Children of mischief

Chapter 4: Things go wonderfully right(or horribly wrong)

Ibis P.O.V

"What?!" Willow's eyes widend.
"You better be joking." Luke gave me a worried look.
I just explained what was disscused at the meeting.
"No, we gotta find a way to convince them not to kill you." Luke paced back and forth. I sighed"They don't know who I am."
"But what if they find out?" Willow fidgeted with the brim of her dress.
"Ok, ok, calm your horses you two! Let's be rational. Who the Fire-Pits could tell miss fish-face and tree-hugger about it?"
Luke crossed his arms over his chest and raised one of his eyebrows."Is it that tough of a question?"
"Stop sassing me out! You,Mohan and Willow are the only ones who know!"
"How can you be so sure?!"
"Are you seriously questioning wether or not I told anyone else?!"
In our argument, me and Luke got closer one to the other,just inches away.
Willow steped in between us."Alright, don't get physical now! Ibis is right ,we gotta calm down."
"Idiot." Luke snarrled at me, backing down.
"What'd I do now?!"
Willow sighed."You two will be the death of me."
The harpy took a deep breath. "Ok, I'm calm now. What's our plan?"
I leaned forward on the table."We need all the ancient text we can find about Pseudo and his Legacies."
"Shouldn't you know this things as his Priest?"
"There are things not even the priests don't know." I sighed.
"Well, I'l head to Eldonium to bring you those scripts and books." Willow threw her bag over her shoulder.
Me and Luke gave her a worried look."Are you sure you'll be fine going so far from the Creek?" I asked.
Willow waved her hand dismissevly."Oh shush, nothing bad can happen."
"You know,when you say that, something bad will happen!" Luke said annoyed.
Willow rolled her eyes."Superstitions".
I exchanged a worried look with my harpy friend."You'll be very far away from the Creek, you do realise?"
"I ain't stupid, of cours I know."
"I'll acompany you." Luke decided.
She shook her head."You stay here and keep Ibis safe."
"Hey! I can protect myself!"
They both glared at me."No,no you can't."
I scoffed."What do you guys take me for, a toddler?!"
"Kinda"
"Eh."
I glared at them. I felt my hands twitching and my jaw clenching. I was gonna prove them wrong.
"Go, I can handle myself just fine."
They both looked at me in shock. I never used a stern tone with them before.
"O...ok?" Luke looked like he didn't know how to act, since my attitude wasn't provoking,but assertive.
"We'll be going then. Stay safe."
They left. I let out a long breath. Why can't they have a little fate in me? Am I really that bad?
I got out of the shrine, thinking what I could do for my situation. I walked along the creek's bank. A few naiads were chatting by the shore,but they quickly scattered when they saw me, and thank the Spirits they did, because I wouldn't want Elenor to know what I was about to do.
I knelt by the water and made a cut in the middle of my palm. I clenched my fist, watching the blood trickle down into the water. "Blood calls upon blood. She who's soul wanders, come back through this waters."
The water turned into a blood-red whirl in that spot. A faint silhouette started forming in it, and soon enough I could see her dim glow.
"Ibis?"
I smiled."Hi Ami."
She looked just like the last time I've summoned her: short white hair swiped to the left, one of her eyes was obsidian-black,while the other saphire blue. She wore white clothing that glew and she was hovering a few inches over the ground, as if it was a reminder she was neither alive nor dead, a soul stuck in between. My half-sister, Amista.
Amista frowned. "What happend?"
"Please,I know you aren't allowed to, but, please tell me:are there any other children of Pseudo except us two? Alive, I mean."
Amista looked around,as if to see if there were any eavesdroppers, then she sighed. "I hoped it wouldn't come to this,but it's time for truth:Yes. There is one more child of our father alive. A shape-shifter from Vellos."
My heart was pounding in my ears. In Vellos? So damn close, and only now do I find out?! What's this?!
"I can see you're finding it hard to process, brother."
I-unintentionally-glared at her."Well, my apologiez for not jumping up and down in excitment when I find out that the sibling I've been looking for so long has been actually at what? Two weeks of walking on foot? Why did you not tell me any sooner?!"
Amista tried placing her hand on my arm, even if it meant nothing since she's a ghost, but the gesture counted. "No." I stepped back. "I asked,begged you to tell me, and you refused! Why?!"
"Father forbaid me. In order to keep them safe."
I raised my eyebrow." 'They'? So,there's more?"
She shook her head."The shapeshifters don't stick to one labe, male or female, and our sibling is no exception."
"What's their name?"
Amista shook her head."I cannot tell you,I'm sorry."
I felt a surge of frustration wash over me. Why did Fate always need to be against me? Is it such a bad thing I want to find my sibling, someone I share the same blood with, and appearantly the same fate, and try to protect them? My fists clenched. "Ami,I'll ask one more time:Name."
The shadows of the trees started shifting, swirling by my feet.
"Brother..."
"Name."
She sighed and hung her head."Mo Caliope."
I let out a deep breath. "Thank you Ami."
She nodded and her image fadded.
I need to calm down, I need to calm down. At this rate I'm gonna blow my cover. I need to come in touch with this Mo. Please, whoever is listening, let me meet them.
I brought my hand to the pendant of my necklace. This would either be a briliant success or a horrible failiur. I went to the Messenger Moths' meedow. Taking out a small bottle of honeysuckle nectar and oppened it. Once I did, a fluffy brown and white moth the size of a cat flew down. It lended on my arm as I gave it the nectar. "I have a message for Mo Caliope."
The moth made a faint 'priii' sound and tilted it's head,it's antlers. I still don't comprehand how they found the person or how they coppy messages,but Messenger Moths are the best way of Fair People to comunicate.
I took a deep breath. "My name is Ibis. I know this will sound weird,but...I need a word with you. I know you do not know me,but it's important. It's about your father...your real one. Meet me in the Snake's Creek,South from Vellos."
The Moth waited a bit more before taking off. I let out a long sigh and slid down with my back against the tree.  Resting my head in my hands, I ended up drifting off.

