Chapter 716 - Mulciber Matchmaking

The day started overcast and reserved on the outskirts of Mulciber Citadel. A young golden-haired man with handsome features stood there in the cold wind gazing at his childhood home. He certainly looked like his father and the deceased, Damian Mulciber except for a kinder gaze. Peregrine Mulciber, the squib, abandoned son had at long last been called home by his father with the death and wordless disownment of his younger brother, Damian Mulciber.

Peregrine's face twists with old pain and new pain as he closes his eyes and gulps down a breath of cold air. He had personally learned of the news of his father's actions, who had held a nonchalant. At that time, because of work, his grief had not truly hit him until now. His younger brother, Damian was dead, and his ashes scattered to the wind without even a tombstone to visit. Maybe, that was what hurt the most as there was not even a place for him which to mourn nor pay his respects nor much less whisper a painful and final farewell too.

In the depths of his mind, he could still see the innocent golden-haired toddler from his fondest of memories squealing loudly with innocent laughter. The same little boy, who he had taught to slide down the wooden banisters to the utmost horror of their mother, and the house elves. The little boy, who was terrified of thunderstorms and used to sneak into his older brothers' bed for comfort, all the while cuddling an old stuffed rabbit named Bunn-Bunn.

And that same little boy, who desperately cried out and clung to him all the while sobbing as they were violently separated by the house elves. In disbelief, confusion, and pain, he saw his little brother weeping, while his mother desperately tugged him by the arm as tears began to trickle down his own face. It was the last time, he ever saw his younger brother, before they disappeared into the green flames of the floo that night. With his father away on business, his mother had taken the opportunity to sneak away with him in tow. They had arrived at a secret location, where she portkeyed him away until they, at last, reached their destination. It was the home of a distant Mulicber squib cousin by the name of Joffrey and his squib wife, Lucy.

That night his mother had made Peregrine promise her to never nor much less seek out his younger brother. He had not wanted to, but his mother would not leave until he had made such a promise to her. Even though he knew that it was the only way to protect him and keep him out of the reach of his father. He still missed his younger brother, but he knew that while his father would punish his mother for her insolence, his father would cease to look for him. But if his mother had taken his younger brother as well, the Mulciber heir, their father would have never ceased to look for them until they were found. He surely would have been killed along with Cousin Joffrey's family, while his younger brother would have been forcibly removed.

Yes, he agreed to his mother's pleading request that night. Yes, he had promised his mother to never return, nor much less seek out his younger brother, but at what cost? At the cost of his younger brother's soul.

It was that innocent little boy, who had been so mercilessly abandoned to the whims of their father, Damian, his precious younger brother. That day hatred was born in that little boy's soul feeling he had been abandoned by all those that he cared for. That little boy believed that he was less loved by their mother for their mother had chosen to save his older brother. That little boy, who believed that his brother's love and affection were mere lies and illusions.

That day, he knew that the seed of evil had been sewn into his younger brother's heart that had only grown fueled by their father's cruel and corrupt ways. Damian turned bitter, and cruel only to end up as an even more monstrous version of their father. Such a small, child's heart broke in two that night only to be reforged twisted and strong, but brittle in the worst of fashions.

It was that little boy, who Peregrine had failed to protect from the tendrils of their father's cruelty and vile corruption. He did not blame his mother for her weakness in protecting her children as she was much a slave as any house elf. Their mother was bound to their father much like a house elf was via their marriage contract. She was a slave to her marriage unable to escape nor much less truly able to disobey her husband and master.

No, he blamed their father. The evil monster that had destroyed their fragile happiness. And it was that very devil that he came to see.

Peregrine rapidly blinks back the moisture as he opens his eyes and the crisp air-dries his damp eyes. There would never be time nor opportunity to make amends to his younger brother. He knew that any overturns on his part would likely have been refused, but he could have at least tried, and meet with his younger brother. He hadn't even had the opportunity to whisper one final goodbye. His little brother was forever lost, and perchance had been gone for a very long time, but hope is always the last to die. And now at long last, the flickering flame had been extinguished for all eternity.

Letting out a mournful sigh, Peregrine wipes the lingering moisture from his eyes. He had failed his younger brother, but he could not fail his mother. He could not bear to fail again.

Shaking his head, Peregrine stiffly pulls his shoulder back. He was about to face his father and he could not afford the slightest show of weakness. His father was a predator, and a predator of the slightest sign of weakness would go in for the kill.

With his back straight and shoulders pulled back, Peregrine made his way up the path towards Mulciber Citadel as his thoughts had turned to the letter he had received from his father. In exchange for being appointed the Mulciber family heir, he would need to wed one of the daughters of Mordecai Greengrass. Mordecai Greengrass had quietly agreed to the betrothal, but the most numerous Greengrass branch was ruled by the old matriarch and Veela, Ethel Greengrass. She would have the final say in the marriage regarding any of her granddaughters.

Peregrine had been sorely tempted to turn down his father's offer as he did not desire to inherit the Mulciber wealth nor marry. However, his father knew his son only too well and knew his weakness, his mother. His father had offered to permit the permanent residence of his mother wherever Peregrine was to reside in exchange for his acceptance of the stated conditions.

Peregrine's clenched fists had shaken at that time, but he had at last relented and accepted the Devil's offer. He would save the last family he had even at the cost of his own soul. Even it was turning against all that which he firmly believed to be wrong and antiquated.

Gathering strength, Peregrine arrived at the front entrance of Mulciber Citadel. Raising his hand, he grasps the doorknocker, a silver serpent with emerald eyes biting its own tail. He had not even a second time, when the door abruptly swings open to reveal the face of his childhood playmate, Bee-Bee, (also known as Beat).

The house elf that was nearly the same age as Peregrine is in a similar rough shape as before. Beat had a round swollen nose, missing teeth, and a broken bat-like ear that flops limply down. There were old and new whip scars on his forearms and legs that are badly bruised from recent beatings.

"Oh, Bee-bee," Peregrine let out a soft saddened sigh.

"Per-per," Beat whispered and flinched as he crouched down glancing nervously around. "Master must be wary of elder Master."

"I know," Peregrine stiffly answered as his face hardened resembling far too much that of his father and deceased brother except for the traces of genuine concern and kindness visible in the depths of his eyes.

Peregrine gently pats the top of his childhood playmate's head as Beat struggle snot to flinch from the gentle touch of the first young master that he had once called friend. Removing his hand lest he gets Bee-bee in trouble, he asks, "Where is my mother?"

Beat shivers and glances around with hesitation before answering, "Mistress has locked herself in her quarters with the pretense of mourning. Mistress says she is safe, and that young master should not fall prey to the elder master's whims."

"I will be fine, and tell mother not to worry, I know what I am doing," Peregrine confidently murmured. "Please relay that message to mother after our departure."

Beat nods his head slowly in understanding, before hurriedly saying, "The eldest Master awaits the young Master at the hearth in the great hall."

Noticing his childhood playmate's abrupt change, Peregrine understands that his father is nearby. "Very well," Peregrine said. "You may depart, Beat," as Beat lets out a loud sigh of relief and vanishes with a loud popping sound.

Remembering his reason for being here, Peregrine dons on his best face and marches down the hall. While attending the university, he had learned of a famous muggle Chinese strategist by the name of Sun Tzu. One of his famous sayings is, "Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak." He did not have the upper hand as his father had pried on his weakness, but that did not mean that in turn, his father had not revealed his own weakness. His father required him to produce a magical heir, and his father too would, in turn, be forced to comply with his own wishes. The winner would win not in physical combat, but rather in a fierce clash of words.