "It's my fault," he admitted. "It was my call and I allowed y'all guys to get hurt. I should've ordered us to split the moment we were surrounded."

"No it wasn't," Sohrrow argued. "You asked me if we should fight and I said yes. I know you consult with me during those situations and I was a little hot-headed. What happened to Ehnvy and Phride was my fault and not yours. If someone is to blame, I won't hide. I'll take the punishment if there is any."

"No!"

Jumping straight to his feet, the room spun a little that Nightmahre had to hold onto the bed. Sohrrow grabbed his brother and steadied him. When he seemed like he could stand on his own, he released him and stepped back.

"I am the oldest. I should be the one to take the punishment. Not you."

"But, Night. I—"

"Understand?"

There was no point in arguing. Nightmahre made it clear that he was taking the blame on this one. No one could change his mind once it was made. Sohrrow would just have to deal with it.

"Fine. But Lhyra will be pissed that you got this pretty face scratched."

A shudder went through Nightmahre.

Giving his big brother a pat on the back, Sohrrow smiled and headed for the door. Since Doc Jane gave him the thumbs up, Nightmahre took a hesitant step forward and the room stayed still. Catching up to his brother, they walked out to see Ehnvy and Phride having a staring match with Z, Rhage, John and Qhuinn. Out of habit, Nightmahre reached for his waist only to remember that the Brothers took his sword and his brothers' weapons.

Because he was the person he was, Sohrrow stepped in between his brothers and threw his arms around their shoulders. When they both looked up at him, he grabbed the sides of their heads and banged them together. While the two rubbed their new wounds, the Brothers blinked in confusion.

"Now is that any way how to treat our guests?" sulked Sohrrow. He looked at the Brothers and did a fancy bow by waving his hand and leaning forward. That was the same way how he charmed Lhyra and apologized to people. "I apologize for the rude behavior my younger brothers have shown you. If you must, I give you permission to strip them of everything they are wearing and make them walk around the mansion naked for the whole day."

"Sohrrow, you asshole!" shrieked Ehnvy and Phride. They both knew Sohrrow wasn't joking. Beneath that gentlemen face and posture, the brothers knew he was being serious. He was literally giving the Brothers permission strip them of their clothes. They quickly looked to Nightmahre who held up his hands, wanting nothing to do with the suggestion his brother just made.

"Two brothers walking around the mansion with nothing to where?" contemplated Rhage. He rubbed his chin as he thought of the offer. Before he had time to answer, Zsadist slapped him in the back of the head. "Fine," he moaned. "We'll accept your apology but refuse your kind offer."

Now that they were all in agreement, Rhage and Z led the way up to the study with John and Qhuinn following the brothers from behind. Nightmahre led the four with Sohrrow right behind him and the younger brothers flanked their older brothers. Walking up the staircase and entering the mansion, sounds of doggen preparing Last Meal was coming from the giant room with a huge table. The males walked past the room until they were standing in front of a very large doorway.

Rhage knocked and opened the doors to reveal the study. All the Brothers were in there waiting. Besides Wrath and Rehvenge who happened to be in the room, all the Brothers had bruises and bandages covering their bodies. The brothers got the occasional glare which Sohrrow smiled off. Ehnvy and Phride ignored the Brothers and scanned the room with their fast eyes as if a threat would jump out of nowhere. Nightmahre just kept his eyes on the king and no one else.

When Rhage closed the doors, Wrath looked up and Nightmahre could see that the Blind King was really blind. The wraparounds did little from Nightmahre seeing the king's eyes and he noticed the golden retriever by the king's side.

"How about we start with a name?" Wrath spoke.

"I am Nightmahre, first born son of the Brother Mehrcy. And these are my brothers Sohrrow, Ehnvy and Phride."

"Now that we got the introductions out of the way, what the fuck are you doing in my city?"

Nightmahre narrowed his eyes. He never liked people talking down to him and he didn't care if it was the king who asked him. He could feel the urge to walk up to Wrath and beat him to a bloody pulp. Luckily, Sohrrow knew his brother and made a sound with his throat. Nightmahre heard him and cooled his jets.

"We're here to hunt lessers. Is that not the duty that the Brotherhood should be doing? Because if it is, I would like to say you're doing a poor job at it."

"You damn brat!"

Heads turned to Rhage who was no longer sitting on the couch. Some of the Brothers moved towards him in case he did something stupid. But one could tell that they might let the Brother rip Nightmahre to shreds.

Finding no other solution, Sohrrow moaned and tapped his brother on the shoulder. Looking back, Nightmahre saw the slight annoyance in his younger brother's eyes. Talking politics had never been Nightmahre's strong suit. Where he lacked Sohrrow made up for and right now they needed the brother.

Stepping back for his little brother to take the front, Sohrrow did his fancy bow again and locked his hands behind his back.

"My lord, forgive my brother for his rudeness. All he meant was that we noticed the large numbers of the enemy and thought it would be good will to help lower the numbers."

No one knew how to react to the male. Even though he was just as deadly like his brothers, he could switch over to being a gentleman so easily. And because of that switch, Rhage calmed down and sat back in his chair. Sohrrow watched the Brother before turning his gaze back at the king and smiled an apologetic smile.

