~~~ Liach POV ~~~
I step out of the office.
The door clicks shut behind me, but the echo of his words clings to my skin like blood that won't wash off.
I should've buried you in the snow the day you were born.
It echoes even louder.
I take seven steps down the hall before my knees give out. I catch the wall with my other hand, my breath hitching—shallow and fast. My chest tightens. Not from the pain. Not from the broken arm or the bruises, or the dried blood in my mouth.
It's the sound of his voice still in my head.
Every word is sharper than the last. Every sentence carves something out of me.
I can't bring myself to cry.
I haven't cried in years. Not since he beat it out of me at Eleven. But my body shakes. Quiet tremors that I can't stop. My fingers twitch, my throat burning. I'm tired.
You're a mistake.
Another thought rushes in.
I let myself slide down the cold wall until I'm sitting on the floor. The hallway is empty—just shadows, and the low hum of a wall light flickering above. I let my head fall back, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
I hear his words, still echoing in my mind. Even your wounds are meaningless.
The pain in my arm spikes again. I should get up. I should go check on Elias, then go to the medic. But I can't move. Not because I can't but because I don't want to.
So I sit there, swallowing glass, breathing slowly through my slightly parted lips, my hand pressed hard against the floor to ground myself. I whisper the soldier's code in my head—every word I memorized growing up in this place. Like an armor I can't afford to take off.
Obedience is survival. Pain is instruction.
Failure is corrected through punishment.
And disobedience is death.
It steadies me for a fleeting moment.
It's not that I actually believe what I said, it's that if I don't tell myself this, I might remember that Elias is just a little boy. And Gabriel is already trying to put a target on his back.
I'm afraid I'll start crying. And if I cry, I don't know if I'll stop.
And worse—if anyone sees it, they'll tell him.
They always tell him.
So, I will have to protect him. Somehow.
Even if it kills me.
Suddenly I hear footsteps echoing down the hall, closing in on me. I try to stand, but I can't. The weight and fatigue is worse now after letting myself rest a little.
I have to get up from here. Whoever it is won't be considerate.
"Liach."
The voice comes crashing over me, like cold water, causing me to tremble. Not that I'm scared. I'm shocked by the sudden call of my name.
"Dave? Why are you still here?"
"I never left," he says. "I just left to inform the medic about your condition for them to prepare before you get there."
"That's so… considerate of you."
Dave is the only man among my father's men who is genuinely kind to me. The first time we met.
~Flashback~
I was fourteen; four years ago. The year Mariza dead—my elder sister, whom my father shot for not carrying out her mission according to orders. She fell in love with her target. Which he corrects her by calling it insubordination.
Me and Lucas: who was my twin brother was on the combat ground taking combat classes. when papa called for a meeting that day to welcome the new recruits. And Dave was among them. All smiles and exuding bad boy energy.
Piercing, tattoos running down his arms; probably across his entire back, on his almost pale skin, zigzag jeans. White hairs that make his green glass eyes stand out even more, complimenting his look. He's grinning too much.
That it pisses and annoyed as to why this guy was smiling to the point that I wanted to use him as my knife practice board.
"This is Dave Stone. Papa said, he is our new tech expert. He will be handling hacking, tracking, infiltration and stealing of some noteworthy information. He will be working in all departments of this empire and training Liach on hacking."
Then our eyes lock. His eyes remained on me, scanning me in confusion for minutes, if not hours. As if he was thinking, what's a kid doing here?
"Boss!" One of the soldiers called out, raising his hand. "isn't he a foreigner? What is a foreigner doing in our domain? And he looks like his ears are still wet. What if he can't handle the pressure or sells our information out. Even worse, a spy."
Papa didn't answer, he just looked from the soldier to Dave… and tilted his head a little.
In a blink of an eye, gasps echo across the hall. The soldier was already down. Unconscious.
"Antonio. Discard him for doubting my decision."
" Yes, Don."
"Does this answer your questions? Does anyone else want to press further?"
But no one said anything.
"More like it. You are all dismissed."
Everyone left, returning to their various positions.
"Liach, come over here," papa called me over. As I walked over, Dave's attention returned to me, staring with that same look. "You are to receive classes from him after your other classes, so add it to your schedule."
"Yes, papa."
"Don't worry, Boss, I'll take good care of her." Dave assured Papa.
Papa nods, walking away and leaving us both.
"I was wondering what a thin-boned thing like you was doing here," Dave says. " Turned out you are the boss's daughter. My name is Dave."
"I already know that."
He stayed quiet, staring at me.
"I'm eighteen. I'll be your tutor… and your friend."
Why does he keep saying nonsense? Is he a kid?
"Friends don't work here. Why don't you just focus on your job instead."
"Hey, that's actually pretty good. For a kid your size, you've got a sharp tongue."
"And also, let me make myself clear," I snapped. "Keep this friendliness and smiling side of yours to yourself when you are around me, Mr. Dave. I don't appreciate it" With that, I walk past him.
Even with all my coldness towards him, he never stops being kind. Never stop smiling.
~Present~
Even right now.
"Come let me take you to the medic." He said, gently helping me to my feet.
"No, I have to go check on Elias first."
"I already did before coming here. He is sleeping in his room."
"I'm sorry but I'll have to see for myself."
Before I can argue further, he lifts me up, like I weigh nothing. Into his arms.
Head straight, his strides steady, eyes serious not listening to my words or paying mind to anything I'm saying.
"Liach."
He calls out in a very calm and soothing voice—a tone I've never heard from him before. And strangely, it's calming.
"I don't like doing things you don't want. But this time you'll do as I say. Because right now, you look like you could die any second. And it scares me. So please… just fucking listen. Please."
"Okay." I agree, not pressing further.
Why is he acting like this? I won't die that easily, and besides, I know my body more than he does. Why is he more worried than I am?
But still I nod. "I'll check on Elias after the treatment then."
"Thank you."