Chapter XVI – C for Confession

Running around the gardens of the Wang property, Arthur cursed as he couldn't find either Matthias or Antonio. And he just had that bad feeling that Matthias is truly out for blood this time. As he circled around a corner, the Omega bumped into something invisible … ah, no it was someone.

"Uh? Alfred?" Arthur peered with a frown at the person before him. If that's Alfred, someone must have brainwashed him into something else. This guy was holding a damn teddy bear!

"A-Ah! N-no, I'm his brother … Um … M-my name is M-Matthew Williams."

Arthur's frown deepened as if he was trying to recall the other's identity, before recognition shone in his eyes.

"Of course! I heard of you! You're Francis' step-brother, right?"

"Eh … yes. I am." Matthew smiled shyly and quickly averted his eyes. He couldn't bear to look directly at Arthur, overwhelmed by the other's Alfa aura. It was odd because he knew that Arthur was an Omega like himself.

"Sorry but I'm in a bit of a hurry! You wouldn't happen to have seen two bloody idiots waving axes around? One Spaniard and one Dane?"

"E-eh! I don't think so … b-but um …"

Arthur was about to run off to look for the two Alfas but he paused as he felt Matthew grip shyly his shirt.

"What is it?"

"Um … I … Can we … meet again? Sometime?" Matthew felt himself blush and mentally prepared himself to get laughed at. People never want to hang out with him.

"Sure. We can hang out at school." Arthur smiled warmly before he dashed off. "Sorry but I really have to go, I'll see you again!"

Matthew blinked, standing still in his spot and staring in disbelief at the disappearing figure of Arthur. Had he just … made a new friend? This was … the very first time. Smiling broadly, Matthew clenched his polar bear tightly, giggling softly in delight. With this, no doubt even Alfred won't be able to stop him from befriending Arthur! And Arthur is not the type to use him to get to Alfred because Matthew knows very well the blatant interest of his brother in the strange Omega. Just like he knows how every time he gets rejected.

"Ve! Excuse me! Have you seen an Omega with blonde hair but that looks like an Alfa?"

Matthew jumped as he got addressed. This was the first time someone noticed him without him having to force on his presence. He looked up, his lavender soft eyes meeting the warm chocolate ones of a worried Italian. Or were they red?

Antonio heaved heavily as he felt his axe suddenly weight a tone due to his fatigue and the blows he had previously received. Damn … that guy his good. The Dane wasn't even out of breath and this seemed to have barely been a warm up for him. His ice cold merciless blue eyes were piercing through the Spaniard, watching his every move and sending him a silent warning of promised death if he was foolish enough to go through with this.

Antonio always knew he could be timorous to the point of foolishness. But this was the first time he felt so compelled to throw away his life for someone else. And it was also the first time he was fighting … for an Omega. A goddamn Omega. He must have gone mad.

"Enough. I don't wish to spill your blood needlessly. Put down your weapon and swear to never approach Arthur Kirkland again in this life time." Matthias commanded with the voice of an assassin about to give out final judgement.

"Heh!" Antonio chuckled, spitting blood in his laughter. "Who made you in charge? Who are you to Arthur? What family are you from? What relationship do you have to the Kirklands? Do you expect me to just hand him over just because you fancy it?"

Matthias' frown deepened but he kept his emotions in check. This was not a time for him to be personal. This was duty. He had to remain strictly professional. Taking a few steps forward, Matthias only needed to kick the weapon out of Antonio's trembling hands. He had to admit, the kid was good with his axe. Just not good enough against a professional like himself.

"Arthur Kirkland is a precious person for the Clan. My relation to him is that of a protector. And to me, he is more precious than my brothers. My family is the shield guarding the Kirkland Clan. We protect them and guaranty their survival."

Antonio glared hatefully, a large unamused smirk gracing his crazy expression. He spat on the Dane's shoes.

"And you expect me to believe this? Everybody knows that the Kirklands are a Clan of monsters with powers and skills like none others! They hold half of the world's wealth in their hands! They don't need protected!"

"… If you believe this, then my job is done." Matthias smirked mysteriously as he turned away from the stunned defeated teen.

"W-wha … Hey! Hold on! What do you mean?"

"You're a Carriedo. Partnered with the Vargas. Don't you know exactly what I mean? As a fellow guard dog?" Matthias chuckled as he shot one last glance at the wide-eyed Spaniard.

Antonio stared in disbelief at the older man. How did he know? How did he know of his family and his relation to the Vargas? Guard dog? That's an understatement. Whatever dark and dirty deeds that needed done, the Vargas left it to the Carriedos to manage. Over generations the family link of blood between the two families was lost but the Carriedo's loyalty to the main Vargas family has never faltered. The Vargas shine in the light. The Carriedos reign in Darkness. In the underground, their family even got nicknamed "The Conquistadors".

