Trae

Father's office was in the heart of Paris, within the grand Lycée De Flèches. Having rushed here after mother's episode, I felt an urgency to deliver the news personally before he visited the facility and discovered her condition himself. The ornate halls, now sparkling after the workers had finished for the day, reflected the grandeur of the institution. The scent of freshly polished wood and faint traces of cleaning agents lingered in the air, adding to the sense of meticulous care that permeated the building.

As I stepped into the elevator, the soft hum of the machinery did little to quell my anxiety. Each floor I passed felt like an eternity, the weight of the news I carried pressing down on me. The walls of the elevator were adorned with intricate carvings, a testament to the building's historical significance. And each floor I passed seemed to echo with the whispers of the past, stories of students and scholars who had walked these halls long before me.

"I wonder how he'll react?" I muttered under my breath, my mind racing with the potential outcomes of our conversation. The thought of mother's cryptic mention of a stabbing only added to my unease. "…why did she mention a stabbing?" I pondered aloud, trying to piece together the fragments of her distress.

The elevator pinged softly as the doors slid open, revealing a long, dimly lit corridor. The walls were lined with portraits of distinguished alumni, their eyes seeming to follow me as I walked past. The plush carpet muffled my footsteps, but I could still hear the faint echo of my heart pounding in my chest.

At the end of the hall stood the large mahogany doors of father's office. They were imposing, with intricate brass handles that gleamed in the soft light. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself, knowing that beyond those doors lay a conversation that could change everything.

Knocking softly, I waited for the familiar voice.

"Enter."

Hearing my father's voice, I entered without delay, finding him studying some papers. He looked up with a surprised grin, though there was a hint of weariness in his eyes that I didn't notice at first.

"What brings you here, Trae? Did you meet your mother?" Setting everything aside, he walked around the desk. I felt a rush of emotions I needed to release.

"She's… she's everything I could possibly hope for." Blessed, unable to stop smiling, I saw my father's pleased expression. "But Père, there is something I must tell you."

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I saw his eyes shift to great concern as he came closer. It was then that I noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the faint marks on his hands, signs of stress and perhaps injury.

"What happened?" His father's gait was not steady, it took everything I had to keep the conversation on mother.

"…she had another episode, but this time it turned into a terrible seizure."

"What?!" He closed the distance in seconds, his hands gripping my shoulders, needing more information. I felt the roughness of his hands, the marks more evident now. "Is she alright? Why are you here if—"

"Père!" I interrupted, trying to calm him down. "I came because we got her under control… but also needing to speak with you about the day she disappeared."

"What do you mean?" His hesitation was palpable, speaking of the past here of all places. We checked the hall and sealed the doors and windows shut so nothing could be overheard. "Speak, what brought this up?"

"Mère mentioned being stabbed before she slipped into her seizure. I don't understand what those words could possibly mean, but I do remember you had a terrible theory about her disappearance in the past." I hesitated, then asked what I've wanted to ask since seeing him, "Père, what happened to your hands? Are you alright?"

He ignored my question, his focus entirely on the news I had brought. "What exactly did she say?" he asked sternly, avoiding my question entirely.

"Père, please. Why are you cut up and injured?" I tried to coax him to speak, but he dismissed it entirely and returned to his desk. There was a single picture frame that he kept polished and safe over the years. I walked over, seeing the picture of what he cherished most – a photo of them both when they worked in the winery in its early stages. I've never heard him speak of the past. He'd only tell me bits and pieces of what he wanted to let known, and the life I shared with her when I was a child. But nothing more. Father stared at that photo so intently, his fingers having rubbed the bronze in the corner so much, it shimmered gold.

"Père, will you at least discuss that theory of yours with me then? I'm trying to put it together, but I can't remember that day as well as you do. I was too young." I knew it was agonizing for him to speak about it, but if mother was harmed back then and why she was torn away from us, it'd explain everything.

