The Powers Brothers

A Chapter by Trash Fairy

Once upon a time there was a man named Éadrom Powers, and what a noble man he was. Born in the land of Eire into a small village called Enniscrone in County Sligo. Although his parents were righteous and kind, a second son was born and he was everything the good family was not. His birth was a surprise for everyone, arriving when the parents were well passed their youth and the first son was already a young man of 15. He was born during a storm, the worst the small village had seen in decades; and he was born a month premature. He came out small and helpless, the only time in his life he would appear that way. He did not cry as he was born, a strange child indeed and he frightened not only the midwife, but his mother and father as well. They called him Scáth which means 'shadow' in Irish, for they hoped despite his already apparent odd nature he would closely follow his brother and his actions, turning out to be as pure and kind as he. Éadrom would never fear him as the rest of the family did, for he was excited to be a mentor and vowed to teach him all that was right and beautiful in the world. Unfortunately he was wrong, he did have reason to fear- they all did.

Scáth seemed to grow by the hour. While he started small, he grew into a beast of a man, becoming almost as tall as his brother by the age of 12. The brothers were inseparable. This was more-so due to the fact that as Scáth got older he become increasingly darker. First it was his hair, then his actions and even the air around him seemed to dim as he approached. His eyes though, his eyes were always black, since the day he silently arrived in that storm.

While his little brother was almost as tall as him, Éadrom couldn't look more different. He favored his parents, both with strawberry blond hair and he had his mother's glowing green eyes instead of their father's hazel. A tall man but lean with muscle. He still loved Scáth more than anything in the world, despite his dark nature, but didn't trust him to be alone. He was determined to teach him his ways, but every time Scáth was left alone something awful happened. First, it was the cat. She was found in a bush with her stomach open, her insides on the outside. The family said it must have been a stray or wild dog, and they hoped it was true but knew that it wasn't; Scáth was only five years old. When the dog turned up dead as well two years later, with his paw missing and appearing to have been beaten to death... Scáth wasn't left alone anymore.

Éadrom watched him and taught him, raising him almost on his own. Their father had fallen ill and their mother never left his side at the bed. The more he watched, the more secretive Scáth became. However, Éadrom refused to give up on his brother. Until the day he met Fionnuala. After that, the time he had to constantly watch Scáth dwindled quickly. How he loved her, how he instantly loved her.

He met her at the Dockyard one day. He was there buying some fish for the family when he heard a cry. Just as he looked over he saw a man push a girl down, then make a run for it. Instinct kicked in and before he even realized he was chasing the man, he had him pinned down with a bloodied nose. He pried the girl's bag out of the assailant’s fingers, who then ran off like a dog with his tail between his legs. When he returned to the girl, he saw she was still attempting to wipe off what little mud she could get off her dress and speaking with an older man.

'I believe this-,' he was cut short when he looked into those eyes and saw how truly entrancing she was. He half mumbled and half choked out the rest,'-um.. b-belongs to you.'

'I believe your correct, that bloody b*****d,' she returned as she grabbed the bag from his hands. He was shocked. Éadrom couldn't believe such an angel could speak so harshly.

'Now that's not how a lady ought to speak and you know it too well my pet, I tell you about twice a day.' Éadrom looked over and realized the man was still standing with them.

'Sorry Da', but too right he is. Thank you sir, I would've chased him down me-self but that bast-,' she started but corrected herself when the man gave her a sideways glance, 'that, ugh, that man knocked me down and you were off before I could get up and go after him on my own. I'm much obliged to you Mr....', he realized after a moment of silent staring that she was asking him a question.

'Powers, Éadrom Powers. But please miss, I'd much prefer if you'd call me Éadrom.'

'Nice to meet you young Powers,' the man cut in, 'I'm Peter Kenney and this here's me daughter Fionnuala.'

He reached out to shake Éadrom's hand before continuing.

'I'm very thankful you came to my daughter's aid like that, even though she thinks she don't need it. Not too many young men would've notice let alone try to help, I didn't see anyone else go chasing after him like that. I'm impressed with your manners as well as your speed!' He laughed a hard, loud laugh and slapped Éadrom on the back. Fionnuala blushed. Now that he looked at the pair of them, not just stared at her, it was obvious they were kin. Both with curly red hair, hers long and his short with a large, fluffy mustache to match, and both with light grey eyes; like a storm cloud brewing with thunder.

'Well Mr. Powers-'

'Éadrom.'

'My apologies,' she blushed again, 'Éadrom. I would like to repay your service to me if you'd choose to accept. If ya like you could out come out to our farm and join us for dinner.'

It seemed forward, especially in front of her father, but Mr. Kenney was all too eager as well.

'Ay, she's right my boy. We're not too far yet and she's quite good in the kitchen, too good.' He laughed that loud laugh again.

'Oh Da'! You're embarrassing me,' she snapped.

'What! You are. Clumsy as all hell everywhere else but graceful in the kitchen, I always say' he chuckled.

'Da!'

But before their little quarrel could go any farther, Éadrom replied:

'I'd absolutely love to, lead the way Miss Kenney. After all, ladies first.' Their eyes locked once more, this time it was his turn to blush. With that, everything changed.

Scáth hated always having Éadrom around; he hated being constantly watched and constantly lectured. He hated it even more, however, when he stopped being watched and stopped being lectured. When Éadrom met Fionnuala, Scáth's world was altered forever. Éadrom was never home, and when he was- she was all he would talk about. Mum and Da were thrilled he'd finally found someone. He was already 27, well passed the age most were when they married. He spent so much time with Scáth before though, he never so much as talked to girls; and Scáth liked it that way. But now he had her and no longer made the time to make sure his little brother was staying out of trouble; he no longer watched, no longer lectured, and he no longer listened.

Life went on that way for 3 months, then Éadrom proposed. Both families were as delighted as could be. A huge party was arranged, feasting and dancing galore. After the wedding they announced their intentions of moving to America, a place called Louisiana, where there was land, freedom and most importantly opportunity. Then... they left. When they did so, the small amount of happiness and good in Scáth's life left with him. Scáth didn't try to conceal his true self any longer.

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