Heaven's Trumpet - 12. Bonds

[Chapter 12]

The funeral of Isabella and Ian Graison was held on a Tuesday.

It was a small affair. Less than twenty people showed up to the somber occasion. I didn’t recognize anyone. I really hadn’t expected to. Adam stood at my side. His hand held mine tightly, never letting go. He was a pillar of strength these days. The falling rain fit perfectly in the quiet scene. It cast a dim gray overhead and the soft pitter-patter of raindrops was an almost comforting sound.

The minister adjusted his umbrella and looked sadly at the coffins situated on the lifts, waiting to be lowered into the graves. My grip on Adam’s hand tightened as the minister’s words echoed through the drizzle.

“...Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Therefore comfort one another with these words...”

Comfort. Right. That was something I had been sorely lacking for the last week. It took that long for the authorities to do an autopsy on the bodies and arrange a funeral. They found the remains of the Black Pope on the roof that day as well, but there hadn’t been enough of him left to identify. The current theory the authorities were running with was a homicide. They speculated Mr. Graison killed the twins and then ran off. I didn’t bother to correct that theory.

The world was enough of a mess as it is for the cops to be fixated on this travesty. Kevin had saved the world. Everything touched by the Elder Spawn was cleaned and made anew, even the dead. Unfortunately, not all the dead were that lucky. Ian and Isabella were killed by their father and their deaths hadn’t been reversed by the light that healed the planet. Only those directly killed due to the Elder Spawn’s power were reborn. A miracle people were calling it.

They were right.

However, not everyone believed so. Some remembered the horror of the Elder Spawn like a childhood nightmare and knew in their hearts what heaven’s light represented – Armageddon. The majority of the population didn’t recall being at death’s door, as their memories had been touched by the grace of heaven. They looked to science for explanations to absolve lingering doubts.

A solar flare skimming the Earth’s surface was what the media was running with. It didn’t make sense, but it made them sleep easier at night. I suppose I would too if I could find a nice reasonable explanation for the monsters hungering in the dark.

I felt sorry for those few who truly knew in their hearts what happened. It was a dim memory, but they had seen the cusp of Armageddon and there was nothing they could do to erase that from their minds. I closed my eyes remembering that holy light traveling the globe, easing the world’s hurt and righting the wrong of evil.

A frown tugged at my lips when I caught sight of two figures hovering in the distance. Ryan and Killian stood underneath the upswept boughs of an oak tree. My eyes narrowed and I scowled at the couple. Ryan winced and offered an apologetic smile. My glare intensified. Killian met my heated stare and then hung his head heavily.

I was nowhere near forgiveness. I didn’t know if I ever would be. Two of my closest friends had betrayed me right when I needed them most. I counted on them to have my back and they stabbed me in it. Traitorous bastards. Their attack on me was carried out with ruthless precision. I never imagined such actions were in them. They were no friends of mine. I closed my eyes and counted to ten, as I reached eight the anger simmered to a dull ache. When I opened my eyes they were gone.

Adam bumped his shoulder against mine. “Chad?”

“Huh?” I looked up noticing the dispersing crowd. “It’s over?”

A worried frown took over his face. “You okay?”

I put on a sunny smile and nodded. “Of course.”

“Don’t fake smile me,” he accused with sad eyes. “I saw them too you know.”

I shrugged, trying and failing to keep defensiveness from my tone, “So what?”

“You can’t keep holding it in. You’re angry-”

“Damn right I’m angry!” I hissed. “Those bastards stabbed me in the back. They broke their oaths and I never want to speak to them again.”

Adam put his hand on the back of my neck, thumb rubbing circles against the skin there. “You don’t mean that?”

“I meant every word.”

He knew my views on friendship, with them it was more than that. We fought together back to back and the bond I thought we had was unbreakable. But when push came to shove, they shoved me right over to get to their target. A target they had no right in attacking. Kevin wasn’t just my brother, he was the Crown Prince and heir to Atlantis. Attacking him was a death sentence by Atlantean law. More than that they knew what he meant to me.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Adam said softly, breaking my internal musing. He placed his hand on my face, cupping my cheek. “Your mind keeps wandering. You’re here, but not really. You haven’t been...”

He hesitated to finish and I didn’t help. I looked down partly to duck my face from the soft raindrops splashing on my cheeks, and also so I wouldn’t have to meet his stare. Looking at his soft expression made the emotions rush to the surface, reminding me of what I was trying to hold back.

Adam wrapped me in his arms, rubbing his hands over my back in circles. “Hey now, come on. Don’t be sad.”

I breathed into his neck, hiding my face. Misery rushed up loud in my ears like trapped thunder. Twinkling brown eyes flashed across my thoughts. I pushed it back. I was not going to break down here. It took ten long heartbeats to get my emotions under control.

“I’m not going to talk about it,” I muttered into his jacket.

His hands went around my waist and he pushed me away gently, so he could look me in the eyes. His hair lay partially damn across his face but it didn’t hide his eyes. Those hazel eyes pierced me like an arrow.

“You take all the time you need. I know how hard this is for you.” He trailed his hands down my arms to my hands, entwining our fingers together. “I’ll be here whenever you need me.”

I smiled, meaning it. “I love you. You know that right?”

“Of course,” he replied simply, matching my tender smile. “Cause I love you, too.”

