Author's Note
Content warning on this chapter for some mild graphic violence.
Feliciano shot up straight in his bed, panting hard and in a cold sweat after what felt like an endless loop of the same horrible dream. All the signs had pointed to this memory coming, for the result of his mission to Clubs being revealed. And yet, the forewarning still didn't stop his heart sinking so far into his stomach that he could become nauseous.
He assassinated Katerina.
He's the reason there's a tombstone for Katerina outside the royal cemetery in the Nodiff gardens.
He's the reason Natalya has been grieving her sister's death for the last six months, without even being able to remember how she died.
Feliciano glanced at the window, and saw the morning light just starting to shine in from outside. At any time now, the Club Royals would wake up, having also recalled what he's done. At any time now, Ivan or Natalya could march to his door with a weapon and demand his head.
He then looked across to the door to his room, and considered his options. Matthew had insisted that Feliciano, Ludwig and Lovino talk everything through yesterday, and come up with a contingency plan for the moment Ivan and Natalya remembered. If Feliciano were to barricade himself in his room for long enough, the Jokers would have time to wake Lovino up and get him downstairs to stand guard. They could also arrange for Matthew to guard the door to Ludwig's room, across the floor in the hallway of the Spades quarters.
And yet, at this very moment, Feliciano knew he couldn't allow that. He couldn't settle for hiding away like a coward, attempting to fight off the inevitable doom. The guilt and shame were already consuming him, and wouldn't let him resort to being a lily-livered fraidy-cat.
He climbed out of his bed, grabbed his housecoat and put it on as he approached the door. He gently leaned on the door and pressed his ear against it, hearing no steps or sounds in the hallway. He softly turned the doorknob and pushed the door open, then took a peek at the surroundings.
The hallway was empty.
He quietly slid out of the door, and shut it behind him again. He then tiptoed across the hallway to the opposite door, and leaned against it. Pressing his ear against it to listen, he could hear the telltale sobbing from the other side. He took a breath and steeled his nerves, before finally taking the risk and knocking.
"Natalya, it's me," Feliciano softly called, "We need to talk."
Just as he finished speaking, Feliciano heard the approaching footsteps on the other side of the door, before the door swung open into the room. Natalya was still in just her nightgown, her face soaked in tears and her eyes filled with rage.
He had no time to react as Natalya immediately reached for the collar of his housecoat and pulled him past her into the room. He stumbled forward and braced himself against the chair, his hand sliding off the fabric of Natalya's housecoat draped over it. He fell ungraciously to the ground, and quickly spun around to sit on the carpet, just as Natalya slammed the door shut behind them.
"You killed her!" Natalya wailed, "It was you!"
"I know," Feliciano acknowledged, "I remembered it too."
"Then why are you here now?" Natalya interrogated.
"Because I deserve your wrath," Feliciano professed, readjusting his legs so that he knelt at her feet instead, "All I can rightfully do now is beg for mercy and forgiveness, both of which I do not deserve."
He watched carefully as she stood above him, noting the confusion in her eyes as she grappled with his response. She then turned away and reached for the chair, placing both her hands on the edge and leaning on them as she fought back another bout of tears. After a few moments of deep breaths to hold back the sobbing, she finally looked at him again.
"Why?" she appealed, barely louder than a whisper, "Why did you kill her?"
"I'm sorry," Feliciano refused, "I really can't tell you that right now."
"Why the fuck not?"
"You're not going to like the answer."
There was a moment of silence as Natalya kept taking deep breaths, her glare steadily becoming more tense. Feliciano could tell she was unlikely to accept his response, that perhaps the rage was about to win out against the grief.
"Ivan, what are you doing?"
They both spun their heads and looked at the door as they heard Antonio's voice just outside the room. A moment later, a pair of loud bangs shook the walls from across the hallway, which Feliciano quickly identified as two doors being slammed open.
"WHERE ARE YOU?"
His gut sank again as he heard the booming voice, which came from where the doors to his own room should be.
"Your brother," Feliciano recognized, "He's looking for me."
"In your room," Natalya realized, "Is that why you came here?"
"No, I just got lucky," Feliciano denied.
"What the bloody fuck do you think you're doing?" they suddenly heard Arthur shout from outside the room.
"Where is Feliciano?" Ivan demanded.
"No, you have to answer me first," Arthur opposed, "What are you doing in his room with a sword?"
The three began arguing loudly on the other side of Natalya's doors. Arthur and Antonio seemed to be working together, oddly enough, trying to make Ivan give up the sword and explain why he suddenly wanted to kill Feliciano. Ivan did not seem interested in their questions, and kept demanding they give up Feliciano's hiding spot.
