Chapter Twenty-Nine: Red Sorrow
Mathias awoke and found himself in a different room then remembered the events that took place last night. He couldn't believe she wanted him to move in the room with her. Basically she kept him busy while the servants moved his belongings into her room. What took him by surprise was her advances toward him and in that moment he almost truly lost it but pulled it off telling her that he didn't want to ruin her in any way. He sighed in relief knowing that she took it well and also agreed to not have in her opinion an Anna moment. He chuckled at her statement and looked down to see Elsa snuggled up next to him with a small smile on her rosy lips. He grumbled softly as he gently stroke her cheek enjoying beauty sleeping before him. Her cool body felt incredible as it touched his warm body, it left a soothing sensation coursing through him from the contact. He leaned over to her ear and gently nipped a part of her earlobe.
"Wake up love you have some duties to attend to." He whispered into her ear making the young woman groan as she snuggled closer to him. He huffed a bit before gently forced Elsa off of him causing her to wake up fully.
"I didn't want to get up." She said as she crossed her arms and began to pout and Mathias chuckled at her childish behavior and an evil idea came to him as he sat down next to her after he put his shirt.
"You know we can have more fun after you're done with the day and to make sure you won't forget." He said as he lounged at her pinning her down on the bed and slowly made his way to the left side of her neck. A weird sensation plagued Elsa as he gently clamped down on her neck and gently sicked on her skin making her moan a bit before he let go to admire his handy work with a grin. Elsa got up and approached her mirror and gasped as she looked at the red mark he left on her and quickly covered it up with her hand.
"Mathias! I can't go with this!" She exclaimed as she turned to face him and he just smiled with his arms crossed.
"Don't worry you can easily hide that with your signature braid." He pointed out as she quickly went to work braiding her hair which wasn't long as she admired herself in the mirror. She turned back around and grinned evilly at Mathias who suddenly realized what she was planning.
"Now, now lets not do anything hasty here." He said as he fell on the bed as Elsa approached him. She smiled as she was now at the edge of the bed staring at him and with a swift of her hands froze Mathias' hands to the bed holding him in place. Without warning she began to crawl on the bed sat on his stomach looking down at him as she licked her lips. She slowly traced her finger along the many scars shown on his chest making the man's breath hitch at his throat.
"If i have to carry your mark….then you shall carry mine." She said as she leaned down and clamped down on the right side of his neck and began to suck on the skin gently. Mathias grumbled at the sensation especially when she made it cold when she pulled away. The ice around his hands melted away once she was off of him. His neck felt cold and he knew she got him and playfully glared at her.
"Now we're even." He said as he got off the bed and looked down at Elsa as she swirled her hand changing her nightgown into her signature dress. He was amazed by the display and whistled causing the young queen to blush.
"Come on, breakfast should be ready soon." He said as he opened the door and let Elsa out of the room first before following. Both of them walked down the hall but something caught Mathias' attention as he stopped by a nearby window. Elsa noticed and walked over next to him. Fog covered Arendelle like a thick blanket as they tried to see the town and the fjord but can only hear the commotion within it. Mathias growled slightly as a knowing feeling overwhelmed him quickly making him both aware and cautious of his surroundings. He knew they were being watched and looked at both ends of the hallway earning a worried expression from Elsa.
"What's wrong?" She asked as she looked in the same direction as Mathias. He furrowed his brows for a few moments and shook his head as he continued down the hall without an explanation leaving her confused before hurrying to catch up.
Adam sighed in relief when Mathias and Elsa left before he followed them. He looked down at the small vile in his hand and grinned.
"Should've took my offer when you had the chance." He thought as he trudged down the hall toward the kitchen, where he would set part of Hans plan in motion. Once he reached the kitchen one of the kitchen staff saw him and was about to call out before Adam grabbed the nearest blade and silenced him immediately. He grabbed the body and dragged it into the storage room and took the man's clothes. He walked out dressed as one of the staff and approached the drinks on the counter but paused as he peeked into the dining room to see everyone there. He knew killing Mathias wouldn't satisfy him and stood there in thought till the appropriate victim came to mind and he hurried to one of the drinks and poured the content from the bottle. He stood back in time as more staff came in and took the items into the room and he stood there to watch with a sickening smile.
In the dining room Mathias sat there and sighed in annoyance as Kristoff snickered at the mark given to him by Elsa. He stopped to his relief when the staff brought in the food and drinks for the morning. He knew something was wrong but he could exactly tell what and it already set him on edge. A strange scent caught his attention and yet it seemed so familiar to him till he remembered the Duke.
