The workers in the ancient house of the Wilkes had gotten ready to retire for the night with the sun descending graciously and coloring the clouds grey and the horizon soft orange. The old man who watched the gate of the household stretched his body to the side and yawned. The sweet scent of the meal cooking from the kitchen assaulted his grey-hair-filled nose, announcing that it wasn't just time to rest but also to fill his stomach.
The man had served the household ever since he was sold as a slave to the family. Getting his daily needs from the family, he didn't see the need to leave his comfort and struggle out there.
Most nights he wished he had a family of his own too, but it wasn't something an appropriate dinner wouldn't fix. The maidservants in the house were dedicated to their pots and seasoning, and it showed in the taste of their food.
Pushing the old wooden gates with all his effort and grunting, the old man used his last might to bang the door, but something kicked the door with force.
"What in the devil!" the man cursed with a sneer, his voice laced with venom.
A hand shot through the space in the door. "Open the gate," the voice thundered.
"No," the man refused vehemently. He was trying not to get angry since how he treated guests reflected the kind of master he served. He needed to be the face of the household. That was the only reason he held back the sack of curses that piled in his throat.
"Return tomorrow if you have any personal concern with the Lord," the man tried to sound as polite as he could.
The person on the other side of the door didn't budge. Instead, he pushed his body against the gate. "Get me Lord Nikolai right now!"
"That won't be possible." The old man pushed back with his own strength. It was the reason he was still guarding the house despite his age. He could still lift two men twice his size if he tried enough.
"The Lord has retired to bed. If you let me know what you want, I'll pass the message across tomorrow morning." The man pushed the door again.
This time the person outside the gate squeezed in his hand when he noticed he was losing in the push-pull drag.
"Open the bloody gates, old man."
The gatekeeper of the household was no longer taking it. The insult and condescending tone from a stranger weren't added to his pay. In annoyance, he pushed the gate with force, trapping the person's hand in between.
A guttural wail escaped the person's throat when he thought he was about to lose an arm. "You dirty old fool! Do you not recognize the sound of my voice?"
The gatekeeper paused for a second. Though a smile curled his lips, enjoying the mannerless stranger's pain, at the same time, the voice worried him. "Master Gerald?"
"It is I, you fool!" Gerald thundered, trying to bite down the pain he was feeling.
Backing away from the gate, the old man gulped before pushing open the gates again for the young master of the household he served. The sight of Gerald sent the blood draining from the man's face, not just because he almost owed the young master an arm, but also because he looked like he had walked through the hallways of Hades and escaped by a whisker.
"Young master, what happen—" The man didn't finish his words when he got shoved to land on the ground.
Gerald winced, rubbing his arm. "You," he pointed at the man, then groaned, "I'm not here for this. Where is my father?"
The old man pointed in the direction without speaking, his whole body trembling.
"I'll deal with you later," Gerald threatened before turning to find his father.
The old man watched Gerald's disappearing figure and let out a disappointed sigh. "I should have chomped off his hand, since I'm going to get punished anyway," he muttered with a bored tone, lifting his body up from the ground.
"Who knows what trouble he has caused this time, that idiot," the man mumbled to himself, going back to close the gates properly. It was moments like this that made the man grateful he didn't have a family. Having a son like Gerald was like having a lifelong curse, the old man thought to himself, finally retiring to his lonely night.
"Father! Where is my father, you fools!" Gerald's tenor shook the part of the house he stood in, terrorizing the servants that looked more horrified than excited to meet him.
"M-aster Ge—" One of the unfortunate maidservants stuttered, but found Gerald's palm curled around her neck, ready to squeeze the life out of her.
"Are you also looking down on me?" Gerald raised his hand to hit.
"Unhand her, boy," Nikolai commanded, standing at the door in his long blue night robes and a deep frown. "And stop this madness."
Reluctantly, Gerald pushed the poor girl to the side and walked over to his father.
"What is all this?" Nikolai asked again when his son now stood in front of him. "Why are you covered in filth?" He scrunched his nose, trying to get rid of the dead, decaying smell that came from his son.
Gerald took in a deep, shaky breath- one he didn't know the last time he took. He had been on the run for two nights straight, hiding from Rhane and his crazy sister. He couldn't stop to rest, as they were hot on his tail, sending men after him. Gerald knew he had somehow crossed the line in so many ways. There was no reason for Rhane to keep him alive, which was why he entered the safest place at the moment—
Their father's house.
"What have you done this time, Gerald?" Nikolai wasn't sure he was going to stop himself from throwing up if his son didn't speak quickly and get out of his face.
Gerald raised his face. "Not what I did, father," he began. "It is what your other son did."
"My other…" Nikolai's face hardened. "Rhane?"
At the mention of his name, Gerald flinched, hair rising on his skin, like the grim reaper had just been summoned.
"Father, Rhane eloped with Jenna!" Gerald began. "Jenna left me because of him. They have brought shame and dishonor to this household and that of the Browns'. In my attempt to caution them and return with my wife, they plotted to kill me!" Gerald bounced his hand against his chest.
Nikolai narrowed his eyes. If he didn't know better, he would have believed his son so easily. "You told me you no longer wanted Jenna, and asked that I let you control Rhane."
Gerald licked his charred lips. "Yes, but that was before—"
"If you have caused trouble again, I won't be cleaning your mess anymore. You almost killed Jenna, and I cleaned that mess. She left on her own, not knowing everything. Don't cause more trouble. Rest today and return to your home." Nikolai said with a tone of finality.
Gerald shook his head. It was like asking him to go and await his death sentence. He couldn't possibly do that.
"Father, you have to—"
Just then, Lady Wilkes entered the room dressed in a white gown and a brown shawl around her neck. Her eyes bulged out when she saw her only child. "Son! What happened to my son?" the woman asked worriedly, her eyes darting from Gerald to her husband.
Gerald's lips curled, having his mother meant he had an edge. His father hated to speak of his mistake in front of his beloved wife. He opened his mouth to let the cat out of the bag in the dirtiest way possible.
Nikolai was quick to understand the situation. He cleared his throat, stopping his son. "Nothing I can't handle, woman," he replied.
"Rest and relax easy tonight, son. Tomorrow we go to the Chief Merchant's house. I'm sure your wife will return to you in no time."
If having Jenna back was all Gerald wanted, he wouldn't have come to his father in the first place. He wasn't about to face Rhane's wrath.
"I also want him stripped and returned to the lowest filth he once was," Gerald said, his voice filled with spite.
Lady Wilkes narrowed her eyes. "Who is he? Did this person hurt my son?"
"I'll do everything in my power to make sure 'he' doesn't show up in front of you anymore," Nikolai promised. "Now let's go to bed."
Lady Wilkes frowned, going to touch her son. "Gerald, what is going on?"
Gerald smirked. "Nothing father can't handle quietly, I'm sure," he replied with a knowing smile directed towards his father. With a small bow, he turned and left the room.
Nikolai watched his second son leave the room and sighed. He'd always known that two captains can't exist on one ship. That was why he tried to send Rhane as far away as possible, a last act as his father. But seeing how things were, Nikolai knew he needed to get rid of one captain. And he knew exactly who it would be.
"He should have stayed away forever. That damned fool," Nikolai muttered with a sigh.
Lady Wilkes stood there confused. "Who?"
Nikolai shook his head with a smile on his thin lips. "It's nothing that should worry you, love," Nikolai remarked, giving his wife a peck. "Let's go back to bed." He placed his hand behind his wife, leading her to their room.