Days to Remember (V)

The fire crackled as we sat and ate from bowls. The rabbit stew was perfect. 

'There is seriously no comparing Millard's cooking skills.'

The warmth from the bowl and stew expelled any chills that the night brought. 

Jasper ate in relative silence but that little smile in the corner of his mouth told me all I needed to know.

But Father, he made the most noise any person possibly could make.

"Millard, if you were not the head butler, I would have appointed you as our personal chef."

Millard nodded as he refilled Father's bowl. "I am happy to know I have such options but Boris will be sad. Just letting you know." 

"Boris can fight me and get it," he said in between generous bits of the stew. 

I chuckled as I bumped Jas's shoulders. "I think Boris will win."

"Definitely." Jas nodded as he ate another bite. 

Father scoffed, dramatically clutching his chest. "No faith in your old man? You wound me, boys."

I huffed a laugh as we all continued eating the stew. 

'Something is wrong with me. This is the first time I feel like my mind is the same age as my physical body.'

I ate the stew as I watched the fire.

'It's weird, usually my level of comprehension, judgment and emotions are in line with my mind and soul, but this feels strange.'

'Almost like this body was actually personally made for me.'

I frowned a little but something pulled me out of my thoughts.

A soft but thick velvet cloak draped over my shoulders. 

'Father's Cloak.'

"You were frowning," he said, his arm still on my shoulders, closing the gap between us. 

I stare at him and then at the cloak and then at another burning gaze beside me. Jas was also looking over at me with an unreadable expression. 

The chill that ran down my spine was sudden and cold.

"Thanks." I muttered as I got comfortable in the huge cloak.

Then it hit me.

'I truly care for them.'

I sighed and gave my bowl to Millard with a smile, telling him I had my fill and that Father could finish the rest. 

Which he accused of me calling him fat.

We laughed about it but in my head something changed.

'Final punishment and they hit hard, huh?'

Memories filled my head of the lives I have lived and the sacrifices I made. 

Life before life.

Life after life.

Everything was the same but different. 

Victories and losses.

Heaven vs Hell.

An eternal war and peace.

I thought since I nearned the end of my work I would be laid off easy, but when has my decision of my own faith ever gone right? 

I sigh.

Deep in me, probably in my soul. It started to ache.

But this is making it better a little.

My eyes falsed golden chains and I blinked them away.

I stare at the flames. lost in a haze.

The red, orange and yellow dance on brown and green.

A hand landed on my head.

I flinched and looked up at Father smirking down at me.

"You're still awake?" He ruffled my hair.

'Why would I sleep so early?' 

"I am thinking." I say my regular reply.

Which seems to be my Father's greatest enemy.

"That's the problem," he says with ease.pulling my head on his lap. My reaction to the action was a little slow.

Jasper was sitting across from us after helping Millard with everything. He shot me a look but said nothing.

Father stroked my hair, playing with the black strands.

"It's been a long day. A smart boy would rest up for tomorrow."

I rolled my eyes. "A smart boy would also know when someone is trying to manipulate him."

His stroking faltered but resumed with ease and a chuckle.

"Manipulation? No, no, my son. This is tactical parenting."

I looked up at him and gave him a flat look, but before I could argue, he shifted slightly, pressing his hand on my nape, warm and steady.

And then it hit me.

A deep and heavy warmth seeped into my body, slow and subtle. My eyelids grew heavier, my muscles relaxing without permission.

Magic.

I snapped my head towards him but it was sluggish and hard. My eyes are blinking slowly. 

"Did you just-" 

"Hmm?" He just smiled and blinked innocently as he continued to massage my nape and head.

My vision blurred and my body sank deeper into the cloak. I tried to fight it, to force my mind awake and cast a reverse spell.

But Father is faster at casting double spells and going against me.

I shot a glare at Jasper, who was now watching with mild amusement.

"You let him do this?" I accused, my voice already slurring slightly.

Jasper tilted his head. "He didn't exactly ask for permission."

Betrayal.

I tried to get up from his lap but his hands grew strong and pushed me back down. 

I slumped back down, the last of my energy wasted.

"There we go," he murmured, running his finger through my hair. "Sleep, Kaan."

His soothing voice hit me like a sweet lullaby.

I wanted to argue. I wanted to fight back.

But my body had already surrendered.

The fire flickered, voices fading into a soothing hum.

Somewhere in the haze of sleep, I heard Father chuckle.

"See? Tactical parenting."

And with that, darkness pulled me under.

***

I sigh.

The fire had burned low, casting flickering shadows across the camp. The scent of charred wood and lingering stew mixed with the crisp mountain air, wrapping the night in an almost suffocating warmth.

Kaan had been staring into the flames for a while now, lost in thought. I knew that look. It meant he wasn't really here—not with us. His body sat by the fire, but his mind drifted somewhere far beyond reach.

He thought he was subtle, but I always saw it.

The way his fingers tightened against the fabric of his cloak. The slow, measured breaths, as if he were steadying himself.

He carried something heavier than any of us.

I never asked what it was.

I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

Armando noticed too. Of course he did. He wasn't a man who let things slip past him, especially not when it came to Kaan.

He was too much for both of us to ever let go.

I watched as he moved beside him, draping his thick cloak over Kaan's shoulders and pressing a firm hand to his hand as he laid him in his lap.

His hands on his nap and hair.

Kaan barely reacted at first—until his breathing slowed, his eyelids growing heavier. His body swayed slightly, sluggish realization dawning too late.

"Did you just—" Kaan's voice was already fading.

Armando blinked, all innocence. "Hmm?"

Kaan turned to me, suspicion laced with exhaustion. "You let him do this?"

I tilted my head. "He didn't exactly ask for permission."

His glare was weak. Heavy. His body betrayed him, sinking into Armando's lap. I just watched him.

The man let out a small chuckle, brushing his fingers through Kaan's hair. "Finally."

I leaned back, arms crossed. "You really forced him to sleep."

Armando glanced at me, smirking. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

I said nothing.

Kaan always needed rest. He just never let himself have it.

Armando watched him for a long moment, his sharp gaze softening slightly—something unreadable flickering beneath the usual strength.

It was strange watching him like this.

I wasn't aware of him, not when I was with Kaan's mother.

And now I see him.

I had been under his care for years now, and I knew one thing for certain—this was a man who didn't waste time on people he didn't care about.

'Isadora...'