Alterations

by Lucretia Stanhope

  Matvei closed his eyes and gnashed his teeth. His jaw twitched under the pressure. “Stay here with Gina and Brac. I'm taking my squad and half the battalion.”

  “Sir, Gwen?” Sergei looked puzzled by his order.

  Matvei stepped to him and drew back, but stopped himself. “Let's not panic her or anyone else with this. She is in her office; you can get to her in seconds should things here become compromised.”

  “Of course, Sir.”

  Brac watched Matvei leave in a hurry and tried to keep his focus on the drills. His eyes kept drifting to Sergei. The practice session carried on for a few more hours before Matvei returned. Brac noticed as he walked over that he carried himself differently.

  “You are excused, Sergei.” Matvei walked over and snatched Brac by the wrist. “Class is over.”

  They walked away from the crowd and Matvei ripped the veil, stepping through with Brac in tow.

  “What's going on?” Brac asked as soon as they stepped out on site two. He rubbed his arm where Matvei's grip left sore spots.

  “Traitors.” He grabbed him again and dragged him along toward the colony there.

  When they got closer, Brac looked at the carnage with his jaw slack. Just outside of the wall there were bodies of dead ogres strewn on the ground. It looked like vampires won the battle, the body parts were everywhere and all looked to be ogres. “Are the witches okay?”

  “No, these savages acted as a distraction. Some were taken. Your lovers are gone.” Matvei spoke in a deep, growling voice. “I have a present for you.”

  “Present?” Brac followed him around the colony wall, thinking about the time he spent with the witches there. “Wait, all of my lovers? All of them?”

  Matvei snorted. “Yes, all of them. They kidnapped over twenty witches.”

  “Where are the rest?” Brac walked quickly, trying to keep up. “Should we bring them back to site one?”

  “We? No, I will handle this site. You will handle the traitors.” Matvei stopped walking.

  Brac stopped, stunned as he looked at around ten witches tied to stakes. They were bound and weeping loudly. “What is this?”

  “Traitors. Burn them.” Matvei nudged Brac forward.

  No magic pulse came from the witches. “They can't be.” Brac looked at the faces, taking slow steps and stopping to look at each of them. He recognized them as the witches from site one who never developed magic. They had been taken to site two to work as laborers. “These are not even elementals.”

  Matvei smacked him, sending him to the ground. “I said burn them. Do you doubt when I tell you they were helping funnel out witches? They kidnapped your Maryanne, you will never see your first born now. Burn them.”

  Brac got to his feet, his hand on his face. He could still feel the throbbing in the shape of a hand. “I can't. I can't burn defenseless witches. Maryanne?” His eyes flicked away. “Were any witches on site one taken?”

  Matvei smacked him again. “I knew your mother would be a bad influence. Do what I say, Brac, you don't want me angry.”

  Brac shook his head and wiped the blood from his lip. He looked up and locked eyes with his brother.

  Matvei snatched him to his feet. “I will not ask you again. You burn these traitorous witches, or I will personally punish your mother in ways that your mind couldn't begin to imagine.” He laughed. “I'll even let you watch.”

  “I can't, Matvei, don't. I will fight for you against the real traitorous witches, even if it turns out to be Kyna like you think, but I can't attack harmless witches. Take me to battle, let me show you my loyalty there.”

  Brac saw black after the next hit. When his eyes opened again, Matvei was pacing in full vampire form. Two of the witches had stopped moving and their heads and shoulders slumped, only held up by the ropes. Brac assumed Matvei fed on them.

  Matvei spoke in a cold tone. “Get up, Brac. We are going home. I need to speak with your mother and explain to her why she is suffering.”

  Brac got to his feet, everything spun as he walked toward Matvei in labored, stumbling steps. “Wait. Don't hurt mom.” He reached out for him.

  “Hurry along. I'll give you a few minutes to kiss her goodbye.” Matvei looked at his hand in disgust and turned, taking a few steps away from him.

