"When that mind took
control, he became
helpless to his anger."

~~Kayla Krantz

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

~Nova~

I watched Michael disappear up the stairs, my mind racing and my heart dropping to the bottom of my stomach as I tried to comprehend what was happening. Anger, hurt, and fear warred together to create a tornado of thoughts, blocking out the tension in the room. 

How could he do this? How could he say he was willing to risk his life, willing to give his life, for the sake of mine? Did he really think I could accept that and just do nothing, sit back and watch my friend die? Michael was an idiot if he truly believed I was okay with that. He was in no fit state, physically or magickally and fuck even trying to consider his mental state into the equation, to make this decision. 

"So, where does Valyndria fit into all this?" Robbie asked from beside me, attempting to draw the conversation to a more stable topic.

Torch waved a dismissive hand. "Valyndria is no one, a groupie if you will."

"Just a groupie? Seems more complicated than that." August raised his eyebrows skeptically. "After all, she's tried more than once to take them out and has apparently moved her sights onto Rosalyn now as well. Let's not forget that she attempted to assassinate King Lavarius a few centuries ago."

Torch's eyes flicked towards the doorway before a sigh escaped his lips. Almost reluctantly, he answered.

"I've known Val for years, decades longer than I've known Rose," he began, once again looking towards the doorway. "We would hook up from time to time, nothing more than a good fuck. But a while back she got the notion to go to college where she met Rose and they became friends which is how I initially met Rose."

Torch scrubbed a hand over his suddenly exhausted face and shook his head. "I tried to cut things off after I met Rose but Val wasn't having it, quickly becoming obsessed with me and more than a little possessive. She hated Rose and it's because of Val that Rose ended up…hurt one night. She's also the reason that Rose was sent away, married off against her will to a bigger, stronger pack."

Robbie stiffened beside me and we were both reminded of the information we had discovered in the anonymous files. It all made sense when put with those documents and the facts that Rosalyn had given us about her marriage into the Blood Onyx pack. But none of this was able to distract my mind from Michael and his possible suicide mission.

"So, she's a nut job." Robbie's statement seemed spot on and Torch confirmed it with a nod of his head.

"She is very dangerous when she wants to be but she also let's her emotions get the best of her which is her weakness." Torch paused and briefly flicked his eyes towards the stairs again. "Valyndria is one of my father's… pets. She's a bipolar whore with a lust for chaos."

Suddenly, I jumped to my feet. I wasn't interested in Torch's psychotic ex-girlfriend. The bitch could fuck a horse and die for all I cared because she meant nothing to me or any of the rest of us. But Michael did.

"I'll be back," I stated, heading from the room when I felt a hand grip my wrist. 

I paused in my tracks and looked over my shoulder to find Robbie looking at me with concern, his hand still wrapped around my skin.

"Wait, where are you going? I'll come with you," he said, worry lacing his voice.

"No, just… stay here. I'll be back in a little bit," I reassured him while gently disengaging myself from his hold.

Without waiting for his argument, I gestured toward the living room and quickly made my way upstairs. I could hear muffled voices coming from the end of the hall, light spilling out of a partially closed door indicating where Rosie and Michael were. Taking long strides, I pushed the door open seconds later and took in the room.

Michael and Rosie stood at the end of the bed which was scattered with multiple oddities I didn't recognize and other things that I did. They were speaking in low voices until the squeak of the door hinges alerted them to my presence. Both heads looked up from the ancient book in front of them as I stepped inside and met Rosie's familiar amber eyes.

"I'll give you two a few minutes," she said quietly, patting my arm as she walked by and closed the door behind her with a soft click.

I didn't waste any time before diving in. 

"Are you fucking stupid?" I hissed, anger temporarily overriding the other warring emotions. "Tell me you aren't actually that fucking stupid, Michael!"

"Calm down, Nova," Michael tried to soothe me but I ignored it. "It will all work out in the end, you'll see."

