Warning: Homophobia, abuse, and implications of sexual assault (not detailed.)

Hours later, they walk hand in hand, unaware of the looming silhouette waiting at the edge of town. They don't see the silhouette turn their way when Artemis leans in for another kiss. They only hear the low growl of a voice that makes Dovin stiffen and break away, staring wide-eyed at his father stomping towards them and screaming.

Artemis doesn't understand a word nor does he understand Dovin, but he understands the emotions. Dovin's voice trembles, pleading and fearful. His eyes glisten over with tears, desperately scanning the area for an escape. Dovin's father, Mr. Vassere, grows close enough to see his features, an older and more rugged version of Dovin.

"You," Mr. Vassere spits, accent so heavy Artemis strains to understand. "What were you just doing?"

"We went on a walk, Sir," Artemis replies.

"A walk," he echoes, gaze shifting to their hands that were holding only a moment ago. "Is that all?"

When Dovin speaks, his father slaps him, nearly sending him to the ground. He shouts, red-faced and spitting. Dovin shivers, retreating with hands up in surrender. When Mr. Vassere raises his hand again for another hit, Artemis shouts, "I kissed him, but he turned me down!"

Mr. Vassere looks at him, eyebrow raised.

"I misunderstood and pushed myself on him," Artemis finishes, watching Mr. Vassere's rage turn from Dovin to him. Letting that rage turn because, deep down, he felt like he deserved to be hit for being so foolish.

"Leave," Mr. Vassere orders, looking at Dovin.

"Papa," Dovin whispers, fearful eyes shifting between Artemis and his father. Artemis gives a slow nod to let him know it's ok while removing his weapons to lay on the side of the path.

"Leave," Mr. Vassere repeats.

Dovin stumbles down the path, looking over his shoulder every few steps until his father punches Artemis. Then Dovin breaks into a run, disappearing in time to not witness his father beating Artemis.

Mr. Vassere leaves Artemis bloody among the fields, fists bruised and red. Artemis wipes the blood from his nose, wheezing as he stands. Every weapon is put back into place, not one being touched during the beating, nor does he have any defensive wounds because he let it happen. Let Mr. Vassere take out his anger in hopes that Dovin won't feel the wrath later. Artemis can handle it, physically at least. Mentally is another story.

Uncaring of the dark, Artemis limps to the woods, clutching his aching ribs. There are whispers among the shadows. Crunching leaves all around. He pays them no mind. He walks with a clear destination, grunting and groaning when he descends beneath the white tree.

The prince awakens at the scent of blood. The scent is familiar, although smelled only once before; Artemis' blood. The smell is potent, growing closer. Slow footsteps stumble to the roots, then Artemis sits wordlessly. He wipes the blood from his nose, staring at the streaks along his jacket. There's dirt and footprints across his rumpled clothes that he dusts away carefully at first, then rabidly, as if he's trying to hide a crime.

Are you not going to speak of what happened? the prince wonders.

Something rumbles within that he can't quite explain. That's been happening more and more recently, but even this is in a league of its own. He's as desperate to escape his confines as when he first awoke, but not to taste freedom--no--he wishes to learn. Who did this? Why? Where are they? And what will he do to them?

"Do you want to hear a story?" Artemis whispers, sucking in a deep breath that mimics a sob. "Once there was a boy who lost his father, then grew distant from his mother. But distance never made the boy believe she would ever cause him true harm. A hit here or there, some harsh words, they were nothing he couldn't handle. But he was naive and hopeful for there to be love where there was not."

"A terrible winter storm hit and after that there was an even more horrendous harvest. People were starving, desperate, and too poor to purchase what little food remained. What do you suppose the rich did? They bought up the supplies and made offers to get what they wanted, terrible desires fulfilled in acts of desperation. We were so hungry," Artemis wheezes. Tears streak over dirtied cheeks. "Mama said to go to the house on the hill, where Mr. Hellsman, our landlord, lives. He would give us food if I did some chores for him, but... it wasn't chores he wanted... it wasn't chores. But I went again and again and again and..."

Artemis sobbed, nothing like what the prince heard before and doubted he would ever hear again. In the cave, the wails echoed against the walls, trapping them within a globe of sorrow. Painful cries, hoarse and cracked with secrets never told bombarded the prince. A mere coffin keeps him from silencing those tears, the labored breathing so erratic he fears Artemis will drop. Along with that sorrow comes rage, festering and putrid hatred twisting into a string of curses because that's all the prince can do.

"I was with a boy earlier," Artemis adds between sobs. He furiously wipes the tears away, flinching from the pain. "I was foolish enough for a moment to think these feelings were ok, but his father reminded me that they aren't. How disgusting to love what hurt you."

Why listen to a fool? To one whose words do not matter? He's wrong. You mortals believe these wrongs for reasons I cannot fathom. He's a fool, a coward, and a monster almost as heinous as me. Don't listen to him. Don't care. Make him pay. I would. I'd make him scream, the prince bellows, wishing to truly shout. But he can't. All he can do is curse ever bastard who dared to harm his knight, then listen to Artemis cry himself to sleep. For the first time in the lonely prince's long life, he hurt for someone other than himself, and he hadn't any idea what to do with a pain that wouldn't heal by a snap of his fingers.

Unknowing to the both of them, the shards atop the ceiling grow smaller and the cavern a little warmer.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:✧*⋆.*:･ﾟ✧.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ☾