(Alnitak)

Did Alnilam just smile? I don’t even remember when I last saw my brother smile.

I didn’t remember Rigel since I was only two when he died or so we thought. I only knew him through our parents and Alnilam.

Both Mintaka and I were aware that Alnilam missed him and spoke highly of him. Alnilam hardly speaks highly of anyone.

But this reality is not just grim, it’s ominous. To know our brother was alive this whole time, being kept in a dungeon, tortured, cursed and goddess knows what else he faced.

His trust issues make sense to me.

Why he clings to Amaia so desperately, the reason is clear as day.

His darkness, his secrets.

But most importantly, our brother is alive, that’s what matters the most.

The guilt wraps around me like a snake slithering its body to kill its prey. I have been so jealous of him, hating him, calling him a leech and bloodsucker.

Guiltily with tears swimming in my eyes, I watch as Alnilam speaks to him and embraces him. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"I am so sorry. I never knew."

"No one did. No one came for me." Rigel’s bloodshot eyes waver towards me as his arms hang loose.

I can’t even hold his gaze and my head drops down. Saiph places an assuring hand on my back and quietly murmurs, "You didn’t know."

This makes me straighten my head and stare back at my brothers.

Alnilam holds Rigel’s shoulders and says in a determined voice.

"I know now. We are going to get to the bottom of this. But your eyes."

Rigel snatches in a deep breath. The shadows on his body appear calm.

"My mother was a part-vampire. She passed down that gene to me. Since she was part-witch too, using her magic she repressed that part of me. But after her death and during my imprisonment, I awakened my vampire side, hence my eyes turned red instead of blue."

His explanation makes so much sense. Alnilam nods but I know he is in deep thought. Since none of us had wolves at that time we didn’t even recognise him by scent.

With tired steps, I proceed towards my brothers and kneel. All that hatred I have always carried has suddenly disappeared and an urge to protect him washes over me.

Rigel’s gaze finds me, subtle and yet with a hint of vulnerability.

"I don’t know who did this but once we figure that out. That will be the last day they breathe."

Rigel lets out a mocking snort. "You will be surprised."

"Can you say anything that will lead us towards the truth?" Rigel just shakes his head at Alnilam’s question.

"I should have remembered you but it feels like I totally forgot about your existence until Amaia spoke about you. Strange that none of us spoke about you in a long time. I don’t think that’s natural," Saiph’s voice comes from near the door and Rigel lifts his head to watch him.

"I think it’s a spell, to control people and what they remember. A very powerful spell to mess with memories and make people do their bidding. It’s exactly why we can’t trust anyone apart from the six of us."

Rigel doesn’t mention our parents which I find strange. But his words make us think.

Have all of us been under an illusion or spell? Or most importantly curse?

"Amaia was cursed too and so are you. Could it be the same person?" Alnilam asks and Rigel only gives a nod.

"It could be." He shuffles forward, and the chains slide with him. "You have to protect her and keep her away from me. She will come looking for me but this curse will make me hurt her again. So, please," he pleads, which hurts my soul.

We have lost 19 precious years of our lives together. The memories we would have made, the happiness we would have experienced together.

"We can’t leave you here. Not for a second. They will kill you," Alnilam frustratedly says, still holding Rigel’s shoulders.

"Then help me escape. I will leave Orion. There is no restriction on me for that. In reality, my tormentor wants me to disappear. Stay far away from all of you and Orion," Rigel presents his idea which pinches my heart.

We have found him after 19 years, how can we just let him go?

"Amaia will be broken. She needs you as much as she needs all of us," Alnilam counters.

"I agree. Her wings won’t grow. Intimacy is needed for them to fully develop. Only you and Alnilam are holding her back," Saiph lays it out for him and a darkness hardens Rigel’s face.

With regrets he shakes his head. "I literally can’t. Besides, I don’t think I can face her after what I did. How will I?"

"What if we do it together? We can hold off your darkness and you can find a solution." My words make all three of them turn to watch me as if I am a goblin who had just sprung out of the ground.

"What? It’s the only way for all of us to bond and become stronger. Especially her. Have you forgotten the prophecy? She could be key to break all these curses and spells." Frustratedly I extend my hands forward and Alnilam sighs.

He knows he has to do it at least once and so does Rigel. If he can’t due to the curse we need to think out of the box. The curses are fixed but one can always go around them.

A part of his shadows leech off him and come to touch my wrist. One would think for it would be cold but it’s warm.

An idea clicks in my brain.

"Your shadows are part of you, right? They are like your extensions but they aren’t cursed for exactly the intimacy reason." I shrug my shoulders and to my surprise, a smile comes to rest on Rigel’s lips.

"You are smart, Alnitak. It might actually work."

I beam and my gaze shifts to Alnilam.

"Will you be there?"