I tilted my head up and whispered softly across his lips, “For always.”

“For always.” Adam lowered his head to meet me in a kiss.

The drive was silent as the gloom settled back around my shoulders like a cloak. My eyes stayed glued to the window as the city scenery whizzed by. All these people were going about their daily lives like soul crushing destruction hadn’t just swallowed the world. It was unnerving.

“Where are we going?” I frowned at the highway exit he steered the car toward. “You know you exited early, don’t you?”

Adam grinned looking at me slyly from the corner of his eye. “I have a plan.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening.”

“I’m going to take your mind off of everything...” He tactfully avoided mentioning the subject of my depression. “So we’re going shopping. Whatever my baby wants, my baby gets.” He momentarily took his eyes off the road, sending me a charming wink. “My uncle gave me his credit card.”

I shook my head, feeling a little flabbergasted. “Why would your uncle give you his credit card?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “I told him you needed cheering up. He tossed me his credit card, and told me to have fun.” Adam snorted. “He really, really likes you.”

My face felt suddenly hot. “He didn’t have to do that.”

“Think of it as your Christmas and birthday present.” Adam signaled to turn into the mall parking lot. He parked the car and then turned puppy dog eyes on me. “Please do this for me.”

I sighed. “Why is this so important anyway?”

“I know it will make you happy,” he replied simply. “And I want to make you happy. When you’re sad...” Adam touched his hand to his heart. “It makes my heart ache, right here.”

The Dragon’s Tie. Our souls were connected on a level that few have ever experienced. It was a bond of soulmates. He could feel my sadness as if it was his own. I bit my lip, rubbing at my own heart. It sat there in my chest like a dead weight. How long had it been since I’ve felt anything other than anger and grief? It was a week, but it felt more like a year. Making a decision, I cracked a smile at my hopeful boyfriend.

“I’ll do anything for you.”

***

“No. I put my foot down.”

“Come on,” I begged, reaching up to run my fingers down the line Adam’s clenched jaw. “You said whatever my baby wants, remember?”

Adam wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were focused on the tie and blazer I held out to him. His arms were folded and if looks could kill I was sure the clothes would burst into flame. A cry to the fashion gods.

“This is like the eighteenth outfit you’ve had me try on. This trip was supposed to be all about you!”

I pointed at the bag at my feet. “I got some stuff.”

Adam blinked in disbelief at my one bag, perched all by its lonesome on the edge of a plush leather armchair. He then gestured to the bulging sacks that surrounded him like Christmas morning. The bags ranged from Express and Gap to Hugo Boss and Gucci.

Adam cocked an eyebrow. “See my point?”

“But I like seeing you in all that. You look hot.”

“It’s my turn to see you in something that makes you look absolutely gorgeous,” Adam said firmly, placing the clothes on the top of a growing stack.

I narrowed my eyes at the weird glint in his eyes. Lingering melancholy was smothered by a growing unease I suddenly felt. It was like a transformation came over him. Adam practically snapped his fingers and store attendants came from nowhere like a pack of flying monkeys. They rapidly descended on me, and I felt like a living doll as clothes were held before me, all either approved or disapproved by Adam’s critical eye. I would be lying if I said a part of me didn’t love the attention.

“Look at his hair and skin tone. He can pull off more color than that. Try that turquoise or crimson shirt,” Adam ordered, smirking at my bemused face.

I was pushed into a dressing room with an armful of clothes. I took a seat on the bench and tugged off my shirt. For the first time I realized I was smiling. My mind wasn’t solely focused on thoughts of Kevin. While the thought of my brother was still there, it was a bearable ache for the moment.

I stepped from the room smoothing out the imaginary wrinkle in the periwinkle blue shirt. The slacks were dark and with the silky looking white tie the whole outfit looked very sophisticated and sharp.

Adam’s eyes went wide and he sucked in a breath. He swallowed deeply, watching me like I was the only person in the world. I blushed a bit at the almost palpable emotion radiating from him. It was flattering and it made me feel good knowing that I was the cause of his stupor.

Smiling coyly, I opened my arms and did a little spin. I giggled like a girl when I saw Adam’s eyes flick upward from staring at my butt. “So how do I look?”

Adam was able to find his voice after a few tries. “You look...” he got out in a soft, breathy voice. “...amazing.”

“I feel like a Ken doll.” I ran my fingers over the shirt fabric. “But I don’t mind the outfits.”

Adam smiled hugely. “It’s because you’re working it.”

I barked out a laugh, unable to help myself. “I’m in love with a fashionista and I never even knew. I fear for our joined bank accounts when we’re married.”

I let out a whoosh of breath as Adam pounced on me like a cougar on a guy under the age of twenty five. I fell back on the armchair, knocked out of breath and completely disoriented. Adam landed squarely in my lap, straddling my thighs.

Adam stared into my eyes, his own hazel orbs flashing with fiery desire. He bent so his warm lips touched the hollow of my throat, murmuring softly, “I love it when you talk about making an honest man out of me. It gets me all hot.”

“Yeah.” I struggled to concentrate, distracted by the soft kisses. “I can see that.”

He shrugged uncaringly and continuing trailing kisses over whatever skin he could find. “I can’t help it.” Adam’s nose drew a thin line up the skin of my neck to my cheekbone. His breath ghosted across my cheek. “You’re everything to me.”

