Page 56 of Clouded by Envy

“I told you, you chose what you chose.” Then the Stone folded back into the shape of a rose.

Brenik roared as his whole world came crashing down around him. Setting down Rana’s body, he ran toward the Stone and pounded his fists against the hardness, trying to crack it in half. Something pulled him back, and he turned around to unleash his anger on it—on Bray.

“Go away, Bray,” he warned.

Without the tiniest flinch, Bray stood her ground. “No.”

“I said, Go. Thefuck. Away!” Brenik didn’t want anyone around him, and he didn’t want Bray to see him like this.

She took a step toward him, her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m not leaving.”

Brenik bent down to Rana’s body and untied her wrists and ankles. He tossed the shirts aside and reached down to lightly touch Rana’s back. Her body turned to a sand-like substance and dissolved into the ground, becoming part of the earth. Brenik stared at the dirt in horror. The Stone didn’t only kill what was inside her, but it had taken her body, too.

Bray moved next to him, looking equally afraid, but Brenik knew she tried to hide her terror. “It’s—it’s better this way,” she said. “No one can cut up her body trying to find answers, like they have with the other victims. It will be okay, Brenik.”

He couldn’t lift his eyes from the ground as he whispered, “How will it ever be okay, Bray? I kill people. I kill people to stay young. Even when I don’t try to kill people, I still do.”

“Then don’t do it anymore. Grow old with me.” She didn’t understand. There were times when the hunger was uncontrollable, and he had to give into it—he hadwantedto give into it.

“Just leave me alone for a little while, and I will come by tomorrow. I have to think about things.” Brenik ran his hands through his hair, squeezing it fiercely.

Bray’s eyes narrowed at Brenik like she could read everything in his head. “Right, but I’ll come with you.”

He didn’t want her to come—he wanted to be alone. “Ineedto be alone.”

“Are you sure, Brenik? If you don’t stop by, I will have to come and find you.” He could tell she was worried and maybe a little frightened.

“Bray, go home. I will come by tomorrow. I promise.”

“You are going to need help, and I’m going to help you stop this.” Brenik knew she would try, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted anyone’s help. He would rather do it himself.

“I love you, Bray. I will be okay.” He had never told her that, no matter how many times she had spoken the words to him. There were times he had felt he should never say the words aloud because sometimes he hated her, too, but this time the love won out.

“I love you, too, little brother,” she said, wrapping her arms around him, her eyes filling with tears. He wanted to cry and scream like a little child for her to stop, but he slung his arms around her, holding her tight.

After she left the forest, Brenik fell to the ground where Rana had once lain and curled into himself. He had lied to Bray. He wasn’t going to be okay—he would never be okay.

20

Bray

Bray was shaken after she left Brenik, but she knew she had to leave him alone. Her hands quivered as she exited the forest and crossed the pavement. The same road where she had once almost been struck by a car—if it hadn’t been for Brenik who had pulled her back from the brink of death.

Her brother was no longer a bat, but he wasn’t human either. Brenik was something far worse, yet he was still him. Bray felt that maybe she shouldn’t have left him there. The things he had done... In this world he would be arrested for it, and in her world, there was no consequence for wrongdoing. Both aspects pulled at her conscience. Look at the Jovkins who had murdered her kind without repercussion.

Wes’s car was already parked in the driveway, and she didn’t know what to do or say to him. She rang the doorbell, unable to erase the image of Rana out of her mind, or the fact that the Stone said it could have saved her. Rana had just turned. If only Bray had gone straight there with Brenik, instead of making him tell her the whole story of his new life.

Luca swung open the door. “We were worried about you.”

“I know I promised I would leave you a note, Luca, but my brother showed up.” She hardened her gaze a little as she looked down at him—his eyes were ticking side to side.

“You know I saw him at school, then? With Miss Alvi?” Luca’s body wiggled and squirmed with nervousness. “He asked me not to tell you, and I told him I would give him two days. It hasn’t been that long yet.”

Bray swept Luca’s bangs away from his eyebrows and patted his head. “I know, little beast, I know.” She couldn’t be mad at him. “Where’s Wes? I need to talk to him for a few minutes.”

Luca’s head motioned at the back door. “He’s in the backyard again, doing something with the plants. I think he said something about outlining it with stone, so he’s trying to get an estimation of how many rocks he needs.”

“I’ll be back there, then.” Bray brushed past Luca, and then turned her head over her shoulder. “Maybe we can watch a movie later, or better yet, read me a story? MaybeAlice’s Adventures in Wonderlandthis time?” she asked, putting on the bravest act she could. But she could tell Luca knew something wasn’t right when he nodded, his fingers fidgeting.

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