Chapter 1 This is Truly a Happy Scenario
"I've been meaning to talk to you," Chadwick approached Mass, an expression of conflict on his face. He stood slightly taller than Mass which helped the shorter boy shrink into timidity despite regarding Chadwick as someone close.
"Talk to me?" His eyes scanned the courtyard for any signs of his siblings. But no, the other members of the Viatrix family were not present that he could see.
He wanted to relax but something in Chadwick's expression stopped him.
"The school year is ending in two weeks, I thought we should have this discussion now." Chadwick pulled Mass to the side by the arm.
"Is it about helping Miriam with her essay?" He questioned.
His head tilted to the side, "It's just the last class of the month. It should be fine. You know she's still your younger sister and I -"
"Not that, she already told me everything about that." Chadwick denied swiftly.
"I wanted to tell you I'm ending our unofficial engagement."
From his tone it wasn't any sort of good news.
The world seemed to freeze.
"O-oh? Is that so?" His voice cracked with surprise.
In the corner of his eye he could see looming figures, shadows stalking closer but he glanced to his right to actually look and they were gone. The closest students were well out of earshot enjoying their lunch.
"But what about saving me from the Viatrix family..? You said you wouldn't let them mistreat me anymore come the end of the school year -" he blurted before he could think it through. He rubbed at his arm as if rubbing away the internal itch of anxiety.
"I can still come up with something after the marriage is finalized, but I can't do that yet. it's important that my marriage with Lana go through right now. Nothing can hinder that."
"For your family business ," he said flatly.
'Of course this is a power grab and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, as always,' he thought cynically.
"Yes they can add to the support needed to ensure the monsters stay in their cells. They've had more attempts to break out lately. But I didn't come to talk about my family's job." He brushed aside.
"I've spent some time with Lana she's a good girl, you'd do well in her company -"
"You spent time with her?" He nearly shrieked in outrage. He nervously glanced around hand flying to his mouth, seeing no one react to his outburst he lowered his voice and continued.
"How could you? Even if you were ordered to as your family's heir you could have told me to back off and I -" he swallowed and stopped his spiral.
"You love her," he said softly. It wasn't a question.
It wasn't a question but after a moment of silence, Chadwick responded as if it had been.
"Yes I do," he said softly.
"I see" he said even softer than before. "Just like I thought you loved me,"
Wulfric smiled all teeth and smug energy and no attempts at false kindness. The older brother to Lana. Friend to his own older brother and enabler of his torment.
He tensed not sure what Wulfric would do and not daring to call out to Chadwick like he had in the past.
"They'll be happy together," he told himself as he watched his boyfriend - the man who should have been his (who promised to be his) propose to someone else.
He repeated it over and over and over as he watched.
Chadwick got down on one knee. Lana looked absolutely ecstatic, blushing so much he almost would believe they were the two always talked about as lovers.
"And I'll be... I'll..." His mind drifted from the happy scene, reminded of his family and their threats.
Viatrix knew what would happen if he tried fighting this.
Even if he weren't an omega, he was not in good standing with his family, barely being permitted to attend classes.
'After this I'll either be married off or sold or,' he glanced again at the performance that was Chadwick and Lana's engagement, made public by all the spectators.
'or abandoned.' He thought bitterly as he stepped into the bramble of the evergreen trees, hiding in the quiet space away from everything.
His waist length hair which had been braided began unraveling, responding to the weak magic he had learned during his courses at the academy.
Uncaring of the flare, he ignored the small yellow flowers akin to sunflowers withering and falling out as tears began to fall.
'I thought Chadwick would help me. That he'd propose to me at the end of the school year so I would be spared from more of their manipulation and abuse!'
'haha I was so stupid -'he hissed at himself.
He screamed internally as around him the crowd began cheering and clapping.
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"I'm going away,"
Chadwick couldn't help but stare as he gazed at the vivid red flowers, a shock of color to all the black Mass wore.
He looked like he was attending a funeral soon.
Just like always when not at school he was wearing a dress, long sleeved and with a black sheer layer that extended farther than the inner skirt. As was required of omega clothing, it hid his neck.
The small pattern lining the bottom of the inner skirt reminded him of a sort of nearly skeletal mechanical doll he'd seen. Complete with a old fashioned Victorian white dress and a black witch hat.
Similarly Mass had a witch hat with a wide brim. It didn't hide his hair, completely obscured by several dozen red spider lilies.
"A somber place you must be going to," he said in response and to avoid Mass asking if he was staring.
Mass looked away but didn't respond.
"Perhaps you can plead for protection from the city? Maybe make a case about being pregnant -" he started.
"I'm an omega, you know what happens if we were to dare get 'knocked up,' while not married." he said staring blankly at the sunset.
It was dyed a ominous red foreboding an omen, but didn't comment so Chadwick didn't bring it up. Not even to defuse the tension.
"....Right." he said lamely.
More crimson flowers... Spider lilies fell from the unnecessary myriad in his hair. The rested on the bench and floated gently to the ground.
"We both have different paths..." Mass said finally.
"Mass-"
"As long as you're happy," he said. It sounded like a resignation.
Like an acceptance and farewell.
"Don't," he began as Mass stood up.
Hesitantly he started to backtrack, "after five years it'll be over. I can officially add you as a consort. My marriage will be settled and no one would be able to complain if I made that choice," he assured grabbing his wrist.
"I don't want to be your toy," Mass said coldly, pulling away his hand.
"I wanted your affection. Your love. I believed you when you said it was something I deserved."
"I don't want to stay there either, so I won't," Mass decided.
"I don't think I said it before, that's disrespectful of me." Mass spoke as if talking about making a minor error.
"Congratulations on your engagement," he smiled, thin and broken much like Mass's home life, parting with a firm handshake as if congratulating a friend.
(Mass always gave good, strong handshakes.)
It was the last time he saw Mass.