"Will it? Because from where I'm standing, it looks pretty fucked up to me," I growled, my hands shaking at my sides and forcing me to clench them into fists. "This could kill you and you're seriously okay with that?"

Michael didn't look at me as he focused back on the book in front of him, the binding crumbling and the hand scrawled letters faded with time. Symbols and words I couldn't even begin to understand covered the pages,  some so faded that I wasn't sure even he knew what it was. His nonchalant attitude grated my nerves and I found myself stepping towards him.

"I won't let you die for me, Mike," I told him quietly, my eyes narrowed on the profile of his face. "You can't expect me to allow that, honestly?"

"No, but you will," Michael replied, still studying the foreign pages. "It's what's best, Nova and somewhere in that head of yours, you know it too."

"Bullshit," I laughed humorlessly, the sound vibrating like sand in my throat. "How is this what's best? How is your potential death going to make anything any better? Doing this for your brother won't save the world, it won't destroy Balthier. So why?"

"Because it gives you a chance, gives all of you a chance to bring him down," Michael answered, finally looking up at me with turquoise eyes. "Right now, Raziel is a liability and will continue to be one as long as he is forcibly under Balthier's odious thumb. If I can break that bond, Raziel will be a powerful ally that you will need on your side. Even if this kills me, it gives you the chance to win and live, Nova, a chance at a happy life."

Pain stabbed in my chest and a lump threatened to cut off my airways as his words sunk in. 

"But you're weak right now, Mike," I argued but even that sounded pathetic to my own ears. "You have hardly slept or eaten in two day which takes its toll on your magick. If you do this now, it will definitely kill you and maybe before you can even finish the ritual. It's too risky and I can't let you do this."

A sad smile curved the corner of his mouth. 

"Always so protective and stubborn." Michael shook his head and looked back at the book. "It'll be fine, Nova, even if I don't survive the ritual. I won't die until it's done."

It was painfully obvious that trying to reason or argue with the man was pointless and a waste of my breath. But that didn't mean I couldn't try.

"So you're doing this regardless of anything I say?" I asked, clarifying that I understood his decision. 

"Yes."

"But can't you just get some sleep or eat a piece of pie or something? Do it tomorrow?" I asked, desperate to find a way to ensure his survival. "Give us time to say goodbye if things go wrong?"

"They won't go wrong and no, I have to do it tonight," Michael informed me as he turned a fragile page. "The longer Razi is with them, the harder it's going to be to ward off the command."

"So you know doing it like this will most likely kill you?" I confirmed, my anger returning full force as the words left my mouth and settled between us.

Michael was quiet at first, not even looking at me as I waited expectantly while silently fuming. Finally he looked up at me with tears in his eyes.

"Yes, there's no other way to fix this without killing my brother which isn't an option. You and the others need him to win against Balthier and if it takes my life to give you that advantage then so be it." Michael shook his head as a single tear slipped down his face. "I won't have your blood on my hands as the world crumbles to dust just because I was afraid to die. Because that's not a life I want to experience."

"And you think I want your death on me?" I scoffed. Turning abruptly on my heel, I stalked towards the door. "Nope, not going to fucking happen."

"Nova! Wait, what are you doing?" Michael called out, his hurried steps following close behind me as I stomped down the stairs. 

I didn't bother with a response as I entered the living room, power crackling at my fingertips and anger flooding my veins. I wasn't going to give up that easily, not over something like this.

Torch immediately stood upon my furious entrance but I didn't give him a chance to comprehend anything or get out any words. His mouth had just opened when I gripped the sides of his head and twisted, the sound of bone cracking and breaking as his neck snapped. Torch's body dropped to the floor in an ungraceful crash at my feet, his limb sprawled at awkward angles.

Rosie rushed to Torch's side immediately but I ignored her and everyone else's shocked expressions to turn back to Michael. I could feel the anger bubbling viciously in my chest when seeing his face reminded me all over again that he had planned to die.

