should have known better [Brone]

[Mina Van Estra]

Mina had a bad mood that entire flipping day, she was so sick of all the tension in the house, and her brothers, ugh! Why couldn’t she been born first and then no other children? Life simply wasn’t fair. Brushing her hair out she ignored the feeling she should just keep her mouth shut, and sought out her brother. What would he be doing now? Lessons maybe, or maybe spending time with that little whoever that was causing all this trouble.

When she searched around the castle the slave, servants, whatever, were all whispering, but they were smart enough to shut up when she walked by. She really was saving all her words for her brother. Finally she corned her brother down out in the court yard after the sun had gone down. “You.” she said with an angry hiss in her voice. Marching over she stood with all the force she had and pointed a cold, hard finger into his chest. “You and your little love affairs have been causing way to much trouble then they are worth. She‘s part witch, you simply forgot the years of war all of the sudden? How could you bring her here, to our home?” she said, on the verge of yelling at him. Mina tried to keep her opinions hushed, after all, being a princess still meant female, so she didn’t get a say. Though she thought the war was stupid she knew better then to try and challenge everything, Brone wasn’t even king yet, maybe the power was getting to his head.

[Brone Van Estra]

The stars were not enough to calm his heart. It still felt dead and cold--even to him. Keelin had asked him once, if that made him lonely. Not having a heartbeat. he had told her no. But now, he missed it. He did feel alone, his life was ripping apart. Everyone could see it. he thought so anyway. What he did not know, was that he was a terrific actor, as he always had been, his feelings carefully masked. Only Serena could see through his defenses, only for her did he let his guard down.

When he heard Mina's voice, he sat rigid, the shields going up as he turned slowly to take her words. They were like waves, breaking over his head. Suffocating him. "She didn't even know herself until recently." he said cooly. he did not want to fight. Couldn't anything in his life be easy? Did he have to fight for everything, against everyone?

He had not forgotten the war, he had always been against it, this might help bring it to an end. Besides, Serena wasn't even half witch, he didn't think she was even a fourth witch. She was more a vampire than anything else. And no one cared. They just saw a speck of something they knew nothing about and hated anyway. if only Mina knew he's had feelings for Aarya once upon a time. He;'d been right not to tell her that. Thank goodness she was out of the picture.

[Mina Van Estra]

“Then the instant you discovered this you should have had her out of here. You condemned her to this, she‘s going to have to die because of this mistake.” Mina wasn’t one to sugar coat things, or even be considerate of how he must have been feeling, she was selfish, and there was no seeing beyond how things affected her. Once when she was much younger she‘d been sort of nice, and not all to spoiled, but time and patience were running out for her so she just went day by day, not stopping for anyone, or anything, not even family.

Mina saw her brother there, he looked guarded, but she could see through his eyes he was worried for this girl, Serena was it? But after all that she had said to him, he refused to get angry, she expected some sort of hint of anger, annoyance, but this? This was not what she‘d come to expect from him at all. It made her feel sort of alone to be the only one with any sort of anger left, had this girl really meant that much to him? She stood there in the cool night, starring at her brother, finding it impossible to understand how he’d gotten into this mess. “I thought she was just another random girl.” Mina said, her voice quieter, “Instead now your using her to get what you want, and she‘ll have to die because of that. Father won‘t allow her live.”

[Brone Van Estra]

The words hit Brone, like a knife cutting deep through his heart. Oh how he wished a blade could kill him! Pain flashed in his face, his well mantained barriers melting away. Mina, of all people, saw him totally exposed now. Sad, afraid, small. He closed his eyes, tilting his head back for a moment. Not looking at her at all, not even after her voice had grown quiet. All he could say was, "I know.... I know."

It was all his fault. I he loved her at all, he would never have let her practice in the castle. His father really wasn't often just around, but how could he have thought it would be safe? Brone wished he was able to die easily. "I wasn't using her for anything Mina." These words were colder, harsher. "Why can't you even hold your tongue? Do you even hear yourself?"

[Mina Van Estra]

Something about the way his face looked then, how vulnerable he looked, it was so strange, one of those things that made even vampires uncomfortable. Like watching a woman being yelled at, or seeing a man cry, something you had no business intruding on, yet it was happening right in front of you. Mina looked away, her icy stare now focussed on the bench beside him. This moment is one she wanted, to feel like her words were getting through, to win. But this didn’t feel like winning at all, she didn’t want her brother to look like that, she wanted him to yell at her, tell her she was wrong so that she could just as shamelessly throw it back at him.

And then he changed courses, his words were harsher, Mina liked that. “Oh, of course you were using her, Brone Van Estra, Crowned Prince, like you haven’t gotten anything you ever wanted, and anyone’s expense.” she said. “Hold my tongue?! Don‘t mistake me for one of your whores, brother.” she said, ‘brother’ sounding like the worst word in the entire world. “Yes, I can hear myself, and it makes quite sense to me.” she said, taking a deep breath.

