Chapter 35

Full Disclosure

(This chapter hasn't been beta'd, though it has gone through at least 20 edits. I'd hoped to have this out earlier, but I've been sick, again. Still, about six weeks is better than three or six months!)

"My brother acquired a blood stone."

Raizel could feel the sudden halt in Frankenstein's thoughts. His brows rose, eyes widened and mouth dropped open, then abruptly closed. The outward reaction would have been amusing if the results of the disclosure weren't so important. Once the shock wore off, Frankenstein chose to ask a question and Raizel dared to hope.

"You believe the lord was preparing you for that?"

Raizel nodded. Nothing could have prepared him.

'You watch! I'll save you, little brother!'

Despite the excruciating pain of wading into these old memories, Raizel felt a sense of urgency. He couldn't allow such an important event to become apparent only after a contract had been made. Frankenstein might never trust him again. Because of the frequency of the Lord's communications concerning Frankenstein, he felt pressed for time. His companion attracted too much attention from too many different directions. Raizel understood the implications.

"So...your brother was stealing souls?"

Another nod.

'You don't look so good today, little brother. How are you feeling?'

There was no need to elaborate, not that he even wanted to delve into that dark corner. Instead, he focused on watching for clues. It was a good distraction from the pain.

"So...what happened to him?"

'I'm sorry it hurts, Raizel. Don't worry. I promise to find a cure for sure!'

So far, Frankenstein only seemed to be seeking answers, but speaking of it required a monumental effort. Falling back into the numbing sense of duty, a place cut off from emotions, Raizel prepared himself. The tension in his body melted away into that dark, empty cavern.

'Why can't you see, Raizel! With this stone, you won't have to die! We'll be together forever!'

"I sent him into eternal sleep."

Frankenstein silently studied him and Raizel lowered his eyes. He didn't want to read his companion's mind, but he couldn't help the loud, unguarded impressions of lightning fast thoughts. Putting a noble to sleep was no easy task and required an exceptional amount of power. Assessment, calculation, and curiosity flowed from Frankenstein. Not once did Raizel sense judgement.

"No one else could have done it?"

"The Lord could have, but it wasn't his responsibility."

There was a long pause wherein Raizel could feel Frankenstein measuring the weight of each question he wished to ask.

'Is this truly your choice, little brother?'

"I've been wondering. Is sending someone into eternal sleep different from killing?" Frankenstein asked.

That was a good question and Raizel wasn't certain how to answer, especially where his brother was concerned. It was only fair that he answer, even though it might not be particularly accurate. Frankenstein couldn't hide anything from him if he truly wanted to know, so he needed to be as candid as possible.

"There are different degrees to death. Eternal sleep is one...but you should know more. I hold some...most of his soul," he replied, placing a hand on the middle of his chest.

"He's inside you?"

'I concede, little brother, do as you will.'

Raizel nodded.

Frankenstein's brows rose.

'Now he understands that we do have some similarities in common.' That was one thing he could hope for, but there were so many emotions accompanying his memories that he couldn't label them all, which was why he hadn't ever spoken of his brother.

For the first time since that dark day, duty failed him and a lump formed in Raizel's throat. He had wanted to keep his brother with him forever. No one had ever cared so much. That caring nature had doomed his brother from the start. And it was all his fault.

'I should have worked harder to find a way to discourage him,' Raizel thought.

This would never happen again. Raizel had determined that he wouldn't allow anyone else, Frankenstein especially, to fall victim to that twisted path. He would protect his companion with everything he had, even if it meant using mind control to stop Frankenstein from following his brother.

"Does it hurt?"

'I'm so sorry, Raizel. May we meet again.'

"It is no hardship," Raizel replied. The displeasure on Frankenstein's face made him feel like a liar, but it wasn't entirely untrue. Keeping his brother was only a minor power drain that went into a barrier cocooning the powerful soul. It didn't really hurt, no more than his normal pain levels anyway.

"Unlike the souls in Dark Spear, he sleeps."

"If I may ask, why did you take him inside you?"

"With time, he may be able to heal himself before...It shouldn't take ten thousand years, not if he is with me now. Once he has regained his balance, I can have him with me again."

There was no question in Raizel's mind that Frankenstein could feel his reluctance to go into more detail. After all, Frankenstein took responsibility for the creation of Dark Spear and all those who died to create it. Raizel's situation wasn't so different. If he'd only tried harder to convince his brother to accept fate, no one would have suffered.

"I apologize for bringing up such hurtful memories, Master," his butler finally replied.

Raizel shook his head. "The Lord's plans appear to involve you. You deserve any forewarning I can give you."

"Is the lord aware of what you've done? Perhaps he is worried that your brother's soul might overtake you and he wants me here to alert him should that happen?"

"It… is possible." Raizel frowned and stared at his cup. He wouldn't doubt the Lord had enough power to sense his brother's soul, but they were so similar that it could also be impossible to tell them apart.

"The only thing I know for certain is that the Lord presses me to live in the castle and become Lord, but I decline. The Noblesse is what I am and what I must be. Because of that, what I do with my brother's soul is my decision to make."

"The lord has been pushing me as well, mostly to make a contract with you and he had the gall to insinuate that I might want to keep you for myself!" Frankenstein blurted out. "I can't imagine what that would have to do with this! Dark Spear is completely different than what you are dealing with!"

Raizel's eyes snapped to Frankenstein. That was an important piece of information. If the Lord wanted them to make a contract, then it would be done, eventually. This only confirmed that he should tell Frankenstein anything that could come between them in the future. Also, if the Lord believed he needed Frankenstein so much, the future must be bleak indeed.

