Universes Unite [Rebooted!] discussion

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The home of the Gemini Coven who have dwelt in this place for generations under a cloud of mystery and anonymity.

“I told you not to bring those shoes.” Lucas told Aurora as they walked, glancing down at his little sister through his dark sunglasses. “The soles are going to break at one point.”

"My shoes are fine," Aurora said quietly, glancing down at the soft pink flats she wore. Sure, she could feel literally everything they walked on, but she was fine. It wasn't like she had anything else. She was so meek that she never asked for anything much, especially not clothes wise. Her wardrobe deficiency continued to this day.

Lucas glanced down at her feet again before shaking his head and looking back toward where they were heading. “So, what’s the plan again?” He asked Fire, the oldest of the Stronghold-Prince family. He had provided the information, but she was the undisputed leader.

"We go in and lay out the situation. Ask for information on what we can do, not help. We're more likely to get information out of someone who's basically in hiding. We're in diplomatic mode," Fire explained. There were a lot of unknowns, but she thought this was the best way to handle it.

“Do you need me to play the charming foreigner or the brooding bodyguard?” He asked her, smirking a bit because he could fit both perfectly. Well, depending on who was around them. He was tall enough to intimidate the heck out of anyone near them… and attractive enough to make them swoon at the same time. The Stronghold-Prince beauty genes hadn’t escaped him.

"How about you just play backup," she said, rolling her eyes at the two options he gave. The main reason she'd brought them both was because if this was a diplomacy type thing, then they were each skilled in different areas. She was too blunt to go alone, and Lucas had charm while Aurora was gentle. Plus she was basically forbidden to go alone and she only trusted Lucas to watch her back.

“Fine. But we’d get along faster if I were either one of those things.” He replied, jokingly nudging his shoulder to hers as he wrapped a comforting arm around Aurora. It had been his suggestion that had them bring their little sister- since he didn’t trust having her be alone any more. Plus, he wanted to spend more time with her- at least until the triplets were allowed to come here.

"I disagree, but it's okay," Fire said and shot him a half smile before she looked ahead of her again.
Aurora smiled up at her brother a little, though she still didn't know why she'd come. Fire didn't especially seem to want her there, though she supposed maybe she served a purpose. Which meant it was probably because of Lucas which didn't make sense.

Lucas smiled back before he squeezed Auroras shoulder. "If you feel uncomfortable at all, just tell me. I'll get you out of there." he said, and was completely serious.

"Thank you..." Aurora said. "I'll be fine, I'm sure." Even if she was scared, she thought she'd stick it out for them. She didn't want to endanger them just because of her.

Lucas nodded at her before he stopped at the gate, pulling down his glasses as he glanced at the sign above them- the Gemini symbol. “Very original.” Was his response before he opened the gate and let them in, knowing they wouldn’t get reprimanded for trespassing because they hadn’t done anything the last time he did it. Granted, he had been nearly passed out from what he drank and it had been very dark outside…. But still.

Fire nodded her agreement and thanked him quietly as she stepped through the gate and looked around. For being so hidden they also didn't hide what this was. She was more on guard now, not wanting to get caught and put in a bad situation because they weren't supposed to be here. "Where are we going?"

“There’s a cabin in the center of the property. That’s where he lives.” He said, glancing around before he walked ahead of them. “He should be there with-“

“What are you doing here?” Came a voice from behind them, and Lucas turned his head to look at a girl around… well, around their age. “This is private property.”

Fire turned and faced the girl, assessing the threat immediately. Not to be underestimated, regardless of looks. "We have business with someone who lives here. We just need to answer some questions and we'll leave. No harm intended."

“With who?” She asked, looking between them. As he has expected, her gaze landed a little longer on him- fear or attraction? He had absolutely no idea.

“With your leader.” Lucas replied, stepping in front of his sisters so that they would be at least a little hidden behind them. He knew they- yes, both of them- were capable of defending themselves, but he didn’t want them in the direct line of vision. “We were told he has some kind of… valuable information about a friend.” Okay, he had been the one to give the information out- but what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

“What kind of questions?” She asked, and laughed when Lucas told her. “He won’t tell you anything about them. Not unless your plan is to wipe them off the earth.”