As the three bickered, Feliciano realized that he was once again trying to hide from fate. Sure, he had already confronted his fate with Natalya's rage, but now he was simply hiding away from Ivan. He took a deep breath to steal his nerves, before climbing back to his feet and walking past Natalya to the door.
"He's going to kill you," Natalya warned.
"I know," Feliciano uttered as he reached the door, "You should put your housecoat on."
He paused once again to take another deep breath, hearing Natalya shuffling behind him to put on the housecoat. Finally, he opened the two doors wide to reveal himself to those outside.
The bickering trio stood just across from Feliciano, in the entrance to his own room. Ivan stood in the middle of the group, his arms being grappled by Antonio and Arthur. The King and Queen were arguing, while the Ace attempted to remove the sword from the King's grip. All three were still in their nightclothes and housecoats, although Antonio did not wear a shirt under his housecoat.
Feliciano heard footsteps to his right, and turned to see Francis rushing over from his own quarters, also wrapped up in a housecoat.
"What's all this about?" Francis asked, "Feliciano, why are they in your room?"
The mention of his name prompted Ivan to look out in the hallway and make eye contact with him. Those purple eyes immediately focused, revealing the fury within.
"You," Ivan snarled as he tried to move towards him, only to be held back by Antonio and Arthur.
"For fuck's sake, Ivan," Antonio pleaded, "What's gotten into you?"
"We've recalled another memory," Feliciano confessed as he took a step forward into the hallway, "The one in which I killed their sister, Katerina."
Feliciano noted the looks of shock and horror that formed across the faces of Antonio, Arthur and Francis.
"It can't be," Francis muttered in denial.
In their moment of astonishment, Antonio and Arthur lost their grip on Ivan, allowing him to burst free and swiftly march across the hallway. He quickly grabbed Feliciano by the throat and pushed him back until he was pressed hard against the doorframe. Ivan then pushed him up the wall, making his feet leave the ground, so Feliciano instinctively grabbed for Ivan's arm and struggled against the grasp on his throat.
The others quickly snapped back into action. Arthur and Antonio immediately barreled back into the fray, reaching for Ivan's arms and attempting to release Feliciano from the hold. Behind them, Feliciano noted a blur of green and blonde as Francis pulled Natalya out of the doorway and into the hall. Spots then started filling his vision as the restricted airway and lack of air started making him dizzy, before Ivan raised his sword to press against the throat as well.
"Mercy," Feliciano gasped out, feeling the sharp end of the blade digging into his skin.
"Mercy?" Ivan seethed, ignoring the intruders and holding his deadly stance, "You don't deserve it."
"Let him go, Ivan. He was only following my orders."
Ivan's grasp released the slightest bit at the sound of Ludwig's voice from down the hall, and Feliciano got a bit more air into his lungs while Ivan glanced in that direction.
"Your orders?" Ivan hissed as Feliciano felt a trickle of something wet dripping down the skin of his throat.
"I sent him to Nodiff to assassinate Katerina," Ludwig declared as Feliciano struggled to look in his direction, "I claim full responsibility for her death."
Ivan quickly glanced between Feliciano and Ludwig as he considered the statement, before removing the sword from Feliciano's throat and releasing his grasp. Feliciano collapsed to the floor, gasping for air as he reached for his throat to feel the damage from the blade.
"Show me," Arthur instructed, leaning down to see if he was alright.
Feeling that it was a small cut that certainly wasn't life-threatening, Feliciano released his hand and nodded at Arthur, confirming that he was okay. Arthur nodded before rushing off, allowing Feliciano to see that Francis was holding Natalya back away from the ruckus, before he turned to look down the other end of the hallway.
Ludwig and Roderich both stood at the juncture in the hallway, both in their housecoats and looking like they had just woken up. Ludwig stood firm at attention, staring ahead straight at Ivan, while Roderich seemed rather frazzled as he watched a couple steps behind. Ivan was steadily storming towards Ludwig, hardly halting his pace as Antonio tried his best to hold him back. Arthur couldn't get back in time as Ivan made the last couple strides and aimed the blade at Ludwig.
Just as Ivan was ready to swing his sword, Matthew charged in from the other hallway and crashed into Ivan, blocking him from reaching Ludwig. Ivan's outstretched sword arm was caught mid-swing by Matthew, who held long enough for Antonio to get in there and help him restrain it as they spun around. Lovino then bolted down the stairs and into the brawl as well, grabbing Ivan's other arm to prevent him from fighting back. Arthur stayed close behind the Aces, preparing to jump in again if Ivan broke this new hold.
