Bryant

It's ten at night and I'm standing on Skigh's front porch. I drove around for few hours trying to work up the courage to come here. I haven't been to this place in years. I don't want to wake Skigh's parents because her father is an angry man and I don't want Skigh to get in trouble. I decide to get her attention from her room. I go to the side of the house where Skigh's bedroom is, her light is on so that means she's awake. I could teleport in her room, but I think that would freak her out, and that's the last thing I need. I decide to throw a rock at her window like they do in those cheesy romance films Tes makes me watch.

I look around for a good size rock to throw and find a little gray one by her driveway. This should get the job done. I chuck it at her window. The little rock hits the window and cracks it! Maybe I should have thought about my strength before I threw that. I'm about to throw another one when I see movement at her window.

The white curtain at her window flies open. Skigh notices the crack and looks down to her yard. She sees me standing there and opens the window.

"Bryant?" I wave at her. "What are you doing? You know you just broke my window, right?" Skigh glares at me.

"I need to talk to you," I tell her. Skigh disappears from her open window and then reappears on her front porch. She is sporting poodle pajama shorts and a tank top.

"Nice outfit," I say, smirking at her.

She puts her hand on her hips and scowls. "I honestly don't care what you think of my pj's."

"I think you look cute," I tell her

"Good for you. You could've just knocked on the door instead of breaking my window." she says to me, and I follow her inside to her room.

"I didn't want to get you in trouble. I know how your dad can be." Skigh turns and looks at me weird. "What?"

"You really don't know, everyone knows." Skigh scoffs. "Well my dad being that way landed him in jail? You don't remember when he beat my mother within an inch of her life? He was ready to do the same thing to me, but the cops showed up after the first punch."

"I didn't know, I'm sorry." Wow, I can't believe that happened and I didn't hear about it.

"You didn't know because you were too busy hating me for no reason! You chose to stay in your own little world and forget about me. You erased me and didn't even tell me why!" Skigh sits at her desk, as far away from me as she can get.

"Anyway after that, my mom blamed herself for my dad beating her and being in prison. Eventually she overdosed on sleeping pills, but not before I got myself emancipated first. That's why my parents aren't here." She looks so fragile sitting there, I just want to holder her and tell her everything is ok. I know part of that want is just the soulmate effect, but the other part is because she's my friend.

"I'm so-"

"If you tell me you're sorry one more time, I'll break your nose." Skigh says while staring daggers at me. Fair enough, sorry can't fix the things that I've done and what she's lost.

"Okay."

"Let's get to the point, we have school tomorrow. What do you need to talk to me about? It better not be something stupid like earlier. I still can't believe you did that, by the way."

"I should've stayed and explained. It's not stupid; I was telling the truth."

Skigh starts to protest. "Let me finish."

"First, I guess I'll have to show you a power of mine so you don't try to interrupt me every five seconds." Skigh stares at me, obviously annoyed.

I walk over to where she's sitting and open a portal to her living room. I step through and gesture for her to follow.

Skigh jumps up. "What the hell?"

I smirk. "It's a portal, to your living room."

"I can see that!" Skigh pokes her finger through the portal. "How did you...?"

I grab her arm and pull her through. Now we're both in her living room. I can hear her heart beating like crazy. I can feel her amazement. I go back into her room and tug Skigh along with me.

"Can you please tell me how you did that and what just happened?" The look on her face is priceless.

I close the portal. "I'm not a human; I'm a Stameion."

"A what? I'm hallucinating, someone must have slipped me drugs at some point today." Skigh falls back on her bed, covering her eyes.

"Sorry to break it to you, but you are not hallucinating." I say seriously as I sit down next to her. She sits up as I sit down.

"So, you have powers? Are you secretly fighting off villains in big cities?" Skigh says sarcastically.

"Yes and no, most Stameions have an extreme dislike for the human species."

"Is that why you don't like me?" Skigh gazes at her feet. I can feel the sadness radiating from her.

I've never noticed how me pushing her away had affected her. She always seemed like it wasn't a big deal. She had me fooled. I should've realized that wasn't the case. Both soulmates feel the pull, the feelings, everything. She's right, I chose to not see her pain. I chose to erase her. I blinded myself so I could forget about her and what happened.

"Skigh, I've always liked you. I never hated you. I just did what I thought I had to do, but I was an idiot."

"Tell me why. Tell me now." Skigh demands

So, I tell her. About Altearis and Stameions. I tell her about Tes and I. Then I tell her about soulmates; I tell her all of it. Skigh listens to everything I say without interruption. A first for her. When I'm finished, she looks shocked and hurt. I'm sure she has a million question so I wait for her to choose one.

"So, the reason you've been treating me like trash for years is because I'm your soulmate and you don't want me?" Skigh asks me, blinking back tears.