“Are you trying to do me right now?” I asked, feeling my pants tighten. I slid my arms around his waist.

“Oh no, sweetheart,” he whispered against my jaw. “That show is no audience allowed.”

Another shopgirl appeared from who knows where. In her arms were enough shirts to fill up my bedroom closet. Adam visibly brightened, not even bothering to get up as he addressed the girl.

“That gray shirt with the long sleeves is perfect.”

The shirt was absolutely perfect, but I couldn’t help but tease him. “Don’t I get a say in this?”

Adam blinked at me innocently. “Like what?”

I rolled my eyes, fighting my smile. “Carry on, dear.”

I thought I had a thing for clothes and shopping in general, but I had nothing on Adam. His version of casual was my version of dressed up. He must have been here before because the attendants of the boutique tripped over themselves to help him. Adam picked me out a whole new wardrobe. It was quadruple the amount of clothing I picked out for him. There were shirts, pants, socks, hats, a belt or six. It was surreal how the clothing just piled up.

I stared at the stacks of bags and vaguely heard the woman ask “the usual address” before they were whisked away. A man took her place and gave us two more modest size bags with the same symbol that adorned most of the shirts in the store. She rattled off the price and Adam didn’t even blink at the small house mortgage. He handed over a shiny black credit card that she took with a beaming smile.

“Adam!” I hissed, grabbing his hand. “I can’t let you spend all that on me.”

Adam tsked under his breath, patting my cheek. “You can’t put a price on good clothes.”

“That’s four digits.”

“You know my family is kind of well off. And well...” He trailed over searching for the right words. His fingers came up to run through the hair over my ears. “You’re worth it.”

And really when he put it that way, how could I say no?

“So where to next?” Adam turned to me as we exited the boutique.

I ran my fingers through my bangs brushing against my eyebrows. “I want to get my hair cut.”

Adam stepped forward and his hand darted up to play with a piece on the nape of my neck. “It is getting long. There’s a salon a store over, come on.”

He did that thing again where with one simple look we were attended to like celebrities. I had to get him to teach me how to do that. It was dead useful. I was seated in a chair, without an appointment, before I could even register the stylist name. Sergio looked like he just stepped off a rock and roll video. I stared with trepidation at the blue spikes jutting out from his head. Was he serious?

“So how do you want to do it today, buddy?” Sergio asked, running deft fingers through my hair.

I shrugged, staring at my hair in the mirror’s reflection. “Umm... trendy and fashionable.

“Gotcha, like Zayn Malik wears it these days.”

Clippers replaced fingers and I watched blankly as hair fell from my head. The buzz of the clippers lulled me into a meditative state. My thoughts threatened to rise up like an ocean current, deafening and pounding, loud in my ears. I squeezed my hands into fists and my nails dug painfully into my palms. The pain was good. It kept me grounded.

“So why the sad look, buddy?”

Sergio’s quiet question broke the wave of dark thoughts. It simmered down to a soft roar at the edges of hearing, and I swallowed as he repeated the question again.

“I really don’t want to talk about it,” I mumbled, starting at my morose reflection.

He patted my shoulder. “Sorry, didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories. I’ve been there. You’re thinking about someone close to you, huh?”

I peered up at him through my bangs that were being expertly cut away. “How can you tell?”

“Like I said, I’ve been there,” Sergio repeated, smiling softly at the mirror. “Was it a girl or a guy?”

I closed my eyes, breathing hard as emotions trapped behind steel thoughts swelled dangerously close to exploding. I didn’t even realize I was shaking until the sound of the clippers disappeared and Sergio’s calming hand on my shoulder registered to my shot senses.

“It’s going to be okay,” he soothed quietly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pried. My mouth has a habit of running off.”

Familiar brown eyes flashed behind my eyelids. I blinked and the vision vanished as I locked my feelings and thoughts away tight. Slowly my shaking stopped and I got a grip on myself.

I took a slow breath and said shakily, “I don’t feel like talking anymore.”

Sergio nodded, surveying me understandingly. “No problem.”

The haircut resumed with a much more silent air. I was thankful. My goal today was not to turn into a quiet wreck in public. I saved my tears for when I was in bed, alone, and with the blankets pulled tightly over my head.

“There now, all done,” Sergio looked immensely satisfied with himself.

I looked in the mirror and blinked at the sight. I almost didn’t recognize myself. The back and sides were high faded in a sublet undercut for a clean finish. The top was four inches in length and styled in a quiff with wax. I looked like I just stepped out of GQ magazine. A slow smile spread across my face. This was a welcome image. I looked more like myself than I had in months.

I turned around and said with so much feeling that it showed all over my bright face, “Thank you! It’s great. I love it.”

I gave him one more thankful smile and I hopped out of the chair. Reaching for my wallet, I moved over to the line starting before the register to pay.

“Hey sexy, nice haircut,” Adam’s soft drawl came startling close to my ear.

I spun around and stopped and stared, then stared some more. Wait, when did I get trapped in a One Republic video? I blinked at Adam, taking in his new haircut. The length sat at the nape of his neck, graduating in length up the top and sides. The sides were cut to cover his ears, and the front had sweeping bangs that covered his forehead and framed his face.

