Wyatt Silas's Story

The problem with the woods was that it had many places to hide, unlike the tundra. Even with the enhancement of his senses, Wyatt could still hide from him and did. Either temporarily blinding him with a burst of magic to interfere with what Jacob called his life-sight or physically disappearing from the background with those bursts of magic. Transporting around the clearing multiplied his speed exponentially, and Jacob's physical agility couldn't compete with that. He needed to pull back his life-sight before he could even try.

A roar of a wild beast tore from the pale witch's throat. As part of the wilderness around him, many of his human reservations dropped. The most obvious being the cold mask he always wore. He pulled back his life energy slowly, just enough to think about the change in situation. This battle wasn't over yet. He stopped his rhythmic dodge, because it wouldn't help him now. Pulled back a little more. Grab him. Catch him. Kill him! His nostrils flared, his body tensed, and he growled under his breath. Do not kill. Bring him back alive. Those were the Raven's orders. Catch, but do not kill. He may be a wild beast, but that beast was on a chain until he could rise up in the ranks. He needed this prey to break the chain.

Since he couldn't keep track of Wyatt in his multiple transports he pulled a staff out from under his cloak. Because he was forbidden to kill, he couldn't use his favored daggers as he regularly coated them in a lethal poison. Snarling he circled the clearing. If his opponent was moving so was he.

~~~

"I learned something I didn't like and reacted badly," Jasper admitted and rubbed his neck. He didn't know why he felt like he needed to explain himself. Katherine wasn't even there at the time to have a bad opinion of him.

He started and blinked wildly when Sylvana appeared beside them. This was only the second time he'd seen anyone teleporting. "Sylvana!" He reached for her shoulder, but he stopped and frowned at the look in her eyes. It was a cold look, a dangerous one. Did he do that to her? In the short time since he saw her last, she changed. "I'm so sorry."

The most dangerous enemy is the one who has nothing left to lose, and he had a bad feeling that Sylvana had come to that point, but he didn't want her to feel that way. "You're the one who told me that if we stayed, Jacob would kill us. You wouldn't let me go back to talk to my twin brother and now you're going back? Wyatt stayed behind to challenge him, so he could protect you." Jasper took a deep breath and softened his tone. "You are the most important person to him. I know that and I've only known you both for a few days. You said Jacob grew up with you, so he would have to be blind not to see it himself." He sighed and pressed his hand to his head. "Jacob could be here for you just as much as me." He dropped his hand and continued. "You also said I should feel him. I do. I think I have since we arrived. Hatred and anger and fear too. He's afraid of something. He has something to lose. Something we can use against him, reduce his threat. But if you are his target, and you go to him, he'll win. Where would the rest of us be then? How would Wyatt feel about that? Even if you survive whatever he has planned, what would you do for supplies? Katherine and I have most of them."

Katherine. She had no idea what he was talking about. He took a deep breath to calm down. "I probably don't have to tell you that Jacob is indeed my twin brother. The resemblance is uncanny and painful now that I know who he is." It didn't work very well and he ended up pressing his hand against his forehead again. "Jacob...He..." Jasper winced. Let me go, Jacob. Let me be myself. "He's an assassin. He has a mission and won't give up until he finishes the job."

He gave a strained sigh and looked to the gate guards. They could help him but they won't. They won't stop any witch from dying. Jacob is a witch and they'd cheer for him until he killed another witch and then kill him too. They'd kill all five wandering witches without a care. "I don't want him dead, but I don't want him to win either. His victory will only come at the cost of another's life."

For someone who really didn't want to be around a Shadow Sage member, even an ex one, Jasper sure was turning a leaf rather quickly. His words almost caused Sylvana to falter. She knew Wyatt cared about her. She'd learned that one when she was still a teenager because the Shadow Sage, but she couldn't tell the other two members of their group about that. The lie she'd been lying for years had to stick, because if anyone learned the truth, especially anyone from the Shadow Sage, she was dead. Not only would she be wanted for being a white magic user, even though it had been the elders who let her in, but she would be considered a turncoat, a traitor. She would have too much knowledge and power to be let go.

Was that why Jacob was really here? Was Jasper just icing on the cake and Wyatt's location being found the cherry? What about Katherine? Was she working for them secretly? Suddenly everything seemed dark and hostile, but the woman wasn't like that. She trusted a little too much, a little too naive for her own good and way to hard headed to listen to someone who barely knew her. Only the black magic user had ever been able to talk sense into her and that was usually after the fact. Now he wasn't around to stop her from doing something really stupid, like going off to fight Jacob.

"Jasper, one day you will understand, but today isn't that day. I know how Jacob could and will use me against Wyatt, but together we are stronger than separate. We have fought many battles, many beings together. And we have... always come out on top. One way or another. I wish I could tell you the truth. Everything, but for your protection I can't. Please just trust me. Get above the wall and head north. Wyatt and I will catch up with you. And if not," her shoulders shrugged as she looked at the sky a small smile on her face.

"Then whatever higher being controls our fates will have finally succeeded in taking my life when they have failed from the moment of my birth." She turned back to face the male. "I can feel Wyatt. He's going to need my help despite his orders. I know him. I know Jacob and I know myself. Jacob knew the old me. We'll be fine."

With those words, she disappeared again trusting Katherine and Jasper to listen to her.

Reappearing in the trees just outside of where the two were battling, the white magic user studied what was going on down below. Wyatt appeared to be keeping Jacob on the run by constantly transporting himself in and out of sight. It was going to wear him down way to quickly. It would sap at her best friend's strength and give the gray user an advantage he didn't need.

Summoning her magic around her, she allowed it to rein just as free as Wyatt's. Let Jacob see he was out numbered and overpowered.

You shouldn't be here. I told you to take the others and leave Evanpool. Wyatt's words cut through her mind harshly at her disobeying him.

You should know I don't listen well to orders.

Learn to try before it gets you killed...

Wyatt, I'm not the same weak, little girl you once knew.

That was the problem. He'd always see her as the girl who needed protecting and not the woman fully capable of doing it herself.

Don't die on me... again.

I'm not going anywhere.

Wyatt's words were low as he focused on Jacob not wanting his guard to slip. He could feel the three of their powers combined and it was overbearing. Even the non witches would probably be able to feel them. This was bad. They were going to draw too much attention if they didn't end this as quickly as possible. But having Sylvana where he knew her location and could protect her, put his mind at ease and he could finally focus on the battle.

He went in for a leg sweep knowing it was going to be avoided and followed it up with a quick elbow to the ribcage.

The forest was thick with energy. Sylvana could feel it, she could almost touch magic that wasn't her own. It was like drowning without water. Wyatt's black magic surged as she felt the beast beneath the surface struggling against him. He was always pushing it down, reigning it in. Jacob's on the other hand was lighter compared to the darkness, but he felt his own sinister feelings. Had she walked into the situation and based on feelings alone, she would have been more afraid of Jacob than Wyatt.

Something she couldn't pin point unnerved her. It was unsettling not knowing what it was exactly that bothered her so much about the man and she knew him. Not well enough and too much most days, but this was a side of Jacob she'd never seen, only felt during their few encounters.

The white magic user took a deep breath to calm herself down. The battles weren't the hard part. She just locked herself into a part of her mind where she could concentrate on nothing but fighting. It was going head long into battle that unnerved her. She hated it. Fighting was pointless most times. She just tended to find herself in fights that seemed to always matter.

Another quick breath and she transported herself down to the forest floor, not directly where the battle was raging, but close enough that she could assess the situation before going in, a final last second hold before charging. When she appeared in the bed of the woods something didn't feel right. The airs on her body were standing on end. Everything seemed heightened, but over what was the question.

Sylvana took a few steps ignoring the odd sensation stirring in her body. She could just make out Wyatt and Jacob. The gray magic user appeared to be counter attacking against the black user. That was when the feelings got worse. Something was definitely wrong. Images of a time once forgotten flashed through the woman's mind. A time she never told she'd have to live through again.

A half step caused her legs to buckle out from under her. Everything hurt. She didn't know what was causing the pain, but she knew what it reminded her of. Have the Orb's powers worn off? Am I back to the way I used to be... is this how I'll die? The disease that fought so hard to claim me as a newborn succeeds now? When Wyatt needs me the most?

Her heart rate had gone up to keep oxygen flowing to the major organs. Her breathing was labored as everything constricted; the body trying to fight off the invisible foe it knew nothing about it.

"No..." She whispered, her hand clutched at her heart, her worst fears plaguing her mind. She couldn't even scream. The pain was getting worse and while in the back of her mind, she knew this wasn't the same as all the other times, her conscious didn't rationalize it because of the similarities.

Her eyes grew heavier and she fought to stay awake. She had to help Wyatt defeat Jacob. He had done this. He had to have. It was the only thing that made rational sense. He'd done something she hadn't expected of him, something she'd never seen before. She was paying the price of not thinking all the way through. Wyatt was going to have her head if she survived.

Wyatt transported away to avoid Jacob's attack. He could feel Sylvana moving, but when he appeared again, he couldn't sense the outpouring of magic anymore. Turning his head, he caught sight of her laying on her side just inside the protection of the trees. His already pale face drained of color. He knew the position she was in. He'd seen it before once before almost eight years prior.

They'd been at her family home. She'd saved his life after her family had tried to kill him. In the end, it had all been her brother. She'd gone to confront him and he'd killed her. Wyatt had found her only moments before and begged pleaded with his magic to do the one thing it couldn't. Heal her, to bring her back. She'd been laying in the same position, hand at her chest on her side. But this time he could still see the rise and fall of her chest. It was labored as if it hurt just trying to breath.

Another position he'd once seen her in multiple times thanks to the same brother and his experiments. Her condition had only made things much worse. She had been cured of the problem, but he still feared for her safety. He wanted to go over and check on her, let his magic heal her from whatever had caused her distress.

Wyatt turned to Jacob, fury in his eyes as he glared at the other magic user. All he could see was red. He fought better when angry, he drew on a strength from the beast within his magic. His mother always told him to fight with his mind as much as his strength, but right now he needed to end this. For Sylvana's sake.

He drew on more of his strength and went straight for Jacob, letting volley after volley loose before following them up with physical attacks. He was going to wear himself down quickly, but he planned on ending it before it got too bad.

Jacob's eyes widened as that familiar and unpleasant weakness crept up on him again. He switched to a defensive battle as Wyatt started throwing new magical blasts his way. They were stronger and faster than those little spheres earlier, and when they hit they burned. He hissed against the pain, but he knew Wyatt would wear himself down this way. Since his little girlfriend fell into the trap, the black magic user threw caution to the wind completely. Jacob needed only to outlast his opponent's strength. It was easier said then done.

Not only was Wyatt physically stronger but his magic was purer than muddy grey magic. Jacob did have an advantage though. He had used very little of his own strength through this entire episode, and still preserved it. He took a chance and expended some of that energy to transport himself behind Wyatt, out of the direct range of attack. His opponent may turn around, but it would give him a few moments grace.

From this new vantage point, he again attempted to hit the taller witch with his stick. He aimed for the back of his head this time. Knocking Wyatt out would be the quickest end from his side. Raven never said they had to be in perfect health, just alive.

He didn't want to use more of his energy than absolutely necessary, because he would still have to carry his prey back to base alone. The quickest way was to transport all of them, which would be costly because of both the weight and distance. Jacob had almost never transported more than himself, because he trusted no one else. Getting Wyatt to this clearing proved that he was capable of it.

