The Lightning that Jumps Between

Twenty Two

For a long, quiet moment, everyone else continued to stare at Ethan; his eyes fluttered open, then closed-still black, with the clear etches of dark veins around his neck and lips. Karl in particular remained focused on the blond, after exchanging a look with his twin. Finally Ethan opened his eyes and sighed as color began to slowly return to his skin and eyes. His gaze panned between Mia, who looked horrified, and the man he knew as Jochen.

Jochen's perturbed stare lingered a moment longer, and then his face broke into a wide grin. His smile was toothy, and without the beard that Karl had to obstruct his mouth, downright joy was visible, etched across his face. Jochen's green irises flowed over the blond in a sort of admiration. To Karl and Ethan's relief, he laughed uproariously.

Ethan exhaled a sigh of relief, but said in warning, "Make it quick, she's strong here. She'll be back before you know it, she'll be able to feel us." He had some of her blood spatter across his cheek, and Ethan wiped his jacket across his face.

He hoped the pair heard his warning; Jochen nearly tackled Karl in a very bear-like hug. Equally relieving was seeing Karl return the gesture, dropping his hammer. The twins embraced, both touching the other's face, laughing, throwing German words back and forth. Karl's hat fell back against his shoulders as his twin shook him, and Jochen ran his hand through the greying strands.

Ethan was staring at Mia in a way he hoped was reassuring, but she still looked terrified, lost, confused. Would she even remember him? He knew how Miranda loved her little 'cognitive' adjustments, and had written about performing them on cadou subjects. Clearly, she was at least attempting to exert control over Karl's brother, so Ethan had no doubts the same applied to Mia.

Anyone in Miranda's circle would be forced into obedience.

While the two exchanged their glances, Karl was speaking to Jochen.

"The dreams?"

"Real. Me."

"And what you said–"

"Is true. Speak of it no more, she cannot know."

Karl nodded and pulled his brother into another hug, dropping his forehead onto the other's shoulder. Seconds more they embraced, before stepping back–there was a sense of urgency, knowing that Miranda would likely soon return. As she'd told Ethan–he couldn't kill her in a way that mattered. Well, not yet, anyway.

Jochen stepped up to Ethan and clapped him on the back, pulling him into a hug. Despite the veil between their realities, Ethan could feel him–he was almost human. No wonder Miranda had gone mad while being in the cave, this power was palpable, intoxicating. She had probably planned on having Eva back in her arms in a matter of days or weeks. He could even smell the other man; damp earth, fresh flowers. Ethan returned the hug awkwardly.

Jochen looked, if possible, embarrassed. "Sorry about the–uh..." he made a jabbing motion with his hand, and Ethan rolled his eyes.

"You weren't the first, don't worry," he grumbled. Karl scoffed.

"I will try English," the twin said, stepping back and tossing his auburn strands away from his face. "So you both know." He gave a wink toward Mia, who was still standing far from the group; she did not look amused. Jochen's green eyes danced between the two men as he fumbled over his words.

"I was...dormant for years. She took me, after you were sent away to school, Karl. I don't know what happened, that was so long ago. At first she had me working for her, at first she promised a new body for me. I was exploring the realms for her, she used to have servants who did this, seeking Eva. But I kept running away, trying to find a way back to this world. I did things she didn't like. I did not want to work with her. For years. So, she punished me. She put me...." he trailed off, needing English words.