Snippet #2641712

Jacob woke earlier than the others, but he also went to sleep earlier, so it was no surprise. What did surprise him was how quickly he did fall asleep after all that happened the night before. That terrible and incredible story. He still couldn't believe it, and Wyatt already confessed to conspiring against the elders of Shadow Sage. He confessed to being a traitor. How could Jacob keep going? How could he still be doing what the traitor wants? Didn't that make him a traitor too? Despite the cheerfully burning fire, he shivered and rubbed his hands together. Cold fear pierced his soul. He looked around and noted his brother stirring, but he fled from him.

Still trembling, Jacob took his bag with the mirror and went outside. The sun was bright in the sky, where it pierced through the grey sentinels of naked trees. Still the evergreens allowed for a bit of cover and Jacob hid himself under one of the larger conifers. He usually didn't like the closed-in feeling forests and crowds gave him, but this time he needed it. He couldn't tell the traitors or his brother about this mirror, but he was also afraid to say anything to his master. What if either his mother or Raven, decided he was becoming a traitor? "NO, I'm not. I have to keep hidden to complete my mission. That's it. That's it."

If he didn't complete the mission he'd be dead anyway. Either Wyatt would kill him in their final battle or... Jacob stopped the thought and curled up in a ball. Raven wouldn't, would he? Morgana already told him she can't kill him. Jacob knew her magic was weaker than his, but he still fully believed that his natural father abandoned him and she saved his life.

If she saved his life once, he also thought she would never try to take his life. She was his mother, his rescuer. She must love him, and people don't hurt those they love. Jasper said he loved him, but where was he nineteen years ago? Or ten years ago? Or five years ago when he lost his only friend? When his friend betrayed him? When he suffered more pain than he ever knew? His friend... Wyatt had been his friend. The slighter grey witch grabbed his head.

"Jacob..." Jasper pounded on the door, or the space in the wall where he last saw Jacob disappear. The other grey user was apparently still emotionally raw and it was suffocating his brother. "Dammit! Jacob! Stop running and hiding! Stop pushing everyone away." He couldn't read his brother's thoughts yet, but he felt where those thoughts were taking him. It wasn't a good place, paralyzing fear and sadness. "Please... Jacob."

Darn it! Those weird feelings were bothering him again. He uncurled from his ball and stuffed the mirror back in his bag and tossed it over his shoulder to answer his annoying brother's demands. The dumbbell needed to stop and be quiet lest they're found. With the leader of the tower incapacitated, they weren't likely to be pursued yet, but that didn't stop others already on missions returning this way. Those others would be suspicious. None of them could risk that.

Jacob stood up and opened the door, startling his brother. The twin stood back and gasped. Jacob gave him a smirk and said, "I told you it can only be opened with my magic. Oh, you didn't hear that, did you? Well now you know." The statements didn't really require an answer, so he didn't wait for one. He continued with more confidence than the near breakdown he just escaped from would suggest. "Since I'm supposed to lead you to the fortress, I'm in charge until we get there, understand?"

His brother grimaced at the obnoxious declaration. He crossed his arms and prepared to argue, but he realized before the words left his mouth, that he couldn't actually say anything against the statement. He gritted his teeth, and responded, "So what do you plan on doing?"

"The tundra isn't a forgiving place. It's harsh and barren and colder than you've ever known. I lived there my entire life, so I know best how to survive. You have to trust me for that." He paused and sighed before continuing, "You've been the official healer since the beginning of your trip, I can assume; so you keep it up. That's what you know best." Jacob grimaced at that admission, but he too couldn't say anything denying it. "You're in charge of the white witch for now. Make sure she doesn't get hurt and can still keep up the pace." Protecting the inferior witch still made him squirm, but he had no choice. He must stay hidden.

"That's what I do anyway."
"I know." Jacob didn't want to take that any further. "Because it's warmest in the middle of the day, that will be the best time to go. Before then, take inventory of the food supplies, and I'll cook something to eat before we leave. To survive the extreme cold and harsh environment, we'll need to eat to preserve body heat and energy. I know what foods serve best for that end. You, in particular, brother also need to regain your magic strength. I know how to do that too."

Jasper paused, suspicious again, "Why are you doing this?"
"I know it's true, now get to work!" He snapped, not wanting to explore that question yet.