Ancients of Autumnrose (Heads or Tails: Vol. II)

Chapter XXIII: What Do Ya Say?

The next day didn't seem to be any different as it was the day before. Chloe grabbed whatever she needed for classes and headed to her next class. Aracely, usually the on-the-clock student, wasn't in class towards everyone surprise. "Hmmm, maybe we should go on a vacation to clear her mind a bit...." Aracely thought aloud. "What'cha thinkin' aloud 'bout, Martinez?" She jumped and turned around, finding someone familiar behind her.

"C-Cade!? What're you doing here!?" she whispered. Cade chuckled. "Well, I came to help!" he replied. Aracely scoffed. "Help? Do you even know what that means!? Cause last time we encountered with you, you pretty much helped us destroy half a forest!" Aracely scolded but managed to keep her voice down. "Plus, you're an Arachne. You're not allowed to be here," she added. Cade raised his hands."Truth be told, I'm not an Arachne by blood." he said. Aracely tilted her head. "But your name's Cade Arachne. Anyone with that last name is definitely related to Amadeus Arachne," Cade sighed. "Let's just say long story short: I'm adopted. Happy, sweetheart?" Aracely sighed. "What do you want to 'help' with, Cade?" she asked. Cade smiled. An actual smile. Not a devious smirk, nor a I'm-gonna-destroy-the-school-and-shit smirk. A sincere one. "Alright, so I do know for sure that Chloe's in a depressed mood right now. So, why not just ask her for a vacation? She'd obviously listen to the both of us but someone she trusts the most would be you," Cade explained practically what Aracely was thinking aloud. She shrugged.

"What's the catch?"

"What? Catch?"

"Duh, we're the enemies, you have the catch, I go with the catch,"

Cade clicked his tongue. "Sweetheart, you're just jumping to stereotypical conclusions already. I mean, c'mon. I admitted something to you only Chloe, and now you, know!" Aracely rolled her eyes. "Do you really think I can trust you like that since what you did to Ceen in that last encounter?" she replied. Cade didn't reply anything. Aracely stepped back. "That's what I thought...." she said as she began walking off. Cade just stood there. He stood there like he was remembering something.

Eventually, Aracely stopped walking and was frozen in place as her eyes were wide open.

••••

13 years ago, Magnus Everdeen was just an ordinary baby but born from a rich family. One day, his mother was sick and couldn't handle the baby living without his mother or an abusive, snooty father. Magnus's mother kissed her son lightly on the cheek and put him in a basket, him being wrapped in a blanket and sleeping. She set off that night and placed Magnus on a random person's doorstep, rang the doorbell and ran off, leaving Magnus there.

A man with tan skin and red hair opened the door, rubbing his eyes. "Who in the world would- huh?" the man noticed a basket in front of him and he picked it up and looked inside. There was a baby, starting the cry. The man gasped and closed the door immediately. A woman rubbed her eyes as she came from downstairs. "Alan? Why are you up at 4 in the morning?" she asked him. The man, Alan, shushed her. "There's a baby, that I found on our doorstep, in this house, crying!" he whispered as the baby continued crying.

••••

"Wait so.....that was.....?" Aracely asked and turned to Cade. He nodded. "Yes," he replied. "I've been living a lie this whole time. They never told me. I had to figure it out on my own." he took something out of his pocket from inside his coat. "This is what helped me figure it out. Apparently, she had this book inside my basket and they hid it in the attic." he explained. Aracely clenched her teeth and fists and groaned. "So what do ya say? Mind if I actually help?"Cade reached out his hand to shake Aracely's. She sighed and gave in. She shook his hand. "Fine, but no shit business, got it?" she said. Cade nodded. "Deal,"