His fingers clench onto the thick material of his Esdithian robe as soon as he sees him. He narrows his eyes but makes no other move. He watches him blankly, his mind void of any emotional  or personal thought. Subconsciously, his eyes slide over to a figure in white. His white hair looks disheveled from having his own hand run through it too many times. He looks tired which surprises no one. He is after all, the general of the army of Esdith. But alongside the exhaustion and weakness, there is relief.
Zachariah can almost physically see the weight that's been taken off of Angel's shoulders. He notices how it frees his movement and makes his body more graceful, more precise, less tense. He looks to the direction Angel's eyes are pointed at and finds a jolly silver-haired boy. He smiles so thoughtlessly. They seem to be speaking, the three of them. Julian throws his head back and laughs. Niklaus crosses his hands over his chest and Angel's fists clench. Julian lays his arm over Angel's shoulder, making Niklaus shake his head.
Zachariah's gaze lingers for a few seconds, letting his mind calculate until he turns and steps back into the castle.

"Ease up. He's gone." Julian says to both Angel and Niklaus when he notices Zachariah's strings of emotion . Angel's fists uncurl and he takes a deep breath. Niklaus turns his head and looks towards where Zachariah stood moments ago. Unlike Angel's relief, he only felt disappointment. He hoped Zachariah would approach him. He'd felt them both. Xavier and Zachariah so he can almost swear Zachariah knows something. Or else he wouldn't feel so rigid and full of nebulous emotions.

"I get that he's Lord Second and all, but what is it with you and him?" Julian asks. Niklaus and Angel both look at Julian expectantly.

"Me?" They both say in unison. Angel and Niklaus exchange  looks of agitation. Julian groans.

"Talk about a dysfunctional love triangle." Julian mutters to himself,  beginning to march  away. Angel's eyes widen considerably and a loud gasp escapes his mouth while Niklaus laughs loudly.

"He's practically my dad!" Niklaus yells after the silver haired boy. Julian snorts a few meters away then stops and shoots Niklaus a mocking glance.

"No Nick. He's not. He was the other half of your soul or whatever. Tucker is practically your dad. Or no, maybe Allen was!" Julian yells smugly. Niklaus, looking unfazed by what would seem to anyone else as an insult, shrugs.

"Sure. They all played their roles in raising me if you put it that way." Julian raises an eyebrows.

"You're the Prince." Julian points out, putting one hand at his hip. "They're the kings of Esdith and you're practically their son. So you're the Prince of Esdith." Niklaus's eyes darken and his teeth clench when a girl's voice calls to him from his memories.

"You're doing great, Nick! They treat you like a Prince. Like their Prince."

"Never say that again. Not ever." He threatens darkly. Julian snorts, waving him off. Julian turns to look at Angel and chuckles when he sees him all flustered and messy.

"Angel?" Julian calls him slowly. Angel gulps audibly then aims his flustered glare at Julian.

"That is morbidly inappropriate of you to say, Major Blay Julian!" He shouts. Julian clutches his stomach and laughs loudly while Niklaus looks at Angel with raw disgust.

"The fact that you actually took the time to think of what he said to a morbidly inappropriate level is morbidly sickening." Niklaus announces patronizingly. Angel steps towards Niklaus and meets his eyes.

"I know my place and so I acknowledge that it was inappropriate. Unlike you." He spits, taking another step. "You think you're their son. You bear not their blood or flesh. You are not the son of Lord Xavier, Tristan, Colton, Allen, Tucker, or even Lord Jonathan! They've no children! And if they did-" He pauses to grab hold of the front of Niklaus's clothes. "-if one of them did have a son, he would be Prince." Niklaus's eyes look down at Angel with boredom .

Wordlessly, Julian calms Angel down. Silently, he grabs onto the thick white fabric of his uniform and pulls him away.

"Angel." He whispers, unsure of what caused his outburst. Julian steps in front of him and waits until his breathing slows.

"The Lords cannot have children. They've no descendants." He says gently. Angel looks at him angrily, his eyes glazed with anger.

But they do. I am the son. I am the Prince, he thinks.

"Let's just go inside, the sun has already set." Julian says carefully. Niklaus nods while Angel's eyes remain wide with rage.

Zachariah managed to take a shower, get dressed and compose himself despite the nagging in his mind. In order to occupy himself, he goes to check on the preparations of the ball. All the Elites and servants work together to decorate the ball room. They bring in tables and set up mini stages. Zachariah walks through them thoughtfully. He steps out of the ballroom and finds the trio stepping into the castle once more.

"Angel." He calls smoothly. The three of them turn towards him and drop to one knee respectfully. Julian only goes down when Niklaus discretely grabs onto the back of his shirt and tugs strongly.

