The Mask of a Thousand Faces ( V )

Chapter 18: The Mask of a Thousand Faces ( V )

A Mother's Wrath

The moment the heavy oak doors of his father's study shut behind him, Noctis felt his breath finally unshackle. His heart was hammering against his ribs, his pulse still thrumming with the ghost of his father's words.

"You already are."

The claim echoed like a curse in his skull.

His body moved on instinct, his steps brisk—almost frantic—carrying him toward his mother's wing of the manor. Servants parted at his approach, their heads bowed, but Noctis barely registered them. His hand still trembled faintly at his side, his thoughts spiraling.

"The blood is awake now."

"And there is no putting it back to sleep."

Noctis's breath turned ragged. He needed his mother. Now.

The moment he reached her chamber door, he didn't bother knocking. His hand shot out, twisted the knob, and he stepped inside.

"Mother."

Selene was seated by the window, her figure outlined against the dying dusk. She turned sharply at his voice—and the moment she saw his face, her own blood drained.

"Noctis," she breathed, already rising. "What happened?"

His throat tightened. "He knows."

Selene froze mid-step. "…What?"

"He knows, Mother." His voice was a raw rasp. "He knows about me. About… the awakening."

The room turned deathly still.

Selene crossed the room in three quick strides, her hands immediately cupping his face. "Tell me exactly what he said."

Noctis's jaw clenched. His pulse still roared. "He said he could feel it. My presence. My posture. He knew the moment I entered the room. And he—" his breath caught, "—he called it my inheritance. From you."

Selene's hands turned cold. "…Oh no."

"He said it's the blood," Noctis's voice cracked slightly. "That it's awake now—and he knew I did something to Lucien." His fists curled. "I denied it, but he didn't believe me. He knew, Mother. He saw it in me."

Selene's grip tightened, her own breath suddenly ragged. "Did he threaten you?"

"No," Noctis answered bitterly. "That's the worst part." His voice shook with disgust. "He didn't see me as a threat. He saw me as an opportunity. He said he wanted this—wanted me to become something powerful. He even said—" Noctis choked slightly, "—he married you just for this."

Selene staggered back as though struck. "…What?"

"He admitted it," Noctis spat, his voice heavy with contempt. "He said he married you not for love—but for your bloodline. He knew House Erevar carried this curse, and he wanted children who could inherit it." His chest heaved. "He wanted me to become that monster."

Selene's face contorted with horror.

"…That bastard," she whispered hoarsely. "He knew. All these years—he knew."

Noctis's teeth clenched. "And now that it's awake—he wants to use it."

Silence.

Selene's hand shot out, grabbing his wrist. "We have to act now."

Noctis blinked. "What?"

"You cannot let him cultivate this, Noctis." Her voice turned sharp, urgent. "You must suppress it—bury it—before he molds you into his weapon."

A bitter laugh escaped Noctis. "It's too late for that, Mother."

"Don't say that—"

"No," his voice cracked, "you didn't see how he looked at me. It wasn't disgust—it was triumph. He was proud of what I did to Lucien. He said it proved I was finally worthy to bear the Umbrael name." His voice turned hollow. "He thinks he can turn me into something monstrous. And the worst part is—" Noctis's throat closed. "—I'm afraid he's right."

Selene's heart seized. "No."

"I felt it, Mother," Noctis confessed, his voice a raw whisper. "When I broke Lucien—when I turned his world to ash—I enjoyed it." His gaze dropped. "And that terrifies me."

"Noctis, listen to me—" Selene gripped his face again, forcing him to look at her. "That was not you. That was the mask's influence—"

"Was it?" His voice cracked. "Or was it me all along?"

Selene's breath hitched.

Noctis's hands trembled. "Father said the blood is awake now. That it's in my bones. He said I can't put it back to sleep." His voice turned raw. "And the worst part is—what if he's right?" His gaze burned with anguish. "What if I can't stop this hunger to dominate—"

"Stop."

The sharp command in Selene's voice cut through his spiral.

Noctis blinked.

"You are not your father. And you are not Lucien." Her voice quivered, but her grip remained firm. "Yes, the blood has awakened. Yes, it has made you sharper, more cunning. But that does not make you a monster."

Noctis's teeth clenched. "Then why does it feel like one?"

Silence.

Selene swallowed hard. "Because it's raw power. And power—when untempered—can always feel monstrous." Her voice dropped. "But it is your will that shapes it, Noctis. Not the bloodline. Not the mask. You."

His chest heaved. "And if I fail?"

