six

Nicolai was grateful the boys had dropped it, though he could feel the worried looks when he approached Haziel for contacts the following weekend. He wasn’t meant to be here, he knew that. People with white eyes weren’t meant to be anywhere as far as he was concerned. As far as the humans were concerned. 

 

Then came the day. It had been about three weeks since the initial incident at the cafe. He and Theo spent any waking moment they could together. Astris was desperately trying to beat up the old waitress at the shop. (Much to Mr. Izaz’s supposed ‘ disapproval .’) 

 

Nicolai was still quiet. An occasional out of pocket joke, a quick chime in when they’re attacking Dimitri. No one except for Dimitri really knew what happened, and no one asked. He prayed it stayed that way. (He knew it wouldn’t.) It was okay. He was here, he was doing well in class, it was okay. 

Parent’s Day. Part of Nicolai was quite excited to see his mother again, to hug her, to tell her about the moon. It felt different at the academy then it did at home. The other part of Nicolai wanted nothing more than for Parent’s day to never happen. 

 

As the day got closer, he felt even more like the latter opinion. An overwhelming feeling of dread bearing down on him, heavier each day. His eye bags growing with each day, and his ‘zone-out’ episodes more frequent.

 

Finally, it had come, normally Saturday was a freeday, but it was Parent’s Day. Nicolai couldn’t help but notice Dimitri sitting quietly with Astris’s family rather than at a table of his own. He also noticed Iden and a human woman sitting with who appeared to be Theo’s father and sister. 

 

Before he could inspectt any further, he heard Kali shouting from across the hall, “Nicky !” She exclaimed, running over to her brother, practically running the boy over. 

 

“Hi, K.” He smiled, hugging her tightly. “Where’s Mama ?” 

 

“She got stuck in a conversation with one of the professors.” Kali whined, “She promised to make it quick though.” 

 

“There’s someone here you’re gonna love.” Nicolai commented, smiling down at her with anticipation as she looked around the hall, eyes landing on Dimitri. 

 

“Is that?” She looked at him, an even wider smile on her face. 

 

“Go say hi.” He smirked, watching as she ran over to the boy. 

 

The feeling of dread was soon explained as he turned around. His heart beating faster than he ever would’ve thought it could. The memories flashing in his head like some s****y flashback in a movie. He stumbled to the ground as the figure continued to walk to him. There was no way. It couldn’t be.

 

“Get up, Nicolai.” The familiar figure spoke, grabbing his wrist, a scream brewing in the boy's lungs. “You’re drawing attention.” 

 

“Why are you here?” He shouted, uncaring of the people looking at them. 

 

“I’m your dad, Minhee.” Mr. Von stated, trying to pull the nearly hysterical boy off of the floor. 

 

Nicolai could see his mother and Mr. Izaz as they walked towards them, his tears streaming down his face as the man continued to try and drag him away. He could feel Kali and Dimitri’s distress from a few hundred feet away. 

 

“Hurt me all you want, Jebediah, leave Kali and Dimitri out of it.” He sobbed, Jebediah’s nails ripping into his dead skin as Mr. Izaz and campus security started to pull him away. 

 

“Nicolai?” His mom called worriedly, kneeling next to the sobbing boy who lay curled into a ball. Most of the other students and family had left due to the noise, not in the mood for what they assumed to be some petty family drama. His friends hadn’t left yet. He hadn’t realized they were his friends until that moment either. 

“What the f**k just happened?” Chulo whispered softly, his hand grasping a panicking Dimitri’s, the boy's other hand in Astris’s.  

 

“ Papa.” Kali spoke, leaning against Dimitri. 

 

“Th- that’s you and Minhee’s Papa ?” Ryo asked, an obvious anger in his face as he clenched his fists. 

 

“We haven’t seen him since it happened.” She continued. “Mama will bring Nicolai back to the present. Then we can hug him.” 

 

“It?” Iden inquired, looking at his own mother anxiously. 

 

“Nicolai will share what he’s comfortable with.” Theo finally spoke up, his black eyes never leaving the tall boy who lay on the floor. 

 

“Mitri?” Yenci called, looking at Dimitri with a care like no other. “Will you be okay?’ 

 

“He used to have red eyes.” Dimitri said, watching carefully as Nicolai was pulled into Caera’s arms, Mr. Izaz placed a bottle of water and his blood supplements next to the duo. “I can’t see his eyes anymore.” 

 

“What?” Jon let out, looking towards Theo, as if the fae should know something. 

 

“Mr. Von,” The vampire continued. “That’s why his eyes aren’t red anymore.” 

 

No one spoke as they saw the tears roll down Dimitri’s cheeks, Kali crushing him in a hug. “Mr. Von took Nicolai’s merlot eyes from me, because of that man, I will never see them again.” 

 

“Ms.Von was your old foster mother.” Iden finally connected the dots aloud. “Why did you act like you didn’t know Nicky? He was your brother.” 

 

“I saw what made Nicolai’s eyes white. It haunts me, Idie. Brotherhood doesn’t change that s**t.” 

 

“Will he be okay? Will you be okay?” Theo spoke again. 

 

“I’ll be alright. Nicolai…” He finally looked up from where Caera still held the shaking boy, “Nicolai will survive.” 

 

Theo wanted him to be okay. 

“Nick, it’s me.” Caera rocked him like a baby as she talked, “I’m so sorry he got to you again, my Nico.” 

 

Nicolai just continued to sob, his head tucked into his mothers neck, the sobs wrecking his body. 

 

“Come on, Nico. You gotta breathe for me, we need to get you some water, some blood supplements.” She continued, taking some deep breaths with her boy. “Your friends are worried, you know. Tell me about them, are they good to you?” 

 

Nicolai spoke through shallow breaths about each of the boys, about how they had defended him at the cafe, how he could never repay them. He spoke of Theo the most, his breathing coming too as the words flowed off his mouth. 

 

“They sound great, my merlot.” She smiled affectionately, placing a kiss on the top of the boys head. “I think they’re all anxious to come see you.” 

 

He nodded, sliding off of her and shakily standing up, starting to walk towards his friends, his mother not far behind. 

 

“I’m sorry.” He croaked as he reached the table. He was quickly shut up with several complaints from the eight boys and sister in front of him. 

 

“Nicky?” Chulo spoke softly. “Can we hug you?” 

 

Nicolai nodded. 

 

He’d survive.