The Dark One

"Then join your power with mine," DuPris instructed, loosening his grip slightly.

Trevor focused every molecule of his being on building a power ball with DuPris. Expanding it out, out, out until his body trembled with the strain.

DuPris gave the signal, and he and Trevor hurled their ball of power at the Stone. Trevor opened his eyes-he hadn't even realized he'd closed them-and looked down at the Stone. Some of its green-purple light had returned. Not much more than a flicker. But it was the most beautiful thing Trevor had ever seen.

"You did well." DuPris released Trevor and clapped him on the shoulder. "There are many who brag about being willing to sacrifice anything, then fall apart at the first real test."

Trevor kept his eyes on the Stone. "I want to ask you something," he told DuPris.

"So ask." DuPris sounded bored.

"Michael said you killed… our parents." Trevor forced himself to look directly into the rebel leader's eyes.

"I'm sure you know the history of the cause," DuPris answered. "I stole one of the Stones of Midnight and escaped with it by stowing away on a ship-your parents' ship. I pla

Faint threads of red appeared around DuPris, and Trevor realized for the first time that the rebel leader had managed to cloak his aura. Just those few streaks of anger were visible, and they quickly vanished.

"Your parents were the only two members of the rebellion on the ship, something that, of course, was kept secret from the others," DuPris continued. "When the others discovered my presence on the ship, they imprisoned me. They pla

Tears sprang to Trevor's eyes. He had learned about the way the human body responded to emotion in the materials given to him by the Kindred, but he was still taken aback every time his feelings affected him physically. He blinked quickly, hoping DuPris hadn't noticed Trevor's wet eyes.

"So you caused the ship to crash," Trevor said, struggling to keep his voice steady.

"A necessary sacrifice. I had to keep the Stone in my possession," DuPris replied.

"A necessary sacrifice," Trevor replied. He understood the logic. The lives of a few beings could not be allowed to cripple the rebellion.

"Any more questions?" DuPris asked. "I want to get back to redecorating the master bedroom. I've chosen a Mr. and Mrs. Brady theme."

"No more questions," Trevor answered.

Within moments DuPris had teleported out of the room.

Trevor returned his gaze to the Stone, allowing its beauty to calm him. The power of the Stones will bring all on my planet freedom, he thought. Freedom.

He'd been taught from childhood that the rebellion demanded sacrifice and that it was a gift to be asked to give an offering.

"I have sacrificed all I have," he whispered. "I have given the rebellion everything. It is an honor." Trevor felt tears sting his eyes again. Frustrated with his body, he wiped them away with his sleeve.

FOUR

Michael walked through the front door of his house-or tried to. He didn't get very far because his dad blocked his way.

"You don't live here anymore," he told Michael. "We decided we don't want you. You're staying across the street now."

"Oh, okay," Michael said, trying to sound casual, as if his dad had just asked him to run to the store or something. "Can I get my stuff?"

"You don't have any stuff. We gave you everything you had, and we're keeping it," his father told him gruffly. He gave Michael a push, and he stumbled back out onto the front walk. Michael didn't wait around to be pushed twice. He turned and bolted, his heart pounding like crazy. He started toward the house directly across the street but froze when he saw a woman in the front yard. She was holding a shotgun, aiming it directly at his chest.

"We don't have any more room here," she a

"But my dad said-" Michael began.

The woman cocked the rifle. "Another step and you'll be pushin' up friggin' daisies," she warned him.

Scared out of his mind, Michael took off down the street… and found himself in the doughnut shop, a plate of crullers loaded with hot sauce in front of him.

"Nice dream you were having," Trevor commented as he appeared in the seat across from Michael.

Michael spit out the bite of cruller he'd just taken. "Listen carefully. I don't ever want to see you again. If I do see you again, you are not going to be a happy guy-"

"I want to explain-" Trevor began.

"Explain what?" Michael demanded. "Explain why you betrayed me? Why you fed me that line about coming here just to visit your long lost brother? Or explain about why you tried to kill Max? Or maybe why you've decided to become the lapdog of the guy who killed our parents?"

"Actually, all of that," Trevor answered, gazing intently at Michael. As always Michael felt startled by how alike his eyes and Trevor's were. "You're the only family I have left," Trevor continued. "And by the way, your good friend Max? He tried to kill me, too."

Michael pushed the plate of crullers aside and rested his elbows on the Formica table. "You want to explain?" he said. "Fine. Start with why you lied to me, and go from there."

"I was sent to Earth to take the Stone from Alex and give it to the rebel leader. You call him DuPris," Trevor began, all business. "I was chosen for the mission because as your brother-"

"You could infiltrate the group," Michael finished for him, his eyes flashing. "So you used me. What the hell? It's not like we knew each other or anything. We were just brothers." He hated the emotion he could hear coursing through his voice. He hated that Trevor actually had the power to…

To hurt him.

"You've got to understand about the consciousness. It's evil, Michael," Trevor explained. "Shattering it is more important than saving the feelings of any individual. Me. You."

"Our parents?" Michael demanded, feeling his face redden. "Did you ask your idol about them?"

"Yeah. I did," Trevor admitted. He hesitated, staring down at the pink tabletop as if it fascinated him.

"He didn't deny it, did he? And you're still working for the guy." Michael jerked to his feet. "That's all I need to hear." He started toward the door, but Trevor grabbed him by the elbow and hauled him back.

"No, it's not all you need to hear," he said harshly, his fingers pressing into Michael's flesh.

"Let go of my arm," Michael ordered.

"Not until you-"

Michael didn't let him finish. He pulled back his free arm, made a fist, and slammed it into Trevor's jaw. Trevor loosened his grip, and Michael started for the door again. This time one of the tables screeched across the room and barricaded the exit. "Oh, you want to play." Michael turned to face his brother. There was no need to worry about who had more powers in the dream plane. If Michael thought something, it would happen. At least once he realized he was dreaming, which, thanks to Trevor, Michael did.

In a flash a second table knocked Trevor to the ground and pi

"Are you afraid of what you're going to hear? Is that it?" Trevor cried.

The table on top of him exploded into Formica shards, sharp as knives. Every one of them flew straight at Michael.

Michael didn't even flinch. He thought them right back at Trevor, who spun them around again. The shards hovered between them, shaking as Michael and Trevor both tried to control the weapons.

"If our parents hadn't died-" Trevor began, face tight with concentration.

"Been murdered," Michael corrected, keeping his attention focused on the shards.

"Then the Stone of Midnight that DuPris stole would have been returned to our planet," Trevor said in a rush. "The rebellion might have been squashed. All those in the Kindred might have been forced to join the consciousness."