"You are damaged and broken
and unhinged. But so are
shooting stars and comets."

~~Nikita Gill

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~Nevada~

Tensions were growing tighter everyday, inside the house and with the rest of the country. It made my skin itch with pent up energy whenever someone would turn on the news or a breaking article would pop up on my phone. People were dying all over the place, violence and rage fueling the citizens of the supernatural community. It was like everyone was in a trance, or maybe that's just what happened when war was bearing down on the world.

I wouldn't know anything about it though. I had lived a sheltered life in the world of humans, barely knowing anyone with magickal abilities of any kind. And the wars humans fought were obvious, with guns and bombs, and you always knew who was fighting who. The news always covered the reasons behind the initial start, at least what they wanted everyone to know. 

But we weren't like that. No, our wars were a twisted kind of psychological warfare, attacking in secret and indirectly through others. They were fought in our homes and on the streets, civil wars that never seemed to truly ever be over. We all hated each other, no one trusting anyone else and even our allies were questionable. It definitely wasn't like the books I read.

Instead of standing on the frontlines, we would train in the secret haven we had found with each other here in August's long time home. I knew that he and Robbie were always discussing possible attacks and the best way to retaliate while all Nova and I could do was wait. I didn't like it but what choice did I have? I was just a small fae with too much magick and not enough knowledge. Nova and I together were a weapon waiting on the sidelines to be wielded when the time came. Needless to say I was ready to jump out of my skin.

August had tried to help me feel better, attempting to reassure me that my magick would keep me safe even if my mind went blank. But I couldn't help but wonder if my inexperience with everything would cost someone their life. How was I supposed to live with that kind of failure?

"Nev, watch out!" Nova's frantic voice jerked me back to the present.

My mind registered the large ball of purple flames hurtling straight towards my face. I reflexively through up a minor shield milliseconds before it would have collided with my face, the energy quickly sizzling out. What I hadn't expected was the shockwave from the impact being powerful enough to send me stumbling backwards. Flailing my arms, I couldn't regain my balance and ended up crashing to the floor.

"Ow," I groaned, cradling my right arm, where it had bashed against the floor under my weight, as I rolled onto my back. "Oh, ow."

"Are you alright?" Nova asked, trying to hold back a grin at my spectacular fail. "What the hell were you doing?"

Nova, Michael, and I were in the training room just as we had been for the last week. August had wanted the warlock to be ready to fight and, as Nova's friend, we had taken it upon ourselves to involve him in what we did. There wasn't anything else we could do but Michael seemed to be doing better every day. 

"I don't know," I groaned again, sitting up. "I got distracted."

"I can see that." Nova held his hand out to help me up. "You nearly got your face blown off."

"A least lightly burned," Michael added, wiping a towel over his face.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," I grumbled, poking a finger against the now tender tissue on my arm. "That's going to bruise."

Michael handed me a bottle of water, which I thanked him for while mentally marveling at how much better he seemed over the last few days. His previously thin build had filled out more, made evident by the fitted black tank he currently wore but there was still a way to go. It was still hard to believe that this man would have been dead if it hadn't been for the magick that Nova and I had performed.

"Let's take a break for a bit and then we'll switch to hand to hand. Maybe that will go over better." Nova smirked as I shot him a glare. "Don't get any black eyes though because I don't feel like dealing with Yogi's temper tantrum."

"Why do you call him that?" I finally asked, something I had been wondering for days now.

"He provoked my stupidity," Nova answered with a shrug as if that would actually explain anything. 

I decided to let it go for the time being and collapsed ungracefully onto the sparring mats. The boys soon joined me and the three of us formed a kind of wonky triangle with Michael a bit farther away. I watched with mild curiosity as he worked a blade over the stick he now held in his hand. He had been working on it over the last couple of days and I was beginning to realize what it was.

"You're carving a staff?" I asked, watching the knife cut into the wood.

"Yeah, it helps with my channeling and direction," Michael replied without looking up from his task. "Plus it's my weapon of choice."

"Oh! Like in those karate movies or whatever?" I was intrigued. "Or like that guy from The Walking Dead?"

Michael laughed. "Yeah, something like that but I doubt I look that cool."

"Who doesn't look cool while bashing faces with a stick?" Nova chimed in, possibly a little too enthusiastically. 

"I think it's fascinating," I said, rolling my eyes at Nova who grinned. "Maybe you could teach us something. I bet it would be useful. Who taught you?"

Michael's smile faded, his eyes flashing several shades of various colors before settling on a dark blue. I could see the sadness even with only a partial view of his face.

