The Allure of Darkness

6

Azia

Loki is here. He waited. For me. Or for this brother?

I look at his hands and spot a white rag in them. He throws it to me. It's covered in blood in a second. What a waste of a good towel.

I see his rings across his hands. A gold one on his ring finger with a tiny rose in the middle. There's a gold along with one on his thumb with this engraved letter I can't see.

On his left hand is silver rings. On his pointer finger is a wide ring with jewels coming out in different spots. It's ugly but different. Unique. There's a thin silver rings on his pinky finger. Nothing engraved or decorated on it. Just plain. Bland.

I take a step back from him after realizing I've been staring at him. For to long.

I'm by myself with someone from the guard.

"Thank you. For the rag, Loki."

"Let's say it was a gift, Azia." He looks at me. Likes really looks at me. His eyes are like staring into my soul.

The sunrise is coming up. Orange and pink flows throughout the sky. It's breathtaking beautiful.

"Did you tell Emrys anything?" Loki says suddenly.

I won't be the messenger to him. He left me. If he wants to know anything he can talk to Emrys. Not me.

"No. Maybe if you would of stayed in the tent than you would of heard." I stated.

"I can't manage blood and-."

I cut him off. What a pathetic excuse.

"You're a coward, Loki."

And with that I walk away. To slumber. To my bed made of flowers. While the sun climbs up into the sky. For a new day. For a new life.

Emrys

"I mean she does have a point. You are a coward."

Yes I was listening to their conversation. Yes I can practically feel my brother anger but it's not directed towards Azia but to me. That's surprising.

"Why is there so much anger in you brother? It's not like you care about her." I look at him. "Or do you? Is she like a pet project to you?"

Loki doesn't talk. He doesn't need to.

"She does not care for you, Loki. She will never learn to care for you."

I could feel his anger slipping away turning into sympathy for himself. Good. Sometimes his anger is hard to manage. Terribly difficult but I just have to say what he wants to hear. What he needs to hear.

"Stop sneaking into my thoughts. I can't handle it.  I can't handle how everyone thinks they can control me. Mom. Dad. You. I can't grasp how you ALL think I will never be able to control myself. Control my magic. But brother I will. I promise." Tears are falling from his eyes. Pathetic.

"I know you will, I know you can." He can't. He doesn't yet grasp that we don't want him to. That we will never let him fully control his powers.

"It's just- just this pain is all I feel. Every minute of every day. It's draining me."

"You just have to get past it. Overcome it brother or else it will consume you. Don't. Let. It. Consume. You." Please let it consume you.

He's weak. That's a good thing. It means he needs someone to rely on. For someone to hold him steady, to keep him from falling. I'm his twin. His other half. I have held him up for these past 17 years and I always will.

"Okay. I'm okay. I'm okay." He turns around to walk into our tent. He looks back at me. He has cleared his mind.

Anyone can shut their thoughts off. If they try hard enough. If they are strong enough for it not to shatter their minds.

They could have their thoughts safe from me but it's hard and brutal. But here is Loki, fighting for his mind to belong to him. I guess I'll let him have this moment to himself.

"Have fun in there. Don't get too lost in your thoughts." I smile at him. A big smile. A mocking smile.

And with that I'm alone. With the wind. With the sun rising. With my own thoughts.