Page 68 of This Blood that Bonds Us
The sight of seeing my older brothers step out of the car in the driveway and greet Mom seared into the back of my mind. It was so vivid, and I believed it would come to fruition.
I’d get them there.
I kissed the top of her head and continued to gaze up. The only rule was we couldn’t say our wishes out loud, but believing together had worked before, so maybe it would again.
“You know the same moon we’re looking at is the same one your brothers see. We’re looking at the same stars and the same night sky.”
I smiled at the thought, wondering if they ever got time to go outside and gaze up at the stars. I hoped so.
Twenty-Eight
Presley
I finally cashed in a favor. Kimberly’s punishment for her crimes was watching movies with me all day in the living room, and Aaron wasn’t allowed to join.
Romeo and Juliet, the 1996 version, played on Mom’s pitiful TV. We had to use the DVD player, and I’d hit it a few times to make it work. We were lucky she hadanymovies. Mom said she’d picked that one up at a garage sale because she knew I liked it and it made her think of me. It was my favorite because Leonardo DiCaprio looked like the embodiment of an angel the entire movie—even if I had no idea what he was saying half the time.
“You and Aaron should wear that next Halloween.”
Romeo was starstruck in his suit of armor, staring at Juliet in her angel costume. A turquoise fish tank glowed between them. Aaron’s hair was a perfect match, and Kimberly would look radiant dressed up in white and angel wings.
I regretted the words as soon as they were out of my mouth. My brothers would be back by then. Things could go back to the way they were in Blackheart, and nothing would be different. Right?
My stomach sank as I remembered the intense pain in my chest. Things were already different.
“That’s a good idea. You can help me with my costume.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s bad.”
“What?”
“I shouldn’t plan for things that far ahead. We’ll probably be dead by then.”
“You don’t really think that, do you?” she said with her mouth agape.
I shrugged.
“No. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” Kimberly hugged me without warning.
“I know.” Maybe that was part of the problem. Everyone wanted to protect me, but what was I doing? Lying in bed and watching old movies was about all I was good for. She moved to block my view of the TV.
“You don’t talk to me anymore,” she said.
“I do.”
“Not like before.”
“I don’t have anything to say.” More like everything I had to say was depressing.
My older brothers were gone and likely being tortured or something terrible by Hell Bitch. Physically, my chest hurt so much I forgot what it was like to feel good, and Kimberly and Aaron were buying into Kilian’s nonsense. I wasn’t entirely suretheyweren’t being sucked into a different cult, and even if a miraculous phenomenon happened and Kilian was right and we had some great big ole battle to get my brothers back, how would it end?
We were sofucked.
“You don’t have to talk. I’ve just been worried about you.” Her cheeks were red from the fire.
The alarm bells went off in my head. Kimberly had a lot to worry about. I didn’t like being something else on one of her lists. I’d always imagined having a sister growing up, but it wasn’t like I thought it would be. With brothers, I could cause them pain with little to no remorse, but with Kim . . . I couldn’t stand to see her upset. All that time wishing I had a sister, and it turned out to be harder than having a brother.
“Thanks Kim. I, uh, I’m excited to see the stuff you’re doing with Kilian this weekend.”