He lamented the memory. The pain in his eyes as he looked from me to the photo spoke so much without words being conveyed. He took a breath in, closed his eyes, and contemplated where to begin.

"…Konella wanted to have a moment to herself to relinquish her mortality for good. She went into the forest where she was out of sight from everyone to release her mortal emotions. The tincture of blood she took was a perfect concoction I created to safely turn her." His voice cracked, a free hand swiping over his face as he struggled to say more. "I should have never left her side."

I choke the emotions that wanted to flood through me. He was in pain of what happened then and unable to do anything. But she's back with us, and only we can help her if we just knew what happened.

"When… when you realized she was gone, what went on that day?" I managed to ask. He struggled to find his footing, but caught himself as he refocused.

"Nathan came to take you away from me as I felt Konella's presence vanish. I transformed and searched the entire area for her only to find droplets of blood near a cliff. Brother Amshel and Diva forbade me to search for her, being that she was a lost cause as the transformation failed and she threw herself off the cliff."

"What?! But I don't remember any of that, and Uncle Nathan said nothing of the sort."

"I asked him not to. You were so young," he looked pained as he clenched his jaw speaking of the past. "I knew brother Amshel was covering something the way he protected Diva that day. I was filled with such grief I couldn't think straight at all." His eyes shimmered red with anger, his chevalier blood running hot in his veins thinking about it again. I took a step forward, catching his attention and his eyes returned to normal.

"What stopped you from not leaping down that cliff? You can fly, there's no way you couldn't do it."

"Diva." His voice deep with loathing as he snapped part of his desk, he held the broken wood in hand and crushed it further. "By her order I was not permitted to look any further and to return home." That revelation made my heart stutter. I didn't want to think it was a possibility, my theory possibly jumping into conclusions of their own.

"Then what Mère spoke, being stabbed, do you think—"

"That we are no longer safe being here." He spoke coldly and turned to face his bookshelf, pulling down a globe that activated a mechanism revealing a hole in the wall.

"Père?"

"Return to your mother and keep her safe until I arrive." He pulled a large duffel bag and checked its contents before handing it to me. "If I am to guess, Diva is behind your mother's disappearance that day. Karl is already aware that I found someone at the boarding school and brought her home. I don't know if he's aware who she is, but we have to assume that she's in danger. Diva will come after her again and kill her."

"Père that is a very bold statement to make. And even if I am to return to Mère, how can I possibly go against Diva's orders as Queen?"
He stopped and smiled as he looked to him with utmost certainty. "What Diva doesn't realize, my dear Trae, is that once a chevalier chooses a mate, that very mate becomes his Queen."

I was surprised and never knew this. And I could only wonder if he'd found this out after the incident happened.

"And I?" Nervous what the answer could be, his unwavering confidence in his answer was a relief.

"You were never bound to Diva to begin with. Your loyalty is that of familial bonds. Now here," giving more items to take as I watched my father work quickly around the room and back to his computer where his fingers furiously typed. I waited for what he wanted me to do, and he seemed guarded.

"I will return to her with great haste then, but in the event that they catch on what will I do?" His fingers stopped moving and he glanced up at me. Eyes speaking volumes of the situation at hand and what's more important.

"…I will fight them. Having Konella back means the world to me, more than they'll ever know. But if worst comes to worse, we will rely on Saya and Haji for assistance."

"How?" Surprised he'd even consider them.

"They wanted her back when I took her from them. Though it was a little messy on how they departed one another, I'm certain they will assist her." Though he said it, the way he looked spoke another truth. He wasn't sure.
Hesitating on asking, there was one member I couldn't help but ask about. "What of Uncle Nathan?" He seemed saddened as he looked my way.

"That man will not leave Diva's side. He may splurge on you and act though he would give you the world, but Diva has always been his priority. That I know would not change no matter what."

"Ok. I'll head back without the others knowing I was here and protect Mère the best I can. When can I expect you to arrive?"

