Brothers.

1

His breath rushed out of his mouth as he stared into his brother's tearing eyes. The raw pain on his face waked no guilt in Josh's heart. He deserved it.

"Joshua! How could you?!"
Josh quickly jumped away from his brother. He looked down at his feet as Father, Micheal, approached them.

His heavy footfalls made Josh wince and then the strong, merciless hand on his shoulder. "Help your brother up!"
Father's voice was spoken softly next to Josh's ear, his wet breath warming Josh's neck. Josh could feel those strict eyes boring into his soul.

Josh looked down at Gabe on the ground. The twelve-year-old had a dagger in his stomach. He lay on the floor, his eyes closed in pain.
Josh held out his hand."Gabe, stop being so dramatic!"

The auburn-haired boy opened his sparkling blue eyes riddled with tears and took his hand. Josh grimaced as he pulled him to his feet. Gabe looked down at the dagger, pulled it out, looked at his blood dripping from it on the stainless, grey tiles.
He then turned his gaze on father and burst into tears.
"He stabbed me again!"
Micheal took his eldest son in his arms and caressed his trembling back in such a gentle manner that almost made Josh jealous.
"Don't cry, Gabriel,"
he looked at Josh, his blue eyes murderous.
"Joshua will be punished."

"Josh, she'll never be interested in you!"
Gabe wrapped his arm around Josh as they walked through the streets of In Tutum.

Small stalls with colorful roofs stood everywhere and the In Tutumnians walked around chatting and buying stuff. Their different-colored chitons giving the marketplace a colorful appearance in contrast with the uniform grey-yellowish buildings with red roofs that surrounded them.

Some nodded when the two royal brothers passed, but other than that they received no more acknowledgment. It didn't bother Josh much, he didn't want to be worshipped day and night. Not that he ever was actually.

Josh took his eyes of the pretty redhead he had seen in one of the stalls. She had green eyes that shone with intelligence and a splash of freckles and her red chiton clung to her body. Not someone who would like him with his dark hair and golden eyes and she was not one of them anyway, thus she would never be accepted amongst them.

Josh clapped his brother on the back and noticed their angelic guards hidden in the shadows of the sandstone buildings, touch their swords and going into an attack stance. They were dressed in their bronze armor with angel wings on their chest making them stand out amongst the crowd even though they wanted to stay hidden.

Josh hated it that no one trusted him. It was not his fault he was who he was with his obscure personality or how he acted. Father had always said that Mother had been like him. Mysterious and cunning.

"Oh, brother, I don't care what you say!" said Josh in a jovial, don't care way.

They laughed. It was an old joke between them. Gabe was this lady-magnet who loved all of his so-called girls back and Josh was serious therefore he did not have many say fans. Gabe unfurled his wings, they were pure white with a silvery glance almost like Father's. He looked at him suddenly serious,
"Race you to the house!"

He shot into the sky. Josh cursed under his breath, unfurling his white wings in desperate pursuit. He was a few feet behind his brother, his wings shimmering gold as they beat the air. Josh looked down at In Tutum. The place was marvelous to behold. Lush green grass surrounded the buildings and bragged in the gardens of citizens. Massive trees with yellow leaves stood in random places providing shade to people beaten down by the harshness of the sun.