One more, and I shall have beaten Pixii! Hah!

Kidding. Enjoy.

Fortitude

I clenched my gut as he entered, my heart skipping a beat.

"Hello, Evelina." He gave me what he assumed to be a dashing smile, but to me it seemed like a lopsided grin. I couldn't see why every woman he met was enchanted by it.

But then again, I was his sister.

"Shadereth." I nodded coldly.

Another Absol entered, his eyes averted, bored, probably.

"Well, my brother!" Shadereth exclaimed, his dark eyes lighting up.

"Brother." Shadow nodded. He lays down, stretching out luxuriously next to his brother. They are identical, in every respect. Both cruel and dark hearted bastards who take pleasure in their tyrannical rule over the valley.

Shadereth yawned widely, displaying his pointed fangs. "I do wish those buggers downstairs would hurry up and bring dinner. I could eat a Salamance!"

Shadow nodded in agreement.

I snorted quietly. My brothers were gluttons, if anything else.

A Spinda entered the hall, carrying a roasted Stantler on a platter. Shadereth barked out. "Hurry up, you sodding bugger!"

The Spinda staggered under the weight of the platter, almost tipping it over. I hissed quietly.

When the Spinda had set the platter on a table, and exited, my brothers fell upon the food, smacking their lips and ripping the unfortunate creature apart.

I stood to one side, bile rising up in my throat.

Haven't I watched worse scenes before?

Why wasn't I enduring it, like I had done so many times before?

My state of fortitude, my only solace, was collapsing.

No more.

Shadow's eyes widened as he let out a scream. My fangs met his throat and he was flung into the air.

"Evelina! What are you doing, sister?!" Shadereth squealed.

"Ending something I should have ended long ago." I hissed.

Something else built up in my chest, a feeling of power. And control.

I had told myself that I was being strong, by enduring my brothers horrible acts and not moving to stop them. But now I saw that my sense of fortitude was now nothing but fear.

Killing my brothers was a real show of inner strength.

Shadow struggled to his paws, throat pouring blood.

I ended his pitiful life before he could even get his last words out, my claws tearing across his chest.

Shadereth ran, screaming, but I had always been faster.

I reached the door before him.

"Evelina! Please! I'm your brother!" He wailed, backing away from me.

"Do you think I care?" I snarled, my voice deadly calm. "You don't deserve life. I've been afraid of you two for ninety years. Now, your time is over. No more death of the innocents. The valley is going to see the light of day."

He turned, wailing pitifully, but even as my claws brought him crashing to the floor, he knew it was over.

And soon his blood was pooling on the floor.

I stood over their bodies, blood pounding in my ears.

The room had always been lit by torches, but now they were extinguished.

The room went dark.

And then there was light again.

Cool, pale blue moonlight was pouring through the windows, illuminating the entire hall.

The clouds of death and despair had been lifted.

And I had discovered my true inner strength.

My fortitude.

Hope you liked it! Please enjoy!