The Broken Flame

Celina gasped quite audibly and found herself looking at her friend with wide eyes. Brine had never mentioned anything about having a twin brother in his time here, so this was something she almost didn’t believe. However, she knew Brine would never lie to her. Celina shifted in her spot, still holding onto Brine’s hand. “You… you had a twin brother?”

Brine nodded. “I still do. When I left the Aether, I didn’t know what happened to him. I assumed he just stayed behind since he didn’t have an interest in the Overworld like I did. But… I know where he is now.”

Celina felt a chill crawl down her spine. “What do you mean? Did he leave the Aether?”

Brine nodded. “I believe he did.”

“Then… where is he?”

Brine began to shake, and Celina could feel it as she held onto his hand. She gently kissed his knuckles. “Brine, you don’t have to say it if you’re not feeling good. I unde--”

“He’s right there.”

Celina’s eyes slowly followed Brine’s hand and her world seemed to come crashing down on her.

He was pointing to Steve, who was peacefully asleep on his bed.

Celina’s heart dropped and her face fell. How… how was that possible? Steve was human, just like her. He was just a normal guy, and he had never shown any signs of having any kind of powers or abilities beyond that of a human. That didn’t seem right, but the queen knew Brine wouldn’t lie to her.

Celina looked at Brine in his white eyes, seeing them spilling over again. She frowned. “Brine, how do you know that Steve is your brother?”

Brine sighed and turned to face her, gently putting his hands on the sides of her head. She knew what he was doing and closed her eyes, letting Brine take her into his memories. When the queen opened her eyes again, she could see images appear and fade before her. It was all from Brine’s eyes, and she watched.

A young boy was there, with fair skin, short but fluffy hair, violet eyes, and freckles dotting his cheeks. His outfit was similar to that of Brine’s but the shirt was blue, with navy colored ends, purple dots, and a water drop on the front. His pants were white, his shoes were navy ballet flats, and he wore a flower crown of blue orchids. He looked so happy as he stood beside Brine, his smile wide. 

More images from Brine’s memory faded in and out, and Celina felt her heart thudding in her chest. This boy looked like a younger version of Steve, just in different clothes. Everything about him matched Steve’s appearance, down to the placement of the freckles on his cheeks. However, one memory showed something that made Celian realize Brine was telling the truth.

A memory of Brine patching up the young boy, wrapping bandages on his arms. The boy made the same pained faces Steve often did when she treated his wounds, but something struck her when she saw his arm.

There was a blue mark on his right shoulder, shaped like a water drop.

It was in the same place and in the same shape as a birthmark Steve had on his right shoulder.

The memories ended and Brine removed his hands from the queen’s head. Celina’s gray eyes slowly opened and she found herself looking into Brine’s white eyes that were still spilling over. She only stared for a few moments, before speaking to him. “Brine… that was Steve.”

Brine nodded. “I know. I started to have memories flashing before me, memories of him as he was when we were young. I didn’t know it was him. Not until… I saw the mark on his shoulder.”

“It looks like the birthmark Steve has on his shoulder,” Celina responded.

“I know,” Brine spoke, nodding softly. “When I realized this, my memories started hurting my head. That’s what I was crying out for. I couldn’t stop the memories, and all the voices and images that came before me were making my ache worse. So, I screamed out for you and hoped you would hear me.”

Celina nodded, before looking behind her Demi-God of a friend, at the sleeping miner. “Well, that makes sense, but… how did he become human, then? He told me about how he grew up and stuff, so it seems like he’s been human since he was born to his parents.”

“I don’t know, Celina.” Brine looked at Steve, seeing a peaceful expression on his face. He seemed so blissfully unaware of what was going on with him and the queen. “I truly don’t know. But however it happened, it did. And my brother doesn’t exist in the Aether anymore.”

Celina could see how saying those words shook Brine so much, and she took both of his hands in hers. She let him stay there, holding onto him, making sure he’d be okay.

After a moment, Brine stood, dusting himself off. Celina watched him from her place on the floor, and her eyes widened as he said, “I have to tell him.”

“Brine, no!”

Brine snapped his head down to look at Celina, seeing her stand and look at him. “Brine, don’t wake him up, please. He might not be ready for something as life changing as that yet. I think it would be best to wait until he wakes up. He needs as much rest as he can get right now.”

Brine frowned a bit, but then sighed and dropped the slightly narrowed eyes he had. “You’re right, Celina. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize, Brine. I understand where you’re coming from with wanting to tell him.” Celina held onto his hand gently. “We just need to make sure that he has enough energy to handle such a truth.”

Brine nodded in agreement. “You’re right. I’ll wait until he wakes up. This is going to be something he may not be able to accept at first, but I’ll be there for him.”

*****

Steve’s lids slowly lifted from their closed position, revealing his violet orbs. He slowly pushed himself up from his bed, sitting up and stretching his arms. He felt really refreshed after his sleep, and he smiled. Rest really did help his energy.

“Steve? Are you awake, sweetie?”

