The 8th Soul

Brotherly Love

~Toni~

I fly down the enormous steps to the Great Hall as fast as my little feet can carry me. I pull my red hair over one shoulder and begin to braid it quickly. I was suppose to be up hours ago but, being a teenager, I don't wake up easily.

Today my mother and father, the two Representatives of our purview, Saklaw, are leaving for their journey to Esfera, the purview my brother and I like to call the "Floating Clouds". We have called it for as long as I can remember. But its name is self-explanitory. Legend has it that the citizens of Esfera live on little land masses that float in the sky and if one would stand directly underneath it, the land would look like clouds. But who am I kidding, those are just stories that we were told before Asher and I were to go to sleep.

I reach the end of the stair case and my bare feet slap on the cold white palace floors. For once I have to beat Asher to our places. He is always an early riser. For some reason, though, last night I couldn't fall asleep, well, until really late, so here I am, rushing to make it down on time because I overslept.

I dismount the steps and stop in the middle of a giant hallway. Guards stand around, ignoring me, as usual, and servants walk around doing whatever business they must attend to. Asher, my father, and my mother are no where in sight.

I take this moment to stretch my arms and take a big yawn. I slump my shoulders and rub my eyes to try to wake myself up.

"Don't slouch, freckle face."

My head shoots straight up at my twin brother's usual teasing.

"Good morning to you too, Asher," I greet him back. His chestnut hair bobs as he bounces down the stairs.

"Why are you up so early," Asher asks curiously.

"Because, Asher," I roll my eyes.

"Did you sneek off with the man of your dreams," Asher teases.

"Did you sleep with the pigs?" I ask, "Because you stink."

Asher squints his flame orange eyes at me and sticks out his tongue playfully.

"Look at my babies," my mother's voice appears, "They are finally learning how to get along!"

Asher and I straighten our posture and put out hands behind our backs at the same time. My mother, with her auburn hair, green eyes, and small frame, enters the Great Hall beside my tall, strawberry blonde father.

"Good morning Nanay!" I greet her cheerfully.

My mother reaches us and wraps he arms around us. We return the gesture.

"Good morning my sweets," she smiles. She doesn't even hesistate to tell us what she always tells us before she and father leave for the monthly meeting.

"Now, you listen to Zorin, or whoever is watching over you two. No fighting, please, at least TRY to get along. No sneeking out. No blah blah blah." That's all I ever hear.

"Yes, Nanay," Asher and I say in unison.

"Good," mother smiles. She pats our cheeks after she kisses them softly, "I love you." She says this to both of us and steps back for our father to say his good-byes.

He simply holds our faces in his large hands and kiss our foreheads and whispers, "I love you. Be safe."

"Yes, Ayah," I giggle and he kisses my nose before pulling away.

Asher and I stand and watch them walk away. My mother's deep purple dress dances on the floor and my father holds her around her waist as they walk out the door.