Chapter 30: My Favorite Brother
Eliàn;
I stare blankly at the ceiling of my room. At the clouds painted on it, and my mind replays the dreams... or memories I had just a few minutes ago.
Those weren’t my memories... They were Elien’s.
He’s had life rough.
No wonder he got so hurt by Rhydian’s words...
My parents didn’t love me, but they at least didn’t kick me out when I was 18. They waited till I was 21 and till they had the excuse of me being gay before kicking me out.
These memories are the first real things I know about him. He’s quite like me, isn’t he?
Could that be why I’m here? In his body?
And why did I see Mr. Soup?
Why did he look so bright and happy in Elien’s memory, but so cold and distant when I saw him at dinner last night?
It would have been so much better if I had access to Elien’s memories, or could find a way to talk to him...
It hurts my head thinking about all these questions and all these issues...
What is my purpose here? Why am I here? Will I ever get back home?
I’m scared... confused... and lonely...
I don’t know what I’m doing here. Everyone is either a lunatic or a cruel bastard... and I’m at the centre of it all...
I don’t like it here. There hasn’t been a single good thing since I got here.
The door to the room suddenly opens, and I freeze. My body hurts too much to move to see who came in.
The bed dips beside me, and Koda’s face comes into view.
"How are you, Elian?" He questions as he strokes my hair, and I blink at him.
I am not interested in giving him an answer. I turn away from him and fix my gaze out of the window, staring at the leaves of the tree in the distance as they dance peacefully in the wind.
"I... have spoken with the doctor. He said you have an abnormally slow healing rate." He speaks, and this piques my interest.
"You heal at a 95% rate slower than an average beastman." He says, and I can’t help the smile that splits my face.
"Well, lucky me, I guess," I reply, and guilt floods his face.
Why is he looking like that?
He shouldn’t be guilty. His shit ass brother did this to me.
If there’s anyone meant to be wallowing in guilt and self-hate right now, it should be that ugly, shrewd brother of his.
But I can bet on my kidneys that the bastard feels no ounce of repentance or guilt for this.
I turn back to the window, and Koda speaks again.
"The doctor gave you a painkiller that should significantly reduce the pain by tonight. They’ll start work immediately on a drug that can help hasten your healing process." He says, and my head snaps back at him and the last part.
"Why? You guys plan to hurt me more often?" I rage, and he pauses mid-speech.
He blinks at me in bewilderment, and I shut my eyes.
I’m doing too much. I shouldn’t be lashing out at him. Especially when he’s being kind to me. If he wanted, he could be an arse like his brother, Rhydian.
He could walk out of here without giving a shit about me, and no one would bat an eyelid. I should be grateful that he seems to care.
"I’m sorry... I... shouldn’t have spoken to you like that." I apologise with my eyes shut, but the next words Koda speaks cause me to pull my eyes open.
"I should be the one apologising."
I blink at him in bewilderment, and he shifts closer to me.
"Alphas are supposed to protect their omegas... I’m sorry one of my brothers did this to you." He says, and I swallow as I stare at him.
What am I to say to that?
It’s okay?
It’s not okay!!
I almost died! I could have died.
And all I get is an apology. Not even for the bastard who hurt me.
I look away from Koda again, and suddenly, the door opens. I hear fast footsteps and someone suddenly stands directly in front of my face, blocking my view.
I look up, and it’s Zephan. His eyes widen as he takes in my face. I flinch when he suddenly moves to me and yanks the duvet off me.
An unnatural cold attacks me, and I realise that I’m naked under the duvet. I watch his eyes rake over my body, and his eyes darken.
He looks back up at my face, and my eye flutters weakly as I struggle to stay awake. I feel tired. I haven’t moved a muscle, but I feel exhausted... sleepy. Very sleepy...
"Rhydian did this?" Zephan suddenly demands, and Koda sighs.
"Yes."
"Where were you?" Zephan snaps, and there’s silence before Koda replies in a frustrated voice.
"What sort of question is that? I was with Father. We were in a meeting when Alana came running to me, saying that Elian was in trouble with Rhydian." He replies, and I shut my eye... and it stings for a bit.
"Father knows about this?" Zephan questions, and there’s silence.
"You’ve got to be joking. He did nothing?!"
"What do you think Father would do? You know, the only thing that matters to him is an heir. He couldn’t care less what happened to Elian unless it posed a risk to an heir." Koda replies, and I shut my eyes tighter despite the pain.
There’s not a moment here where I’m allowed to feel like anything other than an object.
"I’m gonna go have a word with Rhydian," Zephan says, and my eye pulls open at the anger in that sentence.
He doesn’t want to talk to Rhydian. He sounds like he wants to go beat him up.
I listen to Zephan’s angry footsteps walk away, and at the thought of somehow getting justice... as petty as it may seem... I smile.
A pleased, happy smile.
Yes, Zephan. Beat him up. Please... Then you just might be my favourite out of all of your brothers...