Hero's Dead Brother

15. Power

I had to help her find out about her powers as soon as possible. If her parents insisted on getting her back, there's nothing I could legally do. At least if that 'father' of her knew about the powers, she'd get better treatment from that point on.

"Caleb, this is my favorite book! It helps you find out about your powers".

Her face was stoic and expressionless. I felt like I could sense some resentment there. Did I say something wrong? I didn't fully gain her trust yet, I knew it but now she looked like she really hated me.

'Oh'... that's when it hit me. She saw right through me. Who could detect a fake facade better than the two of us? We both have serious trust issues. She took my fake smile for malice.

I must have made her feel so uncomfortable all this time. I was blinded by the fact that I treated her kindly for a while but I should know better. My mother used to act the same when coming to school to see my teachers or talking to the neighbours. That smiling facade that only meant 'just you wait until we get home, you little shit!'.

I felt nauseous. Is that how she felt about me? Am I just like a vicious stepmother to her?

I put the book down on the table and with it my facade shattered. My smile was gone and I was fixing her with my true face. My true dirty soul.

'No more games'.

Her face got brighter with contempt as if she was glad I finally showed my true intentions. You got it all wrong, kid. Hah. It made me laugh.

And I laughed. If I could describe a villain's lough it would sound exactly the same. Heavy, rough, hysterical laugh. She was standing there, seeing my true face.

"Caleb" I finally spoke in between my now uncontrollable laughs.

"Hahaha you...*cough* power".

When I managed to stop I finally spoke. "Your power. Power is everything".

She was glaring at me with an unreadable face.

"If you want to survive, you have to show your power. I'll help you reveal it. Once you have power, you'll be able to shut that b*tche's mouth and live your life as you want. That bastard that's supposed to be your father is gonna treat you well and your dirty origins won't matter anymore. They'll be your b*tches and you'll be their master. They'll lick your shoes and crawl like dogs at your feet. Hahaha! What do you think?"

A true villain. I am the real villain of this story. But in my own way. In my own Justice.

Caleb was standing there, seeing my true self. The face no one had ever seen before. A monster that was asleep, chained and locked up. I regretted not having shown it to Mike before I died. I regretted dying in silence. But it didn't matter. I could finally set if free. My monster. My dirty hellhound.

She walked towards me and I didn't know what to expect. Was she scared? Disgusted? I couldn't read her face. But at least it wasn't hateful anymore. I had shown my true colours and it was an ugly sight. It was black, red and dirty.

Her hand went down towards the book placed on the table and she quietly sat down and opened it.