tiny-necromancer

[tiny-necromancer]

Chance didn’t know precisely when the mindscape changed. He was still in the throne room. His father’s angry eyes burning into him. So hot he couldn’t breathe.

But then something changed. A soft glimmer from the corner of his eye. The woman that grabbed his hands in the basement. And his chest seized, catching him off guard.

“Chance…” Marcus beckoned as he eyed the woman with a coldness Chance had never seen before. He held out his hand towards come, curling a finger.

Chance didn’t want to go to him. He never did. On the physical plane or others. But as was customary, he didn’t actually have a choice and stumbled to his father’s side. He caught himself on the side of the throne.

Marcus still hadn’t even looked at him. But he crashed down to the floor beside him anyway. “Chance…” he sad again, his voice tight with anger. “Tell the bitch what happens to those who choose to poke the hornets nest. I don’t think she quite understands what she is about to do.”

Chance let out a choked sob, clutching at his throat uselessly as the words tumbled from his lips. “Death. Pain. Agony. Despair.”

A Meeting of the Minds

Every person's mind looked different really, but it was more than clear that where Cami was now nestled in Chance's mind was not of his own creation. She was walking down a darkened corridor for a prolonged moment, until she finally made it into a throne room of sorts. With the man of the hour lying in wait.

She took her time moving closer, looking around the imagined room with distaste. "I would make introductions, but I'm not really all that bothered to get to know you. I mean, any man that's self-obsessed enough to force a blood bond on his own son and manifest that space as a throne room is way too far gone for idle pleasantries."

Cami came to a stop then, finally making eye contact with Marcus and allowing hers to glow that silvery white she often hid. A faint wind shifted from behind her as the backhalf of the vision faded away, with a wall of fog coming up behind her to block off focus outside of her. Chance would be released from his father's efforts, at least temporarily. She released a contented sigh for his benefit, allowing her eyes to drift back to their normal color now. "Much better... Oh, hope you don't mind if I redecorate."

@marcus-is-death

@tiny-necromancer

@a-vexx-on-you

[tiny-necromancer]

At Cami's words, all the fight went out of Zander and he help Ivy even tighter. "Oh golly..." He cried. Loosening his grip of Ivy, he allowed her some space. As she seemed to want to get back to Chance.

It wasn't until Rowan tugged him back did he realize anything else was amiss. That's when he noticed Chance who seemed to be in a great deal of pain. "W-wait...what..."

Chance was writhing against Ivy as he fought to keep from making a sound. But he could feel the words burning accross his lips before he even uttered them. "Die...you're all going to die..." As his eyes turned pitch black his father's laughter echoed in his head. Squeezing his eyes shut he tried to block out the images of all the people he'd seen. Trying in vain to protect them from his father. "I'm sorry..." He gasped out, "I'm so sorry..."

"Well that's an interesting trick..." Vexx murmured as he moved towards Cami as she kneeled down. "Need a boost, love?" He asked, offering here what he had left of his magical core. "Not out of the fray just yet..."

"Woooow." Xavier muttered. "Next time I'll be sure to let you an ol' Johnny have your moment. I have wondered about your tastes. What with..." He gestured at Ophie. "You manage to tap that yet? Oh wait....you can't."

"As much as I find your bickering to be amusing." Xypher said with exasperation. "If the whole lot of your would go the fuck away so I can finish things up here."

"What's to finish? You brought the whole damn place down. Now I don't have a hiding place." Xavier growled.

Xypher's shoulders shook in silent laughter. "What a place to hide..."

There seemed to be some invisible force that coaxed Ophie down the stairs. He barely even recognized Alexander at his back. But that didn't make sense, he'd know he was there this entire time.

Images kept flashing in his mind. The things he'd seen. The bodies. All of it. But yet he gritted his teeth and continued down the rickety old staircase. Knowing beyond a doubt that he needed to be down there.

Being suddenly engulfed by Zander's arms, Ophie finally let go of his resolve. He let go of the railing and let his platonic ease him down to the floor. He was talking so fast, asking him questions, brushing his hair back from his face. But Ophie couldn't focus on any of that. Just threw his arms around Zander, which he so rarely ever did.

He buried himself in the comfort that being with Zander brought him. He didn't think he ever would get used to having someone in his life that knew more than he did about himself.

After a moment, Ophie realized there was something missing. Or someone missing. "Ivy.." He rasped, wanting to find her. Desperately. But he couldn't see her. The desire to hold her in his arms. Something he had never felt before, was forefront in his mind.

"Ivy..." Zander beckoned her. "Ivy its okay, baby. He's okay...see?"