~~~

Jasper didn't hear Katherine's answer, but he felt something twist in his gut. His nostrils flared. They didn't have time to waste! He leaned in to kiss the top of her hand and said with apparent calm, "If you're not coming, go somewhere safe. I don't want you to risk the tundra alone." He let her go and closed his eyes, nostrils still flaring, body tense. The healer tried to focus on the strange feelings he had. Finding something, he opened his eyes and started running. The weight of his pack felt like nothing, as he chased after his goal. He paused once, touching his head to reduce pressure inside. The feeling grew stronger as he headed out of the city, towards a forest.

Suddenly it reduced strength. NO! He prayed it wasn't too late. He paused again to focus on the thing inside him he identified as Jacob. Why was he so bound to his cruel twin? He couldn't answer that question, but that bond would be what decided life and death for Sylvana and maybe Wyatt too. The healer stumbled along a forest path where he stopped to catch his breath. His formerly weightless pack pressed against his back. Despite the cold, sweat dripped along his skin.

Gripping his walking stick, he started forward slower. He felt he was very close and needed to use caution now. Jasper didn't know what he would find.

Time was moving too slow and not fast enough. Wyatt was near a panic, but that never showed on his face. It was the one lesson his mother had succeeded beating into him thoroughly. Never let an opponent see your emotions. Never let them know what you were thinking. The longer the battle was going on the more he was slipping back into the soldier his mother had created. It showed in his attacks, how he countered. He'd stopped thinking, letting his instincts take over, allowing the magic to tell him the things he probably would have processed on his own. It was the only thing that kept him from thinking about Sylvana and whether or not she was alive still. If he thought about her for too long he was likely to lose his focus and give Jacob the upper hand.

Jacob was behind him. Instead of turning to find out where the other magic user was, he ducked down, spinning his leg out as he went. The stick in the other man's hand skimmed across the top of his head. An unwelcome reminder that he wasn't completely focused on the fight. His black eyes glinted with the magic outpouring. His entire eye was black including the part that had once been white on the edges. The complete opposite of Slyvana's as her's turned solid white.