Selene's hands trembled slightly—but she did not break. "Then I will be here to pull you back."

The raw conviction in her voice staggered him.

Selene pulled him into a tight embrace. "Listen to me, my son." Her voice quivered slightly. "Your father… he will not stop. Now that he's seen what you're capable of, he will do everything to mold you into his instrument. He will push you. Manipulate you. Break you if necessary—so you become something he can control."

Noctis's throat constricted. "And if I become that?"

Selene's voice turned to steel. "Then I will kill him myself before I allow it."

Noctis froze. "…What?"

Selene leaned back, her gaze deadly calm. "I knew the moment I married him that Regulus would one day covet our bloodline. I hoped—prayed—it would never awaken in you. But now…" Her expression twisted with dark resolve. "If he dares to turn you into his monster—I will end him."

A cold shiver ran down Noctis's spine. "…You'd kill him?"

"Without hesitation," Selene answered. "I will not lose you to his greed. Nor to your blood." Her voice quivered. "I have already lost everything, Noctis. My family. My name. My freedom." Her hands trembled as she gripped him. "But I will not lose my son."

Noctis's throat tightened. "Mother—"

"Promise me." Her voice broke. "Promise me you will not become what he wants you to be."

Tears burned the back of his throat. "…I promise."

Selene exhaled shakily, clinging to him like a lifeline.

But deep down, Noctis wondered if the promise was already broken.

Because his father was right.

The taste of power had been intoxicating.

And the worst part?

