"Sometimes, reaching out and
taking someone's hand is the
beginning of a journey.

At other times, it is allowing
another to take yours."

~~Vera Nazarian

****************

~Nevada~

I felt a gentle nudge against my thigh that drug me out of my sleep. Vaguely aware of voices before that, I cracked my eyes open and was met with the sight of Nova peering at me through the curtain of hair covering my face. His blue eyes were bright like the ocean on a summer day, but it was pain that glittered in their depths instead of the happiness that should have been there.

Dark circle rested beneath Nova's eyes and his face looked drawn, exhaustion and stress etched across his features. Despite what I knew he must be feeling, my brother smiled at me when our gazes met.

"Rise and shine, sleepy head," he said, chuckling lightly as I slowly unfurled myself. "We're about to eat."

The inside of the SUV was bright and warm from the sunlight that streamed through the windows. I blinked rapidly and squinted my eyes as I surveyed the passing scenery.

"Where are we?" I asked, my voice distorting as I yawned. "What time is it?"

Nova leaned over, looking up at the sky as he answered. "We're basically in the middle of nowhere and it's getting close to noon."

My brows drew together and I frowned at him.

"Did you just… tell the time by looking at the sun?" I questioned, slightly impressed. "You do know there's a clock on the dash right?"

Nova just shrugged, sliding down more in his seat and staring up at the roof of the vehicle. Sighing, I met August's eyes in the rearview, a smile automatically pulling up the corners of my lips as warmth washed over me. Sometimes it was still hard to believe that he was really mine. I kept thinking I would wake up one day and it would all be a dream. Of course, I would be perfectly fine with some things being just a dream… or more like a nightmare.

"Doing okay?" August asked, holding my eyes through the mirror.

"I'm alright," I promised.

"Be even better if you watched the road instead of ogling my sister, thanks," Nova cut in without bothering to look at either of us. "If I'm gonna die I would prefer a more epic death than 'oops the old guy perving on my sister wrecked the car.' Just a thought."

I glared at Nova, my cheeks flaming red with embarrassment as Hatter snorted, choking down a laugh. 

"Do you have to be so crude all the time?" I asked, pursing my lips.

"That wasn't crude, not by a long shot, Little Sister," Nova smirked. "But I can be crude if that's what you want."

My jaw dropped and I smacked him on the shoulder. "Don't be an ass."

He just grinned and I almost believed it if it were for the fact that it didn't quite reach his eyes. Nova was hurting and he was fighting so hard to keep it together, cover his pain by rude comments and teasing jokes just as he always had. Sighing, I let it go and gave him his moment, because what else could I do?

The drive was quiet as we entered a small town with just a single two lane main street and a handful of houses. A few cars lined the edges of the street but mostly people seemed to be walking to wherever their destination was. A few side streets led off to either side, nothing but small, ugly houses to fill the blocks. 

"Are we sure there's food here?" Hatter asked skeptically. 

"That's what the sign said, right?" August answered, not seeming to sure himself.

"Oh, there's a grocery store!" I said excitedly, pointing towards a small, tan building up ahead beside a car wash. "Maybe they'll have something decent."

"I think we'll be lucky to find bread that's not molded if the appearance is anything to go by." Nova leaned forward between the front seats to get a better look, his aversion to the building apparent. "Is there not a McDonald's or something around here?"

I glanced around, barely any cars were anywhere to be seen and the park across the road from the grocery store was empty. Not a single child or teenager lingered in the area, and what few adults I saw kept their heads down and their steps hurried. The small town was nearly deserted and I had a feeling I knew why.

"It'll be okay," Hatter assured us as August put the SUV in park. "I'll run in and grab some stuff then we can just take it elsewhere."

"I don't know if I want you to go in there either," Nova disagreed, his fingers pressing gingerly to the sides of his throat in a way that seemed almost unconscious. "What if there's a mob waiting for the next person that goes in just to rip them apart?"

