Chapter 449: Re-Surfaced Truama

The darkness was suffocating. Crumbling into the tight space, his legs screamed out in pain at holding his body weight, but even experiencing a pain that would have him crying and begging, Edward didn’t make a sound. The suffocating hardwood around him was foreign but extremely familiar. He could remember something like the terrifying darkness around him. Covering his ears and closing his eyes, he refused to look into the dark or hear anything.

He couldn’t understand why he was so scared, why his body shook uncontrollably. He tried to open his mouth and scream out for help, but not a sound, nor even a breath of air, came out. He wanted to throw himself at the door, knowing it was unlocked, but he couldn’t. With his eyes closed, fragments resurfaced. Endless darkness, floorboards, blank faces, he would never remember.

Putting pressure on his ears, more fragments of a memory surfaced in his mind. His old crib, his old nanny. Edward, breathing got quicker, remembering Daisy. Like the others, he couldn’t see her face, but he could remember that she did exist. His chest hurt, as the final memory of Daisy surfaced. The crimson water flowed over his bed, and that blank face hurt.

Edward didn’t notice himself crying. It was a silent cry, one born from a fear of being too loud.

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Swinging the closet door open, Abu saw Edward stuck in an uncomfortable position. One leg was bent under his bottom, and the other, bent upwards, as his head leaned against it. Abu could tell that Edward should have been screaming in pain. But with pure silence, he remembered the past and took a cold, sharp breath. Leaning forward, he gently patted Edward on the shoulder and grabbed one of his hands, covering his ear, easily moving it.

"You are safe." Grabbing him, he carefully moved him towards his chair and sat him down. Reaching into his breast pocket, he pulled out a small vial of liquid and put it on Edward’s lip. Whilst Edward was in shock, it was only a matter of time before he realised the pain he should be in. Pouring the strong painkiller down his throat, Abu turned to look at Samuel.

"Tell your father the names of all the boys in here. Do not lie to him, do not try to hide it, do not defend them. Am I clear, Samuel?" Abu watched the young child nervously nod, not daring to look up from the ground.

Samuel was terrified. He had seen Abu many times and always knew him to have a soft smile and warm air around him. But the feeling now made him sick. The only reason he hadn’t been was because of the overwhelming fear and dread he was feeling.

Abu turned to Balder. "Stay silent. You will not talk to your friends on the way home. You will not speak to me, Edward, nor will you speak to your sister or anyone else. You will follow behind. Am I clear?" Balder nodded, and only when Abu was happy did he push Edward out.

The young boy sat with a blank expression, no longer covering his ears or closing his eyes. Yet it was no less strange. People looked at Edward and pulled weird faces seeing his state, a look a child shouldn’t have. Balder saw his friends in the distance, all of them staring at him. Usually, he would have spoken to them for a bit before leaving, but he didn’t dare. He could see his plan had messed up in ways he couldn’t imagine. He didn’t know what happened, but the look on his brother’s face was something he had never seen.

"Edward?" Astrid ran over to see him and looked worried. "What happened?"

"You know nothing, Princess?" Stunned by the question and tone of voice, Astird took a step back and looked up at Abu, but quickly flinched and lowered it again in fear.

"Of course not. What happened to him?" Quietly, she replied to Abu. He didn’t answer, loading the children in the carriage, and he grabbed Violet’s arm before she could enter.

"We are in danger right now. I know you have one. Get the list of Balders’ friends ready. No other group had reason to do this." Violet nodded with a cold gaze and boarded the carriage. Slamming his fist on the side, the carriage took off as Abu boarded.

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Isra rushed towards Edward’s room as soon as she got the news. Without caring, she abandoned the work she was in the middle of and ran. Servants didn’t dare question what had upset her and simply lowered their heads in fear. Outside Edwards’ room, Abu stood, hounding Frida with questions, with the nanny looking on the verge of tears from it all.

"Abu," Isra called out to the man. Spinning around, he walked to the door and opened it for her.

"Forgive me, Empress. I stepped out for a minute. I coul-"

"Shut up," Isra said with a cold voice and shot a lethal gaze at the two twins. Her warning was clear. Do not approach, do not be seen or heard, but do not move. Seeing her son sitting in his chair with the same dead look he had when he was younger, Isra’s heart shattered. Leaning over to him, his hands shook as she grabbed his small face. "Edward. Love."