It was cold out, but it didn’t bother her at all, not like it was really going to do her any harm.

[Brone Van Estra]

Brone said nothing for a long moment, his eyes shut tight, his jaw set tight. For one, Serena was far from a whore. But it wouldn't matter if he said that. It made Mina win. Mina looked for the response., If she wanted to yell, she could yell to the wind. Second, she could possibly ahve no idea what he was going through. No idea at all. He loved so deeply, and it was being taken away. Had Mina felt anything but hate?

"You're heartless." His voice was soft and cool. he stated it like a fact. Not in pain, nor in anger, just in truth. He knew it was cruel, but part of him couldn't help but think it was true. She was throwing his pain, his fears right into his face. Jon at least, for all his faults, might try and understand Brone. mina never thought, she just ran after you, lashing with her words. She didn't care about the scars they left. He had so many scars already, both physical and emotional.

[Mina Van Estra]

Who knew silence could be so damn loud? The two Royal children sitting outside having this little, fairly one sided, argument, Mina grew agitated. She’d begun to get herself prepared for the worse, or maybe tears? But hell, if he started crying she was just going to walk away. But what she hadn’t prepared herself for was heartless. Of course in truth she pretty much was. A vampire wasn’t quite human, not quite dead, just thirsty little monsters that after time got quite bored and went around being careless, and reckless. So a heart?

It wasn‘t untrue, but still, it felt like a low blow. “No Brone, I have a heart. I just don‘t give it up that easily.” she said, after all, look what it had gotten him? If love was so great why was he so miserable, and only happy when he could sleep with her. Maybe she was missing out on something, but for now, she’d live without it. “Look where that‘s gotten you.”

[Brone Van Estra]

"Mina," he said, saying her name for the first time the whole night. It was soft, almost pleading. But he would never beg her to understand, she never would. his eyes opened and he looked at the moon, then down at her face. A hardened look crossed his face. He looked old. He felt old. Like he had been ruling for years, instead of waiting for the throne. A pale scar still lined his cheek from the fight with Tobias.

"I would rather die the most brutal way possible, than never have loved her. When you find your heart, and unlock it from wherever you have shut it away, then come talk to me." He said. It almost sounded like a dismissal. The darkness was complete around him, his face in the light of the moon. He was shrouded in pain.

"I'd rather live pain, than never live happiness. If you wish to live cold and hard, go ahead, but lashing out at everyone is no way to gain anything in this world." He turned from her, looking away, as if he was seeing something in the distance. He was just seeing his own thoughts, dreams flying away.

[Mina Van Estra]

All this touch, lovey-dovey talk was making Mina feel a little sick, if that was possible. She was so careful all the time, never letting anyone know how she truly felt, only showing the side of herself she wanted them to see, the anger, the do as she wished side of her that didn’t care about anyone, or anything. It was her, but not all of her, somewhere, probably buried under all that torment, she was looking for the same thing Brone had found, and maybe she was jealous, but that jealousy was so changed and warped in her mind that it was only annoyance and anger she felt.

“What exactly is it that I‘m trying to gain? Love, it‘s over rated, and far too much trouble. Sure, maybe you get a few happy ‘oooh I‘m on top of the world’ feelings, but then what. Then comes this, that hard times, honey moons over. I don‘t need it.” I want it she thought, ignoring the thought that sprang to mind.

Mina looked at Brone, saw the scar on his face, she decided not to ask about it. There would be some long story there, and to be honest she didn’t want to harp Brone at this second. He was obviously not interested in whatever it had been she wanted to accomplish here. “So what are you going to do about this mess? There‘s always the option of letting her die, of course it would take you a little while to get over it, but something new would come along I‘m sure.” she said, her words as heartless as she intended them to be.

[Brone Van Estra]

Brone tightened his face again, not speaking. His body rigid, sending waves of anger in the air without saying a word. He knew that maybe he'd be able to love again, but not the same way. He didn't think so. It didn't have to end this way. It wouldn't have if she'd been 100% vampire. He doubted he himself even was, if you went back far enough, there had to be some mixing. "You can't gain real influence, power, friendship, loyalty without a little compassion. Fear only breeds hate." he said his eyes flashing to her. He was sure he almost hated her, part of him did, and part of him, couldn't hate his own sister. "I was not so crazy as to assume you wanted anything like love." But he secretly wondered if she did want love. Was she even capable of love? he wasn't sure.

Brone was not going to let her die, but he had no plan. She could probably tell, but he wasn't telling her anything, in case she wanted to hinder him. He wouldn't put it past her to help with the execution, getting their father to appreciate her actions. "I'm working on it." And he was, he just hadnt found anything that might work yet.

