Arthur returned early the next morning, haggard by the night's events. Someone had snuck in through the window and murdered Aldrich Beilschmidt. He'd spent most of the night searching the woods with Ludwig for the murderer. The stubborn young man had insisted they both be armed with pistols in case the killer was still around. Arthur barely knew how to hold a pistol, let alone how to kill someone with it. He was a doctor, meant to heal people, not end lives. It went without saying that he was looking forward to his comfortable home and maybe a loving embrace from Lovino. He was sure Lovino would still be angry with him, but Arthur could smooth it over with a few kisses and a real apology. After everything was fixed with Lovino, maybe he could coax the Italian upstairs for some comforting love making to take his mind off all the blood and death.
It came as a surprise to him when he found his front door open and the house cold.
"Lovino? Feliciano?" Arthur called warily and shut the door. When no one answered, Arthur began searching the rooms, starting with the kitchen and quickly moving to the library and other rooms. In the bedroom, he found soiled rags and blood drops splattered on the floor and on his desk. "Lovino! Feliciano!"
He found himself back in the foyer when he finally heard a small noise. In the corner by the door, Feliciano sat curled up with his knees tucked against his chest and face hidden in them. Arthur knelt down and put a hand on Feliciano's shoulder. "Feliciano? Are you alright? Where is your brother?"
"Gone." It was a whisper, raw and full of unspoken grief. "He's gone."
"What? Where did he go?" His heart dropped, and Arthur shook Feliciano slightly.
Feliciano lifted his head, staring at him with red, unfocused eyes. "I don't know."
"Why did he go?"
"I don't know," mumbled Feliciano, letting his eyes drift to some unknown object.
"Did he take a horse?"
"Yes."
"Then he'll be coming back soon." He let out a breath. Lovino wouldn't steal his horses. The Italian hadn't done it when he was in desperate need of money and Arthur doubted he would do it now of all times.
"I...don't know."
"Then what do you know!" He didn't mean to yell, but the uncertainty in Feliciano's voice chilled him. Feliciano looked as lost as Arthur feared he'd be if Lovino was truly gone.
"A note on your desk. He left it." Feliciano still didn't focus on him.
Arthur ran to the bedroom and snatched up the paper with his name. For a moment, he stared at the letter, unable to decipher it. The handwriting was rushed and smeared with blood, drops of ink splattered on the paper.
Arthur,
I've done something terrible and I cannot stay for fear of bringing danger to you and Feliciano. I must go for now, but please believe I'll come back to you. I swear, I will come back. But until then, locate Roderich Edelstein and deliver Feliciano into his care. I do not want what I did falling on him. If anyone asks about me or my brother, tell them you don't know us. Can you do this for me? Take care of yourself, bastard. I will be back and I don't want to find you dead. This isn't your fault, so don't you dare blame yourself, either. If anything, blame me.
He let out a cheerless laugh and nearly started crying. He would do anything for Lovino, even if it meant waiting a hundred years for his return. Arthur glanced at the bottom of the letter and tears flowed down his cheeks.
I love you,
Lovino Romano Vargas.
P.S. Give Roderich the other letter when you meet him.
Arthur braced himself against the desk and let the words blur before his eyes. So, he's really gone...but he took Mint. He'll be back soon. He has my favorite horse. This thought gave him hope and Arthur wiped his tears away. He scolded himself for acting so effeminate, but his heart protested. Lovino was gone for only a few hours and he already felt the twinge of growing loneliness.
He tucked the letter into the drawer along with the letter to Roderich Edelstein, and walked back to the foyer. Feliciano hadn't moved from his spot. Now that Arthur looked at him, Feliciano seemed so small. Like a child, despite being close to adulthood.
"Feliciano." Arthur knelt down and placed a gentle hand on the younger man's shoulder. "How long have you been like this?"
"Since he left," Feliciano whispered, his voice rough from crying.
"And when was that?" He coaxed Feliciano to his feet and led him to the bedroom.
"I don't remember. Late last night...or maybe it was early morning. I don't remember," Feliciano repeated. "Do you think he'll come back soon?"
Arthur looked at Feliciano and tucked the sheets around him. "Of course, he would never leave you."
Feliciano shifted his eyes away and pressed his lips together tightly, as if to keep from crying or speaking. Seeing the usually smiling man so depressed sent shards of doubt through his heart, but before he could question Feliciano any further, a knock echoed through the house. He reluctantly left Feliciano's side to open the door.
Mint was down the steps and a head of brown hair peeked over he rump. "Lovino!" The name was out before he realize the hair was the wrong shade of brown. Instead of dark and smooth, the hair was lighter and coarse, and the head revealed a face he despised rather than loved.
"What are you doing here? Why do you have my horse?"
Antonio held up his hands, but didn't smile. "I didn't come here to fight, Arthur."
"Then what are you here for?"
"Lovino came to me last night...He asked for money."
He stomped down the steps and grabbed Antonio by the front of his shirt. The action spooked Mint and she trotted off to her stable. "Where is he? I swear to God if you touched him..."
"I don't know! He came. He left," Antonio snapped, shoving him away.
"Then why do you have my horse!"
"Lovino told me to take your horse back to you, and left. I don't know where he went." Antonio glared at him. "What did you do to make him leave? Are you the one that hurt him?"
"I didn't do anything, and I most certainly didn't hurt him." Arthur felt his anger drain away, and didn't rile it up again. Icy dread clutched his heart, and tore its way through his body. "If Lovino doesn't have Mint, then..."
"Then what?" Antonio watched him closely, unused to Arthur showing any emotion other than anger and hate.
"Nothing. Get off my land." Arthur turned away. Uncertainty clawed at him, shattering his faith in Lovino's return. He knew Lovino wasn't a fool. Where ever he went, Lovino wouldn't take something that would only hinder him. That could only mean he wouldn't be home anytime soon.
"What happened, Arthur? What happened to his jaw?"
Arthur wrung his hands and muttered, "I don't know what you're talking about. Bloody hell, just leave already!"
He refused to look at Antonio, and when he finally turned back, the Spaniard was gone. Arthur sank down, half falling on to the steps, and put his face in his hands. Emotions churned inside him, ripping apart his mind and heart. Mostly he felt fear for his lover and confusion as to why Lovino would leave so suddenly. Any number of reasons swirled around in his head, but not a single one made much sense when he compared it to Lovino's actions. Eventually, Arthur gave up trying to figure it out. He stared down the long drive, and let a single whisper into the air; a wistful wish to a deaf, unforgiving God.
"Please, protect him and bring him home."
I kinda wonder what all you readers would have done if I'd just left it at the last chapter. Just three more till the end.
-Windy