Page 14 of I Am the Storm

I’m standing in a dark forest, wind whipping around me. Lightning blazes in the sky and rain pours in torrents through the thick foliage. Thunder rattles the earth, and everything is cloaked in shadow, but I do not feel afraid, only curious.

Then I see him. The darkly beautiful man from the festival, his ebony eyes catching my gaze. Black leather pants hang from his hips and his chest is bare. Celtic tattoos weave across his back and torso, skin glowing in the moonlight. He smiles and I feel the pull of him, the need to be closer to him, to touch him. I can see the magic connecting us, like a smoky wire with a core of light. I walk closer, but he disappears behind a tree. I follow him, but it's like trying to catch the wind in your hands.

I reach a grove of silver flowers and then he is behind me. He grabs my hand and spins me around. His touch electrifies me. His lips move to speak my name, and then I hear another voice, a familiar voice, angry and yelling.

"What is going on?"

I'm pulled out of my dream forcefully and a feeling of whiplash rocks me as my eyes open. I sit up, confused, disoriented, trying to figure out what happened.

Adam is next to me one moment, gone the next, like smoke in the wind. The window slams shut behind him and in the doorway, I see Derek, wild-eyed and angry. He glares at me. "What is the meaning of this?" he asks.

"I can explain," I say, sitting up, my heart beating like a hummingbird against my ribs. What did he hear? What did he see? What does he think he knows?

"Your brother is alive?" he asks. Of course, he would know what Adam looks like. The Night Firm investigated me before hiring me. He knows more about my life than I do, probably.

"Yes," I say, my mouth dry.

"How long have you known?" he asks, storming into the room, peering out the window.

"I just found out. At the festival." I don't want to ask any questions for fear of giving away something he doesn't already know, so I wait.

"He murdered a woman and child…" Derek says. "Mary? And the baby? He's the real killer?"

I pause, considering my options, but I can't outright lie to him, especially when he already knows the truth. I nod, hesitantly.

"My brothers must be told," he says, turning to leave.

I shoot up from the bed, disturbing a sleeping cat in the process, and grab his hand, my actions and voice full of desperate pleading. "No. Not yet. If Liam finds out, he'll kill Adam."

Derek pauses, his face softening just a bit. "I will make sure your brother has a fair trial. I will represent him myself. But justice must be served."

"You can't," I say, my voice cracking. "He…he had a reason for what he did."

"And what reason could possibly justify the murder of a woman in labor and her unborn child?" he asks, his voice heavy with disdain.

And so I tell him all that Adam told me. About the future vision, the child who would have done such evil things. I study him as I speak, but his expression reveals nothing.

"No one can see the future," he says sternly.

"Matilda can," I argue. "She gave me a vision once."

"A vague prophesy," he says. "A glimpse of a possible outcome. Nothing this specific. No one, not even my grandmother, knows what will happen for certain. Not enough to kill others over it."

A sob wells up in my throat. "I can't lose him," I say. "Not again. I can't lose my brother again."

Tears stream down my cheeks and I can't hold it in anymore. The thought of losing Adam after just getting him back is too much to bear. Derek sees the despair on my face and his expression changes. His eyes grow distant. "Sometimes we must sacrifice those we love the most for what is right," he says. He seems to want to say more, but he remains silent.

"Please," I beg. "Don't tell them yet. My brother isn't evil. He can't be evil."

Derek sighs. "They have a right to know. Especially Liam. But… " he walks towards the door. "I will leave this choice to you. If you wish to lie to our family, so be it. I will carry your lie. But just know, it will kill me inside every moment that I do."

He walks out, slamming the door behind him. And I sink to my knees, gutted and heartbroken.

The Past

They witnessed her destruction, Then they were left to wonder why, She saw nothing but darkness, Though the stars shone in her eyes.

~Supernova by Erin Hanson