Fire frowned. Even deception to get him talking might not help Because the answers they could get might not even be the opposite of help. "I think we could convince him to give us something," she said. "If he won't tell us anything we'll be out of here in no time. Just let us know where to look."

She opened her mouth- no doubt to tell her to screw off- when she suddenly looked over their shoulder and bowed her head. Lucas found it off until he felt rather than heard someone behind them.

“What is it you need to speak to me about?” A voice behind them said, and Lucas turned to look as a man- an old one- approached. This was the man they searched for, then. He was nearly as tall as he was, with piercing blue eyes that Lucas felt were slightly familiar but had no idea of why.

Fire turned to the voice and dipped her head politely. "Sir, I believe it might be best not to discuss in the open?" She asked, straightening a little though her posture was always perfect. She took a moment to examine him, noticing those eyes and making a note of them.

“What you say to me will eventually be said to them.” He replied, glancing between them before he glanced at the girl behind them. “Faye, you can go.” The girl looked like she was going to say no before she thought better of it and left- after bowing her head again, of course.

Fire had to put effort into not clicking her tongue, which she often had to do while she was recalculating how this would go. "We need to know about the siphons. And what might cause one to....be comatose without any sign of external cause."

“Straight to the point, I see.” He replied simply, turning his back to them as he started to walk towards the cabin. “I’m sure there are books full of proper diagnosis for such creatures- your science is so ahead of magic, isn’t it? Search there.” He said, his tone mocking. Why wouldn’t it be, when his people were often referred to as old fashioned? But look who needed their information now.

"Science has nothing on magic. Affairs of magic should be dealt with magic," Fire said in the most reverent tone she could. This was not her first time dealing with people who held such an opinion. "I'm sure you can agree."

“Do you know why my coven has its own territory in this town?” He asked her, stopping outside his cabin. “It’s because we realized long ago that mixing with other folk would do nothing but damage our bloodlines. It would create creatures that would one day turn their backs to us- hybrids. I’m sure your stories are the same… dragon.”

Lucas stiffened, not realizing their species would be so obvious to the old man. Not that it was a bad thing to have it known, but… how did he? “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I’m well acquainted with what goes on around here.” The man replied, raising an eyebrow at his confusion. “We’re able to have a conversation now because of your ability to shift into humans, and it’s good. But your kind has been hunted by those of your own kin- for a petty war that could have been avoided if you had stayed in your true form. But now you have combinations amongst you that could end much worse. Dragon and Vampire, for example, will create dragons driven by their need to shed the blood of the innocent to keep themselves fed. Worlds could fall apart for it. The world of my ancestors did- because of the breeding between Witches and Demons. A combination that resulted in the very creature you’re trying to bring back.”

A frown tugged at Fire's lips, feeling like she was being judged when this man didn't even know her. He couldn't know that that would be the outcome of a dragon and vampire. "That maybe be the case as a whole, but there are exceptions to the rule," she replied. "Our friend we are trying to help is not destructive in that way. She doesn't use her abilities, she only wishes to live."

“If that we’re true, she wouldn’t be stuck in her coma state.” He replied, turning his piercing blue eyes to her. “If what I heard is true, then she has been showing signs of corruption. Has she not taken advantage of the weak for her own pleasure? Or have you not realized how much better she feels, once she’s taken what doesn’t belong to her from others? I’m sure you have, because that is her curse as a siphon. Just like a vampire feels satisfied with blood, or dragons with riches, a siphon feels from taking.”

"And your own kind has no failings?" Fire snapped, patience fraying. "Who are you to cast judgment on all species but your own? Is your pride so large that you think you're the only one without fault so you can determine who lives and dies?"

“Witches were made to protect humans from the dangers of magic.” He replied, shaking his head at her because she really had no idea of their history. Not when he knew nearly all of hers. “At least until we had to fend for ourselves. I’m not a fool to believe we’re perfect, but I will keep my people from repeating the mistakes from the past.”

