Two Brothers

Chaos erupted in the streets as the ground began quaking.

"Alabaster!" the tailor shouted over the roar of the crowds, "What's happening!?"

The vampire could only stare helplessly into the distance; what he saw chilled him down to his last drop of blood. On top of the castle stood his stone-faced father with the chained king of Lenore at his feet. An enormous machine loomed behind them, whirling as it wailed out a dread-inducing hum. From the top of the device oozed an inky miasma that stretched across the sky. It was easy to imagine the dark streaks to be the knobby fingers of the damned, clawing contemptuously at the fabric of the Heavens.

As Lord Jasper watched over the proceedings with an icy detachment, Malakai stood tensely by his side, scanning the rabble for his brother. His mind tumbled end over end, his search growing all more frantic as he tried to suss out what he might have done differently. He reasoned with Alabaster, even going so far as to beg him. The elder even attempted a bit of old-fashioned bribery. But, none of it was enough to keep his brother from attending the Festival of Light.

He really should have taken a more direct approach. Hints weren't effective on a man whose fancy had turned to love. Especially not on his brother whose head was stuck in the clouds as he pathetically mooned after that simple-minded human. But, coming clean about everything he knew would have been impossible. Alabaster Stone, no matter how powerful or important a figurehead, was never given the clearance needed for what this mission actually entailed.

It was well known that the Crystal Vampire, no matter what incarnation he took, was against all forms of war. He was a pacifist who believed in the cooperation of all people. The conflicts he found himself embroiled in were usually by order of the Emperor. However, that wasn't to say that his younger brother was bound by their lordship's edict. If the task was viewed as grossly unjust, Alabaster had an equally gruesome way out.

If eye witnesses were to be believed, the Crystal Vampire throughout history had jumped to his death, stepped in a forge of molten gold and had even allowed himself to be skewered through the heart by an Elvish princess. It was a noble ideal to choose peace over everything else, even going so far as to die for it. Malakai could certainly find that admirable.

However, in reality, peace was never an option. The subjugation of the humans had always been the end goal. They were lowly creatures, after all; nothing more than runaway livestock that had taken advantage of the vampire's war with the elves to stray. Now was the time to reclaim them. To take back what had always belonged to the kingdom of Nevermore.

His thoughts were interrupted when his eyes finally locked with those of ethereal-blue. Time seemed to stop. Or perhaps it actually did. His brother's powers were beyond comprehension, after all; bending time to suit his whims wouldn't have surprised Malakai in the least.

He couldn't hear the sounds coming from the younger man's lips at this distance, no matter how sharp his hearing. But, his keen vision could still pick out the word they were forming.

"No."

His brother had finally figured it out. The elder sighed once the word was repeated, slowly shaking his head. It was too late. There was nothing he could do, not even if he wanted to. Nothing anyone could do; not even a magnificently powerful, timeless being like the Crystal Vampire. Some things belonged to fate.

"Malakai. It's time."

"Yes. Of course, father."

Slowly, he raised a hand, never breaking eye contact, even as Alabaster grew all the more desperate.

"Please."

That last word, spoken through trembling lips, was enough to break his resolve: almost. His sibling could spend his time however he wished, but the eldest son of the illustrious Stone family had the greater good to serve. His own desires be damned. He could never forget that his loyalty was to Nevermore, first and foremost. In the end, he had no choice. Like the gavel of judgement, Malakai brought his fist down.

A fierce, bone-rattling cry went up as the signal brought thousands of troops pouring over the walls. Simon's mouth dropped open at the sheer sight of them. They were so numerous that the soldiers resembled an army of ants furiously swarming a weaker target with the intent to devour it.

Alabaster knew what was happening all around him, without needing to look. He had seen it all before, after all; the Emperor's never-ending thirst for conquest was destroying yet another peaceful land. Why had he ever dared to believe that this time things would be different? The answer was staring him right in the face: his brother.

Fostering a strong bond with his kin had always proven to be difficult, if not outright impossible. At times, he felt othered for his differences. But, more often than not, his mission directly clashed with the expectations of those around him. His yearning to find what was lost conflicted with the desires of the people who would use his power for their own ends; people like the Emperor. Distrustfulness crept in, becoming less of a stranger and more of a bosom companion as the eons ticked by.

But, fate finally showed him mercy. Cutting through the darkness of his loneliness and cynicism was a ray of light. And his name was Malakai Stone. At first, he had regarded his 'older brother' with the same indifference he spared everyone else in the new family he had been born into. But, over time, with years of patience, Alabaster was won over.

Because Malakai wasn't like the others. He stood as a wall of protection between him and those who would take advantage. In doing so, the other vampire had become a beckon of hope that single-handedly restored his faith; his trust. But, was there anything ever more easily broken?

