18. Sibling Rivalry
Sibling Rivalry
Rez
Loose gravel crunches underneath Cain’s weight as he approaches, and all thought leaves me as the light from the lone bulb slowly reveals a monster masquerading as a man.
What I saw in that shadowy realm must have been the vanilla version of what the demons run screaming from when the bogeyman crawls out from under their bed.
Cain must be able to manipulate his image in his shadowy realm because what stands before me now is nothing like what I saw on our first night.
Tonight, he’s wearing an outfit that, if I didn’t know better, I would swear he was on his way to the meet-and-greet.
His deep-red designer shirt is tight across his chest, the top buttons open, and the sleeves rolled up to reveal his exposed, not unattractive display of muscled skin as his black slacks hug his legs as if painted on.
I know it’s just a facade, because one step inside that building and the whole function would shatter into chaos, and given the high-ranking and unstable individuals inside, it would jump-start the Apocalypse.
In this realm, he’s still a foot taller than me, but he’s wider in the shoulders than Knox, and there’s a darker aura pulsing from him. It’s as if he’s a black hole, and the lack of his moral compass or soul pulls at mine, leaving a deep chill within my bones.
I remembered his piercing gray eyes staring at me before, as if he was marking me as prey.
Tonight, though, there’s the essence of crimson and onyx power swirling within those silver depths.
What I thought was Cain smoking a cigarette is actually his mark glowing with power.
No matter how he looks or what he wears, you can’t help but stare at his namesake: the mark of Cain.
I definitely didn’t get a good look at it before, but I can’t take my eyes off the blaring, intricate red glow of his forehead.
His mark has labyrinthine swirls that make an upside-down pitchfork with four scythes that branch off the handle, and it looks imposing, but it’s the slight pulsing of power that really grabs my attention.
What power does it hold?
Cain’s lip pulls up slightly in a cruel smirk, drawing attention to a scar across his upper lip, and I wonder how he got that and why I didn’t notice it before in his shadow realm, and is that a slightly broken nose? Sheesh.
I bet he got that along with his broken nose when he was murdering his brother.
“Good guess, but no. I got that after I killed my first wife.”
“I said that out loud?” I struggle to swallow as I feel my saliva thicken in my throat. Shit, there goes my badassery persona.
“Believe me, your persona was never in question,” he scoffs.
Rude much?
His cocky expression only brings attention to his strong jaw with his 5 o’clock shadow, which makes me want to deck him.
Yeah, that’s the only thing he’s missing from his facade, a black eye or a bruise on his jaw.
“There’s no facade. What you see is what you get,” Cain corrects me, and I’m starting to get frustrated.
“Am I just talking out loud, or are you really hearing my fucking thoughts?” I decide to ask since he’s so willing to offer up words of random shit. “And while we’re at it, what the hell do you want with me, and where is my dog?”
“Pfft. You call that a dog? He’s a fucking chew toy for real Hellhounds.” He chuckles as he pulls his arms behind his back and slowly begins to circle me like I’m prey.
It's a trick, it has to be, to leave himself open like this. It’s like he’s begging me to attack first. Then again, this is Cain we’re talking about, and everyone has heard about the Mark of Cain; his curse to live forever.
The first murderer.
The royal and first asshole.
Hell, it seems God himself marked where Cain’s ass was with a glow stick highlighter so everyone could see it. Well, to me it’s a damn bullseye, and I’m not letting him out of my sight as I rotate my stance to continue to face him.
“To answer your other questions, yes. I can pick up some of your thoughts, Rez, but don’t worry, our connection will only get stronger with time.
And to answer the question, what do I want with you?
I wanted to meet my little sister.” His lips pull back into a semblance of a smile, but it looks more like a sneer. “I’ve never had a little sister.”
I stumble back as his words hit me, but it doesn’t stop the filter on my mouth.
“I bet you’re not the type to have had a fluffy bunny either.
I have a feeling you feel more at home rolling around in a viper pit.
” I flip my wrists, causing my long, sheer sleeves to reveal my glaives, and Cain clucks his tongue in disappointment.
“Aww, now come on, sis, is this really how you should treat your brother? With hostility when all I’ve done is try to get to know you?” he mocks as I recoil with my jaw slightly agape, although he would make a good point if what he said was true.
