Chapter 55: Vacation
Elián;
It’s either I’ve developed a severe hearing problem, I’m losing my mind... or I accidentally hit my head somewhere and now I’m hearing things.
One of those, or the possibility that I may have offended some deity in my past life and now this is my punishment.
I don’t think it’s any of the others, so I’m just going to believe that I’m hearing things.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that," I say to King as I drop my fork and sit upright so I can hear him properly.
I stare at his lips as they part, ready to hear something else and then he speaks.
"I said you’re travelling with Rhydian to Howleroot for an indefinite amount of time." He says, and I feel everything in my body go numb. Starting from my fingers.
My eyes instantly dart to Rhydian who’s now eating silently, and then I look up at Koda.
Koda spares me only a second’s glance before looking away, and as he takes his gaze away from me, reality smacks me across the face like an African mother.
They all knew this before! They had agreed to this. That’s why they were both gawking at me the whole time!!
I look round the table and Zethar has stopped eating. He’s looking at his Father with creased brows and Lioran is just frozen.
They’re both stunned. They didn’t know anything about this?
What’s going on?
Isn’t anyone going to say anything?
Am I...
"Did... did I do something wrong?" I can’t help the fearful stutter that escapes me, and the king pauses with his fork halfway to his mouth.
"Ha...have I broken some rule? Am I... what am I being punished for?" I push further with the true extent of my fear now pouring down on me.
I steal a glance at Rhydian and I remember how coldly he ordered those men to beat me. How he emotionlessly watched the assault even though I was fighting for my life.
I remember the pain. How I cried and begged and still it didn’t move him. Alana’s words about how he hates Omegas replay in my mind and my vision instantly blurs with tears.
They want him to kill me.
They’ve grown tired of me and want him to get rid of me.
This is a death sentence!!
"What did I do?" I question in panic as I look up at Koda.
Surely, this has to be a punishment. They know Rhydian hates omegas. They know he can’t stand me. They saw how he almost killed me and now I’m to travel to some place with him indefinitely!?
"Elián, you haven’t done anything wrong..." Koda begins as he tries to hold my hand but I snatch my hand away and shoot to my feet as panic and fear begin to battle inside me.
"So why are you sending me with him!?" I yell, and everyone turns to me.
"He doesn’t like me. He’s going to kill me!" I add in sheer panic as I stare at the King while pointing at Rhydian.
"Sir, I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry. He... I... " I begin, but Rhydian’s voice cuts me off.
"I’m not going to kill you, Elián."
"Yes, you are! You’ve tried before!" I scream at him and I watch his expression fall. Like he’s ashamed. But I know better than to fall for that.
"Elián, I’m not sending you with Rhydian as a punishment. He needs company on his trip." The king finally speaks and I scoff as my panic tears start pouring.
"What about his aide!?"
"You’re his omega!"
"To him, that’s another word for punching bag!" I scream and I see confusion flood the king’s face.
"Punching... bag?" He repeats and I sigh in frustration.
This isn’t working.
I need to beg him. He can’t send me with his egocentric, lunatic son. The bastard is going to murder me the first chance he gets.
I clasp my hands in front of me and fall to my knees, and I hear a few of them gasp.
"Please, Your Majesty. Don’t send me with him... I don’t want to die. I’ll... I’ll be good. I’ve been good. I’ve not caused any trouble in a while. I promise I’ll keep getting better. Just please don’t... don’t do this..." I cry as I shut my eyes in fear.
I can’t stop myself from breaking down in tears like a big fool.
It may not be obvious, but I’m scared of getting hit. It reminds me of things I’ve tried so hard to forget.
It reminds me of the bullies... those days in the locker room, hall ways... corners just a blocks away from home...
Getting hit reminds me of a long chain of things I don’t want to remember. How my parents never cared about my bruises... how I never had the strength or courage to fight back or defend myself... how much of a wimp I am...
I survived it once here... I don’t want to do it again.
If they want to kill me, they can just poison me. Maybe if I die here I’ll wake up back home...
"Elián please get up," Koda whispers, but I ignore him.
"I don’t want to go with Alpha Rhydian." I state adamantly amidst sniffles and silence stretches.
"You should be ashamed of yourself." The King’s cold voice comes next, and my heart skips.
"Look how terrified your omega is of you." He adds, and only then do I realise that he’s talking to Rhydian.
"What makes you different from the likes of Balinar?" The king then spits disdainfully, and I feel my chest tighten.
He’s reprimanding Rhydian because of me??
That’s going to make everything worse!
"I’m sorry you’re afraid, Elián. But there’s no going back on this. Both of you are taking off tomorrow. I can assure you he won’t kill you. He wouldn’t dare." My head snaps up in dismay.
"But..." I try to speak, and Koda places a hand on my shoulder to stop me.
He shakes his head softly to tell me not to complain. That there’s no point, and it suddenly feels like I just had an ice bath.
I can’t help the forced smile that splits my face and Koda blinks at me in confusion.
I pull myself off the floor and bow to everyone at the table.
"If... you’ll excuse me, I... I’ve had my fill. Thank you for the food." I croak and before anyone says anything, I turn around and walk towards the stairs with Alana following closely behind me.
"Master Elián, are you alright?" She whispers, and I sigh.
"Of course. I have a vacation to plan."
I reply sarcastically as I quickly wipe the tear drop that escapes my eyes.
I’m the luckiest man alive, aren’t I?