Hey guys! I'm really sorry about taking this long, but I will try to bring the new chapters faster. Anyway, I hope you will all enjoy this chapter. The next one will come out 30 of October, maybe sooner if I have more free time. That's all for now everyone, see you all soon.

A Shattered Life

Chapter 36: Revelations

A huge loud noise rolled across the entire region, announcing the start of what the brooding cloud layer had promised since dawn. The boughs of the trees swayed in the strengthening gust, surrendering their fall leaves without much of a fight. Then came the first drops of rain and they hit the Galeon's hull like bullets, Geo peeked through the closed shutters to the vegetable patch beyond. "Another storm, it's the third one this week." Said the boy with his usual tone, as he gazed down at the academy building and the people attending it. Several students that were in the courtyard training quickly stopped immediately and made their way back inside with much speed.

Although outside was dark, the young Prince was still able to see because of the lights that the Galeon had turned on since the beginning of this awful weather. On the far hill, Geo managed to see a jagged bolt of white hot lightning splitting the chilly sky, and then in a few moments its gone. The thunder is only a second behind and the rain pouring down gets worse after that. "Hmm...I believe this storm is far worse than the other two that we had previously, I do hope Katelyn is with her mother, she completely hates these types of weather. Not to mention thunder." He moved from the window.

Geo was in his father's old office aboard the mighty airship, he was exploring it and also hiding from the General and the new Captain. They were searching for him because they needed to discuss a lot of subjects, but the most important of them all was that Geo was finally going to be crowned King of Gwain in four days. When he learned that piece of information from Sunny, he quickly ran to Lord Aiden's office to have some time to think without having a bunch of people bombarding him with questions and other annoying things.

"I could really use your advice right now, you always knew what to say." He stared at his father's old armor, which was being kept inside a glass closet. "But from the first day that I came into this world I had no freedom, I was forced to do things that I had no love for, like learning how to fight even though you knew I hated it." The tone of his voice showed pain from past wounds. "...I will always respect you, but sometimes I wonder if I was a son to you or a tool." Geo placed his hand on the glass door. "You said you loved me, and yet you barely showed that love. Specially when you sent me to fight your battles for you after what happened to my mother and brother."

"Their deaths are mine to bear and so is yours, but maybe someday Salem will pay for everything she has done to us." Said Geo, then he looked at his reflection on the glass. "Now, I am going to become something I never wanted. I am no King and you know it better than anyone, but you still forced it on me like the rest." He lowered his gazed and sighed. "The way I sounded seems like I didn't loved you, but I did even after what you made me go through...I just wished we could have been a normal family." The young warrior raised his gaze towards the glass closet again.

The set of armor inside was unique. It had a flat top helm with a squared opening for the eyes, which curves downwards into a narrow opening to the mouth. Attached to its sides are leaf shaped ornaments. The shoulders are oval, wide and fairly small in size, they're decorated with a long, curved metal ornament piece on each side, starting at the neck and reaching forehead height. The upper arms are protected by squared, fully covering rerebraces which sit perfectly under the shoulderplates. The lower arms covered by vambraces which have several masterfully crafted metal sheets, shaped like dragon scales on the outer sides.

The breastplate is made from many layers of metal pieces, mimicking the scales of a reptile. It covers everything from the neck down and ending at the groin, but the shoulder area is fairly exposed to allow for more movement space. And the upper legs are covered by squared, layered metal cuisses. "This set of armor does belong to a King, my brother, Cerviel the true heir to the throne, and certainly not me." For a long time Geo had these feelings boiling inside him, and finally he was able to release them into words.

"Geo? Are you here?" A girl wearing Beacon's uniform knocked at the door that was slightly opened before coming in. She quickly saw her boyfriend standing next to a closet and a smile spread across her lips. "There you are, I have been looking for you for quite awhile now, actually everyone is." She said with her sweet tone while making her way towards him. "I heard the news from Sunny, in four days you are going to become King." Ruby wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Also, I had a feeling you could use someone to talk to and give you comfort."

Ruby waited for him to say something, but not even a single word came out from his mouth. "We don't have to talk if you don't want to, but know that I am here for you." In that moment, Geo touched her hands and pulled them back, freeing himself from her hug. "...I-I see that you want to be alone, I won't bother you then." Ruby wanted to cheer him up but she couldn't find the right words. "See you later." She was leaving, until a hand reached her hand and pulled her into the arms of her boyfriend. "Geo..."

"You don't bother me, you never bother me." He said while staring directly at her beautiful silver eyes. "You are the light in my heart, when I'm with you I can feel my hate going away and my doubts disappear, but what comes next will be hard for both of us because I don't know if I can do this." Ruby could see in his eyes that he was scared beyond belief. "The moment they make me their leader, I will lose all of my supposed freedom. I can't match my father and I never will."

