The Leviathan

Chapter 2 ~ TOM ~ Rebel Souls

Chapter 2 ~ TOM ~ Rebel Souls

We were troublemakers from the day we opened our eyes. My twin brother Bill and I have always been defiant, hard-headed boys. We question conformity, disregard traditions and hated control. We are rebels with the same soul. The first word that Bill had ever spoken was "Don't". Mine was "Fuck". Please blame the nannies.

Bill had always been frail. I remember the time when were 12 years of age. I asked my nanny Bessie why Bill had to stay in bed most of the time. I haven't seen my brother for two weeks. When she wouldn't tell me, I broke her favorite mirror. Then her favorite hair comb. Then her favorite earring suddenly ends up in Prime Minister Lance Val's soup. If that didn't break her spirit I didn't know else what to do.

Sobbingly and full of anger she told me one day: "It's because of you, you dumb bastard! Your twin brother is sick because you sucked up all the health while you were in the womb!"

That stunned me. I was the reason why my brother is suffering. I couldn't breathe. What if Bill dies because of me? I would be alone. I have never felt so afraid in my life. I ran to Bill's room. There were so many doctors there with their fancy apparatus that beeps like no end. Bill's nanny tried to stop me from entering but I screamed for my brother. They were dragging me outside when I heard Bill's weak voice:

"Wait, I'll take the medicines! But keep Tom here. I want to see my brother."

His crackled voice sends a spiraling guilt on me. One of the doctors nodded. I slowly walked up to his bed. He was deathly pale. His lips were dry and bleeding. He looks so thin. His sunken eyes twinkle slightly as he reached up to touch my hands. I can see his pale bones through his knuckles. My brother is dying.

"I am so glad to see you my brother." Bill said in a hoarse voice. He gripped my fingers. He looked up to the doctor beside him. "I want to speak with him alone. Leave us." My brother, the ever commanding spoiled prince. Everyone left the room just as he said. I don't know why but the doctors seem so glad to leave the room. They were in a rush to get out.

I had so many things to tell him. Like how I missed him, or that I'm afraid that he's going to die. But what came out of my mouth was: "You look like shit."

Bill laughed. "You look so freaking pale. Did you break something again?"

"No. Not this time." I smiled. I realized how much I missed my brother. "They were wrong to try to separate us Bill. We have always been inseparable."

"Seeing you makes me feel better already."

Then I remembered why I was there. I leaned closer, my forehead is touching his. I whispered, "Is it true that you are sick because of me? Nanny Bessie says that I sucked all the health when we were still... puppies. I am sorry my little brother."

"Puppies?" Bill smiled, delighted with my choice of words. He shook his head. "No, I am to blame. Its why until now you haven't manifested any powers of the bloodline. It's because I sucked everything. This is why my body cannot handle it. I am sorry my brother."

It eased my guilt a little bit. But I was still afraid. "Isn't there a way you can share it with me?"

"I don't know. These powers.. They are heavy Tom. I think they want to leave... my body. But I don't know how."

"Well try me."

"Try what?"

"Try hitting me with your power. Maybe I'll take it in."

Bill was alarmed. "No! You'll die!"

"I am strong my brother. I think I can handle it." I said giving him my most gloating smirk.

"No!"

Bill was defiant. But I always know how to trick him into doing what I want. "Yeah? Maybe you are just being selfish. Maybe you really wanted the power for yourself."

Bill looked horrified. "You know I never..."

I didn't let him finish. "Then why won't you share it with me? Are you afraid that I'm going to be more powerful than you?"

Bill's face darkens. I can tell that he's really angry. He hated to be compared. But most of all he hated it whenever I think he's being selfish. Suddenly the air around us crackled. I can feel tiny pinpricks of pain on my skin. I looked around and saw all the apparatus lifting away from the floor. The chairs, the tables even the bed we are in. Even Bill's limp hair was rising up. He looks like a palm tree now.

"Bill..." I held back a laugh. "Your hair is..."

Before I could manage to say "pointy", I felt an enormous force slammed into me. It blew me away from the bed into the wall. Everything else besides the bed were side swept by this invisible force. I can hear everyone's shouts from the other side of the door. But they couldn't open it, the furniture were blocking the entry. I can feel the sudden surge of electricity coursing through my body. It was painful. It sent my body into shock. I can see Bill's traumatized expression. Hear him scream my name over and over again.

"Stop! Stop! STOP!" Bill tried to stop it. It didn't help. He was totally out of control.

The wall behind me was splintering. I can feel my bones cracking from the pressure. I looked at Bill's agonizing face. His cries of anguish were more real than the pain I felt. I don't want him to suffer anymore. I tried to reach out my hand towards him. I wanted to tell him that it's alright that I don't really feel anything. Then I saw it as I lifted my fingers. I can see blue flames flowing out from Bill like a rushing waterfall towards me.

I can see his powers. Then I felt it. The need to control it filled my veins. I move my hand slowly, the blue flames' direction changed a bit. It followed me. I tried again, and the direction of the flow slowly inched away from me. More! Just a bit more. I mustered every muscle, every bone in my body and poured all my strength into my hand. Then I push it. Push it away from me like pushing a heavy gate out of the way. I can hear myself screaming. Then the crushing force was suddenly gone. Then a loud explosion followed. The whole floor shook. It sounded like boulders hitting the ground. Then everything went blank.

I woke up to the sound of Bill's voice. The idiot was crying. His tears and snot were falling into my face. "Fuck Bill. Get your retarded face away from me." I said pushing him away.

"Tom! You're alive!!!" He hugged me.

"Of course stupid. I told you I'm strong." I said wiping the sticky stuff on my nose. "What the hell..." It was blood.

"You had a nose bleed. But otherwise I think you're okay!" Bill reassures me.

"But why is it so bright?" I said wondering. "Did you turn on the light?"

"No. I didn't..." His voice trailed off.

The door suddenly burst open and the guards, doctors and the prime minister poured into the room. They stopped dead in their tracks.

"Oh my God!" The prime minister exclaimed.

What the hell were they looking at? Bill and I looked uninjured. Bill even looked better than he did before. Then I turned around and I understand why.

We blew the whole east wall of the palace.