[Mina Van Estra]

It struck her, as the stars canvassed the night sky, their light being the only one she could be under without burning herself, that maybe Brone wasn‘t as sorry as he looked then. It was the best she could hope for after what she’d said, bringing up his love dying was sure to hit a sore spot with anyone. But seeing him like that, well, it was different, and his anger only did so much to cover that up. Had she ever looked like this in someone’s eyes? Mina stood a little straighter, put a little more pride into her appearance, all this energy she wasted on looks, causing trouble and so many more things could have been put to use in much better ways, but seldom were.

She could taste the anger in her mouth, it felt like acid, burning in the back of her throat, different from thirst. The only thing she’d come to expect out of this life was a little fear from others, after all, what good was she? Not first born, not male, not worth much. Maybe she’d be of use if the king needed to wed her off to make someone happy, but that was it. It wasn’t like she was going to ever sit back and accept that though, and they both knew it. “And when I have those things, how quickly will they be snatched away from me? Can‘t you see, I‘m only trying to look out for you. Prepare you for the worst.” she said, knowing it was a lie. Selfish little Mina just wanted to be right, to be powerful, but it always felt like there was something missing, and she replaced that void with harsh words.

And no plan. Mina faced him coldly, “No plan, well, let me know how that turns out.” she said, and for once kept her mouth shut, at least, for a little while.

[Brone Van Estra]

"The worst has already happen. I've had the hardest two months of my life pass, and all you can say is 'me being an angry bitch just got you prepared'? Don't give yourself so much credit." He spat, enough anger in his words to satisfy her. He wouldn't trust her with power, even when it was his to give, she'd never use it correctly, she'd lash out at anyone, everyone. His tone was cold, his eyes utterly hard now. he'd love to make her take back her words, he'd love to just once in his entire life see weakness in her eyes, see an emotion other than hate. Just once would he liked to think she was his sister, not his adversary. A sister, and equal, instead of sounding like a chiding wife from something arranged with no regards to love. She just was a thorn in his side, a knife in his heart.

"Don't you have anyone else to antagonize?"

[Mina Van Estra]

Did he hate her? He should by now, she’d been down right awful, but hell, it worked. “What‘s wrong? Somebody getting a little testy?” she said, not really caring all to much, he’d acted the way she thought he would, he was angry, so maybe he did care about this girl. So what? Why did she mean so much to him? She was just another girl, Mina really couldn’t think of anything that would make her stand out, even if she was the most beautiful, or second beautiful to her, girl in the world, how could she turn Brone into this mess before her? This whole thing was complicated. “It must have been hard, living in a palace, having everything for yourself, having all the sex you want with some little woman you can just keep hidden, oh woe is you.” she said in a sarcastic manner.

The worst part was, who was going to stop her from acting like this? It wasn’t as if Brone could exactly run off and tell on her now, not with his current situation anyway. And she thought him to proud to ever run off and be a tattle tale, but he was the only person who ever even tried to keep her from being this rude little princess, so she had to give him some credit at least. “You know, your not the first person to ask me that, and the answer is always no, I just prefer to torture you.” she said, with a half massed smile that quickly faded.

[Brone Van Estra]

Brone felt anger rising in him. Was it too low of him to actually pounce at her? He sure as hell wanted too, a snarl rumbled softly from the back of his throat. She'd love that. "I have plenty of excuses to feel the way I do, what's youre excuse?" His love was dying, he couldn't get along with his family. He hated his fate, he was all wrong for it. She probably had an excuse, but just like she couldn't accept his pain, he would not accept hers. he wasn't going to baby Mina.

"One day I am going to kill you Mina," he said, exasperated. The words tumbled from his lips before he could stop them--and--and--he didn't even care. Killing Mina did not seem like such a big loss. Not right then. But he couldn't think of a single time they ahd actually gotten along. Not in his memory anyhow. He hadn't meant it as a threat-- he almost wished he had.

[Mina Van Estra]

“I don‘t believe in excuses. Excuses are a lazy persons way of dealing with their failure.” she said, she could have rambled on with a pity parade, but then she wouldn’t feel much different from Brone. And Mina, if anything, was very different from Brone, yet similar in so many ways she’d never admit. They both wanted different things for themselves, different fates, different ways to get the same thing, happiness. The only thing is Brone knew what would make him happy, and it sure as hell wasn’t Mina badgering him, though she enjoyed the growl he gave she knew he was becoming more and more frustrated, hostile even?

This only amused her further though she kept a calm façade. It hadn’t been her intention really to make him so pissed, or maybe it had been? Well it’s not like she didn’t love her brother, he was her brother after all, but still, they just didn’t get along. “Kill me? Is that the line you give everyone to get what you want these days, I have to say, I‘m not impressed. Besides, if don‘t make promises you can‘t keep.”