BETA TIM’S POV
I watched as the witch does what she has continued to do for the past few days now. I and my family stood by the entrance while Mildrid remained by the bed attending to Carl and Hedrick.
Nothing has changed and yet she continuously assured us that all will be okay.
There has been no improvement in the health condition of my son. Each passing day brought them a whole new dimension of torments and I can no longer bear to behold them in this deplorable condition.
“I cannot bear to watch anymore, Tim. Not my sons, not my children. Where the hell have I gone wrong?” Patricia sobbed.
“Please don’t distract Mildrid, you know how she feels about noises” I begged her.
Consolation is completely useless at this point. We have no hope. Death is fairer than the agony my sons are made to go through.
I watched their helpless state and wouldn’t stop cursing myself. Their bodies lay helplessly on the bed while they would not stop whimpering in pain. They are in so much agony.
They cannot eat or drink anything, and nothing Mildrid does seems to be any good.
I brought this upon me, I brought this upon the Pack and now my sons are this way, not to talk about the countless number of soldiers that we lost in the uncalled war.
“No… no… first it was my daughter, Dawn, and now my sons. Just look at them. Look at how helpless they appear. Would they be able to see another day in this state?” Patricia continued to sob and this time, she clenched onto me.
“I already say that Dawn is fine. Once all of this is over, I will send my men to find her. God help her to come up with a good reason for her disappearance” I gritted my teeth.
“Come off it, Tim. Be rational. We should be happy if she returns to us. I don’t care what in the world she has been up to all along, all I want is to have my daughter back to me” she retorted in pain.
“Please mother, we have to remain quiet. Mildrid has to concentrate” Sam persuaded Patricia.
The pains in his voice could not be hidden. He had said just very little since this event. But all can see just what he is going through and how much he had to bear.
“Sam… Sam” Patricia sobbed and went to hold on to Sam.
“It will be fine, mother, I know it will” Sam consoled her.
Really? Is it ever going to get better? What wrong have I done, why is the moon goddess punishing my household this way, what was it that I did that can never be forgiven?
Carl and Hedrick are my replicas. They are the sons that I delight in, they are the ones that I boast and talk about. I will be nothing should they die and leave me.
“The war… it is all because of Tim here, it is all because of your father,” she said angrily.
“I know, Patricia, I am sorry for it. What else should I do to show just how angered I am” I replied in a feeling of dejection.
I could not deny her accusation, I cannot make anyone stop pointing fingers at me. I am at fault and I accept all their blame.
I was foolish and allowed myself to be blinded by my ego.
Right now I am at my lowest. I am at a point where life has become completely meaningless to me. Now I am ready to let go of everything just so as to have a peaceful life.
“You should not have taken them to that war… or maybe you should have gone with just one of them. Now look at my two sons, both at the point of death,” Patricia would not stop lamenting.
“There must be a way, mother, it has already happened. All we need now is a solution” Sam replied.
I could not say anything, I have nothing to say in my defense and so I remained quiet.
“What solution is there, Sam, what other alternative do we have? Mildrid has been on this all along and yet there is no positive result, there is no sign of any improvement” Patricia asked.
“See, we could just go to Pixolands. The queen should be able to revive this. She should be able to revise what she had done to them” Sam said.
Sam’s words sent a cold chill down my spine which was immediately followed by the spike of the heat of rage ravaging through my veins as guilt overtook my soul.
Yes, the queen would have been a better choice, but would she?
I suddenly became nervous and sweats filled my whole body as the thought of meeting the queen scared me.
“Yes, Tim. Let us go to her. I heard she is very merciful. She can take pity on us and at least heal one of our sons” Patricia concurred with Sam and tried to persuade me to agree with them.
“But you see… Mildrid is already on it, they… will be fine” I stuttered in my state of confusion.
I am lying to myself but would I also be able to lie to them too?
“They get worse by the day. Each dawn brings them close to their death. For how long are we going to hold on? They must not die, Tim, they must not die” Patricia sobbed a little louder.
“Yes, father, we have to act fast” Sam added with raging eyes.
“Hmm… see… you see…” my voice was starting to waver and I could make out no sensible word.
“We have to do this… you will do this, right Tim?” Patricia caused her swollen eyes to stare at me pitifully. I could not help but look away.
How do I start explaining to them, how do I make them understand the extent of the damage our relationship with the pixies is at the moment? How do I explain to them in clear terms that the queen would not shoot us another look before beheading any of us that dares to stand before her?
“Talk, father, or is your ego still standing in the way even when it is about the lives of my brothers?” Sam asked in an obvious irritating tone.
“No… not that…” I stammered.
“Then what is it, Tim, why do you want them to die?” Patricia asked.
I was stunned by her accusation. How can I want my sons to die, what sort of a father does she see me as?
“Who says I want any of them to die?” I retorted.
“And what are you been adamant?” Sam asked.
“See the king of the Pixies might be in an even worse state than my sons and that is all thanks to me. How would she want to help us?” I asked in a low tone.
“All thanks to you…” they both exclaimed in bewilderment.
“No one will be going to the Pixies”