"My brother taught me," he finally said, not looking at either of us as he switched his knife out for a piece of sandpaper beside him. Nova and I watched quietly as he smoothed it over the rough exterior of the soon to be staff. "My father taught me about magick but Razi was always adamant that we couldn't rely just on our own power."

I looked at Nova, a small smile on my face. "My brother taught me, too, about magick and some basic self defense just in case he wasn't there."

"You two always were a good team," Michael replied, looking between the two of us and I couldn't help but notice how his sadness seemed to increase when his gaze lingered on Nova a bit longer. "I'm glad you have each other."

"You have us too, you know." Michael's eyes widened a fraction at my statement. "Everything that happened before, it's behind us and we're all doing our best to move forward. We're here for you too, whatever you need."

His return smile was a bit strained, not quite reaching his eyes which held doubt. But he didn't argue as he kept silent, going back to working on the staff. Nova and I spent the next little while watching Michaek work and talking about random things, arguing over dinner and whether or not brussel sprouts should ever be eaten. I won't tell you who was on what side, just that we eventually agreed to disagree after it got a little too heated.

Eventually we went back to training, keeping our magick reigned in as we took turns sparring with each other. Luckily, I was able to keep my head in the game this time and only ended up on my ass three times, getting laughed at and teased each time. After that, my determination grew and I fought the irritation I felt and funneled it into what I was doing. 

Nova, being the show off that he was, took on both Michael and I at the same time and did surprisingly well. Although I couldn't help but feel smug when Michael and I teamed up, Michael feigned a right hook while I took the opportunity to take Nova's legs out from under him. It was a glorious moment when he went down, and I whooped with glee.

"Ha, take that you big - ah!" My celebration was short lived, the cheer dying in a squeal of surprise as my feet disappeared from beneath me. "Oof!"

My back hit the floor with an audible thud, oxygen rushing from my lungs in a whoosh of air. I coughed and wheezed, struggling to breathe as I tried to get my bearings and remember how to use my lungs again.

"Never… let your… guard down…" Nova panted as he lay on his back beside me, looking at me with a triumphant smirk. "You left yourself wide open, little sis."

"Bite me," I growled through labored breaths. "It was a cheap shot."

"All is fair in love and war, right?"

"Alright kids, now play nice," Michael laughed, helping us both to our feet. "Let's get some food. I'm starving."

He didn't wait to see if either of us were following behind which gave Nova and I an opportunity to share an excited look. It was the first time that Michael had really been interested in food, usually not eating more than an apple or something unless we practically forced him. Nova gave me a quick, one armed hug as we trailed after the warlock, both of us happy with this small show of progress.

By the time we made it to the kitchen, the three of us realized we were too tired to actually cook. Moaning and groaning the entire time, we managed to make some sandwiches before collapsing on the couch. Michael grabbed the remote and flicked the tv on, already halfway through his sandwich. 

"I'm guessing there's still no news from your parents?" he asked conversationally as he flipped through channels.

"Nothing besides a couple of texts saying they were together and were okay," I sighed, glaring at my food. "I guess a phone call would just be too much."

"You know how they are," Nova said, sounding disheartened himself even as he tried to reassure me. "They'll let us know more when they can."

"Will they?" I asked, suddenly not hungry anymore. "They went twenty plus years without speaking to us, what's some more time?"

My words weren't fair and we both knew it, but neither of us said anything. I was bitter and there was no denying it. They're absence had bothered me more than I let on, fearing we would never see one another again. I was surprised at how close I had become with them so quickly but that's the thing about blood bonds I guess.

We were all quiet after that, watching random shows that I don't think any of us even registered, too lost in our own thoughts. The news had to be avoided most of the time, Dominic's picture plastered all over the place as he was continuously called a murderer. If it wasn't that then it was coverage about the fights, murders, fires, and whatever else was happening during this ugly time including riots and the fact that the humans had scurried off to hide from us.

One by one we ventured to bed, my shower calling my name before I slipped beneath the blankets. I lay awake for a while, hoping that August would come to our room before I drifted off. Even though we were together on and off throughout the day, I still missed him at the end of the night when my body longed for sleep. There was always a piece of me missing when he wasn't beside me, and the quiet moments were when it was hardest to deal.

●●●●

The sound of the door slamming against the wall jolted me from my sleep, my mind foggy and heart racing as I tried to comprehend what was going on. But before my brain could process anything, August was at my side and yanking back the blankets.

"Hurry, the barrier has gone down." His words were whispered so calmly that the words didn't make any sense. I just stared at him. "Nevada, you need to get up."

Suddenly, I was on my feet and moving across the room. My thoughts were still trying to frantically catch up but my instincts took over long enough for me to dress in record time. I followed him from our room within a minute, my bag over my shoulders as I clipped my knives into place. Robbie met us with Nova in the hall, the three of us moving as silently as possible down to the first floor.

