Identity Chapter 12

D R A K

It was midday when Drak finally woke up. His head was spinning so fast it felt like it was actually running in circles—or at least he thought it was. He was actually still sick enough to projectile vomit one more time on his way to the spot by the creek where he should’ve met his friends hours ago. He wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the turn of events. Something big was about to begin, and from what he could tell, he had some part to play—even if that part was merely to stay alive.

The idea of leaving his parents should’ve held some appeal. He didn’t want people to know who he was. He wanted to get out of the shadow of being the youngest child of twenty, but he had never actually considered what having no family would mean and what full detachment would bring, and now he was faced with never seeing them again. So why wasn’t he elated; happy to build his own path? He’d finally gotten what he prayed to the gods for all his life: the chance to be his own man and not heir to the throne and to not be the good queen’s son—to just be Drak.

Revelations Chapter 12

L E O

Leo woke up the next day ready to go. The weekend seemed long, but here he was on the second day, washed and walking to the farm, even though the sun was still trying to creep its way over the trees.

“Already working?” Leo didn’t know why he was so shocked. He knew Danais took his job seriously, but still, the sun was only just managing to shed some light on the fields.

“Yes. I suggest you go out and get to work unless builders are afraid to get their nails dirty.” Leo didn’t even dignify Torak with a glare. If any of Salinor’s people were accustomed to getting dirty, it was the builders. It was a running joke that one could only tell what a Mironian looked like after he washed off the dirt. Leo’s direct dismissal of the comment only appeared to make it even funnier to Torak, so Leo thought it best to leave the laughter behind as fast as possible.

Virgil Chapter 12

Worse Before They Get Insane

Unfortunately, things didn’t start looking up for my brother. They took to physically abusing him for every indiscretion. Every mild failure. My mom ruled him with an iron fist with my father as her faithful accomplice. And most importantly they dared him to tell someone. Challenged him with silent threats to do anything about the situation he was in

One time he said something to a school counsellor that to this day he cannot remember. All he remembers is the sheer state of panic he went into. The counsellor actually had to haul him kicking and screaming into the office. Crying, hyperventilating, just a total mess in comparison to his usual calm cool and collected self. The teacher didn’t know what to do with him. Every time she reach for the phone to call our parents the panic attack would induce again.

Brothers and Frenemies Chapter 12

Running

There was a crunching of branches. A blur of trees. A heart beating much faster than it should be. Perspiration--enough to drench a shirt. Desperation coming out of the pores as a backpack bounced uncomfortably over the shoulders of a child. A boy. Running trying to get away—escape. The tall trees a blur as he looked behind to see if he was losing them. But he wasn’t. They were right up on him. Screaming at him—laughing.

He somehow looked inside himself for an extra burst of speed. He knew he was much smaller—weaker. There was no way he was going to outrun them. Feeling the uneven ground beneath his feet, he prayed that this time it would be different. He almost slipped as his foot pounded into a muddy part of the trail; the slushing sound was followed by the icky sensation of the substance splashing against his legs. He couldn’t stop though.

Dana Chapter 12

It was the following Sunday and Dana was still moping on Davon’s couch. Yeah—it’s pathetic. So pathetic that Dana was drowning his misery in fatty pizza, beer and Pepsi. And the shame of it all was that Dana’s a Coke-drinker. He even called in sick to work for the week so he wouldn’t have to bump into Adrian. Amazing what a little bit of love can do to a guy. Still, he hadn’t shed a tear. Somehow he couldn’t cry this time like he did before. This time it was like he was so much more emotional that it was just too overwhelming to cry. This time he was confused, unsure, hurt, still in love, and just wanting to end it. With the entire jambalaya of emotions, he just couldn’t squeeze crying in. But the saddest of sads was that he checked all of his voice mails and saved every one. After all the extremes he went to, to avoid him, he still couldn’t survive the day without repeatedly listening to his voice. He was actually on the couch doing this as Jason walked in.

“So you checking another voicemail?”

Dana Chapter 11

“It’s two in the morning.” Dana was talking to Jason on the phone, very unhappy to be awakened after only just falling asleep.

“Yeah, I know, but you know I don’t sleep when I’m not working.”

“So what’s it like being an uncle?”

“My brothers have kids.”

“I meant to someone within driving distance.”

“Well, Jackson no longer wants to be called Jackson; he wants to be called Moses—his middle name.”

“No way.”

“Yeah. He doesn’t want to be known by the name his fake father gave him.”

Brothers and Frenemies Chapter 11

Problems

“Just get out.” Steven threw Sebastian out of the room so he could hide away with his girlfriend, completely unconcerned that Sebastian’s schoolwork was in there—basically his whole life except for his phone. Sebastian just didn’t get how his brother could be such an asshole. He stormed down the stairs and into the kitchen. His mother looked at him knowing exactly what the issue was. She said nothing though.

“What’s wrong with him? Just a minute or two to grab my school stuff and he could make out with his girlfriend all he wants. And he locked me out.”

“He locked you out—again?”

“Yeah. Threw me out then locked me out. Like he just pushes me around ’cause he’s bigger than me.” He pulled out his phone and texted Bobby. Bobby was apparently having one of those days when other people were not welcome in his house. He didn’t understand Bobby sometimes. He got so into his conversation with Bobby that he didn’t notice his mother had left until he heard her shouting and in record breaking time his brother was in the kitchen fuming with his girlfriend. She was looking a bit flustered. No shock there. His mother had that effect on people.

Virgil Chapter 11

Worse Before They Get Insane

Unfortunately, things didn’t start looking up for my brother. They took to physically abusing him for every indiscretion. Every mild failure. My mom ruled him with an iron fist with my father as her faithful accomplice. And most importantly they dared him to tell someone. Challenged him with silent threats to do anything about the situation he was in

One time he said something to a school counsellor that to this day he cannot remember. All he remembers is the sheer state of panic he went into. The counsellor actually had to haul him kicking and screaming into the office. Crying, hyperventilating, just a total mess in comparison to his usual calm cool and collected self. The teacher didn’t know what to do with him. Every time she reach for the phone to call our parents the panic attack would induce again.

Revelations Chapter 11

D A N A I S

Danais woke up in the kitchen. The smell of beef stew engulfed him as he took his waking breaths. He remembered falling asleep in his room, so he had no explanation for why he was waking up in the kitchen. The only explanation might have been that he woke up to relieve himself and was just too tired to go back to his room—or even refasten his pants, apparently. He quickly adjusted his belt and sat up straighter in the chair.

“So it wakes,” Torak said, as if Danais were rising from the dead. 

“It would seem so, uncle.”

“So you had a good week’s end.”

“I did. Leo is—interesting.”

“Really?”

Identity Chapter 11

“No, class. We will not be hurling anything at him today.” 

“Why not?”

Shalini rolled her eyes. Clearly, using Lynton continuously for spell target practice was a bad choice. Not only were the girls fawning over him, but the boys kept harassing him for men stories. But as long as he didn’t disrupt the class, she was willing to let him tag along. Why he found her classes so much fun having finished his studies was far beyond her.

“Why must you always play with my hair?”

“Am I bothering you, Drak?”

“Yes.”

“Okay then. So you want an apple?” Drak responded by threatening to blow him up. How the second blowing up of the apple was so much worse than the first time, he’ll never know. Tilal was also playing with his hair. She was only half Dani but still found it fascinating, as her hair wasn’t orange or locked.