"Ivan, listen to me," Matthew implored once they came to a standstill, "The Suits are still scrambled, and we are still missing memories. It's possible you've already taken your vengeance on them."
As Matthew spoke, Feliciano rose to his feet while keeping a hand against the doorframe to lean on. Roderich had already backed up further behind Ludwig out of fear, and was just being joined by Erika and Yao.
"But they're both still alive," Ivan protested as Basch and Erzsébet made it down the stairs to join the others and spectate.
"Yes, and it's best they stay that way for now," Matthew urged, "If we're going to figure out how to restore all our memories and our proper Suits, we're going to need their help. Once we've resolved this mystery, and we remember what has been done, you can settle things as you please. Until then, you need to refrain from killing them."
"Ace Matthew speaks the truth, your Majesty. I suggest you listen to him."
Everyone started looking around for the strange voice that had interrupted the altercation. It had come from just to the left of Feliciano, along the wall beside the door frame he was still leaning onto. He let go of the frame and stepped out into the hallway, turning to find a mirror right there on the wall. The reflection was occupied by the mysterious stranger with shaggy brown hair and green eyes, dressed in black with grey and green accents.
"Tolys Laurinaitis," Ivan addressed, "Is that your name?"
"That is my name," Tolys confirmed, "Well, it was when I was still living."
"And it is your magic that caused all this?" Ivan accused.
"My spell was only a weapon to be used by a Royal," Tolys corrected, "I have no knowledge or control on how it was cast this time."
"And why should I listen to you?" Ivan challenged, "And to Matthew?"
"It is true that this magic is beyond anyone's control, but your behaviour is not," Tolys explained, "What the sixteen of you do while your Suits are scrambled still has permanent ramifications. If you were to kill King Ludwig now, for example, the Deck will still assign a new King of Spades. If you are to unscramble yourselves after this happens, Alfred's place in Spades will be already occupied and he could be killed in the magical aftermath. The same can be said for the Jack of Clubs, as killing Feliciano would make Roderich unable to return to his rightful Suit."
"So Alfred dies if Ludwig dies?" Matthew realized, "As well as Roderich if Feliciano dies?"
"I insist you heed this warning, Ivan," Roderich endorsed as he stepped forward from the group of spectators, "At least for my sake, if not anyone else's. We should not be risking any additional lives needlessly while we sort out this magical conundrum."
Feliciano watched as Ivan's angry glare shifted from face to face around him, as he silently processed his thoughts. After a few tense moments, Ivan took a deep breath and relaxed his posture, releasing his grip on the sword as well and offering it to Antonio. The Ace immediately understood the silent instruction and took the sword out of Ivan's hand, while the other two Aces released their own grip on the King.
"A wise decision, your Majesty," Tolys approved, before black mist obscured his presence in the mirror as he vanished once again.
"May I recommend we keep Ivan away from Ludwig and Feliciano for the time being?" Arthur proposed, "Until the extremes of grief and rage have passed, there should be as little interaction as possible."
"I'm on the same page," Lovino agreed as he backed away from Ivan, "Ludwig, upstairs now."
Before Ludwig could move of his own accord, Lovino swiftly grabbed the lapel of the King's housecoat and dragged him towards the staircase up to the Heart Royals quarters.
"Antonio, can you escort Ivan to his quarters?" Matthew requested, "That's probably the best place for now."
"I sure can," Antonio accepted, placing his free hand on Ivan's elbow, "Come on, Ivan."
Matthew swiftly moved off to the side to stand guard by the staircase, while Antonio ushered Ivan back down the hallway to the Diamonds guest quarters, with Arthur following to observe. At the landing of the staircase, the remaining Royals had gathered together and started talking. Through the chattering, Feliciano could hear bits and pieces of Roderich and Erzsébet describing the dream, while the other Royals spared him the occasional shocked glance.
Arthur stood near them, watching down the next hallway, before nodding to himself and returning back towards Feliciano.
"Get dressed first, then we'll see about you joining your brother."
Feliciano turned around at the sound of Francis's voice, and saw he was ushering Natalya back into her room. Feliciano took another step away from the door to allow some space, just in time for Arthur to reach his side.
"Let's do the same for you, Feliciano," Arthur recommended, "We'll figure out this mess somehow."
Feliciano nodded and crossed the hall to his room, but paused once he was in the doorway. He looked back as Francis shut the doors to Natalya's room, and felt a fresh wave of guilt and shame overtake him.