Needing is One Thing

Chapter 26. Hey brother, what you thinking?

Andrew's name echoed as James looked at his brothers. Damien quickly ran back into the room. James' first thoughts weren't of revenge but fear, despite how the anger hid it from his eyes.

"She's with him." James said in mind and voice as Erik also realized it.

"Would he hurt her?" Matthew asked, biting his lower lip as he thought about what they could do.

"I don't think so, or he would have already. He might try to use her against us, or try to turn her from us." Erik's worried eyes flashed as his own fists curled to mirror James'.

"She'd never turn from us." Damien whispered to them, strong in his conviction though his own fear was showing.

Erik frowned, reflected on the magic he had felt. "It might not be her choice. We don't know what types of magic he has or how strong his specializations are. We'll need to be careful."

"Obviously he's using dark magic." James tried to calm down, think rationally. "And demon magic is also quite probable. He spoke of Harold to me. He said 'Harold thought we would be great friends." James' brothers all stared at him wide eyed. Harold Anderson would never have used hell-borne magic. It went against everything their benefactor believed in. How were Andrew and him connected?

"Andrew also knew I was a prince of the Abyssal Plains." James admitted. He quickly recounted everything Andrew had said to his brothers, keeping tight control of his agitation though every moment of delay had his heart screaming.

"He tricked Harold, too?" Matthew's eyes flashed dangerously.

Erik shook his head. "No, Harold was too strong for that. We're missing something, but as to what, I'm not sure." He shook his head again, looked to James as Matthew and Damien did.

"Whatever it was, Andrew's using hell magic. He can't be trusted. With Sam and Mika both missing, we have to assume it's connected and he's involved." James folded his arms, forced himself not to pace. "Let's pay Mr. Lewis a visit."

"On it." Matthew pulled out his tablet and started digging for data.

"Don't worry, we'll find her." Erik whispered under his breath. James looked to his brother, grateful for the support.

Erik's eyes suddenly widened, met his before James saw his brother disappear in a flash of magic, summoned from them. Sam? James' heart hammered. Raestrao! He heard his own summons and he couldn't accept it fast enough. His brother's voice rang in his head, relief surging through him as it reassured him that Sam was alive.

The room rushed away to drop him into a large dim room, beams of moonlight and the lights of the skyline through the tall windows breaking the darkness. They were downtown. Erik ran past, already going to Sam as Matthew and Damien quickly followed the summons behind them. James instantly took in the runes branded into the floor. He could smell the stench of brimstone still lingering on the air. Anger and concern clashed as he saw his brother.

Sam was haggard, his eyes a dull gray that startled James. Erik was already reaching out to Sam with his magic to check him as Matthew and Damien looked about to scout their surroundings. He saw Erik's healing magic at work as Sam stood straighter, Sam's anger mirroring James' own. Andrew would pay.

Magic beckoned and James froze. He felt her presence, her gaze on him, before he slowly turned around to face her. Mika was standing behind him, shocked from witnessing the brothers being summoned into the room around her. Their eyes met across the distance between them. James stood unsure, felt his heart in his throat. Mika had been crying; blood was smeared on her face. She was beautiful. The world stopped around them. His brothers circled, speaking with each other, but James only had eyes for her, only wanted to hear her voice at that moment. Breathless, his heart reached out, nervous hope in his eyes.