45 Shared Thoughts (1/2)

Will stared up at the crimson sky when he woke. ”Why am I here?” he said to himself as he sat up and looked around. ”I don't have time for this,” he said as he got to his feet and headed towards where he knew Cainus would be.

The golden throne room was just as impressive as the last time Will had entered it. The golden pillars which seemed to disappear within the storm of crimson flame which represented the ceiling, the gold embroidered red carpet which led to the small stairwell leading to the platform that held the golden throne. The place within his very mind in which he had spent hours in training with Cainus had become like a second home to him.

What was hours on the outside of his mind would be the equivalent of months within his solitude as the first king of Ebonhart would teach him about the land as well as teach him new techniques to use in combat. The place was a training ground only he could use.

As Will walked to the throne, he knew he wasn't alone. He could feel a set of eyes watching him from somewhere in the room. ”Cainus?” He called out within the large chamber. He could hear his voice echo unnaturally.

A sudden breeze made the throne room chilled. Will looked up at the ever present crimson sky, the flames were billowing as if they were a camp fire on a windy night. While he was paying attention to the atmosphere, the chamber darkened. The gold cast from the floor became a dark gold, as if someone had turned off the lights.

As Will took in the phenomenon, he noticed a shadow beyond the furthest pillar. He focused on the patch of darkness and could barely make out movement.

”Cainus if you are over there at least say something.” Will said as he started walking towards the darkness. With every step, a feeling formed within Will's heart. He had felt this sensation many times before.

His pace slowed as he felt a familiar chill within him. With each step, the feeling told him to run. The closer he got to the shadow, the more his mind screamed at him to run the other direction.

When the feeling was so strong that he felt an invisible wall in front of him, he stopped in his tracks. The throne room was no longer the golden room he had trained in, instead it looked obsidian black. He saw the light from the ceiling cast from the floor and his breath caught. It was no longer the crimson he was used to, it was instead a dark red with black flame twisted within it much like the coils of darkness that formed the black gem on his pendant.

”Come out.” Will called out to where the shadow once was. He could no longer pick out the shape within the black surface of the room. He couldn't seem to form enough courage to demand the presence to come forward.

Though Will couldn't summon up his courage, it seemed the shadow responded more to fear than the opposite. Will could see an outline of the unwelcomed presence step out from the darkness.

”What's wrong Will? You shouldn't be the type to scare easily,” the form from the darkness sounded male and somewhat familiar to Will. ”How to you expect to protect your friends when you can't meet darkness without fear?” the man came close enough for Will to make out the face” though he couldn't bring himself past the neckline. He had the same pendant as him, yet instead of the ruby at the top he had an onyx gem with black veins coming from it and wrapping around the cross making it look sick.

Will looked sick as he saw the clothing of the man. He knew almost instantly who it was. The black clothing and cloak made the rest of him look like a ghost. His long hair had long since fallen out of the ponytail he had before the battle. ”Sup little bro.” Jake said with a sad smile.

Will looked into the man's eyes with a slight surprise. Jake's eyes were hazel instead of the normal dark. Everything about him seemed relaxed which through Will off. It seemed that Jake was a completely different person from who he fought only minutes ago. Even though he wore the same clothing, it seemed like he was wearing different skin.

”How did you get here?” Will asked tiredly, the last thing he wanted was a fight within his own mind.

”I kinda had to shove my pendant into your chest,” he said looking nervous. ”Don't worry,” he put a hand up. ”I'm not here to fight.”

Will felt his chest as if he could feel the cross lodged in it. ”I don't get it,” he said as he regained his composure. ”I have a cross lodged inside me and you are telling me not to worry.” he raised an eyebrow. ”How would I not worry?”

Jake could only laugh. Not a menacing laugh which Will was so used to, but a genuine laugh. ”Always the pessimist aren't you?”

”Is this real?” Will asked. The change within Jake was more than he could handle.

”Yeah,” Jake said with a halfhearted smile. ”What you are seeing is the true me, the one you saved from the street.” his smile dropped as his eyes fixed on Will. ”I will always remember that bro, and one day I'll pay you back for that.”

Now Will was really confused. ”You are talking as if you aren't yourself out there.” Will said with a thumb pointed over his shoulder.

”That's because I'm not.” Jake said hesitantly, as if testing exactly what he could say. ”I don't think they can hear me in here, so far as they know I'm only stealing your abilities.”

”Wait, what?” Will didn't know how to respond.

”I don't call you bro because your a friend of mine Will. We really are brothers.” He said as Will took a a step back.

Will waited until he could trust his words, he had gone almost completely pale. ”T-that's not possible.” he tried to find his words.

”Look at me Will, I mean really look at me.” he said as he raised his hands from his sides. As if looking at him for the first time, Will saw the same jaw structure, cheek bones and hazel eyes he saw every time he looked in the mirror. If Will were to dye his hair black, he could be Jake's twin. ”I am your brother.”

Will almost made a Darth Vader reference before it actually sunk in. He had a brother. So many questions were forming in his head, but one was at the forefront of his mind. ”Was it really a coincidence I met you that day?” he felt that it was too convenient for him to have just met his biological brother that he'd never met on the side of the road one day.