Acacius sighed and peeked over at his brother.
“You still know how to cause a scene, don’t you?” Cassius turned to face him with an amused twinkle in his gaze. “Since you were a little boy. Do you recall the time you destroyed our home, all because Iliana told you no?”
When they were children, Iliana had forbidden Acacius from roaming the woods with Cassius. In return, Acacius was furious and, during a fit, smashed their dwellings, leaving them to sleep in the cold. The three of them curled up under the stars, and by the end of the night, infectious laughter spread between them from the absurdity of Acacius’s dramatic actions.
He let out a breathy chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. “I suppose that once Iliana hears of this, she will come find me, and I will receive a grandiose scolding, one for the ages.”
Cassius casually waved the image of her off before leaning back on the heel of his hand. “Finnian contained your Chaos and Ruin to this area. Though, there were reports of your creatures lurking in Isolde. It seems some escaped before we arrived.”
Acacius was hardly concerned about Isolde or the deities within it.
“How did you know?” he asked, voice low and apologetic.
“Alke has been watching over Ash. I must say, I am relieved to hear that the sightings of your Daemons in the city were false.Alke never spotted Soren, though. It appears the High God is extremely skilled to cast his trickery on a watchingboyden.”
Alke was Finnian’s undead bird. It made sense that it would be surveying Ash, given that Finnian could not hear summons due to his impaired ear.
“I am sorry if I caused you any more trouble.” Acacius picked at his thumbnail, his shame burning in his chest. “I never wished to disrupt your peace.”
“Is that why you showed up at my house earlier?”
Acacius looked over at him.
Cassius placed a hand on Acacius’s shoulder, squeezing lightly. “If you have something to say, Brother, I am always willing to listen.”
Acacius held his eyes, more familiar than any home that he’d ever known. “I fucked up. With Ruelle and you. I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to you, but I just…” He ran a hand over his hair, noticing it was no longer tied up. The ends met the tops of his shoulders.
“I know.” Cassius said in a genuine tone, moving his hand back to his lap. “Father ran off and Mother died when you were young. You always held the absence of their love far greater than I or Iliana ever did. Since, it’s all you’ve ever chased.”
Acacius rarely recalled their father, and as for their mother, the last he saw of her was their visit in the Paradise of Rest, back when Cassius escorted him and Iliana to give a final farewell. She lit up at the sight of his siblings, but barely offered a hug to him. He’d always felt her detachment toward him, even as a child waddling after her, begging for her attention. His request was often reciprocated with a scowl or scream.
“You and Iliana were the ones who showed me love,” he confessed, holding a distant gnarl in his chest that felt more visceral in his younger days. Back when the pain of having a mother that detested him still hung heavy on his heart.
“Not many can walk the life we have, cursed to carry our burdens for so long. You’ve done well holding yours, just as Iliana and I have, but it’s time to let go of your fears when what you’ve sought stands right beside you.”
Acacius followed Cassius’s glance to Marina, her face arranged in a flat expression as Finnian pried open her lips to examine the inside of her mouth.
Acacius’s heart warmed at the sight of her.
He nodded to his brother, letting out a long breath. “I miss you.”
Cassius scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I may no longer reside in the realm above yours, but I am still a second away. My home is always open to you, whenever you need me, or if you’d prefer just a visit. I’ve nearly perfected my chili recipe.”
Acacius laughed.
Cassius blinked at him. “I am not joking.”
“I know.” Acacius said it with a broad smile. “That is what makes it all the more amusing.”
Cassius sent him a look. “I’ll feed you a bowl if you promise not to be so reckless in the future. Look at this mess.” He gestured out to the aftermath of his Chaos. “Nathaira is going to have to clean up after you just to keep the mortals from reporting it as some divine war.”
Acacius controlled the width of his smile, the warmth in his heart seeping into his chest at the sound of Cassius’s lecture. “I will be sure and thank her. And I promise to not be so reckless again.”
Cassius chuckled, unable to maintain his chiding expression. “Don’t make promises you cannot keep, Brother. You really are a menace, you know that?”
“I’d love a bowl. Of your chili. Perhaps, Sundays we could dine together?” Acacius looked back towards the land below.
“You must provide a side dish. It’s only good manners, you know.”