The two witches continued to batter each other. Wyatt was landing a few hits, but he was starting to take a lot more than normal. His mother would have been furious. This was also where Sylvana had a habit of coming to his rescue and having his ass. Not going to happen this time. Knowing he didn't have much time left, he timed Jacob's movements on attacking him. He took a direct hit from the staff before letting loose an attack at Jacob. All he wanted to do was buy himself some time. He had to get Sylvana away from here.

Wyatt used the moment to transport himself over to the white magic user. He bent down beside her. His black hair was matted to his head, the hair tie holding it back had slipped down loosening the locks. His clothes hung to his frame in sticky mats. His heart rate was skyrocketed but as he bent beside his childhood friend it only went up. It had been so long since he'd seen her like this, he'd nearly forgotten. Seeing it now only brought all the buried memories to the surface and allowed the fears to run rampant.

Sylvana's skin was flushed, her chest was rising and failing too quickly and her breathing was labored. She was struggling and he didn't understand why. He guessed it was Jacob. It was something he would do, but he didn't care. Seeing her like this was tearing him to pieces. Before he fought against a foe he couldn't see caused by a device her brother had created to torture her. Now he didn't know what he was up against, but he wasn't about to lose her again. Rolling her onto her back, he placed his hand over her chest, releasing his black magic into her system.

Normally this would kill someone. But because her heart was too fast and would eventually slow itself down too quickly and cause worse problems his magic served as a tool to slow the heart rate down at a decent rate that wouldn't allow her to be hurt anymore. He felt his magic enter her body and allowed it to search out the problems, to slow the heart down and heal her like it had once down.

His vision swam and he swayed. Wyatt shook his head. He still had to transport them away before Jacob could recover. Only he never got the chance. The magic drained from his eyes and he collapsed beside his friend, his hand still on her chest as he lost consciousness, his magic too depleted to keep him going any longer.

The forest was getting darker the longer the day went on as storm clouds from the north moved down the mountain to the populated areas. Standing in the protected areas of the upper trees, a Shadow Sage member watched the scene below him. His black cloak was wrapped around his shoulders, hood pulled over his head. He could still feel magic flowing beneath him. Still he'd completed his mission. He was free to leave at any time.

Jacob's mission was nearly complete. He had the two rogue Shadow Sage members as well as someone who appeared to be a personal connection for the gray magic user. Balance was going to be restored to their organization once again. After so many months of upheaval in the upper levels, the people he served, things were finally going to return to normal. At least once Jacob got them back to base.

Maybe there could be something in it for him if he helped. Why not? It wasn't worth passing up the chance. It would make him look favorable to the elders if he helped bring them back in after proving Jacob wasn't going to follow in their footsteps.

"Jacob Hemlock." The witch called down from the trees. He had to be careful how he broached this. "Congratulations on surpassing your goals. You've been proven yourself to more elders than just Raven. Would you like help bringing your catch back to base?"


The slip back to consciousness was slow and painful. His magic still hadn't built back up enough for him to even move. But it was a lot higher than it had been when he'd been in similar situations. Odd. Unless someone else had enhanced it. Only there were no other people around to do that.

Wyatt's eyes fluttered open. He could still tell he was in the woods. Voices carried on around him, but other than the wind that whipped around him, he couldn't make much of anything else out. Under his hand, he could feel Sylvana's chest rise and fall, feel the heat of her body through her clothing. She was alive. Her breathing wasn't nearly what it had been before he passed out. Still he needed to check.

Memories from the past flooded into him of all the times he'd nearly lost her. He struggled to open his eyes. Everything was unfocused, but he could just make out the shape of another human being at his head. It was oddly familiar. His first instinct was that it was Jacob. Adrenaline coursed through his body at the thought of the man being anywhere near Sylvana when she was vulnerable. It allowed his power to rise for just a split second. His vision cleared and he saw it was Jasper instead.

Jasper? He was going to get himself killed and fall into his twin's hands. The day couldn't get much worse. But the sight of a friendly familiar face calmed the black magic user down until he felt like he couldn't stay conscious any longer. He loosened a small amount of black magic into the white user's chest to make sure everything was still alright before he passed out again.

It came as no surprise that Hemlock was wary of his presence. If he was standing on the same catch below them as the blonde male then he would have probably already killed anyone else who dared be around. That was why he was a spy after all. Killing people to avoid being caught if necessary was the fun part of the game.

But who sent him? He couldn't directly reveal who, but there were other more creative ways around the subject.

"I was sent by an elder higher than your own. One who directly controls Akane Sumner and Milla Silas." While he might not know that both of them were actually Wyatt's parents; Jacob would know their names and know that they were two of the most powerful witches the Shadow Sage had at their beck and call.

"I'll help you transport your prisoners back and then I'll leave. You have my word, but we need to get moving before the locals decide to come and investigate." Not to mention the coming storm which would bring in extreme cold temperatures from the north and likely snow. They were needed back at base as soon as possible.

Everyone was waiting on their arrival and the ones Hemlock was bringing back with him. At least all those who knew about Wyatt and Sylvana being on the capture list. Just having his name attached to the bring in as well as completely the mission assigned, making sure Jacob didn't betray them as well would push his ranking along. It could mean a very good break for him.

All they needed now was to get a move on and transport the prisoners before they woke up. He really didn't want to get into a fight with Wyatt or Sylvana. He wasn't even sure he could. How Jacob had done it was a miracle. If he'd actually had to fight both of them or even Wyatt with a level head, he wasn't sure he would be standing where he was now.

Best to hurry things along.

Finally, it seemed he had gained Jacob's trust enough to allow his help in transporting the prisoners back to base. They could get a move on before the locals and the weather caught up with them. He jumped down from the trees and approached the group. He was more than happy to allow Hemlock to take charge. As far as he viewed the situation, his mission was over. Jacob had proved himself loyal to the Shadow Sage. Now he could help the other complete his mission and return to give his report. It would look good for him to have assisted in bringing the rogues to justice.

Without a second thought, he went over to Jasper and heaved him onto his shoulder and nodded at the other twin. "I know where it is." He disappeared. There was only one place within the Northern base that they were allowed to appear within. The lower sections which for them was closest to where the prisoners would be kept. Less lugging dead weight around. He didn't have to wait long for Hemlock to appear with both Ward and Silas. Nor for one of the other elder members who ran the Northern tower to meet them. The elder's underlying ran off to report their return to Raven leaving them alone in the darkness.

"Put each of in their own cells. Make sure their chains are secure. We wouldn't want them to be able to use their powers to escape." His words came out in a harsh rasp. The lower Shadow Sage member nodded his head and took Jasper to one of the nearest cells. He tossed him onto the ground before chaining up just the arms. He was a wild witch after all. He wasn't going to be much of a threat nor know too much on how to use his powers.

He imagined though that Wyatt and Sylvana would be getting the full lock up. Especially Silas. The man was a powerhouse. The fact that Hemlock had been able to capture him was a miracle. Of course, it would go into the report that by taking out Ward before she could enter the fight had tipped the scales and caused the black magic user to lose his self control. It alone had probably won Jacob the battle. He would never say that to the man's face, but it was going into his report.

