Forever

“You gotta show me more of that shit, dude. You’re a fucking master at clairvoyance,” Mercury gently shoved me as we left the scene.

I gave him a weak smile before replying, “Sure, just tell me what you wanna see, I guess.”

He nearly giggled and with a tiny hop, he grabbed my hand and ran down the alley. He abruptly turned left out of the promenade and dragged me down the street. He spotted a couple sucking face outside of some shop and smiled at me, “Are you hungry?”

“Eh, I was. I’m guessing you are?” I didn’t eat often as it was and after I thought of my babydoll, I’d lost my appetite.

Whenever she crossed my mind, I would suddenly become disgusted with myself to the point where I once tried to break my own hand finger by finger after touching another woman with it. So, for obvious reasons, not thinking about her was in my best interest.

“I haven’t had human in centuries. Of course I am.”

I let out a quick laugh at the eager tone in my slightly younger brother’s voice as I responded, “Which one do you want?”

He gave me a look, “The babe, obviously.”

I nodded and approached the two lovers. My hand gripped the man’s shoulder and flipped him around. Not really into playing anymore, I looked at him dully and ordered, “How about you take a hike, yeah?”

Mystified and obedient, of course, he joyously walked away, leaving the girl to stare in confusion, “What the hell just happened?”

I twisted my neck toward her enough to meet her eyes as she flipped her brown hair to give me a questioning look. In order to have her cooperate with her soon-to-be fate, I knew that I had to try a little harder and use a bit more on her than I did on her boyfriend or whatever he was.

I grabbed her hand and rubbed it ‘affectionately’ with my thumb as I purred, “My friend here has taken a bit of a liking toward you and he didn’t want to wait. Surely you understand how much this would mean to him if you were to let him have you, right?”

With glazed eyes, she answers, “Of course. Right here?”

“Oh, no, baby. He wants you a bit more privately. Perhaps you’d like a room?”

“That would be nice.”

Still holding her fingers in my grip, I started walking away, “C’mon, Mercury.”

I hear him jog to my side, “What the fuck are you doing? I could’ve taken her in the alley. I like to think I’m stealthy when it comes to this shit,” he chuckled.

“Trust me. In the city, you’ll want to be a bit more careful of how you handle it. I almost made a mistake earlier, but I was lucky enough that you stopped me. I doubt you have anymore control than I do because I live with these things everyday,” I nod to the girl behind us, “and I still can’t contain myself. Besides, it’ll make it easier for you to get a bit more out of her than just a meal.”

“What are you two talking about?” the girl cut in.

“Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about,” I cooed over my shoulder.

“All right, then.”

At her almost robotic answer, I heard Mercury breathe, “So fucking cool…”

I was the only one in my family with clairvoyance and I was fucking excellent at it. I didn’t even have to meet my victims’ eyes to control them. The only reason I did it was to make things go quicker. Being the oldest of my siblings, I had a lot of skills that the rest of my family did not. I smirked at my brother.

Wordlessly, we made our way to the nearest hotel. Eager to get it all over with, I stomped up to the desk clerk when we arrived and stated, “You’re gonna give me a room for free. Two beds. Now,” I held out my hand expectantly as his eyes grew wide under my domination.

“Of course, sir,” the young boy gave me a polite smile after he’d prepared a key and handed it to me, “It’s 345E. Fifth floor.”

I didn’t bother to thank him and continued on toward the elevator. Impatiently, I pressed the button multiple times before the doors opened. We stepped in and another group of people followed after us. They were laughing loudly and it was giving me a headache.

Once their guffawing died out, the four of them begun to gawk at us and once again, it was probably due to our inhuman features. I wanted to stab their eyes out. I still had the girl's hand but my grip began to loosen as I grew fonder to the idea of ripping out one of their senses.

But of course, Mercury sensed my distress and rested a comforting hand on my shoulder, immediately sending a wave of false calm throughout my body. That was his power. With contact, he was able to make someone of our kind feel whatever he pleased. However, he had yet to figure out how to do it to mortals, because they were not on the same wavelength or whatever it was.

“Oh my God! What did you do to her?!” a small-redheaded woman exclaimed to my left. I glanced back to the chick behind me to see blood spilling out of her mouth.

“Fuck,” I sighed. I quickly created a cover up, “Damn it, Max, did she take her pills this morning?” I asked my brother with a look that shouted go along with it.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think she did.”

“What did I tell you about the importance of her medication?”

As Mercury and I put on a little show, I was slowly gaining control of everyone in the elevator. I sneakily pressed the button for floor three, which we were currently at, so I could kick the others out.

The bell rung and with my silent help, the quartet exited as if they’d seen nothing.

I had moved away from the other two left to be sure that I totally retracted my invisible web of authority.

