The Brotherhood

24

Abel stood with his feet rooted in the snowy ground. It was the first time that Abel had ever stood in front of the Mother. Abel wasn't feeling like kneeling though. In fact, he didn't feel like kneeling in front of the Mother ever again. She had lied to him. She had lied to the Brotherhood. She had put lives in jeopardy and he knew that she didn't care. She didn't deserve his devotion and reverence. So Abel didn't kneel. 

To the Mother's credit, she didn't mention it. It was almost like they were playing a game of chicken, trying to see which one of them would bring up the fact that he wasn't on his knees. He knew that the Mother wouldn't crack first. That made it easier for him to continue standing, staring down the Mother. 

"Why did you summon me, Supreme?" The Mother asked, her face not pulling into a snarl for once. It almost seemed like she actually cared about him. He almost believed it. Except that he didn't, and he was almost certain that he never would again. 

"You lied to me, Mother," Abel said slowly, trying to keep the anger from his voice. 

The Mother sank down onto her haunches. It was the first time Abel had ever seen her in some semblance of relaxation. He didn't like it. Whatever sign it was, it wasn't a good one.

"What exactly did I lie to you about?" The Mother asked, cocking her head at Abel. 

"You didn't tell me the truth about what the monster you sent us to handle," Abel said, his voice gruff. 

"I told you everything that you needed to know," The Mother said without remorse. 

Abel growled, "No, you didn't! You didn't tell us that it was a night creature! It could've killed everyone in the village, not to mention all of my brothers!" 

"And you disobeyed a direct order," The Mother said with a snarl, "I told you not to kill the creature and one of your brothers did. In fact, I'm told that it was your sister that murdered the monster." 

"If she hadn't disobeyed that direct order, then she would be dead. So would the rest of the village that you sent us to protect. Not to mention the havoc that that creature would've unleashed on the forest that you're meant to protect," Abel said with a voice of authority he never brought with him to this snowy forest. 

The Mother reeled back from his words. Her lips pulled back showing her fangs. Now it was Abel's turn to reel back from her. She looked as ferocious as she ever had. Abel refused to think about it. Otherwise, he would back down right now. And he couldn't back down. He had to defend his brothers and he had to defend Finley. He owed her that. 

"Regardless of the damage that the monster may have caused, it does not change the fact that she disobeyed a direct order from her superior. And it does not change the fact that you have yet to punish her for it," The Mother rumbled at him. 

"How am I supposed to punish her when she hasn't regained consciousness yet?" Abel demanded. 

"You could've found a way if you'd only tried," The Mother said coldly, "But you never did. And you won't because you believe that she did the right thing." 

"She did," Abel asserted. "She did what she should've done. She did what I would have done. How could I ask anything different from my sister than for her to the same?" 

The Mother narrowed her gleaming yellow eyes at him, "Be careful how you speak to me, Supreme. Regardless of how you feel about my orders, I am still the one who gives them." 

Abel clenched his hands into tight fists, "Yes, Mother." 

"Would you like to hear my new orders?" The Mother asked, knowing damn well that he didn't want to. 

"Yes, Mother," Abel replied quietly this time. Maybe if it didn't feel like he'd said the words, then he really didn't. 

"Your new orders are to make sure that you kill that bitch who disobeyed you," The Mother ordered, her lips pulled back in a snarl.

Abel's heart stopped beating. Suddenly, he wasn't able to get a breath down. He absolutely refused to murder Finley. It went against everything that he stood for as the Supreme. He didn't deal out death sentences. That was the Mother's job. He didn't need to do it for her. Besides, Abel was fairly certain that if he tried to kill Finley, Kane would eviscerate him. He couldn't say that though. He'd already angered the Mother once. He had to agreed to it, here and now. He'd figure some other solution out later. 

"Yes, Mother," Abel answered her order. 

The Mother pulled her lips back in what could only be described as a feral grin. Abel's stomach sank. His hands broke out in a cold sweat. He'd never seen that vicious glint in the Mother's eyes before. It could only mean one thing, violence. Everything would be fine as long as she didn't make any demands about proving that Finley was dead. He would be able to play that off just fine. The Mother never let him off easy though. He should've known better. 

The Mother kept smiling up at him viciously, "When you're done killing her off, I want to know every vicious detail of how she screamed while you cut her throat. Then, I want you to bring her head to me. If you don't, then I'll be forced to get it myself." 

"I will deliver her head to you, I promise," Abel vowed. He swallowed the regret that threatened to choke him. Kane was going to murder him. There was no doubt about it. 

"You had better," The Mother said with authority, "Otherwise, I might have to take your head instead." 

Abel ignored the way that her words made his blood run cold. He ignored everything except the brutal feeling of coming back to the compound. He ignored everything except the feeling of the the snowy world slowly fading away. When he was sure that he was safely back within the confines of his study, he hurled his guts up.