 Shipper Queen Hippie Quad
Chapter 20
Could I trust him? He betrayed my father, my mother, and my brothers. But then what made him different from me? I betrayed my father, my mother, and my brothers. I was no different from him. No, I needed to stop this self-pitying and save Loanna.
Where would I find Matthaios though? He didn’t normally hang out in the house. Then I heard the piano. Mechanically, I walked toward the music room. I let myself follow the tragic tune until I was outside the door. Nobody else would be able to recognize it as a sad melody, but I was able to recognize the use of the deep notes that made it a dark song.
Without knocking, I entered the room and shut the door soundlessly behind me. Matthaios had his back to me, letting himself get lost in his music. I didn’t want to disturb him, but I didn’t know how long I had until Melody came looking for me.
“Matthaios.” I said to get his attention. He looked over at me, but continued playing. When he didn’t say anything, I said. “I want to go home.”
He didn’t stop playing, as he scoot over on the stool to let me sit. I sat down and let my hands fidget in my lap. “What changed your mind?”
“Thanos is holding Loanna against her will. He told me if I have second thoughts about leaving, then I would be leaving her as well, all by herself.” I looked down at my hands, letting the guilt sink in again.
“Is it only because of her that you want to leave?” Matthaios asked, continuing his solemn song.
“No. You were right about Melody and Thanos.”
“You mean Melania.”
“Yes. They aren’t who I thought they were.” I sighed.
“Anything else?”
I looked at him trying to figure out what else he wanted me to say. I already told him that he was right. Wasn’t that what he wanted? Then it hit me.
“I miss my family.” The realization hit me with such force I nearly fell off the stool.
“Really?” But I ignored him.
I missed my family. I missed the way my mother brought me an apple to my room before lunchtime. I missed the way my father brought home a book he thought I would like. I missed the way Jacoby squeezed my shoulder in a comforting way. I missed the way Otto would jump on my bed to get my attention. And even though it annoyed me to no end, I missed Aleksander’s joking manner. I thought it was because of his joking manner that brought me here. But without him to bicker with it was, well it was boring. I missed him.
“I miss them. All of them. Even Aleksander.” I said aloud. It was true. I missed them all.
“What do you want to do?” Matthaios asked calmly.
“I want to go home.”
“What do you suggest I do?” I turned my head sharply to look at him. Was he being serious? He was looking at me with an unreadable expression.
“If you don’t want to help me, I can get out of here myself.” I stood up swiftly from the piano stool, but was pulled back down by Matthaios.
“Sit. I was not being harsh. I was asking for suggestions.” Matthaios said.
“What do you mean?” I replied, not fully understanding.
“You want to save Loanna right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“What about Aleksander?”
“What do you mean?” I asked dumbfounded.
“Aleksander never made it back home.”
“What? I thought you…you mean he is being kept here too?” I asked, swallowing hard. At Matthaios’ nod, I shut my eyes. Another thing that was my fault.
“Do you want to leave him here?” Matthaios asked.
“No. I would never do that to him.” I snapped my eyes back open.
“Good. This is what is going to happen.”
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