Brothers Bethune & Baird: Part Two (complete)

Exhaustion kicks in at some point, and I fall asleep in the invisible car Baird has created with his miming. When I awake, I’m lying on an old sofa with a blanket draped over me. As I sit up and look around, I see bookcases all around, seemingly positioned at random. Towards the back, I see Baird standing beside another man as they look over a desk.

“This is the work of that old bastard, all right,” the stranger sighs. “I can help, Baird, but I am not sure how much I can do. You and Bethune are…”

Baird shakes his head then makes an ‘X’ with his arms before him. He pats Bethune’s book and nods to the man.

The man sighs and slouches a bit. “I know you want him free, but you’ve been cursed too. This life of no color or sound must be torture.”

Baird shakes his head and keeps his hands over Bethune’s journal.

I stand from the sofa, and the man turns to face me. His dark hair has a blue sheen in the light, and he’s wearing thick glasses. “Well, well, if it isn’t the baby sister waking up.”

I flinch and almost want to run away. He has my father’s eyes, now that I can see him clearly. Fear bubbles up inside me, one that always comes when my father scolds me or looks at me crossly. 

“I’m sorry,” I shiver.

Baird comes towards me. He shakes his head, places his hands over his heart and nods.

“Don’t be afraid of me,” the man says. “I’m Robin, your brother, and avid hater of our father.” He places his hand on Baird’s shoulder. “I thought he stopped having children ages ago after the Swans got hold of him. In any case, Baird brought you here to keep you safe, as well as find a way to save him and Bethune.”

“Can you?” I ask. “Is it possible?”

“Maybe, but my powers can only go so far,” Robin sighs. “It might be possible to extract Bethune from the book, but how much we can rescue, I am uncertain. Baird is halfway there as it is, but…”

Baird shakes his head and points to Bethune’s book.

Robin lets out a beleaguered sigh. “But he is insistent that he wants no saving.” He takes off his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose. “Those are bridges we shall cross when we come to them.” He looks at me and kindness floods his eyes, a kindness I never saw in my father. “And what about you? Is there anything you need?”

I look away from him. His eyes scare me. “I’m not sure. I’ve never been outside before.” I squeeze my hands together, twisting my fingers as my nerves become raw. “I just wanted to help them.”

Baird places his hand on my shoulder and nods. 

“Had I known about you, I would have helped you like the others.” Robin places his glasses back on. “But I suppose that was the point, Pan didn’t want you to know. He wanted one unspoiled child all to himself.” He grimaces. “I am so sorry, dear sister.”

I sniffle as a heavy weight swells in my heart.

“You can stay with me for as long as you want,” Robin murmurs. “My wife, Eira, and I will keep you safe here, and you can live the life our father kept from you.” He opens a window, a circular one like the stained glass window back at my old home. This window is clear, and I can see out into the world from it. The light that pours in casts shadows on the floor, and I can see the names of my siblings floating like the dust in the air.

That evening, I set up house in the new room that Eira prepared for me while I slept. I’m unsure what to do with myself. Robin told me that I’m free to go anywhere in his home, but I am painfully unused to that. I try to gather the courage to open the door, but suddenly Baird walks in with Bethune clutched to his chest.

Baird kneels beside me and places Bethune in my lap with a pen. He taps the cover and smiles up at me.

I sigh with relief, having wanted to see them more than anything. “I’m glad you’re here,” I murmur. I touch Baird’s cheek, and he nuzzles my palm.

Baird opens Bethune, and his words start appearing in red ink on the page again. “Are you all right?”

I take pen to paper. “I’m fine, just different.”

“Robin is a good man. He’ll take care of you, and you can have a home to be happy in from now on. Once Baird and I get things figured out, we’ll be returning to the carnival.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “I want to go with you.”

“Are you sure, Cybele?” Bethune asks. “You’ll be safe here, you’ll have Robin and Eira to take care of you and show you the world.”

“I know they are kind people, but Robin reminds me of my father and I don’t want to be scared of him.” My fingers tremble, and Baird rubs his hand up my arm. “I want to go with you. I want to see this carnival you speak so highly of.”

“We cannot tell you what to do or how to live your life.” Bethune dots the end of the sentence with a small heart. “If you wish to join us, we will not stop you.”

Baird taps my hand for attention and forms a heart with his fingers.

“Baird is right, whatever he has said.” Bethune adds another heart. “You saved me and reunited me with my brother. We owe you more than you could ever know.”

“You’re my first friends in the world,” I write as tears fill my eyes. “I would do anything for you.”