"And the witches never needed any help from anyone else?" Fire asked, getting frustrated as if she hadn't been there already. "Her species, her powers, they're no fault of her own. She can't help being a siphon, but you can certainly help being an-"

Aurora tugged on her sister's arm to get her to stop talking, and it almost hadn't worked except she shot ice through her fingers to Fire's skin, which jolted her to close her mouth.

“You’re right.” He replied, watching as the younger sister silenced her. “She may not be to blame for she was brought into this world as, but she is to be blamed for everyone she has hurt. I’m sure that if you looked into her history, you’d find an endless list of people she has hurt- victims of her anger and jealousy.”

“We’ve all hurt people.” Lucas replied, stepping once more in front of his sister. Not to protect her- not completely, at least- but to stop her from pouncing. “None of us are innocent from that.”

“We do. But what they feel is beyond something like us could.” The man replied, shaking his head as he recalled his… his experience with Siphons. “It’s their nature. Pain and anger fuels them- it’s what they inherited from their demonic sides. All it takes is a little push for them to turn- to let those feelings consume them- before they hurt those around them. It’s how my ancestors were brought to near extinction all those years ago. Why there are less witches in a world built by them, even many years later.”

Lucas looked at him and realized he didn’t just hate the siphons- he feared them. Maybe even more than he hated them.

"Well then wouldn't it be nice to have one indebted to you?" Fire asked, her tone just a bit more even. "Like I said before, she doesn't actively try to hurt people. She could be in your debt if you let her live. And maybe it would only be to protect from other siphons but it's more than you have." She knew Raelynn very little, but she seemed like she might possess honor of a sort, to at least pay back a debt. And for that same reason of knowing her minimally, she didn't offer a dragons debt instead.

Lucas closed his eyes, somehow knowing that his sisters suggestion wasn’t going to end in the way they wanted it to. And he was right.

“My people have been through enough. We do not need her- or you, for that matter.” He replied, turning his back to them as he walked up the steps to his cabin. He stopped at the threshold, though. “You’re asking people here to forget what had been done to them- the deaths of loved ones, or the torture they’ve endured. We tried once, years before you were born, and it didn’t end well for any of us. Enjoy your brief stay.” He said, and then he was gone.

Fire cursed, hating the outcome of this whole thing. She'd been the problem and she knew it, but he made her so angry she couldn't help herself. "Well insults didn't work," she commented gruffly. There was a reason she wasn't a diplomat.

“They didn’t.” Lucas agreed, looking after the man that left them before he turned to look at the sign outside of the door. Holland Woods. “But we did learn a few things, I suppose.”

"He basically refused to answer my question. The basic one," Fire said, but she also knew Lucas was right. Even if he hadn't answered the question, they knew more than before. "Not that it makes it and better."

“You worry about the research we need and I’ll worry about getting us answers.” He replied, rubbing his eyes before glancing back at her. He knew what he could do to get them and it wasn’t like he’d feel bad getting it. He was worried about one thing, though.

Fire glared at him. "I swear, if you go rogue to do something unsavory in the name of our mission, I will not be happy." The words themselves didn't sound like a threat, but the last time she'd been unhappy with him....well she was sent to stay with someone else because of the fallout.

“Believe me when I say that it won’t be unsavory.” He replied, giving her a little grin that proved it. But then he remembered Aurora was there and looked down at her. “You can come with me or Fire, but I can’t guarantee you’ll have fun.”

Fire still glared, having a feeling their definitions weren't the same, but his offering Aurora to come along made her a little more comfortable with the idea.

Aurora looked between her siblings, looking uncomfortable. She didn't know what to choose because neither option seemed to be in her best interest. She still wasn't even really sure why she was here. "Um...I guess I'll help where I'm most needed?"

“Which is…?” He asked, since that response didn’t actually narrow anything down for them. Not when he wanted her to do something to keep her safe and entertained.

"Um....I guess...." She looked between the two again, feeling like neither really wanted her to be there but didn't want to actively exclude her. But since Lucas usually would have offered, it meant more. "With Fire, I guess..."

