The Rising - Ennead 2

Scene 14.2 - Two Funerals and No Wedding

May Gaines

There's a knock on my door.

I ignore it. I wonder why these people keep trying. It's been a day since he came yet they're even letting him stay. Not even a little bit of suspicion? Puh-lease!

"May. I know it's difficult... he just wants to talk, and..." It's Avril, she's never been good with words.

"Open up Mayfly... Please?"

Does she think calling me that will help? I'm not a child and, even if I were, calling me Mayfly only reminds me that Junebug is dead."

Avril tries the door. It's locked. Even though she's Faerie, she's bound by oaths that Magi like Carlos aren't. She can't 'shift inside without my permission.

"Okay." She finally says, "I give up. Be a baby."

I stick my tongue out at the door and then move from my bed to the window seat. Carlos has made me open up the drapes. Perhaps he was right, the clouds are as gloomy as they ever, but the light outside is a welcome change from gloom.

"All of you have grown so much."

Goosebumps break out across my arms. I spin round. Of course! He can come and go as he pleases too!

He grins, wistful, "You know - what I am?"

I don't answer. He doesn't deserve one.

"And you know about the other thing?"

"That you killed our mother?" I choke, "and whatever you did to your own sister!" the words tumble out in a rush, "Of course I know, we all do. We only kept it from August 'cos she was too young to handle it. Does it feel good to be powerful, to do whatever sick thing you want without repercussions? Am I supposed to forgive you for saving me in the nick of time... well guess what? You were too late! June is dead! SHE"S DEAD!!"

His façade cracked. He didn't expect this reaction did he?

"You came to ask me why I haven't told? Or did you come to make sure?! Do me like you did our MOTHER!!"

My voice is raised much higher than it's been in a while. I don't care. A beast just came uncaged, and I won't want to put it back.

"It's not that simple, life isn't that simple. Let me explain Mayfly..."

He takes a step forward. Towards me. I edge backwards and 'send as loud as I can.

"CARLOS!"

Silver flecks appear in the air between myself and my eldest brother. In the space of an exhaled breath the flecks expand and coalesce into a silver statue which then gains texture and colour – Carlos.

"How mature. You call your boyfriend. Do the others know what he is?"

The reassuring grin is gone, replaced by a sneer.

"Not all Magi are the same, little sister. Did you know? I could split this one as easily as stepping on a bug!"

The carpet ripples and then erupts into a wave of elongated wooden spears – what used to be floorboards. Carlos takes two steps back and the wave stops barely an inch away from his nose.

Carlos stumbles back again as the leading set of spears slowly grow longer. I look at my brother – he looks bored, ambivalent. He's also dropped the pretense. This is who he is, The Red Spear Magus.

"If I wanted to end either of you, you wouldn't even notice when it happened. You aren't ready for what I have to say, and the others aren't ready to know what I am. We have an agreement don't we?"