39. The Missing Pieces {2}

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Malachi. Phoenix had heard Queen Zelda mentioned his name before. Phoenix eyed travelled to Arabella who was crying and slumped on the floor. Ximera cradled her as she looked at Malachi with disbelief. King Maverick as Phoenix had come to know him as stood to his feet as he gazed upon Malachi.

"Malachi," Maverick could barely get his name out. He was lurking for the secrets of what led to his brother's death, only to be faced by a truth he wished for but thought would never happen. Malachi was rather slim from the last time Maverick had saw him, his eyes lacked sleep and his limbs easily breakable.

Malachi gave a faint smile to Maverick before moving over to Arabella. Ximera excused herself to the side as her hand still rested on Arabella's shoulder. "Is it really you?" Arabella asked between sobs.

"I'm surprised you remember me after so long." Malachi crouched next to Arabella, caressing her head. He couldn't hold back his own tears, he didn't care if he had to cry before these people. He was free and had his daughter before him.

"How could I forget you? You're my father." Arabella wrapped her arms around her father, sobbing into his chest. She had held many photographs of her parents dear so she couldn't forget. Phoenix couldn't help but feel both joy and sadness at the sight.

"What's the meaning of this?" Maverick spoke, drawing everyone's attention from the joyous reunion of a daughter and father back to the situation at hand. It was then everyone's eyes followed towards Rhett.

He sat in his seat relaxed as if he hadn't done anything wrong. His disdain towards everyone in the room was evident. Rhett felt like he had fell right into their traps; ambushed. Maverick waited impatiently on his answer, looking between both Rhett and Zelda. Peruel and Arilikook kept silent, wanting answers but didn't dare to utter a word.

"Answer him or I will." Zelda threatened.

"I have nothing to say," Rhett vowed that he wouldn't fall any deeper into this than he should. Keeping his mouth shut is his best option. Amir stood to the side unsure of to even believe at this point. "For all I know Malachi was dead."

"It just won't end won't it?" Cormac spoke for the first time. All attention was now directed at him. Cormac stood next to Phoenix, staring at Rhett with hatful eyes. "When will you stop with the lies? Haven't you lied to me and others enough at is it."

Phoenix catch on what Cormac was on to. Seeing that he had now realized who Zelda truly was. Phoenix held onto Cormac's hand, Cormac holding on tight due to his intense anger. Phoenix winced from pain but decided on holding out if it meant bearing a little of Cormac's pain. "Why didn't you tell me?" Cormac then looked towards his mother. "Why did you leave me?"

"I can't apologize enough for what I did," Queen Zelda said, getting up from her seat and walking towards Cormac. He flinched away from her outstretched arm, unsure how he could accept his own mother leaving him alone in a castle with a monster. "I couldn't stay any longer beside your father with the things he's done. I wanted to take you with me but I couldn't. Not until I could make things right."

Cormac held back his tears, his mind running with hundreds of questions. "I have yet to receive my answers!" Maverick slammed his fist against the table, frightening those around him. "Where was my brother all this time?" It was clear as day that he wasn't kept under the best of conditions by his physical features. "If the answers I get is not delightful in anyway I'll rain terror onto this Kingdom."

That was something no one wanted. Having to go to war with Laqum was a lost before it had even began. "There's no need to wager a war King Maverick," King Ezekiel spoke up. He was at least being hopeful. "Let's listen to what they have to say. I too would be angry if in your position, let's not be rash."

"He's right brother," Malachi said, moving away from Arabella to join Maverick at the other end. "I've endured a lot throughout these past years but I'm here now. You all want to know what happened, I'll tell you." The room went silent and ears perched. "I came here to build the Iron Fortress as most of you here already know. I learnt some secrets that led to my current situation. I learnt that.." everyone held their breaths. "Rhett murder his father and what he was going to put into the Fortress. I found out too late and he had no more need for me and kept me captive."

Rhett realize another of his mistake. He should be killed Malachi instead of sparing his life. "I came here for a meeting and I see fingers being pointed on me." Rhett shook his head in disbelief. Cormac knew well that he was drawing along the situation. He had decided to discuss things with his mother later.

