• "Thunder" chapter eleven

    After my shift was over, I went back to my house. I caught Matt's dad and my mom, flirting on the couch in the living room.
    "Ah, Adrian," Matt's dad said formally, "I take it your shift went well?" He observed the scar on my face, "You killed the shadow?"
    "Didn't kill it, but it flew into the gate before I could." I decided not to tell him that I had a long-lost twin brother that hates my guts, or a father that, apparently, wants me dead. I figured those were more personal problems than anything else. But, on the other hand, I had to ask mom about him. "Mr. Donovan, can I talk to my mom alone, please?"
    He nodded, and left. Mom stood up to look at my cut, "What kind of demon did that to you, honey?"
    I shook my head, "It wasn't from a demon, mom."
    She looked over more closely, "A shadow?"
    "No. That's what I want to talk to you about, mom. I need you to answer me. Do I have a brother?"
    She looked away, Hesitant to answer.
    "Mom, tell me!" I demanded, "Do I Have a brother?"
    There was a long, forced paused. As if she was debating wether or not to tell me. the look in her eyes was both terrified, and sad. She spoke barely above a whisper, "He's your twin."
    My eyes could've popped out of their sockets, "What?"
    "Your father took him when you two were young. I'm sorry, Adrian, there was nothing I could do."
    I stared at her calmly, "I get it, mom. I understand you couldn't do much. But I want you to tell me everything. Tell me everything you know about them."
    She sat down, "I just don't know where to start, Adrian."
    "How about you start from when my brother I were born?" I suggested.
    She sighed deeply. She was apparently not very ready for this, "Well, When you were born, A lot of things were going on. Your father was hardly ever around anymore. By the time you two were about a year old, He came to me one last time. He took Your brother Marcus, and left through that gate. I never saw either of them since then. He kept observing your eyes when he was around, as if he was looking for something in them. After he left, I tried to figure out where he was, but I could never find him. It was around then I met Nathaniel. He told me about your father's history. That eternal guardian thing, The black citadel. something about elementals.
    "I already got a fresh tutorial about elementals." I paused for a minute. Putting two and two together, I remembered reading about how death's bone, conviently formed into a bracelet on my wirst that cna't ever be removed by mortal hands, was said to bear it's own elemental power. It said they got that way because he arrogantly faught higher spirits. Perhaps that may explain something about elementals in general...
    "I know. Melanie told me all about it. Your brother did this to you, didn't he? This scar. He made it, didn't he?" She lightly traced the scar with her hand, "Adrian, I wish I could help you. There are so many things I could never do for you.. I'm so sorry, Adrian." this was the first time I ever saw my own mother break down and cry in front of me.
    Matt's dad stepped into the kitchen, "Sarah, You've been a far greater help to Adrian than you could ever imagine."
    "He's right, mom. It was because I had you to raise me. It was because I had you to teach me right from wrong, that I'm as strong as I am now. I've had so many reasons to give up on just about everything, But every day I thought that, I'd think 'I won't make mom proud like that' and I'd get up and try my hardest to make you proud of me."
    She wiped away her tears, Finally coming back to her senses, "I'll always be proud of you, Adrian.You'll always be my son, and nobody else's" I got up and hugged her tightly. Family trouble sucks.
    Matt's dad looked at me sternly. He didn't seem angry or anything, just sure of himself, "Adrian, I have something I want you to do, but you'll have to take a few days off of school. Is that ok with you?"
    I had only one question, "Will my absences be excused?"
    "Of course. You know the high circle makes sure your absences are excused if we cause them."
    For the first time in my life, i think, I flipped my hair, Wich made me feel really, really stupid, "Well then, What is it?"
    "I have a friend in the demonic realm who knows more about the elementals and the eternal clan. He has agreed to teach you what he can before Death comes in about three weeks. You will go there with an escort so that you can at least attempt to master those demonic powers of yours."
    I nodded, "I'll do it. But am I getting paid for it?" I asked. No way was I doing something for the high circle without pay.
    "Normal pay."
    I shrugged, "Alright."
    "Oh, Adrian, I trust you'll be at the ceremony for Matthew when he..."
    There was a knock on the door. I walked into the living room and opened the door. it was Matt and Jessie, excited as can be, with a small letter in his hand from the high circle, "Dude, I'm getting my master's coat! Can you believe it!?" Matt screamed.
    I jerked the letter from his hand, checking to see if it was authentic. It did bear the archaic looking mark of the high circle, "Oh my god, that is so awesome! You freaking did it!" We tackled each other in a happy, not-gay hug.
    Matt's dad walked in, clapping his hands, "I'm proud of you, Matthew. you've learned everything that is required by the high circle's standards, and you've discovered many things that the high circle has found very useful. you have truly proven yourself worthy to wear the master's coat, Matthew."
    He ran up and completely glomped his dad, "Thenk you so much, dad! I'm even the youngest to gain my master's coat since Vergil Ramsus!" Vergil Ramsus was about 17, the same age as Mat is now, when he got his master's coat. Matt idolizes the guy. In a way, I do to. He has proven that one can acheive great things of our own accord. He has also motivated many young apprentices to finish their training as well as school, including me, even though i'm not a necromancer.
    "By the way," Matt's dad said to both Matt, who was hugging Jessie like crazy, and me, standing in front of the two like an idiot, "Vergil asked me to send a specific request to you two.He's been doing research on shadows, and you two are the only ones who study that field within this entire town, so he's asked me to ask you two to share your research with him."
    We both nodded, "We'd love to. just give us some time to gether it up."
    "Good. He'll be at the ceremony. I'm very proud to be presenting this coat to you, Matthew. The high circle has honored you as one of our most gifted wielders. which is very prestigious."
    "I can't believe i'm already getting it, though. I always figured i was just going to have more to learn." Matt had finally controlled himself enough to not scream. I was proud of him myself. Jessie and I were there when he had cast half of his soul into the spactral realm, which is the source of every necromancer's power. The process looked very painful, and we were only seven years old. but he took it without even crying.
    "we are so staying here tonight, okay guys?" I asked
    "Hell yeah, we are." Jessie yelled.
    Matt asked his dad, who said a simple yes. "Now that we've taken care of, let's go get something to eat. My treat."
    Matt's dad stopped me, "Oh, no you don't. You're also a token of pride here. You've helped the high circle countless times as well, so you deserve a reward, too. I'll take you guys wherever you wnat."
    "Steakhouses!" We all yelled out at the same time. we loved going to steakhouses. Beef was almost literally our celebration food. We always told people steak is better than cake. We went out and tried to find the best steakhouse to celebrate at. I had a good feeling that fortune was going to smile on us all.