FORTITUDINE (COMPLETED)

24) Siblings...Just for Tonight

My eyes flash open and I suck in a deep breath. I squint at the bright lights surrounding the room and sit up from my slacked position.

As I look at my surroundings slowly recalling everything that had happened within just a few hours I noticed that Thanatos was already awake and watching my every move.

I looked away from him guiltily and chose to stare at the wooden imprints on the arm of the chair. A throat cleared and Thanatos and I looked up at our father.

"Congratulations Alexandra for winning the Battle of New Thoughts. You both did very well and I am proud of both the strength and courage you showed during this Trial. With enough said, go and get some rest. The next trial will begin tomorrow afternoon." Father and the elders began to stand from their seats and walk out of the building.

I let out a deep breath and began to leave as well when a strong hand grabbed my arm and held me back.

I froze and waited cautiously for whatever Thanatos had planned to do.

What I didn't expect him to do was lean down and calmly whisper into my ear. "You may have won the first trial yet again but this is far from over. I still think you cheated somehow and I promise you sister, you will die." He let go of my arm and walked around me.

As he opened the door he turned back to stare at my frozen figure. "One way...or another." With that he walked out, shutting the door behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~

"How did it go?"

"Did you win?"

"Are you alright?"

"What happened?"

Were the questions that came flying at me as soon as I walked into my room where Stephen and Thomas were waiting for me.

I give a small smile and sit down in between them on my bed.

"You won?" Shouts Thomas.

I nod my head and grin. "I won." I say before falling back onto the bed.

Thomas jumps up and starts shouting and doing some sort of crazy dance while Stephen turns over and lands on my stomach and begins to tickle my sides.

"S-stop!" I cry out laughing hysterically. "S-Stephen! You...are so...dead!" I shout. 

He jumps up and I quickly follow. But as Stephen runs out of the room Thomas wraps an arm around my waist holding me in place.

"Run, Stephen run! I've got her!" Thomas calls out to Stephen.

I stiffen and slowly turn around to face Thomas and I see him visibly gulp. "Uh...heh heh. Five second head start?" He asks as he quickly retracts his arm from around me.

I smile and hold up my index finger. "One..." And with that, he's out of the room and thundering down the stairs.

"Two!" I shout as I slowly walk out of my room and towards the staircase.

"Three!" I say as I take the stairs two at a time.

"Four!" I holler as I walk into the hallway.

"Fi..." I trail off at the sight before me.

I had walked into the dining room and standing in front of me was my entire family along with Stephen and Thomas, Julia, Jacob, Blayne, and Gaius.