The elder turned towards Jacob. "Your master will be down shortly. I imagine he will want you present for their interrogations. It is time you learned the truth of a select group of members within the Shadow Sage and why your mission was so important."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Everything hurt. While it wasn't nearly as bad as when she'd passed out, she still didn't want to feel any of the pain. Yet she did. Of course, she had to rationalize that the pain she was feeling now wasn't nearly as bad as some of the pain she'd felt in the past. She groaned as her eyes started to flutter open.

The air smelt damp and stale. Almost as if fresh air never touched it. She could smell sweat, urine, fear. Her eyes shot open. She found herself in near pitch blackness. And while it took only seconds for her eyes to adjust, she knew where she was before she could even confirm it. They were in the dungeons of a Shadow Sage base. After so long of running from the place she thought would make her better, she'd been dragged back against her will. To face certain death, she was sure. Members didn't just leave them and live to tell about it.

As far as she could tell, she still had access to her powers. Which meant she could fight her way back out and hopefully save Wyatt too. They would be a lot worse on him than her. He was the one who'd brought her in after all. He was the one who'd been breed for them. She had to save him even more than herself.

Summoning her magic around her, she started to form an attack before the blade of a hand crashed down into the back of her neck. She grunted as another wave of pain coursed through her body. The magic she'd been holding released itself and she fought to keep herself conscious.

"Take them away, Hemlock before Raven returns." The elder wheezed.

There were probably worse situations a person could find themselves in. But for Wyatt and Sylvana there was nothing worse than being in the hands of the enemy completely helpless.

The black magic user had been awake enough to know what was going on and to keep his consciousness from being detected. He let them chain him up knowing that if he fought back now he was likely to die. He was still weak from using most all of his energy and rushing headlong into a fight with multiple Shadow Sage members more than one likely an elder would have been suicide. He would have never made it to Sylvana let alone Jasper. He cursed at himself. He’d gotten the male into this while trying to keep him out of it and Sylvana why could she just never listen?

The door to his cell opened and he cracked his eyes open to glare at the elder standing in the doorway. It was one he knew well. He’d always had to suffer the old man when his parents reported in from missions. He had despised him as a young teen and the feelings only grew as he’d aged.

To make matters worse, Wyatt wasn’t sure there was going to be any way out of this without the result being death. Neither of his parents would help, his father even more. The black magic user wouldn’t be surprised if the man came down to torture him himself. His mother would probably just call him stupid and worthless that all her training had gone down the drain.

Wait. That might be it. It is only a few days from the full moon. If the others can just hold on long enough I will get them out of here. We can’t wait for the new moon for Sylvana. We’ll probably be dead by then. It’ll have to be the full and since they don’t know about that little special ability since Milla lost hers then we should be safe. But… I’m sorry Sylvana. It’s time to play the game again. You might never forgive me, but I’m doing this to keep you alive. Please believe me.

Wyatt glared up at a man he hated almost as much as the man who’d fathered him. The old man simply tisked, a laughter in his eyes. It only made the young man even angrier, but he refused to let the fact be known.

“I haven’t decided if we should get to you or your little white girlfriend. I’m thinking her first. She was never truly one of us and it won’t hurt anything if she dies soon. Of course that’s not up to me. That’s up to Raven who will be down shortly. For her sake, you should have left her in the mansion with her family, but since you brought her to use, you’d best hope for a quick death for her. Taking her powers for us to use sounds like a fair trade off.”

Wyatt schooled his features behind the mask his mother had beaten into him. Being within the very place he had fought so hard to get away from, it was easy to just let everything come back. He could feel the beast within his magic growling in triumph. The beast was going to be the only thing that saved him and the others. He had to let himself go and hope that once this was all over that he could find himself again.

“What makes you think I care? She was just a tool to get the information I wanted Same as the wild witch. His powers would be useful if I taught him just enough.” His voice was low, dark. He almost sounded just like his father.

“Careful, Silas. You might start believing your own lies.” With that the elder left and he knew it was just a matter of time until Raven came down and the “fun” began.

Please leave the others alone. It’s me you’re mad at the most. I’m the one who doubled crossed you on my last mission. I can take anything you dish out. I doubt Jasper can handle anything and I don’t want Sylvana going through this. All of this, it’s my fault. She only wanted a stronger heart back then and to prove to her family she wasn’t weak. I was just an uncertain teenager who didn’t want to have to be a mindless slave doing as others commanded without a second thought. I failed us both and now I’m going to be their deaths. I refuse to let it go down this way. Jacob if you lay one hand on her, I will kill you myself just like I promised once before.

Time seemed to stand still as the black magic user waited for something to happen. Only it wasn't nearly as long as he thought it was. The Raven was finally here. He could hear Jacob talking to him where he now knew Sylvana's cell to be. Then it was his turn. He stared up from his place on the grimy floor, glaring at the elder. He refused to show any sign of weakness. What Wyatt didn't realize was just how easily and quickly he was reverting back into the person he once was. A person only the female white magic user had saved him from.

By not acknowledging Jacob, he hoped to reestablish himself as the higher ranking witch, just as thing had once been. What he didn't know is that the gray magic user had heard the words he'd spoken to himself about killing him if he touched Sylvana. As far as he knew all of his powers were cut off while he was confined within the room and of course while chained. He was going to have to wait until he was outside to make his move. Especially now that he knew where Sylvana's cell was it wouldn't take too much more to find Jasper and get the two of them out of there. He just needed a little bit of time.

Jacob seemed to be hesitating about leaving Wyatt's cell. Could it be time? His heart was starting to pound in his chest, but his expression never changed. He continued to glare at Raven. He would have his revenge and it would be extremely painful. They had wanted the perfect machine, well they had one, but not on their side which is why he knew the time left on his life was limited. He had to get Sylvana and Jasper to safety.

"Sire, the elders from the other posts are asking you to hasten toward the interrogations of the prisoners." Another messenger witch came running up. He held in his hand a paper outlining what the information the elders wanted as well as how long they expected the tasks to take, which included that the Raven had permission to do with the bodies as he wished. The witch handed the paper over and bowed before leaving. He had another places to be and a select amount of time to complete everything.

Wyatt's eyes narrowed. He wasn't going to get as much time to plan as he believed he would, but at least he hoped it would mean it was less likely that Sylvana and Jasper would be put in harms way. He was the one with the most amount of knowledge the elders would want. It was his powers they would want to strip from him. Please take me in first. Leave the others out of this. Shadow Sage created me. I should be the most valuable one here. Come on. He knew internally he was desperate for anything that kept him in control, but his external facade never changed. The beast within was slowly moving toward the surface and mixing.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

There were faint voices just down the hall. It was hard to make out what they were saying, but one of them she knew without a doubt. It was Jacob. Sylvana forced her eyes to open even though the only thing she wanted to do was fall back into the void and pretend she still wasn't in the amount of pain she was in.

