The Phantom of the Abbey

So now I have to make this interesting… You want the truth? There are like three chapters left to go. I know how I'm going to end it, and I know what else I need to put in here, but writing it? This is going to be weird… And thank you Troublesome Aries for reviewing – again!

The Phantom of the Abbey; Chapter VIII: All I Ask Of You

"I am Seth Dimitri Hiwatari."

Then my world was shattered…

"Your father."

Kai turned and ran from the room. The bladers stared in open mouthed horror at Seth.

"How could you?" Tala whispered, yet it was louder than the shrillest scream. "You… you're just like your father!"

"I should have guessed." Bryan too, was speaking in hushed undertones. "All those times. But what I don't get is why you acted like that, Seth. You humiliated him. He's supposed to be your son!" Seth felt his feelings threaten to overwhelm him, and he wouldn't let the room to see him like he would become.

"I knew." Kasi breathed. "But I thought you would protect him. I thought you felt the same way I did!"

"Why Seth?" Tears were streaming down the phantom's face now, half blinded by tears, he turned to Spencer, who used to be his friend. But there was no pity in the blonde's face, only disgust.

"I will explain. But not to any of you. To Kai. Only Kai." Seth staggered up and followed where his son had exited.

-

Kai curled up in a corner of the grounds, hugging his knees. Tears ran freely down his face as he thought about what he'd just learnt. Why?

"I'm sorry." Kai jumped as if he was stung and turned towards the figure.

"What?"

"I said; I'm sorry."

"You don't look it."

"Well, I am. Can I sit down?" Kai motioned to the space beside him and watched with open curiosity and hostility as his father struggled to sit down.

They sat there for a while, phantom and phoenix, in perfect silence, until Seth began to laugh.

"You do know they're watching us?" Kai followed Seth's finger and saw that it was true; all the bladers were pressed up against the glass. "It's the big showdown. Erik verses Christine."

"You saying I'm a girl?" Kai shaded his eyes and looked at the older man, with what could have been mirth in his eyes.

"You know, when you were born, Bry wanted to call you Erik, or Raoul."

"They're bad names."

"That's what I said." Seth traced patterns on his knees as he thought about what to say next.

"Why Kai?"

"Huh?"

"Why did you call me Kai, not Erik or Raoul or… Piangi?" Kai's knowledge of the Phantom of the Opera ™ was scanty to say the least. Seth chuckled again.

"You do know Piangi is a fat Spanish opera singer who ends up being killed? We called you Kai because of where you were born. Kai Islands see?"

"So, I'm not Russian. I'm Indonesian."

"Yes." Kai moved slightly closer to his father. Only slightly. "How much do you know?"

"Not much. I know she was Bryoni Giry, and I know you must have eloped, because Grandfather came after you. And I'm guessing I was unexpected, at the age of fifteen, right? What else is there to know?"

"Crikey… You are perceptive. Must be your mother. I lack the ability to understand even the simplest sarcasm." Kai stared sceptically at Seth's pitiful attempt to change the subject.

"What else?"

"Your mother was a servant in Hiwatari Manor. Not the horrible thing that's in Moscow, nor the one in Japan. There's a third one, in Archangel. That's where I was born and lived until I was fifteen. I know you hear all the time of masters seducing their servants, but that's not what happened in this case, honest. I did love your mother. And one thing led to another and we eventually eloped, when Father wouldn't give me permission to marry her." Seth looked away from Kai's eyes.

"Why?" He knew.

"Kai-"

"WHY?" The tears were beginning to well up in Seth's eyes again, and he stumbled, and ran.

-

Seth pulled off the mask, in the safety of his own room. He ran his hand through his hair and, catching sight of the picture on his dresser, broke down completely.

"I'm sorry Bryoni," He whispered. "I am trying to be strong… But Seth's gone forever. There's only the Phantom now." He heard footsteps come up behind him and the door opened. He knew who it was. "Kai, go away. I don't want you to see me like this."

Kai softly closed the door and made his way over to his father.

"Look at me." Kai murmured. Seth turned to him silently. Kai ran a hand over the burnt and ravaged skin, watching as his father shivered slightly.

"Your hands are cold." Seth stated. Kai looked at him, an enlightened expression on his face.

"How did you kill her?"

"I married her. I loved her." Seth looked at his son, with his eyes so like Bryoni's.

"Bryan says you have tattoos. Can I see?" Seth raised an eyebrow and rolled up his sleeves. He showed Kai the black rose, with the words 'Bryoni, 1976 – 1992'; he showed Kai his Hiwatari markings, on his collar bone. He revealed two others, a treble clef on his back shoulder and a hangman's noose on his left arm. Finally, he pulled back his hair and showed Kai the star on the back of his neck, which simply said 'Kai, 1990'.

Kai looked again at the ravaged face. It didn't look so bad now, he thought. Not with a smile.

-

"Do you like it, Kai?" Bryoni breathed in his ear, lifting him that little bit higher.

"Lookit me! I'm on top of the world!" Kai yelled, waving his arms around.

"Yep. You won't ever forget this, will you? You can be whoever you want to be."

"I'm going to be Kai! Kai Hiwatari! You will know my name!"

-

Awww… I like that ending! Don't worry; there are still two more chapters! I wasn't going to put the flashback in, but I've decided every chapter will have one… That is going to be interesting!

Well, it's like eleven o'clock, so I guess I better get to sleep! Review please!