City of Lies

Chapter 31 - I love you too

(A/N: so sorry I haven't updated in a while!! I've been extreme busy with everything going on in my life right now...sorry :/)
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"Where are you taking us?" I ask scurrying to keep up with Arthur/Magnus's pace. Chase seems to be doing fine while Jane also looks like she's struggling.

"Has anyone ever told you that you ask a lot of questions," Arthur/Magnus says while taking a sharp left. "And I prefer to be called Magnus. I left the name Arthur 300 years ago."

"Yeah I still don't get that," Chase comes into the conversation. "So you're Arthur Handel, the dude that sent Lilith back to Hell, but you're also Magnus, the best warlock?"

"Correct," we stop at a tree. Magnus waves his fingers and draws a symbol on tree. "Teens these days," he mumbles under his breathe and steps back from the tree.

A purple and bluish hole opens up. White and gold sparks are inside the hole and some small wind is coming out blowing our hair behind us. It's a portal.

Chase steps up and puts his hand through it. "Dude that's cool," he looks back at Magnus and gives a sly smile. "But where does thing go?" He turns toward the portal and the wind makes his red and black flannel blow behind him.

Magnus steps halfway through the portal. "My home," and with that he's gone into it completely.

Jane, Chase and I stare at one another before moving. Jane rolls her eyes before she runs and jumps into the portal.

Chase laughs. "I wonder if she realizes that she's going to land on her face on the other side."

I laugh. To be honest, I'm kind of nervous of stepping through the portal. I've never been through a portal and I have no idea what it feels like. Chase, however looks like the complete opposite. His eyes are lighting up with excitement and he doesn't show fear or worry at all.

"Come one," he extends his hand for me grab. I grab it and instantly I feel a bit less scared. "It's not bad, I've been through one before."

We step in together. The rush of wind and water feel like it's slapping against your body. The sound of bells ring in your ears and it smells like nature. This feeling is thrilling and exhilarating. When we reach the other side I nearly trip, Chase helps me get my balance back quickly so I don't fall.

I look back and the portal swirls close. When I look back in front of me, Chase's emerald eyes are starring above and past me. I look behind me and a huge two story house is glooming in the clear blue sky. There's two tall oak trees next to the house.

"Is this all of your property?" Jane asks looking everywhere.

Magnus nods and his golden eyes are filled with pride. His property extends maybe about two or three more miles. There's a huge garden, a thin river and even a bridge that's his.

~*~

It's been about three hours that we stayed at Magnus's place. He fed us lunch and explained his story.

It's true that Magnus is the same person as Arthur Handle. He's a warlock so he lives forever until he gets killed. After the war was over, that's when all the drama began to happen. Word got out about how powerful Arthur actually was so he faked his death and changed his name. Even today, nobody but us knows the truth Magnus, they know he's powerful but they don't know how powerful he actually is.

After he explained his story, I explained mine. I told him how I knew he was Arthur Handle and why I'm here. "So will you help me?"

Magnus stands up from the table and starts pacing. "I don't know hun, it's not like I can un claim her from her own Darkness."

"But you're freaking Magnus," Chase says. "The one who sent Lilith to Hell."

Magnus paces back our way. "True, but most of my magic is dormant. When I changed my name, I stopped using some of my magic."

"Can't you make your magic like un-dormant or something?" I ask desperately. "You don't understand, she's the only family I have left."

Magnus stops pacing and gives me a confused look. "That's not true. You still have you're mother, but she's dark," he pauses. "And your brother."

My heart skips a beat. "I don't have a brother. Jocelyn never told me about a brother."

Magnus flicks his eyes. "She also didn't tell you about your mother," he pauses to allow me to take that in. "Trust me Bree, you have a brother."

Chase looks at me. I'm blankly starring at Magnus and it feels like my heart has stopped beating. "So um her brother," Chase starts and I look at him. "Is he dark or light?"

Magnus shrugs. "I don't know, I've never seen him in person."

"When have you seen him then?" Chase asks.

"When I visited Brother Blood I've seen security footage of him and Chepi merging blood, it matched up perfectly."

Now we all look confused. "What and where is Brother Blood?" Jane asks this one this time.

Magnus raises an eyebrow. "You teens only know Valencia, you don't know about the other cities beyond the oceans that surround Valencia. Brother Blood is one of those cities."

Chase, Jane and I look at each other. I'm sure none of us heard of that before. "Oh my gosh," I say in surprise and wait a couple seconds before speaking again. "So um, what am I going to do?"

"Go back to Colina of course. It's too dangerous for you to be out of the protection of wards," Magnus answers.

I stand up from my spot a bit surprised. "Are you saying that I walked across all of Valencia just to find out I need to go back to Colina and I won't even get Jocelyn back?"

Magnus's expression doesn't even change. "Basically yeah. I don't know what you expected to hear?"

"I expected to hear that I'd be able to get Jocelyn back. That is know the truth," I sit back down a bit bummed. Chase squeezes my hand to comfort me.

"Sorry hun, but I can't get Jocelyn back," he pauses. "And you do know the truth. You know your real mother, you know that you have a brother, that you're Pure Blooded and that Lilith needs you to get out of Hell."

"And that's the exact reason you need to get back to Colina," Jane comes into the conversation. "Speaking of that, you guys do realize we have to get back today? It's already noon so."

My heart stops at the drop of reality. Could this be the last day I see Chase? I look up at Chase and he looks down at me.

"Oh what a bummer," Magnus says. "I thought you guys can stay longer. I don't get much company," he chuckles lightly. I can see the sorrow and longing in his eyes though. It's the eyes I'll wear when I go back to Colina.

Chase stands up. "I mean we could stay longer," he smiles a little but I can tell he's actually sad. "I don't care what Rose says."

Jane stands up and pats him on the shoulder. "I've met her and she's gonna freak if you don't make it by today. She might even send you to prison."

Chase is about to say something but I jump up from my seat. "No I don't want that to happen to you," I look Chase and then at Magnus. "I'm sorry but we do have to leave today."

"Alright then, I'll set up the portals. But it'll be ready around nine at night," Magnus says.

I nod. I can nearly hear my heart slowly breaking into a tiny million pieces. Chase comes up to me and hugs me. I hug him back and whisper into his chest "I never want to lose you. I love you."

"I love you too," he whispers against me. "And I promise Bree, you won't lose me. I'll always be by your side."