Page 63

Amias

"Where is she?" The cop demands.

I look him straight in the eyes despite the tears stinging them. "To a place decent enough to accept her!”

"You broke out a prisoner," he growls. "You should be in jail."

I hold my hands out. "Arrest me then."

He glances away, only to snap his gaze at me again. He gawks. “But you're the prince!"

"I don't fucking care." I put my head down. "Just arrest me."

It's silent as sobs start to choke me up. I lick my lips to try to keep my composure and not melt down to the floor. I know I look broken from my buckling legs and the tears rolling down my cheeks, but I try to keep it together.

"You just seem to be a troubled boy," the officer says, then he talks to the others. "We'll just take him back to his parents. Amorette can deal with it."

He gives me a pat on the shoulder before guiding me by the arm. I don't face him.

I just want to be away from everyone. I don't want to face another person again for what they've done. If I had it my way, I'd lock myself away to be alone with my memories….

… Just so I can savor my last memories of Ignatia.

◆◆◆

Father throws his hands in the air. "What is this madness, Amias?"

I lower my head, keeping my eyes on the floor of one of our spare courts. Father stands in front of Mother, who sits on a throne cushioned in pale pink. The room is so large that every sound bounces off the white walls.

Father has never been so angry with me. Quite frankly, I don't care enough to react.

"You should be ashamed of yourself!" Father yells, anger shaking his body. "Doing this to your Mother. Doing this to the kingdom!"

"Bruce, calm down," Mother stands from her seat, reaching a hand towards Father.

"How can I calm down? Our son is acting out of line for some freakshow!"

"And you think he's in the right state of mind after he's been abused for who knows how long?"

I snap my head up. "She didn't abuse me!"

"Shut your ass up," Father scolds. “This isn't how I raised you!”

"Bruce!" Mother growls. "This lashing out isn't how to treat a victim!"

"I'm not a victim," I snap.

"You know, if you weren't our son, you would be in prison!" Father snarls.

"I don't care. I did the right thing!”

"You released a monster!"

"She isn't a monster! And if you really are so concerned about the law, just imprison me." I look down again. "Do what you think I deserve. I don't care."

"We will do what it takes to teach you a lesson."

"Do what you want! Beat me, punch me, put me in jail, kill me if you think any of that will work. I don't care." I look back at him. I don't have tears to cry over this. I don't have anger rushing through me. Just a weight for a heart. “Do what you must.”

Father's glare slowly turns soft as he stands over me. "Amias…"

I don't say anything. I stare down to my hands, thinking back to Ignatia, remembering her touch.

I hear Mother's light steps coming closer. "See Bruce? We shouldn't punish him. We should help him recover.”

I remain silent. There's no use of talking if no one's willing to listen. Besides, my silence speaks for itself.

"My poor little dove," she murmurs, stroking my shoulder. "We'll look into therapy, and maybe even a psychiatric hospital if you need it."

I scrunch my nose. I hate how everyone is so concerned about me, when an innocent woman was almost killed because of them. They should be more concerned about her.

But they refuse to see the truth, and they will never open their minds. Even if they were served evidence right under their nose.