“Okay, then.” He replied, then reaching over to urge his sisters out of the property while keeping pace to him. “Let’s get to working.”

Fire huffed a sigh and pulled out her phone to text Francisco. No luck. Trying something else. she sent simply. She scrolled up just a little to the last text he sent and found herself just a little more relaxed. Enough. Love you too she sent separately and slipped the phone back in her pocket. Hopefully they could find what they needed in research soon.

((End?))

((I guess?))

((Okay haha. I need to post something quick for Holland))

((go for it haha))

Holland stood by the door for a good minute before he started walking deeper into his cabin. His big, empty cabin. Or at least he assumed it was empty.

“Why didn’t you tell them about him?” A voice behind him asked, and he didn’t say anything as he removed his jacket and hung it up. “It would have helped with convincing to give up on their friend.”

“Because they’re right in one thing.” He replied, glancing over to the woman that had spoken. “Not everyone is as bad as he was. His sister was just as cruel, and she was a witch.”

“Wasn’t she?” The woman asked, tilting her head to the side. “She gave up her life in the afterworld to keep us safe, did she not? Without her, we’d have been long gone. No one here knows she did.”

“Janelle was the reason he won- because she was weak.” Holland replied, starting his way up the stairs. “She only bought us time before two of our own are ready to merge. Soon enough, she’ll have the rest she deserves after failing us.”

“What a fond way to speak of your children.” She replied, sipping from her tea. “But I suppose I understand. One died, another was locked away… and the other abandoned you. Maybe they’re right- maybe the way he turned out had nothing to do with what he was and everything to do with the pathetic excuse of a father you were.”

Again, Holland said nothing. Because he knew it was true- he knew he had been to blame for the way his children turned out. He knew that it was his mistakes that would lead to the end of his family name- Woods- because he hadn’t known how to be a father to his son. If he had loved him even a little bit, would all of this have happened? Perhaps. But at least he wouldn’t have lost all three of them in such a short time.

Isabella, the only child that hadn’t actually done anything to disappoint him- but he did disappoint her in the end. Hence why she was gone. Janelle, his Star child who he could only feel disappointment for now- even if she was working to fix her mistake. And Kaden, his only son- locked away. He was the only one that could have kept the Woods Dynasty going, yet he… well, he was locked away and couldn’t do it. Not that Holland would want him to, for it would only result in more leeches tainting his prestige bloodline.

Siphons, the lesser folk called them. How bad would things have been, if Kaden had passed his curse to another? No worse than it would be if he did it to Gemini Twins.

Good thing, Holland thought, that his son was locked away before he could come up with a way to screw their family up any more than he already did.


•••••

Lucas quietly closed the door behind him, careful not to let even the light click sound escape, before he slowly made his way down the steps. He was holding his shoes in one hand and his jacket in the other, the longer strands of his red hair getting in his eyes because his hands were currently full and he couldn’t risk setting them down. He was almost out the living room door when he heard a sound behind him and he turned to look.

“You forgot your watch.” A pretty, almost musical voice whispered from the top of the stairs. He knew the reason it sounded like a pretty voice was because she was pretty- pretty with her long blonde hair and green eyes. So pretty that he had almost forgotten he was on a mission here and let her bring him to the cabin she shared with her cousin and friend to…talk some. He hadn’t learned anything about the Gemini Coven- well, nothing about them but that not all of them were unpleasant. Like this girl.

But now he had to sneak out because apparently she and her cousin had a rule that bringing guys they just met was a no-no. Which worked perfectly because now he can actually do what he had told his sisters he would.

“Maybe it was just an excuse to see you again.” He said, giving her a crooked grin that she returned before he slowly opened the door.

“So I’ll see you again?” She asked, and he did not to feel bad about his answer. Because she really did seem like a nice girl- but he had realized after their encounter that she wasn’t as nice as he believed. No, this girl hadn’t been completely honest with him for at least half of the things she had said to him. For example, she wasn’t as young as she claimed to be- she was at least a few years older than that, although he didn’t mind. She also wasn’t a natural blonde, although her eyes really were green. Oh, and one more thing- She had a boyfriend. A serious one, he realized after taking a look at her nightstand and seeing a wedding band hanging on one of the decorative jewelry tree. A very, very serious one.

