Divided: Act 2:20- A Time to Celebrate

CONTENT WARNING: description of violence, mentions of domestic abuse

Two weeks later

Oskar

When I'd finished dealing with Annorin, the rush of emotions was immense...the most intense I'd felt for many years- but it's mostly all I remember in any detail. The rest was a blur of candlelight and shadows and his fearful eyes, and the burning achiness and exhaustion once I'd returned to human form. I'd felt a phantom pain in my back, as if I had wings...then I remembered what happened to the vampiric form when one overindulged on blood. I'd wondered in both fascination and horror what had changed about it.

I barely remember what I did to him. Once I was done with him, I took off out of the window in the form of a bat, and went straight to Violeta. I told her that he was injured, and about what I'd done. I told her I felt my vampiric form had changed, but I'll wait until the shock is over before I bother to show her. Her reaction to the news was positive, but not quite as joyous as I'd expected.

 

The two of us take a walk in rural Henford, somewhat close to the Peteran monastery.

"I expected you to be more cheery," she says, in a dry tone. "Annorin is horrifically injured, he's been outed for who he truly is...and it's your one-hundred-and-sixthieth birthday tomorrow."

I did, also.

"I haven't told Eli yet. I don't know what reaction to expect out of him."

Part of me is horrified that he'll hate me and walk away from me...but then again, isn't it his choice? As much as I don't want him to walk away from me, I can't force him to stay. If he hates me, he hates me.

"If you ask me, Oskar...I think you should have just killed Annorin. Goodness knows why Katlego wanted to spare him after all he'd done. He didn't deserve to live."

 

 

"I know he didn't- but I made her a promise that I didn't want to break."

"And if he comes back for Eli..."

"He won't. If he can move at all after what I'd done to him, I'd be surprised."

"If the boy knows what's good for him, he won't walk away from you, Oskar," she replies. "Have you heard anything from Owen?"

"Not as of yet."

 

Violeta lets out something close to a sigh. 

"Oskar...I can't help but feel like leaving him alive will cause more problems."

"You're saying you doubt my decision?"

 "...Yes."

Violeta? The woman who raised me from death? Violeta has never doubted a decision of mine...never in my entire life. Every time I feel as if I no longer feel anything, someone says something that drives nails into my chest.

"Annorin will continue to do irreparable damage to the community as long as he's alive, even if he can't lift a finger. Even when their reputation is torn to pieces, powerful men never lose their power."

"They don't lose their power after they're dead, either," I reply. "Besides, If I'd have killed him, there'd be no accountability taken for what he's done. Ruining his life seemed more of a punishment than ending it."

"Yes, but the dead can't hurt anyone, Oskar...well, not the fully dead, anyway..." Violeta's laugh is enough to turn my spine to ice. She's trying to make a joke to soften the blow. Now isn't the time for comedy. "Who knows what he'll do now?"

I start to lose my temper. "I made a promise to Katlego that I wouldn't kill him! It was the only way I could get her assistance; she wouldn't have me be a part of it all otherwise. I'm not going to break a promise to someone who's gone out of their way to help me. Annorin won't come back for Eli, and there's not much he can do now everyone knows what he's like. Besides, now his eldest son is back, perhaps things will be different."

"And you trust him?"

"I believe I owe him a chance. After all, the young are nothing like their parents these days. I believe what happened between Samuel and Eli made him come around and realise what his father was like."

I'm not sure I trust or appreciate the neutrality of her expression. 

Katlego

I've decided to visit the Annorin mansion again- not to see Annorin, but to see his son, Owen. His complete turnaround on the evening of the party was quite surprising. I don't really know what I plan to say to him. Whether I talk some sense into him, or even thank him for at least being willing to stand against his own father. Instead, I end up letting him talk to begin with.

I'm still seething about Annorin- not only for kicking me out and screwing over both Henford and San Myshuno, but because he's the reason I can't get back home. He's the reason I may never see my family again. I've not burned with rage like this since he had me removed from Henford. Perhaps that's why I came here...to try and get over all that's happened.

"I'm not going to apologise, Katlego. An apology would mean very little. I know it is more my father's doing than mine, Katlego. I didn't know about everything he'd done, but I knew about how he cared more about money than people's lives. That alone is on me."

