"What do you mean by brother?" I asked when I finally recovered from the initial shock and my dad smiled at me, as if a smile would answer my question and solve the mess he has created in my life. "I said what do you mean by brother?" I gritted out through clenched teeth and he dared to smile even more.

He turned to Franklin and smiled at him, before he turned back to me and motionlessly to the empty chair before him, "come and have a seat, son. I'll explain everything to you" he said, aggravating me even more I clenched my fists tightly, "come on son, come and sit close to me. I haven't seen you in a while"

"Be still, son" Abba's voice rang through my mind, but I was far too gone in my pain and anger to pay heed to it

"And whose fault is that, Mr Abner?" I retorted immediately and I saw the look of shock that crossed his face. "I've been in school all these while, but I guess you couldn't take your time out of your busy schedule to come and pay me a visit, yet you were more than capable to bring a stranger in here and term him my brother?! Have you no shame, Mr Abner?" By the time I was done speaking, his face had morphed into a frown and he slammed his hand on the desk, almost standing to his feet.

But Miss Gloria immediately reached out and held him down, "please sir, I apologise on his behalf" she said softly and I scoffed, making her turn towards me with a glare. "Zadkiel, I expect you to be on your best behaviour as a student, a student representative and a son to your father" she spat out but her eyes gazed softly at me, and I understood the million and one things she was communicating to me, so I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath.

Abba's words rang through my mind at that moment and a heaviness settled in my chest, only if I had listened. I'm sorry Abba, I apologized and then opened my eyes up again, and as I did, I stood upright and forced a small smile on my face. "As a student and a representative, I'll do my best, but as a son..." My gaze lingered on my dad for a while before it travelled to Franklin's lookalike, who was smirking, I dragged my gaze from him and turned to Miss Gloria and my smile widened, "I have no parent around to act as a son for" I blurted and from my peripheral vision, I saw my so-called father arc a brow before he released a deep breath and relaxed against his chair.

"That's fine with me, you have no use and value to me as a son anyway," he said coolly and I felt shivers run down my spine, "and while we are at it, I might as well let you know that I have a new family. I remarried four months ago and Fredrick here is my son" my heart immediately lurched down into my stomach and I felt a bile rise my throat. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes threatening to fall, but I swallowed them and forced myself to keep smiling.

"Congratulations Sir" My voice came out raspy and my throat burned as I spoke, but I maintained my stance with a smile on my face, "Ma'am, I believe I was called to give him a tour and an overview of the school"

I saw Miss Gloria blink away the tears in her eyes and I gulped painfully. She knew. She has always known. "Yes, he's been appointed to King's dormitory and his major is Microbiology, please show him around the block" I nodded and the corners of her lips in a small smile, "and meet me when you're done," she said and I stared at her without saying a word. I wasn't going to. I don't plan on it and I hope she got the information.

After a while of motionlessly staring at each other, she finally nodded, "You can go now"

"And make sure you handle my son with care, not a scratch on him," Mr Abner said and I held his gaze for a while before I slowly looked away and turned to Franklin's lookalike

"Let's go, Fra... Fredrick" I said and he looked away from me to my dad who was staring at him with a smile. He immediately leaned down and wrapped his arm around him, the sight felt like an arrow straight to my chest, and I immediately looked away.

"Be safe and healthy, son" I heard him say and I swallowed thickly at the surge of memories that flashed through my mind, how long has it been since he even looked at me like a son? A year ago? I shook my head at the thought, it's been longer than that. After she got sick, I watched his gaze on me change ever so slowly.

A presence slowly crept up beside me and I snapped out of my thought, "let's go" I mumbled and led him out of the office without a word. Our walk continued in silence and I wished it would continue like that, that way I could gather my thoughts but like I expected the silence was short-lived. The moment we stepped out of the office's vicinity, Franklin's lookalike immediately began talking.

"How do you like my new name? Doesn't Fredrick just suit me so much better?" I glanced at him as faced right ahead without saying a word, "You know you haven't formally welcomed me into the family, I mean now that your mother has been perfectly and absolutely replaced, you should be nice to me you know because replacing you would be as quick and as easy as ABC"

"Be still, son" Abba's voice came again just as I was about to retort and I inhaled sharply, keeping my mouth shut as we kept walking.

My silence seemed to infuriate him even more because I heard him take deep breaths and from my peripheral vision, I could see his lips set in a thin line as he kept clenching and unclenching his fists. "Glad to see that you still think keeping quiet and ignoring things would make them disappear or not be true" he teased but I kept walking, "I wonder how that is working with mummy dearest, still thinking she's alive somewhere in the world and not accepting the truth verbally will bring her back alive?"

I immediately stopped dead in my tracks and turned to him with wide eyes. How could he? I felt ripples run down my body and I trembled, not because of how cold the air had gotten, nor how silent the world had gotten but because of the disbelief that coursed through me. He knew too much to not be Franklin, he knew way too much but this person was cold. Very cold and I refuse to believe that this... My body trembled as I tried to keep my calm. There is no way he was Franklin. No eay6.

"Zadkiel..." Abba's voice called out tenderly and tears welled up in my eyes, "I am here" he whispered and my throat burned as I tried to keep the tears away. "Act like you know that your God is here" I bit down hard on the insides of my cheeks and nodded. I can't let him bring the worst out of me.

"Franklin" I called out softly, "if it is really you, then I guess it must be nice to still have a breath in you after that traumatizing event" I paused and smiled. "But I bet it's very miserable and exhausting to have a breath but no life" I shot him another smile and walked away. "If you're interested, you can come along if not, you can stand there.... Fredrick"

"You and your friends" he started, stopping me right in my tracks, "the Royal three" he spat out sarcastically "As your royal servant, I solemnly swear to crush and hurt every single one of you till you all wish for death. Starting from your dearest Gabriel."

I breathed out a laugh at his words, he sounded like a child being whiny about their doll. "Bring it on, Franklin"... I paused and my lips curled up in a smile "I mean, Fredrick" I breathed out and his eyes darkened.

"If I were you, Zadkiel. I'd watch my back" he walked closer to me and leaned closer to my ear, "and the people standing there, especially your Royal 2. I heard the best way to attack a man is from the back and I'm coming for royal number 2" he pulled away and smiled. "You don't have to worry about me, I know my way around here" he brushed past me and walked away, leaving me transfixed.

I watched him walk away till he wasn't in sight anymore Abba, what is this mountain that I have been faced with? Are you punishing me for losing a soul?" My shoulders quivered slightly and I breathed heavily "What am I supposed to do now? A soul has been completely blackened and the life of my friends are in danger. What am I supposed to do, Abba?"

"Is there anything too impossible for me to do? Is any situation too difficult for me to handle? I AM, Zadkiel." The comforting voice of Abba whispered and I broke down.

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼
I thought I lost this chapter. Almost started crying!
Thank you so much ittywitty7 for your votes and your support