Adam flushed, fidgeting under my stare. “So do you like it? I look like goddamn Jared Padalecki don’t I?”

I tried to find words. My heart clenched tight in my chest and I rubbed it absently.

“You hate it,” Adam groaned.

I shook my head, pulling him to me with a death grip on his shirt. “I-” I shook my head again clearing away the hazy fog that stubbornly hovered in my thoughts. “I fucking love it.”

Adam laughed, lilting and light. His smile dimmed just a bit and something vulnerable glinted his eyes. “You mean it?”

“You have no idea how hot or how freaking adorable you look.”

“Adorable and hot you say? You so want to do me-”

I rolled my eyes not bothering to smother my laughter. I grinned and Adam grinned back slowly and really, it was kind of awesome that I could fall in love with him again over a haircut. It had to be the bangs. He looked so sexy and cute it was hard not to stare. And the vulnerable expression was the icing on the cake. The fact that he cared about my opinion so much made something warm in the pit of my stomach.

Adam closed the distance between us and leaned into me. "You have no idea how happy you make me sometimes,” he murmured.

“Ditto. For the record, I’m going to miss your long hair, but this new look is just as nice. Why’d you cut it?”

He shrugged. “It was time for something new. Plus it takes too long to dry after a shower.”

“Aww, my boyfriend, the practical one,” I smiled, pulling away from him to slap some cash on the counter for my haircut. “You probably cut it so you can try those fancy hair products.” I looked pointedly at the bag with the salon logo clutched in his hand.

Adam bounced on his toes. “You wound me, darling. Just for that you don’t get to help me try out styles later.”

“Let’s not be hasty,” I said cautiously, widening my eyes.

He snorted. “You’re such a girl.”

“Are you trying not to have sex with me again?” I prompted with a raised eyebrow.

His hand slipped easily into mine, as he walked at my side out of the salon. “Would it help if I bought you cake?”

My resolve buckled. “What kind of cake?”

Adam let out a bark of laughter. His thumb rubbed the top of my hand, and he smiled at me fondly. “God, I love you.”

“I love you too.” My eyes narrowed suspiciously. “So about that cake-”

Something hard jarred my shoulder and I stumbled backward. I barely heard the hurried apology before the person darted off. I caught a pair of brown eyes that flashed in apology and a kind smile, and then he was gone. I inhaled sharply, watching the brown hair fan behind the running form.

“Kevin,” I gasped, unbelievable hope flaring inside my chest.

My feet moved of their own volition. Distantly I heard Adam call my name but it was a faint cry below the pounding of blood in my ears.

“Kevin!” I yelled, closing in on the speeding figure.

People jumped to the sides as I ran full speed through the mals walkways. Someone would probably call security but I didn’t care. My brother was here. He was alive. I urged more speed out of protesting muscles.

He slowed down ahead of me and I quickly closed the distance. My arm stretched out and I grasped him on the shoulder, spinning him around. Brown eyes, darker than the familiar honey brown, shone with surprise and confusion. I gaped at the unfamiliar boy with undisguised shock. My mouth moved, but no sound came out.

“I’m sorry,” Adam apologized, appearing at my side. He smiled lopsidedly at the perplexed Kevin lookalike. “He thought you were someone else.”

Adam led me away. Stares followed but I barely noticed through the dismal haze clouding my vision. I was shaking again. My whole body felt cold and hot at the same time. It left me numb, hurt and empty.

We exited the mall and the sun was warm against my wet face. I was crying and hadn’t even realized it. The chained emotions I had locked away unfurled all at once. Sorrow and freezing anger swept over me and pulled me under. I sagged out of Adam’s arms and fell to my knees in the middle of the parking lot.

Magic jerked in my bones something fierce, reacting to my emotions. An invisible wave of magic pulsed from my kneeling body. The sound of explosions filled the air as every piece of glass within the vicinity shattered. Screams echoed through the lot as people ducked away from the shower of glass and car alarms blared to life in an annoying uproar.

Adam kneeled down, wrapping me in his arms. “Oh, baby.”

I leaned into his embrace, burying my face in his neck. “I want my brother,” I murmured tearfully.

“I know you do.” His sigh breathed across my earlobe. “I’m so sorry.”

“Make it go away, Adam. Please. My heart hurts so much.”

“Sshh,” he whispered in my ear. “Sleep, darling. Sleep.”

I didn’t just hear him say the words. They reverberated in my mind, creeping into my every thought. The compulsion repeated through my head as his thoughts overrode the natural synapses of my mind. All at once my muscles relaxed and my eyes fell closed as the telepathic compulsion sent me directly to sleep.

I was dreaming.

Clouds soared past as I flew through the night sky. Stars were brighter than I had ever seen and the ocean below was a midnight blue that went on into forever. On the horizon, a magnificent city appeared in the distance that grew larger as I sped toward it. Ocean waves lapped quietly against the outer pylons of the city’s stabilizing platform. The Imperium Tower was the tallest building, looming over the surrounding skyscrapers like a sentinel. The city was aglow with thousands of lights and it was the jewel of the ocean.

My flight took me to the Imperium Tower and I landed on a terrace. I instinctively recognized the familiar potted plants and Spartan furniture. The doors to the right I remembered led into the living room of my apartment within the tower.

I spun around as a presence registered to my senses.

