Survival of the Fittest

Twelve

Elliot stood slowly, a mix of many emotions on his face, as tears stained his face, and he continued the flow of more. Anger, grief, and confusion twisted his face as his lip slightly quivered.

By the time he looked up, Derek, who he now recognized as his brother, continued trying to kill him.

Before, it had seemed natural in Derek's nature. But after that memory jolt, he could never see Derek doing these things.

He then noticed something, in a matter of a second, he noticed Derek's eyes. Mage white. Glowing. A Mage, not Derek, was after Elliot's life.

But, being he realized this in a matter of seconds, he dodged Derek's sword, slower than he was usually doing earlier.

He couldn't bring himself to hurt him. Not anymore. He knew everything now! How could he kill his own brother when he's not even in control? Suddenly he grasped another forgotten memory. A small one, but very helpful.

"If a vampire in Mage control comes toward you, Elliot, you'll need to be ready for this. Use your vision and spot the mage's location, and jerk it from its host. And if it's too strong, kill it."

His fathers voice echoed in his head, and he couldn't help but smile sadly at the memory.

"Thanks dad" he muttered. He remembered how the blood sword worked now. He simply held out his hand, and the sword shot to him, imbed ding it's handle in his hand for use.

His eyes gleamed redder than they were before, almost a shimmer, as he looked around, Derek right in front of him. And he spotted the Mage.

He attacked it, slicing through the figure's shoulder and pinning them to the wall, and their features appeared before Elliot, and he was shocked. How could he not expect this?

"....Alex..."

Alex smirked reluctantly, gripping onto the sword with the hand on the same side as his pierced shoulder.

"King's son! I didn't recognize ya 'til ya stood up. Where'd you disappear? A human village I presume?" He was as chatty as usual. Elliot frowned.

"You never change do you...?"

"Nope~! But you do~!" He laughed at his own remark. Same old Alex. Different from his brother, Korey, but similar in other ways. Korey was more of the fighter; and Alex just talked and talked and talked...

Elliot growled and purposely ripped out his sword, making sure it was painful for the Mage.

And sure enough, it was. Alex grunted and dropped to his knees, shoulder in one hand, teeth clenched.

By the time Elliot turned around, Derek was on the ground, on his knees, one hand on the ground and one covering his eyes and forehead. He raced over to his side, dropping to his knees and sliding across part of the room in the process.

"D-Derek..????"

He paused for his brother, arms hovering over his body, not knowing what to do.

Derek slowly groaned and lifted his head to face him, his eyes widened, shock and relief crossed his face.

"E-Elliot???"

Elliot's eyes welled with tears, as he couldn't control himself, and threw his arms around the older male, burying his face in his lower shoulder, and after a moment, feeling Derek's arms wrap around him tightly as well.

The two pulled away, Derek's hands on Elliot's shoulders. He smiled weakly at his younger brother. Elliot put one of his hands on his brother's.

"Look at you!" He said, obviously exhausted from the "family reunion" and being released from the mage's grasp. But he seemed happier than he'd ever been.

Elliot laughed. "Look at you! Mr. King!"

They both laughed now, especially happy to be together, they hugged again, but this time more of a soft, brotherly hug.

Elliot opened his eyes, his head resting on Derek's shoulder this time. He looked at the floor and saw two shadows, one almost an entire head taller than the other, walking toward them. Then they stopped. Elliot knew who they were. He heard a bow load with an arrow.

His eyes widened and he practically shoved Derek off of him and turned to face his two friends.

"Wait stop!--" he was interrupted by an arrow flying to his face. He caught it, but it was about a Centimeter away from his nose.

The two boys stared at who they classified as their friend. Rev took off his glasses, shock and confusion clear on his face. He looked Elliot up and down, glasses in hand.

"...El?"

"Y-yeah it's me! Don't kill him! Please!"

Anger crossed Rev's face, and Phelyx stood there, not knowing what to do. He was as confused as Rev was at this point.

"How should we know you aren't some spy for vampires now?! You clearly are one!"

Elliot didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to prove this! He wasn't a spy! How could Rev think this? What's got him so worked up about vampires?

"I.....I..."

Rev clenched his teeth, his voice lower. He was pissed.

"Fine......."

Phelyx looked concerned at Rev, then looked Elliot up and down like Rev had done the moment earlier.

"Phelyx. Hold this." He practically shoved the bow into phelyx's chest. His voice was strict, and stern.

"I'm going after him."

Rev slowly pulled out his sword.

"El..." Derek said, stretching the "L" a long way.

Elliot was nervous, but kept a straight face as best he could. He wasn't going to fight Rev! His best friend since he was five? "Hell no!" Elliot thought.

In an instant, Rev threw his sword back and forth at Elliot, and he barely dodged the strikes.

He fell backwards and rolled across the floor, dodging; our anger crossed Revs face the entire time. He then reached out to his sword again, and it glided across the floor to his hand once again.

He spun around and the two boys' swords clashed. And being Elliot was a stronger swordsman then Rev, was able to stand again and continue the clashing of their swords.

Finally, after around five or ten minutes, Rev was knocked into the wall, sliding down into a hunched position; his sword slid across the ground into the center of the throne room.

Elliot knew Rev didn't get hurt easily, so he wasn't frightened by his own actions.

He walked over to him and stopped in front of the older male.

Rev looked up, expecting death, but he didn't get it.

Elliot's hand stretched out in a reach to help Rev stand. Revs face looks surprised and regretful, but he hesitantly took it, and Elliot pulled him up. He smiled weakly, looking up to face Rev.

Without warning, and surprisingly out of character, Rev pulled Elliot into a tight embrace; his head embedding itself into his shoulder as his arms clung to the younger boys neck.

It shocked him beyond belief! Rev never did that! Not once!

Elliot hugged him back also, enjoying the safe embrace, and felt Phelyx hug him from behind. And Derek smiled at the three best friends, not daring to get involved.

"It really is you...."