"You see, my lord, we just arrived here in this city barely a year ago. We understand if we have upset you and we are sorry for it. We have only been taught to rely on one another from our father and nothing else. The battle that just happened was a means of misfortune. If we have insulted you and your household in any way, we are humble sorry."

Wrath raked his hand through his long hair. Sohrrow was playing the game perfectly that Wrath didn't know what to say. All Nightmahre could do was silently applause his brother for the performance.

"I see one of you has manners," spoke Wrath.

"My mother was a Chosen. She taught me well for situation like this one."

Sohrrow just smiled. In the back, Nightmahre heard a cough and looked at his brother. He just rolled his eyes because Sohrrow was sucking up. Phride pinched Ehnvy, reminding him that the brother sucking up was the one saving their asses.

"You make it hard to argue," Wrath mumbled.

Some of the Brothers nodded to their king's comment. Sohrrow was making it hard for them to punish them.

"If you are here just to hunt lessers, you must have a reason in doing so."

Nightmahre's body tensed.

"The enemy of our race has not been kind to us. I believe the saying is 'what comes around goes around'? The Lessing Society made an enemy out of us and we are simple here to take down as many as possible. I hope our actions have not intervened with your duties."

"The lessers are an enemy to us all. You better have a better explanation."

"My lord, we—"

"They murdered my shellan."

Mumbling "damn it", Sohrrow looked over to his brother who spoke. Nightmahre was the reason why they were all in Caldwell and the king just asked for a reason.

Tohr shuffled a bit on his feet, understanding the male. He, too, had lost his Wellsie and lost himself for a while. It was only until he met Autumn did he find himself.

Wrath must've sensed his friend's uneasy because his head perked a little to the side. Everyone in the room could tell unwanted memories came with what Nightmahre just said. And they could see the darkness in his eyes as he fought off those memories. Sensing the darkness, Tohr whispered something to Wrath and the king nodded his head. He then straightened up and looked at the male.

"You're just like your father."

"What does that mean?"

"He was, at the time, cold hearted. Any emotion he felt, he crushed it for he saw it as a weakness. He didn't believe in team work since he saw that relying on someone showed that you could not hold your own. Everything he did in the Brotherhood was on his own. He refused to come for anyone for help, especially when it was a fight for his life. In a way, I am seeing him right now instead of you."

Anger flashed across Nightmahre's face. Someone had just insulted his father in front of his face and was acting as if they were having a chat. The anger was so strong that Nightmahre's mind went blank. It was thanks to Ehnvy and Phride who grabbed their older brother by the arms. If they hadn't, Nightmahre would've ran across the room and murder the male who talked down about their father.

Even though the Brothers reacted to the threat, Sohrrow flipped the switch and punched Nightmahre right in the stomach. Catching him before he fell, he grabbed his brother's head and brought it to his so no one could hear them whispering.

"Night, calm down. This is exactly what they want."

"They insulted father," he growled.

"He wanted to anger you. The male wants to see what you'll do when angered. And right now, you're eating out of his hands. Remember what father taught us, Night? Especially you. Right now, they only remember what father once was. They don't know the change he made. We must honor father by showing them what he taught us."

Once Sohrrow spoke, the anger vanished.

Taking calm breaths, Nightmahre backed up and kept his composure while Sohrrow apologized again for his actions. Looking back at the Brother, Nightmahre watched the surprise slowly fade away on his face.

"I understand you knew our father?" questioned Sohrrow. Tohrment nodded. "I am sorry to say that our father had a change of heart. Of course, he trained our older brother in the way of the sword so the resemblance is uncanny. But may I speak bluntly, my lord?"

Wrath waved for the male to continue.

"Your name, if you can be so kind."

"Tohrment."

"Tohrment, you must understand what I am about to say and not take it as an offense. But you don't know shit about our father. He was the male who always cared for his family and would risk his life to protect our mahmen. He drilled it into us that we never abandon family and that we must sacrifice our lives if it is the only way for the rest of us to escape. Our father was a male who was always with us in a time of need and he reminded us every day that he loved us. It was his love that kept us safe for all those centuries. The Brother, Mehrcy, you so kindly remember is nothing but a fucking myth. The Mehrcy we proudly call father was a male who is ten times better the Brother any one of you will ever be. So when you think its kind to slander a person who can't even defend themselves, I highly recommend you hold your fucking tongue."

The room went silent. Ehnvy and Phride bowed their head in acknowledgment of their brother's words. Nightmahre held his head high for the male he had always looked up to. Sohrrow stared straight at Tohr with eyes intent to kill.

It was clear to the Brothers that the group of brothers standing before them was nowhere near the average civilian. They were trained to be warriors and protect those who needed protecting. Their father had trained them to be Brothers if they had to be. A former Brother taught his sons the way of the Brotherhood and they were fighting machines ready for any battle. The only thing was that were they ready to fight actual Brothers who have been fighting lessers their entire life?

All four held the same look in their eyes. They would fight the very group of protectors if they had to. They would fight until they were no more. Until the last brother falls, they would fight for one another and die for each other.

Making their point very clear, Wrath stood. The Brothers got to their feet as well. Sohrrow bowed and stepped back for Nightmahre to take over. He had done his part in calling a truce and understanding. Now it was the leader's turn to make the decision that would involve all of them.

"I get the feeling that you and your brothers won't stop hunting lessers."

"No. We won't."

"In that case, I see only one solution. You four must join the Black Dagger Brotherhood