Chapter 6
Steve stood in the center of the large crowd, watching his friend perform one of his latest albums on stage as the crowd roared and clapped their hands to every beat of every song that was played. They sang along to almost all the songs that were sung that night, but there was one song in particular that everybody felt obliged to sing to. If they didn't know it, they felt the need to at least hum the beat.
His brother stood in the center of the plateau, lifting the microphone as he prepared to sing the next song. He took a deep breath, and lowered his head to avoid the cheering of the crowd. The miner smiled, his brother was actually shy. It warmed him for some reason. Casroth lifted his head again, and started the song, making everyone suddenly quiet down to hear his voice and sing along. Even Steve prepared himself, as he always loved his brother's songs. Casroth took a deep breath, and looked into the crowd.
"When the days are cold and the cards all fold,
and the saints we see are all made of gold.
When your dreams all fail and the ones we hail
are the worst of all, and the blood's run stale.
I wanna hide the truth,
I wanna shelter you.
But with the beast inside, there's nowhere we can hide.
No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed.
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come."
Suddenly, it seemed like everyone was singing the song as their voices mingled with Casroth's own and formed a beautiful melody. All the combined voices didn't drown out the instruments, but only made them seem louder.
"When you feel my heat, look into my eyes.
It's where my demons hide, It's where my demons hide.
Don't get too close, it's dark inside.
It's where my demons hide, It's where my demons hide.
At the curtains call is the last of all.
When the lights fade out, all the sinners crawl.
So they dug your grave and the masquerade,
will come calling out at the mess you've made.
Don't wanna let you down, but I am hell bound.
Though this is all for you, don't wanna hide the truth.
No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed.
This is my kingdom come, This is my kingdom come.
When you feel my heat, look into my eyes.
It's where my demons hide, It's where my demons hide.
Don't get too close, it's dark inside.
It's where my demons hide, It's where my demons hide.
They say it's what you make I say it's up to fate.
It's woven in my soul, I need to let you go.
Your eyes they shine so bright, I wanna save that light.
I can't escape this now, unless you show me how!"
Everyone quieted down enough for Casroth to project his voice with the last line. Only once he did so, did they cheer wildly before continuing to sing along with him the song that meant so much to all the people that lived in the village. Most sang, but Steve could hear whoops and hollers as some people cheered with absolute delight.
"When you feel my heat, look into my eyes.
It's where my demons hide, It's where my demons hide.
Don't get too close, it's dark inside.
It's where my demons hide, It's where my demons hide."
The crowd went wild as Casroth finished the song. He scanned the crowd, seeming to look for someone, until his eyes locked with Steve's own. His face lit up faster than a torch and he scrambled to get off the plateau, dropping the microphone as he ran through the crowd; throwing himself onto Steve as soon as he was close enough. Steve quickly wrapped his arms around his friend and dear brother, smiling as he remembered the sweat smell of his brother's clothes, as well as his twinkling eyes and adorable features. He smiled the small smile his brother loved and Casroth slightly pulled away to look Steve in the eye.
"Oh my Notch! Did you see that Steve? Everyone was singing! And I mean everyone! They seemed to really love the song! I'm so happy!" Casroth held Steve tightly for a minute before releasing his tight hug and before Steve could reply, Casroth took his hand, leading the miner through the crowd and towards the plateau. Steve gapped and tried to pull back, but didn't want to offend Casroth and so he let his brother pull him along. When they reached the plateau, Casroth whispered into his ear, smiling.
"Why don't we perform our latest song for them as a surprise? We perform very well together and could easily pull it off. Are you up to it?" Casroth was looking at him with a slight grin on his face, he knew what the answer would be even before the miner even said it.
"Sure. They'll sure be happy, won't they?" Steve's smile broadened as Casroth literally jumped up and down in excitement. He went over to one of the performers and asked something, the man nodded and handed him a guitar. Casroth walked back over to Steve and handed him the instrument. It was hollow, being made of wood, and relatively light. He strummed a few strings, making sure the guitar was tuned and was satisfied. He nodded and Casroth grabbed the microphone as he turned to address the audience.
"My fellow people, I bid for you to stay for one last song that my brother and I have spent so much time and effort creating." His voice was light and convincing. Almost everybody had decided to stay, except for a few men that looked rather out of place as they stuck to the shadows. Casroth turned towards his brother, who started strumming the strings again, getting into the beat of the song rather quickly. Soon the drummer joined, adding to the beat, as well as other various instruments. Steve grew a little concerned, as it was supposed to be a guitar solo song, but Casroth didn't seem to mind, so Steve brushed it off. Soon, Casroth raised the microphone to his lips and started singing, his melodic voice made other people attempt to sing with them.
"I can see every tear you've cried,
Like an ocean in your eyes.
All the pain and the scars have left you cold.
I can see all the fears you faced,
Through a storm that never goes away.
Don't believe all the lies that you've been told."
The crowd was surprised at the new song being sung on the plateau, but soon every one found it hooking in a way and tried to sing along. The ones that were leaving decided to stay, the song captivating their attention in many ways. A low hum was started by the crowd, who tried to sing the song, but were unable to find the right words to sing along.
"I'll be right here now,
To hold you when the sky falls down.
I will always be the one that took your place
When the rain falls,
I won't let go.
I'll be right here."
Steve kept strumming the strings, singing along with his brother with a smile on his face. Casroth loved it when people tried to sing along to his songs. He knew how much Casroth loved to sing and warm people's hearts. It brought him so much joy to see his brother being so happy. Steve just loved the way Casroth would smile and always bring up the mood when anyone was down. It seemed that his smile worked better than any medicine the miner ever knew.