“So what the fuck is this about?” Mercury inquired, gazing hungrily at the crimson still sputtering from her mouth even after I released her.

I didn’t worry about her regaining power. I chuckled, “It’s nothing…I just oppressed her for too long.”

“So when you don’t let go, they start spitting up blood?”

“Not always, but yeah, it happens…They heat up gradually for some reason, so I started boiling her from the inside, I guess. She’s all right, though. It wasn’t too long.”

“That is the most rad thing I’ve ever heard. Pre-cooked,” he laughed.

I had to admit, that was a funny joke. I smiled despite my mood.

Thankfully the doors slid open. I hastily got out and Mercury decided to pick the girl up and carry her as she was still groggy.

When we found the room, I told him, “Keep it to one bed, please. I’ll be sleeping in there tonight.”

“Aye aye, captain,” he beamed as I unlocked the room.

As soon as he was through, I shut the door and slid down the wall, tucking my knees up.

My mind could only revolve around one thing and it hurt so bad to think about her…but I couldn’t stop.

And I couldn’t explain how much worse hearing what my brother was doing to that girl made it. Every cry of protest, every shriek of pain…

What if that was Marie? I knew it wasn’t her, but what if it had been? I’d have handed my princess over on a silver platter to be raped and fucking eaten alive.

I was so horrid. Sure, it was Mercury who was dining tonight, but I’ve fucking dined, too.

If Marie knew anything about who I really was, she’d hate me. She’d be so afraid. I felt tears gather in my eyes. Crying was so unheard of for me... but a single memory of my little girl could send me into hysterical sobs.

I’d made the right decision leaving, I thought. I wouldn’t even allow myself into the state of Louisiana because that’s where Marie lived.

Being in San Francisco was pushing it.

She could very well be visiting her grandma, and I wouldn’t even know it.

Part of me wanted to stay in Oakland on the off-chance that I might get to see her. I didn’t even need to talk to her. I just wanted to get a look at her, to hear her sweet voice…

But I couldn’t put her in that danger. If Marie had a chance of being somewhere, it was off-limits to me.

I was awoken from my masochistic thoughts when I noticed two police officers running down the hall toward me, “Boy, what’s all that commotion in there about? We got a 911 call about a girlie screaming for help,” the taller cop barked as I roughly wiped at my wet eyes.

I used an insane amount of clairvoyance on them but spoke in a weak voice, “Go away.”

It had immediate effect, “Okay, son. You just give us a call if you need anything,” the shorter one smiled before spinning around and leaving with his partner.

It was just too easy.

It was frighteningly easy, actually.

I was so disturbed by myself that I suddenly had the urge to jump out of the closest window. I wouldn’t die, of course, but I’d feel a lot of fucking pain. And I deserved every ounce of agony that I could get my filthy hands on.

I had started to stand when I heard my brother address me, “Hey, Strychy, I’m all done. You’ll like what I did!” He sounded so excited, but I wanted to throw up. Reluctantly, I finished rising and slid the key in the door. When I opened it, I found a shirtless Mercury in the bathroom to the right, cleaning himself up. I only got a peek of the blood left on his face when he quickly turned his head to smile at me before continuing to wash himself, “You’ll be proud of me,” he sing-songed as I began to make my way toward the bed.

When I passed the corner, I grew weak at the knees.

What was left of her was sickening. All I could see was the vibrant shade of vermillion glistening all over the nearby walls and the sheets.

It was terrifying.

The worst part of it all was that this was something I’d done before. Mercury kept raving about how I’d been so happy with what he did because he was basing his actions off of what he’d learned from me.

“Do you like it? I thought it was a bit artistic,” his smooth voice came closer, and soon enough, he stood by my side.

“Just like your big brother…” I whispered in order to disguise my utter distaste and horror at what I saw in front of me. I patted his back reassuringly prior to informing him that he should take care of his mess so I could sleep.

He nodded happily at me and the bed burst into flames for only a few seconds as he disposed of the remains. As soon as the fire was out, the corrupted bed appeared as good as new.

I stared blankly at the slightly ruffled, white sheets that had been chaotic and red less than a minute before.

“Strych, you’re worrying me. Ever since the alley, you’ve been different. You’re not sorry for killing that broad back there, are you? ‘Cause that is so not you…”

“Nah, I’m all right, man. I’m just tired.”

“I don’t blame you,” Mercury rested a hand on my shoulder, “We miss you at home, y’know.”

“Don’t fucking lie to me. I was a bother and you know it.”

“Not to your siblings. Yeah, maybe to our asshole of a dad, but that’s only ‘cause he’s…an asshole,” he chuckled, “I am actually really glad I was the one picked to collect from you. It’s been way too long.”

I looked at Mercury in the eyes and see the sincerity. Before my dad framed me, Mercury and I were inseparable. He was my best friend…and still was, I supposed. Suddenly, I threw my arms around him and brought him close to whisper, “I missed you.”

