❃.✮:▹ ◃:✮.❃
(Flashback)
The house was grand, so grand that the young boy in his teenage years had never seen it before. The place where his father worked, he had never been there before , but now his father brought him here, finally showing his son where he worked before. But it's not to reminisce about the past.
The president of BETA , dads former boss. For whom father risked his life. He is retired but still does work for him anytime he asks, and called him last night. Don't know what he asked. He gave me an unknown gaze that I've never seen before in my 12 years of life. Last night Dad came to me and told me to get ready by 8. And I didn't ask anything.
Dad: Felton, you're going to experience a new life ahead.
I didn't say anything, even now. Because I know I can't say no to my father, who is my idol, who gives me everything in life, I can't say no. And no one is cooler than my dad.
Dad: Sir Apollo has a son. Who just turned 15.
The heir to the BETA.
I gulped.
Dad: You two will get along. I trust you, son.
That's it. That was enough for me to understand the whole tension from last night. So dads former boss called him to ask his son aka me to serve his son.
Felton: But I'm still just a kid. I can't serve a young master who lives a complicated life.
Dad: Don't worry, you'll be trained to serve him. To assist him with everything in future.
"Long time no see, Eros"
Just then a voice came from … sounding too friendly for someone from higher status than us. And smiled at us , no…not to us but to my father.
"Sir Apollo"
Dad said with great enthusiasm and smiling from ear to ear as if meeting a old time friend after a long time but still addressing him as sir.
There was another person behind that man. A young boy, a teenager like me. With sharp intimidating eyes, too good looking for a young boy, can act in a movie, and his face will do everything.
Apollo: I can still count on you, Eros.
Eros: Anytime, sir.
Apollo smiled as if satisfied with my dad's answer. But that smile is so creepy, it made my skin crawl. I just know this man is upto no good in his life.
Apollo: And that is you son, I assume.
Eros: Yes, my son. Felton.
Apollo: He turned into a fine young man, Eros.
You're doing great with his upbringing.
My father twitched at his words, and his hand that was behind my back patting me, stopped.
And Apollo smiled again. The young man that said nothing up until now just stared at me as if he got a new toy from a toy shop. My father looked at me and gave a pitiful smile that I didn't understand. I was too young at that time, too innocent for that type of world. But the young man before me finally smiled as if he understood everything, the hidden meaning behind those smiles.
Apollo said, " Meet my son, Sage."
Sage came forward to me. And extended his right hand and I shaked his hand, the hand that was too big, for a teenager. And thought maybe my hands will also grow big like this when I reach his age.
Sage: Nice to meet you, Fox.
Felton: Nice to meet you too, Mr Brown.
Chills. Yeah that was what I got, like seriously! Nobody calls me by my surname like that. And we're pretty much of the same age we call each other by names but no I guess. The new master I serve will be very complicated I can say from that single handshake. But that maniac just smiled.
Apollo: Oh great. Looks like they will get close quickly , won't they, Eros?
And how did he come to that conclusion? And why is he dragging my dad? Weird shit.
Eros: Yes sir, In no time I assume.
Dad said with an awkward laugh.
Apollo: Why don't we let them hang. It will be better for them. And I've something for you too. Come to my office right now.
After saying that last line with a weird grin. He left the garden. Dad also followed after him. Leaving me with his son. Dads build is pretty tall but when he stood before Apollo he looked small. Don't know why but there was a weird tension between them. That can't be explained. Neither do I want to be explained.
Sage: Follow me.
I followed after him. There was a lake beside the garden. Not that deep and five greyhounds tied to a white pole.
A table set beside them. He sat there and asked me to sit too. Sage leaned back in the chair, legs crossed lazily, arms resting wide like he owned the entire sky. And suddenly.
Sage: You're really loyal to him, huh? Your dad.
Felton blinked, unsure. " Of course. He's my father."
A pause. The greyhounds barked once in the distant lake behind them rippled with still wind. Then Sage smiled. But it wasn't kind. Not even close.
Sage: You know… … they were married once.
Felton's brows furrowed. " Who?"
Sage calmly, " Your dad and mine. Secret ceremony. Gold rings. Vows and everything. Sweet, huh?"
Felton's world tilted slightly.
Sage continued, voice like ice running under skin.
Sage: Then Eros found out what Apollo really does with those research funds. What he really built BETA on. And you know what your dad did?
Pause. A low chuckle.
Sage: He left. He said he couldn't be with a monster. Funny though…
Felton gripped the edge of the chair, nails whiting.
Sage now smiling even wider, " So now you're here. Sitting across from your ' almost-brother'. About to be trained to serve me. Clean up after me. Obey me."
He leaned in, voice low.
Sage: Guess history repeats. Your dad served mine. And now… ..
Felton's body snapped.
He surged forward, fists twisting the collar of sage's white shirt, voice ragged with rage.
Felton: I'll never serve you, you piece of shit,
don't ever call me that 'almost-brother' crap!
Sage's eyes glinted. Not anger. Amusement.
Sage: There's no going back now, Fox.