A small, vile part of him still craved it.

~~~~~

The heavy door to Duke Regulus's study slammed open, rebounding against the wall.

Regulus barely flinched. He was seated at his desk, glass of wine in hand, his posture relaxed — as if he had anticipated her arrival.

Selene strode in like a storm, her silk gown trailing behind her like a shadow. Her eyes — sharp, dark, and furious — locked onto his.

"What did you say to my son?"

Regulus did not look surprised. He merely raised his glass, his tone infuriatingly calm. "Good evening to you too, my wife."

"Don't play coy with me," Selene's voice cracked like a whip. "What did you say to Noctis?"

Regulus exhaled through his nose, finally turning his cold, steel-gray gaze toward her. "I merely told him the truth."

Selene's throat tightened. "What truth?"

A bitter smile tugged at Regulus's lips. "That the blood has awakened."

Selene's hands clenched into fists. "And what right did you have to speak of it to him?"

Regulus chuckled lowly, the sound devoid of warmth. "My right as his father, I imagine."

"Father?" Selene's voice turned venomous. "You have never once treated him as your son until now. Do not pretend that your concern is paternal."

Regulus leaned back, his cold amusement deepening. "And yet suddenly — overnight — he walks like a king. Commands like a predator. Breaks men with words alone." His gaze sharpened. "You expect me not to notice?"

Selene's stomach turned.

Regulus rose from his seat, setting his glass aside. "What did you think would happen, Selene? That the bloodline would remain dormant forever? That you could smother it with affection and silence?" His smirk sharpened. "You should have known better."

Selene took a slow step forward, her voice low and trembling with restrained fury. "And now that you know… what do you intend to do with him?"

Regulus didn't hesitate. "Mold him."

The word felt like ice in her veins. "Mold him into what?"

Regulus's smirk was predatory. "Into a conqueror."

Selene's heart hammered painfully. "You will not touch him."

Regulus laughed softly. "Touch him? My dear, I do not need to touch him. The blood has already begun to shape him. His power — raw, unrefined — is already spilling out in waves. He merely needs a hand to direct it."

Selene's voice cracked. "And you intend that hand to be yours?"

Regulus's smile deepened. "Naturally."

A deadly silence fell.

Selene's breath shook. Her hands trembled. "You married me for my bloodline." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Regulus didn't flinch. "Yes."

Her heart splintered. "…You never loved me."

"I never pretended to." His tone was like iron. "What I desired was power. And House Erevar carried the blood of kings — and monsters. I merely ensured that my offspring would inherit it." He stepped forward, his shadow looming over her. "And now that it has awakened… you expect me to simply ignore it?"

Selene's nails dug into her palms, a bitter tremor running down her spine. "He is not your pawn."

Regulus chuckled darkly. "You are mistaken, my dear. He is precisely that."

Selene's blood turned to fire. "You vile, twisted—"

"Save your venom." Regulus's voice turned cold and commanding. "You should be proud. Your son is finally worth something."

Regulus leaned closer. "He's already becoming exactly what I intended. The power is shaping him. The blood is claiming him." His smile turned razor-sharp. "And the more he uses it, the less of your sweet, docile Noctis will remain."

"Stop it!" Selene gasped, her throat burning.

Regulus did not relent. "Soon, he'll embrace it. The mask. The dominance. The power. And by then—"

"I said STOP!"

The room exploded.

A soundless force erupted from Selene, raw and monstrous. The air warped — the very space around her cracked like splintering glass. A deafening, oppressive force lashed outward, slamming into Regulus with invisible claws of pure malice.

Regulus's body was hurled back like a ragdoll. He collided with his desk, the mahogany shattering beneath him.

Selene's scream of fury tore through the air — but it was not merely human. It was something ancient. Something inherited. Her pupils were blown wide, her veins darkening beneath her skin. Shadows bled from her fingertips, swirling like writhing serpents.

Regulus gasped, pinned beneath the crushing weight of her fury.

"YOU WILL NOT HAVE HIM!" Selene's voice was not her own. It was something vast. Ancient. Her blood — House Erevar's cursed blood — had awakened.

The walls cracked. The chandelier overhead shattered.

Regulus choked as his own breath was seized by the force. For the first time — genuine fear flashed in his eyes. "S-Selene—"

"I WILL BURN YOU ALIVE BEFORE I LET YOU TAKE HIM!"

The floor beneath Selene's feet splintered as invisible pressure crushed the marble. Her nails elongated into razor points. Shadows clawed up the walls. The room smelled of burning iron.

Regulus coughed, his vision dimming under the suffocating force. "Y-you…"

Selene's glare burned through him, her form vibrating with unchecked power. "You think you can twist my son into a monster?"

Regulus gasped. "He already—"

"Silence."

The command struck like a hammer. Regulus's throat locked, his voice stolen.

Selene's form towered over him now, darkness warping around her like a living thing. Her voice dropped into something deep and guttural. "If you so much as breathe the intent to manipulate him again… I will unmake you."

Regulus's eyes widened, horror washing over him. "…Selene."

"You will not touch him," Selene seethed, her power suffocating the room. "You will not corrupt him. And if you ever try — I will not stop at destroying your legacy."

Then — unexpectedly — Regulus smiled. "…Fascinating."

A choked gasp escaped Regulus. "You… can't control it."

Selene faltered.

Regulus's smile — though strained — returned, albeit weak. "…There it is."

Selene's pulse roared. "What—"

"You can't contain it, can you?" Regulus rasped, his lips curling into a grin despite the agony. "That power. It's not yours… it's the bloodline's. And now it's awake."

Selene's breath stilled.

Regulus laughed painfully. "It's already claimed him. Just like it's reclaiming you now."

"No." Selene stumbled, the power flickering around her like a storm barely leashed.

"Oh, but it has," Regulus coughed. Blood stained his lips. "And now I understand… Noctis won't just become a weapon." His smile darkened. "He'll become something far worse. Just like you."

Selene's heart shattered. "You're wrong."

"Am I?" Regulus's smile turned monstrous despite his broken state. "Then why can't you stop it?"

Selene's throat constricted. The power — wild and unbound — still surged in her veins, screaming for violence. For dominance.

And deep down, a horrific realization twisted in her chest.

She couldn't stop it.

Regulus exhaled raggedly, his head lolling back. "…Like mother. Like son."

Selene's scream cracked the air.

"ENOUGH!"

The force erupted once more, slamming Regulus's body into the wall. Cracks spiderwebbed through the stone as his bones audibly snapped. Yet even through his pain, his laughter persisted — dark, victorious.

Selene's vision blurred with hatred and despair. "I will protect him from you."

Regulus laughed weakly. "You can't protect him from himself."

"You think you're protecting him from me." Regulus's voice turned silk-smooth. "But you do not understand, Selene. The damage has already been done."

Selene's heart seized. "…What do you mean?"

Regulus leaned forward, his smile predatory. "Did you not see it? The way he held himself when he entered this room. The way his voice cut when he defied me. The predatory grace he carried when he walked." His gaze burned. "Lucien's fall was not a coincidence. Your son orchestrated it — and he enjoyed it."

Selene stumbled back, her power finally fracturing. The shadows receded. The room fell into suffocating silence.

Regulus — battered, bloodied, but grinning — whispered hoarsely, "You've already lost."

Selene's heart plummeted.

Selene turned, her voice strained. "I will protect him from you. No matter the cost."

Regulus simply smiled coldly. "And I will be here… when he inevitably proves you wrong."

Selene's hands curled into fists — but she said nothing.

She simply turned and walked away, her heart breaking with every step.