“I . . . I wanna hit somethin’,” Nev said. The wordless grief was swiftly turning to rage. Why him? Why his son? Why was all this happening and why couldn’t he stop it?
“Then hit me,” Brian said.
Nev stopped, not sure he’d heard right. “What?”
“Go ahead. Hit me,” Brian said, raising his chin defiantly. “Dr. B’s right there. He can fix me up later. Go ahead. I know you want to.”
Nev’s breathing quickened at the quiet fire in Brian’s eyes. “I c-can’t. I’ll kill you.”
Brian chuckled. “I’ve been dead before. Go ahead.”
Nev growled. Was Brian out of his mind? “No. It ain’t gonna help anythin’. Just make me feel worse.”
“Nev. Go ahead.”
Nev stuck out his chin. So Brian wanted to play stubborn, did he? “No. I can’t an’ I won’t.”
Brian’s eyes narrowed as he continued to gaze steadily at Nev, obviously trying to decide whether to provoke the Mike clone any further.
~*~
Ari leaned in. “What is he doing?” he whispered, nodding at Brian as the Mike and Peter clones tried to stare each other down.
“I think he’s trying to give Nev an outlet,” Dr. B replied. “He knows Nev’s upset, and he’s trying to give him a way to vent his anger and fear.”
“Would it not make more sense to give him an object to destroy?”
Dr. B shrugged. “It would, but Brian doesn’t think like that.”
Ari shifted his weight, tossing his long hair over his shoulder. “I do not think he understands what he is doing. Nev’s temper is formidable—especially when he possesses Lady Mich’s powers.” Even though it was impossible to tell when Nev had Mich’s strength and speed, with their active love life it was usually a good bet that he did.
“I think he understands it. I think he’s more worried about Nev than he is about himself. And Brian wasn’t lying. He has been dead before. He’s one of the more resilient clones around here.”
Ari nodded. “I cannot allow Nev to hurt him. I hope Brian understands that.”
Dr. B tilted his head to the warrior clone. “Why? What would you do?”
“Either place a shielding spell around Brian or a freezing spell upon Nev.”
“But wouldn’t that deplete you?”
Ari raised an eyebrow. “Deplete?”
“Drain you.”
“No. It takes many many spells to accomplish that.”
“Oh. I see.”
~*~
Nev shook his head. “Brian, I appreciate the thought, but I ain’t gonna hit you. Period.”
Brian sighed heavily, backing down. “All right. But I wish I knew some way to help somebody around here.”
“You did. Now we at least know what’s wrong with him. We didn’t until you came along.”
Brian snorted. “Some help.”
Nev put a hand on Brian’s shoulder. “Yeah. some help.”
Brian shrugged. Deciding that Nev’s brief show of emotion had passed, he turned his attention back to Dante, probing the boy very gently to try and get a sense of how he was doing.
The landscape of Dante’s mind had changed. The fierce, violent storm had calmed somewhat, and the rage had changed into a profound sense of bewilderment, like a small child lost in public who has no idea where his parents are.
((Dante? Are you all right?)) Brian asked gently, careful not to prod too sharply lest Dante hit him with more dark power.
The voice that responded was small and weak, so soft that Brian had to strain to hear it. ((Who’s that? Who’re you? What? Where am I?))
((It’s me, Brian . . . and you’re home, with your mom and dad . . . ))
((Brian? No, you’re Peter . . . you killed my mom and dad! Why’d you hurt them? I don’t understand! I want my parents!)) The voice was no longer shaking with rage, but searing with hurt and abandonment.
((They’re right here with you. And I’m not Peter. I’m trying to help you. And he’s trying to hurt you. Your mom and dad are worried, Dante . . . they want you back . . . ))
Brian could feel the frustration surge through Dante, sparking off more strands of anger. ((But I saw them die! I watched it! And he keeps trying to . . . he lies! And it hurts! It . . . it hurts . . . ))
Brian winced as Dante’s emotions stabbed into him. ((I know it hurts . . . and he does lie.)) Concentrating, he opened himself completely to Dante. ((Here. Look and tell me if I’m Peter or not.))
((You’re . . . you’re not him . . . Help me, Brian! He keeps trying to take me! I can’t fight him! He won’t leave me alone!))
Brian suppressed a small surge of joy. Dante finally recognized him! ((All right, Dante . . . how can I help you?))
Before Dante could respond, a ghostly voice spoke, purring with evil and familiar instantly to Brian’s ears as the same voice that emerged from his throat when he spoke. ((You’re too late. He’s mine.)) Brian tried in vain to find the source of the voice, but it was elusive, seeming to emanate from the center of the storm in Dante’s mind.
((No, he isn’t. I’m here now, and I won’t LET you take him.))
The voice laughed coldly. ((SHE could not defeat me . . . how can you?))
((She did defeat you. And so will I.))
((She did not. I will return for her . . . but the child is mine. NOW.))
Though he could not see or hear anything that was happening outside of Dante’s mind, he felt his own body stiffen, his chest sticking out. ((NO.))
Dante’s voice broke through his concentration. ((Mom? MOM! She’s here! She’s not dead!))
((That’s right. She isn’t.))
With a furious roar Dante turned on the evil voice. ((YOU LIED! You didn’t kill her!))
Brian retreated, stepping out of the way as Dante pulled up several mammoth strands of dark power, binding them together before launching them at the evil presence with every bit of his strength, his soul-ripping scream echoing through Brian’s head. The voice screamed as well, in horrible agony, then was silent. The firestorm went with it, quieting and calming before leaving a silence behind that was almost frightening.
((Dante? Have we . . . won?)) Brian asked softly, afraid to disturb the sudden quiet.
((I don’t know. I think so . . . )) Dante said. His mental voice—identical to his physical one—was much deeper than it should have been. It certainly was not the voice of a nine year-old.
((Uhm . . . how old are you now?))
((I don’t know. Older.))
((Do you think you can come back to all of us in the room? Your mom and dad and everyone?))
((Sure thing, Bri.))
On to Seven
Back to Five
Back To Mich’s Universe
