A Betrayal Too Deep

Chapter 10

A Good Nights Rest

Harry jumped awake when a noise woke him up abruptly, wondering what was going on he looked around trying to figure it out. Then another knock, someone was at the door, Harry stumbled towards the door and opened it. Gilbert was standing there, impeccably dressed as always, he must be taking tips from Valerius…he didn't like to think Valerius was that mean to demand they all dressed so well. After all they were only cooking and cleaning his house, er manor.

"Is everything okay?" asked Harry yawning behind his hand as he stared at Gilbert in curiosity.

"Breakfast is ready s…Harry, if you wish to join L…Valerius for breakfast." said Gilbert, for some reason Harry loathed the words Sir and Lord, so he was doing his best not to say those words in front of him. He'd seen his eyes; he'd looked so sick and disgusted. Something had to have happened in Harry's past to cause it.

"Thank you Gilbert, I'll be down in five minutes," said Harry smiling at the man before closing his door. He would like to know the guy more, but he didn't think Gilbert would feel comfortable about it. He seemed profession, and well, also extremely attached to Valerius. He did wonder about Gilbert's story; that actually lead him to stay with the extremely…aloof man and Valerius was that. He tried to pretend nothing got to him, that he couldn't care about anyone or anything - but Harry knew that wasn't the case.

"Very well," said Gilbert as he left, back down to the sitting room to inform Valerius his house guest would indeed be down for breakfast.

Harry dressed in a pair of black jeans, white T-shirt and a black top, before making his way down. His stomach was grumbling loudly, not happy that it hadn't been fed since the previous morning. Harry wasn't used to that anymore, not eating, but he was feeling much better than last night. His little bout of depression was over with, no surprise really; he'd lost people a lot more important to him over the years. With his first decent sleep, he was looking forward to something to eat.

"Morning," murmured Harry as he took his seat.

"Good morning," said Valerius, his voice had over the course of the few days Harry had stayed there lost its haughtiness other than when Harry was…being cheeky and Valerius didn't know how to reply. So he reverted back to his usual emotionless self but he was getting better at not being so defensive when Harry said things he didn't like. Valerius noticed Harry seemed in a much better mood than last night, he was rather glad about it. He hadn't known what the hell to do to help him last night. He could do sneering and sarcastic, defensive but he sure as hell fire didn't know how to comfort someone. "Feeling better?"

"Yes, I slept exceptionally well," said Harry smiling slightly at Valerius, sometimes he didn't know what to make of him. On one hand he was welcoming; on the other hand he was sometimes closed off as if he didn't want anyone there. If Harry didn't know he was lonely he'd have been one confused Dark-Hunter.

"Good," said Valerius as if an argument had been settled.

Harry just smirked wryly, as the breakfast was brought through by both Grace and Gilbert.

"What can I get you to drink Harry?" asked Gilbert facing Harry, his face expectant.

"I wouldn't mind some orange juice?" said Harry, it was more of a suggestion, and he wasn't used to people asking him what he wanted.

"Of course," said Gilbert before he left again.

"Was the training room useful?" asked Valerius, wanting to talk to Harry about something…anything really. Which was odd, he was by nature a quiet man unless of course something got him riled up. Then they would see a very different side to Valerius Magnus, a side that not even Harry would like or appreciate at all.

"Yes, although the Daimons aren't exactly known for standing still…" smirked Harry wryly, he could have magically animated them though he supposed. Although he didn't think Valerius would have appreciated them making a mess of his training room.

"Indeed not," said Valerius his voice filled with amusement. As he began putting his breakfast onto his place, he had noticed that Harry never started before him. He knew the rules of etiquette, it wasn't often you saw it now of days. Especially with people that looked to be around Harry's age, sixteen, seventeen years old. He often wondered just what had happened to Harry, his curiosity was stemming from the fact that nobody knew. It wasn't in the handbook; nothing about Harry was in it other than when he'd been turned into a Dark-Hunter. Which by the way was ten years ago, three of which will have been spent on training with Acheron. So he'd been hunting Daimons for seven years, and only came across his first failure. Valerius had to congratulate him on that, the rest were not that lucky. He'd come across one five months after becoming a Dark-Hunter all those long years ago. Back then there had been less Daimons, just like there were less Dark-hunters.