"I believe I owe the people of Henford some form of reparation- starting with you, Katlego."

"I don't need or want your money, Owen."

"Katlego, I have plenty. You could buy yourself a boat- visit your family-"

 

"Unlike you silver-spoon folk, I was raised to work hard and earn my way. I don't ask for help unless I absolutely need it. I'm not taking your money because I haven't earned it."

"Whatever do you mean? What about the people that do charitable work?"

"Well, that's different, isn't it? I have a means of earning money as a cunningwoman. Not everyone is so fortunate to have work, or to be able to. If you want to do something useful, donate your money to those who need it. I'm sure Father Morgan at the Peteran monastery would put it to good use. That's where I'm staying at the moment. The Peteran monastery does a lot of charitable work- feeding, clothing the poor, that sort of thing."

Owen shakes his head to both sides. "You don't even have a home of your own. Katlego, if you let me do one thing for you...let me at least give you a place to live."

"And my partner."

"And your partner."

"And my owl."

"...And your owl..."

Nia chirps and tilts her head. Owen smiles a little. I remember what Ellie tells me...it's okay to ask for help. I may as well take advantage of a billionaire's son just this once. 

"I'm surprised you're not more irate."

"Oh, I am. Seething. Raging. Burning inside with violent anger. Luckily, I am not a violent woman, and you are not your father. Yes, you turned a blind eye to his greed, but you didn't do what he did, and you're at least seeking to right wrongs in a way that matters." 

Owen nods, and what seems to be a genuine smile crosses his fine. "I appreciate that a lot, Katlego. Please, if there is anything I can ever do for you, let me know."

* * * 

The two of us take a walk nearby.

"Is Samuel still alive?"

"Barely," Owen replies, with a hint of ire upon his voice. "I have no doubt it was the vampire. I could barely recognise him when I found him. He'll have use of his hands back eventually, but his eye was wounded, and he couldn't move his legs. He's confined to an invalid chair. I think he will be for the rest of his life."

"Invalid chair?"

"With wheels. It's a fairly recent invention. Quite the innovation."

Oskar...I told him! I told him not to hurt- no. No, I did not tell him that. All I told him was to not kill anyone...

"Owen, this may be my fault. I think he took my words too literally. I'd hoped he would have gotten the message that I didn't want anyone to get hurt-"

"Do not worry, Katlego," he says, his voice levelling out into an emotionless drone. "I'm not happy with what Oskar did, but I can't be too mad at him. Everyone in Henford has a reason to want to tear my father apart, and he's been more of a father to my little brother than Samuel has.

The trouble is...he's still my father. That's why I feel angry that Oskar did what he did. I want to despise Samuel, I do, but...I can't."

"Sometimes It's hard to hate the people that raised you...no matter how well or how badly they did so," I tell him. "I wish we didn't feel like we have to take what we don't deserve from our families."

I don't think I'll ever understand Oskar. I didn't have anyone else to directly assist me, so I figured I'd ask for his help. Admittedly, were it not for his peculiar charm in getting Annorin to invite me to the celebration, Samuel never would have been outed for everything he did. I never would have found out that it was Annorin who prevented my journey home...but I wish he'd never done anything to Annorin.

"When we build my new home, there's a space where my old one was. It'd been destroyed. Do you think we could rebuild there?"

* * *

Once I'm done with Owen, I take it upon myself to visit Oskar. I have a fair few words for him, and he seems very flat-toned when he invites me inside. He doesn't even look at me when he talks, sitting on the dinner table, gazing out of the window.

"What happened, Oskar? What did you do?!"

"I did what you said," he replies, with not a hint of emotion to his voice. "I didn't kill him."

 "You may as well have! You've confined the man to an invalid chair for the rest of his-"

Oskar's laugh is inexplicably chilling.

"I did exactly what you said. You're no different from anyone else, Katlego- ask me for one thing and expect another. You didn't tell me not to hurt him. You told me not to kill him. Tell me, Katlego...why do you care that I did what I did?"

"We got what we wanted. Annorin was revealed as the scum that he was, and word has spread like wildfire that he isn't the amazing innovator everyone thought that he was. Is that not enough?"

