Return of the Demon Sovereign (Book 1) [MxM]

76. Throne Room (3)

Erebus' eyes redden. "They killed my mother!"

His voice clapped like thunder, and the chambers rumbled. Ice rapidly shot from under him and climbed up the walls.

Suddenly, Erebus was pulled into a bone-crushing hug. It took Erebus a moment to understand that Halcyon was the one who wrapped his arms around him. He didn't know what to do or how to react. He had never had a parent, so he found himself cherishing the memories of Selene so much. But he also never had a true father figure and was inexperienced in paternal affection. The thousands of years he had endured melted away, and he suddenly felt like a 20-year-old being comforted by a grandfather.

Erebus trembled a little and found himself holding on to Halcyon's shirt. His mind was reeling. He had lost his soldiers and even his own life, but he had never experienced the pain and sorrow of losing a parent. But he was now feeling it through these memories... his memories.

He could only cling to Halcyon with shuddering breaths.

Leonis looked at the two with pity. Had he pushed it too far?

"Shadowbane has ancient grudges and new grievances with Golden Mountain. They are malicious tumors, and I will have no affiliation with them. I stand by my General and Lieutenant General. The Council is dismissed." Leonis announced.

"But.. my King! To listen to the words of a child!" One protested.

"Enough! This child has shown more strength and wisdom than you have ever displayed. My mind will not change. Leave." Leonis was angry at this point. Perhaps he had been too lenient with his Council.

The Council members muttered under their breath and slowly made their way out. Only Leonis, Halcyon, Samar, and Erebus remained when they left.

Halcyon was still hugging Erebus while trying to draw that line between his and Eri's memories, but something told him it was too late. He had completely merged with Eri, making his memories his own. He was Eri. He felt everything, including Eri's despair, when he looked down the cliff. He understood to an unprecedented degree why Eri chose to give his body to Erebus and join the Nothingness.

Erebus took a deep breath and stepped away from Halcyon, his eyes downcast. He ran his fingers through his hair and let out a perplexed "fuck".

He was surprised to see drops of water hit the ground at his feet. He lifted his finger and wiped them under his eyes, surprised to find tears. "Fuck," he said again.

He panicked for a moment. It wasn't just Eri's grief and despair. He felt Eri's shame, his desperation to be loved by his family, and his rampant fear. He was unsure of how to handle the flooding of emotions. 

He stepped away quickly, almost stumbling over his own feet.

"Erebus." The other men called out to him.

Erebus suddenly merged with the shadows and disappeared from the chambers. He moved without a sense of direction but found himself in the temple, looking up at the statue of the Demon Sovereign.

"I'm such a fool." He said quietly in the empty room. "I lived as if our fates were separate... My pain was my own, and Eri's was his... but I inherited Eri's fate the moment I left the Nothingness. Of course, I should inherit his pain as well."

He stumbled over to the statue and sat at its feet. He rested his head against the stone.

Bum Bump. Bum Bump.

"That pitiful child..." He gripped his chest and let out a shuddered breath. "This pain is too terrible for a child to endure. Hells, I can hardly stand it."

He breathed deeply, focusing on the heartbeats coming from the statue. His eyes were shut, and the tears had finally stopped falling. He had to focus his mind and navigate through the bombardment of Eri's feelings. He accepted that this was now a personal grudge.

His eyes snapped open when he heard the temple door open and saw Samar walk in. He gave Erebus an understanding look as he silently walked up to the statue and sat beside him. He took out a carton of cigarettes and held it out to Erebus. He gratefully took one.

They stayed smoking while Erebus listened to the calming heartbeats coming from the statue. Samar broke the silence first with a guilt-ridden voice. "I'm sorry."

Erebus flinched a little from heavy apology and turned to Samar with a curious look.

Samar rested a hand on Erebus' shoulder. "If we were stronger or more influential, you would have never had to recall such a painful memory."

Erebus shook his head lightly. "I had pushed those memories off for far too long. It was time to come to terms with them."

Samar raised an eyebrow. "Have you come to terms?"

Erebus laughed ruefully. "No. It just made me feel like shit."

Samar smiled and let out a laugh with Erebus. "Welcome to grief. It's terribly fucked up."

Erebus sighed. "I've learned about your family before, but... I'm sorry."

"We don't bring it up that often, but those old bastards of the Council know of it. And still, they dared...." He cut himself off with an angry groan. "It was twenty years ago, but I still feel like it was yesterday. In frustrating moments like these, I try to remember the good things."

"Good things?"

Samar nodded. "I will always remember how selfless my sister was. She always saw the positive side of everything and supported people around her. I still remember her in times of need. Even in death, her kindness didn't disappear. She still helps me."

Erebus sighed, thinking about Selene's words to Eri. Something about Samar made him comfortable enough to voice the lingering anxiety he had.

"I am not the child my mother knew... She only saw a boy who used to struggle with accepting his powers. I wonder if she is disappointed in the man I have become."

Erebus had taken over Eri's body and fate, but would Selene ever accept him? Would Selene hate him? Would she resent him? He felt a dread in his heart, imagining incurring her hatred.

"I know of your deeds and sacrifices for Shadowbane. There is no way she would be disappointed." Samar said with a smile and gently patted Erebus' shoulder. He had heard the many rumors about the great Lieutenant General but had forgotten his age until this moment. He spoke like a child still afraid to disappoint his parent.

However, at the same time, something else struck Samar with Erebus' words. "You used to struggle with accepting your powers?"

Erebus had a wry smile on his face. "Where I am from, Shadow Cultivators are not well received."

The only place that held such prejudices was New Azor, the capital of Halrland and home of Golden Mountain. Samar felt pity for the child next to him. If he was a child raised in that environment, he must have had a hard life.

"That must have been difficult," Samar said.

"I found a way out of there. And, as you said, there are good memories. My mother loved that her child was born from the Shadows, and she would encourage me when she could. It took some time, but her words finally resonated with me."

"She sounds like a wonderful woman."

Erebus had an ashamed look on his face. "I didn't really know her that well, but I do know she was another soul far too kind for this world."

Samar took a long drag from his cigarette. "Those who leave us early normally are. My brother-in-law, Aion, would say the same thing. He was a good man, too. I just never expected him to join the Aether before me."

Erebus recalled the name of the man who was supposed to be Halcyon's successor. Everyone had complimented him and showed the same grief to remember he was gone. 

The Themises had taken too much.