Winter Freeze

Daenorin ran.

He sprinted through the halls of the La Muerte manor.

Behind him, his father screamed and shouted for him to stop. For him to grow up and face him like a man.

First Iliberos. Then Torlee. Now it was Daenorin’s turn.

He’s scared.

He doesn’t want to die.

He wants Kriszana.

Where is she?

Why isn’t she here?

Please.

Please. Please. Please. Please. Please.

Naejor was going to kill him.

He was going to die.

Kriszana, help, please.

But there was no answer.

No miracle.

He was on his own.

He couldn’t trust anyone in the manor. Naejor probably bought them over to his side. Offer them a pay raise or a high position and they were set. He couldn’t trust anyone. Not if he wanted to live. He shivered at the thought of his father’s cane.

He kicked off his shoes as he ran, knowing that the noise they made would only be a hindrance. He tried his best to quiet his footfalls but there was little he could do because he was running. He couldn’t risk switching to stealth when he heard his father’s voice so close behind him.

So he ran.

He was careful to avoid any places that staff frequented. Careful to avoid any long hallways with nowhere to hide. Careful. Careful. Careful. Careful or death.

He ran until he found his mother’s room.

He slowed down. Quieting down as he carefully opened the door before silently closing it again, locking it for extra caution. He then ran and hid in her huge closet, hiding amongst the black ball gowns.

Ravarie wasn’t home. She had gone out for a tea party. Ever since having kids, she’s been confined at home by Naejor. He was going to auto reject the invite if Ravarie hadn’t brought up her declining reputation. One bad reputation in the family would be a bad reputation for the whole family.

So he allowed her to go.

Much to Daenorin’s misfortune.

He heard Naejor yelling and screaming for hours.

He held his breath whenever he heard him pass the room. Praying to every god that he could that he wouldn’t try the door. No one was allowed to lock their door. That would mean you have something to hide, causing Naejor to get mad.

So there he sat.

In his mother’s closet.

Hyperventilating.

Silently crying.

For hours.

He sat there until he heard gentle footsteps followed by an attempt at the handle.

“…that’s weird…” His mother’s muffled voice came through the door. He then heard the sound of some shuffling followed by the sound of a metal key being slid into the lock.

There’s a click as the door opens.

He hears gentle footsteps followed by the door closing. Fabric shuffling before the closet door opens. Those gentle footsteps get closer and closer as she looks through her clothes.

Then she moves the ball gowns aside.

Her face is shocked. Then horrified as she sees the state Daenorin is in.

She falls to her knees as her hands gently cup Daenorin’s face. She brushes away his tears, causing him to wince when she touches his swollen and bruised cheek. It was from when Naejor had first snapped. Daenorin’s back hurt a lot too.

“…oh my gods…” Her voice is horrified. Maybe Daenorin had a bit more bruises than he thought he did. “…what did he do to you…?”

Daenorin tried to articulate his words but failed as he clung to his mother, silently sobbing. He was too scared to make any noise.

Ravarie gently rubbed his back, holding him close. She let him cry, whispering gentle words of kindness to him as she did so.

He cried and cried until he got two words out.

“I’m next.”

He didn’t need to say anything more.

He felt his mother’s body tense. Her hold on him grows tighter, nearly painful.

Then she helps him to his feet.

She walks him to her bed as she has him lay down in it.

She pulls the covers over him. Pulling his hair free as she brushed his bangs away from his eyes to press a soft kiss to his forehead.

“Don’t come out. No matter what you hear. I promise, you’ll be okay.”

She then leaves the room, locking the door behind her.

There’s silence for a long time.

Then yelling from somewhere in the manor.

Lots of it.

Loud and angry.

He can hear his father’s and mother’s voices.

They’re arguing.

Then screaming.

He can’t tell whose it is because of his panic and terror.

It goes on for several long minutes.

Then silence.

Several minutes of silence before the door clicks as it's unlocked. Daenorin cowers under the covers, terrified that it’s Naejor. He was coming for him. He took care of his mother first. Now it's his turn.

But instead of a cruel cane coming down to crush his skull in, a soft hand gently rubs his head from the top of his sheets.

Daenorin takes the risk as he peeks out.

It was his mother.

Her hair was a mess. She had rapidly coloring marks on her body. She was bleeding even.

But most of that blood wasn’t hers.

No.

Daenorin knows who it belongs to.

“Don’t worry my dear,” She hummed softly, shifting so that Daenorin’s head rested in her lap as she ran her fingers through his hair. “I’ve slayed the monster.”

“He can’t hurt you anymore.”