Elysian Academy- Meager Might

'To the Lake we go, as we always do each and every summer.' Xander thought as his parents drove excitedly toward the Lake. What lake you ask? Loving Lake, a lake in the Southern Tier of New York where he had his brother were apparently conceived. Their parents went there a few times a year, eager always, and yet in their time was sort of... awful. 'They'll spend time to praise Bryce, swim a bit, cook some food and talk more about how amazing Bryce is. Maybe, if I'm lucky, they'll insult me and make me feel less than I already feel.'

Sitting in the back of the car, next to his hulking brother, Xander turned to the window and just allowed his mind to drift onto the first thing he noticed. Or well, he tried.

"It's really cloudy out, Mom, do you think we'll be able to swim?" Bryce asked, his voice deep and robust. Something he'd had forever, something that hadn't ever really changed since they hit puberty. Turning to face his brother, he could not help but appreciate the almost artistic view of him. Bryce looked like a statue of a god, with his golden hair and soft blue eyes. His face was all hard edges, his nose slightly hooked. A gravitational power oozed from his brother, making it hard to ignore him, even when he was silent.

Xander loathed it, but said nothing as he turned away to the window. 'He's right, it's really cloudy... like almost black, how did I not notice that before?' And it was true, a wave of oily clouds seemed to pursue them, waves of lighting rippling through. Fear filled Xander, he could not help but shiver at the apocalyptic sight that left fear aching in his bones. 'Something is really wrong here.'

And yet their mother, Agnes, only sighed with a rare peace. "It's all good, my darling. Nothing will happen to you."

'Funny how I was not a part of that...' Xander thought, but knew there was no point in it. His anger meant nothing, he would be free one day soon. He only had to wait a year, one single year... and he would be free. 'I'd say you'd regret treating me so poorly, but we all know that's never going to be true.'

They reached Loving Lake in about twenty more minutes, finding the peaceful trail up toward the stunning lake. Even if he hated the memories, Xander could not deny the view of the lake was wonderful. The shape of a bean, with the curve where their cabin was, it was ringed with powerful oak trees and a stunning stone path that led toward the cabin. Even the storm clouds reaching toward them could not sap away it's beauty, especially with what they expected. Fireflies and butterflies would fill the air even out of season, flowers covered several small gardens without overgrowing, including the stunning golden daffodils and blood-red roses his mother was so fond of. In every tree ringing the property was a set of wind chimes playing a soft summer tune.

Over all it was stunning and impossible to loathe.

"Alexandros, get the cooler, we have food to prepare." Agnes all but whispered, dramatic as always. "Your brother is probably famished, or well he will be after swimming in the lake!"

'I hate how she says my name, like I'm lesser...' Still, he said nothing, knowing there was really no point. He just sucked it up, as he always did and obeyed. It was only after he put the ice chest on the table that he started to feel something. The dull ache in his bones, having stayed, seemed to thicken as the darkness overtook the skies. 'Should we really be in the lake? Who knows what is going to happen, lighting could kill us.'

"YAHOOO!" Bryce's scream startled Xander, making him jump out of his skin, turning to see his idiot brother throw himself into the lake.

The sky rumbled, the air tensed and Xander knew it. 'Lighting is going to strike...no... 'Panic filled him and he ran to the water, his toes just touching the lake. "Bryce, get out, it's going to-" And a blast of lighting, thicker than the oak trees that ringed the lake, tore through the air and struck the lake where Bryce was looking up with sheer terror. In that tiny moment before their lives ended, Xander's heart opened. 'I failed... I really couldn't save anyone... not even Bryce from himself.'

And then the lightning that hit his brother spread through the water. Agony overtook Xander, he fell into the water, writhing in agony as the life burned out of him.

And yet, despite this, his ears still caught his mother screaming. "BRYCE!" Before darkness tore Xander into forever sleep.