Hatter rolled his eyes, a cocky smirk drifting onto his lips as he looked back. "I think I can handle it, babe. I'll be quick, I promise."

He didn't wait for further arguments before he was out the door and zipping into the store. No screams or shouts for help followed and Nova visibly relaxed in his seat, his hand still resting on his throat. A faraway look glazed over his eyes as he stared through the windshield, my curiosity and concern peaking.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked him, but he didn't seem to hear me. I nudged his arm with my elbow and repeated the question. 

"Huh? Oh, nothing," he denied, the lie obvious as he dropped his hand to his lap and tried to smile at me. "Just tired, that's all."

"Uh huh," I replied, not believing him for a second.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," I answered in a tone that told him that I didn't take his answer as truth. 

Nova sighed and ran a tired hand through his hair, the blonde strands sticking up even more. "I don't want to talk about it, just a bad dream is all."

I squeezed his hand. "I'm here, you know that right? You're still my best friend."

His smile was small and sad but he nodded nonetheless, keeping his eyes downcast. My heart and mind grieved right along with my brother and the loss he was experiencing all over again. How many times could one man suffer the same agony before it finally became too much to bear? How much more pain would Nova be forced to endure?

Within a few minutes, ones in which no one else spoke a word. Hatter returned with two bags in hand and a triumphant grin. 

"We got lucky," he informed us all as August pulled out of the lot, heading out of the small town. "There was a hot bar with an overweight, grouchy witch running it and two teeny boppers running the registers. Little sweet talking goes a long way apparently."

"What's that supposed to mean?" August asked, turning the vehicle off the main street and onto a gravel road, fields on either side.

"Got free drinks," he answered with a grin, waving a bag in front of him.

"I hope there's caffeine in that goody bag of yours," Nova said with a yawn.  "Where are you going anyway, August?"

"Somewhere off the main road," he answered, glancing in the side mirror. "Less likely to be discovered out here."

A moment later, August steered the SUV off the gravel and into a small shaded area with a stream rushing alongside it. A small dust cloud followed in our wake, obscuring the space with more dirt.

"Always a pragmatist," Nova grumbled, shifting in his seat in preparation to exit.

Hatter leapt out first, both bags in one hand as he quickly opened the back passenger door. Michael, who was still asleep and leaning against the door, yelped as he spilled out unexpectedly onto the ground.

"What the fuck?!" he yelled, glaring daggers up at Hatter. "Was that really necessary?"

Michael struggled to his feet, anger burning bright in his magenta eyes, breathing heavily as he clutched his staff in his hand. Hatter seemed unfazed by the furious warlock standing in front of him.

"Enough, Robbie," August growled, stepping between the two men. "We don't have time for childish nonsense. There is still a ways to go before we get to our new rendezvous point. Let's eat so we can get back on the road again."

"Whatever you say, boss,"  Hatter smirked, the title dripping with sarcasm as he turned away.

Nova shook his head and followed Hatter to sit beneath a nearby tree, the bags placed in front of them. Michael muttered words in a foreign language under his breath as he followed suit a moment later.

"Is it going to be like this the entire time all of us are together?" I couldn't help but ask, coming to stand beside August.

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling my much smaller body flush with his. I relished in the comfort of his hard muscles beneath his shirt pressing against me and I happily returned the embrace. With my face resting on his chest, his large hands tracing soothing circles on my back, I closed my eyes and exhaled a slow breath.

"All of this just sucks," I complained quietly, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. "I wish it was over, every bit of it."

"I know, Princess," August said gently, tightening his hold. "I wish I could make it easier but this is just how the world is now. Even if I tried to hide you from it, things would always find a way to get to you. All I can do is be there and hope it's enough."

"It is," I promised, leaning up on my toes to press a light kiss to his lips.

My lips tingled, electricity sparking between us the same as it always had, creating a slow burn from my mouth straight down to my core. The way he made me feel was beyond words, making it easy to melt into him and get lost in the sensation from just the barest brushes of our bodies. Pulling back, I saw the same heat reflected in his silver eyes, the violet flecks flaming with passion as he looked down at me.

