Page 27 of Highlander’s Evil Twin

She shivered and he pulled her to him.

“It was the only way he would leave me alone. But, oh Hiram, the look on his face, the anger, the revulsion…he pushed me. He really pushed me hard, like I was dirty, like he hated me. I fell at the top of the moat and rolled down.”

“He was there when you fell?” Hiram sucked in his breath. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He didn’t want to hear her words and yet, he had to.

“Yes, I shrieked and as I fell back, I saw him looking at me like I was nothing.”

“He left you to die! He knows that moat still gets flooded. If I had gotten to you a few minutes later than I did, the water would have been over your head.” Hiram shook his head in disbelief. “He left you on purpose.” Rage bubbled up within him and Hiram clenched his fists. “I am going to kill him for this.”

“Please wait. Don’t leave me. I don’t want you to do anything right now. Let’s deal with it tomorrow. All I want is for you to hold me tonight. Please, Hiram.”

He nodded, biting down on his anger. It was enough to know that Conner had tried to touch her, and Hiram felt sick to the core just thinking about that. But, more than that, if Conner couldn’t have her, he had been prepared to drown Heather, killing both her and the unborn baby. Tears welled up in his eyes. He’d been so close to losing her, to losing them both. He would do as she asked tonight and somehow refrain from leaving her. However, in the morning, he would deal with Connor once and for all.

15

“It is time he left.” Hiram was firm in his intent. He stared at his mother, daring her to argue. He’d never felt anything so keenly.

She looked shocked, then turned her full attention on him. “My dear boy, you can’t send your brother away. He has not been back for long. If he has upset you, I am sure he will apologize.” She smiled and began to file her long nails. “You see, Hiram, you have never really seen Connor the way I see him. You are his twin brother and so I don’t know why you cannot love him. Inside is a little boy, it is true, and he can be childish and irritating, but then I glimpse that inner child, the one who used to be so loving.”

Hiram breathed in deeply, trying to diffuse his rising anger. He felt his fists clench. She was right. He didn’t see Connor the way she did and that was a good thing. For many years, he’d lived in his shadow and had tried to be more like him but now, that thought made him shudder. Everyone had tried to protect or cover for Connor, but the reality was that it hadn’t worked. Connor was evil through and through. His mother’s opinion no longer mattered. He had to look after Heather and his unborn baby now. They were his family. He felt a sharp sense of loss, knowing that his father would have been on his side. He realized now had hard he had worked to try to hold this dysfunctional family together. But it was ripping apart at the seams. Hiram no longer felt hurt by his mother’s words or actions and he had no intention of trying to hold this family together. He loved his sister and she could stay but as for his mother and Connor, the best place for them would be far away.

“He tried to murder Heather.”

The words were out before he could bite them back. His voice sounded strange. It was as if his throat was closing in on him. The memory of Heather lying in the moat close to death just the day before was vividly imprinted on his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw that image, as if watching the life ebb from her. He felt such anger and hatred for his brother.

“Oh nonsense.” She laughed at first, “Hiram have you been drinking?”

Hiram glared at her, willing her to for once see the truth.

“No, you don’t really mean this.” She shook her head, trying to refute his words.

“He attacked her, tried to rape her, and when he found out she was already pregnant with my child, he assaulted her and left her to drown. While you were both in here playing your stupid games yesterday, I was frantically searching for my wife. I found her with only minutes to spare. She nearly died!” He choked on the words, hot angry tears clouding his vision.

She looked shocked, her face pale. “She’s pregnant?”

“Did you know he wanted Heather?” he demanded.

“Well, I...I...no, not in so many words. He...liked her...I mean...he was drawn to her...I think he felt that as the oldest…”

“By minutes.” Hiram seethed.

“Well, yes, but I suppose we should have married Heather to him really, but your father was against it and Connor was away, and we needed a marriage quickly.” She returned to her nails, concentrating on the sharpened red nail, until Hiram took it from her hands and threw it across the room.

“Why was he away Mother? Do you even remember what your son did? Do you remember what you did?”

She gazed up at him in confusion, blinking hard as if completely unaware.

“He raped that girl. Do you remember? You covered it up. Your precious little boy took what he wanted and then, discarded her. The same pattern throughout his life. But you, well, you couldn’t allow anyone to sully that precious little boy’s name could you? Because of your words, she killed herself.” Hiram bent over his mother. He had never felt so coldly angry and forced her to answer him.

She gasped as the memories came flooding back. “She was guilty. She tried to seduce him.”

“She was the victim, Mother! Both you and Connor killed her. You took a life! I can’t do anything about her, but I can stop Connor now and I will. He either leaves, or I swear to God, I will kill him.”

“No, don’t touch my boy. He didn’t mean to hurt her and...if he hurt Heather, she must have been leading him on. I’ve seen her Hiram; she is a bad match for you. She wants Connor, not you. They all wanted Connor didn’t they?”

Hiram straightened himself to his full height and felt an icy chill invade him. There was nothing he could do for either of them, but he wanted them gone.

“Connor leaves today. It is up to you whether you go with him.”