Garbed in his usual sky blue and silvery tunic and pants was Prince Emrys. The older version of me smiled softly. “It’s nice to see you again, my incarnation.”

“Why do I keep seeing you?” I demanded, feeling frustrated at being confronted with what I used to be. All the prince ever did was make cryptic talk.

Prince Emrys didn’t react to my hostility. “Until you fully assimilate all your memories and become full Atlantean at maturity, I will be available to you in this fashion.”

I snorted. “Like you’re a ton of help anyway, all you ever do is confuse me.”

“Because what I say is so clear it takes a long time to realize it,” Prince Emrys said calmly. “If you immediately know the truth then the answer was known to you all along.”

A growl erupted from my throat as I jabbed an accusing finger at him. “See! That right there is what I’m talking about. Always with the freaking riddles.” I glared at him darkly. “This is all your fault. If you had just told me I had the Key of Time and Space then we could have been prepared.”

He shrugged, making the action seem elegant. “The success or failure of our deeds does not add up to sum of our lives. You conquered your challenge and that is what matters. The intention of your actions and strength was admirable.”

The bottom fell away from my stomach. “You’re a bastard,” I said with startling realization. “Kevin is probably dead! Our brother sacrificed himself to fight the Elder Spawn in the void, and you act like you don’t care!”

“Don’t lecture me on heroic sacrifice and family.” Traces of ice crept into his tone. His blue eyed stare grew sharp and I flinched as they weighed me.

I ducked my head, guiltily. We were one and the same so my feelings were his feelings. Just as I lost my brother, he too lost his brother. His chilly stare waned and then softened.

“Sorry. I just-” I broke off struggling for words. “I miss him so much.”

Prince Emrys laid a hand on my shoulder, squeezing softly. “Release your burden. While he must never be forgotten, do not let grief become who you are. Circles within circles.”

My head snapped up. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means what it means,” he said simply.

I narrowed my eyes. “Since you’re all knowing apparently, can you help me enter the void so we can at least help Kevin?”

“You don’t understand what you’re asking. You cannot hope to match powers against those two titans. Most of all there is no way you could survive within the void.”

“Whatever the risk it’s worth it,” I said defiantly.

A sad expression came over his face. “I love him just as much, but you seek death with such a course. Your path is clear and it’s not what you ask. I’m sorry. Make peace with our brother’s sacrifice.”

“I hate this,” I sighed quietly, wrapping my arms around my midsection.

Prince Emrys smiled sadly. “I know.”

The world around me blurred and I felt a weightless sensation envelop my being.

Then just like that my eyes were opening and I found myself blinking up at a white speckled ceiling. I scrubbed my face shaking off the last vestiges of the dream, slowly coming back to reality. Where was I? I sat up and hands landed on my shoulders, halting my movment.

“Whoa there, not so fast,” Adam said gently.

I looked around and recognized Nathaniel’s sitting room in his mansion. There was new furniture and the windows had thankfully been replaced some time during the week.

Nathaniel came from my blind side and took a seat on the edge of the coffee table. “Are you alright, Chad?”

“I’m fine,” I muttered not meeting his eyes. “How did I get here?”

Adam smiled but it didn’t outshine the worry in his eyes. “I brought you here when you fell asleep.”

“You mean when you put me to sleep,” I corrected, frowning at him grumpily. “I hate it when you use telepathy on me.”

Adam rolled his eyes. “No, you don’t.”

I sighed. “Fine, I don’t.”

“Are you okay?” Nathaniel asked hesitantly. “Adam told me what happened.”

“I’m fine,” I responded automatically. I barely refrained from rolling my eyes.

Nathaniel didn’t lose his concerned expression. “I beg to differ. I haven’t seen you in a week.”

I shrugged, playing with a piece of lint on my shirt. “I’ve been busy.”

“Chad-”

“I don’t need a pep talk, Nathaniel. I’ve just spent the past eight days lying to my best friend’s parents about where he is.” I shook off Adam’s reaching hand, releasing the surging fury. “He saved us all and they think he fucking ran away! The police have questioned me twice, and I’ve had about ten hours of sleep in the last week. So forgive me for not wanting to talk about it.”

Adam slid onto the couch beside me. His arms wrapped around my waist causing me to stiffen at his touch. I struggled against his hold but he only gripped me tighter. I didn’t want to be comforted or pitied.

“Let me go, Adam.”

“I don’t think so. I got you, baby.”

“Please,” I protested weakly, feeling my careful control slip even farther.

Covering my face with my hands, I sank into his embrace. His chin touched my shoulder as he murmured soothing words in my ear. I shook but made no sound until a strangled gasp shot from my mouth followed by a sob. Hot tears spilled through my fingers.

“Oh, Chad,” Nathaniel said softly. “Let it all out.”

I dropped my hands and tried to sit up, but I was trembling too hard. “Why can’t I have my brother back,” I pleaded quietly.

Adam ran a gentle hand through my hair. After a moment, he whispered, “I wish I could give him back to you. I wish to everything.”

“I know it hurts right now,” Nathaniel said. “It will never go away, that pain. But it will get better in time.”

I sniffed, hating the whimpering sound I made. “My heart,” I bit my lip, feeling a fresh wave of tears, as I rubbed at my chest. “It feels like it’s broken.”