"There, now he can't hurt anyone for the time being," I growled, unbothered by his pale face gaping at me. "So, go eat a fucking sandwich and get some goddamn sleep. Then, you can do the stupid ritual tomorrow when you're stronger and not die because I'm going to kick your ass for this moronic bullshit."

"Was that really necessary?" Rosie asked angrily from beside Torch's motionless body.

"I don't know, Rosalyn," I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Was I supposed to just watch my friend die just so your boyfriend can move out of his daddy's house without leaving a note?"

She opened her mouth but no sound came out as she looked at me completely perplexed and unable to formulate a response. 

"That's what I thought. Come on, Robbie," I called out, brushing past Michael and back up the stairs. "I'm sick of the bullshit and half cocked ideas filled with martyrs. I'm going to bed and heads better be pulled out of asses in the morning."

Robbie pressed his lips together to keep from laughing as he stepped over Torch's body and followed me up the stairs. It didn't take long for us to find an obviously vacated room and fall into bed. I was exhausted and my head pounded from all the drama and unwelcome news. Maybe I was a dick but everything just seemed so… I didn't have the words to describe it. 

The chaos was unwarranted and no one else seemed willing to do what had to be done so I took it upon myself to be the bad guy. Someone had to put their foot down and maybe Rosalyn would stay mad at me and maybe Torch would want to rip my head off himself upon waking. But I was just so fed up and for the moment I didn't really care.

Wordlessly, I stripped down to my boxers and laid beneath the covers, the chilly air in the room causing me to shiver and goosebumps to erupt on my skin. I turned on my side and stared at the wall, my eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness as I listened to the sound of clothes rustling behind me. The bed dipped and then my body was enveloped in heat as Robbie joined me, his bare chest pressed against my back and his body aligning with mine. 

"Have I ever told you how sexy you are when you're pissed off, especially if it's not directed at me?" he asked softly, his warm breath tickling my ear and the sensitive skin on my neck.

I could feel the truth of his words pressed against the crease of my ass as he draped his arm over me and pulled me closer. Despite the anger still coursing through me, I found myself chuckling as I shook my head.

"Not tonight, babe," I told him even as my own body protested and longed for his touch. "I'm exhausted and still want to burn the house down."

"Mmmm," Robbie hummed against my neck, "that could be fun. Is it bad that when you're homicidal and bloodthirsty that it makes my dick hard?"

I shivered and closed my eyes, trying to ignore my own arousal at his crude words. 

"You're a sick man, Hatter. I'm thoroughly appalled," I lied, a smile gracing my lips.

Robbie's hand lightly traveled over my groin, his fingers like a feather touch on my boxers that held my erection trapped. I sucked in a breath but held still, unsure if I wanted to encourage more or search for sleep instead. 

"Yes, you seem quite disgusted," Robbie said quietly and I could hear the smug grin in his voice. He pressed a kiss to the side of my neck and wrapped me in his arms once more. "Get some rest, baby. Tomorrow is going to be a long day I think."

Nodding, I tried to relax and shut down my mind but it was so hard to block out everything. Michael's suicidal tendencies and Torch's psychotic father plagued my thoughts like a bad movie soundtrack. Torch had been ordered to kill or maim my soulmate and my sister's too just to force our allegiance. If I hadn't done what I had, who was to say he wouldn't have ripped their throats out just because decisions hadn't been made fast enough.

"You're thinking too much," Robbie mumbled.

"I'm sorry," I sighed, turning in his arms so we were face to face. "Everything is just so fucked up."

Robbie kissed me softly before pressing his forehead to mine. "I know, but it'll all work out. But not if you don't sleep."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"I hope so," I said but even as I settled into his embrace again, I couldn't help but wonder if anything would ever truly work out. It all just seemed to keep crumbling, piece by piece.

