Brothers 3

Chapter 27

James couldn't breathe or think. His mind was like a freight train and his muscles twitched and shook without control. He knew if he stayed on the floor where he was then someone would find him. They would see him like this. He forced himself to his feet, feeling like there were weights tied to his bones. He needed somewhere to hide.

He sped through the house as quickly as his shaky body would allow. He took the stairs two at a time and pulled the ladder for the attic down. Scrambling up the ladder he squeezed towards the back of the dark room. There was enough dust up here for it float about in the air every time he moved. A mouldy smell permeated the air and James covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve. He hadn't remembered it smelling like this. But the chilly air was familiar and the harshness of it, bringing goosebumps on his arms, helped to ground him.

He settled himself under one of the sloping beams that held up the roof. He was surrounded by cardboard boxes with various labels attached. It was too dim for a human to read any of them, but his vampire eyes quickly adapted to the darkness and everything was clear and tinged a light shade of grey. To his left was an old mirror. It had a red frame with flowers inlaid into it. James knew from stories it had been his mothers. There was a crack in the middle of it and it reflected his scared reflection back at him. His dark hair was standing on end and his skin was pale. His clothes were messy, his father's coat gathered on the ground around him. He hated how pathetic he looked, huddled on the floor of the attic. Hiding from people in his own home. It was like being a child again.

The thought brought him right back to the last time he had hidden up here. He was eleven years old and small for his age. He could hear his father's voice through the attic floor and his steps moving up and down the hallway. James glared at the light coming up the open ladder space. If his father wanted him down there then he would have to come and get him. He was done being ordered around. Still a voice in his head laughed at the idea. If his father yelled after him would he really be able to refuse him? He shivered.

"He is just a little boy." Mrs Greene's voice was muffled but loud enough for James to hear. He sniffled and buried his head against his knees. He knew they were going to argue and he didn't want to hear it.

"He is not little anymore. I am preparing him for the world as it really is." His father sounded angry, and James shrunk further against the chilly wall, as if he could become part of it and vanish.

"Please, Richard, he is a sensitive boy."

"That can be fixed."

"He just needs some time. Those boys in school scared him."

James tensed. He never should have told Mrs Greene about them. There was one boy, Mason, who was always taking James's things. He knew he could take him apart with one hand, but he hadn't done that. Mainly because Mrs Greene told him his temper would get him in more trouble than he started with. He was doing his best to keep it in, but he wanted so badly to show Mason who was boss. He wouldn't hurt him badly. He could control himself. But Mrs Greene had insisted that violence only bred fear and hatred and he should let her sort it out. It was hard to listen to the boys in class call him tiny James and do nothing, but he had trusted her. And she told his father.

James shuddered at the memory of how his father had looked at him. His upper lip was drawn back in disgust and his eyes were like steel.

"You let this happen?"

James withered under his scrutiny.

"I think you should go to the school and talk to someone about this," Mrs Greene had said.

Richard made a harsh sound in the back of his throat. "My sons fix their own problems. If he can't handle it then I will get him home schooled."

James had tried to argue that he liked school. He had friends. Though his father didn't approve of anyone who wasn't a vampire. Yet his father wouldn't hear of it. Either James made the other boys stop or Richard would save him by taking him out of school.