“I know it does. I know. Nathaniel’s right.” Adam traced soft patterns on my stomach with his fingers. “It’ll get better in time.”

Nathaniel smiled kindly and stood up. He bent over and squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll give you a bit of privacy,” he said before leaving the room.

Adam kissed my temple and hummed a familiar melody, then sang to me softly, “I promise to love you, every day of forever. This I swear to you.”

Slowly the tears trailing down my face stopped. I stared in wonder, remembering the song Admerion made a lullaby all those years ago.

“You are so precious to me,” he sang in a melody with true feeling. “You are safe in my arms, safe from any harm. You are heaven’s gift to me. There is nothing to fear, not while I'm here.”

I let my eyes close reveling in being held, listening to the song that once soothed me to sleep many years ago.

Deft fingers threaded through my hair, stroking and soothing, and I felt like I could almost breathe again. “And as I see you sleep now, I'll let you know somehow. Saving you, saved me. My heart is yours to keep.”

Wilting in his strong arms, I truly relaxed and let the tenseness in my shoulders fade as the song ended.

I turned my head and my eyes lingered on the curve of his lips as I said quietly, “Emrys’ lullaby. How long have you remembered?”

Adam blushed fiercely and gave a bashful shrug. “I’ve remembered for a while now. I haven’t translated it fully from Atlantean to English. It was-” He smiled shyly. “...Going to be our anniversary present.”

Pausing for a calming breath, I looked down. “That was incredible.” I looked into his eyes, finding worried sadness but also affection. “It was beautiful. I needed that.”

There was a flurry of whispering just outside the room. I couldn’t hear the words, but from what I gathered it didn’t sound like anything good. I stretched my legs out, pulling away from Adam to sit fully on the couch. I frowned as a reluctant looking Nathaniel entered followed closely by Killian and Ryan. What the hell?

“What are you two doing here?” I spat, feeling the familiar rush of anger rise from the dead.

Ryan held up his hands, placating. “Please, we just want to talk to you.”

“I have nothing to say to you two,” I countered.

Softly, Ryan admitted. “I know you’re still mad. We’re sorry.”

I looked at Killian, who hadn’t spoken a word yet. “Cat got your tongue?”

“We really didn’t mean to hurt you,” Killian admitted, ducking his face. A moment later he looked up, green eyes flashing. “We did what we had to do.”

I gritted my teeth. “You went against my orders, betrayed me, and tried to assassinate the heir to the throne-”

“Who was trying to start Beta Armageddon and kill us all,” interjected Ryan.

I gaped at the normally passive boy surprised by his conviction. “You two really see nothing wrong with what you did?”

Guardedly, Killian tipped his head. “It was for the greater good. The needs of the many out weight the needs of the few.”

“Don’t quote that rhetoric crap at me,” I snapped. “You tried to kill my brother! I told you I knew what I was doing! I asked you to stand down and you attacked him and me!” I glared at them, shaking with boiling hot anger. “I’ll never forgive you.”

Ryan took a staggering step backward as if slapped. “Chad, we didn’t mean to hurt you,” he pleaded. “Can’t we put this behind us? It’s all over now.”

I stood and waved away Adam’s hand reaching toward me. This wasn’t the time for hugs and kisses. Anger flared through me like a scalding wave, tightening my shoulders, my arms, spilling into my hands. I'd never felt rage so quickly and so completely. I had to close my eyes to concentrate, so I wouldn't take a swing at the both of them.

I looked at Ryan and tried to see past the anger. My voice came out squeezed tight. "It’s not over. Nothing will ever change the fact you stabbed me in the back.”

“We said sorry,” Killian snapped, sounding fed up. “What more do you want from us?”

The bit of me that was Prince Emrys threatened to rise up and take control. I pushed it back but couldn’t stop my voice from taking on the regal tone of the prince.

“I want nothing from you.” I stared at them with dispassionate eyes. “You two committed treason. I will not fight at the side of two betrayers. I’m done with you both.”

Ryan gasped. “We’re sorry, Chad. Don’t-”

“Can you honestly say you wouldn’t do something like this again?”

Silence followed the question.

Killian crossed his arms, staring at me rebelliously. “So what, you’re going to disband the team?”

“A team works together.” My voice rang with a cool formal tone. “Last week we might have been friends. Today you’re just the bastards who betrayed me and broke my heart.”

Magic buzzed beneath my fingertips dangerously close to stabbing forth to send them into comas. Silence and thick tension filled the room at the end of my words.

“I’m going for a walk to calm down,” I stated to the quiet room. I glared at the stupefied boys before me. “When I get back you two better be out of my sight, or I won’t be held responsible for what I might do.”

I stomped from the room making sure to walk around them. I felt Adam’s worry through our bond and sent a wave of reassurance back before I dampened the connection. The sun had long set and the cool night wind caressed my face when I stepped from the porch.

I stalked down the path to the driveway. With barely a second thought I started for the forest at the edge of the grounds. I entered the woods without trepidation, letting the sounds of the night ease the anger tightening my muscles.

I wasn’t looking where I was going however and tripped over a log. I stumbled over another rock and landed in a clearing. Fuck. I winced at the throbbing in my ankle and stood, studying the glade I stumbled into. The clear moonlight provided a clear view of the sparse forest clearing.