"Yes, milord?" Angel says, looking towards him. Zachariah takes a few steps forward, reaching another door then nods at him.

"Step into the library. The two of you will not move until he returns." Zachariah says coldly. Angel gets up hurriedly and does as he's told. Once they're both in the room, Julian stands up with a snort. Niklaus raises his head slowly, looking towards the door with irritation. He recalls confronting Angel about ingesting Zachariah's blood when he was hung up on the dungeon walls.

"What do you know? Now you're being escorted around too." Julian teases. Niklaus stands up quietly and hopes that Julian is wrong.

"Milord." Zachariah wastes no time pushing up the wide sleeve of his robe and taking a viscious bite. Angel stands up from his kneeling position once Zachariah offers his arm.

"Dare not misunderstand; I haven't forgiven you for torturing Niklaus. However, I need you to be healthful and that is not possible when I am punishing you." Zachariah says as Angel drinks the last drop of his blood before the would regenerates.

"Yes, milord." Angel says confidently. Zachariah looks at Angel quietly. Angel tries not to meet his eyes so he watches him push down his sleeve.

"Tell me about Major Blay Julian." Zachariah says a little more quietly than he usually would. Angel gulps, not understanding yet knowing better than to question him.

"He is true to his word and inflicts no harm on Esdith. We spend a lot of time training his left eye. We've recently accomplished accessing memories-"

"We." Zachariah echoes, his eyebrows rising a little. Angel inhales sharply and is suddenly more aware of himself. "Proceed." Zachariah encourages thoughtfully.

"He can get into a person's memories now however he can not change anything yet." Zachariah nods then turns his body and links his arms behind his back.

"Which of your memories has he seen?" Angel raises his eyes and looks at the back of this powerful man's head. Jonathan may be his father, but Lord Second is the only thing that keeps him moving. His blisteringly cold gaze, his calm but fervent voice, his overwhelmingly tumultuous presence all push him forward.

"I killed his pair. He was there at the time, but he was able to relive it from my point of view." Angel's eyes go down to Lord Second's hands. He has large palms with long thin fingers. His black nails blend in with the color of his long sleeves while his large silver ring gleams in the dim light.

"Angel of Esdith." Angel's eyes shoot upwards to find Zachariah's head turned and looking at him. "You are a secret; the son of a Major Gemind. You are my secret. The both of us know what your training was like. I'm sure you remember it all. I have never had an Elite before you for my number is too powerful to bear. Too painful to bear. That you know better than I. So tell me, how long will it be before he sees everything? How long before I am not the only person who knows you?" Angel can feel the blood drain from his face as Zachariah's heavy gaze forces him to his knees.

"Milord." He begins respectfully. "Upon your word, I will never allow him in again." Angel offers quietly. It's not that the thought hasn't crossed his mind. Zachariah steps towards him and lays a cold finger under his chin, pushing his head upwards.

"It's alright. Do not fear and do not panic if you find yourself vulnerable and exposed to him." Zachariah says, his finger swiping away dry drops of his black blood from Angel's chin. Zachariah then turns and leaves before Angel can understand his words. Moments later, Julian steps in with a smile.

"I get that I'm awesome but don't you think kneeling to me is a bit much?" Julian teases, seeing Angel still kneeling. With a scowl, Angel stands up.

"Is there a reason as to why you are shadowing me, Niklaus?" Zachariah asks coldly, his eyes narrowing. Niklaus tries not to falter in his confidence.

"I felt Lord Xavier's pain and panic. I felt your grief and disappointment. I know he told you why I was in Center Coast and in willing to explain a little further if you wish." Zachariah's lips purse in irritation. Had it been anyone but Niklaus, he would have struck them down for speaking with such authority. However, he knows it's Niklaus's way of hiding his fear and regret.

"Niklaus." Zachariah sings loudly. "Find your place lest I show you." He warns. Niklaus walks towards Zachariah and stops a few inches from his body. Slowly, he bends himself to rest on one knee. He rest his elbow on his knee and inclines his head.

"You did not trust me? You did not trust my brothers whose arms were wide open to you?" Niklaus shakes his head without looking at Zachariah.

"What has time done to your sharpness, Zachary?" Niklaus asks harshly. Lord Second clicks his tongue. His large palms rests softly on Niklaus's head, his fingers weaving though his hair then pulls. Hard. Niklaus grits his teeth and grasps onto Zachariah's cold hands as he gets to his feet.

"You are asking me such trivial questions when you forget to inquire about the root. Ask me, Zachary. Fear not for what's done has been done for a thousand years." He snarks.

