Brothers.

5

Josh woke up feeling like death. His head was throbbing and his mouth tasted like someone had thrown up in it and he swallowed it. He slowly came to his feet since he was sleeping on the floor for some reason. Josh couldn't remember a thing about last night after his sixth goblet of wine, but he was sure nothing serious had occurred.

He yawned and walked to his bathroom. Josh undressed and lowered himself into his bath. He sighed in relief as the warm springwater seeped into his bones. Josh untied his hair and slid deeper into the water, but then someone knocked on his door and Josh groaned as the door opened. He climbed out of the bath and tied a towel around his waist. Before Josh went into his room, he chewed on a leaf that gave his breath a better smell.

Gabe awaited him on his bed, fully dressed in caramel-colored leather. His hand rested on the pommel of his sword and Josh noticed a strange mark on his arm. It looked like a hand.

"So the sleeper has finally awoken!" There was no glee nor humour in his voice and his stare was hard. Josh noticed that his brother's whole stance was rigid, even his hair was tied into a tight bun. Josh smiled and walked to his closet, "Could you not have come a bit later when I'm not nude?" Josh expected to hear him laugh, but received only silence in return. He turned around, "Are you okay, brother?"

Gabe frowned and stood up. He walked over to Josh, who was dressed in no more than his underwear and held up his wounded arm. The wound looked brutal and it must have been painful to be burned like that, "What happened to your arm?" Gabe facepalmed and walked to the table with the jug of wine on top of it. While he poured himself a glass, Gabe spoke in a low voice, "You did it, Josh, don't you remember?" Josh pulled his shirt over his head, he frowned, "I did what? When did I do that?!"
If this was another one of Gabe's false accusations Josh was going to have a fit. He had had enough of this!

"Last night you were drunk and you almost killed a man! Josh, do you understand what I am saying? You almost burned a man to death with your bare hands!" Josh sat down on his bed, his legs suddenly felt too weak to stand. He looked up at Gabe and then at his arm, he had done that to his own brother?

Gabe walked over to Josh and sat down next to him, "Brother, something ails you and it is affecting those around you."
He looked at Josh, his blue eyes serious,

"I told father about your wings."

A smile slowly formed on Josh's lips. He looked at his brother and then began to shake his head slowly, "N-n-no, you're lying. I trust you with my secret and I know you will never betray my trust." Gabe lowered his eyes and Josh knew that he had told the truth.

He stood up from the bed and backed away, "You betrayed me! You pro-"
"I'm sorry, Josh, but I did it for you," Gabe reached out to Josh, but he pulled away, he couldn't even look at Gabe. The one person in all four worlds who Josh trusted with every ounce of his being had stabbed him in the back.

"Why did you come here, Gabe? Surely not to lose your brother's trust?"

Gabe stood up and walked to the door,
"I am truly sorry, I never wanted it to come to this. Please-"
"Why did you come?"
A sigh,
"Father sent for you, he wants to see you in the throne room."
The door closed and Josh was left alone.

He knew that what awaited him, was a good scolding and inquiring about his wings. Josh sighed and walked out if his room. He met Bill on his way to Micheal and the angel tried to talk to Josh. Yet he was in no mood to speak and certainly not to one of the witnesses of his fanatics of last night, so Josh walked faster until Bill got the message and left.

Father waited for him on his throne and when Josh entered all of the guards left. He watched them go and then looked up at the king.

A golden crown rested on his short, auburn hair and he was looking at Josh worriedly, "Boy, thank you for coming."
Josh sighed and muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?" He looked at Father and smiled. Josh stopped at the first step that leads to the throne,
"I said that I didn't have a choice really since you are the king and I must obey you." Micheal lifted an eyebrow at Josh's fierceness.