●●●●

The next morning, Robbie woke me up after hearing movement throughout the house. Everyone else was awake already and after sitting up, I vaguely heard the muffled shift of furniture being moved around downstairs. 

My eyes were dry and gritty as I threw my clothes back on from the day before, not bothering to search for anything clean since I needed a shower anyway. I hadn't slept much and not well when I had, nightmares constantly waking me or leaving me tossing and turning. I'm sure I drove Robbie crazy but he didn't mention it so neither did I.

Thumping my way down the stairs with my katana strapped to my back and my bag in my hand, I found everyone already in the living room except for Michael. Torch was in the process of completely removing the chair from the room when Robbie and I entered, his eyes narrowing when they found me. After a pointed look from Rosie, I came to the conclusion that she was the reason that he hadn't tried to behead me. I made a mental note to thank him later. 

"Where's Michael?" I asked Nevada who was helping August position the couch into the center of the room, not that he really needed her help.

"Upstairs, getting ready," she answered, sympathy in her eyes.

"So, what's the plan?" Robbie asked, standing close to me in a way that reminded me of a body guard.

"Nevada and I are going to refill the tank on the SUV and get some food," August answered, taking Nevada's hand and pulling her with him as he walked towards us. "You two will stay here, outside, and keep watch."

"Keep watch?" I asked, confused.

"This kind of spell takes a lot of power," Michael's voice answered from behind me and I turned to find him standing at the bottom of the stairs. "It will undoubtedly draw some attention and Balthier will most likely feel the effects as well. We need to be prepared for anything."

My jaw clenched as I took in his appearance. Michael was dressed from head to toe in black, the dark robes cloaking his body with only his hands and face visible to the world. My anger returned full force as I met his pleading eyes and I hated Torch all over again for putting my friend, his brother, in such a position.

"What's with the get up?" Robbie asked, eyeing the robes.

"It's better to wear robes when at all possible," Michael answered. "Everyday clothes hold all kinds of jangled energy from day to day stress or negativity. These will make it smoother and… possibly safer."

My fists clenched and I forced myself to breathe through my nose. "So, you're doing this?"

"I am," he confirmed with a nod, "but I did as you asked and I do feel better today, so… thank you."

While the color in his face seemed better and the circles under his eyes had lessened, I still wasn't fully satisfied but it wasn't up to me anymore. 

"Don't thank me yet," I replied, turning back to the living room.

"I'm going to change," Torch announced, leaving the room and disappearing down the hall.

I watched as Nevada left with August, giving my hand a squeeze on her way out the door while Rosie explained she would be staying at the back of the property. Then it was just Michael, Robbie, and I left in the house, the tension nearly suffocating. 

"I'll wait for you out front," Robbie said quietly, kissing my cheek before slipping outside.

Michael made his way to the living room, a canvas bag I hadn't noticed before in his hand. Silently, he pulled the book out and laid it on the back of the couch before methodically beginning to draw symbols I didn't recognize onto the carpet with paint. There were runes and circles I remembered were circles of protection, four bowls that I knew represented the four elements, and crystals and gemstones I couldn't begin to understand their purpose.

"I want to stay inside," I blurted just as he was finishing up the last painted symbol. 

"You can't, Nova," Michael said sadly like he had anticipated my demand. "It's too dangerous for you to be here. No one but Raziel and I can be in the house, and you'll feel it outside anyway. You have to go."

"Mike," I protested but he shook his head.

"Don't. It's better this way and it's not even a sure thing it will kill me anyway," he cut in. Once again his eyes were turquoise and filled with sorrow. "I need you to trust me. I can and will do this, and then I'll see you after. Yeah?"

More than a bit reluctant, I nodded and gave him one last look before walking away. I didn't like it but a part of me understood why he was doing this. If it was me, I would risk it all for my sister's freedom and the chance for those I loved to live long and happy lives. And maybe it was hypocritical of me to want him, but he would have reacted the same if the situation was reversed.

