"Don't eat anything he gives you, Bella," I pleaded.
Jadyn laughed as he set it down on the table, "Sit Preston, eat with your brother."
I didn't move.
He glared at me "I said sit."
He pointed his hand at me.
My body froze as a tingling feeling took over, I felt myself lift into the air. I didn't scream, I refused to.
"Please put him down Jadyn," Bella whimpered.
"Of course," Jadyn soothed.
I dropped to the floor at my spot at the table.
I scowled but he was too busy gazing at Bella expectantly, "Won't you try some?" His voice had changed to be more gentle. His old voice.
Bella gingerly took a bite of his food, "It's good Jadyn."
He smiled at her indulgently, "Only the best for my Bella."
I growled at that statement. But Jadyn was content to ignore me for now.
I lifted my fork but allowed my food to fall into my lap. I reckoned my food might be poisoned.
"Preston, how's your food?" He drawled, not even looking at me.
His eyes followed Bella's fork.
I didn't answer, noticing he hadn't eaten a bite of his food.
He turned to me, "You're not eating, Preston," he said lowly, then burst out laughing. "You haven't changed one bit."
"That makes one of us," I snapped.
His laughter died, his eye glowing brighter.
"You dare insult me?" He said, his voice rising.
I was silent. With impossible speed, his hand slapped across my cheek. The pain was hot, and I instantly attempted to retaliate, reaching out for him.
I was frozen with my fist drawn back, victim to his power. He looked at me, his eyes wild.
"Don't you get it, Preston? I'm in charge and in control! Not you! Me." His eyes were crazed, at that moment I saw the same look he had worn the night he tried to kill me.
That night was vivid in my memory. There were no screams, no warning. Jadyn had come home from a day trip, an awfully long one. He had a vacant look in his eyes, but nothing too unusual for him. He often seemed to exist only in his head. I wish I could have seen that he had changed.
He spent that whole dinner gazing at Bella. Just like he was now.
"You can try to control me, Jadyn, but you'll never get what you want," I snarled.
"Oh, Preston. I already have." He motioned to Bella. Her eyes were closed, her head slumped, her chest rising and falling peacefully. She was deeply sleeping, oblivious to the world.
I screamed, how could I be so foolish! I struggled against my invisible bonds.
"How dare you!" I roared.
He laughed at my struggles throwing his head back. Then after composing himself, he strolled over and gently picked Bella up.
"You're gonna have to do better than that, brother," He teased, stroking her hair affectionately.
He carefully plucked my flower from Bella's hair. He crumpled it in his fist then opened his hand, letting the petals scatter to the ground.
I fell to the floor, landing on my knees hard. The wood beneath me buckled.
Jadyn set Bella gently down behind him. Her head lolled sickeningly on the floor.
"It's just you and me now! Come on, take a shot," Jadyn said, arms open. "Show me your power, Preston."
I ran at him, fueled by rage. He stayed perfectly still. I jumped into the air, aiming for his face. He caught my fist in mid-air, and an expression of glee spread across his face as he threw me to the floor.
I hit the ground hard, my breath leaving me in a rush. I gasped for air.
He stepped closer, standing over me, "You've become weak."
He smiled, beginning to walk around me in a circle. "I'll never understand why they favoured you," He stopped behind me, "Sure, you were a little smarter. A little faster. They always said you were the better of the pair." He came around to face me. "The better of the pair! Ha."
I struggled to get up.
Jadyn continued, "But now look at us. You're helpless, Preston. You're just a kid on the floor. And I, I am a lord. I am a ruler."
"Our parents were right about you Jadyn," I shouted.
His face contorted with rage. "They are dead so what does it matter, I win!"
"You killed them!" I screamed.
"They were weak. You were in my way then Preston and you're in my way now," He fumed at me.
"You coward!" I screamed, "They loved us both."
That night everything changed. I awoke to see him over me, a knife poised to plunge into my chest. I'll never forget the coldness in his eyes. He looked inhuman. He meant to kill me right then.
In a moment of fear and adrenaline, I kicked him, hard. He grabbed for me, we tumbled, and the knife went flying. That was when we heard Bella wake up.
Jadyn hesitated. Jadyn never fought in front of her, never. We both ran for her. I grabbed Jadyn from behind, pulling him so he slammed into the wall.
"How dare you," he hissed.
He had stopped running and began to shake, his hands clutching his head. I grabbed Bella while she groaned, confused and half-asleep. Jadyn continued to shake as the roof began to cave under the stress of his uncontrolled power. I leapt out the window, holding her tightly to my chest.
As I fell I thought I heard him say my name. We rolled down the slight slope as the house collapsed behind us. Both our parents died in one swift action.
I felt tears running down my face, "They were good parents Jadyn."
He scowled, "I meant to kill you then Preston, but because of you our parents are dead."
"I didn't collapse a roof," I replied, my tears flowing.
"You made me do it," He said calmly. Way too calmly. I started to back away from him. "I think I'd like to finish the job now." He pulled out a knife. "Finish it the way we started."