Sis? No way. Maybe that brand on his forehead has begun to poison his mind, you know, do some mental damage, and he’s more deranged than one knows.
“I haven’t seen a paternity test, so that’s still up for debate,” I hiss. “How do we have a connection now when we haven’t had one before?” I demand, pointing my glaive at him.
I’m getting impatient, and the longer I stand here in his presence, I can feel my body start aching.
Ugh, not now. I don’t need this to start up again.
Along with the God’s Trumpet’s side effects, I’m feeling this internal ick, like thick ink crawling inside of me as if it's searching for something vulnerable, the longer I’m around Cain.
Not knowing what it is or why I’m having this feeling is putting me on edge, so it’s time to find out why he’s really here and how I get rid of him.
I don’t believe it’s as simple as wanting to meet me, even if I believed the bullshit flowing out of his mouth about us being siblings.
Cain stops walking and cocks his head to look at me, then chuckles as he drops his gaze to the ground, while I hold my glaive out as a shield, since my magical one is ka-put.
Fuck, he dropped his eyes. Astaroth said you can often tell which way your opponent will strike next by watching the eyes. Well, there went my easy way of anticipating his next move.
He slowly raises his head enough that I can see his eyes, probably hearing my thoughts, and with a slight twitch of his lips, he moves.
Within the blink of an eye, my glaives are disarmed and gone.
Both of my wrists are bound within one of his hands, and my chin is between his thumb and finger in a tight grasp.
“My silly little mouse,” he says, his breath just a whisper as he leans in. “There was more on that dagger than just God’s Trumpet,” he reveals as his pupils slightly swirl with more power. “We’re connected in more ways than you know.”
“You had your blood on it, you son of a bitch!” I realize, putting together ways to increase connections between supes. Thank you, Magic 101.
He smiles and releases my chin, only to run his finger down my cheek.
“See, you’re a lot smarter than those so-called ‘harpies’ give you credit for,” he praises.
“Get to the point of why you’re harassing me, Cain,” I demand, spitting out his name like the curse it is.
“Harassing? Me? I would never… we’re family,” he patronizes me instead as he drops me like lead and turns to walk a few feet away, giving me a chance to escape.
Knowing when I’ve met my match, I push myself up and try to run, but immediately trip and land in the damp grass. Fuck. Pushing the sheer material of my pants to the side, I glower at the thick vines that are rapidly wrapping around my ankles and shackling me to the ground.
No! I quickly try to rip and tear myself free, but it's no use, and I’m stuck cursing out the fucker as the vines only tighten their embrace.
Cain’s deep laughter causes chills to run down my spine as he approaches, and I see his boots in front of me. He snaps his fingers, and my wrists are magically bound together in front of me with the same flora. With ease, he picks me up by the wrist and dangles me like a dainty mink.
Have you ever held one? If you do, DON’T grab it by its body, go for the tail, and support its body with your other hand. Otherwise, you’ll have an aggressive fucker like me on your hands.
I twist and bring my knees up to kick out, but Cain just swings my body to the side, and I meet air as I hiss in anger, despite my body aching.
“Calm down,” he tells me, grabbing hold of my arm and straightening me out.
“You’re going to cause your own heart to explode.
” Annoyingly, he cocks his head as if he’s listening to my pounding organ.
“We’re meant to be together, little mouse.
Our so-called ‘father’ set up the pieces ages ago, supposedly.
” His lip curls in disgust, and I couldn’t agree more.
Well, it seems there’s something we have in common. We’re not too keen on Adam, and I haven’t even met the asshole.
Cain arches an eyebrow. “You have one part of that right.”
Before I can comment or even reply, a bolt of lightning zings through the air, and my world spins. I hit the ground hard, causing me to cry out in pain from the hard ground and the roots around my ankles.
“Leave her alone, Cain!” Knots yells as another flash of light arches through the darkness.
Cain effortlessly dodges it and cocks his head to take in Knots as he approaches and steps in front of me with his sword drawn.
“Ah, Kanotiel,” Cain smirks. “I almost didn’t recognize you in your modern attire. I must say, it doesn’t suit you.”
“Leave. Rez. Alone. She's under my protection,” Knots’ voice thunders as his blue wings fully extend to their full length. There’s a slightly ethereal glow that I can’t help but be in awe of the sight of my Door Knight. He slowly shifts over to fully cover me as Cain allows him.