He didn’t wait long after telling her there was no way he’d want that to happen again and that she could keep the watch and consider it an early wedding gift before he was out the door, pulling his jacket and shoes on.

He ran a hand through his hair as he walked in the direction of the exit, his eyes turned a little to the side as he looked into a mirror he had noted when he walked around as if lost and the pretty girl had found him. He looked there until he saw the reflection of the girl disappearing behind the door, and then he abruptly changed directions. Changed it towards the center of the camp, where he had seen the Gemini leader disappear into when he refused to answer their questions.

See, this wasn’t the first time Lucas had to sneak around an unknown place. Not the first time in this strange universe, or the first time back home. This became like second nature to him- and Fire, when she was up for it. Because it was not only effective, but also fun.

A couple of minutes and he was standing inside the cabin, putting the pin he had found in the girls room back into his pocket as he looked around. It was like he expected it would be- out dated and… lonely. Which was fine considering he was sneaking into this man’s house in the middle of the night and the worse case scenario involved someone catching him.

The first thing he did was head up the stairs across the front door, since people with secrets usually had their offices in the room furthest from any main entrance.

The second was pausing to concentrate on the sounds around him- or more specifically, the sound of someone taking a breath or moving. He could only detect one other person in the cabin, and by the somewhat labored breathing, he knew it was the coven leader.

Lucas made sure he wasn’t waking up any time soon before moving to another room, turning the knob to peek into it. But it wouldn’t budge, even after he tried picking the lock. It was under a spell, then. No use in trying too hard. The same thing happened in the next two rooms before he was finally able to turn the knob of one and slip in through it.

The room was clearly an office, pages laying around on the large wooden desk, and stacks of books on shelves both neat and chaotic. It was dark and rather dusty, like it hadn't been really used for a long time, but it had been stirred recently. Like the information inside had a single purpose that had come up again recently. If any room in the house were to have information on the Siphons, this was it. There was just the tiny matter of finding that information. A topic so touchy wouldn't blatantly say on the spine, would it? And yet as he glanced over a shelf of books, there was one that caught his eye. A history book of rare witch powers. After carefully pulling the book from the shelf so no others would fall, he flipped from the table of contents to the index, tracing his finger along the column under S. Only one reference, one page with one paragraph of information. To sum it up, it just said 'dangerous, avoid at all costs' and nothing more. Useless. None of the other books showed any promise and he didn't have time to flip through any more of them, so he moved to the desk next.

It was the most disturbed place in the whole room, layered with old newspapers that didn't obviously seem relevant, rows of picture frames, and a small leatherbound notebook tied by a cord. Too out of place not to be conspicuous. He picked it up and opened it, finding it just as worn on the inside as the outside. The pages fluffed out from over-reading and how it had been bent for writing. He didn't have time to stand there and read it, but just from flipping through there were enough keywords to pique interest. Glancing up, he really looked at the pictures. Some were normal, a family portrait of a few redheaded children dressed for some holiday, a few of two identical brothers doing various things, and the last one....exactly what he was looking for.

“Well hello there…” He muttered, pulling his phone out and snapping a picture of the frame. So this old man knew a heck of a lot more about Siphons than he let on, if the description written on the white sections of the photo were any indication.

He quickly read the message his sister had sent before sending her the photos he had taken, placing the frame back on the desk before he pulled the book into his pocket and heading back to the door. But that was when he heard it- the sound of the floor outside the room creaking, as if someone had taken a step in it’s direction. He didn’t move or breath until the step sounded again, walking away from him.

He stayed like that for a few more minutes before he instead turned towards the window, quietly opening it. Going down the stairs was too risky at this point, since whoever was awake- well, he knew who it was- could know more than what he let on. So the only other option was to sneak out through the window, which was fine considering he was an expert at sneaking in and out of them.

It wasn’t until he was walking out of the Gemini Covens camp that he allowed himself to really think of what had happened, and what that could mean for his sisters unconscious friend.