Chapter 537 - Mulciber Citadel Ⅱ (1/2)

When Peregrine Mulciber finally came to himself, he finds that he is standing just outside of his mother's bedroom. There is a slight pause of hesitation, before he knocks on his mother's door. ”Who is it?” A soft, melodic voice asked.

Taking a deep breath, Peregrine replies with a simple statement, ”It's me, mother.”

There is a loud gasp heard as the trembling voice of Meredith Mulciber is heard saying, ”Please do not toy with your mother's feelings, Damian. I am in no mood for your cruel antics.”

Hearing his mother's tired and pained voice, Peregrine furrows his brow. He had the impression that his younger brother enjoyed playing such cruel hoaxes on their mother. And even worse, his younger brother had become completely twisted under their father's tutelage.

Not one to give up easy, Peregrine quietly says again, ”Mother, it's truly me.”

Inside the bedchamber, the figure of Meredith Mulciber can be seen. She had violent bruises on her face on body that were still healing, but even still, she was still a willow like beauty even now. Tragically, that had been her undoing.

Meredith had been a studious Ravenclaw, who was warm and kind, and had loved to learn. However, alas, like all these things time does not halt, and she had grown into a famous willow like beauty. She had not wished to marry Mulciber, but the bride price offered to her father had been more than generous, and as such she'd quickly found herself under a betrothal contract which had led to her marriage with Mulciber.

Things had not been all bad at the start of their marriage, but with the passing of time Mulciber grew more and demanding until he struck her that first time. He had apologized with a great big bouquet of her favorite flowers at that time, Hyacinth. She had quickly forgiven him then and had put it behind her.

Then Meredith had found herself with her first child, Peregrine. Meredith eyes fill with tears as she recalls that sweet golden-haired babe that smiled so sweetly at her. She had been so happy then, so young, and full of hope for the future. But then one evening, Mulciber had struck her again.

Meredith had not been so quick to forgive him that second time, but she had believed in his sincerity and countless promises. Utterly a naïve little fool, she had foolishly once again fallen into Mulciber's cunning trap. T'was not that Mulciber had been truly repent rather his father-in-law, her father had still been alive at that time. And if she had demanded a divorce, he would surely have aided her in fleeing from her abusive husband. But she had been so incredibly young then only nineteen years old, when her first born had been born.

Truly, Meredith thought she could live with the occasional outbursts of violence for her son's sake. She had at that time wanted her son to grow with a father and not have the stigmatism associated with being the child of a divorcee. She had truly been thinking of her son's wellbeing, but once more she had been made the wrong choice. Her entire life had mostly been made up of wrong choices ever since she had met Mulciber.

And what should have been the second happiest day of her life was in fact the start of her tragedy. The day her second son had been born, Damian, her father had died. And with him the hope of any escape and any mercy from Mulciber.

A bitter, soft laugh burst forth from Meredith's lips as she continues in her reverie. Mulciber had begun to beat her more and more often after that day including in front of their two sons. Bless his soul, Peregrine had attempted to protect her, but he would only be tossed to the side by his father.

And as for her second son, Damian, she had witnessed that evil seed that had been planted that day in the study that had only grown until it wholly consumed his mind with malice. But Mulciber was not wholly to blame for the blame lay with her too. She should have fought back, back then, but now it was much late for only the fiery pit of Hell awaited her.

Meredith eyes are dry despite the strong emotions clearly visible in her eyes. But she had ceased to cry and weep over her situation many years ago. There were no more tears left for her to weep. There were none left, and no more would come.

Sighing in resignation and tired of playing these cruel games with her second son, Meredith leans back into her pillows and says in a bone-weary tone, ”Fine, come on in.”

Meredith does not even stare at the door as she waits for the smug expression and jeer to begin from her second son, Damain. Failing to hear anything, she frowns and wonders, what evil thing he is planning next?

Glancing over Meredith freezes and whispers in disbelief, ”Peregrine?”

”I've returned, mother,” Peregrine whispered as he rushed over to his mother, who he had not seen since his seventeenth year, during one of her secret visits.

”Oh, my precious, per-per,” Meredith murmured as eye ducts that she had long since thought dried filled with moisture. Hugging him to her chest, she kissed his head and rocked him in her arms as she whispers, ”Oh, my per-per, how I've failed you and your brother. How you must be so very utterly disappointed in me?”

”That's not true mother!” Peregrine rather muffled replied from his mother's arms as he gently pulled away to add, ”You can't leave father, can you mother?”

Meredith makes a bitter expression as she motions to her son to take a seat next to her. Peregrine sits on the bed next to his mother as she anxiously pats his head as if making sure he is in fact real and there with her. After a moment, she withdraws her hand, but keeps him in sight.