  The air heated up and he looked back to see Brac concentrating on the witches. He turned and gave his full attention to the scene as it unfolded.

  Brac called up fire with every ounce of rage he could muster. The witches wailed and cried out as they caught fire, before the flames engulfed them. Tears flowed freely from his eyes once the flames caught and he let the rage go.

  When the damage was done, he fell to his knees, overcome with sadness.

  Matvei watched until all of the witches were dead and then yanked Brac to his feet. “Clean up your tears. Men don't weep. We will find your Maryanne.”

  “I don't weep for Maryanne. I weep for myself.” Brac brushed himself off. “I will never deserve my mother's love now. I am what she hates most. I am a monster.”

  “Pfft. You don't understand your mother. Should she ask you about this, these witches were burned by traitors who attacked us, took prisoners, and used magic against us. Understand me?”

  Brac looked at him, accusation mingled with hate in his voice. “Were we even really attacked?”

  Matvei hit Brac with one fist and then the other. “You think I brought ogres here and gave away eternals just so you would kill a few witches? We were attacked. It would do you good to learn how to flip a bad situation into something useful.”

  Brac spit blood on the ground. “Useful, Sir?”

  “Now your mother will teach you and all of the fire witches to harness stolen magic. Useful. Not worth the losses, but at least we will have gained something in this debacle.” Matvei walked away, dragging Brac behind him. He stopped at a group of soldiers. “I will be back with our queen momentarily. Do not start clean up until after her visit. In fact, I want the remaining witches sobbing in huddles, do what is needed to accomplish that.”

  While they walked away, Brac struggled to understand what he had been a part of. Ogres had clearly attacked. Witches, eternal elemental witches were missing. Maryanne, who was his new wife for only days and having his baby, was gone. He looked down at the ring on his finger and frowned.

  These were the same people who took Kyna. The people who his father and Matvei were fighting to protect them from. Something didn't fit. Kyna and the witches at the colony wouldn't ever have hurt other witches, no matter what. He knew that deep down.

  He came back to the innocent witches in his mind. Why burn them? Wouldn't his mom be moved enough to help when she discovered witches were taken? Maybe even killed by Ogres. She had a big heart and always wanted to do everything she could to help witches.

  There was a reason, something she had yet to tell him about that made her bristle whenever Matvei and Timofei were around. Things were not as they seemed, he knew that. He knew she wanted away from them. He didn't understand her reasons but he wanted it for her, even if he didn't go with her.

  Walking back to the tear, he struggled with what he did want. All of his life, while his mom was at work trying to make the worlds better places for elemental witches, he was home. Home or with Matvei. Matvei, his constant companion, his brother who was more like a father. The only creature that always had time for him.

  Why?

  Why, and what changed to make their bond switch to something dark today? Matvei never struck him before, not outside of war games. Not in anger. Not with threats. Would he really hurt his mother?

  “Don't doubt for a second I will,” Matvei said, the coldness of his tone lingered in the air and was only surpassed by a look that could freeze steam. “You betray me and you will find out.”

  Back on site one they both searched for Gwen, neither having any luck. Matvei dismissed Brac to see some friends. Brac ended up alone at the falls.

  He didn't want to see anyone. Not his frien
ds and especially not his mother.

  Exploring, conquering new realms, outshining the other witches, and helping with the effort against the ogres were all things he felt proud of. As he watched the water falling he did not feel proud anymore. Somehow he judged everything wrong. There wasn't enough water in the falls to wash off his shame. He was a warlock. He turned against his own kind. He used magic to kill witches. He deserved a life with the monsters, and he would be happy to live that out, after he got his mother away.

  While he stood there, his mind drifted to Jamie, and he started walking toward her house. It was a place he knew how to get to with his eyes closed. She, along with Jack, had made up his own private power of three circle. They’d been drawn to each other since they were kids. When they grew older, and he started to notice she was a woman as well as an awesome person, things developed quickly. He had loved her, still did. She was the embodiment of peace and light, just like his mom. However, she wasn’t the powerful force, and did not have the right parents for Matvei to approve.