Luckily, the overall pain had lessened since she last woke up, but the soreness at the back of her neck was still fresh. Pulling against the chains that held her, the white magic user tried to find a way out. She'd never been the type of person to take anything laying down and she sure wasn't going allow anyone the satisfaction of it now. She was a Ward and her family were one of the strongest magic users in history. She wouldn't allow things to end like this.

Though, Sylvana knew the group were in the predicament they were now because of her. If she had only listened to Wyatt in the first place, they would probably still be at Evanpool licking their wounds. Instead, she had rushed in not even thinking about what Jacob would have done to protect himself and his fight. Capture, torture, and likely death were all on her hands.

"I'm so sorry."

Like I’m going anywhere. Wyatt rolled his eyes at the thought of it. But the seriousness of the situation wasn’t lost to him. He wouldn’t have much time left to plan the group’s escape. With only a few days left until the full moon, he hoped they could last that long. He would have enough power to get them out then and no one would see it coming. A chill went down his spine thinking about the upcoming night. A sense of foreboding washed over him. A feeling of fear he’d never felt before in his life and he wasn’t sure if it was directed at the coming torture or if it was something else entirely.

The black magic user leaned his head against the stone wall behind him as he closed his eyes. For the first time in his life, he truly felt at a loss of control over his own fate. He was at the mercy of people who had no sense for the word. And he was in charge of saving not only his own life, but those of two others. One, who couldn’t even defend themselves. The only thing he could do for now was keep himself calm, plan the exit strategy that would hopefully save all of their lives.

Time seemed to almost slip by in a daze as Wyatt kept himself in a meditative state. It helped to keep him calm as well as allowed himself to preserve the mask he was forced to wear any time he was around any Shadow Sage members. A mask that his mother had beaten into him from the moment he was born. But at the same time, he could feel the mask taking over in a way it had never before. It was almost as if his own spirit was being subdued. But he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He was more focused on escape and protection of everyone in the group.

I just need a little bit of time until the full moon. Then I know we’ll be able to escape. They don’t know about my ability passed through my mother since she lost hers. Everyone just needs to survive until then.

The night was long and cold. He’d refused the food and drink they’d given to him. He would rather starve to death than take anything given to him from his captors. He only hoped that the others were doing the same. They couldn’t be sure about anything outside of their cells. Trust no one, trust nothing, only yourself. His mother’s words pounded into him since he could remember.

Morning came quickly, but not quick enough. The cell floor was freezing cold. Only as he pulled himself out of the trace he’d put himself into did he start to feel just how hard and cold the concrete floor was beneath him. If it was this cold inside, he hated to see just how bad it was outside. A stark reminder of their journey further north to the tower if they could ever get out of here.

Only two days of interrogation until the full moon. Two more days of bitter coldness, a tired mind, and hunger. He would survive. Sylvana he knew the strong. It would be harder on her, but it was ultimately Jasper the one he was worried about. He was naïve and knew nothing about their world. And while he was probably kept in better conditions than either of the other two witches, there was no guarantee how long they would hold him for or what they wanted him for other than the fact he was Jacob’s twin.

Footsteps sounded outside in the hallway. It was time. Now the other side was going to start playing their hand. All he had to do was keep the mask in place, watch them and then make his move. They weren’t the same ones from the day before. Which meant that they were probably sending someone to collect them. First mistake.

Wyatt smirked to himself before the door opened. He looked up through his lashes at the witch who came over. He took down the physical features as well as what he believed would be the level of magic held as best he could without his powers. Once they were out of the room, he could feel his own magic a lot more, but he was still unable to access his powers with the chains on.

Sylvana was being pulled out of her own cell down the hall where they were both lead to the same room. This was odd. Normally prisoners were kept apart. Just what was their game? The black magic user knew whatever it was, wasn’t going to be a good thing for his childhood friend. The leaders would want things from him and they likely knew he would never tell them. They were planning on using the woman against him.

He glanced over to the white user and saw the similar dawning hitting her eyes. His black eyes he knew were dead. He couldn’t give her any hope. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t give them anything even at her expense. No matter how much it was going to kill him to know he’d caused her unimaginable pain, mentally and physically.

Forgive me, Sylvana. But I have to do this. For both our sakes. For Jasper too. Just two days. Two days until the full moon and we’re out of here. I promise. No matter what. None of us are dying here.

Despite his apparent exhaustion, both physically and mentally, Jacob struggled to sleep. He didn't understand why. He had no crowds around him and his room was perfectly comfortable. Even the storm outside went quiet. For unknown reasons, he woke up in the middle of the night, but the faint whisper of a remembered melody soothed him back.

In the morning, someone came to collect him also. Even though he knew he would be there for the interrogation, he didn't know where it would take place. The difficulty was duly noted and resolved. He met his tower master and they arrived in the interrogation room before the guards dragged in the prisoners.

Training in the gym the day before successfully relieved his frustration at what he considered lack of appropriate appreciation for his work. As a result, he kept a clear head for his new mission to guard and observe the proceedings. He couldn't deny excitement at his chance to witness justice for these traitor rogues. As far as he knew, he wouldn't be allowed to dispense any of that justice, but as a witness he could still be important.

For the interrogation he stood behind Sylvana with a hand on her shoulder, making sure she didn't try to run, but he didn't expect her to abandon her lover anyway. From his post he could see pretty much the whole room, with the exception of space behind some machinery taller than his eye-level.

The white stone room was impressive for the number of people and things in it. Not only were Jacob and Raven and the prisoners there, but so were three representatives from other towers as well as guards posted in the front and back of the windowless room. Two more held onto Wyatt's body, while only one other guard, aside from himself, stood with Sylvana. He wondered briefly if that guard was charged to watch him too, but he had nothing to gain by making any moves in this interview. Because he had nothing to gain, it was pointless to post a guard over him.

Harsh light illuminated this room bad enough he needed to close his free hand over his eyes, giving the impression he had a headache, but he didn't keep his face covered very long. Once he lifted his hand again, the light was instantly warmer and more tolerable to his vision. He used a trick he learned to survive traveling on the solid white stretches of tundra. Sunlight reflected off snow and ice enough to blind anyone who needed to go over long stretches of empty land. Unfortunately with bound hands and bound magic, Wyatt and Sylvana may not be able to do the same. Interrogation wasn't supposed to be easy, so he felt no pity for them.

The objects in the room confirmed it wasn't supposed to be easy. Aside from two machines taller than him resembling washboards with heavy and roughened leather straps, large meat hooks hung from the ceiling, a hard metal chair that also had rough leather straps sat in a corner, and a variety of other metallic objects he had no idea how they worked littered the floor riven with narrow channels leading to the farthest edges of the room, all the way around and going out somewhere behind the back set of guards. Jacob shivered slightly, but didn't let go of Sylvana.

