"Are you my father??"
Lona couldn't understand what was going on inside him, whether it was fear or respect or even hate..... HATRED.
His eyes said millions before he could even say more making his heartbeat quicken. "You left me, making me live a miserable life. A life of isolation" his tone grew harsh by each word-- Farrowing his eyes on his once lost Father.
To the man standing before him who acted nonchalant and cared less, Henry just grabbed a glass of black liquid from a passing servant who happened to carry a non-empty tray.
In the servants eye suckets, Lona couldn't find eye balls. This was the least of his concern, he is standing before the man whom he slowly hate.
"Yes, I am the one. Your Father and I watched everything happen. What can you do about that? I expected it to teach you some lessons" no one except Lona was surprised at the words from their father's mouth. They knew him too well.
Daisy made contact with Lona who was already lost in anger. "You have to put yourself together, this is who your father really is. His is feeding on your hatred towards him or anyone around him. That's how his is." Her words echoed in his mind, altering Lona's thought.
He had no idea that she possessed telepathy. Lona thought it was his mind trying to play tricks on him but the feminine voice sounded so familiar. He turned over to Daisy who was just a few inch from him.
"Won't you come and embrace your father?" Henry arms were wide open, expecting Lona to run into it without hesitation.
"You don't have to resist. You have to love him. Give him a Love that is Dark." Daisy spoke again without moving her lips. Somehow, Lona understood what it meant by Dark love.
"I would have killed you if you weren't immune to all possible means of death." Lona voiced out his mind, the dark sky torn open releasing flashes of lightening.
His father just gave him a predatory smile. Lona just shut his eyes and walked towards him, all he saw with his eyes shut was nothing but darkness and emptiness.
Making contact with his father felt like two different worlds collided. Lona was taken aback seeing how freezing cold his father was. Who would believe that a creature like him will be breathing and moving.
"You are warm..... Son." The first time Henry called someone that name. This was the only thing that he did today that surprised his daughters.
Even Lona reacted differently at the mention of it, his eyes welled in tears, almost squeezing out the remaining life in his father.
"I can't wait for you to lose this warmth in both temperatures and personality." Henry slowly made deliberate taps on his sons head. Watching this scene could move anyone to tears but that's not the case for these feminine monsters with no soul or little emotions which they effectively manage.
"Alright enough of this father and son drama. We have seen enough" Elizabeth rose from her position with her never dying deadly smirk. Everyone felt irritated by what she just said only Artemis gave out a little sigh of relief.
"Why the rush sis. Don't tell me you are jealous" Zinna asked, holding a little knife which wasn't in her hands before.
"Am I wrong, I just voiced out what was going on in Artemis mind.." the room became silent, one by one eyes turning towards Artemis only increased.
"When did you start reading mind, can't you stop bothering me" Artemis knew that Elizabeth just wanted her to get angry so she won't get more energy and yet, she felt for it.
"Ohh come... Is that a sign that we should fight? I am so down for that." Elizabeth only sounded more frustrating and Artemis was already loosing it.
"Stop it you two" Zaria scanty and emotionless words still made large impact. Nevertheless, Father and son still maintained their original spot.
"Welcome home, my Child!!" He aided Lona in wiping his tears, assuring him that he is now in the right place.
"It's good that you came on time, you will not only Attend Reom Academy but you would also make contact with the outside world together with your siblings" Lona's father sounded like he was bluffing.
Lona's joy knew no bounds, words like this coming from his father made him sure that he will attend the Academy of the Righteous.
"Are you serious about that??" He asked just for the sake of clarity. Just a simple nod from his father almost made him jump.
"But...." That but from Delilah made his joy to hide. He braced for the worst possible condition.
"Because of your status, You won't be known as Blackwood for the main time" it was so obvious that someone's countenance fell. Lona couldn't bear it, it made a sting in his pride.
"Why? I just got to have a name and hear you are telling me that I will still be a nobody even in the academy of my dreams."
"Don't think that Hell is Rosy" Daisy murmured. Murmuring never escapes the ears of the Blackwoods, only Lona still trying to accept who he is now.
He father sighs understanding Lona's grievance. "Yh have to do it that way. You are the only Son of the Blackwoods and currently, you don't even understand yourself. It will be very dangerous to let everyone know who you are without being strong enough to defend yourself."
The tensed room became eerie quiet. Lona tried to get all words together but it didn't work. Delilah was right, he is currently weak and if their enemies finds out, he will always be in danger.
"And how do you know I am the only male child. Father never controlled what was in his pants. Who knows who might come and claim to be one of us." Zinna couldn't believe the words that came out from her brothers mouth-- so raw and emotionless, catching everyone off guard.
"Woow!! It's father you are talking to like that..." Artemis almost laughed after hearing Lona's words. The man in question wasn't even bothered.
"Lona is right but one thing is certain. Our Father has seven children and we are now complete. It has been foretold by our ancestors centuries ago so we are not expecting any stray kid again."
Lona exhaled, turning towards the Cat who was still sleeping. "When will the whole world know that I have Blackwood Blood in me?"
His father finally saw the opportunity to speak, "we don't know but it will be as soon as possible. I give you my word."
Lona didn't look away from his father, he eyes moving around him.lime he had seen a strange body. His father became curious as to why his son looked at him that way.
"Now I want to know.... where is my Mother?" At the mention of mother, Henry's face became pale-- more pale. He still maintained his elegant posture but he avoided eye contact with Lona.
"Isn't it enough to be here? Why bother?"
"I want to see my mother and know her. I don't see a crime in that."
The rest of his siblings went silent, their face revealed loss of hope. one way or the other they also want to know who their mothers are.
"Are our mothers alive, where can we see them. Don't tell me that they aren't eager to see how their children are doing and how strong and strange they have become" more hurtful words from Lona. His siblings who still had little emotions remaining were welling in it.
"Your questions are hard to answer, I still remember each of your mothers. Strong, dangerous, devilish and last of it... Loving. They must all be alive and one thing is for sure. When you become very strong by becoming a Righteous, you all can begin the quest of searching for your mothers" Henry sounded worried but full of hope for the future.
Lona's face brightened up after hearing that his mother is alive and well. He can't just wait for the day he would finally meet her.
"Reom Academy will be resuming in the next three days, it is expected that you all get prepared" Henry announced, watching all his children countenance fall except Lona and Elizabeth.
Servants slowly walked up to Henry and mumbled something that Lona didn't understand. They were Zombies so they didn't speak normal language.
"Alright, dinner is ready." Henry clapped twice and instantly they all appeared in the dining hall.
Lona became amazing at the way it all happened at once but now his eyes couldn't come off the weird Delicacies on the large dining table.
Somehow, Lona wasn't concerned about how it looked, he was just starving, his belly needed to be full.
"Do you like what you see?" Artemis asked in a low whisper as she took a place beside him. Lona didn't care he knew one thing for sure, it wasn't going to kill him.
"Alright let's dig in..."