  Matvei told him early on, as if he somehow knew already that Brac loved her, that it would be best to replace her in his inner circle with another witch, one less distracting. Then he started shoving the idea of Maryanne at him.

  When they found out Jamie was having his baby, he tried to talk with Matvei. There was some insinuation, just as there had been today, that if he didn’t do as asked, it would be uncomfortable for those he cared about, for her. He was also promised that if he did, she would be cared for. So he did. Even though she pleaded with him. Even though she was having his baby. It was a baby that wasn’t born of altered parents or part of the plans for Matvei, one he was supposed to view as just spreading the abilities and tasty blood into the gene pool.

  He did leave her as ordered, continued to spread his abilities as Matvei called for, and walked away from each encounter colder, emptier.

  He had to keep his heart free for Maryanne, and once her and him both were altered, their eventual union.

  He looked at his ring again and sighed.

  Even though she lived in his heart, he put Jamie out of his mind, mostly, unless he heard she or his son needed him, or unless he really needed her council.

  Like today.

  He looked up as he neared, already feeling the soft hum of her light. It was so different to his own hum that it always clashed and tickled in a way he longed for.

  Jamie opened the door before he walked up. “You can’t just turn up here, Brac. We talked about this. Gods, you are married now.”

  He watched her standing there with her head high, her green eyes clear of tears and tender lips set in a firm line. She was magnificent. So much like his mother. “I need…”

  “Your wife can handle your needs now.” She started to shut the door.

  “Not that. I don’t need that. I need something only you give me, clarity. Please, can I come in?” He stepped closer.

  “No, he’s home, it’s not fair to him.” She shook her head. “Talk to your mom, or sister. I have my own issues to deal with.”

  “Malakai is here? Let me in. I’ve never done anything to confuse him. Please, we can talk while he plays.” Brac stepped up to her and reached for her hand. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. While she was taller than Gwen, she was still a head shorter than him.

  Her face reflected how torn she was. “Is it important? Really important?”

  “Yes, I think so.” He stepped past her when she made space.

  “Sit down, he’s in his room. We can talk out here.” She sat on a chair that only had room for one.

  Brac frowned, he could feel he was making her uncomfortable. “Maybe I shouldn’t be here. I don’t want to make you feel anything bad, ever. I’m so lost right now.”

  “Seeing you makes me feel bad, always. I can’t be the one to find you. I never could have been. That has to be you.” Jamie turned to look when Malakai came near. Her light brown hair caught the sun and Brac’s attention.

  Memories of her in his arms, and the sweet smell of her soft hair as he nuzzled against her, danced across his mind, both bringing happiness and sadness. He sighed loud. “You and mom always make it feel possible. You are my…”

  “Former lover, Brac. That is what I am. Hidden family? Dirty secret?” She put a finger to her lips and shushed when Malakai was close enough to hear them. “Come say hi to mommy’s friend, sweetheart.”

  The toddler walked over and huddled at Jamie’s legs, looking at Brac with suspicious green eyes. The same eyes Jamie looked at him with.

  Brac watched her as she stroked the little boys pitch black hair. He was them, some combination of her peace and his unrest. Brac hoped he was more like her in that regard. He smiled at them both. This was where he wanted to be, where he couldn’t be, and suddenly being there seemed like a bad idea, and one that offered none of the clarity or peace he’d been seeking.

  Malakai whispered hi, and then ran off to play behind the chair Jamie sat in, occasionally peeking out to look at Brac.

  “He’s perfect, like you. He feels very light and magical.” Brac sighed. “Listen, things are getting bad, if anything happens, I will make sure you are safely taken away.”

  Her face softened. “I noticed more vampires in the colony proper. There are whispers they had to mingle with us, because trolls have been snatching anyone walking alone.”

  Brac tried not to chuckle, rumors got out of hand fast. “Nothing so dramatic yet. There is a danger that vampire enemies could spill into things here though.”

  “I’m sure your mother and father will see to everyone’s safety. Why the special visit?”