As the city of Lenore began burning down around him, all he could do was stand there like a statue frozen in time. His eyes were flooded with disbelief, as he stared up at the man he thought he knew so well. A distant tugging at his arm became a fierce yank hard enough to unbalance him. His knees hit the rooftop just in time for rough hands to take him by the face.

"Alabaster! Can you hear me?! We have to get out of here! Now!"

Slowly, the nobleman's gaze landed on Simon. The mortal suddenly forgot how to breathe. The abundant ring of blue in those beautiful eyes had shrunken down to a mere sliver; as if the surrounding white had risen up like the treacherous ocean tides to drowned it.

The human slowly removed his hands, the color draining from his face as he realized that he had seen that look before. It belonged to the unhinged; the feral. To vampire's with the kiss of blood on their lips. His first instinct was to take a step back, as flashes of the past filled up his vision. His second was to flee, leaving everything they had built far behind him.

But, Simon was ever a man of his word. He made a vow to trust Alabaster Stone and that wasn't going to be forgotten. Not even when he found himself in the grip of terror. Shoring up his nerves, the tailor took hold of the vampire's much larger hand, gripping it tightly as he tried to ground himself and hang on for dear life to everything they had made together. If his actions led to his untimely demise, it would serve him right for doing something so mind-numbingly foolish as falling in love.

"Alabaster?"

An unspoken question lingered there. Would this be the day he died? Would the hands that so tenderly held him together, be the very things that tore him apart? That quivering pitch was enough to snap the nobleman out of his stupor. In fact, it hit the vampire's senses with the pungency of smelling salts.

Slowly, the blue returned to fullness, before Alabaster blinked. In the rubble of the fallen city, emerald eyes stood out. They gleamed with determination and just a hint of courage that the tailor, deep down, didn't feel.

"Alabaster," he tried again, as he gripped the other man's hand, his voice painfully tight, "It's time for us to leave. Yes?"

Suddenly, the vampire's muted surroundings snapped to vibrance. Everything was put into perspective. There was a dull ache in his chest from betrayal, of course. But, he would have to unpack those feelings later. Right now, the love of his life was in danger. Not to mention that Simon was obviously putting on a brave face to cover up what would have been an expression of naked terror. Was it from the chaos all around them? Or was that fear.. from him?

Alabaster let his mind chew on that thought for a moment. There was a lot of things for a mortal to fear in their world, especially now; he never should have been one of them. Carefully, treating Simon like delicate porcelain, he brought reassuring hands to rest on the other man's shoulders. The vampire's smile was as fragile as glass, but he still managed to get out a few comforting words.

"It's alright. I'm here."

Simon clamped down on his bottom lip hard enough to bleed, if only to hold back the torrent of tears. His arms found their way around the other man's neck in a tight embrace. A peace fell over Alabaster in that moment. He couldn't give him much, considering how he was only holding on by a thread, himself. But, the vampire was comforted that he was able to give his beloved what he needed, nonetheless. Scooping the tailor up in his arms, the nobleman rose to his feet, his eyes glittering with fresh resolve.

"You're right. It's time for us to go."

Slowly, he turned to his brother one last time. In place of devastation was a gaze narrowed in accusation. Malakai met him, unflinchingly, as if willing to absorb every last bit of blame. But, there was something else there, too. A stern tenderness, as he mouthed a word back that had no right to be as meaningful as it was.

"...Run."

Alabaster froze. His lips slowly parted. Did his brother just-? With a clenched jaw, Malakai gave him a firm nod of confirmation. Alabaster's vision misted up. He was letting them go? Giving them his.. blessing?

He blinked away unshed tears. Faith was such a delicate thing. Trust was so easily shattered. But, perhaps there was enough left over to piece it back together, someday. Alabaster gave a nod of his own, before leaning closer to his lover and whispering,

"Hold on tight, my dearest."

With a sprint, he became a blur to the naked eye, leaping from the building and never looking back. As Malakai watched his younger brother go, a feeling built in his chest that could only be called bittersweet. He didn't see what Alabaster saw when he looked at the tailor. But, he could plainly see how his brother looked while holding him. Simon Hart was a mere mortal, but maybe there was more to the story than he knew. Perhaps his brother's mission was finally complete.

'You're on your own now, Alabaster. I wish you happiness and hope you finally found what you've been looking for.'

"Malakai."

"Yes, father?"

"Your brother has all, but disappeared since last evening. Do you know of his whereabouts?"

"No father," he said without an ounce of hesitation, meeting the older man's gaze unflinchingly, "I know nothing."