Baird kisses my forehead and wipes the tears from my eyes. His strong hand cups my cheek and I look into his white eyes. 

“Is it true Baird cannot hear and cannot see color?” I write in Bethune.

Baird nods, using two hands to cover his ears and another set to cover his eyes. But his smile remains as bright as ever.

“Baird was born hard of hearing, and our teacher at the carnival taught us sign language and led Baird to be a mime. He taught Baird everything about body language in order to communicate. Even when Dr. Haytham fitted Baird with hearing aids, he much preferred using mime to communicate.”

I look up at Baird, who has his eyes on the page. They flick up to look at me, and he cups his hands around his ears before placing them over mine. 

“Pan took advantage of that, I suppose, and made Baird’s fears a reality. Baird always said he would prefer to see the colors of the carnival more than anything.”

Baird swept his fingers through my hair, moving it out of my face.

“Maybe going back to the carnival will help.” I scribble down. “Maybe being in your home and surrounded by people you love will work a magic of its own, stronger than what Robin could do.”

Baird nods and reaches into his pocket. He pulls something out, showing off his empty hand before he starts working over an invisible object.

“The car again?” I ask with some trepidation. 

Baird nods, making a face. He can’t seem to find the right key on his keychain.

Red ink appears on the page again. “We should ask Robin where the carnival is now. I may be a book, but that mime car was still quite terrifying.”

Robin and Eira have their own way of reaching the carnival. Robin has a specially made wardrobe, with a back that opens to the backstage of the circus. As Baird and I walk through it, I step out into quiet and still surroundings.

Baird looks around, stepping away from me as he looks around in awe. Breathlessly he walks into the big top, and stands there as tears the size of golf balls fall from his eyes.

I hear a whisper from the journal, almost as if Bethune is trying to speak. I open it up and the red ink scrawls fast along the page.

“I can feel it. We’re home. I can’t believe it.” The ink runs as if Bethune is crying, like tears hitting the page.

“Who goes there?” The voice cuts through me like a knife as I rush towards Baird. I reach out for him, taking hold of his hand and ducking behind him. Baird stands at attention and waves, taking a step forward as a man walks down towards the center stage.

“My god,” he whispers. “Baird?”

Baird urges me to step forward, but I’m too afraid.

“Is that really you?” The man sounds near tears. “Where’s Bethune?” 

Baird takes Behune from my hands and holds the small red journal out to the man. 

“Who is that?” a small voice asks. 

I peer out from behind Baird to see that the man is holding the hand of a little girl. “Papa.” The girl tugs his hand.

“Now, now, Echo,” the man murmurs to her. “We must be polite. We have old friends returning to us.” He looks at Bethune’s open pages, reading a page that appears to be entirely covered in red ink. His expression shifts from a doting smile to concern, and then to great distress. He looks up at Baird with tears in his eyes. 

“You poor boys,” he whispers. “Not to worry. Ballura has been cared for and loved here. She’ll be excited to see you again. As for you, young lady…” He turns his attention on me. I cower further behind Baird.

“My name is Authaire Faire. I am the ringleader here and a friend to all.” He glances at the girl beside him. “This is my daughter, Echo. We’re very happy to have you here with us. Robin is my dearest friend, and I will love and protect anyone he loves as well.”

I step out a little further, looking up at his kind expression. “Can you help them?” My voice trembles.

“I will try. We all will.” Mr. Faire hands Bethune back to me. “And we will take care of you as well.”

The carnival is filled with all sorts of amazing creatures and people. It is a feast for the eyes. Everyone seems so happy and in love with where they are. Mr. Faire leads us through the crowds, taking us to a white tent with a red cross on the front.

“Haytham?” Mr. Faire calls out. “Haytham, old man, are you here?”

“I’m younger than you, old man,” Haytham chuckles as he comes forward. Then he stops dead in his tracks and stares up at Baird. “Oh, my god.”

“That’s what I said!” Mr. Faire laughs. He leans down to address Echo. “Okay, sweetheart, go get your mother. Have her bring Ballura and her father back here. Okay?”

Echo salutes. “You got it!” She dashes from the tent, wobbling a bit as she goes.

“Baird, what happened to you?” Haytham gasps as he looks over his old patient. 

Baird starts using sign language to communicate, and Haytham follows along. Mr. Faire takes me aside, places Bethune on a desk and opens his pages.

“We’ll figure this out, don’t worry,” Mr. Faire tells me. “I know what Pan is like and how cruel he is. A lot of us here know that. This place is made by love and family, the exact opposite of Pan.” He gives me a gentle smile and squeezes my hand tightly. “You’re home here as long as you want to be.”