Steve turned his head to see Celina and Brine sitting nearby, sitting next to each other by one of the support columns. He could see Celina gently holding one of Brine’s hands, their fingers intertwined. The miner chuckled. “Yeah, I’m awake. That was a good nap.”

Brine nodded. “Seems like it, you were asleep for some time today.”

Steve smiled. However, he noticed something. There were tracks of tears on Brine’s face and this caused him some sudden concern. “Brine… are you okay, buddy?”

Brine’s face turned pale. “...Not… exactly.”

“What’s wrong? You know you can tell me anything.” The miner felt his heart drop when he saw the Demi-God stand, walking towards him and sitting down next to him. Steve furrowed his brows, seeing Celina walk to stand a couple blocks away.

Brine could see Steve worrying, so he sighed and asked, “Steve, what’s your earliest memory?”

The miner took a moment to think. “I think… when I was about three. I was in the library of my old home with my mom, and she told me stories about the Deities and how they made the world. Why do you ask?”

Brine took a few deep breaths. He didn’t know of any easy way to say this, and he knew it might come as a strange shock to Steve. However, it had to be said, or he might never know. Brine shook his head. “Your memories may go further than that.”

The miner quirked a brow. “What do you mean?”

Brine suddenly moved down his left sleeve a bit, showing off a small flame shaped mark on his shoulder, orange in color. Steve squinted before his eyes widened. He slowly moved his right sleeve down and looked to see his birthmark. It was mirroring the spot Brine’s mark was in. “What in the… but… what…”

Brine closed his eyes after rolling his sleeve up. “Steve… I was searching through my memories and my mind wandered to the Aether and the Deities I knew there. I kept seeing one, a deity I could never forget due to my bond with him. He meant so much to me, and he and I shared a strong bond. He…” Brine could see Steve looking at him with his head tilted. “He was… my twin brother.”

Steve let a light gasp escape his lips. “You… you had a brother?”

“I did. And… for a long time, I never knew what happened to him after my leaving for the Overworld. But now, after searching through my memories… I know where he is.”

Steve knitted his brows again. “Where… where is he, Brine?”

Brine carefully put a hand on Steve’s shoulder. “Steve… you are my brother.”

At the moment those words were spoken, everything went silent for a second. Then, it happened.

Steve began to shake violently, before clutching his head and shouting out, “AHHHHHAAAAAHHHHH!” He gripped onto his temples with both of his hands as a sharp ache sprang out of the blue and rattled his skull. He hunched over in his place, quivering in pain. “MAKE IT STOP! AAAHHHHH!”

“Steve!” Celina and Brine cried out in unison. They watched in horror as the miner began to cry, tears rolling down his cheeks. He was whimpering and shouting out, suddenly bucking his head back. “Oh, dear Gods,” Brine spoke. “Steve?! Can you hear me?! Steve?!”

The miner wanted to answer, but found he couldn’t. Images and loud voices flashed before him, images of a lavender sky with clouds and floating islands. He could see Brine, and others he didn’t recognize for a moment. He tried to make out the voices and images, but they all clashed and sounded out at an unbearable volume in Steve’s mind.

Celina reached towards the miner, only to reel back when he suddenly fell to the floor, landing on his side. He curled up into a tight ball and kept holding onto his cranium, crying out softly. Celina knelt to him and asked, “Steve?! Steven, can you hear me?! Steve, please, answer if you can hear me!”

There sat Brine and Celina, watching the man cry out and whimper. He trembled badly and didn’t seem to be able to answer them. He only let tears stream down his face and sobbed.

After a few minutes of this, Steve suddenly jerked his legs out and screamed at the near top of his lungs. The cry was so hoarse and strained, and when it finally died down, Steve was lying on the floor. He laid on his back, his hands slowly falling from his head. He was panting now, as if struggling to catch his breath.

Celina and Brine shared a glance, before the queen put a gentle hand on the miner’s shoulder. “Steve,” she whispered. His eyes were closed, and that worried her deeply. “Steve, can you hear me?”

*****

Everything had gone black and Steve felt like his head was going to explode at any second. The migraine he now had was worse than any headache he had had in his life. He let his head roll to the side for a second. A loud groan of pain escaped his lips.

“Steve, can you hear me?”

He winced. He knew that voice, and though it was soft, it made the splitting ache in his head worse. He felt a hand on his shoulder. Steve wanted to answer so badly, but could only make a few strained whimpers in response.

The queen and the Nether Prince watched the miner for a few moments. Brine shook his head and put a hand to his own chest. “Oh, Gods… what did I do?”

Celina opened her mouth to speak, but a weak voice made her stop.

“Brine?”

The two looked down at Steve as his eyes slowly opened. He stayed in his place, the gentle rise and fall of his chest being the only movement he made. Brine could see a look in his eyes, one he recognized. “Steve?”

The miner was still as stone for a moment, before he slowly reached out a hand. Brine gently took it into both of his, and Steve managed a smile. What he said next shook Brine to his core and made him audibly gasp.

“It’s been too long, brother.”