Serpent's Spell

A Traveller's Commander

"I can't find him." Someone should have noticed, but they didn't and now Virgil was gone, meaning they were a man down.

"Right ..." Logan returned to the group as he strode into the meeting room. "We are a man down and I have just come back from checking our defences." He enlightened the group on their defence status. "Nothing. All of them are gone." He made a swiping motion with his right hand before releasing a heavy sigh, pinching his nose.

"Wait." Roman stopped from his brisk pacing back and forth, walking closer to the others, to reveal an earlier comment in a conversation which he had with the now missing member of their team. "Earlier he said -" Roman paused, closing his eyes momentarily in an attempt to recall the conversation. "- He said, 'Deceit wants back what you stole'." Roman's face scrunched as he recited the words.

"He wants back what we stole? What did we steal?" That was the question no one seemed to know the answer to. The group exchanged looks before the lack of panic dawned upon Logan.

"Virgil."

"Virgil? Deceit thinks we stole Virgil?" Patton queried, unsure what it all meant.

--- Flashback ---

"Everyone ... Meet Virgil." Logan re-joined his friends, entering the common room with the newcomer trailing behind him as he took it all in. Virgil took a look around, keeping to the edges of the room, getting acquainted with the new space he was in. Wandering around, his eyes focused and then again re-focused, while his fingers gently traced the details of the wall, as if he were inspecting it. He paid no attention to the other three males that had huddled into a group in hushed conversation.

"Logan we don't know anything about him" Roman objected, throwing his hands around carelessly in front of him, in outrage at the situation. "You just happened to stumble upon him? I don't believe that for a second." He scoffed, turning away to shoot a glance at the stranger before he brought his attention back to the conversation at hand. "Let alone trust him! Patton, please tell me you think this is a bad idea. It will bring us nothing but Karma." Logan remained quiet as he allowed the other two members to talk amongst themselves.

"I agree, this is out of the blue, but like you rightly said Roman ... We don't know anything about him." Patton reasoned as he pointed out the obvious, knowing that if it were him in the younger boys shoes, he would want to be given a chance. "We will give him a chance. Get to know him a little." Patton finalised, seeing Roman deflate as his argument was diffused there and then with a final decision.

Patton wandered over, taking his own advice to try and get to know the boy before jumping to conclusions and pointing fingers in the wrong direction. "Hello." Virgil turned to look over his shoulder, only to see a short, brunette male standing behind him wearing glasses, looking sheepish.

"Hi." The boy spoke, his tone timid and shy, as his eyes wandered, studying the male meticulously.

"I'm Patton ..." He spoke with accepting eyes full of wisdom, the sight easing Virgil. "Virgil ..." Virgil was unsure of the moment, humming as he gave a diminutive graceful nod. He wasn't one to easily open up to people, engage in conversation or be confronted, yet there he was. Already introduced himself without a prompt from someone else. "It's nice to meet you, Virgil," Patton welcomed. The safe tone of voice did not go amiss as a quirky uplifting smile made its way onto Virgil's lips.

--- End Of Flashback ---

"No ... That doesn't make sense. We didn't steal Virgil." Patton refused, shaking his head, trying to puzzle together the pieces.

Logan remained quiet in thought as Roman questioned his knowledge. "Logan, you're quiet." Both Patton's and Roman's gaze focused on the logical member of their team, in suspicion.

"Deceit ... He believes we stole Virgil from him." Logan began, repeating what they all already knew, before cutting to the chase and revealing the events that occurred on the day he rescued Virgil.

--- Flashback ---

Logan had been walking down the corridor that led to the library. Turning the corner, he was sent flying backwards from the force that hit him square in the chest, which resulted in him laying on the floor, winded. Coughing, he managed to suck in a ragged breath, looking around to see what had hit him. Across the floor opposite, was a tall skinny boy who was scurrying away in desperation, with a look of fear and distress on the surface, clear as daylight. Gathering himself up, Logan stood, dusting himself off, before he focused on the other with a wary gaze.

"Are you alright? Sorry ... I didn't see you, just came out of nowhere -" The words caught on the tip of his tongue as he looked around in question. Nowhere. Logan trailed off, going quiet as he assessed the situation which came with too many questions. A moment passed and the boy stayed quiet, realising there were going to be no verbal responses from the boy who was backed up against a corridor wall, looking as if he just wanted the solid surface to swallow him whole and disappear.

Logan took a few slow steps forwards, only for the boy to whimper and shy away, turning further into the wall. Immediately, Logan stopped and began to crouch down before the other. "Hey ... I won't hurt you." The logical male's voice was as smooth as silk, and as clear as the ocean's water, making note to keep his features smooth and unintimidating, so he would prevent spooking the boy.

--- End Of Flashback ---

"No ... He's right. We didn't steal Virgil. Virgil found us and we took him in." Roman pitched in, as he spoke defensively, the words harsh and sharp.

"It doesn't matter! Between what did and didn't actually happen it makes no difference." Logan raised his voice as he circled the room. "In Deceit's eyes, we TOOK Virgil." He stopped in his tracks turning to address the others. His speech slowed and became that much more deliberate as he emphasized the last part, before he added further explanation. "Despite his choice to come and live with us, Deceit doesn't see it as such." The logical side finished, returning to stand with the group.

"Now what ... Virgil may or may not be with Deceit and even then we don't know what the situation is, but if Deceit has got Virgil-" Roman rambled, only for Logan to cut him off, interjecting. "-we can't leave him there." His words assertive and final, voicing all their thoughts.

Roman surged towards the main door that led elsewhere, before he swung it open widely with enough force for it to collide with the wall that held it. There were no spoken words, only emotions that seemed to energise the room in quick succession.

"Aren't you going to stop him?" Patton's tone was barely audible as he watched Roman leave. Logan's eyes focused on Roman's retreating form. "No. I have given up trying. When it comes to Virgil ... Roman lets his heart rule his head." Logan stated logically, having tried multiple times prior, before he departed walking off after the other, leaving Patton to follow them.