"Stop." He said but he wasn't loud enough as Alice was already drinking hers when he exploded.
Alice, dammit stop! Put the drink down!" He demanded but was too late as she seemed to be shaking before falling out of her chair. Fear gripped his heart as he leaped over the table to her.
"Alice, Alice! Come on hang kid i got you just stay with me." He said but it just seemed futile as she began to foam at the mouth. Elsa was beside him in minutes as they tried everything the could to help her. Mathias spotted someone and instantly recognized him as he gritted his teeth finally knowing he was responsible. He stood up and glared at the man at the other side of the room who just smiled at the situation.
"Adam…. Adam Juggerson you bastard!" He yelled in fury as Adam began to run. His mind instantly clouded by one objective as he charged forward knocking the table out of the way. His back began to glow giving him the strength he needed to make the man suffer. He busted through the doors and spotted him going left and he quickly pursued him down the hall his predatory instincts kicking in as everything else became a blur except Adam as he got closer to him.
No one was prepared for two men breaking through a window and into the courtyard of the castle. The guards stood frozen in place seeing the rage Mathias had as he pick up Adam and slammed him back into the ground with a loud thud. Jonathan was one of those witnesses and watched in terror as Mathias his friend beat down the ex councilor with ease. Finally having enough Mathias grabbed Adam's head in his left hand and with all his might began to slam it back into the earth. A loud sickening crack was heard as blood started to cloud his vision as he continued to repeat it over again in a blind rage till the head felt weird in his hand. He slowly got letting go of the head and stomped his left leg onto the dead corpse and roared shocking the people who witnessed the blood bath.
"Dear god." Jonathan muttered as he witnessed the state his friend was in. Mathias' left hand to his elbow was covered in blood along with his face as half of it was covered. More blood began to pool around the body as Mathias stood there breathing heavily and none of the guards knew what to do fearing they might share the same fate. Slowly he approached his friend with caution as the other guards watched in worry and other drew their swords just in case. He could hear the taller man's heavy breathing along with the shuddering of the shoulders. In a swift motion Mathias began to walk away back in the castle his back still glowing as he could see in the distance. Jonathan looked at the battered corpse and recognized him as Adam Juggerson the ex councilor and wondered what he was doing here. Quickly he followed his friend trying not to gain Mathias' unwanted attention.
Mathias' mind focused on getting back to the dining room as he became worried about Alice. With new motivation he hurried as quick as he could and was welcomed by the sight of the staff and Elsa as she quickly noticed him approach. He saw the sadness and desperation in her eyes as she stopped in front of him.
"Is Alice okay?" He asked but she looked down not knowing how to tell him. He grunted and tried to move around her but she stuck her arm out and grabbed him.
"Mathias, no." She pleaded as she looked up into his eyes and he froze finally understanding.
"S-She's gone?" He asked as every muscle in his body tensed, not wanting to belief that fact. She nodded her head confirming his question as he slowly fell to his knees his hand balled into fists as she knelt down next to him her head in the crook of his neck as she too mourned for the loss. Mathias reared his head up and roared as he slammed his fists onto the floor scaring some of the staff as they watched the two in sympathy. Finally they witnessed something they would never of expected Mathias too cried but silently and this broke Elsa's heart as she hugged him tighter with him returning it. She didn't care at the moment if the blood stained her dress, He needed her and she wouldn't let him down after the many times he helped her and It was about time she returned the favor even though the loss of Alice pained her too. She felt the heat radiate from his body but she didn't want to pull away as a part of her dress already melted away showing her stomach. Mathias slowly got up surprising the now forming crowd as he approached the group surrounding Alice with Elsa at his side fixing her dress before anyone saw her state.
"Move." He hissed as they immediately formed a path to the body. He slowly approached seeing Alice's still form but to him it looked like she was asleep. Elsa let go letting him approach the girl. Jonathan watched from the doorway showing his respects and sympathy for his friend. He knew what Alice was to him even though Mathias would try to deny it, she was more of a daughter to him than anything. He slowly left the room leaving them to mourn as he went to investigate on the matter.
Later that day Mathias stayed in their room facing the wall like a statue. Elsa tried to console him but he didn't even acknowledged her presents in the room. He seemed lost within his own mind contemplating the things that happened and tried to convince himself that this was all but a nightmare. He knew the humans mourned at the island after he left and now he knows how they feel when they lost someone close to him. As he heard the humans say things about karma and this angered him that he would be pained by the loss of the human child. Everyday he began to feel more and more human the more he spent time with them especially Elsa. He cursed to himself for ignoring her when she tried to comfort him and he knew she felt the same way as he did. The room illuminated in a blue light and he knew it was from him as he tried to calm himself down to no avail.