“I just want them saved,” I tell him. “I don’t care what happens to me.”

Mr. Faire furrows his brow. “You should, because without you, they wouldn’t be here now. To them, you’re the most important person in the world.” His smile brightens. “You’re their hero.”

Bethune begins to write on the page again, and Mr. Faire reads over it. “You must be tired,” he says. “When Ruby gets here, I’ll see to it she finds you a comfortable bed to sleep in tonight.”

“What about Ballura?” I ask in a choked voice. “She’s my sister too.”

Mr. Faire nods. “I know. But you have been through a lot in such a short amount of time and you will have Ballura for so long. Rest now, and recover. Tomorrow you’ll face the world strong and bright, and you’ll be reunited with family.”

“Take his advice.” I can almost hear Bethune’s voice coming from the pages as he writes. “Please, get some rest. We will see you tomorrow.”

I wait with Ruby and Echo when they arrive at the tent, bringing with them a girl who must be Ballura and a man who resembles a spider. Ruby takes me to their tent and gives me Echo’s bed for the night. As she’s getting me clean sheets, Echo looks up at me with yellow moon eyes and smiles.

“Would you like me to read you a bedtime story?” She has such sharp teeth, I notice. 

“You don’t have to,” I reply.

Echo bounces and breaks into a bigger grin. “But I would sure like to. It always makes me feel better when Mama and Papa read to me before bed. You look sad.”

I can’t remember the last time someone tucked me in or read to me. I’ve always read alone in secret. My mother used to read to me before my father forced her away. Echo ends up reading to me, and the two of us fall asleep together. 

In the morning, Ruby shows me where to get a shower and finds me some clean, comfortable clothes to wear. I have breakfast in the massive mess hall - a whole assortment of new foods, with coffee.

“Baird and Bethune are still in the medical tent with Dr. Haytham,” Ruby tells me. “I was given strict instructions to make sure you were well taken care of before we went to see them.”

I nod. “Thank you. I’ve had a very nice morning.” I take another sip of coffee. “Is there any word?” I ask. 

Ruby sighs. “I’m not sure. Both Haytham and Authaire have been working hard all night with Robin. They even called in Puck.”

I furrow my brow. That name is familiar. In fact, it appeared among the many in Robin’s window.

“Ah!” Ruby starts. “I remembered. He’s one of your brothers.”

“I keep learning about siblings,” I murmur. I glance down into my cup and swirl the coffee around inside. “But my father had no love for any of us, did he?”

Ruby sighs heavily and leans forward on the table. “From what I have heard, that truly seems to be the case. But do not be afraid,” she says with a smile. “Of the siblings I have met, all of them have found love. You as well.”

I return her smile. “Thank you.” I place my hand over my chest. “That is…actually very comforting to hear.”

I go back to the medical tent to see Baird is on the ground with Bethune’s journal open. Baird is scribbling something and looking very intently at the pages. All around him is a scattering of sheets of paper with things drawn on them. Haytham and Mr. Faire stand close by, watching while another man kneels beside Baird.

As I step forward, the face of a young man is drawn on the papers in red ink. Baird is finishing one of the drawings as I step closer. The face moves, blinking and tilting its chin. A sketched hand appears on the page, then reaches from the pages, stretching out and ripping the paper. 

The man beside Baird stands up. “Take his hand! Now!”

Baird grabs the hand reaching out. He pulls, and the head rises from the page. Rushing forward, I help by taking the second arm that extends out. I fall to my knees to grab the body that surges from the pages. Baird continues to pull as I steady the figure.

Soon, Bethune is out of the journal and laying in my arms. He feels like he is made of paper, and ink begins to spill from him and stain my skin. Haytham and Robin rush forward, collecting Bethune with Puck and laying him on a table.

The red ink spills down the sides of the table, splashing to the ground. Baird takes hold of me, wrapping his arms around me as he shakes in fear. I hold him in return, and Mr. Faire takes us both outside. He tries to comfort the both of us. “Breathe deep. From here on out, we will do what we can to save Bethune. The hard part is over, but healing begins now.”

The clown girl from the day before comes rushing up. “Did I miss it? Is he okay?” she pants.

“Stay with your family,” Mr. Faire says. “Your brother and sister are here.”

Ballura looks at me with wide eyes. She rushes forward, hugging both me and Baird. The three of us wait outside the tent, hoping to hear some news. Eventually, Haytham comes outside to tell us all what has happened.