"For you to have needed Xavier to restore your mark, you would've had to shatter it first." Niklaus purses his lips, waiting for him to ask. "Who did you betray?" Zachariah releases Niklaus's soft hair and takes a step back, as if preparing for a blow. Niklaus runs a hand though his hair, and smooths down his clothes. After a minute, he starts to pace.

"You must bear in mind, I was brought up here. I love Esdith-"

"Who did you betray, Niklaus?" Zachariah asks impatiently, stopping him from stalling. Niklaus looks at him weakly and pettily , irking Zachariah more.

"You appear as you were on the bloodied ground of Esdith looking at me like that as the sounds of your thieves of friends screamed in terror. I taught you better young one. That face I do not acquiesce." Zachariah warns. "Speak boy!"

"You will misunderstand. I- I cannot. I apologize." Niklaus cries out when Zachariah suddenly appears in front of him with his hand firmly griping his chin, forcing their eyes to meet.

"Vheet." Niklaus feels something claw on him, inside him. He feels a lock detain the truth inside of him and now he can't hide. His hands immediately fly up to clutch onto Zachariah's.

"No! No please! Please Zachariah I beg of you! I beg of you to have mercy! Don't do this to yourself, I beg of you!!" Niklaus screams as he tries to pull away from him. Zachariah's grey eyes brew a storm as he looks down at Niklaus.

"To myself?" He echoes. Niklaus's eyes widen in terror and he grips Zachariah's shoulders, trying his hardest a to push away.

"The truth will do no good. Zachariah please! Don't ask me who it was I betrayed. I deserve nothing from you, I don't and we all know it. Please comprehend as I say the truth will wreck the very floor we tread on. I beg of you!" Zachariah feels Niklaus tremble in his arms and naturally, that only makes him more desperate for answers.

"Please I know I owe you. All of you! I do not ask mercy upon me, but please. It will ruin us all! I implore of you Zachariah have mercy. If not on yourself then on your brothers." Zachariah's eyes slowly become void of emotion. "No! No don't!" Niklaus kicks and pushes but to no avail.

"Niklaus, who did you bet-"

"NOO!!!!!" Smoke explodes from all around them and Zachariah's words drown in the sound of Niklaus's desperation. Moments later, the mayhem begins to clear away and Zachariah finds himself at Niklaus's neck. He pins him to the wall with his hand digging into his throat. Zachariah's eyes widen and his body becomes alert and tense.
Niklaus's legs give out and he falls to his knees. His eyes are frantic and spilling with tears as his body trembles. Zachariah falters and subconsciously takes two steps backwards. With his hands spread out in front of him, keeping Niklaus away, he whispers.

"What have you done, Nick? My dear Nick?" Zachariah immediately turns and storms away.

Niklaus covers his head with his hands and pushes himself to a corner where he whispers to the voice in his head. The one that refuses to die.

"You weren't worth it. You weren't worth it. You said you'd be, you lied. You lied Erika, you lied."

"They will hurt you, Nick. Trust me. It's the only thing they know to do. Trust me, Niklaus." She whispers desperately. Her chocolate colored hair blowing into her face. Her eyes wide and shining with determination. Her hand whips out and snatches Niklaus', holding it tight in hers. He can feel her tremble a little as she rests their palms on her chest.

"Feel that?" She asks sharply. Niklaus tries to concentrate then shakes his head.

"No. I'm sorry I-." She smiles slightly, silencing him.

"Don't be. That's my point. I have no heart anymore. They ripped it out and made me a Gemind. They want me to be an immortal servant to the army. To forever remain their General even if I'm not an Elite anymore. They want me to keep killing." Her thin frail arm then moves his palm to his own chest where he feels it. The steady, reassuring beat of his heart.

"You have a heart and I want you to keep it. So we have to do this. We must Niklaus. Esdith must seize or people like you and I will become killing machines for all of eternity. Niklaus purses his lips, taking a deep breath.

"But is it really worth it, Erika?  Your plan will take centuries to accomplish. And what if we fail? Will what's to follow truly be worth it? Will it?"  The slender girl inhales sharply then nods once.

"It will. I promise." Niklaus reaches for her  face and caresses her cheek lightly.

"For you only, my love. Tell me, what is it you need from me?" The girl rests her hand on his and smiles with so much beauty that even the dark night cannot hide. She leans in until he wraps his arms around her. Her head rests on his chest, taking comfort in the steady rhythm of his mortal heart. His large hands caress her hair until she speaks.

"Let them love you until they trust you. Then, find their secret and hand it over to me." 

***

Yes, I know, I know this is a filler. I'm sorry! But... I hope you enjoy it anyways. Hopefully, the next update won't take too long.

Please do vote and comment. Silent reading does no good to my motivation to write!