Chapter 20

“Cloe, are you ok?” I asked when she only nodded. I tried to explain. “I noticed that when we did the exercises last time, the amount of strain you had was far less than I had. I spent all day trying to figure out why. Finally, I figured that it had to do with emotions, as we both know power can be tied to our emotions.” Sitting down, Cloe could only nod. “I figured you could go to a calm place a lot easier than me, so I concentrated as hard as I could and went to as calm a place as I could. I only felt strain once. Then it was gone. I only stopped because I was tired. It was a first for me.” Cloe was again only nodding her head, staring at me with wide eyes.

“I am scared, Tyrome. I have never seen or felt a jump like this, and you know the old human saying power corrupts absolute power corrupts absolutely. I guess I am afraid that it will happen to you,” the tears started then, an almost unending stream. “My god, Tyrome, I just found you, and we are perfect together. I know that I still have a few issues, but they are minor compared to this. Please, Tyrome, you are all that is left of my father, and you have been trying to find me for so long. Please don’t go away, please.”

I held her close and started to rub her back and shoulders. Feeling her sigh, I grasped her ass and pulled her tighter into me. Damnit! This was no time to be thinking of her tight ass! Though I couldn’t help it, it was there, it was tight, and for now, it was mine, shit just feeling her backside was sending shock waves through me. Shaking my head, I once again gave in to my common sense (I needed to kick his ass sometime). Kissing Cloe tenderly, I almost fell back on the bed. Crap, I was tired and hadn’t been this tired in several centuries now.

“Tyrome!” I heard her shout as I felt the sweet darkness start to take me.

“I’ll be alright,” I heard the words come out of my mouth though they were slurred and not exactly what I meant to say. “I ... I just need rest,” I went on then finally surrendered to the darkness. I felt myself drifting through the dreamscape then I felt a powerful presence.

“So you thought you could get away from me, huh?” I heard Cedric’s voice in the distance,” “this ought to be fun! After I torture you for a few hours, it should be simple to beat your pathetic ass! Ummm? Ah! I see you have increased even more! So you finally discovered the path to higher and faster increase. Enjoy that small victory, and when I take all of you, I will be complete!” Laughing like the maniacal, power-hungry being he was, he decided to torture me some more.

“I have a friend of yours here,” he suddenly stated.

It was a moment before I heard my sister’s sweet, innocent voice, “Tyrome? Is that really you? Please, Tyrome, kill Cedric so we can all rest because he has been torturing us for a long time, and I am all that is left of the family. Please...”

“Shut the hell up, you pathetic little bitch! You aren’t worthy of the Greenstick name!” Cedric shouted at her.

“Hey asshole,” I shouted and then reached out to where I felt Cedric was squeezing. I heard him start to scream, and then I put everything I had into it. Still screaming, I felt him start to withdraw, holding on. I felt our sister’s energy and held on as he began to wither and wrench as hard as he could. Smiling, I grasped even harder. I had an idea, but I wasn’t sure that the newfound strength I had would be enough. Screaming even louder, I felt him try to blast me with energy, but without her, it seemed he was distracted. Finally, I pulled as hard as I could, and I felt my sister’s personality rip away from him. As he let out a long, piercing scream, I could only smile. I had her at least; maybe she could get the rest she truly deserved.

“Don’t think you’ve won, you sorry piece of shit! You took her, but you’ll never get the others! Especially with the power Father had, I will gladly use it to finally crush you and take what I should have had that day!” Then I felt him withdraw far faster than he’d entered the dreamscape.

It was a moment before I heard and felt my sister. What?! I thought I had freed her. What the hell was going on? [Eluria?] I thought, [you are inside me? Why I thought I freed you.]

Still in the dreamscape, Eluria appeared before me, [Dear, sweet brother, you did free me, but I had to take shelter to keep from being recaptured by him. Unfortunately, when you grabbed a hold of me and pulled me free, you also pulled me into your body.] Eluria explained to me. [I am so proud of you brother. The things you have done to protect both worlds have earned you many special gifts that you will soon be given.]