Willow P.O.V

While I was walking alongside Luke, I couldn't help but worry for Ibis. I was well aware he could take care of himself just fine, as he himself said:he wasn't an infant ;yet...a part of me felt weary knowing he was alone without me or Luke.
The harpy was walking silently, his face stern and serious, his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it whenever it was needed. Indeed, it was dangerous outside the Creek's protection, but I wanted to help Ibis, I owed him that much, and I had a feeling Luke felt the same. As we walked, something drew my attention regarding my companion:feathers were starting to sprout from his wrists and some on his neck. "Luke."
He turned his head towards me. "Hm?"
I pointed his wris."Your disguise is weavering. Are you feeling anxious?"
He sighed. "Where shall I start? Ibis's life is on the line,our only hope is finding documents about a cursed Spirit who's cult is so small, it's practically inexistent, and oh! Yeah, I'm stuck with a close-range weapon!" He huffed.
I had to supress a chuckle upon hearing the last part. Truth be said,that was the first time I ever saw Luke without his crossbow, poor thing must've hated it needing to switch. But there was something else too.
"Anything else?"
He rolled his eyes."If I wanted snarky remarks I would've staied with Ibis."
I raised my hands in mock-surrender. "I'm sorry for coming off as rude. I just thought something else was bothering you."
"Oh..." he made a face that was equally embarressed and surprised. "Sorry Willow, I'm used with Ibis saying one thing and that having a whole nother meaning",he rubbed his temples,"that boy is giving me a headache."
I knew what I was about to say would put me on thin ice,but I felt the urge to do it. "Maybe,but you do love that headache."
Luke stopped in his tracks and turned to me. His eyes were cold and sharp as winter winds. "Come again?" His tone made the question sound more like"I'm giving you one last chance to fix your mistake."
I gulped." I'm sorry,but I couldn't help but notice how you two act around eachother, and simply how your face lights slightly when you see him..."
"You're imagining things." He said bluntly.
"I..."
"Let's keep moving."
His tone left no room for further disscusions, so I nodded and we started walking again.
The only thing that somewhat tied me and Luke togheter was Ibis,otherwise we wouldn't have anything in common,but for his sake, we tried getting along. Easier said than done when someone was so quick to anger and would throw a fit over nothing.
"Why so mad?" He asked.
"Huh?" I tilted my head. I didn't realise my face was giving away my annoyance so easily. "N-nothing! I'm just...This situation is having me on edge as much as it has you,you know?"
For a second,his expression soffened." I get ya. And don't mind me, sometimes I'm not used to be around people who actually know to behave. I swear, I'm speanding far to much time with Ibis."
I chuckled."I see. I must have to apologize too, I'm not as prissy as I might seem."
He half-smiled. "Nah, I actually like talking to you. You're Velonian, right?"
I perked up my ears at the mention of that. "That would be correct, full Velonian blood. How did you figure?"
"The accent said it."
I stopped again. I didn't know if to take it as an offance or compliment.
"Something wrong?"
I quickly shook my head. "No,not at all."
We were about to go back on our way when something started moving in the trees above us. Luke drew his sword and beckond me to get behind him.
"Rouges."
I gulped, gripping on my bags straps. This was going to be ugly.