Arianna Rose: The Gates of Hell (Part 5) by Jennifer Martucci, Christopher Martucci

and his lips parted, about to blow a fuse.  But Dane knew his brother wouldn’t make a scene in front of a stranger; not his morally upright twin.  “Hey, yo Collin!” he bellowed to the bartender and flailed his arms.  “Lemme get another bottle, ‘kay?”
    Collin switched the television set off and walked over, stopping just in front of him.  Dark bags drooped beneath his coffee-colored eyes.  “Look, pal, you said you’d go when I was ready to go.  And now I’m ready to go.  No more booze.”
    “Naw, c’mon, Collin!” he griped.  “My brother just got here, and as you can see, he’s uptight as hell and needs a drink in the worst sorta way.”
    “I’m tired, and I’d really like to get home,” Collin splayed his hands, palms facing up.
    “Why?  It’s not like ya got anyone waiting for you, right?  I mean, no more Erin to rush home to.”  Dane heard the words leave his mouth, and even in his drunken stupor, a small voice cautioned that he was out of line.  The line was blurred, but it was there. 
    Collin’s lips tightened and snarled over his upper teeth when he spoke, his upset evident.  “You need to leave, now .”
    “You’re a real piece of work,” Jason mumbled to him.  Then to Collin, he said, “I’m sorry.  He’s never gotten like this before.  He’s usually a decent guy.”
    “Hey, don’t talk about me like I’m not here,” he complained.  “Jason, don’t make excuses for me.  I’m not doin’ anything wrong.  And Collin, I want another bottle, and I’m not leavin’ ‘til I get it.”  He raised his hands, a dull tingle of power prickling at his fingertips.  He aimed them at the bartender and barked, “Now get it.”
    Collin took several jerky steps, moving as if he were a marionette being manipulated. 
    “Whoa!  Oh my God!  What’s happening to me?” he cried as his body moved without his consent, grabbing a bottle of whiskey off the shelf and setting it down on the bar, Dane helming his every move like a puppeteer.  “Help me!  Someone help me!” Collin yelled.
    “Ah hell no,” Dane slurred and forced the bartender against the far wall to his right.  “Now stay there,” he commanded and Collin was frozen in place against the wall as if caught in a spider’s web , unable to free himself.  “And be quiet.”  To Jason, he smirked and said, “Guy’s giving me a damn headache.”
    Jason looked horrified.  “What the hell’s gotten into you, man?  What are you doing showing your powers?”
    “I just wanna drink is all,” he shook his head and said, wondering why on Earth his brother was so worked up. 
    “You’re out of control!” Jason shouted inches from his face.  He laced his fingers behind his head, annoyed in a way Dane had never seen before.  “Let’s go.  Let’s get out of her e now.”  He gripped Dane’s upper arm and tugged. 
    “Get your hands off me, bro!” he whipped his head toward his brother and growled.  “Do not touch me.”
    He knew his gaze was lethal, saw it in Jason’s face as he backed off.  “If you’re not going to listen to me, then I’m going to get help, find someone you’ll listen to.”
    Dane’s mercurial mind whirled around the possible choices.  “Who ’re ya gonna get?  Mom? Dad?  Briathos?  Arianna?  Don’t bother.  I don’t wanna hear anything any of them have to say, especially Desmond, Arianna’s freakin’ keeper.  I just wanna be left alone.”
    “Is that what this is all about?  Arianna?”
    “You think you’re so smart don’t you,” Dane said, unable to formulate a better nasty comment. 
    “Look, man, if that’s what this is about, you’ve got to just let it go.  You and her, it’s not going to happen.”
    Dane shrugged, the sting of his brother’s words blunted by the alcohol swirling through his system.  “I don’t have feelings for her,” he said with less conviction than he’d intended.  “I have no idea what you’re talking about or