Chapter 8 (TRIGGER WARNING - Contains Self-Harm..)
Varian was secretly still shook up about almost freezing earlier that same night after they all set up the tents again. He sat on the ground, staring at nothing until he conjured up a small, single black rock. His hands were trembling as he rolled up his left sleeve and hovered his arm above the rock, hesitating. "What am I doing??" He whispered to himself. He was about to pull away when voices began to replay in his mind, 'Try looking in the mirror!' 'I tried to warn ya Rapunzel, you gotta be careful, who you trust..' 'Villain' 'Dangerous' 'Stop this, now! Please stop! Varian!' 'MONSTER!' Varian shouted, "LEAVE ME ALONE!!" He felt a sharp pain in his arm, opening his eyes to see that he did it, he had cut himself. But the voices still wouldn't go away, so out of spite, he continued to cut the same spot on his wrist over and over, despite the pain it caused him, until he heard a voice from behind him. "Hey, I heard yelling in here, are you.." Hugo started. That was when he saw what Varian was doing, he saw the scarlet tipped black rock and a swollen, bleeding scar over his left arm. "Varian.." He softly said. "Oh.. um.. hey.. d-don't worry Hugo, it was an accident!" He nervously tried to lie. But Hugo didn't believe him for a second and got closer to inspect the wound. "Oh my God.. That's such a deep cut.. Varian.. Why??" He firmly demanded. The Prince was silent. "Varian.. Are you really okay?" Hugo asked sadly. Varian suddenly collapsed into Hugo, wrapping his arms around him admitting, "No.. N-No I'm not.." Hugo repeated his first question, "Why would you do this to yourself??" The Prince pulled away and said, "I just.. I can't get the past out of my head, I have done terrible things regarding my powers.. and I cannot stop blaming myself for my sister getting kidnapped, with this magic, I could've protected her but I didn't, all of this happened because of me.. And I'm afraid I got Rapunzel hurt, or that I'm going to get YOU hurt.." Hugo emerald eyes were wide with surprise. "Are you mad??" Varian tearfully asked. "No.." He answered. Prince Varian looked up in shock, then he winced as he grabbed his wrist, whimpering. Hugo turned around to grab some bandages and starting wrapping them around the scar, saying, "Though I'm upset that you didn't say anything, I'm glad you did now, next time you think you have to do this, just come to me.. okay?" Varian smiled softly as he nodded, then asked, "You're not going to tell anyone, are you?" Hugo shook his head. "Why not??" Varian questioned. Hugo hesitated, but then rolled up his own sleeves to show that he had a few burn marks over his arms. The Prince softly gasped, before mumbling, "H-Hugo.." "It was when I lost my parents in an accident a few years ago, I didn't know how to stop, until I talked to someone.. You actually.. When I first met you, and it was before this, at Queen Rapunzel's coronation, we danced together, but it was a masquerade, so you didn't recognize me, but your light.. it changed me in a way I can't explain, I haven't burned myself since." He told Varian, "But as you can see, some of these were permanent, I hope yours aren't." The Prince paused and said, "I won't do it again.." Now Varian knew it for a fact.. He liked Hugo, but he wasn't sure what to think. "I believe.." Hugo said, "That there was something big between us that night.. I think I fell for you right then and there, Varian.." Varian's breathing became uneven as he stood up, quickly turning away from him, "S-Sorry.. But you need to leave.. I want to be alone.." He stammered. "Wait.. But, do you.. not like me back??" Hugo asked. "I DON'T KNOW!!" Varian shouted, black rocks suddenly shooting from the ground with strong force. "Ah!" Hugo exclaimed. The Prince looked up in horror as he saw that now, the boy in front of him had a small scratch on his face left by a black rock, and his blood went cold. "I told you to go.. So please.. G-Go away.." Varian told him again, shedding a tear. Before Hugo could respond, he decided to do what he asked, wiping the blood on his cheek away with hidden anguish.. TO BE CONTINUED..