"I will meet with you two when I can." He slipped out of his suit jacket, revealing his marred back and arms as I panicked finding him this beaten beneath his clothes. Before my feet moved towards him, he gave me a look that froze me in place. "Let's just say I have a few words to exchange with my brother again. And this time will be a bit different." Walking over to a large ornate dresser in the corner, he pulled out a fresh shirt and new suit jacket. Slipping it on and fixing his hair, I watched with fascination and admiration to my father transforming to a different man. His eyes that seemed so lifeless over the years were sharper. A stern demeanor behind his appearance now that I felt transfer over to me as well and my posture straightened out.

"I will protect Mère." Making a firm promise to him, his smile exuding how proud he was of me, I took the bag and slung it over my shoulder. "Promise me you'll come for us."

"I promise to you Trae, nothing in this world will get in my way ever again."

Solomon

The moment Trae had closed the doors behind him, I felt my blood boil in anger. "All these years of deceit!" Words seethed, gripping at me in turmoil as I wanted to destroy everything around me. "Konella…" feeling phantom pain as though I felt what she was going through, I looked at myself in the small mirror across the room, seeing my eyes red with anger. "Calm myself… There is much to do in such little time now." Fixing the lapel and my purple tie, I stopped and turned back to the wardrobe to find a dark emerald tie I've long ago purchased but never worn. I slid my tie off, taking hold of the other and feeling the silk between my fingers. How it reminded me so much of having her in my arms again. The fabric slid easily around my neck, giving the imagery of Konella's fingers caressing my skin. I felt my pants tighten uncomfortably, knowing my coq craves for her touch. "Soon," I reminded myself.

Once I finished dressing in new clothes and making my way down to the lower levels, I took note of the items I would have to come back for before I leave this all behind. My fortune is my own. Amshel has never dipped into my investments over the years and hopefully will continue to do so. But I'm careful. I always have a tangency plan if he were to do something unexpected.

"Ah, bonsoir monsieur Goldsmith." One of many secretaires working under me greeted. Her dainty frame and mouse-like features making her seem younger than she really is, she approached me wearing her usual tight fitted pencil skirt and has been trying to gain my favor.

She'll never know my touch.

"Bonsoir Ms. Clary, do you have a message for me?" Acting neutral, knowing she craved more, her brown eyes looked up, puckering her pink lips as she tried acting innocently towards me.

"Y-yes! The shipment you requested has come through and will be at the storage facility as requested." Fluttering her eyes as she handed the missive to me, trying to brush our fingers together, I easily avoiding her touch and took the note.

"Bon à entendre. See to it this is submitted and close out the ticket for it." She went to speak again but I was already walking away. Her frustrated footsteps returning to the desk made me scowl as the audacity of such a human would even attempt seducing a man such as I.

No one else will do.

Stepping outside and feeling the crip air hit my open wounds first, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, the notification from Van of Konella's condition. My heart ached seeing the graphs, how close to deaths door she actually is at this very moment. But I have to believe in her. She survived all these long years, she just needs to fight a little more.

I dialed Amshel's number. The thought of speaking to my brother one final time giving me a sense of loss and freedom all at once.

HIM: Solomon… have you more to say?

ME: I would like to speak with you.

HIM: Again? I do believe we've spoken enough, don't you?
His chuckle grating my ears as I felt my anger rise in me to what he's been hiding. How easily he lied to me all these long years.

ME: It's a matter of precedence.
I can hear him mutter something, but couldn't catch what it was that he said. After a few moments he finally spoke to me.

HIM: If you insist. Let this conversation be more…pleasant.
He hung up first. The dial tone echoing in my ear as I didn't feel weighed down by my thoughts any longer in my choice. I looked at the tracking of Trae's position, seeing he was already back at the laboratory and with Konella again. I can only hope I can get away unscathed this time around from Amshel's "discipline".