POWERS OF NATURE Book 1 - Into the Storm

Chapter 17

Matt sat at the desk in the study, in two minds. He had successfully avoided his brother, and Stephanie all weekend. Granted, she hadn't tried calling him except for one text message he had yet to read but there was nothing stopping him from picking the phone up and calling her except his fear. His excuse, to himself, was that he needed time to process what Stephanie had said, what she believed.

Now he was out of time and he hadn't decided anything. As the eldest, he was supposed to phone his father with an update on Stephanie. Another thing he had hidden from her. But what update should he give? If Stephanie was right, and there was a small part of him that believed her, then any update was sure to be followed with orders to 'neutralize the threat'. If she was right, he'd be the one handing his father her death sentence on a silver platter.

The sound of a door crashing open startled him. It was midmorning, Aiden should have been at the restaurant and Stephanie was at school. He waited for the steps on the stairs, and when he heard the tell take stomping that signalled his brother was in a bad mood, he braced himself for the fight that would surely follow.

The office door swung open with enough force to have it slam against the wall and shudder on its hinges. When Aiden was mad, he tended to use his extra strength a little more than was necessary.

"You are a cowardly bastard, brother." Aiden stormed into the office, stopping in front of the desk, anger rolling off him in waves.

"For what now, brother?" Matt asked wearily. The last thing he needed was another of his brother's temper tantrums.

"Don play innocent, brother." Aiden sneered. He'd spent most of Sunday with Stephanie and it took every inch of will power to the girl not to break down. No matter his feelings, she didn't deserve to be hurt like that. No one did. "How could you have abandoned Stephanie like that?" She is scared out of her wits, and you decide to leave her to face this all on her own."

Matt narrowed his eyes at Aiden, rising from his seated position. "How do you know that?"

"So you won't even deny it. I must say I'm impressed with that. For the coward you are, I'd have thought you'd have an excuse ready."

"I said, how do you know that?" Matt leaned across the desk, supporting his weight on his arms.

"She called me, Matt. Because she was scared and alone and you weren't there!" Aiden yelled,not backing away.

Matt's lip curled in disgust at his brother. "You had no right, Aiden. I should have known you'd use this to your advantage and get close to her." A heavy blow to his jaw caused him to stumble back from the desk and into the bookcase behind him. Aiden stood with his own hands on the desk now, breathing heavy.

"Yes, yes, brother. I took advantage of her in her vulnerable state after her amazing boyfriend left her to deal with her probable death alone. Whatever helps you sleep at night. Her only option after the one she chose, the one she loves, abandoned her was to call me."

"I did not abandon her, Aiden!" Matt yelled, having regained his feet from the punch. He knew Aiden was right though,he just couldn't admit it to him.

"I spent the weekend helping her figure it all out, brother. Trust me when I say, you abandoned her. She isn't eating, she's barely sleeping. Every sound makes her jump. It's a wonder she actually has control over her talent. It's truly amazing. Any other Kairós would have brought an earthquake with the way she was shaking, but she controlled it. The times I caught her crying, the sun still shone brightly outside." Aiden said, his cold the tinted with pride.

"I don't believe you. You were probably spying..."

"Get over it!" Aiden roared, making Matt flinch as slammed his fist onto the desk, causing it to split. "Man up! Admit you left her, own up to it. In the state she's in, I'd rather be the brother that abandoned her than the one who takes advantage. Your own guilt and jealousy is to blame. Your cowardice. I know you are scared of Michael, and I know you know it's because he isn't quite human. Don't deny it, brother. Make things right with Stephanie or let her go with some dignity. You owe her that much." He spun and left the office, before a slam told Matt he had retreated to his room.