The once bright-blue sky had now turned into a dirty grey color as clouds littered across the stratosphere. Small droplets of ice-cold water fell from the clouds in a calming, rhythmic manner. However, despite the tranquil effect the climate provided, Ethan's heart was far from calm.

    His hands were clammy and tightly clenched up. His nails dug into his skin, creating a couple of red, crescent-shaped marks against his pale skin. The pain Ethan felt coming from his hands provided him clarity of the situation; everything that just happened is real.

    "Ethan! Are you even listening to me?!" a shrill voice exclaimed.

    Finally coming to his senses, Ethan turned to look at his ever-aging mother. Her skin was as pale as a cat's pure white fur because of her long-term disease. Her lifeless-brown eyes filled to the brim with disappointment.

    Ah, disappointment. When was the last time he saw that look in his mother's eyes? Ethan shook away his thoughts before smiling sadly. "Mother, I missed you while I was away. Didn't you miss me?"

"Don't you dare talk back to your mother, Ethan. You owe your life to her," Ethan's father spoke up without forgetting to send Ethan a sharp stare that served as a warning.

    Ethan's life has always been like this. Being belittled over and over again. The endless cycle of self-hate and not being able to accept himself because he was the disappointment of the family and because of his curse. He's the unwanted child of the family; the ugly duckling.

    Tears were threatening to escape Ethan's bright brown eyes. He shook his head as he awkwardly faked a smile. Staring into his parent's eyes, he noticed a strange gleam in their eyes.

    "Fear... that's how you look at me. Eyes filled with fear and ridicule."

    Ethan's parents did a double-take, their eyes doubling in size. Reacting quickly upon the situation, his father stood up straighter and stared at Ethan in an attempt to intimidate him. Unfortunately for them, it was too late. Ethan had changed the few years he'd been away.

    His mother didn't seem to notice the slight changes in Ethan's temperament and kept on pestering him. "I don't care if you want to become a painter and paint your life away like some useless snob. However, you should still keep your parents in mind and marry Elisabetta. This would do the family some good."

    Ethan shook his head trying to dispel any unnecessary thoughts. He took a step closer to his parents and noticed how they flinched and how their eyes hardened. While his family might gain immense power and wealth by marrying him off to Elisabetta Rosa, a girl who is exactly his own age, that wasn't the main reason why they were doing this. They wanted to be safe- safe from his powers.

    That is also the reason he was sent away for five years. To learn how to control his unwanted powers. You see, Ethan is a necromancer. He has the power to communicate with the dead, to summon their spirit, and to bring them back to "life". This is why his parents tried their best to keep him under their control; to prevent any unwanted accidents.

    Despite his parent's rude treatment towards him, Ethan still held onto the hope that one day his parents will look at him with eyes full of love and warmth. While it might be a far-fetched idea, he still had the right to dream.

    "Don't worry. I'll think about it."

    "Why don't you just accept it? My parents will never accept you or your deadly curse."

    Ethan grimaced as Fausta's honeyed voice rang out. No one was by his side. However, maybe his family will be more keen on accepting him if he marries Elisabetta... Turning to look at Fausta, Ethan smiled coldly. The sudden chilliness didn't seem to bother Fausta, rather, she was already used to it.

    Fausta turned to walk away, her blonde locks swaying softly against the wind. She looked at Ethan from the corner of her eye, her brown eyes shining deviously. "Be careful about what you step on, little brother. You will drag quite the baggage."

__________

"Ethan, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Of course it has. Its been 5 years, Zekke."

"I missed you."

Ethan stared into Ezekiel's dark brown eyes. The man that was standing in front of him hadn't changed at all from when they last met. Same dark brown eyes that were always shrouded in mystery, same tanned skin, and same messy red hair.

Ezekiel outstretched his hand, but Ethan shied away from his touch. Ezekiel frowned, his eyes filling up with desperation, frustration, and a bit of understanding. "They told you, didn't they?"

Eyes full of pain and hesitation, Ethan nodded. "I'm sorry, but you know how important this is to me. This marriage, even if I don't want it, it's the only thing I can do to gain their love and support."

Ezekial forcefully held Ethan's wrist. His eyes full of sadness, he said, "I know, Ethan. That's the problem..."

"I know how much you want their love. Still, they can't just force you to marry Elisabetta."

"They aren't forcing me. I'm doing this because I love them. Please understand this."

"No," Ezekiel shook his head and let go of Ethan's wrist. "I won't understand it. After everything they did to you. Every little insult and all of the violence you had to endure. You have the audacity to expect me to understand what you feel towards them. Let me say this once, Ethan. I love you. I can't stand watching you wasting your life away just to please those maniacs you call family!"

After Ezekiel's confession, he turned around and stomped off, leaving Ethan all alone to ponder over what just happened. Was this really the same Ezekiel he knew from back then? The understanding, impatient, and aloof Ezekiel had gained something during the time Ethan was away.

__________

    A whole new day filled with a bright and sunny sky and cheerful chirping birds greeted the painter. Ethan closed his eyes and breathed in the earthy scent of his surroundings as his hands moved the brush across the canvas in an expert manner. Footsteps echoed behind him, yet he didn't move.

    "Good afternoon, Ethan. How are you?"

    "Don't beat around the bush. What is it that you want, Elisabetta?"

He stopped the movements of his hands and tured around. Behind him was a woman that possessed unparalleled beauty and charm. The way she carried herself with eloquence captured the attention of many men. However, only fools aren't able to see the never-ending darkness that that woman possesses.

    "I see that you don't wish to waste any time. If this is your wish, then I shall grant it."