“We have him stable, but he is still very weak. It will take a long time, but he will be back to normal eventually. He needs a lot of healing and a lot of work in order to get to that point, though.” Haytham glances at the three of us. “I will do what I can, and Puck has promised to help as well. But he will need all of you more than anybody.”

“Can we see him?” I ask anxiously.

Haytham leads us back into the tent, where Bethune is lying in bed. He’s beautiful; his body almost looks like living watercolor. The back of his bed is raised so he can sit up, and his arms are resting in braces. His long red hair falls in messy curls, which shift as he opens his eyes and turns his head. He smiles and tries to lift his arm, but the limb trembles and falls back.

“It’s good to see you.” His voice is deep and gentle.

Baird hugs him, then me, then Ballura. Then we all hug at once.

Bethune’s body is weak from being in the journal, and he has a lot of physical therapy ahead of him. Over the next few days, Puck gives him a wheelchair which is specially fitted to help him stay upright. He works on his upper body first, building up his arms and strength in his chest. Soon he is able to hold things and lift his arms for hugs.

Puck works with Baird as well, inspecting him to see if he can return his ability to produce sound or see color. Baird doesn’t seem concerned. In fact, he says these things are trivial now. He has Bethune back, as well as Ballura and I, and it doesn’t matter as long as he’s happy.

I enjoy living in the carnival. I’ve made friends and met more people than I could have ever dreamed of. I’ve become very close with Ballura, who does indeed perform as a clown in the circus. And she’s been teaching me sign language.

One evening as I’m helping Bethune with his exercises, he takes hold of my hand. “Cybele, you’ve been helping us from the moment you met us,” he says. “Are you sure there is nothing we can do to thank you?”

I shake my head. “You don’t need to do anything. I am just happy being here.”

Baird makes a heart with his hands and pulses it in and out.

“What we’re trying to say is…” Bethune chuckles. “We want to do something for you. Something special, something… romantic.”

My heart hammers and my cheeks turn bright red. “Romantic?” I smile, then bite down on my lip. “You don’t have to.”

“We must,” Bethune smiles. “Because we love you.”

I lower my head. “I…” I choke on my  words, and simply close my eyes as Bethune kisses my temple.

“We made a promise that once I was strong enough, we would tell you.” He lifts my chin and Baird kisses my cheek. 

I sniffle and open my eyes again. “I love you both too, but it’s so scary.”

“I know,” Bethune whispers. He places the softest of kisses on my lips. “It’s okay.”

I turn, meeting Baird’s kiss. Then I kiss Bethune again and again, giving Baird just as many kisses in turn. I feel as if I am overflowing, and cannot stop touching them or kissing them. There is so much love in my heart I feel the need to show them more and more. 

“Are you sure it’s okay?” I tremble as I straddle Bethune’s naked body. His soft hands stroke down my bare chest and he smiles.

“Of course. I only wish I was strong enough to give you all my passion,” he beams. His hard cock throbs against me, and I slowly rub myself against him.

“I’ve never done this before.” A bit of drool hangs on my lip. “Does it feel good?”

Bethune moans. “Yes, of course. You feel so warm, Cybele.”

Baird’s hands stroke down my body, and he kisses the back of my neck and shoulder. His hands guide my hips, showing me how to move and supporting me. I take Bethune inside. I squeeze around him as Baird moves my hips.

Bethune cries out and he puts his hands around my waist. His long hair trails along the floor like spilled paint, and a wash of soft pink spreads over his face. Inside me, he’s hard and warm, and the deeper he goes, the better it feels. I start to move on my own. I thrust back against him, not wanting to hurt him by pressing my hands on his chest. Baird holds my arms back as I rock against Bethune.

Bethune trembles and his mouth opens wide. “I’m close,” his hands tighten. “Cybele, my love, I’m…” his voice chokes off and deep inside, I feel a surge. There’s a heat that blooms deep inside me, and I let out a long cry. My spine turns to pudding, and the only thing holding me up is Baird.

Baird pulls me from Bethune and cradles me in his arms. His long fingers slip inside me, and I see Bethune’s seed spill out pure white on his dark fingers.

Bethune watches from the bed, rolling to his side. His beautiful hair spills around him and a gentle smile spreads across his lips. “You look so lovely.”

Baird’s mouth stretches open silently as he moves inside me. His strong, deft fingers seem to know me better than I know myself. He knows every nook, every sensitive cranny. He leans me over the bed so my legs are off the side. He stands beside me and his hands stroke down my back. Bethune kisses me as Baird slips inside. His cock is very thick and feels much different from Bethune’s, almost like a corkscrew.