"No! It isn't enough!"

His immediate change in persona puts me off-guard. He charges up to me with the ferocity of a bull.

"The man stole your boat, cut you off from your family, stole your life from you, had you kicked out of Henford, beat his own son- my own son!- and is responsible for the deaths of thousands! The only good that's come out of this is that he faces accountability for what he's done whilst he's alive- if I had it my way, he'd be buried! You did all of this because you wanted him to pay for what he'd done, and now he is, you're cross with me?! I went out of my way to help you and this is what I get?"

"And if he comes back for us both?"

"He'd have come back for us either way. He can send whoever likes after me- I'll tear all of them apart. I've had enough of this conversation. Get out of my home."

"But-"

"I said- get out! I don't want to hear from you again!"

I realise I'll never get through to him. I'll never get through to anyone, it seems, so I simply take my leave. At least Owen was a little more reasonable to deal with.

Oskar

My limbs are trembling with rage. After all I did for her...it still wasn't good enough. It's the same with everyone. No matter how closely I follow the rules they set out, it's wrong. It's always wrong. People give everyone such pitifully-vague instructions and wonder why they don't get what they want! I'll never understand it.

As Katlego leaves, Eli enters. At this point, I'm too enraged to care for the outcome of what I'm about to tell him.

"Eli- sit here. We need to discuss something. It concerns what you've been hearing about your father."

 

He lowers himself into the chair, not taking his eyes off me. "About him stealing Katlego Anansi's boat and everything?"

 

"More than that."

"Your father invited me to his celebration. I managed to get him to invite Katlego. We gathered all the evidence we could to out your father as the man he actually is, as opposed to the person everyone thought he was. Your brother was furious about what he'd done to you, especially."

 

Eli leans forward a little. "I know I never really spoke about Owen, but he's not as much like Samuel as he seems, I promise. He's not a bad person...not really."

 

"You see, Eli, that wasn't enough for me. You know that you are like a son to me, and I was beyond furious about what he did...so I attacked him. I badly injured him."

 

There it is. His eyes, glassy and wide as marbles, and his hand to his face.

 

"But- but you wouldn't- you were always so scared of hurting people."

 

"I always fear I'll hurt the innocent, Eli. I didn't feel bad about who got hurt there. They were a bunch of bloodsucking elites who'd done enough harm. I drank from two of them, and then I attacked your father. The point is, he won't hurt you again. You don't have to forgive me, Eli, but I am not apologising for what I did. I need you to understand that."

 

There are tears in his eyes.

 

"You shouldn't have done that, Oskar. I know he's a terrible, terrible person, but...I can't be here right now. I'm going to see my brother."

 

"I understand. You're welcome back here if that's what you want. If not, well, that's entirely up to you."

 

* * * 

 

Eli

 

I couldn't believe it. Oskar always acted like he had it under control, that he'd never hurt anyone because it made him freeze with guilt every single time the thought crossed his mind. He acted like he couldn't control those thoughts, yet he did this to Samuel knowingly. Who's to say he hasn't been lying to me this whole time about that? Who's to say he won't do it again to someone who is genuinely innocent? 

 

Owen is making dinner in the kitchen when I arrive.

 

"It's awfully late, Eli."

 

"I know. I...I found out what Oskar did. I found out he attacked Father."

 

"He did, yes, badly. I doubt he will be able to walk again. But, I must ask, Eli...What is Herr Nivelheim like towards you?"

 

I'm trying to fight back tears. I don't want to cry in front of my own brother. He'll just laugh at me.

 

"Oskar is always good to me. I almost feel like he's a better father to me than Samuel ever was. He doesn't think I'm useless because I wasn't any good at alchemy and I don't have any magic. But I don't get why he did what he did. Every time he even thinks about hurting someone, he breaks down with guilt. He told me it wasn't anything he had any control over, and..."

 

"Eli, calm down," he says, in a whispery voice. "If he's been like this with you for all of this time, and he's never once done harm to you, then I doubt you have any reason to worry. I know it's only natural to respond the way you did- I was angry, also- but, Oskar has always wanted the best for you. You don't have to forgive him straight away, if at all, but you shouldn't walk out on him."