Harry put extra on his plate, he was extremely hungry, and he noticed the lack of pancakes again. Obviously Valerius didn't include them in his breakfast food. Harry liked to eat them every morning, he always made sure to have enough ingredients for them. "You don't like pancakes do you?" he asked him slyly.

Valerius stared at Harry almost questioningly, wondering what he was thinking, "It wasn't a breakfast choice where I came from. You could say I am set in my ways." he said eventually.

"That's not the only way you're set in," said Harry honestly.

Valerius arched his eyebrow wondering if he even wanted to hear what Harry would say next.

"The house," said Harry grinning, "Roman books, the seats, the whole place screams that you were a man with money back in the day am I right?"

"My family was rich yes," said Valerius in agreement.

"What happened to them?" asked Harry wondering if he'd get an answer, "Only if you want to talk about it." he finished realizing how he was sounding. Truth be told it was none of his business but he wanted to know why Valerius was the man he was today.

"Follow me," said Valerius getting up, placing his used cloth napkin on the empty plate, Harry's was still folded up on the table.

Harry got up wondering what the hell was going on. He was taken through a few corridors, Valerius pointing out a few things as he did. It was a tour of the house, Harry realized, but it didn't answer his question though. Then he was standing in front of a huge marble statue it was almost identical to Valerius, but it wasn't the same man unless he was pretty much mistaken. This man was a little bigger, fatter around the middle and hunched over slightly, he didn't have Valerius' stance.

"Your father?" asked Harry cautiously.

"No," said Valerius his voice chilled Harry to the bone, that tone of voice… Harry would have used if someone had asked him if he'd loved his Aunt and Uncle. "He was my grandfather, and he was the best general of his day." Harry detected a hint of pride but it was almost completely overwhelmed with shame.

"Ah," said Harry observing the marble statue, wondering why the hell he would keep a statue of someone he obviously hated in his house.

"He beat back the Greeks and reclaimed Rome for our people. Indeed, he single-handedly lasted the last Macedonian threat and who single-handedly annihilated the greatest Greek who ever lived…Kyrian of Thrace." said Valerius. There was definitely hate in his voice now, and Harry wondered which one it was.

"Not single-handedly." said Harry, arching an eyebrow at Valerius wondering why he'd lied…but he'd not felt a single life from Valerius which meant he thought it was the truth. He knew a lot about Kyrian, but only through Acheron. "Kyrian was betrayed, by his wife. Drugged." Harry's voice had went stone cold with that word, it was evident he understood what Kyrian had gone through.

Valerius said nothing as he continued to stare at the statue.

"You are very similar, I guess its one of the family traits." said Harry; it was a statement not a question. Like the Malfoy's and himself, he had looked like his father.

"Not only that, I was supposed to follow his grand footsteps," said Valerius bitterly.

"And did you?" asked Harry impassively.

There was no mistaking the shame in Valerius' eyes and stance "When my grandfather died there were parades held for a full week to mourner his passage."

"You hated him didn't you?" stated Harry, now even more curious about Valerius' family.

"I begrudged him every breath he took," said Valerius.

"When did he die?" asked Harry.

"When I was eight years old," said Valerius bitterly, yet there was more shame to be heard. How curiously thought Harry, he hated him yet something about his grandfather shamed him? Why? His inability to live up to his expectations? Had he? And why had Valerius become a Dark-Hunter?

"Kyrian," said Harry, getting imagines in his head courtesy of Valerius that explained the shame. He had seen his grandfather butchered to death by Kyrian - someone he thought to have been dead. No doubt that had scarred him deeply as a child.

"Yes," said Valerius surprised that Harry had managed to work that one out.