  “Times of war, I’ve had to, we all do things that we are not proud of, I just, I needed. I don’t know.” He pursed his lips and his jaw twitched under the stress. “No matter what, I will take care of you. Both of you.”

  Her look grew even more suspicious. “Where is Maryanne? I haven’t seen her in ages.”

  Brac looked away, unsure how much to say. He didn’t want to worry her, but he also wanted her to be aware of her surroundings, in case something reached the colony. “She was taken as a prisoner of war.”

  Jamie’s mouth dropped. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea it was true, they, trolls are taking people?” She looked behind her. “From here?”

  “Not trolls, and not from here. Look, I can’t get in to details, you know that. I just wanted to make sure you were safe and I needed to feel less darkness. I didn’t mean to bring you more darkness. I can’t seem to touch anything without destroying it.” He stood and started for the door. “Be careful, and let me know if you need anything. If things look bad here, I will send people for you if I can’t come myself.”

  She walked over to him and reached out, touching his face.

  “I don’t see darkness in your eyes, Brac. I never did. You’ve always had a fire inside, even when we were just children.” A smile filled her face and he wished for that moment he could join her in whatever happy memory of them she was in. “It could be passionate; it doesn’t have to be aggressive.”

  “I hurt people.”

  “We all do, even I’ve hurt people.”

  He shook his head. “No, I killed people. Today. People who didn’t deserve it.”

  She stepped back and chewed her lip. “Why are you telling me this? I am going to assume it was a training accident and…”

  He shook his head. “I wish it was.”

  “Take note of how you are feeling. I know you like to paint yourself as one of them. Emotionless, dark, broken, but if you were, it wouldn’t matter to you. Go home. Talk to your mother.”

  He leaned closer and she pulled back. “I’m sorry.”

  “So am I. It is what it is.” She looked back to the chair and Malakai who was watching them closely. “Go home.”

  He studied her eyes, aside from his mom they were the only eyes that ever looked at him and saw anything other than rage and unease. His eyes flicked over to his son. He deserved bet
ter, a better man, a good man, not him. At least not now. If he ever found his way out of the darkness…

  Her lips pressed gently against his, breaking the thought and washing him with a peace he would have thought impossible. When she pulled back she whispered, “I never stopped loving you.”

  “With the fire of my soul.” It was the response he always gave her, and still true.

  They both looked down when they felt little hands wrap their fingers to see a happy smiling face looking back up at them.

  “Go home. This isn’t good for him.”

  Brac swallowed back a hard lump that was rising in his throat. “I…” he started to say to Jamie, but looked down at Malakai and squeezed his little hand. “Take care of mommy, little guy.” As he walked out he held back tears and had to keep putting out the fires that seemed to ignite with his frustration.

  “Save it for training or battle, son.” Matvei fell into an easy gait beside him.

  Brac closed his eyes. “Yes, Sir.”

  “We all have mistresses, don’t let this one be a distraction.”

  “She’s not a mistress. She was never just a mistress or some meaningless mate.”

  “She’s no priestess.” Matvei used a firm tone. “We’ve talked about this. You are the next in line of the royal family of your people. That makes your rank that of Timofei. You don’t get to marry for love.”

  Brac stopped walking and looked at him, frustrated. “You don’t have a queen, when dad ordered you to bond with Kyna, you refused.”

  Matvei snarled. “The traitor left or I would have followed orders. That aside, your mother led him to see his error in judgment. Even rulers make the occasional error.”

  “Maybe you made an error with Maryanne.”

  Matvei smacked him, making a cut along his cheekbone. “You may rank as a witch, but never forget you will always be my son. I expect your respect.”

  “Why? Why am I so important to you? Even dad spent more time on Kyna than with me.”

  “Kyna isn’t a ruler. I’m beginning to think you aren’t either. Keep your lover, I granted you as much, but don’t let her, or your illegitimate children affect your rule. Your people deserve better. I deserve better. Gwen deserves better.”