Animagus

Chapter 16: Unlikely Colleagues

  At first I thought I was knocked in the head too hard during the fight. Then I realized that Ashton, Dana, and Carlo saw the bird boy too.

  Nobody made any movements. The boy, Will, looked between all four of us with a blank expression. He had dark brown, almost black hair and light orange eyes, which surprised me. Since he was from The Association he should have had bright orange, almost red eyes.

  "Guys, I think I'm seeing things," Dana whispered quietly and I felt an odd coldness through the air.

  "Carlo I presume?" Will asked, looking straight at Carlo. Carlo looked surprised for two reasons. One, the mystery kid knew his name. Two, he was freaking British.

  "What's it to you?" Carlo growled, regaining his ground.

  "Well, I didn't bloody betray my family just to say hello to you, now did I?" Will asked with his very sharp and thick accent. I could have sworn I saw Dana slump over a little.

  "I suppose that question wasn't meant to be answered," Carlo said. He stood up a little straighter, seeming to try to outdo the stranger.

  "All of you Americans are the same, yeah? Don't understand the differences between a rhetorical question and an actual question unless you ask which is which," Will said and winked at Dana and I. Granted I may or may not have swooned a little but you can't blame me. The kid was British.

  "You come here to insult us or do you actually want something Feather Boy?" Ashton said through gritted teeth.

  "Of course. Like I said I do come from the AOAC but there was talk about a group of six of you," Will said and looked over us. Noticing there were only four of us, he raised an eyebrow then shrugged. "and that you were trying to get rid of the Thwigs. Now, as I am young and hate The Association, I was curious. So I set out to find you. That worked bloody wonderful as you can imagine," Will said, using extra slang for emphasis.

  "How can we trust you? You are from The Association," Carlo growled and Will stepped closer to Carlo.

  "Look at my eyes. Do I look like someone that would be welcome at The Association? They don't trust me because I seem to be someone that would rebel against them. Just because my eyes aren't as orange as they would like," Will said and Carlo narrowed his eyes.

  Ashton was still glaring at Will but as he opened his mouth the door swung open and Brooke and Brendan were standing there.

  "You guys figure-?" Brooke stopped abruptly when she saw Will. "Who is that?"

  "Nobody," Carlo growled. He and Will were still face to face.

  "Well unless I'm imagining this, which I obviously am not, he is someone," Brendan said and crossed his arms. Ashton glared at him.

  "I'm Will," Will said and Carlo gave an inhuman growl.

  "You're-," but Dana cut off Brooke.

  "He's an Animagus. Like us," Dana said, cutting off the part that I'm sure would have been "British".

  "No, he's not like us. He is from The Association. Henceforth he is not like us," Carlo said. He looked like he was going to swing on Will.

  "Carlo, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't we all from The Association? Honestly?" Will said and Carlo gritted his teeth menacingly.

  "Yes, but none of us have personally been in the AOAC," I pointed out and Ashton and Carlo glared at me. I see, I wasn't allowed to talk. In that case I guess I should talk more.

  "You may have a point there, but I promise that I am in no way, actually with the AOAC. If anyone leaves, they don't get back in. They hardly get out at all," Will said and his voice faded a little but he just cleared his throat and continued. "I want to finish them and the Thwigs forever. You guys are the only group that can make that possible because, well, you have her," Will said and looked at me.

  "How do you know about-?"

  "The Association has people everywhere. I do believe that someone from the AOAC paid a small visit earlier today?" Will asked and Carlo stared at him.

  "That was just an hour and a half ago. How did you find that out?" Carlo asked and Will froze up for a second, maybe a second too long.

  Before anyone knew what was happening Carlo had Will up against the wall and his arm was over his throat.

  "Carlo, before you make any rash decisions, might I just point out that whoever the AOAC trusts, they notify immediately!" Will said quickly and in his rush his accent almost disappeared completely.

  Carlo held him against the wall for a minute longer then let go, cursing under his breath.

  Will stayed against the wall as if he thought Carlo or someone else was going to charge him again. "So, I'll help you, but you have to trust me. Alright?" Will asked. I could detect a small note of urgency in his voice but nobody else noticed under his thick accent.

  "Fine," Carlo said and stuck out his hand. Will eyed his hand for a moment and then shook it.

  "So," Will said, "Do we start preparing for the battle, or would you like me to contact my other colleagues?"

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A/N

Yes, I did create a character that is British. I couldn't help it.