I see you’re back for another round of Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. In case you hadn’t guessed, I’ve been serializing my latest short story about Blade Devon’s early days and doling it out a few sentences at a time. In the interest of moving along, I’ve skipped ahead a few sentences to Blade’s release from jail as he’s remanded into his brother’s custody.
Last week, Blade’s personal effects were returned minus a few contraband items, like a couple of pocket knives…and a few other minor things. This week our intrepid hero is faced with the truth of his condition as he sees himself through his brother’s eyes.
***
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t just leave you here until your hearing.” Chase Fossey demanded.
Blade glanced over his shoulder at his brother.
His anxieties faded like shadows in the daylight. Despite his open disapproval, Chase was the only person he trusted to always have his back.
When the guard finally stepped away with the manacles, Blade’s shoulders sagged in relief.
Baby steps.
He slowly turned to his brother. Chase, a broad, blond, giant of a man glared impatiently at him. Though they were roughly the same height, and normally of similar build, Blade felt dwarfed beside him.
The stark disparity between them drove home just how screwed up his life had become. He’d lost a lot of weight after the injury that had sent him home on extended medical leave. Sleepless nights and self-loathing had left him hollow-eyed, pale, and apathetic.
Blade was still trying to decide whether his life was worth the effort of recuperation. Chase of all people didn’t need to know how close to the edge he was dancing. His brother was his touchstone and the only thing that kept him sane and grounded.
***
I shall be posting next week because I don’t want to leave you hanging, but I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to fully participate in the conversation. My daughter is getting married next Saturday — the last of three daughters who all decided to get married this year. I may be a bit delayed. Please check out the other wonderful authors participating and don’t forget to show them some love!
Gotta Name My Blog 
After the stone-cold killer thoughts of the previous snippets, this snippet shows Blade’s underlying emotional fragility. A good balance with the earlier sections.
He’s already starting to learn how to compartmentalize those different aspects of himself. It’s a skill that will serve him well in the future.
There’s nothing like family to pull you up.
No matter how big and bad you get, your older siblings will always see you as a snot nosed kid who by turns annoyed them and amused them at your expense. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Having read the novels, none of this came as any surprise to me. Fun transition from stone cold killer Blade to introspective Blade.
I just cannot surprise you anymore, can I?
I imagine it’s the same for me surprising my fans. 😉
Congratulations on your daughters’ marriages.
I’m glad Blade has a compassionate brother.
Thank you!
Chase is the keeper of Blade’s
humanity.
Blade must have really screwed up something bad to get Chase worked up like this. I do like the way Blade is presented here. It makes him more…human.
Congrats on the upcoming wedding! I hope everything goes well.
It’s not how Blade screwed up, it’s how many times. Chase is going broke posting bond for him. I’ve often said that if Blade has a hero or role model, it’s his brother Chase. Chase is the man he wishes he could be. In Blade’s mind, he is everything dark and ugly in the Commonwealth, while he sees Chase as everything noble and good. Eventually, Blade grows out of seeing things in such absolutes, but at this point in his life, that’s where his brain is.
And thank you!
Poor Blade. Remembering him from Sovran’s Pawn, he’s clearly been through a lot to reach this stage.
This is actually three years *before* Sovran’s Pawn. He was still healing from this part of his life when he met Bo.