It seemed everyone to watch the interrogations were already in the room when the two witches arrived. Sylvana was lead in first and put on the far side of the room. Wyatt was kept towards the front where his chains were locked into the wall. His arms were outstretched beside him giving him no wiggle room for movement. His feet were still chained together, but allowed to be free. They wanted him to put all his weight on his shoulders later. He knew how this went.

He could see Sylvana held under guard with Jacob off to one side. Had the mask not been so firmly back in place he probably would have growled at the other man’s closeness. He didn’t want him to put a finger on her let alone be apart of the group that tried to kill her. But nothing showed. Not until he took stock of everyone present. He recognized most of the elders. He expected them to be there. They had to make sure any knowledge he gave couldn’t be used by a single leader. They were wasting their time.

Then his eyes landed on a figure he’d hoped to never see again. Standing only a few inches taller than himself with completely straight black hair instead of the mix of straight and wisps, the skin tone was darker than his own and the frame much more robost than Wyatt’s was Akane Sumner.

Wyatt spat at his father, the only sign of emotion from the young man. It was all they would get. He hated the man. For everything. Hated him much more than his mother. He blamed him for being the reason he had to become a slave to the Shadow Sage in the first place. While his mother wasn’t much better in his opinion, she had at least taken the time to train him. Not just abuse him. She’d taught him everything he’d known. His father had only enforced the rules with much more force and made sure all signs of weakness were beaten out of him and that meant never leaving the edge of the forest where a certain magical family would find him before he learned his mother’s lessons. Sylvana’s family.

The white magic user was doing the best she could to control herself. She hadn’t seen so many elders in a single room in a long time. The last was the day Wyatt had been given permission to bring her before the Council to ask to induct her. Once that had been a good day. Not anymore.

Sylvana wanted to move away from Jacob was much as she could, but once she saw Wyatt’s reaction, she stopped. She could just make out the man’s features through the harsh light. She froze. Her entire childhood had been filled with nightmares of the one time she had met the man at five years old. Even when she and Wyatt had first asked for her to join up, she hadn’t wanted to be around the man and it had nearly been ten years since that day. Ten years she had gone without seeing a living nightmare.

This wasn’t good. Not by a long shot. Wyatt was chained to a wall. And while she was still under her own control, didn’t mean it boded well for her. There were still a lot of places they could put her. Many of them she didn’t want to go to.

Akane smirked at the actions of his son. He hadn’t expected any better of a reaction from the boy. Had his magic not been bound he was sure things would have gone over a lot worse. None of the family was on great terms. Though he would have thought Milla would have been the one he hated most. Of course, Wyatt probably assumed he gave the order to her. He would have been right, so maybe that was why he always hated his father the most.

Boy, I would control yourself.

A string of unrecognizable curses came through the link. While Wyatt had no access to his own magic, he could respond when the mind link was created by someone else. He just couldn’t go much else.

Your temper is showing.

As much as his father was getting to him, Wyatt hadn’t moved a single inch, nor had his facial features changed. A few years prior and he would have been pulling against his binds to get at his father over the one phrase that always seemed to get under his feathers.

Akane’s smirk only grew as he walked over to where Sylvana was standing. He ran a finger down the side of her face before she yanked her head away with a sneer of disgust written all over. The man smiled before he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him and then towards his son.

I warned you to stay away from her.

He said nothing more as he dropped his hand and moved back to his place. He was only there to watch. Showing he cared nothing about his own flesh and blood. The boy had betrayed the organization. He had signed his own death warrant. But he had to given credit. Wyatt had grown up in the years since he’d last seen him. He was impressed. He would have made an amazing soldier if not for the white magic user, but he had been tainted by her from the moment they first met as children.

Sylvana forced the shiver going down her back to stop. He’d touched her and she’d survived. But when she glanced back to Wyatt across the room, she knew things weren’t going to get any better. His expression hadn’t changed. She couldn’t read anything from him. It was almost like the time when he’d… She shook her head. She couldn’t think about that. He was a different person back then. He’d given up the most basic thing he could to save her life and in the end she had found a way to bring it back without dying. Luck of her family. But she didn’t think the luck was going to get her out of this one.

“Let’s begin, Xiuhcoatl.”

Wyatt’s eyes narrowed into slits. Yep, Sylvana knew they were screwed and it was only going to get worse.

It seemed as if both Wyatt and Sylvana weren’t the only ones who didn’t like Akane. So it appeared that even Jacob in all his evil didn’t like the man who had fathered the black magic user. Ironic really. They would probably get along considering they gave everything to the organization and never thought twice about it or how it would destroy everyone around them

Sylvana felt the grip change on her shoulders from the gray magic user, but didn’t react as most of her attention was glued to the man she’d feared her whole life. At least until he was away from her again and back in his corner of the room. Wyatt was the one she was most worried about. He held all the cards. He had everything they could ever want. And they would use her against him, she was sure. Akane’s presence in the room alone confirmed that.

It didn’t take Raven long to get started. But a future within the Shadow Sage? It was something Wyatt had never wanted even if he’d been bred for it. His personality had rebelled against being used as a mindless slave. He’d wanted answers and while he’d found some of them, only the Witches’ Fortress held the rest of them.

Sylvana’s huffed at the stupidity of the elder a reaction that got a curt glare from Wyatt across the room. His only change since they had gotten into the room. His way of telling her to shut her mouth and not to give them anything. But she couldn’t stand by.

“Rebel witches,” her voice was low. There was no need to talk at a normal level. She smirked. “You mean anyone who doesn’t have black magic or under your control? Other witches who are living lives of peace and fear for their safety from not only their own kind, but their king as well. Those rebels? And what else would someone be doing in Whitemouth? It is the trading capital of the north.” She was insulting him, she knew it. But if the end result was going to be the same, why not dish out their own toxin to them.



By midway through the day, the elders had decided to leave for lunch. Wyatt was still in the same position on the wall relatively untouched. He knew they were just warming up especially after the verbal lashing Sylvana had given them in the morning. She’d upset their tucked feathers more than she knew and she’d gotten the beating for it. He’d tried to warn her to keep her mouth shut.

The white magic user was suspended from her wrists across the room. Her feet didn’t even touch the ground. Over time it would pull her shoulders out of socket. The side of her face was swollen and her lip was spilt and bleeding as well as a small cut at the top of her head, but overall she could have been a lot worse. She would get a lot worse if he didn’t stop talking.

He knew what they wanted. Even though they had both left the Shadow Sage five years prior, they had stayed low, keeping away from each other to not attract attention. Sylvana couldn’t even go home for fear of leading the rest of the organization to her family. It was bad enough both Milla and Akane held that information over her. Of course, her family was far from helpless. Her parents were considered the leading rebels against the cause since Soren, Ondin, and Milla had been in their teens even before they knew about the Shadow Sage and had all been rogue witches.

