Chapter Text
Sebek kneeled in front of the three fae. His eyes focused on the ground. They didn’t deserve to be looked at. They were dirty monsters that deserved nothing but pain and suffering after all the suffering that they inflicted on Silver. Silver was a kind and caring soul, loving and accepting of everyone. He didn’t deserve the fate he got. The fate that was forced upon him.
‘Look at us.’ The queen said. Her voice was strong and carried throughout the room.
Sebek ignored her.
The one of the two guards that were holding him down grabbed his face and made him look at the queen. Their grips of his face were tight, they would clearly leave bruises. Sebek, not wanting to look at the queen or Malleus or Lilia, focused his eyes on the wall behind them.
‘Halfling child, you have willing returned to Dragonopolis. Why?’ The queen made an attempt to sound soft but, it did work. Sebek stayed silent. ‘I see, then. General, I shall leave his questioning to you. Be quick about it.’
From his periphery, Sebek could see Lilia nod. He walked towards Sebek, gripping his hair and yanking it. Sebek hissed at the pain.
‘Where is the hostage? Where are you keeping him?’ Lilia growled, yanking Sebek’s hair harder. Sebek was almost certain that he would scalp him for not answering.
Sebek scoffed and in the most mocking tone he could muster he spoke, finally meeting Lilia’s eyes. ‘What happened, General? Can’t tell time?’
Lilia didn’t like it. He pulled Sebek’s head until he lost balance. Unable to hold himself up with his hands chained behind his back. He was forced to sit on the cold stone floor. ‘I asked you a question!’ He yelled.
As Sebek hissed in pain, his eyes darted over to Malleus. He sat in the throne next to the queen, his face twisted with worry and concern. Sebek couldn’t help but laugh. He turned his gaze back to Lilia, ‘You really can’t tell time, can you? It’s May 25th. He’s been dead for ten days. Already buried, you won’t find him.’
Lilia let go of his hair in surprise. Malleus gasped.
‘He died just as the clock struck midnight. He collapsed and died in my arms. He was buried not long later. Funerals moved fast when you have two years to plan them.’ Sebek said. The more guilt he could give them the better. They deserved to suffer. Silver didn’t. His husband, the love of his life from now until the end of his days and long after he’s gone.
Sebek would forever mourn the best thing that ever happened to him.
Sebek’s thoughts were interrupted by lightning strikes and sobbing. Malleus had crumpled to the ground, falling off of the throne. His face was hidden in his hands as he displayed some of the best, most believable crocodile tears that Sebek had ever seen. His sobs almost seemed real. Almost.
As for Lilia, he stood there, in silence. Seemingly in shock. His eyes were unbelieving of Sebek’s words, but even he couldn’t deny the truth. Silver was dead and the world was all the worse for it.
There was no hope of getting Silver back. He was well and truly gone, far before his prime. Far before his time. All because of them and their cruelty.
‘I see.’ The queen’s voice was hallow almost quivering. Like she felt something. But Sebek knew better, no one in the room but him cared for Silver. And that was an unfortunate reality. These people- no. They couldn’t classify as people or fae for that matter. They were monsters, because only monsters would do to Silver what they did.
Sebek scoffed and rolled his eyes.
‘Well, that matters not,’ the queen continued, trying to look unaffected by the reveal. Her grandson and General, in the other hand, didn’t fare very well in that sense. Malleus continued to sob hysterically, Sebek could still hear the rain pelting the castle and the lightning booming. Lilia was despondent, a third guard was trying to shake him out of his stupor with no success. ‘You shall be punished gravely for your part in the escape of our hostage. You shall be banished from Briarland and should you dare to set foot on our land, execution.’
‘Fine by me,’ said Sebek. ‘Not like I want to be here.‘
‘Guards!’ The queen bellowed. ‘Take him to the port and place him of the first ship out of here!’
‘Yes, My Queen!’ The guards bowed and teleported Sebek and themselves away.
Silence enveloped the throne room. Only Malleus’ sobs and the guards attempt to get through to Lilia could be heard. The rain filled in the rest of the silence.
‘Take the prince to his rooms.’
The guards bowed at the queen’s command. They immediately hurried to Malleus, helped him stand up and walked him to his room. ‘General,’ the queen began. ‘Please, return to your room and take the next few days off.’