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“Yes, Edward. You do. You have the title of the heir and the family’s approval. And now, the sight. Do you think I only left thirteen years ago because I found out you killed Uncle Jonathan? No, brother. I left because you wanted me to. You made it clear that I wasn’t wanted, Edward. I left for you, as much as me. I left because I knew there was no place for both of us there. What else can I possibly give to you.”
“You left for me?” Edward asks with an ironic snort. “Yes, you did. But you know what else you took with you? Mom’s heart. And Dad’s hope. You were always the favorite child, the chosen one. I’ve always hated living in your shadow. Do you have any idea how much I hate you, Nicholas?”
I wasn’t prepared for the sharp pain that pierced my heart as I looked into Edward’s eyes, confirming the truth of his words. I’ve always known Edward didn’t hold any affection for me. He’s made it clear enough, but seeing such staggering contempt on a face that mirrors my own in so many ways… regrettable.
“Why, Edward?” I find myself suddenly curious. “Why did you always hate me so much?”
“Because you don’t even have to try,” Edward replies. “Everything comes so easily to you while I always have to go all out to prove myself. How’s that fair?”
“It’s your choice, Ed,” I say solemnly. “You chose to stay back. I chose to leave.”
“What?” Edward asks with a humorless laugh. “Choice? You make me laugh, brother. What makes you think you had a choice? The gift of sight was given to you to help the family prosper and strengthen our place in Cornwall.”
“Now you have it, so go use it however you want,” I say, surprisingly calm. “Now that you have my blessing give me back my woman.”
“It doesn’t work that way, brother.”
“What the fuck do you want?!” I asked, throwing my hands up in exasperation. “Why are we here, Ed?”
“Jump.”
I freeze, wondering if I heard him properly. “What did you say?”
“You heard me,” he says with a careless shrug. “Throw yourself off this rooftop and die.”
“Is this some kind of joke?”
“No.”
“Then you must be crazy if you think I’ll….”
The words die in my throat as I watch Edward cock his gun and push the barrel threateningly against Victoria’s skull, his fingers hovering over the trigger.
“Ed….” I hate the tremor in my voice, but I’m prepared to beg for Victoria’s life. Suddenly a thudding sound comes from somewhere behind the pile of broken furniture. Edward looks up with a slight frown. The momentary distraction is all I need. I lunge for him, kicking the gun out of his hand. Edward swings his fist at me, landing a punch in my gut. I fall back to the ground with a loud grunt of pain.
Edward walks back to where Tory is seated, angrily pulls out a knife from his boot, and presses it against Tory’s neck. I see the murderous intent of Edward’s eyes even before the droplets of blood appear on Victoria’s neck as his knife digs deeper into her flesh.
“No!” I scream, quickly rising to my knees. “Please, don’t do anything to her. I’ll jump. I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Indeed, love makes men stupid,” Edward snorts. “Now, go on. Kill yourself.”
“Promise you’ll let her go if I do.”
“On my honor, brother,” Edward says with an ironic smirk.
We both know he has no honor, but I don’t seem to have a choice. I’ll have to bet on the fact that my death will end it all. I walk over to the edge of the rooftop and look down into the scary abyss below. It seems eager to swallow my body forever. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Just as I’m about to lurch forward, I hear a familiar gasp. I turn back, and my eyes come in contact with Victoria’s. This time, her dazzling brown eyes were filled with awareness as they bore urgently into me. And for the first time in days, I feel my heart leap with a semblance of happiness.
“Victoria,” her name escapes my lips like a wish upon the wind. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so, so sorry.”
Victoria shakes her head wordlessly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Seeing her tears breaks something inside of me – my soul, I think. I know what she is asking of me. Even now, I can see the desperate plea in her eyes, but I can’t seem to do anything about it.
“Do it!” Edward snarls.
I still myself against Victoria’s tears and turn around again.
“Nicholas!”
Her scream is followed by a loud thud and a grunt. I turn around this time to see Pocus standing over Edward’s unmoving body, his hands gripping firmly onto the backrest of a broken office chair.
