Reapers - Master of Souls (Reapers Chronicles Book III)

14 - Withdrawal (1 of 3)

NP: You and I by Secondhand Serenade

You're waiting for friction,
This empty addiction
Is forcing me to intervene.
Let's break out of this scene.

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The argument between brothers greeted me before I could even reach the drawing room of the Sinclair floor.

"You think it's not hard for me, Vlad?!" Vincent yelled. "I wanna hang myself just thinking of groveling for Pilgrim's help. But I have to make this deal. He thinks I'm the only one who can lure Adrianna out. For some reason, she wants me to side with her. If I somehow manage to... kill her, I'd demand for him to fix Aramis' soul in return."

I hid behind the doorsill and quieted my breathing.

Vladimir removed his glasses, squeezing the bridge of his nose. "You know I'd do anything for you, Vince. Since Mother died, it'd been my job to protect you the best I can. I'd die for you. But this is insane! How'd you plan on fighting Legion alone?"

"It's either this or I'll lose her!" Panic was palpable in Vincent's voice.

Shaking his head, Vladimir sunk into the nearest chair. "I did say she might be good for you, but now I think she's... unhealthy for you. This strange connection between the two of you is becoming questionable."

"Questionable?" Vincent forced out a wry snicker. "She's my familiar—"

"Exactly!" Vladimir snapped. "Familiars risk their lives for their masters! Not the other way around! Or were the rules changed and I just didn't get the memo?" He searched his brother's eyes. "You're practically making her your reason to live, Vincent. And we don't do that. Because once you get too emotionally attached you'll only make it harder for yourself in the long run."

"Is that why?" Vincent's voice was papery. "Why it's just so easy for you to accept Rosario's death?"

Vladimir's face was unreadable. "She's dead, Vincent. All we can do is accept it."

"Well, Aramis isn't. And I'd like to keep it that way."

"Look. If you're mad about me not telling you the truth, I'm really sorry."

"That's not it, Vlad."

Vladimir rested his elbows on his thighs and caught his head. "I can't lose you, Vince! Not you too."

"You have eleven other brothers," my master murmured, dropping his gaze. "But Aramis? She only has me."

The boy's silence made the air heavy. Guilt invaded my system. Whatever Vincent was trying to do, I wasn't worthy.

With a sigh, Vincent sagged on the edge of the table. "I know you've been looking out for me your whole life and I'm grateful for that, Vlad. You're my big brother... in a little boy's body. Hell, I'd never have made it through puberty without you. But you gotta let me grow up sometime."

Vladimir reached up to tousle Vincent's hair. "I thought we'd work this out together; you and I, like always. Sometimes, I forget your world is getting larger. I guess I just... miss my little brother."

Vincent smiled. Really smiled.

"Perhaps, I'll just look at the bright side," Vladimir said, getting up. "Now that my obnoxious, scoundrel of a brother's on his own, I can finally rent his room out."

In their own private moment, the Sinclairs laughed quietly to themselves. I wished I knew how I could keep that smile on Vincent's face. It was like... magic.

"Having a good time?" I said, stepping into the drawing room. The laughter ended. Like magic. "Don't let me interrupt your brotherly bonding time."

Vladimir eyed me. "You uh... been there long?"

"No," I lied, shaking my head. "Just got here."

Suddenly, I felt faint. I leaned on the doorsill and tried to act normal. Vladimir's face was warping. He was getting a little taller. Just a little. Still scrawny though. His eyes became wider, rounder, red around the edges mostly because he never blinked. And the creepy smile on his face was almost painful to me.

"H-hector?" I choked out.

I backed away, my whole body shaking. My headache got a lot worse. The pounding was so hard I thought my head was going to crack open. All of a sudden, a clear Helcium door slid in front of me. Again, I was inside the cylindrical walls of my tank.

"No! No!" I shrieked, banging my fists on the glass. "Let me out of here! Let me out!!!"

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