    Elisabetta's gentle hazel eyes were now chilling cold. However, her smile still held the same fake warmth it had always possessed.

    "I'm sure you already spoke to your parents. Marry me, Ethan. If you do so, you'll be surrounded by unimaginable beauty and wealth. I'm also offering you protection against those that are after your powers."

    Ethan kept quiet. He never needed any beauty or wealth in his life. He only ever longed for the warmth he was never given.

    Shaking his head, Ethan turned to look at his unfinished painting. From another person's perspective, the painting was only mess of colors being randomly splattered around the canvas. However, this painting possessed all of his unspoken emotions. The blue represented the calmness Ethan had yet to receive. Black (representing desolation) and white (representing purity) spiraling all across the painting, together forming the color gray that expressed the confusion he currently felt about his situation. Not to mention the small specks of gold that represented the happiness he wanted to hold.

    Elisabetta stood behind the quiet man, her patience wearing thin. Despite this, she still held composure and her bewitching warm smile. Her delicate arms wrapped themselves around Ethan's neck as her lips neared his ear.

    "You try your best to receive love and warmth. This is the only way you can get what you want. Follow me. Let me use you and I'll become yours both body and mind."

    "Let Ethan go, you slimy witch! Don't you dare manipulate him to do your bidding!"

    Ezekiel had arrived at the nick of time, his tanned face flushed red as he gasped for air. He could see as his sister was taking out her magical cards with hidden intentions. To protect Ethan, Ezekiel used the magic he hated so much. Turning half human and half arachnid, Ezekiel released a silk-like string from his hand and was able to snatch the card from Elisabetta's hand.

    Upon closer inspection, the card revealed itself to hold a manipulative charm. His now spider-like eyes narrowed as he crushed the card in his hand and glaring towards his sister. Elisabetta stared at him coldly, her warm smile now replaced with a straight face.

    "What are you doing, brother? Why are you interrupting the heated conversation between us fiancés?" A sly smile appeared on Elisabetta's face as she turned to look at Ezekiel's glaring eyes. "Aw, did you just turn into the thing you hate the most to protect my beloved? Thank you for holding such pure and noble thoughts towards my fiancé, Zekke."

    Ezekiel scoffed at Elisabetta's remark. However, despite confronting his sister, his eyes were currently glued on Ethan, making sure he was okay. Unfortunately, Ethan's deep, black eyes were distant and held no life whatsoever. This caused Ezekiel to worry greatly.

    "You don't deserve to call me Zekke, Elisabetta. Unfortunately for you, that's not the reason I came," said Ezekiel as his eyes narrowed towards Elisabetta's direction. "You don't have the right to choose who Ethan should marry."

    "Oh? And you do?"

    Elisabetta smiled towards Ezekiel before shaking her head. "You have no idea how the world works, Zekke. You were sheltered and spoiled by mother and father. Let your sister take care of this situation."

    "Spoiled my ass! I might not know how the world functions, but at the very least I know Ethan and genuinely love him."

    With Ezekiel's comment, Ethan managed to 'wake up'. He didn't move a single muscle in his body in order to avoid the siblings' fight. While Ezekiel and Elisabetta kept arguing about who was the best choice for Ethan, Ethan thought about his next decision. Should he marry Elisabetta, the beautiful woman who could help him achieve his dream? Should he marry Ezekiel, the aloof yet understanding man who has been by his side ever since he could remember?

    "I don't want Ethan to marry you. I love him, Elisabetta. However, if he decides on marrying you, then I shall respect his decision. Until then, I will fight until the very end to completely win his heart," said Ezekiel, his voice cracking slightly at the thought of forever losing the person he loves.

    After hearing his confession, Ethan decided he has had enough. With tears flowing down his cheeks, he stood up and took three steps away from Elisabetta. The siblings stared at Ethan with eyes full of surprise.

    Staring into Ezekiel's eyes, he began, "I can't take this anymore. I long for my family's love and warmth, but I can't break your heart. Zekke, I also love you. I love you so much that words can't express how dear you are to me. Not even a painting can hold a fraction of what I feel for you."

    Elisabetta turned to glare at Ezekiel. "Well, it seems like you have won, brother. What a shame. I was expecting a fun and beautiful competition."

    "No," Ezekiel choked out, tears threatening to escape. He knew what Ethan planned to do. "My heart still hasn't completely reached his yet."

    Ethan smiled sadly while walking towards Ezekiel. He gently planted a kiss on Ezekiel's shaking lips before walking away. "Please forgive me..."

    With each step Ethan took, an undead person crawled from the ground and held onto Ezekiel's and Elisabetta's ankle. This prevented them from running towards Ethan to bring him back.

    "No! Ethan, don't leave... goddammit!"

    Both Ezekiel and Elisabetta fought together to eliminate the undead Ethan had summoned. Elisabetta gracefully pulled out her cards and chanted quietly before releasing powerful attacks. Ezekiel, on the other hand, tactfully trapped and beheaded the undead.

    After finishing off their enemies, the siblings looked at each other. Ethan was now long gone.

    "I'm guessing this means war. Right, Zekke?"

    Ezekiel nodded silently as Elisabetta walked away from him. He stared at the painting Ethan had left behind, the paint is still wet. He has always been the only person that has been able to correctly decipher what Ethan's paintings meant. Walking towards the work of art left behind by Ethan, he stared at all of the colors that have been included in the beautiful pictures.

    Blue, gray, white, black, and gold. Those were the most prominent colors. However, if you really paid attention, you would be able to notice a hint of red.

    "Love..." Ezekiel whispered into the wind as he gently picked up the canvas, a small but warm smile blooming from his face. He would surely find Ethan before his sister could, even if it meant risking what little he had.