Robbie left Nova long enough to get Michael, our small group standing in a circle at the base of the stairs. It felt like hours had passed already but I knew it was only minutes, and maybe that was all the time we had left.

"What's going on?" Michael whispered, eyes alert as he watched the windows and clutched his staff tightly in his hands.

"I got a call from Reyne," Robbie whispered, eyes glowing silver as they trailed around the room. "His pack has been scouting the area a few miles out from here the last couple of days. They contacted him after discovering a large group of individuals moving this way."

"What do we know about them?" Nova asked, and I could feel his power rise at the same moment mine did. "Numbers? Species? Purpose?"

"Well they had to rip the barrier down because they couldn't cross over, so my guess is they aren't here for a game of cards," August answered, eyes blazing violet as he stared at the front door. 

"From what the scouts found there were at least two, maybe three, dozen," Robbie added in a slightly deeper voice as his canines extended. "Fae, vamps, and shifters, possibly a handful of elves."

"Why are the elves in this?" Michael inquired, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet, anxious energy bursting from him in jagged bolts.

"Same reason everyone else is," Nova replied, flexing his fingers. "Not a lot of options these days and you pick the first person that can convince you they'll win."

"So, what, uhm, what are we going to do?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. 

"I say we kill them," Robbie snarled angrily, the muscle in his jaw tightening. "All of them."

"I wouldn't mind shedding some blood," August agreed menacingly. "Bastards are after what's mine. I've lived here too long to just hand it over."

"I don't think they're after your house, Yogi sir," Nova pointed out with a sigh.

Fear gripped me as the howl of wolves sounded outside, filling the night and getting closer with every second. I couldn't help but second guess myself, terrified I wouldn't be able to help anyone and only hurt someone I loved instead. I was weak and I knew it, why were they all so convinced I could do this? I couldn't and we were all going to pay the price.

I opened my mouth to tell them, but the sound of glass breaking on the Southside of the house echoed off the wall. The five of us fell instantly silent as more windows began to shatter, my body instinctively moving closer to August. They were in the backyard, boots pounding on the deck and vibrating through the floors. The flicker of light, as if from a lantern or a torch, bounced around the windows as voices circled the house.

"Just because we can kill them, doesn't mean we have to," Nova whispered, eyeing the ceiling as footsteps thudded rhythmically across the second floor. "Getting out of this alive is what matters and I would prefer to keep all my gorgeous body parts if at all possible."

"Me too," Robbie said, bending his knees in a partial crouch as he prepared to attack, "but I'd like to rip off some of theirs."

"No, that's not going to help. Why is your answer always killing people?" 

I listened to their whispered argument as the sound of claws tapping against hardwood floors caught my attention.

"Because if they're dead then they can't hurt you!" Robbie hissed.

"I don't want to kill anyone," I admitted, my hands trembling violently as I gripped the crossbow tightly in both of my hands. "August?"

His eyes met mine but no one had a chance to say anything else as the front door crashed open and slapping against the floor. A large brown bear, a grizzly if I had to guess, sauntered into the room, its muscles rippling with every move and its teeth showing as it snarled. A large wolf, not quite as large as Robbie, barrelled into the room from the direction of the kitchen, slipping slightly on the smooth floor. The two shifters faced our group, the space filled with snarls and growls unlike anything I had ever heard.

I would have pissed myself if it hadn't been for August pushing me behind him just as the grizzly stood on his hind legs with a roar that vibrated down to my bones. The beast was at least eight foot tall, all dark fur and muscle, with chocolate colored eyes that held a ferocity that terrified me but also a wealth of intelligence. 

"Everett, it's been a while," August snarled at the massive animal. "Come to let me kick your ass again? The fourth time wasn't good enough?"

"Stop antagonizing them," Nova chastised under his breath. "That's not helping."

Oh, the two have met, fought, and August won. Well at least that's reassuring., I thought sarcastically as more creatures slowly made their way inside. I found myself praying as I tried to push away my fear, Athena, if you're watching, please don't let us get dead.

We were surrounded, the quartz on my necklace growing warm beneath my shirt as I tried to watch everyone at once without touching the stone. It was the last thing that needed attention, if that was even what they were looking for. At this point, I didn't even know anymore or wouldn't be surprised if this was just a bored group of rogues in search of some entertainment. 

Anything is possible, for better or worse.

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A/N: Another chapter and a bit of a filler but things are happening again! 😈

I apologize if my writing has been a bit all over the place. It's a reflection of my state of mind so I'm sorry you had to see that lol.

More to come asap.

Thanks for reading!❤❤

XOXO🖤❤🖤❤

~SM~