*atreus point of view*
I sighed, eyes opening then slowly closing before I shoot them open again.
My hand enclosed with Freddies , his hand not much smaller than mine.
I wonder if my real mothers hands were that small.
I know I should remember her, she only left three weeks ago, but all I remember is her hair and eyes, Freddie stole them from her.
i imagine freddie ripping my mother's eyes from her sockets, peeling them into his own
but that isn't true is it, she gave them to him graciously, willingly.
no.
no he dragged them from her, she screamed and cried and begged for them back, for her beautiful stone cold eyes back.
no
no
no freddie wasn't like that.
freddie didn't know.
he didn't know.
"ray? a-are you still awake?" Freddie whispered to me, his hand withering within my grasp- only then do i realise i was gripping his hand with more force than necessary.
i see his eyes, my mothers eyes, staring back at me.
"ya fred, ya i'm awake" i reply, sighing the tiredness away, pulling his hand away from his little brother.
Freddies smile deepens into a frown as he scoots closer to his brother, whilst still holding the hand of the girl laying fast asleep next to him.
They were all asleep in Mabels bed when she had left with Adonis to Soters and left them to sleep.
Atreus' body curves as his brother attaches himself to him and he forces himself to remove the imagine of the child gauging his mothers eyes out from his head, replacing it with a warm cozy feeling he gets when anyone hugs him.
"i miss mama" Freds small voice sounds, as he buries his head deeper into Atreus' small chest.
Treys hand comes to his siblings back and he slowly soothes his brother, hoping to provide comfort for the little one.
"i know Fred, me too" Atreus speaks the words with such wisdom, some wouldn't believe they are coming from a child.
Blake stirs in her sleep and Freddies body turn towards her on pure instinct, as he shuffles himself closer to her.
"it's nightmares Ray, i'm worried" Freddie says, his hands going to hold both of Blakes shoulders, ready to shake her into awareness.
"leave her Freddie, let her fight her own nightmares, you can't do that for her" Atreus replies, as he repositions himself to be comfortable before closing his eyes.
"oh..okay" Freddie replies, slightly slouching into a sort of half upright half laid down position, still very much on guard.
"try sleep again" atreus commands
"okay" freddie replies
they were both asleep when mabel finally returned home
———————————————————
Mabel walked in silence down the steps of the house after the kids fell asleep.
She wanted to call Adonis' name to let him know she was here but her body froze.
Before she had to think much harder on it a man steps into her view.
He stands at the end of the stairs with his hand out for hers.
"Mabel"
Mabel's nervous eyes shoot to his, if even for a second, and drop to focus on her ruffled white dress.
She had changed from her previous clothes and cleaned up, eager to show Soter her new fresh appearance.
She walks the last couple of steps, and quietly asses his hand.
His eyes flash with disappointment and as she sees his hand hesitate and start to drop she rushes forward and grasps it in hers.
His hand easily drowns her own but somehow they fit together perfectly.
His eyes flash to black before returning to their normal colour, his lips pulling up into a sweet smile.
"You look beautiful", he says softly his eyes never straying from hers.
"T-thank you" she says, trying to feel as confident as she did before she had walked down the stairs.
He walked her out to his car, it was one of many she assumed as she was no stranger to his fortunes, considering she did grow up here.
As expected a sleek sports car was pulled up in front of the house, ready to be driven.
Adonis rushes over to the door and opens it before she could reach for it.
She smiled sweetly at him, her eyes shimmered for the first time in a while and her head tilted to the side.
"Thank you" she whispered, her hand instinctively going up and holding his cheek before quickly dropping it down and getting into the car.
Adonis couldn't help but think how he would take her out to drive everyday if her reaction was always like that when he opened the door for her.
———————————————
As they pulled up to Soters house the long drive of silence was quickly interrupted as Mabel made a small noise of excitement.
Adonis' eyes sadden as he knows her excitement is not for him before his expression hardens.
He loves her but he needs to give her space to grow as a person before being how they were again.