 

Owen's right. As a human, Oskar would have had no problem killing me, but he's never hurt me once. He's never looked at me in the same way he looks at others when he's struggling with bloodlust. Samuel may be my birth father, but he isn't my real father.

 

"You're right...now I feel terrible. It's his birthday tomorrow and now I've made him miserable."

 

Owen grabs me for a hug- the first time he's ever done so.

 

"Don't feel that way, Eli. Stay here for tonight, and go back tomorrow after you've had some rest and something to eat, okay?"

 

Oskar

 

It's the morning of my one hundred and sixtieth birthday, and I couldn't care less. 

 

I'd planned to just sleep all day, until there was a bang at the door...It's Áine and Reynold, looking cheery as ever. 

 

 

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to...Come on, Reynold! Join in!"

 

"I do enough singing at the monastery...Happy birthday, Oskar. Unfortunately, I'm late for my sermon, so I have to head back- but I hope you have a good day." 

 

It's always good to see Reynold. He seems a lot brighter.

 

 "We got you a present! We weren't sure what you'd want since you already had so many birthdays, but we think we found something you'd like!"

Áine hands me the box. When I look inside of it, it's a black shirt and a red jacket adorned with black fabric roses, and a necklace with some kind of stone- it looks like onyx. It's strangely modern; it almost feels futuristic in a way, but beautiful. She knows me well, at least. 

"I knew it'd suit you perfectly! How have you been? It feels like ages since we've properly spoken."

We make our way into the kitchen so I can get her something to nibble whilst she's here. I don't have a clue where to start.

 

"I'll give you the short version. I suppose you've heard all about Annorin in the papers?"

 

"Indeed. I can't believe he stole Katlego's boat."

 

"On top of everything, he also beat Eli. Katlego and I were the ones who started all of this; I got an invite to his celebration, which ended in a fair amount of bloodshed. Sadly, he isn't dead because Katlego wouldn't let me go that far. But he may as well be. The only trouble is, Eli's upset. I don't know if or when he'll come back..."

 

"He will eventually," Áine replies, in a downtrodden tone. "I'm glad Annorin got what he deserved. I just hope it doesn't come back to you or Katlego."

 

"The entire town has Katlego's back at this point. As for me, well, news is floating around of a vampire. If anyone comes for me, then I won't spare them." 

"Just to ask, Oskar...is Violeta coming over?"

"I won't be seeing her tonight. I'm a little let down by her at the moment, so don't worry, you won't see her."

"Are you sure? It's your birthday, and she is your best friend-"

"I'm sure, Áine. My head is a mess at the moment...I apologise."

 

 

"I understand. Things have been quiet for me, just looking after my Róisín, really. She's gotten into the naughty phase, it seems. It's only worse upon the moon being out. She's got a habit of biting me and Reynold."

I sigh to myself. "I'm scared to death that Eli won't-"

"Oskar?"

Before I have a chance to say anything to him, Áine introduces herself to him. She's been excited to meet him.

Eli seems awkward talking to her, until I overhear him say that both of them being my adopted children makes them a brother and sister. He calls her into the living room with him, and tells me to wait in here...I really hope it isn't going to be like this from now on...Then again, who else do I have to-

"Oskar, you can come in now."

Áine calls me back into the living room. I dread to think what he's told her, but before I can ask him, she points to something on the wall- an incredibly-ornate wood carving.

"I'm sorry for what I did, Oskar. I've been working on this for ages. I hoped I'd get it finished by your birthday...I finished it yesterday morning. I hope you like it. I couldn't have done it without you."

I can't believe it. Only fifteen years old, and he managed to carve something so realistic and so ornate! 

"Eli, I have no idea how you managed to create something like this so young...but it's incredible!"

"I'm really sorry for what I-"

"Don't cry, Eli... and you forgot my number one rule, didn't you?"

"...No apologising?"

"Precisely. I love you like a son- you know that."

Eli's crying only gets worse. It hurts to see him tearful. "I forgive you, Oskar. Owen was right- he may have been my birth father, but you are my real father. I should have-"

Owen said that?

"No more 'should-have's, Eli. It's a time to be celebrating! Also, you can get to know your sister whilst she's here. Why don't we play a parlour game?"