How to be of shadow and light (bxb)

Chapter 32

Alec was at a complete and utter los for what to say. A multitude of questions were crowding his mind like men outside a tavern at closing time. He couldn't seem to separate these unruly thoughts and his friends were of little help. Narla was pressing herself into his side regarding Alec's brother with distrust. Meanwhile Fai and Phoebe were being far too friendly, inching closer to the stranger with each passing moment. Something about him was drawing them in, in a way that wasn't affecting the leshy or his creation.
"Now I know what you must be thinking," Alec's brother spoke as if to stop some invisible interruption.
"Oh?" Alec asked curiously. The top of his priority at the moment was knowing his kins name since he had no idea and that seemed disfunctional.
"Actually yes. Our minds are connected in a way I can't really explain without a long story. Anyway I'm Jasper but if you want to call me by my proper title then death will do just fine." He said with a smirk. It appeared he was the sort of person who really enjoyed having the upper hand.
"What about the ravenous that chased me a while ago and all of us just now. Did that have something to do with you?" Alec had his suspicions.
"Alas yes. They are my beasts to command just as the living are yours. They aren't actually alive you see, they're created when a man dies as a consequence of killing somebody who loved them. As a punishment they have to live out their existence as my servants or as mindless brutes aware only of their blood lust and misery." That sounded intensely disturbing and Alec was equally unsettled by the flippant way in which Jasper talked about the subject.
"Why did you send them though?"
"Well I can't leave the mountain, it's not safe for someone in my particular position. So when I needed to move you somewhere I used them. I can see some of the future so I knew where you needed to be in order to find me fastest so I just manipulated you there with my minions. Unfortunately your friend here got in the way on my first attempt." Jasper grumbled giving Fai a long calculating look as if valuing the Illuceo's worth. That made Alec bristle which Jasper took note of.
"Oh yes brother of mine, I know all about your little pet. I really don't know how you keep a mortal man around, they really are very dull." He simpered getting closer and closer to Fai. Alec growled low in his throat emulating the werewolf form he felt the urge to take. However the Illuceo in question was just staring in...what was that emotion? Fai's violet eyes were softened in what looked suspiciously like longing. It couldn't be though surely, he and Alec had something special after all. A mutual understanding that nobody else shared, or at least that's what Alec told himself.
"So...predictable," Jasper continued in a hushed whisper his fingers so very nearly brushing Fai's face. That sent a jolt of fear through Alec. It triggered an old memory from his childhood giving him the sensation of swimming against a current.

He and Jasper sat together up on the mountain, his brother had led him here for a surprise he recalled. They must have been around three a time in his memory Alec couldn't otherwise remember. The ledge they sat on was fringed with small trees, a pleasant rarity for Alec which he was often deprived of. Jasper proceeded to inform him that there were lots of living things in the trees knowing that Alec loved animals of all kinds. The leshy remembered the joy of playing with the squirrels they found with fondness but what came after was what had triggered the fear.
Alec had been too busy playing to notice what Jasper was up to. Only when his brother let out a whimper of heartbreak did the leshy turn to the scene of sorrow. Jasper held in his hands a limp black crow. "What happened," Alec had asked in horror.
"I-I just touched it and i-it f-flopped," his brother whimpered.
Alec snapped out of the memory with a gasp. "Do not touch him Jasper. I swear if you kill him I will rip your murdering hands from your snivelling body. Got it?"
Jasper gave him a nod of approval withdrawing his hand respectfully. Fai seemed to gain some composure when he did this but both he and Phoebe remained silent and still. "You're starting to remember, that's good."
"Remember what?"
"You're childhood with our father and mother up in the mountains. We were actually pretty happy you know. That is until the spell wore of father. He grew to hate mother, despise me and tolerate you."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Who are you anyway because you're powers seem to be nothing like mine. If we didn't look so alike I'd say this whole thing was an elaborate hoax."
"I am your twin and you are right, our powers are nothing alike. The reason for this will become evident very soon."
"Then why can't I at least remember you?"
"That is because father wiped your memory and stole you. He knew how powerful you are and wanted to have a strong heir. He felt that I was appeared too cursed for anyone to believe I was his true born son so he took you. Little did he know you were the darker one."
"I think I'd like that long story now."
"Soon I promise but first there is someone who has been waiting to see you for a very long time." Jasper said beckoning Alec. Reluctantly he followed which in turn made his friends follow until the procession all headed deeper into the caves.
They went through many passages, passing many rooms along the way. Most were uninhabited and had practical uses like kitchens or study's. Further along things became more homely where the rooms were decorated with what could only be described as a mothers touch. Occasionally they'd pass an inhabited room which would send chills up Alec's spine. Most of the beings in those rooms reaked of death and some were downright evil looking. When he was about to ask Jasper who and what they were his brother irritatingly preempted his question and simply mouthed "later."
When it seemed like they had been walking for hours they stopped. The room they were in front of was a cozy one. It it's centre was a grand fire place whose flames crinkled with warmth that seemed scarce in the heart of the mountain. On the walls hung fabulous, intricate tapestries with scenes from the old religion woven into them. There were the three aeons creating the world and then the brother and sister creating castors and cursed.
   Surrounding the fireplace were two plush armchairs which were so inviting to Alec was very tired after the climb. However one of them was occupied by a figure already , whose face was hidden by the shadows cast by those flickering flames.
     "Hello my child. How much you've grown."

A/N sorry it's a little abrupt guys but I've got exams at the moment and I'm finding it increasingly hard to squeeze chapters in. Anyway I hope you enjoyed it