"What about your parents?" asked Harry, as Valerius turned away from the statue unable to stand staring at it anymore.

"My mother died giving birth to me," said Valerius, "My father died when I was fully grown."

Harry winced, no wonder he was screwed up, as more images presented itself in his mind. Valerius had handed someone his sword, the sword that was used to kill his father. Evidently there had not been any love lost between them. There was something very familiar with the man he'd given the sword to…perhaps a brother? The family resemblance was definitely there.

"Brothers?" asked Harry as they entered the sitting room again.

"I had two," said Valerius more bitterness obvious than even he held for the grandfather.

Had said it all, he didn't need the image in his mind to understand what had happened. Valerius had been killed by his brothers, and he in turn had killed them in retribution. He couldn't blame anyone for that; he'd done exactly the same thing. He'd hunted down the people who killed him and gave them exactly what they deserved. He'd been in a very dark and angry place then, and who could blame him? He'd been betrayed and killed by those he'd loved.

"I was expected to be like my father as well, I was always compared to him despite the fact I didn't have a single memory of him. My parents were murdered when I was a baby. I can understand how hard it is to live up to everyone's expectations and put your own hopes and dreams on the backburner." stated Harry. "It wouldn't matter what I would do, I'd still be compared to him, even if in reality I didn't think I was anything like him."

"I am sorry to hear that," said Valerius his voice softening a tad in sympathy. If anyone had seen Valerius and Harry talking they'd have wondered what the hell had happened to Valerius. He was always so formal, distant and aloof, nobody had ever seen Valerius be so…kind before. Then again nobody had ever given him the chance to be really, at the end of the day.

"Thanks," said Harry, "So how long have you been here?"

Valerius thankful for the change in subject quickly delved in, "I just transferred from Washington DC, and I replaced Kyrian, no doubt Artemis' attempt at being a bitch."

"She's already one without that added to it," Harry replied snorting in disgust he hated talking about her. "It is a shame, you do resemble your grandfather, and no doubt it would bring it all flashing back."

"It's why I make sure to stay well away," said Valerius, "It helps that he's no longer a Dark-Hunter, and we have no reason to run into one another."

"Why do you feel bad about it? It's not as if you could have done anything to stop it. At your own admission you were what? Eight years old. Oh sure, you could have outsmarted your entire family and set him free." said Harry sarcastically.

"They didn't just crucify him," said Valerius staring away, "What they did to him was…demeaning, he was a prince and did not deserve the way they dealt with him." his own hands were flexing as if he was remembering his own crucifixion.

"It wasn't your fault, sooner or later you'll have to realize that and move on." said Harry.

"Was it that easy for you?" stated Valerius his voice cold.

"Touché," said Harry simply. "I better go get ready." he said realizing the time.

Valerius looked bewildered before he glanced at the time and almost jumped out of his seat. He'd never been late for his rounds before, and he wasn't around to start now. As they were leaving Gilbert entered with the post, giving Valerius most of it, and surprising Valerius there was one for Harry.

"Thank you Gilbert," said Harry, "Now if you two will excuse me I need to get ready."

"Of course," said Valerius and Gilbert immediately, creating a path for him to get through, he heard Valerius speaking to Gilbert for a few minutes before footsteps followed his own. It was time to hunt; all in all, it had been an amicable conversation for most part. It was a good job Valerius didn't know that Harry was receiving his memories; otherwise it would have probably infuriated the Dark-Hunter.

The letter was placed in the drawer, he would read it when he got back. It was from the squires, and depending on the reply - maybe the shit would hit the fan.

There we gooooo all caught up! and you can review ;) yes im hinting lol xD so Gibert a squire or not? will harry have an huge fight with the head squires over the injustice? how long do you think i'll have it before Zarek comes into it this time? and will i make Valerius more commanding and less cowardly when it comes to demanding answers from harry? or do you think valerius would act aloof and hurt becuase harry was ignoring him? R&R PLEASE!