"Skigh..." I touch her arm. It startles us both a bit when the electric current travels through our skin.

"I was young and I was afraid of what my family would do if they found out my soulmate was a human. And after you freaked out, I thought you wanted nothing to do with me." It's the truth, I thought she hated me. Or at least that's what I told myself.

"Bryant, I was scared. You literally shocked me. What was I supposed to do? Laugh?" Skigh demands.

"I know I was wrong!" I was dumb, I've already acknowledged that. "It wasn't just my family in Altearis either. I was and I am in love with Tes. I loved both of you, but I knew it would never be possible and now you're both my soulmates. Everything is just so screwy."

"But you didn't know that Tes was your soulmate then?" Skigh questions.

"The way I felt for her was just as strong as it was for you, except I had been feeling it since the day I had first met Tes. With you it was after we touched. Either way, I suppressed my feelings for both of you for your safety."

Skigh takes my hand, setting off a new wave of sparks between us. "Wow," she whispers. The sensation is breathtaking for both of us.

Skigh lets go of my hand. "I've got a confession of my own."

"What is it?"

"I guess it's kind of a given because of the soulmate thing, but I love you. I feel weird saying it and I never understood how, after all the fighting, I could love you. There were days when I just wanted to beg for you to stop hating me just so I could be around you. I know it's pathetic." Skigh looks up at me with her big brown eyes, she's embarrassed.

"I wish that I had done things differently. If I wasn't so stupid, I would've been your friend, been there for you through everything like I was for Tes. There's a lot more painful things in life than fighting back these soulmate urges. Acting like I hated you was a wimp's way out." I hang my head in shame. Knowing how bad I hurt Skigh is destroying me. One power that I'd love to have over all the ones I already have, would be the ability to go back and change the things I've done.

"I forgive you Bryant and I know you're with Tes now. So, even though I'm head over heels for you; I'm going to respect your relationship. Tes is my best friend and I would never intentionally hurt her." I can see the pain clear as day on Skigh's face as she says this and I respect her so much more for it. She's an incredibly strong person.

"I'm glad you forgive me and I'm glad you're handling this so well. Tes and I are lucky to have you in our lives."

"We're all lucky to have each other." Skigh corrects me. I agree, there's always been times where one of us held the other up during rough patches.

"I should go, it's getting late." I stand up.

Skigh stays on the bed. "Yeah, so...I'll see you tomorrow at school?"

"I'll be there." I stand there awkwardly then turn to leave.

"Wait!" Skigh leaps up and hugs me. I'm a little surprised at first, but then I gather her in my arms. Holding her is exhilarating; it's everything I knew it would be. Everything I've been pushing away for the past couple of years, comes rushing back. I never want to end this hug, then it does.

Skigh pulls away from me. "Goodnight Bryant."

"Goodnight Skigh." Leaving her hurts more than it ever has. I'll have to get used to it; we're going to be around each other a lot now.

I'm just getting in my car when I receive a telepathic message.

'Hey bro.' It's Scarlet. 'Seems like there's something fun going on at your place.'

'What are you talking about?' Something fun? That doesn't make sense.

'Tes and Ron having a little extra-curricular fun.'

'WHAT?' I scream mentally.

I hope she's not talking about what I think she is. I know Tes has no experience with pushing back the feelings and urges that come with having a soulmate, but I didn't think she'd sleep with him.

'Hey don't shoot the messenger!" Scar says, I know she's thrilled that Tes might've done something wrong.

I speed off in my car. I shouldn't automatically think the worst, it's just Tes is new to this whole soulmate situation. Ron is new to having one too, so I'm worried. My knuckles are white as I squeeze the steering wheel so tight that it starts to rip. I loosen my grip; I don't want to hurt this beautiful baby, I mean car. I pull into to my driveway and sit for a second. I'm afraid of what I'll see when I go in there. Bad vibes are flowing through me.

I walk inside and the TV is playing old infomercials. I shut the TV off and head into the spare room. No one is in there. I go upstairs and stand outside of my bedroom. I can hear breathing from two people inside. They didn't? Not in my room. Tes wouldn't, would she?

I cross the threshold into my room. Tes and Ron are in my bed sleeping together. Ron's arms are around Tes, and his shirt is off. I feel like a giant hole has been carved out of my chest. How could they? How could Tes betray me like that after we just gave ourselves to each other? Rage courses through my veins and my body glows blue.

"What is this?" I scream like a maniac, causing Tes and Ron to both wake up. Ron is wearing a guilty expression on his face; something is up.

I turn the light on. Tes looks up at me terrified and then looks at Ron as if she just realized he was there, and she pushes his arms off. Ron puts his hands up.