Felton shoved him.
Sage hit the ground, his light brown khaki pants smeared in dirt but he smiled.
Felton clenching his teeth, " Never."
That was when the greyhounds snapped.
Before Felton could react---they were on him.
Fangs slashed at fabric, his black pants shredded, his cardigan ripped. Pain bloomed sharp and hot.
But then—
Slash.
Slash.
Splash.
Blood soaked the garden.
Sage stood over him, drenched in crimson. Pocket knife in hand, face lit with a grin like he'd won gold at the Olympics.
Felton trembled. Frozen. The bodies of greyhounds beside him, still and silent.
He sat there, panting, shaking, covered in blood.
Sage knelt beside him – one knee down. The dripping knife, tapped lightly against Felton's cheeks.
Sage playfully, " How are you gonna pay for it, Fox?"
Felton's lips parted, but no words came. Only gasps.
Sage in a low growling voice, " I killed my hounds for you."
He leaned in. Whispered at Felton's ear like a devil promising sin.
Sage: Now . … you'll be my hound.
Felton's vision blurred. His body trembled from the weight of the truth. The blood. The madness.
And just before everything faded—
He saw movement.
His father rushed into the garden, shirt half-untucked, face twisted in panic. Guards trailing behind, eyes red.
Father's mouth parted, no words.
Just darkness.
He collapsed.
»»————
(Present)
The room was silent. Cold.
Then—
Gasp.
Felton bolted from the bed, lungs burning, eyes wild, like he'd just clawed his way out of the underworld.
The dream again.
No– not a dream. A memory. One he could never erase.
"I killed my hounds for you."
Sage's voice still echoed in his skull like a curse. That day… . that goddamn day…
He looked down at his palm. Even now, even after years, they tremble faintly. Not from fear. From remembrance.
"Fuck."
He stood abruptly, nearly knocking over the glass of water on his nightstand. The curtains were drawn. Sunlight tried to creep in.. But the shadows in his room had long claimed it.
He walked to the sink, splashed cold water on his face. Again and again. Looking up, his reflection stared back.
Tired. Eyes bloodshot from too little sleep and too much loyalty. He couldn't sleep because of last night's incident.
He'd bled for sage. He'd lied. Cleaned up bodies. Covered up files. Taken hits. And yet… that night at the party? The failure?
"You disappointed me, Fox."
Felton gritted his teeth. He grabbed the edge of the sink, knuckles whitening.
Was he still that kid?
The one who flinched at blood and choked on guilt?
No. Not anymore. Not after everything he'd done to survive. But damn if that voice… sage's voice… wasn't still the chain around his neck.
A sharp knock on the door pulled him from the spiral.
Guard: Mr. Brown wants you.
Felton didn't answer. He grabbed his coat, smoothed back his hair, and adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves .
Fox was back.
And this time, he'd make sure he wouldn't be the one left bleeding.
»»————>
Felton knocked quietly, then stepped inside Sage's office. The early morning light spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the marble floor.
Sage lounged in his chair, one ankle resting over the other knee, fingers steeples like he was about to deliver a verdict.
"Ah, Fox," Sage's eye glinted with that maddening mix of amusement and cruelty. "Sleep well? Or did the ghosts of your past keep you company again?"
Felton's jaw tightened. "Cut the crap. I'm here to know what's next."
Unlike when they are in front of lots of people, now they are alone, so Felton dropped the courtesy. He just got enough. And Sage laughed at it. Whenever he sees this behavioral transformation. Sometimes Sage even suggests Felton to therapy playfully. Incase Fox has bipolar disorder.Which of course Felton ignores like how a cat ignores their owner.
Sage smirked, standing slowly. He circled Felton like a predator assessing its prey. " You're always so serious. Maybe I should teach you how to relax."
Felton clenched his fists but held his ground.
Sage paused, tapping his chin. " Alright I have a little surprise for you." He pulled out his phone, casually scrolling through the screen. "I'll be attending the charity event in Phuket."
Feltons eyes narrowed. " That was obvious."
Sage smirked, lips curling into something cruel. "Obvious, yes. Necessary, even more so."
Felton blinked, suspicious. "I figured you'd show up, especially after last night
Sage's smile widened—all teeth, no warmth.
" Yeah. Thanks to someone who didn't do their job right. Now I've to show my face to damage control. Wanna guess who that is?"
Felton was about to say something when Sage dropped the bomb.
" Oh, and one more thing."
Felton narrowed his eyes.
Sage's grin is mischievous and dangerous. "I'm tagging along with the kids. The whole vacation package."
Felton stared, " You're joking."
Sage chuckled darkly, " I don't joke about vacations."
He tapped Feltons chest lightly. " And you'll be coming with me. No exceptions. No tantrums."
Felton swallowed hard.
Sage's final smirk was both a warning and a promise. " Get ready, Fox."
"Don't worry, you won't be the one bleeding, but you'll definitely be the one picking the bleeding corpses."
And Felton again regretted it. " Why did I join him back then? I must have gone nuts."