I swiped at the tears pricking at my eyes. Damn them. Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn’t everything just go back to the way it was?

A tear slipped down my cheek and fell to the ground. I froze. Something stirred in the wind. Power filled the air with a sense of presence of something awful, something more divine and goodlier than I could fathom. The earth shook beneath my feet as a faint hum broke the still of the night.

Quite suddenly, a dim green light came off to the side near an oak tree. Then another. Soft, gentle, like the lamps in a dark room, like the first, faint whisper of the green spring after the freezing winter. Another light. One more. Then the whole clearing was bathed in that green light, dawning over the grove like a small star.

Trees shifted all around me. Quiet rustling that sounded like childlike chatter echoed from their boughs. The tall barks blurred showing a different sight when the eye focused for too long. Soft marble floor replaced grass, and then shifted back, trees became columns then returned to bark, a fallen tree became a tall throne of gray and blue.

Like something out of a dream, King Oriens stepped out from beside the throne, clad in a sharp, intricate ceremonial suit of lavender, with a trailing navy cape.

“Patar?” The Atlantean word for father slipped unconsciously from my lips, as I stared at the figure, unable to believe my eyes.

The blond man smiled, blue eyes filled with unshed tears. “Greetings, Prince. My son.”

“Dad,” I whispered, my heart leaping.

I rushed forward and into his open arms. King Oriens hugged me fiercely. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, returning the embrace with all that I am.

“I’ve missed you so much, little prince,” he murmured into my hair.

At last, with reluctant hesitation, he let go and studied me intently. “Let me look at you.” He took hold of my chin and tilted my head, looking at me in earnest. “You’re starting to come into your heritage. In a few years, no test will ever reveal you as human.”

I blinked at him. “I don’t understand. How is this possible?”

“My body was killed all those years ago. Though here I am a god in the dreams of men,” he said warmly.

I looked around, marveling at the blurring scenery. “This is the Dreamlands isn’t it?”

“Yes and no. You are not wholly in the land of dreams or in the Waking World.” Oriens gazed around the throne room, a nagging voice in my head identified the vaguely familiar sight. “When Atlantis fell I reestablished the kingdom in the Dreamlands.”

The king was always a powerful dreamer I remembered with surprising clarity. A sense of peace and pleased joy blossomed in my heart.

“I’m glad. The dreams of mankind need places of light like Atlantis.” I remembered what he said previously and asked, “What did you mean by being a god in the Dreamlands? Is this even real? It’s just a dream.”

King Oriens half smiled, touching a finger to the circlet resting upon my brow. I hadn’t even registered transforming into my prince form, only now noticing I was in royal clothing.

“It’s real,” Oriens said. “The Dreamlands usually are accessible only to strong dreamers. There is life and death, goals and hopes. All sentient species that dream, from the smallest creature to the mightiest mountain uphold it and the Outer Powers govern it, and the Dreamcatchers police it. At least, in these lands we do. Outside our system of space exist other Dreamlands, and these systems will have their own Outer Powers.”

“Outer Powers?” I asked.

“Including myself and a few others, there is Abrush, Illion, Y’Gollernd, Vara-Lor-Don, Ithuuru’o, Dargoth. The weak gods of Earth.”

“Weak gods of Earth?” I asked again, feeling like I was being hit over the head with too much information.

Oriens smiled in sympathy, noticing my state. “That can wait. You will learn your full heritage in time.” He took a step back. “I cannot hold us in-between forever. There is work that must be done.”

I was a bit uncomfortable with learning what might be my full heritage but I swept the concern aside. According to him, this wasn’t why I was brought here.

“Father, I don’t understand,” I began cautiously. “What work has to be done?”

“Just as time passes differently in the Dreamlands so too does it within the void,” he replied seriously. “While hours and minutes pass by on Earth, in the void such time equals months.”

I paled at the thought. “Are you saying...”

He nodded solemnly, shadows gracing his face. “Your brother has been in battle with the Elder Spawn for over sixty years. On the eve of the night he was successful in destroying the Abomination,” Oriens looked at me somberly. “In the end, his wounds were too much and he succumbed to death.”

The words struck me like a physical blow. I reared back and my breath came out in a choked sob of withheld breath.

“Is that why you brought me here? To tell me-”

Oriens shook his head. “I brought you here so we can bring him back.”

Desperate hope sent my heartbeat racing into overtime. “How?”

“Ancient magic,” Oriens said with surety. “Blood overrode the programming of Heaven’s Trumpet and blood will bring him home.”

I nodded and said instantly, “What do I need to do?”

“Take my hand.”

We grasped hands and he squeezed mine, then there was an explosion of power. It didn’t build up gradually. It detonated like a bomb throwing back my hair in a whirl of meshing energies. Sparks cascaded through the air and sheer unadulterated power spilled from our forms. Unspeakably beautiful rainbow colored light surged upward.

The magic intensified as Oriens began a rolling chant under his breath, lyrical syllables mixing together to sound like harmonious music. The First Language I realized with a sense of awe. The language that awoke the animals and the oceans, and cooled the planets.

The light tore apart the space between stars, and the laws of physics fled before the power as a tear in time and space cut through the air. I caught a flash of unmanning, abysmal dark and creeping things before a body fell from the tear. The power chased the dark things back and the rift sealed as the light healed the breach, purifying the air and remaking space into its natural state.

