Page 5 of A Silence So Divine

Determined to get his attention, I begin using both hands. He continues walking away. Bastard.

“Hey!” I don’t often use my voice, but Cecil instantly whips around to look at me. Nostrils flared, he fixes me in the crosshairs of his glower.

His lips form a grumbled "Jesus". Then,

“What?”he signs, squinting as he studies me.

I hesitate before lifting my hands. “There’s a girl.”Okay, not really how I thought I was going to break the news, but you’re supposed to rip off a bandaid, right?

His jaw tenses. “What do you mean?”

I’m not scared of my brother, but I gulp. Unsure of how to answer without giving him an aneurysm, I falter.

Slowly, I raise my hand and point to the tiny octagon window. From down here, it doesn’t even look like it would go anywhere. “Up there.”

“Are you trying to be funny?”

“No,”I give him my most sincere look. “There is a girl locked in the attic and she needs help.”

All at once my brother goes from annoyed to murderous. Maybe keeping her a secret wasn’t such a bad idea after all. He rushes past me, stopping when he reaches the front door to whirl back around.

“Did she see you!?”

“It’s just a girl. She’s sick, not a threat.”I try, and fail, to tame the beast that is my brother. Today doesn’t really feel like my lucky day. Maybe we can still sell the freaky painting?

His mouth is moving wildly now, an indication that he is indeed losing his shit. I only catch glimpses of words, most of which are curses.

“Stay here,”he orders, making his way into the house.

I lunge forward and grab his forearm, immediately backing off when he turns on me.

“You can’t run up there… like this,”I motion at him, mimicking his crazy eyes. “She’ll be scared of you.”

Cecil tosses his head back and laughs. “She should be.Do you have any idea how many people there are that work for the Brothers of Divinity? She could already be on her way back to tell them she found a Damned!”

No, I don’t have any idea, because he won’t tell me anything. Not how we got this house, not where he goes everyday, anddefinitelynot anything about the Brothers.

My lips quirk up and I pull the key from my pocket, handing it to him.

“No, she can’t. I locked her in there when I left.”

If he’s impressed by my decision making skills, he doesn’t show it.

“Let me help. She’s already seen me.”My palm makes continuous circles on my chest as I plead.

He’s tugging at his hair now, sliding one palm down his face. Tell tale signs that I just got my way. After a moment, he jabs a finger in my direction. I square my shoulders.

“Stay behind me and do not involve yourself. Do you understand?”

“Yes, of course,”I nod ardently.

I understand, but I can’t promise I’ll do as I’m told. The likelihood of me intervening is high considering his ever growing hostility. Neither of us have outstanding people skills, but he’s afarbigger asshole.

Side stepping, he allows me to lead the way. I send up prayers to whoever will listen that this girl is as innocent as I hope.

My brother takes after our father in a lot of ways, but most of all in the biting personality. Cecil got Dad’s height, wide shoulders, wavy hair. There was never a question that they were related when they were in a room together. If you sat down and spoke with them, it was like they shared a mind. No nonsense kind of guys. Not one for small talk, or niceties—our dad passed it all down to Cecil. Well, most things.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t have been more their opposite. Where Cecil is broad, I’m lean. His hair’s nearly black, mine is auburn. I’ve got rosy cheeks and freckles, he’s got a harsh jaw and olive skin. The only thing we share is our father’s green eyes. Even then, you could never tell we’re brothers.