The Autobiography Of An Alien

Chapter 34 - Fatherhood

"Stop listening, then," he replied, straightening in his chair to look confident. It must have worked since more than a few Vokkrus looked away. He was anything but confident.

"It'll be fine," she promised. Rulshkka wished he could have her confidence.

Mother's lawyer peered at them shrewdly. Rulshkka stared back, channeling every bit of haughty disdain he could. He was Vokkra, damn it. This lawyer would respect him, no matter what he may have heard about him from Korrashkka.

"Well, I must say I am surprised you finally showed up," the ancient Vokkrus croaked, shuffling the papers before him as if he'd rather be anywhere but here. "I have only been trying to contact you for years."

Rulshkka was unapologetic. "Been a busy few years."

"Quite," the lawyer replied dryly. "Down to business, I suppose. Korrashkka updated her will and testament... let's see... a little over fifteen years ago, about four or five years before her... untimely demise."

Rulshkka didn't speak, too busy trying to crack his teeth with the way he clenched his jaw. As if his mother's death wasn't the best thing that could've happened to him.

Yet, he still felt a sort of muted sorrow when he thought about it for too long. Hence why he never thought of it.

The lawyer cleared his throat and began to read, "The Will of Korrashkka Knrash. To be read to Vokkra Rulshkka of Knrash and Sir Rukka of Knrash. Should Rulshkka no longer be Vokkra, he is to be excluded from the will. Should Rukka have taken her rightful place as Vokkra, she shall get everything bequeathed to Rulshkka."

Silence settled over the small, suffocating office, and Rulshkka tried very hard not to notice the sinking feeling of hurt settling in his stomach.

"Carry on," Rukka snapped. The lawyer prattled on obediently, looking up at them from the sheaf of papers occasionally.

"To my son," he drawled. "My mate's will. Tyriak insisted it goes to you. Spirits knew why. Didn't leave me a single credit. Typical. Then, a monetary boon of five credits. That is all."

Rulshkka was etched and carved from stone. He was immovable. Nothing could budge him. He would not show weakness. He would not show how much it hurt to be discarded even after his mother's death.

He tuned out the lawyer as he listed all of his mother's assets that would go to Rukka - her fortune that had only come about due to his promotion as Vokkra, her fashion stocks, her clothing, what would go to Nohkka and any future hatchlings Rukka may have - and pondered on what he did get from the wretched Vokkrus.

Five credits was insulting, especially compared to his own fortune. It was likely only there so he could not sue Rukka out of her monetary gain on the grounds that he had been accidentally excluded from the will. As if he would be so petty. No, he was more interested in his father's will.

"It is up to you whether you want to read it here or in private," the lawyer spoke to him after he had finished with Rukka's lengthy list. They had sat in the stuffy room for hours by now. His father's will lay in a dusty box. "He was no client of mine, so I cannot read it."

"I will take it home," Rulshkka managed to say. Which was how he found himself back in his office, feeling more out of sorts than he had during their disastrous vacation.

"Rul..." Rukka murmured at the doorway of his office. He hadn't managed more than a few steps inside before his thoughts got the better of him. "I am sorry-"

"No," he cut her off. "There is nothing to apologize for. Mother always despised me. To think she had changed her ways after I had become Vokkra was," he paused to swallow, "foolish."