Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 65: Risk and Reward

Terran chuckled. "I knew you couldn't resist!"

Francis ate in silence for a time while Terran thought of how he would broach an uncomfortable subject with someone so young.

Eventually, Terran said, "Francis, please... Be kind to mother. She already feels like a horrible person for keeping you locked inside all day. Be kind to yourself, too. Its hurts me and mother to no end when you call yourself a mistake."

Francis kept his eyes glued to his plate. He muttered, "But I am a mistake..."

Terran shook his head. "No one in this house believes that but you."

"But everyone outside the house thinks it." Francis sniffled.

"Who cares what they think?" Terran said. "We elves worship nature. Nature has chosen to make you different—to make you special. You are not a mistake."

Francis lifted his eyes and held his head high for the briefest of moments due to his brother's encouragement.

"Terran?" Eliita interrupted his reverie and brought him back to reality. "Are you done eating?"

Terran nodded without a word. It was time for bed.

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Terran crawled under his covers and waited for Eliita.

He kept thinking of Eory. He had an innate need to look after him and take care of him, just like he did Francis. He toiled endlessly to keep his little brother happy at the expense of his own happiness. He was at his most fulfilled and miserable when he was taking care of his brother. Francis loathed himself, the same as Eory, and having to constantly coddle and lift his brother up was exhausting, and yet addictingly rewarding.

His door clicked open after a time, blessedly turning Terran's mind from such bittersweet memories. Eliita padded over to the other side of the bed and crawled under the covers.

"Thank the stars that you're here," Terran said, wrapping her in his arms. "I don't think I can sleep without you."

Terran loved that she still blushed when he talked about her like she was some sort of goddess.

"You seem to need me tonight more than ever. Why do you hug me so tightly?" Eliita asked.

Terran kissed her forehead and murmured, "It's the fairy. He reminds me of Francis. Both are mistakes of nature. Both are nuisances."

"They can't help the way that they were born..." Eliita replied, kissing his nose.

"That's the problem. People like them are cursed by nature itself to never find peace within themselves. Because they are neither male nor female, they are doomed to try and emulate those who are fully male or female but will never succeed in their attempts." Terran retorted. "I want to forget about them both."

Eliita shook her head with a laugh. "Terran... You know as well as I that you can't forget about your brother. You see him in Eory. I saw the warmth in your eyes when he hugged you and when you ruffled his hair. You wanted him to be Francis in that moment, didn't you? You accuse them of not being full people, but I don't think you've been a full person since you lost Francis. You feel somehow responsible for what happened, didn't you?"

Terran felt very old, just then, despite only being in his thirties. "I spent all of my life shielding him from the cruel fate of being Andillian, and in the end, he ended up being a prostitute and landing me in this horrible place... He made the same choices as Eory. He would rather sacrifice his dignity and happiness than live safely."

"They were both living in prisons. They were comfortable prisons, but prisons nonetheless. Can you blame them for wanting their freedom?" Eliita asked.

Terran snorted with a grin. "I hate how much sense you make."

Eliita giggled in response.

Terran closed his eyes with a yawn. "I may hate him, but I hope that Francis is alive and well, wherever he may be on Yharos."

The two listened to the crickets for a moment.

"Terran, I feel like Eory could use a friend right now—a friend who can show him how to be a man—you'll be kind to him, won't you?" Ellita asked, tucking her head under his chin and batting her eyes.

Terran stared forward with a forlorn frown. "Caring for people who aren't you is exhausting, my love. I'll be friendly toward him, but I will not become overly involved with him."

"Very well..." Eliita murmured.

The two basked in each other's warmth; feeling untouchably safe and inextricably woven together. "Do you ever regret it, Eliita?"

"Regret what?" The dwarfess replied.

"Giving up your title and riches to live a life of a criminal with me?" Terran asked.

Eliita blushed and shook her head. "My previous life was a good life, but any moment spent with you is an incomparable moment spent in bliss."

Eliita kissed his neck, Terran pulled her closer.

"You know where that leads! And yet you do it every night?" Terran exclaimed teasingly.

"What? Are you tired of it?" Eliita asked flirtatiously.

Terran shook his head. "Never."

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Hi all! Just so you know, Flying Words is now purchasable on Amazon! I hope y'all will check it out! I'm very proud of the short story that I wrote for this very special Anthology! I will link it in the description! Reviews are appreciated!