"You okay?" Robbie asked when I joined him in the front yard.

"Not even remotely but it is what it is," I answered, eyeing the deserted neighborhood around us. "Is it just me or does this look like a scene from a zombie movie?"

Robbie laughed, the sound soothing my nerves a bit. "Yeah, kind of just without the zombies."

"That has yet to be determined," I countered.

"Remember the drill?"

I nodded distractedly as the first prickles of magick filtered through the air. "K. C. M."

"K. C. M.?" Robbie asked.

"Kill. Capture. Maim," I explained, inching my way towards the window that looked into the living room. "Whichever option is necessary."

I was a few feet from the window when Michael came into view. His eyes were closed and his mouth moved as he spoke, one hand clutching his staff and the other held out in front of him with his palm hovering over Torch's chest. The power level increased with each minute that trickled by, my skin gradually turning from pinpricks to what felt like waves of heat washing over me. 

The sounds of birds or insects could no longer be heard, the early morning air completely silent as if death had come calling. Soon it became too intense and I had to take several steps back, my breath coming out labored as I continued to watch Michael's face through the distant glass. His eyes were shut tight and I could barely make out the beads of sweat that glistened on his face as he continued to chant.

Robbie's presence was at my back as magick crackled all around us, the doors rattling on their hinges and the windows shaking in their frames. Michael's lips moved with increased speed and urgency as Torch began to twist and writhe on the couch, his snarls of pain muffled but clearly there even through the walls. 

A twig snapped somewhere behind us and we both turned in time to see Nevada and August coming towards us. Bags of food and cups of coffee abandoned on the sidewalk at the edge of the yard and I quickly focused back on the scene unfolding inside the house. Michael's face was pale, as white as a sheet and his hair was damp with sweat as he continued to exert himself. The ground beneath our feet trembled, and I could practically hear the house groan as a scream left Torch that sounded like a gutted animal.

Robbie laced his hand though mine and I clutched his fingers while unable to tear my gaze away. My skin felt singed and raw as if I had sunburn then ran through a barbecue fence. The strain on my friend became obvious when blood began to slowly trick from his nose, a stark contrast against the colorless pallor of his skin.

"Oh, shit," I breathed, my chest tightening as I watched. 

My heart pounded in my ears and my throat felt dry as the desert but there was nothing I could do. My feet were frozen in place like my body was being forcibly held back and knowing Michael it probably was. All I could do was stand and watch.

After an hour that felt like a hundred years, the power began to fade and Michael slowed his movements. The four of us watched through the window as he swayed on his feet before falling to the floor.

"Fuck!" I growled, forcing my legs to work through the magick remnants still lingering around us.

Just as I made it to the door, August's raised voice caused me to stop and twist around.

"Time to go! We got company!" 

The distant roar of vehicles met my ears and with a curse I tore into the house with Robbie hot on my heels. 

"Gran! Let's go!" Robbie shouted before turning to me. "I'll get his shit. You get him to the SUV."

Torch was staggering to his feet as I rounded the couch and knelt beside Michael. His skin was clammy and he had a slightly unsteady pulse but it was still there which meant he was alive!

"What's happening?" Torch asked, swaying where he stood with unfocused eyes.

"Potential unfriendlies coming for a visit. We have to move," I answered as I carefully lifted Michael in my arms. He was heavy and his weight made it a bit awkward but I pushed my discomfort to the side and made my way as quick as I could to the door. "Grab his staff and his bag then bring your ass."

I didn't stop to ask how Torch was doing or wonder if the others were loading up. I could feel Robbie close by and knew without worry that he would get out in time. All that matter now was getting out of here before whoever was coming showed up. After that, I would stop and take a breath before plotting how best to kick Michael's ass for this shit.

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A/N: yay another chapter so soon after the last!

Longer than normal and hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for reading and vote for support!

XOXO🖤❤🖤❤

~SM~