What they wanted was the information both he and Sylvana had gained before the officially joined. It was a time where he couldn’t get into contact with his parents. The two of them had gone off on their own not on purpose, but they had run into an underground plot that threatened everything. They’d found a fourth type of magic – blue. They had fought the users multiple times and won. They’d found a creature from horror stories and learned the secrets of Gordon’s Stones about where all the magic came from and how to possibly strengthen ones own if it was possible. But the records were incomplete. All they found at the time were two letters – WF. They had thought it was a name until years later they learned about the long lost Witches’ Fortress. Then everything made sense. But he couldn’t nor would he ever tell the elders of the Shadow Sage anything he knew about the underground cavern. He just had to hope that Sylvana was smart, no strong enough not to give in and tell them anything either.

Otherwise, the whole reason they had fled the organization, changed their names, and left each other was all in vain. He wouldn’t allow it to end this way. Only a day and a half left until they were all free.

They were alone, but it was impossible to tell for how long. It was also impossible to know if someone was outside of the room or if the elders didn’t have the room bugged. The interrogation rooms didn’t stop magic, only the cuffs biding them, which allowed free witches to attack those who couldn’t defend themselves. He’d seen it done before.

At a time like this, Wyatt would normally have just opened a mind connection to avoid the off chance of being overheard, but without access to his magic, that option was out. They would have to keep their voices down, but he had to make sure Sylvana kept quiet this time.

“How’s your face?” His voice was low, just loud enough to be heard across the room. Sylvana’s eyes opened slowly. She took a deep breath.

“Had worse, but you know that.” The only response was a brief nod. The less they talked the less likely they were to be caught.

“You should have kept your mouth shut.”

“I know, but I couldn’t stand it. I know the stories my mother told me as a child and these… bastards who got their powers as adults who think they rule everything…”

“Stop while you’re ahead. Might be bugged or right outside. Watch what you say.”

Sylvana nodded her head. Which meant even talking about their parents having had their magic since they were children even before most of the elders had theirs was off limits too. The elders sure did want a lot of information and why they didn’t simply go to Milla to get most of it she would never understand. But then again the woman probably refused to answer and would take any beating they dished out to her. She’d done it in the past with Akane at least according to Wyatt.

“They want to know about the twins, don’t they?”

“Yes and everything that happened back then.”

“And the five years since we’ve been gone?”

“We both know nothing really happened then.” Wyatt’s eyes were sharp. What was worse? Knowing the past about their adventure and what happened from it, or the reason they left the organization and went underground along with all the things they’d done since. Undermining Shadow Sage and tracking down what remained from their failures.

“Your sister?”

“Still here and under Akane’s thumb.”

“Why is he here?”

“They’re trying to use him to scare us.” Wyatt pulled at the cuffs holding his wrists in place. They barely moved and in the back of his mind he could feel himself losing the fight. He didn’t know how much longer he was going to last. He couldn’t keep pulling himself out of the void the mask offered to help Sylvana. He knew she could take care of herself, but it was so hard not to protect her like he’d been doing since they had first started their journey.

“I can barely feel it. I haven’t felt like this since before I got my powers and the barrier.”

“We’ll be fine. Just keep your mouth shut no matter what happens to either of us. Keep quiet. We’re almost out of here.”

“What do you mean?”

Wyatt glanced up at the ceiling where the sky was somewhere high above them. The moon would eventually replace the ball of gas which would mean only one more day until they would be free. The black magic user pulled on his chain as Sylvana followed his line of vision. Whether or not she understood, he didn’t know.

“Forgive me.” It was the last thing he said as the mask fell back into place. He had to keep himself under control. He could feel the beast swirling around him as he thought about the upcoming full moon.

Sylvana was completely alone. She knew this from the look on her best friend’s face. She’d seen that mask before and it tore at her heart just as much as before. Except this time she doubted that she would be able to fix things. Getting out of here alive depended on Wyatt. She closed her eyes trying to ignore the pounding of her head and the throbbing of her shoulders unsure of how much longer they had before the elders came back and the real fun began.

It hadn’t seemed like a very long time before people started returning with Akane being one of the first ones in the room. Sylvana glanced up at Wyatt who hadn’t even made a move to acknowledge anyone’s presence. He truly was gone again. Her shoulders and wrists were throbbing, but she wasn’t sure what hurt more. Her breaking heart or her physical body.

As everyone seemed to file into the room, the white magic user knew it was time. Things were really going to get down to business. Wyatt claimed that they were almost out of this place, but she didn’t see how. They couldn’t access their magic and even if they could with the assortment of magical beings in the room, she doubted even they could take them all down and walk away from it intact. There had to be something else going on she didn’t understand.

What she did understand was that she was now completely alone in this game and Wyatt was counting on her not to open her mouth. Her hard headed streak was working against her. She couldn’t stand the injustice of it all. They had done nothing wrong. It was the organization that was wrong in what it was doing. Learning the truth had set them free, but made them targets for death. A death that seemed very near.

“Raven, I am quite curious about this rumored fourth magic that these two here were said to have fought,” One of the other elders began. “It was reported by Xiuhcoatl to Milla that they had fought and won against two blue magic users. Yet no one else has ever come across such a magic.”

Sylvana kept her eyes shut. She didn’t want to see anything that was going to come. She wasn’t so stupid to know it wasn’t Wyatt they were going to go after. It was her. She was the weaker one. Either she would break first, or Wyatt would to stop her pain. In his current condition, it was going to be her that broke down first. Milla probably didn’t even remember the cavern where most of the answers the elders wanted was and if she didn’t it appeared she wasn’t telling them.

Maybe the woman wasn’t as bad as they once believed. Especially if she was purposefully keeping information from them. But it didn’t change the fact, both she and the womna’s son were chained in the dungeon of a Shadow Sage tower being tortured for information spanning back years. They wanted to know what happened before the two had officially joined and then during the five years they’d been on the run. It was a lot to cover and a lot of questions.

I won’t do it. I won’t. Please don’t let me… She whispered to herself. Her family’s safety was riding on keeping her mouth shut about certain aspects of her own history. If she told the Salvia family would once again become targets and this time, they wouldn’t survive.

"Rumors. Indeed, there are a great many rumors surrounding these two. Thanks to young Hemlock, we can know the truth of these rumors." Raven answered in good humor and Jacob flushed in pleasure at the praise. "We will know the truth." The grey witch shivered against the deathly chilling tone. And he wasn't even the one on trial!

So began a grueling and painful afternoon. Neither one would be left unscathed.

Even Jacob himself was affected by the proceedings, which he figured was his master's intent. Why wouldn't he trust him? He gave everything he had to Shadow Sage! It was his life, his family. What reason had he to trouble his tower-master? The grey witch gritted his teeth but kept his thoughts hidden. Hopefully the visiting witches would assume it was hatred for the traitors. He didn't understand how they kept calm, especially Wyatt's father.