He only held me tighter, “We just want you back, Strychnine. And not just for a visit. Nothing’s been right since you left.”

I pulled away after a minute, before any tears surfaced at the first words of real affection were spoken to me by anyone in my family in centuries. The last time I saw them was in the early 1600s, when I’d gotten enough years to be with my family for a single week, which was equivalent to around seven decades in human years. However, this could vary, as my kind's time really has no affiliation to mortal calenders. I'd noticed a pattern in decades on Earth equaling days back at home, but sometimes, days were equal to days. It was a massive clusterfuck. Mercury was here to collect my halfway mark. I’d been gathering for three centuries, and I needed six in total to come home for a visit.

“Cyanide and Mandrake are dying to see you,” I smiled when he mentioned the twins. He continued in a hushed tone, “And Bella misses you something bad, man.”

When he brought up my slut of a sister, Belladonna, I was filled with rage, “You know I don’t give a flying fuck about what she feels.”

“C’mon, Strychnine…Her love for you is fucked up but…that’s just it. She loves you so much. All she talks abut now is how you’re gonna come home to her and how you’ll be together and—”

“She’s a delusional bitch.”

“I know it’s totally gross, but she’s still my baby sister and I want her to be happy. She’s losing her mind, man. When Dad sent me instead of her, she fucking flipped out. All she wants is you.”

“You think I don’t fucking know that, Mercury?! I quite aware that she wants me! I was aware that she wanted me three millennia ago when she started making passes at me. If I go home, I won’t even look her in the eye. Not after what she did to me.”

“Strych--”

“You said it yourself! She’s our baby sister, not my fucking lover, okay? She blackmailed me into fucking her once, and I’ll never stoop that low again. She can’t manipulate me anymore. If she doesn’t want to be a sister to me, than she can’t use the fact that I’m her brother to her advantage.”

“Strychnine…you talk as if this shit doesn’t happen regularly with our kind. You do realize we’re the epitome of evil, right? Poisons are named after our family for a reason, goddamnit!” he laughed without humor, “Incest is nothing compared to some of the things you’ve done.”

“How fucking dare you—”

“Why can’t you just give her a chance?!”

“Because I can’t do that to Marie!” I screamed at him and instantly cover my mouth with frightened eyes.

“What did you just say?” Mercury glared at me questioningly, “Who the fuck is Marie?”

“It’s none of your business…” I whimpered, already defeated.

“The hell it isn’t!” a look of horror then crossed his face, “Don’t tell me you have feelings for a human…”

“Mercury—I …Yes, I love her; I really do, but not like that. I don’t have those kinda feelings for her. I’m not in-love with her…she’s just…nothing has ever meant as much to me before.”

“Are you currently harbored by her? Please tell me you are…” I shook my head in shame. He sighed with exasperation and covered his eyes with both hands, “Strychnine, do you realize what you’ve done? Do you understand the consequences if you are found out?” he breathed.

“Please, Mercury…Please. No one can know about her.” I felt salty tears begin spill down my cheeks. I’d never cried in front of him but I didn’t care. I needed to know he would keep this between us.

He gingerly grabbed my head and held my face. He leaned his forehead against mine, “You’re secret is safe with me, brother.”

I choked in response as I gripped his wrists, “Thank you…thank you,” he kissed my lips, “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, man. I don’t know how she got me as hard as she did, but I couldn’t hurt her. I couldn’t do it. She’s only a little girl…”

“It’s gonna be okay…Just be careful. I don’t want to lose you.”

“I will, I promise,” I sniffled.

He pulled away and looked at me with his bright blue eyes, “Do you have enough years, then? I’m here under the impression you do, but now I doubt it.”

“I’m short two.”

“Good enough,” he wiped at my drying cheeks before leaning close so that our mouths were nearly touching so he could extract the years. What he did was exactly like how he’d killed the bartender earlier. Just that with me, it didn’t even hurt. When he’d finished, I felt much lighter and he pecked both of my cheeks, “I’ll leave you to it, okay? One of us will probably be back in the next decade, but get your years soon in case Bella gets antsy, okay?” I nod, “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Tell the others Strychy says hello, yeah?”

“Will do. I’ll see you soon, right?”

“Right.”

And with another flash of fire, my brother disappeared, leaving me alone in the room.

My eyes flicked to the window and I contemplated my former desire to take a dive out of it, but I shook my head and thought better. With an exhausted sigh, I crawled onto the unused bed and fell into a deep slumber as soon as my head hit the hard pillow.

I needed sleep, but I sure did not need the nightmares.

I only remember seeing big, soft blue eyes filled with terror as I actually got to rest for the first time in months.

I’m so sorry, babygirl…I’m so sorry.