Malachi decided against focusing on Rhett's lack of acknowledgement for what truly happened. He knew he was speaking the truth. Whether King Rhett chose to deny that or everyone else in the room refused to believe his words he'll say them either way. "Silas died because Rhett, his own son couldn't accept what Silas had done. He was what Rhett considered a fifteen. My belief is that's what sparked his hatred."

Rhett closed his eyes for a brief second, feeling even more ashamed that the man he considered a father would lay with another man. More than shame he felt anger, anger at everything. "He was nothing more than filthy excuse for a King. He was disgusting, how could he lay with another man? He deserved to die!" At this point he was raising his voice. The room took it as confirmation for what Malachi had said. "I couldn't allow for such an act to be continued. I couldn't allow them to roam freely and plagued others. Then that Emory decided to--" he stopped himself, gritting his teeth.

Phoenix started piecing things together. Rhett had placed the death of his father on a fifteen, resulting in his favour for punishing them for his own personal gain. He realized how wrong his grandparents were for allowing him to continue on with such a thing. That thought then led him to think about how his own father died, what Brees had told him. "Did you do it, Did you also kill my father?"

Rhett snickered, giving Phoenix enough confirmation from his expression. Emory was posing as a problem, he was getting in his way. Putting the blame on a fifteen had earn him even more privileged to get rid of them. Phoenix could only imagine the lies he spoke to get his way. The only disgusting thing was King Rhett's act. Using his own grudge, or rather seeing his father, someone he had high respects for loving someone else. Rhett never understood; at least he never tried to. Whatever he saw was burnt in his mind, being the source of all his anger. Blinding him from something important.

Phoenix wanted to dash across the table. He knew he couldn't win in a physical match against Rhett. He wanted to release his anger. Phoenix knew little of his own father, but it still hurt. Memories of Rocco resurfaced and he felt broken all over again. But he was here and he needed to end this so no one else would die. Cormac stood to his side apologetic, fighting a battle of his own. It was still unbelievable how his mother was before him. The things his father had done was irreversible. He had taken two lives away from the person he loved and hurt countless others. There was no words to describe how he felt.

"What was there to gain from doing what you did? Was love something so awful, something that you feared that makes you hate to see it regardless of who a person loves. You lost your wife and drove your only son into such a position. You even killed your own father. Was it all fun for you? You lost the only ones that actually love you, you're a miserable soul with nowhere left to turn. I won't let you take another life."

"They aren't fit to live in this Kingdom," Rhett said. "They are nothing but filth that walks the wrong path. They deserve to be punished."

"And who are you to decide that?" Phoenix asked, he turned and faced Cormac, cupping his cheeks. "You have no right to judge a person, to tell them how to live. Everyone has the freedom to do as they please. To love who they want." Phoenix pressed his lips to Cormac, showing yet another declaration of their love to everyone. Rhett was enrage but that didn't stop the two, he had no right to stop them. Phoenix pulled away with a smile, hearing claps from those around him.

"I guess I should speak up," Arabella said, collecting herself and wiping her puffy eyes. "I guess Laqum is also a filthy Kingdom since I too have a female I'm interested in, someone I will one day call my own." Cormac smiled realizing she was talking about Siobhan, he whispered to Phoenix who couldn't help but smile along. "I dare you to try and clean the filth from our Kingdom."

"I don't like to be left out," King Waylon said, bringing Enzo in for a deep kiss.

"I must be going mad." Prince Rhys said, running a hand through his black hair as he stood to his feet. "Though I think I'll quite enjoy this." He approached Iker and backed him against the wall, giving him a kiss he couldn't escape. Both Cormac and Phoenix gaped at what had happened. Phoenix had never seen Rhys so needing for someone.

The sight burned into Rhett's mind, making him all the more enraged. "I wish I had bough Vera along so I could steal a kiss. I feel so left out." King Ezekiel pouted, slumping in his seat.

Ximera said a few words about being the only one without someone she was smitten with which made a light laughter travel through the room. They further discussed everything that led from then onwards. Zelda had explained how she had tried to stop Rhett but it was futile, having her leave and Phoenix's grandparents allowing her to rule Aperia. King Ezekiel apologized to Arabella for using her visit to Arilikook as a means of getting information. She didn't seem to mind as it was for a good cause. It had led her to finding her father.