"Look Bryant, this is definitely not what it looks like. I swear, bro," Ron says, getting up from the bed. I'm going to kill him, that backstabbing piece of dirt! What makes him think that any of this is ok? He was in my bed with my girlfriend. My mind is all over the place right now. This can't be happening.

"It sure as hell looks like what I'm thinking!" What would any other guy think when his girlfriend is in bed with a shirtless guy? My hands start to heat up.

"Bryant, we were just sleeping, that's all. I promise," Ron says.

"Why were you sleeping in my bed together?" My fury is taking over completely.

Tes starts to say something, but I've heard enough. I lift my hand up, which is glowing blue with the fire that is about to come out. I aim at Ron and release, but the next thing I see is Tes run in the line of fire. My fire immediately dies, but it's too late. I hear a blood curdling scream from Tes.

I run over to her, and she is on the ground. I almost puke at what I see. The inside of Tes's right arm and part of her belly have been burned to the muscle. I let my anger overtake me, if Tes hadn't gotten in the way then this would be Ron and it wouldn't hurt any less.

"Get away from her! You did this! All because you couldn't listen" Ron screams at me. He tries to block me and I give him a look that makes him rethink that decision. Tes is still my girlfriend, I didn't hurt her on purpose. How dare he act like I would?

I don't leave though; I stay right there. She is passed out right now. This makes me go back to when I didn't get to her in time when she first came to Altearis. Except this time, I hurt her. I hurt Tes. She is going to heal, but I will never forgive myself. I'm constantly hurting the people I love. Tears run down my face, please don't hate me Tes.

Ron and I stay with her the rest of the night, not talking to one another once. I'm still furious with him, and he's still furious with me. If Tes didn't jump in the way would I have stopped? I almost killed my cousin; my family. Ron is more than my cousin in all honesty. My only sibling was Scar and believe it or not, she used to be an extreme girly girl. When I was home in Altearis I grew up with Ron. We always played together and then hung out when we got older.

"Bryant." Ron finally speaks up. "Tes had no idea I was there. I climbed in after she fell asleep, it was a stupid thing to do. I just felt like I needed to be with her. The only thing that happened between us was that we kissed, but she pushed me away and ended it." They kissed? My head hurts just thinking about it. I know Tes loves me and I know how being around your soulmate can make you lose control. I can't blame them for the kiss, though I am still angry.

"We are still together, Ron, stay the hell away from her." Ron clenches his fists but doesn't reply.

At about five in the morning, Tes begins to stir. Ron glances at me and then returns his gaze to her. I slide down the blanket from her arm and stomach to see how it's healing. There's a scar going down her arm and an identical one on her stomach. They are enormous. Tes is fully awake now and is looking at Ron. When Tes looks at me it is clear she is still terrified.

"Get away from me!" Tes shouts. This is exactly what I was afraid of. How do I even get her to forgive me for this? I'm not sure she will, the look on her face makes me cry. Nothing I've ever felt has hurt like this.

"Tes-" I start to say.

"Get out! Get out!" Tes is freaking out. "You're a monster!"

That's the last thing I hear from Tes as I run as far as I can get. I open a portal into Altearis and run without a destination. Its dawn, but it's still dark. I slow down, noticing that something doesn't feel right. I stop completely and stare into the woods. I can't see anyone. Someone is following me though; I can hear their footsteps. Why would anyone be following me? A sudden a flash of green light whips by. Tes?

"Tes!" I shout into the darkness.

"Not quite," a voice whispers from the trees. The voice is unfamiliar and unsettling. I'm knocked out cold before I have the chance to see where it came from.

I wake, it seems hours later, in a dimly lit area. It looks like a rusted-out boiler room. There are no windows, and the air is damp. I get on my feet and realize I'm chained to the wall by my hands. I try to break the cuffs, but every time I yank on them it seems to drain my power. Where am I? I can't sense anyone I know, so I'm not in Altearis or the human realm.

A door opens, and a man walks in. The man turns to face me, and my jaw almost drops. This guy looks about Tes's age and looks exactly like her; same eyes, same facial features, same everything. Who is this?

"Hello Bryant." The man smiles and walks around me.

"Who are you? How do you know my name?" I know asking questions is pointless, I don't think this is going to end well.

"You'll know soon enough."

"What do you want?" I plead with him.

"From you? Nothing. We just had to get you out of the picture. It was easier than I thought." The man chuckles.

"Why?"

"I want your soulmate Tes." His expression turns to one of disgust.

"How do you know about her? What do you want with her?" Fear kicks in for Tes. She hasn't even used any of her powers yet, how is she supposed to protect herself.

"I want to drain every drop of blood from her body, slowly and painfully. I want her dead." The man smiles in my face.

"I'll kill you if you touch her! Don't go near her! Leave her –" The man turns swiftly and smashes my head with a boulder. I pass out, again.

b