NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12.5: Guilt Unthinkable
Some time had passed since the Lady Kaitlyn had left and Lukas spent the rest of his time in his office, strategizing, plotting, coordinating every single aspect of his plan.
His mother entered without a word, carrying a tray of food. Simple dishes, warm and familiar, the kind he hadn't realized he missed until the scent filled the room. They were dishes that Lukas had grown up eating, memories of a past life that was not his own filling his mind. Selene placed the tray down and sat across from him, saying nothing except giving him a warm smile.
She let him work for a long while before finally speaking her mind.
"You did the right thing," Selene said.
Lukas exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "The Kraken escaped, Ma."
"Yes and you also spared a man who was under his control. You allowed a father to return to his family." Selene folded her hands on the table, adamant in what she had to say. "You did made the right choice."
Lukas looked into her eyes, searching for something he wasn't sure he'd find.
Perhaps it was doubt? To see if she really meant every word she spoke, to see if she was just saying these things to put his mind at ease. But her gaze was steady, unwavering. She believed in what she said. She believed in him.
For all the uncertainty and chaos in Linemall, there was none Lukas could find in her.
"Rest. Eat. And Think. But don't ever doubt yourself. And even if you do, believe in me that believes in you, Lukas." Selene whispered lovingly, placing her hand on his and giving it a small squeeze.
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"Thank you. But...right now, I just think I'd like to be left alone." He told her as gently as possible. And his mother frowned.
For a moment, he thought his words had hurt her. But understanding flickered in her eyes and she nodded.
Selene stood to leave and just like that Lukas was alone once more, alone with his thoughts.
In the silence, questions began to run wild in his mind.
There was a reason why he had asked her to leave.
In the rush of it all, he had not even considered a very real possibility.
Had the Lukas Drakos, the original Lukas Drakos, had a choice? If not for his wish being granted, would the son of Lord Jaren and Selene of Dawn have awoken and lived out the life he was always meant to live?
What if he had taken away all the happiness that the original was supposed to experience?
What if, by getting a second chance at life, he'd taken away someone's only shot at it?
What if he told them all the truth? What if he told them all that he was not truly Lukas Drakos and that he had stolen this body from the original soul, the original Lukas Drakos?
What would they say, what would they do, how would they treat him if they knew who he really was?
This chance was not one that simply came without cost. He had been given a second chance at life. And he would have to pay a price eventually to that immortal being who'd made all of this possible in the first place.
Would he be willing to pay that price when the time came? Did he even have a choice?
They were deafening and finally Lukas stood abruptly, silencing the thoughts in his mind.
He had to focus.
He could worry about introspection later, once the Kraken had been dealt with.
He needed to take care of business.
He needed a plan.