"Mathias?" He heard that feminine voice that always soothed him when he was upset. Elsa sat on the bed behind him and looked at him in sympathy with tears welling up in her eyes as she began to worry about Mathias' condition thinking he would fall into a deep depression. It was already nightfall and he didn't even move an inch. Jonathan and a few other guards asked her about him and she gave them an honest answer before dismissing them. Slow movement caught her attention as she looked up to see Mathias gazing down at her causing her breath to hitch in her throat. Slowly Mathias approached the bed and sat down next to her not removing his soft gaze from her. She could see the glowing streaks on his face from the tears that he shed since then and it broke her heart. Tears gently flowing down her cheek as she gently cupped Mathias' face in her hands.
"It's my fault she's gone, it should've been me." He said his voice dry and cracked as he looked down from her gaze. She tensed a bit but removed her hands away from his face and on to her lap.
"No it wasn't Mathias. It could've been anyone at the table but you are not at fault here. I understand your pain believe me i do, but Alice wouldn't want you to blame yourself for this." She said looking away from him clasping her hands together as a shuddering breath escaped her lips. She seen the look in his eyes when he held Alice's body in his trembling arms knowing that this was it the last time he'll ever see her. Alice was like a daughter to her and be damned if Mathias wouldn't admit it but to him too.
"What now?" Mathias asked breaking her out of her thoughts as she looked over to see him looking at her with his amber eyes. She bit her lower lip as she casted her eyes away from his gaze trying to find a way to take his pain away. She'd been hearing some of the staff whispering about him and how he could be dangerous to their queen and some from Anna when she was in town square, where people believed she was harboring a murderer and this upsetted her that they would think of such. She looked back at him and gave him a sad smile.
"W-We move on with our lives. Alice would want you to." She said as leaned forward and kissed him completely surprising Mathias as he froze in place for a few moments till he kissed her back in a fierce passion as Elsa wrapped her arms around his neck deepening the kiss. Once they broke apart the both looked into eachothers eyes trying to catch their breath, Elsa saw the tears forming in his eyes as she raised her hand cupped the left side of his face making him lean into her touch. She knew the consequences if she continues down this road and it would only last for the night but she couldn't stand seeing the man who she loves so dearly go through such pain even if it meant him forgetting it for one night.
"Mathias listen to me. It'll be okay, everything will be alright i promise as long as we have each other." She said as she brushed her lips on his before kissing him again. Her hands found their way under his shirt roaming the base of his back feeling the warmth of the glow near her hands. She smiled when he growled in pleasure from her cool touch as began kissing her neck and lowering down to her collarbone as his right hand began to rub her outer thigh making her gasp in surprise. Mathias growled in annoyance when he looked at her dress and gently grabbed it in between his teeth but was surprised when he felt it melt in his mouth. He watched as her dress melted before him and he wasted no time as to roam his hands around her skin making her moan out as she dug her nails into his back causing him to grumble as he began to gently kiss her toned stomach and worked his way back up to her lips. They broke apart with him on top of Elsa supporting his weight on his left arm. They were both in pain they could see it in the other's eyes and needed one another as they continued their passion into the night knowing that they had eachother.
The next day it was raining out as a group of people stood out in the cemetery with Elsa standing up front with Anna next to her. Her younger sister looked at her questionably when she didn't see Mathias and saw Elsa staring out in the distance. Her answer was answered when she heard a roar from the distance and knew he was nearby. Mathias isolated himself from the main group watching the funeral take place. The tears flowing down his face could've been mistaken by the rain but to those that knew him personally know other wise. He silently waited till it cleared till he approached Alice's grave his body shaking more the closer he got. He finally stopped in front of her grave and with a loud cry collapsed to his knees and continued to mourn for Alice.
"I-I'm sorry Alice…. i'm so sorry." He said between breaths as he lowered his head in shame. He wasn't the only there except he wasn't here to mourn as Hans watched with amusement in his eyes but he felt disappointed about the outcome.
"Adam you idiot. You killed the wrong child." He mumbled to himself but his smirked still remained as he began to walk away.
"Soon….very soon vengeance will be mine and all those who oppose me will fall at my hands." He said as he disappeared into the forest.