Ophie pulled back from Zander to see who he was talking to. And there she was. Filthy, pale, scared, crying. All of those things. He was effectively not going anywhere. His legs finally gave way completely. So he did the only thing he could do, reach out a hand towards her. "Ivy..." He rasped again.

You ought to come on down too Xy... after you're done admiring your handiwork, of course.

Cami cleared her throat from her spot, catching the attention of the four huddled together on the floor. "They're all okay. Alexander and Ophie are coming down now," she soothed, addressing them all of course, but her gaze was fixated on Ivy as she spoke. Nothing is your fault, my little love.

Ivy's tears continued to fall even in the beginnings of her relief. Because truly it wouldn't click even for her until she saw them standing in front of her. However, the feeling of Chance removing his hands from her stole her attention, with her eyes hurriedly taking in the panicked expression of her platonic. She placed a gentle hand onto his shoulder, with the diagnosis of the cause running through her mind in tandem then. With Cami still tuned into her thoughts, the older warlock had moved forward towards them. Anticipating the hesitation he might still feel towards Cami given how she was new to him, Ivy gave Chance's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "She's a telepath. She can help."

The words from Ivy brought about another smile from Cami, warmly offered to both of the teens as she moved to kneel down in front of the boy. She held out her hands to Chance then. "May I?"

Rowan gently pulled Ivy and Zander a bit further back from Chance to give him some room as Cami began her work. He hugged them both into his side, pressing a kiss to Ivy's hair as she continued to sniffle.

Cami needed a free connection to him, at least unless she prompted them for further help. She was about to be engaged in a battle of mind, emotion, and magic just now, and that was no small matter of focus, even for an older warlock.

"You know, I kind of agree with that Jon guy--why don't you can it with the high and mighty bullshit. One good moment from you doesn't make you a saint when the next is back to business with you blowing through here. So, if you want my thanks, I'll give it to you for saving my skin. But you know damn well that they don't owe you anything," Alexander snapped, moving all the while and focusing on their slow but steady path.

He bit back further commentary as Xavier's attention turned to Xypher, with his now caught up in trying to catch Ophie from falling over in his current state. "Woah... easy there. We're almost there." He shifted himself to steady Ophie from behind as they stepped onto the more narrow staircase to the basement.

They barely had time to cross the threshold before Ivy and Zander had bolted forward from the corner. Alexander continued to brace Ophie as Zander crashed forward, nearly tackling the oracle with his hug. But Ivy stood with her arms faintly outstretched, frozen mere inches away as tears streamed down her cheeks. And Alexander knew well enough why she'd stopped herself.

She'd never touched Ophie before, never hugged him. It had been an inclination to so many times, of course, and much harder to avoid in those early years when it was Ivy's every impulse to embrace her family. But she'd grown used to it over time... Except now he had almost died. Ophie had almost died. And she wanted nothing more than to hug her dad, to remind herself that he was fine, that she hadn't lost him. But she couldn't, and that hurt. Her arms gently fell back against her sides as she managed a faint but watery smile at the sight of her dads.

[tiny-necromancer]

Not today. Xypher replied after a moment. Don't come up here though. Too unstable. Sending them back down to you.

Zander was sobbing softly, holding Ivy against him, petting her hair with trembling hands. He couldn't do anything else in that moment. Only having her there now. He couldn't feel Ophie. It had been a long time since he'd felt Xavier. But he did reach out to catch Rowan's wrist. To hold to him, and to Ivy. In case that was all he had left.

Vexx brushed his hair back from his face. His eyes counted his charges before he met Cami's eyes and offered her a wink. "Xypher..." He called up at the ceiling. "Did you make a mess?"

Chance's heart was beating so fast and so hard that he didn't even realize he was being spoken to at first. It didn't matter though, he couldn't speak even if he wanted to. He let go of Ivy and Zander to claw at his throat. His father's anger seemed to be crawling up out of him. Threatening to choke him. He squeezed his eyes closed as fresh tears spilled down his flushed cheeks.

If Xypher hadn't learned to be very in tuned to Vexx he wouldn't have heard his voice from below. "Not especially." He replied, not worrying about carrying his voice. Vexx would hear him just as well.

He eyed the three shell shocked warlocks with a sigh.

Xavier shot Alexander a dirty look over Ophie's head. "Right...next time I'll just let you get crushed to death. Bet everyone would just love that wouldn't they?"

Ophie still wasn't tracking well at all. Everything around him was too bright, too loud, too suffocating. He started to wheeze a bit at the dust. If it wasn't for Alexander holding him there he would have simply fallen back to the ground.