"Are you ready?" He says, his perfectly thick dark eyebrow raising.
Mabel scans his face and frowns subconsciously at the lack of affection in his gaze.
"Yes."
He steps out of the car and she waits for him this time.
He walks to her side and opens the car door, leaving her to get out of the car and make her way to his side.
She scans the house he had given Soter to reside in and feels a rush of gratitude as it looks perfectly normal and peaceful- something Soter desperately needs.
They walk up his small pathway, flowers jumping at them from all angles.
Mabel rushes to knock on the pink front door, her hand coming down fast and hard on the wooden surface.
Not before long the front door swings open and Soter steps out, his eyes immediately locking with Mabel's.
She squeals and throws herself at him, enveloping him with a soft hug.
Adonis whimpers out loud, his mask slowly slipping.
"Mae what the fuck" Soter exclaims.
"I fucking missed you, how are you- hows everything's, goddess I never want to let go of you again" he sighs against her slowly pulling away.
Adonis growls lowly, knowing Soter can hear him from the nervous glances he keeps sending him.
"I'm okay" Mabel says, smiling up at him.
I wish she looked at me like that , Adonis couldn't help but think
"Come inside, please" Soter says, not just talking to Mabel this time as his eyes set on Adonis.
Adonis's eyes turn black as Excors pulls to the surface.
Soters head bows forcefully as he resists the urge to fall to his knees in front of the future king.
"Soter." Adonis rumbles, blinking at the boy.
"My king" Soter answers, his teeth grinding against each other.
Mabel removes herself from Soters grasp and comes to stand next to Adonis.
As Soter lifts his head to look at them, he realises how perfectly they fit each other.
Yes Adonis was much much taller and the epitome of darkness, but Mabel was the epitome of light, she was so bright that her and Adonis almost looked like they belonged together, night and day.
"Please, come in" Soter repeats, moving from his position blocking the door and instead stands next to it.
Mabel surprises both men when she reaches for Adonis' hand, leading him in.
Inside looked warm and welcoming, the house different shades of browns and peaches.
Mabel gasped at the artwork on the walls, paintings so detailed and colourful she both wanted to reach out and touch it and leave it alone so as not to harm it.
She walked through the hallway and into a room with glass walls, couches lining the perimeter as all kinds of flowers hung from the ceiling.
"S-so pretty ", Mabel says turning to praise Soter.
"Don't look at me Mae, this place was just given to me, I do appreciate the detail in it though" Soter says, his eyes shooting to Adonis who was standing close to Mabel but not too close as to make her uncomfortable.
At the look Adonis shot him Soter quickly cleared his throat.
"Fuck sake I wasn't expecting you today I thought you'd might want to adjust first , I made you something but it's not even finished yet- not properly" Soter rambles, speed walking over to the corner and pulls out something from a drawer.
He presents Mabel with a single crocheted beige rose.
Mabel's heart shatters as she stares at the rose.
He had told her about waiting for his beloved, finding hope in a small beige rose, having to bury it when it died.
She would desperately wish that once he came of age to accept his vampire fully, that she would be his beloved, not because she wanted to but because she believed no one else in the world could treat Soter with the gentleness he required.
She has obviously since then remembered her true mate and would never ever give him away for anyone, but still she finds herself wondering who Soters beloved might be.
Her hand comes out from her hold on Adonis and reaches for the rose. Tears filling her eyes.
"Don't cry Mae, I made it for you, for you to be happy " Soter whispers.
Mabel let's out a watery laugh, one that clenches Adonis' heart.
"I am happy" Mabel says, her eyes sparkling with withheld tears.
She brings the rose up to her nose and pretends to sniff it before exhaling.
"It's beautiful"
Soters face flushes a deep red.
"Well come along, we have much to discuss"
—————————————
This chapter didn't focus much on Adonis and Mabel- more Soter and Mabel but it needed to be done.
BIG BIG plot twist coming up soon.
(also I didn't proof read this cause I just wanted to get something out there for ye since it's been months- I love your criticism and opinions so please let me know)