"Stop doubting yourself." Ruby replied with a soft tone, as she pressed her forehead against his. "Listen to me, you are a great leader and you won't be doing this alone either. I will be at your side and so will be all of our friends, we will support you with everything we can." Her trust in the Prince was unbreakable. "But, I also know that you were forced to do many things that you didn't want to when you were younger, so if you don't want to be a King don't be." Geo was surprised to hear her say that. "This choice is yours to make, not theirs."

"I really love you."

Ruby giggled. "Tell me something I don't know."

Unexpectedly, Geo's hand drifted to her hip. It settled there and pulled her closer to him. Ruby's breasts pressed against his chest and she began to feel warm as her cheeks burned red. She placed her hand on the boy's chest and left it there. His breathing quickened as did hers. The red warrior's body started to tremble uncontrollably as she felt his warm lips kissing softly her neck. Then his head angled slightly to the side as his lips came closer and closer to hers.

When they finally kissed, the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. She ran her fingers down his spine, all she could feel now was her deep love for him and his heart beat against her chest. The worries of the day evaporated like a summer shower onto a hot car. Geo's fingers then gently ran up and down her spine, coaxing shivers out of his girlfriend. With her cheeks still blushing hotly, she glanced back up into his captivating purple eyes.

"Thank you for being here for me." Geo smiled. "Now, I need to think about my decision carefully as it will affect our future." He kissed her lips once again.

Ruby nodded. "I'll give you some alone time, but remember that we still have that thing on for today."

"Of course." He replied. "I'll see you soon my Rose." After that, the young red haired girl walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. "...If I refuse to be King I will lose many things, but I don't care about the money or power because as long I have Ruby in my life, I am happy." Geo then looked to the glass closet. "Father said that my destiny was to become a ruler, but I don't believe in destiny, I will create my own path with my own hands!"

"I wouldn't have said it better myself."

Geo turned around. "What?" He saw no one in the room with him. "I must be imagining things, but I could have sworn I heard a voice."

"Don't be afraid my child, everything will soon be clear."

"The hell?!" Geo had no idea what was happening, then the room went dark. "Crap! I can't see a thing." He walked for a bit in search for the exit, but then something caught his attention. A faint red light glowed and from within came a woman with a dark dress. Her skin is a deathly pallor, covered with deep red and purple veins that run up her arms and face. The sclera of her eyes are jet black and her irises glow red, she also has a black diamond-shaped marking in the center of her forehead. "Wha...What the hell are you?!"

Salem chuckled. "Not the reaction I was looking for but it will do." She slowly walked towards him while he walked backwards, until his back pressed against the wall. "My name is Salem, and I am here for you my precious boy." The Queen smiled. "You are more handsome than I expected." Her hand caressed his cheek.

"Salem?...Y-You are the one that murdered my FAMILY!" Hatred filled his heart alongside fear. He pushed her hand from his face and removed his sword from it's holster. "I don't care if you are a Goddess or not, this ends here! For my family and friends! DIE!" Geo swung his blade with all his strength but she simply blocked it with her index finger. "Impossible?!" He was astonished.

"Enough!" She threw his sword away. "It's time you know the truth about yourself, you are not what Aiden and Ozpin told you. Actually, all they have said to you is a lie." Salem placed both of her hands on his cheeks. Geo tried to break free but some mysterious power didn't allow him to move. "You! Are a part of me, of my blood and flesh, you are my son! Caedos."

"Lies!" He yelled. "My name is Geo Casterwill, I'm the son of Aiden Casterwill and I belong to an ancient line of warriors that exist to protect the Maiden's artifact. You will not fool me demon, I will destroy you one way or the other."

The Queen of Darkness nodded sideways. "It's not nice to call your mother a demon, but I understand why you don't believe me." She replied. "Aiden and I made a deal, I would give him riches and power in exchange he would give me what I have been searching for so long. A son." Salem kissed his forehead. "You don't remember anything about me because Aiden took you from me when you were just a baby."

"No...No! I don't believe you!"

"It's the truth." Said Salem. "And if you are looking for the one that murdered your so called 'family', let me tell you that it wasn't me. I would never do anything to hurt you."

"NO! You sent Tyrian after my family, he killed my brother and my mother, then he tortured me!"

Salem pressed her forehead against his. "Why would I give such an order my son? I wanted you back into my arms, not cause you pain." She replied. "The one who sent Tyrian after you was none other than Ozpin himself. He knew of the deal that your father made with me, but he still needed Aiden's support against me, so he convinced your father to take you away from me."

"T-That...i-isn't true." Geo didn't know what to say or what to think. "That can't be true."

"Aiden raised you to be his weapon nothing else, and Ozpin knew that a child with my blood shouldn't be allowed to live. He feared that when you learned the truth about yourself, you would turn against them, so he hired an assassin to take you out without informing your father of course." Said Salem. "Fortunately, Tyrian failed to do his job and when I learned of his attack, I captured him and broke him. Now, he's a good loyal dog."

"..." Geo had no words.

"Fear not my son, now we can be a family again, and your girlfriend can join us. Together, we will make Ozpin pay for what he has done."

"..."