Fate's Exchange (Twisted Fate, Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The Brothers

Mortal Realm

"She's starting to trust her instincts, Brother."

My voice was filled with pride as I walked over to the bench across the street from the main doors of Royal Academy to sit beside the First. I had felt his presence while heading to class and followed its distinct essence to its source. It didn't take long. Creatures of habit were easy to predict. Besides, the bench was far enough away from students he could be here without suffering the taint of their existence.

Both of us were unseen to those around us, and after the last few weeks of playing the role of someone else, it felt odd to stay invisible. It was hard to sustain now, and I had to think about my intent to remain concealed. If not, my disguise would diminish, and I would be detected, forming as if out of nowhere.

"Yes."

"She was successful with the teacher. He'll be paying for what he's done for a long time, at least by human standards, and nobody else was hurt in the process," I added. "It was smart."

"Yes." He nodded, looking out of the corner of his eye to appraise me without expression.

"This is what she was supposed to do, isn't it? Scrutinize the problem and choose the best path with the least amount of backlash."

"Yes."

"Why are you here?" To annoy me, it seemed, but for what purpose?

"To talk," he said and looked up to the sky so that, had he been visible—human—the sun would have lit up against his face and cast away the shadows of responsibility. Invisible, the light shone through as though he wasn't there.

Really, we weren't.

"You're not saying much for someone who's come to talk." I looked past his shoulders. "Where are the others?"

"It's just me," he said.

"So, what's the deal, Brother?" I forced a smile. "The job is getting done."

"You've gotten close to her. Some would say that you're too close." There was an edge to his voice that I didn't understand, and it didn't feel comforting.

"Do you propose another way for me to help her? I have to be near her to help her, you know," I said. Without proximity, my gift would never work on her.

He laughed without humor and glanced at me for but a moment before looking forward again. "You're starting to speak like them."

I shrugged and followed his gaze, unable to pinpoint the source of his curiosity, but we didn't see the same view. Heraclitus, an ancient philosopher brilliant beyond his own comprehension, had been right to determine the world was always in flux. Nothing stayed the same. For our kind, we saw what our duties related to, which was why I saw a school with empty lawns and the First Brother saw... something else.

I laughed. "It'll pass."

"Yes, let's hope so."

The leaves hanging from the branch above us rustled in the wind but didn't touch either of us. Our true forms were a holograph of a human image, visually material, but physically immaterial. We were removed from nature's hand, oblivious to warmth and cold. Untouchable.

"So, what did you come to discuss?" I sighed. "It may not be as important as my usual duties, but I don't have much time before my next class begins."

"Be careful of your attachments here," he warned. "The girl has come far, much faster than anticipated, thanks to you. Now that she is in school and around you, she is starting to tap into her potential."

"She still has a long way to go." For her to warrant the Sisters of Fate and the interest of the Brothers? It wasn't a small hike reserved for weekend getaways.

"She's going to experience pain soon."

I snapped my head around to gape at him. Pain? After everything she'd already been hit with?

"The decisions she's made were the best for those involved, but they aren't easy for her to bear." He rubbed his hands against his thighs. "It'll be difficult for her to overcome everything and continue to avoid taking the easy way out."

"What? Like dying? I've heard that isn't all that easy, you know, not to mention painful." My stomach churned at the thought of her being in any more pain. Perhaps it's because I felt responsible for her now that she was a duty. I refused to think of it in any other context or I might have to admit something I wasn't ready to realize I had started to feel.

"The decision to die is an easy one to make compared to choosing to live through the pain of losing a loved one. Dying hurts and it's hard to understand, but it doesn't last—the pain stops when the heart ceases to work." He looked at me and held my gaze. "The pain of loss has no definite timeline. It will always be there, in her heart, at least minimally, for her to draw upon. Even Death can't take that away."

"She's stronger than that." I hoped. She could be, if she allowed herself to realize it.

"Really? She's died three times because of the choices she's made."

The Brothers didn't send her back this time. Her return was mysterious, though unquestioned. "True, but she didn't know—"

"You must not tell her, Brother," he warned with a quiet but deadly tone and turned to face me. "All of this will have been for nothing if you tell her what you know."

"I don't know anything."

"You know what she needs to do, why you are here for her, and that is more than she can know."

"Why? The Sisters said so?"

"Yes."

"You know, I don't know how much stock I really put into that." I shook my head with a snort. "They are like bickering children. For such powerful beings, they don't give off a great impression to reflect their importance."

"How can you say that?"

"What? I'm not wrong or I wouldn't be able to say it. They're fanciful," I pressed on. "How much of this is as they say, and how hard do you think they're just yanking our chains?"

"We have to respect their wisdom."

"We're older than they are!"

"They see what we cannot. Defy them and you will be defying Him," he said, leaving no room to argue. "Do not share your information, little as it may seem, with the girl."

"Do you know anything more about her yet?" I watched him, trying to measure his reaction, learn for myself in what he might be omitting.

"Not yet, but I will be seeing the Sisters soon." He looked me in the eye so that I could see the truth in what he said. "I hope to find out more then."

I rubbed my hands against my jeans, the fabric oddly comfortable now, and stood. If he had nothing to say, I had no reason to stay. "I will see you when you have news then."

He hesitated and looked away.

"What is it?" I shifted my weight, wanting to leave to get to my next class before the bell sounded.

"Nothing, Brother," he said, fading from sight. "I'll see you soon."

My shoulders slumped, and I watched until the shimmer of his departure faded in the air. The task had begun with such simple purpose, but somehow it was harder than all the other duties the Brothers were responsible for carrying out. She was just a girl, a human, and shouldn't have the power to make me question what I should be doing: obeying.

That was the purpose of my creation.

I guess that's why history was riddled with nations destroyed by love and sons overthrowing their fathers. No matter what was expected of you, you're the only one that can live up to your potential purpose. Until now, I thought angels were immune, and never understood why anyone of us could choose to fall.