To Escape From Gravity

Chapter Nine

"Who said you're welcome here?" the deep voice bellowed. A fist slammed into the tiled wall where Normar's head had been a split second prior. The muscles in her jaw were tight, emphasizing the strong lines of her face.

"You have terrible form," she shot back, with her own fist pummeling into ribs. "And I thought family was always welcomed," she said through clenched teeth.

Her foe was doubled over, with the punch landing true and knocking the wind out of him.

"I thought you didn't listen to a word Father and Mother said," a wry grin spread across his youthful face.

Normar leaned over to meet his eyeline. "Little brother, when will you see? Our parents have wise words, but ugly lives. That's why I'm always welcomed here, because you need some family that isn't a bad influence." Her last words were coupled with a genuine smile.

He righted himself up, standing a few inches above her. Tenderly rubbing his side, he beamed at her.

"I'm glad you still got those fighting skills. I'd be a bad brother to let you lose your killer instincts."

Normar scoffed at that, sauntering further into his housing unit. "I wasn't the one kicked out of school...five times."

He bounded along by her side with the energy of a puppy, all pretend animosity completely dissolved. "That's 'cause I was bad at maths, not at fist-fighting."

"You just got gut-punched in your own house, Laedem. I'd say you're also bad at fist-fighting!"

"Nah, I let you have that. I was in total control."

Normar looked around the messy housing unit. Clothes, trash, and bottles were strewn all around. It looked like a wind storm had had its way with the place. "I'd say control is the last thing you're in."

Laedem had a boyish spirit to go along with his looks. A big tangle of dirty blonde hair constantly fell into his brown eyes. He would tirelessly whisk it away from his face instead of just getting a haircut.

His deep voice gave him more authority than he had earned. "My life is in order, everything is going great for me!"

"No, Laedem. You are far too absorbed in our parent's business and don't grasp the danger that they've put you in. Just because you have a lot of money doesn't mean things are great for you."

His smile teetered on the edge of smugness. "Don't you get it? Up here, money is all it takes to have a grand life!"

Normar knew that her pleas would again fall on deaf ears. "Well, since you talk to Father and Mother about the family business, do you know why they weren't at the Elect's annual gala tonight?"

"Oh, was that tonight?" Laedem questioned, stuffing his mouth full with a biscuit that had been sitting on a nearby table. His housing unit was originally furnished very lavishly, but due to his unkempt nature, it no longer looked pristine and dignified. The large window in his living room overlooked a pretty section of the city, and was a contradicting backdrop to the messy interior.

"Don't act like you didn't know that!"

Normar usually excelled at keeping her emotions in check, but her brother's aloofness was always a challenge.

He threw himself down on an amber-colored leather lounge chair near the window. The neon lights of the city pierced through the night and cast a beautiful illumination on his features. He appeared almost regal. If their parents hadn't brought him into their activities, he could have had a truly wonderful, respectful life. Laedem was burdened with charisma and magnetism. Even as a child, people gravitated towards him. It could've been channeled into greatness. Instead, it was harnessed by the family for all the wrong reasons.