"I will show you the way back home,
Never leave you all alone.
I will stay until the morning comes.
I'll show you how to live again,
and heal the brokenness within.
Let me love you when you come undone."
The crowd was getting the hang of the beat, humming it in even tones. Some started clapping, adding to the soft melody of guitar and a few other instruments. People seemed to enjoy the song, as some where whopping and hollering occasionally. The melody carried through the small village, getting the attention of more than just the villagers that dwelled around. Steve continued to strum the guitar and sing in perfect sync with his brother, the crowd starting to get the hang of the words as they hummed the soft beat.
"I'll be right here now,
To hold you when the sky falls down.
I will always be the one that took your place
When the rain falls,
I won't let go
I'll be right here.
When daybreak seems so far away,
Reach for my hand.
When hope and peace begin to fray,
Still I will stay...
Right here now,
To hold you when the sky falls down.
I will always be the one that took your place
When the rain falls I won't let go.
When the rain falls I won't let go.
I'll be right here."
The soft melody finished, falling into a loud cheer. Casroth raised his hand, waving to the crowd in salute. Some of the guards that happened to be patrolling the area saluted back before continuing on their way. The end was satisfying, as Casroth was smiling happily and waving to the crowd, giving high five's to the closest people, who looked like they found the diamond jack-pot. Everything was going well, but Steve noticed that the men in the shadows were no longer there and that made him nervous. He was glad when the show was over, everyone leaving with happy grins on their faces, singing the latest song.
He was wrong, however, when he thought the night couldn't get any worse. As he walked home, he noticed Casroth had disappeared. This made Steve panic, as his brother was a little afraid of venturing alone outside after dark. The miner looked up at the sky in instinct and was shocked by what he saw. His gaped lightly, wondering if it was a trick, or if the sky was really turning a blood-red colour instead of a deep blue as it was supposed to. He rubbed his eyes, being unsure if he was dreaming or not.
He looked around as the ground began to shake, twist and swirl in every direction, making it hard for the miner to keep his footing. He tried to keep his footing, trying to regain balance but soon found himself sitting on his rear, rubbing his head. He turned his head right, then left. Finding nothing. No village, no roads, no people, no nothing. He stood, finding it strange that the ground had stopped swaying and swirling. A scream echoes ahead of him; a scream that he recognized and knew. Once on his feet, he sprinted towards the scream. It was terrible, whoever was screaming seemed like they were in pain, terrible pain when it turned into a wail then silenced. He made himself go faster, soon seeing that his surrounding were changing, growing more green and alive, but something was wrong. Something was off. The miner has been here before, too many times. All he ever remembered was...
He looked ahead of him, seeing a body of someone very familiar and frail, with a white shirt being tainted with his own precious life fluid. He was having trouble staying focused, as his eyes threatened to close permanently. Steve felt tears come to his eyes, as he started running for his dying brother, a deep slash crossed his chest, oozing blood. As he tried to get closer however, he only got farther away. He could still hear his voice, echoing across the blank space that seemed to consume the green fields in which his brother lay dying. He cried, only wanting to reach him, to save him.
"Steve...I-I..." His soft voice was cut as a cough raked his body. He took a shaky breath before continuing, a tear moving down his face in a slow motion, leaving a thin line to mark its passage. "Ste-Steve...the Kings...the-they want to-to ressurect-Hero-" He coughed again, making a pained wail afterwards. His voice was shaking and his breath was slowing. "They wanted th-the glory-of kill-killing him. Don't le-let them. Pl-please, my brother." Steve tried desperately to get to his brother, but he only got further away with every step he took. His brother's voice still echoed through the now darkening world, slowly consuming his vision. His brother's voice, however, was still very clear.
"Casroth! PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE!" Steve cried, his voice carrying and echoing off unseen walls. His tears flowed on and on, seeming like they would never end. He wanted nothing more than to be by his side to comfort his grounded brother. He kept running, noticing that he was actually getting closer to his brother. He fell to his brothers side, lifting him up into a sitting position.
"Steve..."His brother smiled a pained smile before coughing as he slowly put his hand on the miners chest. "Still I-I will stay...ri-right here now. To Ho-hold you wh-when the sk-sky falls down..." The last words he spoke were more aired out, his breath leaving his body as his eyes closed, a small smile on his face as his head lolled on the miners arm, his arm dropping from the miners heart and touching the ground, lifeless. The last words made the tears stronger, as they seemed to pour from his eyes endlessly. He stared, not wanting to believe his eyes. Not wanting to believe his brother, loved by all the villagers, was gone forever, leaving Steve alone once again; only this time with a gaping hole in his heart that was never to be filled.
"NO!" Steve wailed. Losing his brother was the worst thing he could've imagined. Now he was left alone with nothing but a hole in his heart. He cried for awhile, holding his only family, never noticing that it was raining; his tears mixing with the rain. He felt cold, not from the rain, but from a heated rage against the people everyone looked up to. He wanted nothing more than to expose the kings for murder and a plot to gain popularity. But above all else, he wanted to kill them for taking away the only that was more precious than diamonds from him.
He kept seeing that pained face, the way his brother somehow tried to comfort Steve in the end, even to his last breath. Casroth had begged him not to let the kings resurrect someone only to kill them again. He kept hearing those pained last words his brother had told him, trying to let him know that he would never truly be gone. But someone had taken away the twinkle in his eyes, the comforting smile his brother always had, the way his smile would warm your heart. He couldn't bear it. He didn't want it to be true. But the proof was in his arms, and he was unable to deny it. He wanted nothing more than to be with his brother, but the nightmare only repeated itself.
Over...and over...and over again...