The previous anger and fear that had filled her were gone, replaced only by her overwhelming love and protectiveness. She could still remember clearly the day when Edward returned home after his kidnapping. "You’re safe, Edward. Mommy’s here." Isra said, calmly rubbing the back of his head. "Don’t worry. Nothing will happen. You’re safe. You’re fine."

Edward’s emotionless face cracked, and tears began to flow from his eyes. Hugging Isra, he whimpered and choked back his tears, unable to contain the fear and pain he was in, erupting into a pained cry. Isra calmly soothed him, her head turning slightly to see who was at the door. Seeing Alfred, her eyes hardened slightly, getting her meaning across what she wanted to happen.

Seeing his son, Alfred walked over and patted his head, before turning to Abu and Vioelt, and looking at the children. "Follow me. All of you." No one dared to breathe loudly, not the guards, the children, or the servants. Alfred’s icy demeanour had all on edge, and as he threw another door open, Issac stood with Samuel, with an equally icy look.

Alfred moved and sat at his desk, with Issac by his side. "Tell me everything. Leave nothing out. And do not lie." His gaze swept across Violet and Abu, who recounted the day. Alfred nodded to everything and looked at Balder and Astrid. Seeing their fathers’ cold, almost menacing gaze, they couldn’t help but flinch, wondering what would happen.

"Did you two know anything about this? Tell me now, because if I find out you lied..." Alfred didn’t need to say anymore.

"I didn’t know father." Astrid quickly said, defending herself. "Balder told me he and his friends were going to apologise. That’s all. I promise. Please believe me." Alfred took a deep breath, not saying anything more. He believed his daughter’s words, knowing that she was one of the few people who were overly protective of Edward.

Turning to Balder, the young boy looked away in fear, his actions telling everything he needed to know. "I...I..." He stammered over his words and looked towards Samuel. "I didn’t tell them to hurt him." Balder knew he couldn’t lie. In front of so many people, in front of Alfred and Issac, it was pointless. "I told them to put him in the closet. I know he’s scared of the dark, so... But I didn’t want to hurt him."

Thud.Alfred’s fist slammed on the table, echoing throughout the room. "Violet. Take the children to their room. Issac, let Samuel stand outside." Alfred tried his best to contain his anger, but through his gritted teeth, his order came out like a low growl. Violet didn’t hesitate, and Issac pushed his son forward to get him to leave.

"WHERE WERE YOU!?" Throughout the halls, everyone heard Alfred scream at Abu. The twins had never heard their father so angry, and Astrid gave a betrayed, hurt look at Balder. "YOUR JOB WAS TO PROTECT MY SON! TO HELP HIM GET OVER HIS TRUMA, NOT ALLOW IT TO RESURFACE!"

"Your Majesty..."

"NO!" Alfred cut him off and collapsed into his chair. With a few deep breaths, he calmed himself down. "Forgive me, my friend, for shouting." Unable to remove his head from his hands, Alfred sighed, "But you are no longer fit to help him. The original plan has failed. School won’t help. Friends won’t help him."

"Alfred, you can’t mean..."

"I will, Issac." Alfred shot up and stared at Issac, "I tried to be patient. I tried to trust the good nature of people. I had hoped Edward would flourish in school and overcome his past, but I was naive. I had believed the people of this empire wouldn’t look down on my son. But they do, even his own brother." Clenching his fists, Alfred took a few deep breaths, "Get Horace. Get him now. This way is over."

Abu’s fists tightened behind his back, hearing Alfred’s words, knowing what they meant. He wanted to protest and say that Edward could still improve at school, but the words got trapped in his throat. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at Alfred, ashamed of what he had allowed to happen under his watch.

"What shall be done with the other children?" Isaac coldy asked. Even if he didn’t like Alfred’s new plan with Edward, he was still pissed that people dared to attack his son. It was an insult to his family and title. Even if they were children, it was a sin he couldn’t forgive.

"Deal with it. Have Isra help you. She will need something to take her anger out on." Alfred stared at Abu, "You will protect Edward, Abu. But whatever means Horace uses when training Edward is not for you to interfere with. And I won’t tolerate another failure. Just know you live and can still have this role because you are my friend, and because, despite everything, you care about the boy. But there will not be a second time."

Abu took a deep breath and nodded. Looking at Issac, Alfred shook his head, "Do as you see fit. Isra’s warning wasn’t clear the first time, obviously. Make sure it sticks this time. I won’t have my family treated like this any longer."

Pushing himself from his desk, Alfred stood forward, heading to Balder. Even if things didn’t go how he wanted, he couldn’t let his son off lightly this time.