Xavier stepped away from them and more towards Xypher who was still standing in the center of the runed shop. "Nah...I'm good. Do give Zan my love though..." He said absently. Turning his attention to Xypher he sneered a bit. "What the fuck...did you have to ruin the way out?"

Xypher wasn't bothered in the slightest. "Only way out is down and around. So sorry about that."

Ophie coughed again. "Down?" He asked, having just realized that they did in fact have a basement down there. And that they were heading in that direction. "Ivy..." He mumbled, trying to pull away from Alexander but nearly stumbling through the ruined doorway to the back. "Zander..." He gasped catching himself on the wall. He lurched forward again, holding onto the banister with a shaky grip. "Please...."

Ivy trembled wildly even as the explosion itself passed. She lifted her head tentatively, meeting Cami's eyes in the dark. And she reached to catch her by the wrist, opening her mind to the older warlock. Please tell me they're okay. Please tell me I didn't get them killed. "Cami, please..."

Cami's expression wilted into a frown as the pleas echoed in her mind and the last slipped out aloud. She didn't know anything yet, of course. None of them would. But she called out into her link with Xypher then, getting to the source, if anything. Do tell me you haven't killed yourself and the boys in the process of taking out the trash.

She adjusted to move back from them though as Ivy curled into Chance and Zander all the more, taking the moment of silence from Xypher to begin brushing dust off of her hair and dress. She caught sight of Vexx similarly readjusting himself and couldn't help but smile a bit. It was one of the ways they reflected each other's personalities.

Rowan moved back as Cami peeled herself away, but his hands still rested on Ivy and Zander's shaking shoulders. They wouldn't be soothed until they knew the answers to those questions no doubt swirling through their minds then. He directed his gaze and questioning to Chance then, offering him a small smile. "Alright, little one?"

Alexander glanced behind them at the question from Xypher, more than stunned that he was still in his body to do so, and that he was nothing more than dusty as his price for being so close to the blast. "Not dead," he replied softly, still in disbelief. But the cursing and laughter from Xavier only reminded him of the other warlock's presence. And judging from the strength of Ophie's grip on his arm, he was likely in a similar boat.

He kept his arm secured around Ophie's back and waist, holding them against the wall until they knew better about properly moving. But he glanced about to see where the beams above seemed to be coming away the fastest even as he spoke to Xavier a bit harshly. "You're sticking around more than I'd have expected. After all, you haven't ever tried to before. Why start now, right?" His gaze met the other man's on that comment, and while his expression wasn't necessarily angry, it was far from welcoming.

Alexander coaxed Ophie into his side, judging that he was still a bit dizzy or the like given the way his eyes refused to focus. And he made a quick but careful retreat towards the basement as instructed. He called out over his shoulder. "Or you could come meet your niece. And keep your brother from crying himself to sleep tonight over you."

[tiny-necromancer]

Zander clung helplessly to Rowan as they stumbled down the stairs. He would have continued to fight against him, even still. But his words...about Ivy. That made him pause. The sheer heaviness in that resolve would have brought him to his knees. "Oh my god...." He whimpered but let Rowan herd him down further into the basement.

Vexx shared a look with Rowan, a pained look then an apologetic shrug as they moved past him. The smile he returned to Cami was a bright as ever though. "Spicy...I like it."

He'd barely made it down on the final step when he felt it. The shift in the energy. The magical energy, it was enough to steal his breath away. It never ceased to amaze him the magnitude of what Xypher could absorb. Back when they first met, several lifetimes ago, he used to think him conceited. But no...he really was that powerful.

Vexx had enough sense to flatten himself against the wall as the building gave one final lurch above them.

Chance had never been this frightened before. Which was really saying something. He stared at the ceiling as it seemed to move above them. Suddenly, Zander was there, wrapping his arms around him and then Ivy as she settled in against them. He could feel the tremor going through the older warlock but couldn't do anything about it. As the final explosion burst above them, he felt it in his body and screamed with Ivy, though it was drowned out by the sheer force.

As the dust started to settle, Xypher stood in the center of the now empty space. Rubble all around him as he shook his hair out with a grimace. It was disappointing to not find any bodies though. They had all seemed to disappear in the aftermath. But the building continued to moan as the remaining walls crumbled.

He stepped easily to the side as a rafter fell just above him. "Good bones..." He mused, flashing an almost amused smile at the three huddled in the corner. "Anyone dead over there?"

Xavier just sat there, in shock. "Fuck...oh fuck...what in the actual hell...." He cast a look at Alexander, then Ophie. Then huffed a laugh. "Shit..." was all he could say. Because the fact that the three of them were alive right now was just baffling to him.

