The Gift

Chapter 4

The Gift

Chapter 4

Kai Parker watched his twin stalk around his room, picking up various items and setting them down as if he still needed to mark any territory that wasn't already his own.

The young man wore a long dark coat, a dark blue shirt and black jeans. His attempt to look menacing was apparent.

"Relax, Kai," Jacob said, "I'm not here to kill you, but you know what I do want." Kai's body tensed at the sound of his twin's voice. He knew this meeting was inevitable.

Jacob chuckled at Kai's reaction.

"No!" Kai said.

"Kai, that temper is going to get you in trouble someday... oh wait, it already has," Jacob said.

"You need to go," Kai demanded.

"Now why would I do that when I have two damn good reasons to stay?" Jacob pointed out.

Kai didn't respond. He knew what was coming.

Jacob continued, walking around Kai like a shark circling its prey before ripping it to shreds. Kai could hold his own against his twin, but he needed to know what the endgame was going to be in all of this. He chose patience over destruction.

Jacob rolled his eyes, as if amused by Kai's inaction.

"I saw her today...your pretty little Bennett witch. I must say, she is a tempting little firecracker," Jacob noted, and then waited for Kai to make a threat.

Kai refused to take the bait, but it took all of his restraint to not break this new brother's neck.

"Wait...Wait...You didn't tell her about me, did you? Tsk. Tsk. Not a good way to start a relationship," Jake continued.

"Let's just get this out of the way. What do you need from me so that I can get you the hell out of my life?" Kai asked, wasting no time with his interrogation. He wanted Jacob gone so he would not have to give Bonnie an explanation of his twin's existence in this reality.

Jake tilted his head in mock frustration.

"I think that's obvious, but I'll play. You and I both know this merge thing has to happen. Humpty Dumpty needs to be put back together again, and we all know it needs to be done by a Bennett witch, since they're the ones that created this new take on history," Jake said.

"We don't need to be put back together," Kai insisted, scowling at the embodiment of the evil man he once was.

"Of course we do. We need each other. Well, you need me at least," asserted Jake.

"I don't need you!" yelled Kai, the power of his voice cracking the glass in the picture frames throughout the room.

Jacob looked at the damage as if impressed – albeit briefly.

"Hmm..." Jake teased, "Tell me how that felt, Kai. - That surge of power. Intoxicating isn't it? Doesn't show up that often now that we're both just shadows of our former selves."

"I don't want to be you," Kai insisted, remembering the constant hatred that ran through his veins during his former life. It ate away at him back then, yet he still reveled in the harm he caused because it gave him some relief that he was no longer alone in his pain.

So much had changed. Going back to that person meant losing control. Going back would mean losing the second chance he always wanted; especially a second chance with Bonnie.