DEATH AND ABANDONMENT

Alex decided to cancel his plans to go to the park as it was already late since his time with regnel had taken everything.

Alex arrived home, exhausted from his encounter with Regnel. He trudged up the stairs, his feet heavy with fatigue.it looked like using dash a lot had taken a lot of stamina. He didn't show it before ad he was afraid of them taking note and using As he reached his bedroom door, he fumbled for his keys, his hands shaking slightly. Finally, he managed to unlock the door and pushed it open.

As he entered his room, he was greeted by the familiar sight of his bed, his desk, and his bookshelf. But everything felt different now. The encounter with Regnel had left him shaken, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.

He dropped his keys on the floor, too tired to bother picking them up. He collapsed onto his bed, his body sinking into the softness of the mattress. He lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, all he wanted was to sleep but that wish didn't come true. A voice sounded him awake from his moment of sleep.

Alex groggily opened his eyes to see his brother Mark standing in his bedroom doorway, a smirk on his face. "Hey trash, father wants to talk to you," Mark said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Alex's heart sank as he realized he had forgotten to use the secret passageway to enter his room, and now Mark had seen him. He knew what was coming.

"Damn it, I forgot to use the back way," Alex thought to himself, his mind racing with excuses. He had always been careful to sneak into his room unnoticed, knowing that his siblings would tease him mercilessly if they saw him. But now, he was caught off guard.

"What do you want, Mark?" Alex asked gruffly, trying to hide his fatigue and unease. He knew that Mark was just a messenger for their father, and that he was in trouble.

"You know what father wants," Mark replied, his smirk growing wider. "He's been waiting for you in his study,"

Alex sighed and slowly got out of bed, his body aching the feeling of trouble from his encounter with Regnel. He also knew that what his father was summoning him for was because of regnel. He wanted to avoid it but couldn't. He knew that he couldn't avoid his father's summons, and that he would have to face whatever consequences came his way.

As Alex walked alongside Mark towards their father's study, he couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. The opulent surroundings that normally comforted him now seemed to closing in. The soft glow of the crystal chandeliers cast eerie shadows on the walls, making him feel like an insect under a microscope.

The plush carpet muffled their footsteps, but Alex's heart raced with anticipation. He could feel the weight of his father's gaze even before they reached the study door. The air was heavy with the scent of old books and cigar smoke, a reminder of his father's power and influence.

As they approached the study, Alex noticed the subtle details that spoke of his father's personality - the intricate carvings on the door, the silver doorknob in the shape of a lion's head, and the faint hum of a cigar box on the desk. He steeled himself for what was to come.

They soon arrived at their father's study and before they could even knock

Alexa father's voice came "Enter," his father's deep voice commanded. Mark pushed open the door, and Alex hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. The study was dimly lit, with only a single desk lamp casting a warm glow. His father sat behind the massive ebony desk, his face stern and unyielding. Alex could feel the weight of his gaze, like a physical force pressing down upon him.

"Ah, Alex!," his father said, his voice dripping with anger. "I heard from the city lord that you bullied his son."

Cassius then pushed his pressure unto Alex not to kill him but to make him kneel.

"That's a lie fat-," Alex tried to say but was interrupted

"And so what if it was a lie," Cassius interjected

"The problem is that you dared to make trouble with the son of the city lord and now, he's taking it out on me"

" Now what do you have to say for yourself ?,"

"I'm sorry father," Alex said sadly

He felt wronged that he couldn't even explain himself"

"Sorry ain't gonna cut it,"

"From here on out"

"...you are hereby removed from the Smythe family," Cassius declared, his voice cold and unforgiving. "You will no longer bear our name, and you will no longer reside in this household. You are dead to us, Alex."

Alex felt a stinging sensation in his eyes as tears began to form. He had never felt such a deep sense of rejection and betrayal. He knew he had to speak up, to defend himself against the false accusations, but the words caught in his throat.

"But, Father...please listen..." Alex tried to plead, his voice shaking.

"Enough!" Cassius slammed his fist on the desk, making Alex flinch. "You have brought shame to our family, and now you must face the consequences. Mark, escort your brother out of the house. He is no longer welcome here."

Mark's smirk grew wider as he stepped forward to grab Alex's arm. Alex shook him off, his eyes blazing with anger and hurt.

Alex decided to cling on to his last bit of hope. So he called out

" what about mom?,"

"How do you think she'll feel about this" Alex cried out. His eyes held tears that threatened to come out.

Even though his father hated him to the very core, he cares deeply about his mother which was one of the reasons why he was even still allowed to remain in the house.

"Your mum's dead Alex, and she ain't coming back"

And that was the last straw, tears dropped down from his eyes and stained the carpet that was underneath him.

"How did she die?," Alex said sadly

"As the son of your mother, you deserve to know"

"Dou you remember that she would always go on business trips"

"Well, the so called business trips were actually rifts which she went to clear without my permission" Cassius said

Alex looked at down at that time and also failed to see through the sorry that was concealed in Cassius voice.

"For disobeying my others and breaking my trust in her,"

"This is what she deserves,"

The revelation about his mother's death was the final blow to Alex. He felt his world crashing down around him. He couldn't bear the thought of his mother being gone, and the way his father spoke about her was like a knife to his heart.

Alex's tears flowed freely now, and he didn't care. He was beyond caring about his father's approval or disapproval. He was consumed by grief and anger.

"You're a monster," Alex spat at his father, his voice trembling with emotion. "You're not even human. How could you do this to her? How could you do this to me?"

Cassius's face remained stone-cold, but Alex saw a flicker of something in his eyes. Something that looked almost like regret. But it was too late for regrets now.

Alex turned and walked away, leaving his father's study and his family behind. He knew he would never be able to go back to the way things were before. He was alone now, with nothing but his own strength to rely on.

As he walked out of the house, Alex felt a sense of determination growing inside him. He would make a new life for himself, one that didn't involve his father's cruelty and manipulation. He would make his mother proud, and he would make sure that her death was not in vain.

The door slammed shut behind him, and Alex walked into the unknown, ready to face whatever came next.