Ophie hadn't remembered grabbing onto Alexander and Xavier as he did. He immediately released Xavier but kept his tight grip on Alexander. Things were still crumbling all around them, it wasn't safe for them to move. At least he didn't think so. "Where..." He blinked rapidly, eyes scouring the shop. The full weight of everything not quite sinking in just yet with his head still fuzzy from the kaleidoscope of images he'd gotten attacked with.

"Basement." Xypher mumbled, distracted by following the line of rafters up above. The entire roof was going to cave in a matter of moments. "You guys might want to head down there too. You know...seems kind of dumb to get crushed to death after that whammy."

"And we didn't fashion ourselves into your babysitters. Damn shame we were all disappointed, isn't it?" Jon reasoned. He flashed his teeth at Xavier again, stepping a bit further towards the counter.

Bramble being the first to strike was unsurprising and welcome, but they all watched as the sneaky fucker vanished from sight again. And if losing the kid today hadn't meant their heads would be on the chopping block, losing Xavier with so many of them there certainly ensured their ill fates.

Cami paused on the stairs, breathing a sigh of relief at the sight of Rowan carrying Zander over, even despite his visible distress. She cast a glance to Vexx before flashing him a playful eyeroll even despite it all. "Oh, you know me hun. Only the best for the murderous men upstairs," she mused, hastening down the steps and helping to bring the two shaking teens into a corner. She offered them a warm smile, even though she knew it would do little to comfort them in the moment. "These are foundational walls, it's better to stick by them, okay? Now, you heard Vexx, let's get cozy."

Rowan was clutching onto Zander with as much force as it took to keep him in his arms, but he hated having to fight against him. It pained him more than he'd ever be likely to admit. Halfway down the stairs, he'd shifted his hand from Zander's mouth at least. And he looked at him gravely even with the pace they moved. "You can't leave Ivy with no parents." It was a harsh view, but he hoped it would at least impress some of his motives upon the other warlock. He set Zander on his feet then, but kept his hands on his shoulders as he steered him towards Ivy, Chance, and Cami.

With them all secured in the basement now, Cami reached out to Xypher then as her and Rowan tucked themselves overtop of Zander and the kids. Fire away Xy.

Alexander had been holding Ophie as steady as he could manage, his head now on a constant swivel to be sure that they weren't the focus of anyone's attacks or ire. But he was also achingly aware of the energy pulsating off of Rhiatt and Xypher both in that moment. "Damn it, Ophie, come back to me!" His head snapped down to the oracle as he gripped onto him, moving to pull Ophie fully into his arms now and stand as the walls seemed to shake with Rhiatt's newest string of laughter.

He winced as Xavier shoved him, but more so because he'd not anticipated it, rather than being pained. Alexander looked over to him with widened eyes, but followed along as Xavier shoved the three of them up against the wall of the shop, bracing them for the blow.

Jon barely caught Bramble's words then, but knew well enough by the shaking of the place that they were about to be buried under rubble if they didn't split. He cursed under his breath, darting out at full speed after the fae.

Ivy pulled Chance and Zander into her arms, tucking her head in between theirs as their tears and cries mingled amidst the cacophony from upstairs. She was whispering apologies and prayers in equal measure. And she screamed as the shop exploded overhead.

[tiny-necromancer]

Xypher watched in amusement as the nephilim easily shifted focus on the redirection. "I had wondered where he'd run off too." He mused.

Rhiatt raised a brow. "Don't you belong in Sydney?"

He shrugged. "Eh...nothing exciting happening there anymore. Not with all the bloodsuckers...you know..." he cut his thumb across his throat. "Though I'm happy to take care of your vampy problem if you'd like."

Rhiatt pretended to consider before his laugh reverberated the small shop. Shaking and jostling everything around. Except Xypher.

"Part banshee?" The other warlock asked. "Nice."

Ophie couldn't even focus enough to be able to scream. Not that screaming was typically a modality for him. But the onslaught of pain and devastation the future was throwing at him was enough to make him at least make a pained sound.

He felt Alexander beside him. Knew it was him before he'd even heard his voice, or felt his touch at his temple. With the movement of the warlock's fingers and that tendril of magic pulling away from him, Ophie sucked in a great gulp of air. He squeezed his eyes shut to allow the memory to dampen the ends of the vision just enough that he could grab onto him. But not so much he'd be able to move.

Xavier kept Xypher in his peripheral sight so he'd know when he needed to move. The fact Ophie and Alexander were still over there did bother him a bit, but not enough for him to care enough to do anything about it. "I never fashioned myself as a step-parent." He mused to Jon's taunt. "But you...preoccupation much? Don't tell me you are into that now...naughty."

