Brothers.

2

Josh fell on his bed, face first. At that moment he wanted to hate Gabe for what he did. How could he be such a coward? He also wanted to hate Father and everyone else for never believing his word. He wanted to hate himself most of all for not standing his ground and for fighting with Gabe. He wanted to hate it all but was unable to. Okay, maybe he could hate the guards and himself, but he could never hate Father or Gabe.

Josh now missed his mother more than ever before. He had only known her for like ten years, but they had been close and she had been the only one who understood him.

Mother was the one who defended him and made sure Gabe didn't come away with murder and now more than two thousand years later, Josh still missed her like she had died yesterday.

His heart ached when he thought about her, she was his hero. He loved her with all of his heart and since her death, no one could fill that void, not even the beloved Gabe.

Gabe was his brother, the person he loved most, even more than Mother. His brother was an awesome person with the best personality that everyone loved and adored, but Gabe never took responsibility for his mistakes. Josh always had to take the fall for him and it infuriated him. Josh was not someone's pet and he always fought against it, but in the end, he was powerless to stop it from happening time after time.

Josh knew he was weak and that was why Father and Gabe always won, but he had no clue as to how he could defend himself. What could he, a youngling compared to Father, do against two powerful beings? He could get Gabe back later, but Father? The man would never be reprimanded for his discriminations. Maybe that was why he always did as he like because there was no one to oppose Micheal. No wife, no brother and certainly no son. Oh, how Josh yearned to just once stand his own against that man!

Josh unfurled his wings. They were massive, even bigger than Gabe's. The wings covered him entirely, thus Josh always felt safe under them.

A sudden pain raced across his shoulders. Josh cried out, his fists gripping the jade bedcovers. It took his strength away with one stroke.
What's happening to me?!
The pain dulled for a second and then it attacked Josh again, fierce and merciless. Josh groaned and rolled off the bed. He hit the floor with a low thump where he curled into a ball.

The pain was coming from his wings and it showed no mercy. It came and it came never stopping like after the first spasm. Tears came to his eyes with another contraction of pain.

Josh whispered as he slowly got to his feet. His head was spinning and he almost fell into the mirror. Josh looked at himself, his eyes were bloodshot and leaking tears and his skin was chalky. Then he painfully raised his white wings.

But something was wrong with them. There on the edges, the feathers were not white anymore. Black. His wings were turning black. Another scream escaped his mouth this time from fear.

"Josh?"

Someone knocked on the door. Josh spun around and quickly walked to the door. He didn't want to see anyone now.

"Who is it?"

Tears rolled down his cheeks and he leaned forward against the door, His long black hair hanging over his eyes.

"It's me, Gabe, you idiot!"

Josh grimaced, whether from pain or from Gabe standing outside his door, Josh was not sure.

He sighed and retracted his wings. Josh stood back and blew out his breath. He felt his body change into its previous condition. Not chalky white with bloodshot eyes. He walked to his bed and sat down. The room was spinning around him, but he wouldn't show his pain to his brother.