“Oh…” I cry out. “Baird!”

Baird shivers. He moves tentatively, slowly inserting himself inside and pulling out. I moan again and his fingers twitch around my hips. He moves harder, with more intent. He drives himself forward and I hear something.

I look over my shoulders, seeing his mouth is open wide. His long, pink tongue hangs out from his lips. Pink!

“Baird?” I mewl. “Baird, let me see you.”

He looks at me with blue eyes, the same as Bethune’s. Tears roll down his cheeks as I lay on my back before him. A breath escapes his lips with a pitiful whimper. He slips back inside me and begins driving himself forward. He lays on top of me, breathing into my ear. I cry out with him, feeling his heat deep inside like Bethune’s.

I rest in bed between them, both of them peaceful and exhausted. Baird’s blue eyes look at me with longing and he breaks into a smile. He lifts his hand and signs to me, “Say something.”

“What should I say?” I chuckle breathlessly.

Baird kisses me, pressing close to me as Bethune holds me from behind. 

“Who knew true love’s kiss was an actual thing?” Bethune chuckles as he kisses my neck. “I suppose there is a hint of truth to all fairy tales.”

Baird grins and nuzzles his face against my chest. His long arms hold me fast, and he lets out a long sigh of relief. 

“Are you happy?” Bethune asks me. “Will the two of us be enough for you?”

“What are you saying?” I blurt. “How could two of you not be enough?”

Bethune kisses me. “We are both a little incomplete, and still healing.” He kisses my shoulder. “We just want to make sure.”

“None of us are ever complete,” I frown. “It would be selfish of me to expect otherwise.” I meet Baird’s kiss and melt into the bed. “Let’s get some sleep.”

Bethune continues to grow stronger. Eventually he only needs the aid of a cane, which he uses as a prop in his new clown act. Baird’s strange appearance never changes, but he is able to take on a glamour in order to perform his mime act in the carnival. I sometimes perform as well, working with Ballura and her husband, Jean-Luc.

I’ve found, that I enjoy playing with Echo and the other children most of all. I have started working in the daycare, and have even set up a special booth for storytelling when the carnival is in business. Using the sign language and mime I’ve learned from Baird, as well as things from Bethune and Ballura, I’ve created a special event for the youngest audience of the carnival.

“If I was a smarter man, I would say you’d be an excellent mother,” Bethune teases me one day. I’m helping him take off his clown paint after a long day. He’s gotten stronger, but he still gets exhausted easily. 

“It’s a scary thought,” I murmur. “I love the children, but thinking of having one of my own fills me with terror.” I sigh as his blue eyes look up hopefully to me. “I have no good example, and I could hurt my child.”

Baird crosses his hands over his heart then kneels down before me. He takes his palms from his chest, revealing a bouquet of flowers. 

I smile at him and smell the flowers. “I would like to be a mother,” I tell them. “But as long as my father is still alive, I don’t think I can do it.”

Baird stands and kisses me, placing his hand over my chest and nodding. 

“We understand, Love,” Bethune whispers to me. “There is nothing at all you have to explain.” He cups my cheek. “When you are ready, we will be ready as well.”

I sigh with relief. “I love you both so much. Thank you.”

One day while visiting with Robin, he presents me with a letter from Pan. I cannot finish reading it. He expresses nothing but hatred and bile towards Robin and me. His threats are real, and I begin to shake uncontrollably. After I cry, I stiffen my jaw and clear the tears from my face. 

“What are we going to do?” I ask somberly. “While he is alive, I don’t think any of us can feel safe. I want to start a family, but while he is in this world, I cannot bear to do it.” I let out a shuddering breath. “Please, Robin, tell me what we can do!”

Robin sighs and hangs his head. “Eira and I feel the same way,” he whispers. “As does Puck and his wife. None of Pan’s children have any of their own for the exact same reason.” He looks back up at me with stony eyes. “We’re all afraid of a world with Pan in it, Cybele.”

“Then what do we do?” I demand.

“I have an idea,” he murmurs. “You may not like it, although Puck and I have been planning it for a long time.”

I swallow my nerves. “We have to kill him, don’t we?”

Robin takes a steely breath. “Are you okay with that?”

I take a sip of coffee and I notice my hands are not trembling. As I set my cup down, I look back at Robin. “I will be.”

I return home to Bethune and Baird, and eagerly take to bed with them. I feel safe in their embrace and covered in their kisses. That night, I sleep knowing that soon the world will be safe again once Pan is gone.