I rushed to the naked body, sliding to my knees and turning him over. It was Kevin. I grinned giddily, almost crazy, and tugged off my cape to drape it over his nude body. My heart threatened to explode. I was sure of it. We did it. He was back. I beamed at my father as he came to my side. Kevin groaned and started to move a little coming awake. My head was buzzing. I was almost dizzy with happiness. It was hard to think and more pleasant not to. All I wanted to do was just bask in this feeling, this moment.

His eyes opened, filled with tiredness and confusion. “Chad?”

I couldn’t stop smiling. “Hey.”

Kevin frowned and sat up with my help. He looked around with even more confusion. “I don’t understand. I-I was fighting...Through shadow and starlight...I was dead.” He looked up and his stare went from me, settling on Oriens for the first time. “Dad?”

“Gaius,” Oriens voice was filled with thick emotion. He bent over, running a gentle hand through Kevin’s hair. “We brought you back from the deep death.”

Kevin looked down at his hands, eyes lingering on his unblemished skin. “All my scars are gone,” he said absently. He clenched and unclenched his hands, shadows lighting in his eyes. “...So much time passed. All those years.”

“It’s been a week on Earth, son. The memories will fade in time,” Our father promised. “Your body was brought back truly healed. Hence you bear no previous markings.”

Fingers touched my face and I smiled down at Kevin’s wondrous expression. “I never thought I would see you again.”

“Back at you,” I said tearfully, then punched him in the arm making sure to pull my strength. “That’s for dying, jerk.”

He smiled for the first time, wide and true. “This is definitely not a dream.”

I wiped at my eyes and helped him to stand. “Nope. I’m the real deal.” I jerked a thumb at Oriens. “Dad’s real too, but he’s-”

“A dream,” Kevin finished, gazing around at the half shifted surroundings. “I used to dream of this place when I was really little.”

Oriens smile lit up his face, immensely proud. “You remember.”

“Barely, but its there.” Kevin clutched the cape tighter around himself. He looked down at his hands, frowning. “My powers...”

My eyes widened. “You aren’t going to try and trigger Armageddon are you?”

Kevin shook his head. “I couldn’t even if I wanted to. My powers have been diminished. I don’t think I can access my abilities as Heaven’s Trumpet anymore.”

“Yet something lingers.” Oriens stepped forward, placing two fingers against the spot right between Kevin’s eyebrows. He leaned forward to press a soft kiss against the tanned skin there. “What you were is gone, but what you are remains.”

Kevin sucked in a breath and the cape fell away as dazzling white light traveled the length of his body. A form fitting black suit, like my Chosen armor, appeared on him. Silver piping adorned the suit and metal shoulder pads jutted out, making him look strong and important. A circlet made of silver went around his head. He stared down at his gloved hands in amazement.

I stared at him in dumb shock. “You’re a Chosen!”

He blinked at me, eyes as wide as saucers. “Uh, what?”

Oriens smiled. “The capacity was always within you. Heaven’s Trumpet was a soldier of the gods just as the Chosen are, only of a higher order. Now that your powers are reduced you’re on the same level.”

“That sounds awfully like a demotion,” Kevin grumbled.

I pumped my fist, grinning with excitement. “This is great!”

Oriens smiled as our surroundings started to warp. “I can’t maintain this place any longer. Our time is up.” He embraced us both and we held him tight. “I love you, boys. I’m so very proud of you both.”

The throne room faded away into blinding light, leaving behind the moonlit clearing.

We stared at each other. It was all just too surreal. I didn’t know what to say. The secrets that once opened a chasm between us was gone, but not by any prompting on our part. I released my transformation. The prince clothes faded away leaving my regular clothing behind.

Kevin shuffled his boot clad foot. “So...”

He trailed off and I winced. This wasn’t awkward at all. I felt sadness seep in brought on by the silence. It seemed small talk was best for now.

“So what am I supposed to call you now?” I gestured at his Chosen uniform.

Kevin scrunched up his face taking a moment to think. His face cleared as he found what he was looking for. “I’m called Halo. The champion of balance.”

I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Halo, seriously? That’s a pussy ass name.”

Kevin’s jaw dropped. “Are you like on your period? Way to be a bitch.”

“Takes one to know one, Halo,” I retorted with a smirk, drawing his name out.

“I’m so over you,” he sniffed.

I grinned feeling more lighthearted than I have in eight days. The world tilted back as the familiar bantering sent reassurance through me. “Oh, whatever. You know you love me.”

“Bitch.”

“Tool.”

Kevin cracked a tiny smile. “I really am glad to be back.”

I slung an arm around his shoulders. “I’m glad too.”

And I meant it. Wholeheartedly.

I don’t know what the future had in store, but there was no doubt the Chosen would be called on again. We always would be needed. There was no escaping destiny. I don’t know about Killian and Ryan. Would I forgive them any time soon? Who knows. Give it time and maybe. For now I have a family, a boyfriend, and my best friend and brother. For me, that was enough. Honestly, lame name or not, I would hate to be the one who dared take on Halo. A title like the champion of balance was not bestowed lightly. Maybe that was the part of me that worshipped his big brother talking. I don’t care. I love him. And he was home.

[ End.]