Fate Breakers

Chapter 28

Lorenzo

Years Ago

Ten years. Ten years of peace. Ten years of life. Then, King Silverstine decided he didn't want to let things go. He took out our father, which was a blessing, but then he went for our mother. That's when he came for me.

Just like when I was five, he chased me up the stairs. He's at least a century older than me, he'll always be faster and stronger. He caught me like how he did when I was five. He held me down like I was five. I cried like how I did when I was five, but this time, I knew my life was ending. I braced for the slap. He hit harder than he did when I was five.

"Quit bitching and get the fuck up." He picked me up like I was a ragdoll. "I don't have time for your sissy shit."

I fought back that time. I spat straight in his eyes. "Fuck you, Tauro!"

Tauro slammed me into a wall. That was the first time in ten years I'd had the wind knocked out of me like that. I forgot how terrifying it is. The reminder was quick and excruciating. I didn't have the strength to stop him that day. I wasn't able to get up. He went into my room. I heard glass and ceramic break. He came out with a stack.

"T-Tauro," I rasped, "please! No!"

"You are a Makatza," Tauro snarled. "We're men, not bitches."

I couldn't breathe, there was no air in my lungs. I couldn't do anything but sit there and watch as ten years of artwork, ten years of stories, ten years of blissful memories with my mother were all burned to a crisp.

Ten years of my life, completely up in smoke.

Present Day

"Makatza?"

The sound of his name on her lips makes me want to double over and puke. I take back my handkerchief, praying the hood hides my disgust.

"Calixto," I tell her. "Our mother's maiden name."

Sergeant Quintero doesn't react the way others do. Normally, there's a big blow up, questions and accusations. It's been a little over a decade, and still, no one knows I'm his brother. Seems my new Sergeant will help me keep it that way.

Thank the fucking Gods.

"Wow," Is all she says at first. By now she's seeing the differences.

Tauro's got our father's black hair, he keeps it buzzed. Mine is an ashy brown, like my mother. I keep mine long and braided, the same way she used to do it. Tauro keeps stubble on his face, I'm clean shaven. His eyes are blue, mine are blueish-green. Similar enough to where someone needs a double take, wildly different beneath.

Quintero blinks. "He must really fucking hate you if Fox stuck you with us."

This is the Quintero I was worried about. I force out a breath, hoping it sounds like a laugh. "Uhh yeah, I wouldn't exactly call him the best brother."

She reaches for my cloak, eyeing the pattern. "Snowflake obsidian and smokey quartz." Quintero's eyes reach mine. "Wow... he really doesn't fucking like you."

"Yeah," I sigh, "I'm fairly certain he only brought me into the Balor in hopes it would kill me."

An arrow gets shot into the ground beside us. "Hey," shouts another soldier. "Fuck off of the range! People are trying to shoot here!"

Sergeant Quintero picks up the arrow and snaps it clean over her knee. "I'll shoot you, fucking punk! You wait until the range is cleared." She whacks my shoulder, shaking her head. "C'mon, Calixto, before any of them start to think they're funny."