“Not a great track record of keeping those alive,” Cain teases, and Knots’ grip on his sword slightly tightens. “How has that been working out for you?” he continues to goad.
“Be. Gone. Cain,” Knots warns as he takes a defensive stance.
“Last time I had counted… let’s say…” Cain says, holding up his hand and smirking as he raises a few fingers in front of Knots.
“There was that kid who had dark hair, if I recall.” Knot’s back flexes beneath his shirt as his wings flutter slightly.
“And wasn’t there a girl with pigtails, if I remember correctly?
It’s hard to remember all of them,” Cain shakes his head with false pity.
“You see, they all start running together after a while.” His disinterested smile tells a different story. “Ahh, but who could forget Angele—”
Knots leaps towards Cain with his sword raised above him for a downward thrust, a perfect slice into Cain's chest cavity, and the idiot only smiles as Death, in the form of Knots, falls upon him.
Right as his sword makes contact with Cain, an arch of wind slashes out from Cain with a crack of thunder that sends a stream of blinding light that tears across our skin in a fury of dirt and debris.
Knots flips through the sky and flies back from Cain, while the shackles at my feet hold, forcing me to ride out the debris as it tears at my clothes and skin, causing fire to rush over my bare skin.
Fuck, I’m going to feel this tomorrow.
An unladylike groan leaves me as the wind dies down, and Cain’s eerie laughter grows louder. Glancing around, I finally spy Knots a few feet behind me, and he doesn’t look any better off than I do. His wings are bent unnaturally as he tries to get up, and I don’t see his glowing sword anymore.
“Did you forget, Kanotiel? I’m untouchable,” Cain’s voice rings out as he walks closer to me. “Even with your Angel sword,” he gloats as I flip over onto my back.
He must have Little Dick Syndrome.
Cain’s eyes laser-focus a glare on me, even Lucy would approve of.
“I heard that, little mouse,” he hisses.
“Good,” I smile through the pain in my cheeks.
There’s a commotion towards the Hub, and Cain curses under his breath, but I hear it and secretly dance since I’m still tied up like a damn hog. But it’s a great feeling seeing him scowl as he glares in that direction before squatting down in front of me.
“I meant what I said. We are meant to be together; that is why Father is after you. I want you to come willingly,” he says while gently running his finger down my cheek. “He has no such desires. Believe it or not, little mouse, I am the lesser evil.”
Hearing voices calling out in the distance, Cain leans forward and kisses me on the forehead, which sends a chill throughout my entire body. Standing up to his full height, he steps back slightly into the waiting darkness.
“Catch you later, little mouse.” He winks right as the first people round the corner.
“Rez!” Zeke yells.
“Cain?” Astaroth questions, right as Cain disappears into the darkness.
The weapons master’s murderous gaze snaps to me, and I suddenly wish I could disappear, too. Especially as more students and faculty personnel show up to see what caused the wind slash from Hell.
“Was that Cain? Was he here?” Astaroth demands. His voice comes out thunderous as his eyes turn molten, and all I can do is nod in fear.
Fuck, please don’t kill me.
Zeke reaches for me and starts to hack away at my restraints around my wrist and ankles.
“Cain was here?” Murmur pops up next to him out of nowhere and starts sniffing the air. He follows his nose my way and back towards the darkness. “Get Lilith’s dogs,” he says. “I have a trail.”
Astaroth nods and disappears in the blink of an eye, and Murmur turns to me with a frown. He opens his mouth to berate or question me about Cain, but stops when Reaper finally makes his appearance.
Returning from playing fetch, he brings me his stick and sets it down before me when someone screams from the crowd forming behind us.
“Rez, what were you and Reaper doing out here?” Zeke asks, staring in horror at me.
“We were going back to the dorm and playing fetch on the way with a stick,” I admit.
Someone tries to quiet down the screaming student as Reaper comes over looking for hugs and kisses for fetching.
“I’m not sure I would call that a stick,” Zeke tells me.
“That’s a good boy,” I try but fail to praise Reaper as I take in what he dropped in front of me.
“I have to admit, chickadee, even in Hell’s terms that’s a fucked up stick,” Murmur agrees.
Well. Shit. He has a point. How do you even identify whose arm this is?