Antonio's head dropped low and he felt his heart pump faster. If this man knew … he had to kill him. Nobody could be allowed to discover this. To public eyes, the Carriedo are an honest branch of the Vargas. He cannot allow someone who knows more to live and spread the word. He could not …

He could not beat this man.

He knows it.

His body is frozen stiff from both weakness and fear, but in his mind Antonio was still willing revenge. He still felt the urge to charge at this man and spill his blood. A killer to the bone, just like he was brought up to become. Without a heart. Without a need for a heart. Without a need for love.

Love?

Antonio clenched his fists as he pictured Arthur's face in his mind. He had let his guard down and allowed his heart to be stolen … by a Kirkland no less! And this man here … a guard dog like himself? A guard dog to the Kirklands? A guard dog to Arthur?

The cold steel of the blade against his neck made Antonio snap back to reality. He looked up to meet the dead cold glare of the Danish axmen. He was nothing like the man earlier. An insane fire shone in the Nordic's eyes lit up by enraged madness.

"You … what thoughts were you having?"

Antonio blinked.

"ANSWER ME! LUKAS, SPEAK TO ME HIS EXACT THOUGHTS!" The furious man howled out suddenly and the briskly sound of branches and soft footsteps answered them as a young teen about Arthur's age appeared out of the nearby trees.

Lukas sighed.

He knew he should not have come. And now that Matthias had called him out, he had no choice but to obey him. He is after all his Head Alfa. And no matter how much he disliked his brother, Lukas was grateful for one thing … he too wanted to see that Spaniard's blood spill.

"Lukas. I will not repeat myself. I felt this man's body language change suddenly. And I know he is intending to kill. I also know that you've read his thoughts. Now tell me … What are they?" Matthias returned to speaking in a calm and cold voice. Lukas hated hearing his brother speak in such a tone. It usually got followed by death.

"He wants to kill you. And now he wants to kill me too. And he is angry. Furious. Mad." Lukas felt his body chill as he dug deeper in the other's brain, listening to Antonio's inward voice. So much hate … so much pity … so much loneliness …

"He … loves Arthur." Lukas shook his head with a defeated expression. Even he could not find an ounce of malice in this man's heart. He honestly loved the Kirkland Omega. And sadly … that was reason enough for Matthias to kill. What a shame.

Matthias felt his heart skip a beat as he heard Lukas' last words.

He loves Arthur.

He knew it already. So why did it seem like the words struck him unannounced? Hearing them almost made them sound more … real. Like a holing shadow growing over him. He knew that Arthur was not his for the taking. Not yet, and maybe not ever. He was resigned to only be a protector, a shadow, a brother beyond blood. He was resigned to never hold the name of Lover. He knew.

"… Si. I love him. And so do you." Antonio spoke with a dark cold tone as both men realised how similar they were … and how much they despised each other.

He loves Arthur. Matthias knows well his feelings and how wrong they are. He knows and he accepted his fate. He resigned himself long ago.

So why did it hurt so much?

Antonio saw his eyes widen in panic and fear as he witnessed the blade near his neck. But what terrified him wasn't the blade but the expression of his killer. Matthias' cold mask had broken down, leaving open his hurricane of emotions and it's with a tear-struck desperate face that the Guard Dog executed the enemy.

Or tried to.

"I found you~!" a cold whisper rang in the tensed air.

Matthias's axe suddenly dropped to the ground as he had barely managed to prevent from chopping off the head of his loved one. Deep angry emeralds were looking down on him as the Dane fell to his knees in front of the Omega shielding the defeated Alfa. From the side, Lukas frowned in concern as he watched and got ready to intervene if necessary. He would not allow his best friend to get in any sort of danger. Both Matthias and Antonio were staring at the fearless Omega, dumbstruck by his presence.

Arthur was angry. Furious.

You could tell because even Matthias felt himself unable to even breathe in the Omega's presence. His dominance was so overwhelming, he had never experienced this from Arthur before. Arthur calmed down his heavy breathing from all his running around as he looked over the two imbecile Alfas at his feet. Why are Alfas so fucking stupid?! Can't they solve anything without resorting to violence?! It's because of them that we still have wars and people die needlessly! God why is he the only one to realise this?! And it all just had to happen now! Just now! Just when he's … Talk about the worst of timings.

"I don't know nor care as to why you idiots are fighting. Matthias, I forbid you to kill anyone tonight. Antonio, I will politely overlook your improper behaviour earlier and will request that you no longer attempt to battle with one of my cousins."

"Cousin …?" Antonio whispered as he shot towards Matthias and Lukas.

"We're not blood related but I consider them as my family. Do. Not. Touch. My family. Am I clear?" Arthur articulated every word with a decisiveness that made not only Antonio but even Matthias and Lukas nod.

Arthur felt his vision blur and his stress from earlier suddenly caught up to him. All this running and fighting and stressing out recently was not really wise given his condition. He felt his knees give in and the last thing he saw and heard was his name being called by a red-eyed Italian.

Uh … red?