King Ezekiel had apologized on Rhys behalf for getting involved with Phoenix and for his behavior has well. He knew his brother had quite the personality. Phoenix apologized to Peruel for what had happened. Cormac had already won them over so it wasn't much of a difficult task. The air was almost clear by the end. Everyone had apologized for anything they have done wrong or if the might've used someone in the process. No great amount of apologises could undo what was done to Malachi. The man was forgiving enough since they helped him escape. The four Kingdoms were put to peace on that night.

"Now, it's time to decide what will be done to Rhett." They had restrained him with much difficulty. Amir had found it hard since he had though so differently of him. The Commander knew how he could be, it was now an eye-opener for him after so long. Phoenix looked towards Cormac, he had much right to deal with his father in the situation.

"Kill him, that's the least he deserves." Maverick spat, he was still obviously mad and no one could blame him.

"He may be ruthless, killing him would be no better than doing what he's done." Phoenix denied, making Maverick tusked.

"I think that dungeon will do for now." Cormac said softly. It was a way for him to reflect on what he's done, see the pain of how he's treated the people of the Kingdom. Cormac knew then that he wanted to have no more ties with the man.

"Then it's decided." Phoenix declared. As the now ruler, and his task completed, he didn't know where life would lead from now on. He could always go back home to the others. With Area fifteen to be destroyed, he won't be able to call it home again. He didn't know if he would enjoy being in the Relufian castle. "I would like to express my gratitude to everyone and yet again my apologies. I hope this peace will continue amongst us."

With the night in full swoon, everyone retreated to there respected chamber until the following morning. Phoenix walked over to Laqum who had yet to leave the room. Maverick was intimidating up close. Phoenix swallowed hard, Ximera giving him a pat on the back. "I decided to say this after but my apologies for the breaking off of the wedding between your daughter and Cormac. I knew nothing of it and felt the need to apologize. I hope it doesn't pose as a problem but know that Cormac knows exactly where his heart lies."

Maverick let out a hearty laugh, "I'm rather glad you took him away from daughter," Cormac looked at him quite hurt from the side, Maverick explaining himself further. "I meant to say. Rhett was only marrying him off for my military attribute to start a war. I too was making Ximera find out information about the Iron Fortress." Cormac realized as to why Ximera kept asking about it. Maverick had gained enough information before the meeting.

"Thank you for your understanding." Phoenix said, releasing a breath of relief. He had just cleared any annoyance between the Kingdoms, he couldn't have Laqum wagering war.

Laqum left soon after. Cormac sighed heavily, already telling Zelda that they would discuss later on. "This is the end right?" Phoenix asked for confirmation, not trusting his own words for it. "The Kingdom can start over and everyone will be free again."

Cormac snaked his hand around Phoenix waist, pulling him close. "I told you you could do it." Phoenix chuckled then, remembering his words back then. It wasn't easy to get where they were. It was a long fight before they came along but they were able to end it.

"I don't know what I would do without you," Phoenix gazed up at Cormac. "I really love you a lot."

"I love you so much." Cormac captured his lips, kissing Phoenix with evey inch of his love and passion. Phoenix could feel himself growing with heat from just a simple kiss. Cormac peppered his neck with kisses, kissing along his collar bone.

"We should get going." Phoenix said, biting onto his lower lip to hold back his moans.

"Is there something else that needs to be done?"

Phoenix smiled happily, "we need to go get married of course." Cormac looked at him equally shocked and happy. This was Phoenix answer. Phoenix never forgot, telling Zelda to put together some small preparations. It didn't have to be extreme, Phoenix wasn't use to the kind of life he had fallen into.

Phoenix pulled Cormac along, eager to be joined in more than one ways with him. "I hope you hadn't forget your promise from earlier. This is all the more reason why I can't wait." Phoenix blushed deeply, knowing what Cormac had said. He too wanted to be held just as badly. He hoped the ceremony won't be long.

"I haven't forgotten."

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