The witch was the first to break the silence, even though Aaden had wanted the moment for himself. She glanced nervously between them, the shadows lingering above them in the darkness. "Who are you?" She asked, not stepping outside her little circle of candles. Aaden's face wore a smug, and he adjusted his arrow, so it was facing her. She didn't seem to mind.
"Why are you here? What kind of spell are you casting?" Aaden asked.
She merely smiled, "I shall not answer you. What I do, is my concern - "
Her words were cut off, as the tip of Aaden's arrow pinned the hem of her cloak. At this, she tensed. "Answer me." Aaden demanded, and Sam could feel the edge of his voice turn cold.
Sam touched Aaden's arm, lowering the bow. "Maybe we should take her to Rebecca -"
"No." Aaden snapped, and then he returned his attention to the witch. His hazel eyes searched her face for answers, but found nothing. He stole a glance at the candles. "Are you trying to break the circle?"
Her eye twitched. "I see that you reside within it. You two must be the boys everyone is whispering about." She tilted her head to the side, eyeing them both.
Sam had the urge to roll his eyes, then. Everyone seemed to be saying that, nowadays. If they had a pet, it would probably join the gossip, he feared.
Although, he did want a kitten badly.
"No, I'm not trying to break the circle, I'm afraid. I'm trying to make it spread." She said.
Aaden lifted a brow, "Spread it? Can't you see what's happening within its territory? It's a curse."
She shook her head, and glanced at Sam. Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she could see something he couldn't. The weight of her gaze made him want to raise a hand to his face, check his flesh for invisible scars.
"You're different." She muttered, and Sam had heard.
He rolled his eyes.
"What did you say to him?" Aaden asked, his fingers tightening around the bow.
Her lips turned upwards, just the slightest.
"Aaden, we should really take her - "
Aaden's attention snapped to him. "Did she compell you? Are you taking her side?"
"No! She said nothing, Aaden. We can't waste more -"
The witch clicked her fingers, and the fire erupted.
"Shit." Aaden cussed as she made a run for the doors, flung them open, and began running. Sam ran after her, the weight of his weapon slowing him down, but he ran nonetheless. He heard Aaden breathing out more words to put the fire down, but half of them were lost.
The summer wind was gentle, but Sam needed more. He was used to running, both of them were, taking laps across the lacrosse fields. But lacrosse was no witch hunt.
Her hair was flying, unruly and thick, and she kicked faster.
Sam wondered why she hadn't used a spell to - poof! - disappear. As she neared the edge of the river, he decided that it must be her portal.
Everyone seemed to have that too.
Everyone except for him.
You're different.
He lunged for her, the second Aaden wrapped his arm around him, and the three of them toppled in the water, and landed on floorboards.
Sam looked up, his hair dripping with water, and Rebecca's smiling face met his.
"Well done, Sammy." She said, yanking the witch up to her feet.
So she had portaled them. She'd seen everything, and Sam was certain that it was not through a magical orb.
Or any of that crap.
He got up to his feet, his hands slippery, and watched Aaden's stare burn holes in his head.
"Of course, the best decision would always be to come to me. Best learn, Aaden. Next time, you might not catch her." Rebecca said, a slight turn to her tone.
Aaden said nothing.
Sam bid her goodnight, didn't bother to think about the fate of the witch.
What Rebecca chose to do with them, was beyond him. Her job, not his.
He climbed the stairs to their bedroom, hearing Aaden's steps behind him; angry, fast, thunderous.
He dropped his weapons on his mattress, and then he was against the wall.
With Aaden's arrow pressed against his throat.
"That witch was mine. My shot." Aaden growled, his gaze burning into Sam.
"Aaden," Sam breathed, trying not to wince. He glanced at the window side, by Aaden's bed. The Nightshade began leaning toward them, as if it could sense their presence. Aaden's.
His entity.
The violet petals were swaying against the summer breeze, beautiful, poisonous.
"You think you can take it away from me, Sam. But it's my chance. I want that brand. I want the magic. If Rebecca doesn't see how much I'm worth it, she won't give it to me. And all you do is take my chances, one after one. For nothing. It's a waste. You're nothing like us." Aaden snapped.
Sam looked into his eyes. He could have sworn their hazel was turning darker, slowly. His breath hitched as he felt the blade make a slight cut against his skin.
Aaden pulled back, and blinked.
"Sam," he started. "I'm - I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
"No, I didn't mean to - "
"I know. It's fine."
Aaden nodded. He could only be glad that Sam did in fact know and understood.
Aaden could not control what he is. Never had, never would.
Sam dropped over his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Aaden's fingers lingered above the roses, and they bowed under his touch.
He was a Nightshade, too.
Sam turned to his right, where his flowers were. His face fell.
He could not heal like Aaden could, could not practice magic, will things to his command.
He could do nothing.
You're different.
He was.
He was different, and he was of Lillies.
And those were only meant for death.