After the other elder's unnecessary prompt, Raven went into what Jacob would later call kill mode. His torments were painfully precise. He targeted known physical weak points with physical battering, or those strange metal devices. When touched with such devices, the prisoner's body either trembled or the targeted body part jumped of its own accord. Jacob hid a cringe at the eerie sight.

Not only was his master physically brutal, but he phrased all his questions about the fourth magic and related events in a way to rile up the prisoners' emotions.

Jacob didn't believe there was any fourth magic, but for some reason it was great interest to all these elders. Why do they care so much about a myth? There's only black magic, white magic, and their bastard love-child grey. He hissed between his teeth. Bastard magic, his bastard magic. Dammit! That stupid bastard magic was forcing its way forward again. Why was he having such a hard time holding it back today?

The grey witch tried to focus on the questions and body language, like his master advised him earlier, but the longer he stayed, the more he heard, the more he saw, the more he wanted to either attack or leave.

Why was he acting and thinking like this? He knew when he brought them in that the traitors would be punished for their treachery. It was a special privilege for him to even witness this punishment. They were traitors; they deserved it! The oh-so-powerful user of oh-so-wonderful black magic betrayed his family and the entire organization, while the weaker bastard grey did not.

Still at the end of the day, well after sunset, that same grey user could not help but feel troubled. Silently he stared at the floor under his feet, while the higher ranking witches left. There he remained for several moments. Drops of blood dripped from any open wounds on the prisoners' bodies. He watched it in grim fascination. His own methods of torment normally didn't involve blood.

“Jacob? “ The grey witch looked up to see his master at the door again. “Come now. We’re done for today.” His tone proved he turned off kill mode. It was almost gentle. Jacob paused half a second more to glance at the prisoners, who either glared at him or struggled with their damaged bodies. He swallowed tightly, but hurried to his master’s side. “What were you doing?”
“Just thinking. Trying to figure things out.“

The older man nodded and gripped Jacob’s upper arm, tighter than was comfortable, but his tone of voice was the same. “It is a lot to take in, I grant you, but ‘tis not wise to linger long with traitors. You can’t let their lies corrupt you.” Raven released him and sent him away to sort his thoughts. Jacob was glad to oblige.

Sylvana watched Jacob leave through veiled eyes. She didn’t know what hurt worse? The mental or physical pain. What she did know was that she wouldn’t survive much longer. And even though she’d talked a lot less than she’d thought she would, she was still upset at herself for speaking to begin with. Wyatt hadn’t even made a single sound despite the hell they’d put him through.

Overall, she’d taken the brunt of the damage. Simply because they were using her pain to get to the black magic user. She understood that. She knew it had to happen, but the knowledge didn’t make anything easier.

She’d been returned to her original position after having been put through different objects around the room. Her shoulders were going to be completely out of place by the time morning rolled around and likely her wrists were going to be done for.

After a few minutes of the door being shut and locked behind the last Shadow Sage member, did the white magic user finally get the will to try and speak.

“I’m sorry… Wyatt. I did my best… really, Xin. I’m sorry.”

The black magic user across the room finally looked up at her when she called his birth name, rather the nickname to his birth name. But he did nothing else. He hadn’t done anything the entire time. No matter how much pain they had put him through. He was too far gone into the mask to give anything away.

Unlike Sylvana who’d given up the two blue magic user’s names, Tomas and Gemina. Because it wasn’t like their names really mattered. But she’d kept quiet about how magic came to be, the orb, the cavern, pretty much everything that mattered. But she wasn’t sure how much longer she was going to be able to hang onto the will power she’d managed through the day.

She just wished she could look down at the elders like they did at her. Because ultimately she was better than they were. Hell, so were Jacob and Jasper simply from being born with their powers and not having gained through during adulthood. Sure, most of the time kids didn’t learn about their powers until they were slightly older, but that didn’t mean much.

Sylvana closed her eyes as she fought to get air into her lungs and block out pain at the same time. It was a slow and failing task. Night was going to stretch on for a while. And yet Wyatt was calm as could be chained to the wall. He was counting down the hours, as he felt the beast more and more the closer to the full moon they got. Tomorrow night and only one more day of this torture before they were all free. And the elders would pay especially Raven and Akane for what they had done to Sylvana. He’d make damn sure of it.

Very unlike himself, Jacob didn't eat the evening meal that day, but nobody bothered him after his master sent him away.
He retreated to his room and tried to calm himself down, but his mind refused to settle. The young man wore a path in the floor as he paced, until the tower grew dark and quiet below him. He attempted to sleep but sleep wouldn't come. He sat up on his bed and sighed. Intending to do something about it, he stood and left the room.

The first place he went was the kitchen, but the tea he brewed himself wasn’t enough. What else should he do? He leaned against the counter and had a crazy idea, either brought on by lack of sleep or something he couldn’t place. Did he really care about that, or did his soft brother have something to do with it?

Now Jasper was in the tower, Jacob wondered if his presence influenced him. When he met him in person, he had strange feelings and thoughts like this. Wyatt’s father-the grey witch hissed between his teeth-even he gave Jacob ideas he never considered before. Even though he knew the rules, it still troubled the younger witch that he was present in the interrogation. Would Jacob himself want to watch his own child be shamed and bled?

With another hiss, he slammed the teacup down, startling himself with the noise. Once he recovered, he paused and listened. It didn’t sound like anyone was coming.

There was one thing he could do. It was chancy though. He took another cup of tea, and then steeled himself for the crazy thing he was about to do.

He shouldn’t be here; he really shouldn’t be here. Raven told him not to spend time with the traitors, yet Jacob stood within view of the door that held them. Guards were posted outside. Jacob trembled. He shouldn’t be here. He should go back to his room and forget it. He turned to do just that, but then he stopped. He never saw the message the other elders gave his master, but he knew they wanted both dead. They were traitors. Of course they had to die. He would never again have a chance to resolve this.

Jacob turned back to the guards and used his magic to put them to sleep. He even waited a few minutes afterward to make sure they stayed asleep or no other guards were coming. Since he didn’t know what time it was when he left his room, he couldn’t be sure how long he had before the guard changed. It was safe to assume the dungeon guards worked the same way as the night watch.

He took a deep breath and crossed those last few steps to the door, but he didn’t attempt to open it. Time was of the essence! He closed his eyes and focused his attention on the occupants of the room. “Wyatt? Xiuhcoatl?” he whispered into a crack of the closed door. If his erstwhile friend couldn’t hear him, he dare not shout. Instead he probed for the black witch’s mind. Something felt off about it. The slighter grey witch trembled and curled tighter against the shadowed wall. “Please, I just want to talk.” He braved another whisper. If he couldn’t reach Wyatt, maybe the girl could, but he still didn’t want to trust the white witch with his concerns. She had more reason to hate him.