Obfuscation

I had fallen behind as Xavier made his way to confront his mother. Our mother.

Suddenly, Cynthia stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

“Get out of my way!” I shouted, tossing her aside. She tumbled to the floor like a ragdoll.

I had to reach him before he said something he’d regret. Before she decided to take action. Before he lost everything. I had been ready to leave alone the moment Xavier’s life was placed on the table. It would be better for me to denounce his love and leave than for him to remember nothing at all.

I ran, but I had no way of knowing which room they’d gone into. They weren’t in the gallery, and they certainly wouldn’t have gone outside. I threw open door after door until I heard screaming at the end of the hall.

I spun on my heel and raced down the corridor, bracing for impact. With all my strength, I launched myself at the door, shattering the wood.

Before me lay my worst nightmare.

“I’m too late!”

I fell to my knees, sobbing so hard I could feel my ribs cracking.

Hinata knelt on the marble beside Xavier, hastily drawn sigils surrounding them. The scent of his blood filled the room. She’d already begun the ritual after what looked like a struggle. Books lay strewn across the floor, chairs had been knocked over, and a bloodied candelabra lay among the wreckage.

Then, Xavier began to convulse writhing in pain.

Hinata abruptly stopped reciting, the ritual book dropping to the floor. She cradled his face, her eyes widening.

“Xavier?” She shook him gently.

I was already sprinting toward them.

“Sit up, my darling!” Her arms struggling to control his twisting form.

Her gaze darted around the room before settling on an overturned ceremonial bowl. I knew as soon as I saw it. The force of my entrance had knocked it from its pedestal.

“Xavier, no,” I choked. I realized in that moment, I was at fault.

I dropped beside him. His eyes had opened during the seizure, but they stared blankly at me.

There was nothing behind them.

Hinata screamed.

“It was you! Your meddling caused this!”

She beat her clenched fists against my chest.

“Please, Ezra! I can’t finish the ritual now that our connection is broken. He will die if you do nothing. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this, but he was so angry and violent. Please, Ezra. You have to finish this!”

My only options were to finish the ritual and rip away Xavier’s memories of us, or let him die in my arms and leave Hinata to suffer for her mistake.

Her misery would be delicious and he would be free.

But I couldn’t. I would rather have him in my life as just a brother or friend than lose him altogether.

“Fine! What do I do?”

I had never performed a ritual, let alone this one. It was far beyond a beginner’s skill and forbidden in many covens.

“Guide me! Tell me what to do damnit!”

Hinata lifted the book before me, and I continued the ritual.

Almost immediately, life returned to Xavier’s eyes. He blinked slowly, tilting his head until his gaze met mine. For a brief second, I let myself look at him. He had never looked so precious and beautiful to me and I locked that image into my memory as he smiled.

Then I forced my attention back to the words, back to stealing what was his.

“Ezra, what? Why are you…”

His voice was soft. Then he realized what was happening.

“No. You… why?” he pleaded.

I could hear him, but I could also feel the power flowing from Queen Hinata into me. It was hard to process it all. As I drew closer to the end of the ritual that would keep my soulmate alive, my heart shattered.

He screamed, cried and begged me to stop, his fingers clawing deep into my arms. Each guttural sob reached into my soul and tore another piece away.

I erased his memories one by one, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“I am sorry, my love,” I whispered into his ear. “I am so very sorry.”

His eyes gently closed. I felt the last memory disappear, and his body went limp in my arms.

Hinata dared to reach for him, her hand hovering over his face. I slapped it away and met her gaze.

“You! You miserable bitch!”

I lowered Xavier to the floor, stood, and grabbed her wrist, shoving her against the wall.

“Have you no shame? You nearly murdered your son over who he loves. Does his life mean that little to you?”

She winced as my grip tightened.

“You are a pathetic excuse for a queen and a failure as a mother! I hope you never forget his screams as he begged me to stop. You stole what he held most dear and left a hole you can never hope to fill you selfish piece of shit!”

I released her wrist and bent to gather Xavier into my arms again.

His hair was matted with blood, but he somehow looked peaceful. Would he ever remember us? I hadn’t even had a chance to give him an answer. To tell him I'd waited for that moment for as long as I could remember.

I brushed the hair from his forehead and kissed his temple.

“I will love you forever and protect you no matter what comes. No one will ever touch you again.”

“Put him down!” Hinata demanded, taking several steps toward me.

I turned to face her.

“You will never, ever touch Xavier again!" I hissed. "You have proven that you cannot be trusted with his future or his well being. You can have other sons and daughters. No! You will have to, because this is the last time you will ever see either of us!”

I meant it. Every word. I wasn't leaving without him and staying was no longer an option.

She gave a half-hearted laugh.

“You talk a big game, little boy! You really think you’ll make it out of here? That the Shroud will let you leave with my son?”

“If you don’t let us leave, I will tell the entire court that you almost killed Xavier performing Obfuscation—a ritual reserved for traitors. And I will tell them that I am not your son. What do you think will happen then?”

I smirked as her face twisted in shock. She would be ousted as queen and likely obfuscated herself, forced into servitude as hand to the next queen.

“You wouldn’t dare! You ungrateful—”

“Try me!”

I headed for the door with Xavier in my arms. She didn't stop me.

We would never come back, and she would never find us. I didn’t care what became of her or the Obsidian Shroud.

***

We disappeared that night. The Shroud did not trail us, likely, as the queen cared more about her image and reputation. I carried Xavier for what felt like forever, replaying his pain in my mind, wondering if there was any way to help him regain his memories.

All that mattered now was keeping him safe.