I lie in my chamber, where I have remained, bedridden, since the Selection ended. My old injury has come back to haunt me with a vengeance, and Aquilo has remained by my side the entire time, as steady as the mountain, but I can hear death knocking at my door. My bones are old and weary now, and my heart is like a bottomless pit, empty, cold, and echoing with regret. The feeling is so suffocating that I can barely find the will to keep breathing. My eyes are closed as I hear the door creak open. 

“Prince Seth, what business do you have with his Majesty?” Aquilo says in a warning tone, but my son simply ignores him and I can sense him standing over my bed..

“Father,” he says, and his voice causes my stomach to clench with fear and disgust. “Open your eyes, and look at me.”

I keep my eyes closed, I can’t bear to look at him, my heart aches as though I have been run through with a sword.

“Look at me!” Prince Seth shouts, and I feel his hands grab my shoulders, and he begins to desperately shake me. I cannot bear to ignore his desperate pleading any longer and slowly open my eyes. My son stands before me, and for the first time I realize that he is the spitting image of his father. His once well maintained hair appears unkept, and his emerald eyes appear bloodshot; it seems like he has been unable to get a good night's rest. As I look into his eyes I realize that his expression carries the same desperate loneliness I carry in my heart, and my heart aches for him.

 How could I not notice before? 

“I’m sorry… Seth, I’m… so…sorry”

Seth’s expression suddenly grows twisted, and he grabs me by my collar.

“You’re sorry? What good is it that you’re sorry? Will that bring Siris back? Will that erase what I did?”  I want to say something more, but I can only manage to repeat myself.

“I’m…sorry” 

I’m sorry for becoming king, I’m sorry for being your father, and I’m sorry, Seth, for the way I treated you. I am unable to express all of this to my son, and he grows enraged at my pitiful apology. He grabs me by my neck, but before Seth can end my pitiful existence with his own hands, a sword appears at his throat.

“Your Highness, his Majesty is unwell, please release him immediately.” Aquilo says.

“You two truly only care for each other, even at the end,” my son hisses, but he still lets go of my neck.

“Father, I’ll leave you to rot here with your loyal dog. Goodbye.” I hear the sounds of his footsteps growing further and further away.

Aquilo rushes to my side and I feel him check my pulse, which has now grown weak.

“Helios…” he whispers, his voice so small that I can barely hear it. I open my mouth and force out a few words between my ragged breaths.

“They…have all…left me … now…” Every word takes immense force from my body. “Aquilo… please… stay by my side.”

I feel cold droplets of water on my face as I listen to his reply. “Of course, Helios. I will accompany you, even in death.”

And he does, holding my hand as the world fades around me for the final time.