"You know, when this is over, I want to take you out," August said, tracing my lip with the pad of his thumb. 

I smiled, looping my arms around his neck. "Oh, yeah? Where to?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, the corners of his mouth turning up, "somewhere normal and boring probably, like a movie or fancy restaurant."

"That sounds nice," I replied quietly, but my smile died again as reality roared its ugly head. "But first things first, we have to figure out what's really going on. We don't even know who it is."

"I know but it has something to do with whoever has a hold on Torch," he said, eyes darkening slightly with frustration. "I can't imagine what someone could have over a guy like Torch, especially like what we saw in that video. There's something off about all of this."

"I agree," I said, turning to look at the other three as they argued over the food a short distance away. "I can't help but wonder what Nova and I have to do with this, because honestly I'm beginning to wonder if the prophecy is even real."

August followed my gaze. "There's some truth to it, Princess. I've seen some of the power that the two of you have, especially together. That alone makes me believe in the prophecy."

"I think it's more than that," I admitted, reluctantly disentangling myself. 

"It usually is."

August and I didn't say anything more about it as we joined the others, our hands linked as we sat down on the grass. Nova was eyeing a chicken strip suspiciously even as he took a bite. Frowning, he looked at Hatter.

"This is what you were so proud of?" Nova asked disdainfully. "These are like fifty years old!"

"Maybe but it beats starving, right?" Hatter countered with a shrug, stuffing half a corn dog in his mouth.

"I'm not so sure about that," Michael muttered.

"No one asked you," Hatter grunted, smacking Michael in the cheek with his half eaten corn dog.

Michael huffed in annoyance but remained silent as he glared at his untouched egg roll. "I think I'll pass but thanks."

He stood, fist gripping his staff for dear life as he ambled back to the SUV without a backwards glance. I watched his retreating form with concern.

"He's not doing so well, is he?" I asked, still watching him.

"No," Nova answered with a sigh, tossing down his chicken strip in disgust. "He's not but he won't talk about it so what can you do?"

It was a rhetorical question but I didn't exactly have an answer for it anyway. There much much to go on about what Michael had endured after that night at his house, but I had an idea. Enough pieces had been tossed around that I was able to put together at least a fraction of his story and it wasn't a pretty one. I could see the darkness in his eyes and the man rarely smiled like he had when we had first met, ghosts chasing him every second of the day.

"He hasn't said anything else?" August questioned, digging through the bag of food but giving up a moment later. "Nothing of use?"

"You've been with us since we left your house," Nova pointed out with a roll of his eyes. "I know you're getting old, Yogi, but your hearing is fine and the SUV isn't that big."

"But nothing before that?" August ignored Nova's jab and handed me the bag of food. "You should eat something."

"Yeah, because the reviews so far have been so great," I replied sarcastically but did it anyway.

Nova was right, none of it looked great or were particularly appealing but I needed some sort of sustenance. 

"Oh shit, it's a message from Gran!" Hatter exclaimed, drawing my attention.

He was staring down at his phone, the stale food forgotten in front of him. When he looked up, his eyes found August.

"And?" Nova asked expectantly, stuffing the rest of the food back in the containers. 

"She sent me an address…" Hatter's words trailed off as he looked back down at his phone.

"That's it?" August asked with a raised brow.

Hatter looked up, his honey colored eyes traveling to Nova for a moment before flicking back to August. "She wants to see Michael, says it's important."

"What? Does she say why?" I asked in surprised confusion but Hatter shook his head.

"No but this is the first I've heard from her in weeks," he said, looking only at August as he spoke. "I need to see her, to know for a fact that she's alright."

"It could be a trap, Robbie," August replied, turning the unwavering gaze. "Someone could be setting us up."

"Yeah, but what if it's not? What if she needs our help?"

"I think we should at least check it out," Nova chimed in. "We'll be careful and watch out for anything suspicious. First sign of trouble and we can jet out of there."

