Baited~ Book 2

18

"Roman you need to..."

"Shut up for a damn sec!" Roman growled as his purple eyes narrowed in annoyance. "First you tell me to slow down. Then you tell me to hurry up. Then you tell me I'm not focusing enough. GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK!" Remus simply sighed as Roman shook his head. "Sorry, I just..."

"We are not hurt by your words, Roman. Do what you must. Reality is you shouldn't be able to do it." Roman nodded sadly as he clenched his fists. He had forgotten. Or well technically his pride made him think it wouldn't matter. Fact is fact, however. Roman's magic was energy-based. Druids are the strongest in their field but they can't deviate from the specialty. Even still...

Roman narrowed his eyes as he held his hand out and frowned. Remus simply asked him to make smoke in his hand. His twin called their magic Chaos Creation. The smoke was the first step into any sort of creation they do. Roman didn't understand it at all. According to Remus, they use their imagination to envision what they want to make, but Roman just can't seem to do that. Roman got the gist of what Remus's magic is. Its a creation magic... it's based on thought. But Roman... he can't do that.

"Hey, don't worry about it, Roman..."

"NO!" Roman yelled out as his anger fueled his magic sending the energy cascading through the room like a light show only Remus could see. "I refuse to fail. I can't fail. I can't..." Roman could hear the voices screaming at him tell him he's hopeless... weak... pathetic. He hated it. He's not weak. He can't be. He has to be able to protect Virgil. He's his shield. He needs to be strong for his love. He can't... " I REFUSE TO FAIL AT THIS."

"Roman, it's not something you can just..."

"I CAN'T FAIL THIS!" Remus faltered hearing the glitch in Roman's voice as he just stared at his hands with desperation until... "Show me again."

"Wait, what?" Remus tensed as Roman ran over grabbing their wrists tighter than he probably knew he was doing. "That won't change any..."

"Show. me. again." Remus pulled their arms free and sighed as they held one out towards Roman. Roman narrowed his eyes as he focused on his sibling with full intent to read and memorize what they did. The prince could feel the buzz in the air as Remus's magic began to build. He felt the energy warp and twist as if trying to take some kind of shape. Roman's eyes widened seeing the smoke begin to form as the energy spiked suddenly in their hand. Suddenly the smoke vanished as Remus let out a shaky breath. It was clear they were getting tired. "Thank you, Remus." Remus only nodded as Roman immediately went to trying again. The difference this time... Roman wasn't trying to copy Remus. He was trying to get the energy to obey him.

Roman closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. He let his magic branch out as he focused on pooling it in his hand. He felt it shift as he attempted to condense it. Remus watched with awe and confusion as the energy surrounding Roman shifted and vibrated as it swirled into a ball. A bright purple orb appeared hovering over Roman's had as his slowly but surely condensed till it looked completely solid. Roman smiled as he bit his lip until... The orb broke spilling purple smoke out into the air. Remus was stunned. Roman opened his eyes to see the smoke and his breath caught in his chest. He held his other hand out and watched as the smoke shifted and formed until it looked like a flower. Roman blinked willing the energy to solidify and soon he found himself looking at a glass lily.

"Roman..." Remus smiled Roman jumped with pride.

"Remus, look. Look. I did it!" Roman squealed with delight as he held the lily close. "Oh wait." Roman held the lily up towards the light and beamed as it turned purple. Like a lily made from glass and amethyst. 

"How did you..."

"Silly, Remus. You're the one who said I wouldn't know until I tried." Remus frowned as Roman laughed. 

"Yes but the purpose of this exercise was to make you pissed and snap not to..." Roman faltered as Remus tensed a bit. "Roman, I was fully expecting you to fail."

"But I didn't..." Roman's eyes went wide as Remus narrowed his awkwardly.

"How?"

"Unique powers?" Janus shifted uncomfortably as Virgil nodded. "What are those?"

"There abilities or something that each druid can do. My shifting power is mine. Patton can remember every life he's had." Virgil froze as Jan grabbed his hand with this happy and shock filled look. 

"You mean to tell me... I could have this super unique power that could literally be anything?" Virgil laughed as Janus's eyes filled with awe and wonder. "Dude, I could fly. O-Or I could... I could teleport. OR I COULD..."

"Janus calm yourself." Virgil giggled as Janus smiled awkwardly. "Powers aren't like that. My unique ability is because my original was in fact a dragon. Patton is psychic so it makes sense that the clairvoyant would be able to access past lives." Jan's face fell as his eyes dimmed in realization. "Jan..."

"So it's based on who we are... right." Virgil frowned as he shook his head.

"Janus, I will admit, I don't know much about your original. In fact, I really only know Lydia... and that's only the part that hated me. But... every single druid was chosen to be a hero. Every druid was chosen based on the good they did. Aimon was picked because he put aside the fact that he was a demon to help the humans because of his love for Sofie. Sofie was picked because she gave her life protecting Aimon despite how much hate there was towards dragons. She saw him as family and nothing was going to change that."

"But Lydia killed one of her own. And I... Deceit, he..." Virgil could see the immense pain and guilt fill Janus's eyes and he sighed.

"I've killed countless people, Janus." Jan's eyes widened as Virgil smiled sadly at him. "I was my fathers personal assassin. None of my targets ever survived." The snake tensed as Virgil shook his head. 

"Virgil, it wasn't exactly..."

"I was 12 when I killed for the first time." Janus clammed up as Virgil's eyes darkened. "It wasn't on purpose. I hadn't meant to do anything... I had an episode and my power flared out setting the building I was in on fire. One of the men there got trapped and ended up dying."

"Again, Virgy that wasn't your fault."

"I thought I was going to get killed. I had just proved I was the monster they all thought I was but Father instead was proud of me." Janus cringed hearing how Virgil's voice shook. "For the first time, my father was actually proud because I had accidentally taken out one of his enemies. He told me... He said there was something I could do. Something that would make him proud. Something to show him I was worthy of being his son. All I had to do to earn his love, was kill his enemies."

"Virgil, I have your next target." Virgil frowned as the flashback filled his mind. "I expect this one to be done quickly. He can never meet the summit. Do you understand?"

"Of course, Father." He was 15 at the time. He had only had two other targets before this but this was the one that truly broke him. It broke him because this was...

"You're target is the prince of that shitty kingdom Karvin. I want that kingdom decimated Virgil." It broke him because he actually liked that boy. The man caused his mind to break so much... He was never the same after that. "I want him gone by Sunday."

"It'll be done, Father. I promise."

"Do not promise. Your word means nothing. Prove you're worth my time with action."