"You’re leaving!" Emily exclaid, her unfortunate tantrum drawing the attention of many in the restaurant she was currently in alongside Douglas.
Feeling rather awkward with the stares thrown their way, Douglas offered a muffled apology to everyone as they turned away before shifting his attention back to Emily who had clearly understood her blunder.
"Are you calm?" Douglas questioned with Emily pouting her lips in response.
Letting out a sigh, Douglas continued. "It’s not like I’m going away forever. It’s an important matter and so I’ll be going away for a while, but don’t worry, once I’m done with the mission, I’ll hurry down here for a visit."
"No, that just won’t do. You can’t leave here all by myself with that crazy old man."
"Now, now, Emily, Arthur is a very nice man and you’ve been living with him for quite so ti."
"Hmmph, it doesn’t matter and anyway, you can’t just leave like this. If you go, who’s going to teach ..." Trailing off, Emily looked around to ensure no one was paying attention before leaning in to whisper. "mysticism?"
Her innocent question was t with a frown from Douglas as he remarked.
"What are you talking about?"
"What?... Do you think only you and Alex get to have fun?... I want in too. So you have to stay and teach ." Emily remarked with her nose in the air, feeling rather proud about her words only to feel a chill causing her to drop her gaze down to et Douglas’s own.
Needless to say, Douglas was less than pleased as he glared at her. "Do you think this is a joke, Em?"
"... What’s wrong, Douglas?" Emily inquired, feeling rather uncomfortable with the stare she got. "Did I say sothing wrong?"
"Wrong?... Em, do you really think that what I... and Alex are up against is fun?"
"I... I don’t know, it’s just..."
"It’s just nothing!" Douglas bellowed, causing Emily to hold her tongue.
Yet again, stares were drawn but this ti Douglas could care less as he dropped so money on the table before grabbing Emily’s hand and leading her out of the restaurant and into a dark alley where he was sure no one was lurking.
However, to ensure he wouldn’t be caught out, he exerted his will on the world to create a space where no noise got out
Taking a deep breath to calm the anger rising in his heart, Douglas began. "Mysticism is not fun, Em, you have to understand that. I didn’t choose how I am, I was born this way and would you like to tell you how Alex and I beca your brothers?"
Emily pursed her lips, having already known that Douglas and Alex weren’t her biological brothers.
She’d always wondered what happened to their parents.
It would seem the answer was now before her and worst of all, it was delivered in the least way she’d have expected; from an angry Douglas.
"Right now, Alex..." Douglas hesitated as his eyes flickered with strong emotions, his breathing uneven.
Realizing his failures, Douglas nearly lost his cool, thankfully, he was sensible to utilize Evernight as a ans to calm himself.
Letting out a sigh, Douglas continued. "Would you like to know why Alex hasn’t co to see you yet?"
"..." Emily stayed silent, unwilling to accept that her annoying brother Alex couldn’t see her and that it wasn’t because he decided not to as she’d always thought.
"Alex is... he is in a critical state." Douglas lied as he couldn’t bear the thought of telling Emily that the real Alex was already dead.
No, even if he was disappointed in her juvenile delusions, he couldn’t completely crush her like that.
This would be enough to ensure she remained on the right track... away from the mystical dangers of the world.
Let him deal with everything else.
So with that in mind, Douglas explained. "Mysticism isn’t all fun and gas, Em, and I need you to understand that."
Still silent, Emily managed a slow nod, her expression revealing the turmoil within.
She chided herself for being so naive. How could great power not co with consequences?
It was a simple theory that everything has rules no matter what it was, so why did she think the supernatural world wouldn’t have rules of its own?
Seeing as Emily had understood the ssage he was trying to pass across, Douglas decided to end the conversation, but first...
"Promise you won’t ever ntion anything about mysticism again."
"I..."
"Promise , Em. I already have Alex to deal with, that buffoon went to do sothing irrelevant already, don’t add yourself as well, please."
"..." Emily offered no response, rely nodding as she t Douglas’s piercing gaze.
Seconds passed before her lips parted. "I promise."
"Thank you," Douglas remarked before pulling her in for a hug.
"Stay safe for , okay?... Just stay safe, please."
"I’m sorry."
Seconds passed before Douglas finally pulled away from the embrace.
Albeit slightly unwilling, it was ti to leave.
"Study well, okay?... Even if I and Alex won’t be able to have a normal life, I want that for you. Don’t worry, you won’t have to ever worry about anything, after all, you have two superpowered brothers watching over you, okay?" Douglas joked with a lancholic smile tugging at the corners of Emily’s lips.
As Douglas turned to take his leave, Emily called out to him. "Douglas."
"Hmm," Douglas turned back to face her as he answered. "yeah?"
"Wish Alex a speedy recovery for , okay?... And uhmm, tell him I miss him and... hope he gets well soon, alright?"
Douglas could have sworn sothing inside broke as he heard Emily’s request.
He shouldn’t have lied, he shouldn’t have hidden the truth but in the end... he had no other choice.
Alex would agree that this was for the best.
And so, hiding the guilt and pain he felt, Douglas replied with a forced smile. "Of course... I’ll make sure to tell him."
With a nod, Emily turned only to feel a gust of wind brush past her the next mont.
Glancing back, she found the alleyway empty, with Douglas having already left.
Letting out a sigh, she intoned softly. "Be safe."
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