Frankenstein brought up a hand and started ticking off with his fingers. "I don't see any reason for a contract beyond the lord using you to keep me in his control. I don't need your power and he doesn't need to worry. I'm not going to become an informant for him. So, a contract is redundant. As for the Lord's insinuations…" Frankenstein's cheeks blushed, "...I would never behave above my station."

Well, that attitude was disappointing. Raizel couldn't help the sadness and loneliness that welled up inside of him. Trying to convince Frankenstein to make a contract would only drive him further away. What should he do? Maybe approach the matter indirectly? There were still questions that Frankenstein was holding back. Should he explain his power or how he sent his brother to sleep? No. The Lord could probably do a much better job and it most likely wouldn't help anyway.

The Lord might be wise, but there was no understanding his motivations at all, particularly insinuations. Besides, how could Raizel answer for the Lord when he couldn't forget Frankenstein chopping wood underneath the afternoon sun, shirtless, skin gleaming with sweat. The overwhelming desire to trace a path through the shining rivulets and skate down the slick skin still haunted him.

Foreign tingling in his fingertips reminded him of how he'd felt that day, staring at such a strong muscled back and chest. The sensation reappeared just thinking about it. Nevermind the brief curiosity of what Frankenstein's skin tasted like! The thought of his original goal that day, tea, had snapped him out of it back then. It could work again. Yes, tea. Tea.

And, his mind was wandering. Focus! Indirect approach, right.

"Are you thinking of the illegal contracts that produce mutants?" Raizel asked, placing his hands under the table in the hope that the phantom tingles would disappear.

"Even without the mutants, it is a surrender of self. A contract where blood is exchanged is dangerous to free will no matter how pretty it looks. I am my own and I refuse to give up what makes me human!"

'He's becoming angry and still doesn't understand what a contract can truly offer. Perhaps the subject should be dropped,' Raizel thought as the hollowness in his chest grew. How long would he have to wait?

"Can't believe him," Frankenstein muttered as he stood to clear the table. "Trying to take advantage of you like that, force you into a contract. Especially when all you want is to be left alone. Speaking of which! All that time they did leave you alone, in the dark, and no one brought you anything to eat or drink, or even bothered to clean? This place was a derelict when I got here! To think he left you like that!"

Power began fluctuating around Frankenstein as he none too gently removed the dishes. That was a bad sign, but Raizel felt warmth flush into his cheeks anyway.

"When the Lord made offers to live at the palace, I declined" Raizel pointed out, hoping to de-escalate the situation.

"That doesn't matter! If he cared so much about you, he would have worked harder to make sure someone was here to take care of you," Frankenstein bit out. "Which reminds me, you had way too many sweets today. Tomorrow will be heaped with meat, vegetables, and fruit. But.." Frankenstein paused momentarily and stared at Raizel, "...thank you for sharing today. It had to be a difficult subject and I am humbly and immensely grateful."

Warmth at the concern filled the empty hole in Raizel's chest. Frankenstein gave him a short bow of respect to which Raizel nodded stiffly. He certainly didn't dare draw attention to the heat rising in his face. Frankenstein's sweetest moments were rarely gentle and always a pleasant surprise.

"Grateful, yes, but that doesn't change my mind about the lord. He IS supposed to be THE LORD, after all." Frankenstein raged louder by the second. "There's no reason he couldn't send a quiet servant to live here. When I find out just how long you've been alone, maybe I'll give Dark Spear a taste of him. Hehe. When he least expects it! I should do it just for leaving you alone to deal with your brother! Unbelievable! Unconscionable!"

'Does Frankenstein believe he's quiet?'

The tirade continued on out the door and down the hall, Frankenstein's aura gradually growing more prickly. Once the hall was silent, Raizel made his way to the window. The temperature outside was warm, the air humid. That didn't help at all with the smouldering skin of Raizel's cheeks. He pressed his palms against the burn. The coolness somewhat stifled the heat, but only temporarily.

"Frankenstein," Raizel murmured.

Never in his long life had Raizel ever felt such a draw to another being. On the surface, he knew this thing was attraction, but that word didn't seem to explain the bloom of emotions inside of him when Frankenstein looked at him and smiled, or excitedly spoke about some new find along the beach or in the surrounding area. His chatter filled their home with life and Raizel could not find a way to express his appreciation.

Frankenstein's words concerning the Lord's insinuation were a conundrum. Should he feel guilty for wanting a contract with his servant? For wanting to always be near him? Were his feelings something shameful? Why should he feel shame when his companion was the most caring, kind, compassionate, and beautiful creature he'd ever known? Well, maybe except for his brother. Then again, he couldn't imagine feeling for family what he felt for Frankenstein.

The distant sound of clanging metal and wooden thumps alerted Raizel to the frustration of his companion. It brought a smile to his face. He supposed his butler would be rampaging for awhile.

'If Frankenstein could see past his fear of losing himself, he would know that I would only exercise power over him should he begin down the wrong path. Tonight, he didn't even twitch when I told him that I'd sent my own brother to his eternal rest. That would have been different if he hadn't already given himself to me. The contract is made. Hopefully he sees it before the Lord does something outrageous.'

More noise pierced the night. Picturing Frankenstein in the kitchen beating up cooking pots reminded Raizel of all the wonderful sweets he'd had today. It was true that he'd had an excessive amount. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how unusual it was for Frankenstein to be so accommodating of his love of those carefully moderated sweets.

'What was so different about today? Frankenstein challenged the Lord and made a mess. Maybe he was feeling guilty and wanted to appease me in hopes of avoiding punishment? No, Frankenstein has too much pride in his own actions for that. Hmmm. Perhaps there is a key.'

Finding the key to the cupboard might take quite some time and would prove an excellent distraction from an overwhelming day.

Disclaimer: I do not own Noblesse or make money from this story.