August didn't respond right away but I could practically see the gears turning inside his head. I agreed that it was dangerous but I sympathized with Hatter and his concern for his grandmother. More than once I had thought about checking on my birth mother since the country turned to shit, but the fear of drawing attention to her always held me back. If I had the chance to see that she was safe without risking her life, I would want to take it too.

"Where's the address?" August finally asked after several long minutes. Hatter quickly read off the location and August frowned. "That's out of the way. We already have at least half a day's drive to Reyne's rendezvous point. This will set us back even farther."

"I'll explain the situation and it'll be fine," Hatter replied, apparently already having thought of this. "He'll understand because she's his grandmother too. I need to go, August."

"Fine, we'll check it out," August caved but it was obvious he wasn't thrilled with the idea. "The first hint of trouble and we're gone, understood?"

Hatter mock saluted, fighting a relieved grin as he jumped to his Fated and hauled Nova up with him. "Alright, let's go. We're wasting daylight."

August sighed as he helped me to my feet, holding my hand as we followed them back to the vehicle where Michael already waited.

"That kid is going to be the death of me," August growled, watching the two climb in.

●●●●

Michael was subdued as we drove, claiming he didn't have any idea what Rosalyn could possibly want with him. Once again, Nova didn't seem to believe him but he didn't say anything, simply giving him sideways glances the entire time. My stomach was twisted in knots, anxiety growing like a tumor with every mile. I wasn't sure what it was but the scenery wasn't helping calm my nerves.

We drove through several small towns, the streets deserted with homes vacant and vandalized, not a soul to be seen. As late afternoon grew closer we entered a small city, the sight bringing tears to my eyes as we crept through the streets.

The place had seen better days, once beautiful homes with lush, green lawns were decorated with spray paint and broken windows. Strip malls, restaurants and other establishments were either still burning or reduced to charred shells of their former selves. Others were completely abandoned, signs broken or gone entirely as if the places had never burst with life or happiness, snuffed out by the misery slowly seeping into the world.

There were injured people sitting on benches or the curbside, some leaning precariously against telephone poles or anything else they could find. Children, scared and crying, huddled in small groups here and there in the shadows as people walked or ran by, never bothering to acknowledge the frightened babies. 

"This is terrible," I whispered, wiping away tears as they slid down my cheeks. "Everyone is fighting or hurt and they're all so scared."

"And it's only going to get worse," Michael said and the other three men nodded in silent agreement as we watched a man shift into a coyote and chase after a shrieking young woman.

"We'll be there soon," August announced, eyeing the street signs as dusk fell and we traveled outside the main part of the city. 

A suburb came into view, the houses empty with broken windows and crude words painted across the siding. Trash littered the roads and burnt vehicles were scattered here and there, some still smoking in their driveways. The violent chaos hadn't quite made it to this part of the city… not yet but it was only a matter of time.

A few minutes later, August stopped in front of a moderate sized white house. It stood out from the others, the lawn still perfectly manicured and the exterior immaculate, a sore thumb compared to the rest of the blocks. 

"Okay, this is weird," Nova commented, looking around as we all climbed out of the vehicle.

The front door of the house opened, a small woman with dark hair, streaked with blue, and beautiful tanned skin stepping out with a smile on her face. Hatter's lips twitched but froze before the expression could fully form. Behind Rosalyn stood a man with dark hair and eyes, chiseled features and a body that would make the ancient Greek statues jealous. I recognized him immediately, my breath lodging in my throat as the smoke scented air grew thick with tension and sparked with magick.

"Well, this is awkward," Torch sighed, leaning casually against the porch railing as if this was not about to blow up in all of our faces.

********************

A/N: 8 more chapters to go! Who's ready? I know I am!

Let me know thoughts, theories, etc..!

The next chapter will be up as soon as I can get it done. Remodel has spead up again and fingers crossed we finish up soon.

Thanks lubbies!!❤❤

XOXO🖤❤

~SM~