Chapter 5 What would it be brother?

Ty’s Pov

Hey everyone!! Look, it's Ty!! Justin, my baby brother, screamed in excitement, pointing up at the sky the minute he saw Jasmine and me coming.

I let out a light laugh, stepped down from Jasmine's back, and gave her a light tap, making her fly off to her favorite spot in the palace - the garden.

Brother!! Jace, Justin's twin brother, ran up to me, giving me a tight hug.

Hey there, little one, come here, I said, lifting him up and playing with him as usual when she walked in here.

You're back early, Tracy, my twin sister and princess to the High-garden throne, stated with a straight face.

Hey, Tracy, I called out softly, putting Jace on the ground. You seem quite less busy for someone who claims to be busy as an excuse not to go to the coronation.

I was sick, he blurted out sharply.

Oh, really? Are you really sure that's the reason? And you can swear on our late mother’s grave that this had nothing to do with the last semester of our training, hmm? I asked with raised brows.

I stood there staring deeply into her eyes. As her twin, I could feel the betrayal she was feeling inside, even stronger, every ounce of it. But unfortunately, this wasn't my demon to fight; it was hers, so I let her handle it. At least she made me believe that she could.

That's enough, you two, Dad yelled from upstairs. I can't deal with Jace and Justin and also have to deal with the both of you; you're 23 already. I thought twins usually grow out of bickering, he said in a stern voice.

We were just having a friendly sibling chat, Dad; it's nothing serious, he said.

It'd better not be. See you all on the roof; lunch has been served, he said.

Okay, Dad, I'll join in a bit; let me change into something more comfortable for lunch, I replied.

And with that, Tracy took the twins upstairs as they trailed behind Dad heading for the dining room, or should I say, dining roof.

It's Dad’s idea to move the dining table up there because he thinks it will make him closer to the love of his life - my mom. To ordinary ears, it's absurd, but Dad really loved my mom. She died giving birth, and he's really been trying not to take the anger out on Jace and Justin and be an amazing father to us all.

I got to my room, changed into something casual before joining the others.

So, son, tell me, how was the coronation? he asked.

It was fine - I guess, I replied, pausing for a while as a picture of everything that went down played in my head.

And? he asked, not satisfied.

I stared at him, wondering what other thing he was asking about. And what, Father? I asked with furrowed brows.

What about the scepter? The main reason I sent you there in the first place? he shot at me.

Oh; I said in realization. I couldn't find it, Father; something came up, and there was chaos, and it was a whole mess, you know, I replied, stuffing some food into my mouth.

What do you mean there was chaos? Isn't it in the midst of that chaos that you'd have left and wouldn't get noticed? he asked, his tone getting higher with each word. I could see his fist already curling the cloth on the table.

And I swear I knew this would come up and I knew he was right. But right at that moment, I was caught up between going on my father's errand and saving Allie from the hands of those soldiers sent to kill her.

At that point, that should have been the least of my problems, but I just couldn't leave her alone, and I didn't know why. Because of that, I wasn't able to accomplish my mission.

I couldn't tell my father the real reason behind my failure, so I just stared at him, forcing a lump down my throat and taking a sip from the wine in front of me.

Uhm… I began, something came up, so I had to tend to that first, and before I was done, it was already too late to go back into the silver palace.

Are you saying flying a criminal away in your dragon, saving her from being killed by her own king, was the reason you failed this one assignment? Tracy asked, with raised brows and a smirk on her face.

Tracy!! I called out through gritted teeth, slamming my fist onto the table, making the twins flinch.

What?! Dad exclaimed, turning his gaze back to me.

I just sat quietly, shooting deadly glares at my Tracy because at this moment, if glares could kill, she'd be 12 feet below the ground saying hello to our mother right now.

Don't listen to her, Father; she's lying, I managed to say.

Oh, but I'm not, brother, really; I have proof if you try to deny it, she chimed, gesturing to one of the maids who nodded in return.

What? I mumbled under my breath, wondering how she even knew all of this just a few minutes after it happened. How did you?… I stuttered.

Oh, brother, let's forget about how I found out and focus more on Father's question… she replied, sipping from her glass.

You bi.. I tried to curse, but Dad's voice interrupted.

Don't you even think of finishing that word!! he snarled. Since when have you become so weak that a woman is the reason why you left your mission unattended, son? he snapped.

The air became thick with tension, but Tracy really seemed to be enjoying all of it as she just sat there making side comments.

I'm sorry, Father, I muttered softly.

‘Sorry’ wouldn't fix things, son!! We are running out of time! he sneered, slamming his fist on the table.

This time, the twins couldn't take it any longer as they both got down from their seats and ran off to their rooms.

Jace…. Justin… I called, but they ignored me and just zoomed off.

I sighed. Look, Father, now you've scared them, I said, turning my gaze back to Dad, who sat staring at me with fury in his eyes.

Do I look like I care about two peasants running off right now, huh?

Father! I exclaimed, wondering why he's been so worked up over some scepter of shadow. Those are your sons too, I retorted.

And the reason your mother is 12 feet below us right now! he fired back at me.

Everywhere suddenly became silent the minute he said that. I could feel the weight of the words he just spoke in my chest….. Words I thought would never come out of his mouth.

Little did I know he had only been trying to fight them all these years when, in reality, that was exactly how he was feeling.

Father, I mumbled; my voice shaking in disbelief.

It seemed like Tracy could also feel the weight of the moment as she’d immediately stopped chewing, her gaze going back and forth from Father to me and then back; and a few minutes later, I caught her battling with the tears in her eyes.

It's been five years, five years since our mother's death, and even though we've tried to move past it, the memory still lives in our minds like yesterday. But in Father’s case, it plays every single second.

But what I don't get is what this scepter he's spent the last five years searching for has to do with any of us.

Please tell me you don't mean what you just said, I managed to say, staring at him, jaw tight and fist clenched underneath the table.

If you think I'm joking about any of this, wait to see what I'll do by the time you don't retrieve what I ask of you.

Do you think I sent you to the same school as the other royals just for the books? It would have taken nothing from me to get you homeschooled like I'm doing with the littles, he said, referring to Jace and Justin; that's what he called them.

But I sent you there to know, understand, and live amongst the other creatures because you'd be king someday, and it's great you study and know how they operate because certainly, we won't be in this truce we are in forever.

He continued, but I just stared at him, knowing what he meant by that. It's been several decades since the elves, dragons, and fairies signed up for a truce, and somehow everyone seems to be getting used to it, but for some reason, my father keeps doubting it's going to last longer than it already has.

But you seem to be forgetting something, he said, jolting me out of my thoughts.

You seem to be forgetting the fact that Tracy here also attended the same school and she'd be more than glad to take up this mission from you. You'd better get me what I want; else your feet wouldn't even get close to that throne, not to talk of even getting crowned as a king; you might end up bowing those feet before your sister, he threatened.

FATHER!! I sneered, the anger inside of me doubling up as I watched Tracy’s face light up the minute he said those words. Are you threatening me now? I asked with a firm voice.

Don't test me, son!! he sneered before standing up from his seat and storming out, leaving just Tracy and me at the table.

Ooohhhhhh… that seemed intense, Tracy said, grinning from ear to ear just to spite me even more.

So, what would it be, brother? she asked with a smirk, plucking out a bunch of grapes. Would it be all hail King Ty, first of his name? Or would it be all hail Queen Tracy, first of her name, in all of High-garden’s history? she said, letting out a menacing laugh before making her way out.