Wyatt cocked his head at Xavier. He wasn't tracking the conversation really. Just one target for another. Stryker wound around him, almost like a snake. Which he was, technically.

"I would love to see you get disemboweled for that though." Stryker hissed, his tongue brushing over his lips in an almost indecent sort of way.

Flex who was on Xavier's opposite side, curled his lip. "Well...I'm not touching him. Marcus would flay me alive."

Xavier made a face at the images they were all conjuring in his head. "Alright...wow. It's almost like you guys are scared of lil ol me. But enough already. Body parts and fluid everywhere."

"I'm not." Bramble said from his spot farthest away from them. He summoned a splay of vines up through the floor, intent on capturing Xavier. One did manage to encircle his arm. But he fell backwards before the rest could touch him. Falling backwards off the counter, but not making a sound as he hit the floor.

"Oh....fuck." Bramble swore, shoving past the rest of them to peer over the counter. Knowing that Xavier wouldn't be there anymore. How he'd managed to gnaw off his vine he wasn't sure. Probably with his teeth, the little fucker.

"Hi doll...love the dress." Vexx greeted Cami. There was no point to being quiet anymore, now that all hell was breaking loose upstairs. He shooed her down the stairs before him as he moved. Closing the door would have been optimal, but Zander and Rowan were blocking it. "Tuck up, loves." He told the kids.

Zander let out a wail that was properly muffled by Rowan. He fought against him, screaming for the others, but Rowan had strength on him that he couldn't move against. So he was helpless to being moved down the stairs.

"Rowan! Please!" He cried, tears streaming down his face. "You can't...you can't..."

Vexx followed the two of them completely down the stairs. He eyed the small basement trying to find the safest place. Which there just wasn't. He shut his eyes as the entire building started to sway above them. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Xypher would end this. But at what cost...

Xavier resurfaced next to Alexander, giving him a shove. "Move you dumbass." He didn't have any patience for anyone anymore. But he did manage to get the three of them pressed against an inside wall.

"You going to let me have it then?" Xypher said to Rhiatt. His dark eyes starting to glow in the darkness. "Or are you going to just stand there and look pretty? Because...you aren't."

Rhiatt's lip curled into a snarl. The power he'd been building coiled around and around his arms as the lightning sizzled and sparked.

Bramble finally caught wind of what was happening by the door. Xavier was quickly forgotten. "We got to move." He told the others, but didn't wait to see if they followed. It was their hides not his.

Xypher's smile lit up the dark as he extended his arm and the lightning started to wrap around his arm as he called the charred magic into his core. It only took a moment for his power to ignite. "Boom..." He said just as it burst back out of him and the entire shop blew.

Alexander rolled out of the way of the axe as it slammed down in between him and Ophie, but he was quick to turn back again. The nephilim, Wyatt, seemed intent on Ophie in particular, and that didn't bode well where they were all but pinned down currently. But Alexander raised his gaze again, he caught the very clear onslaught of the visions. Only he'd never quite seen them overtake the oracle in that way. He darted over the short distance so that he could kneel beside him.

He brought his fingertips to one side of his temple, pulling them back with a silvery trail of mist that he allowed to wash over Ophie then. Alexander had chosen the first memory to come to his mind: Ivy, about 3 years old, calling Ophie grumpy, and the way it had sent Alexander into a laughing fit over the way he disapprovingly scowled. Something to take hold of, a tether to pull him through the spasms overtaking him, with any luck. "Come on, Ophie..."

"Can it with your crap, Chronos. Where's the kid?" Jon snapped, his eyes growing darker with each second. "You can't pretend that you'd rather be the one to take his place."

Jon stumbled just slightly as Wyatt nearly clambered his way into place beside him. And he rolled his eyes. "Isn't any one of you going to shut this fucker up? I can't promise not to spill his guts if I try."

Ivy and Chance moved into the back room as silently as they could with Vexx's prompting, with Cami lying in wait to gently take them by the shoulders. Both of them moved swiftly though to cover Chance as Rhiatt loosed the laugh that broke out the glass and light fixtures surrounding them.

Ivy looking back towards the door, unable to hide the visible shudder that ran through her at the fact that her dad wasn't following her. That neither of them were there. She darted forward, intent on going back in her gut instinct. But between Chance attached to her side and Cami at the ready to pull her back, she didn't make it further than a step. She wanted to believe they would all come through it. But perhaps for the first time in her life, she knew nothing.

Cami withheld introductions for the moment, given the need to be quiet and quick. With Ivy safely back in hand, she steered the pair of teenagers down the back stairs to the basement, moving them in front of her on the steps. But they were still alone, and that meant further people in the fray. That's exactly why Ivy had tried to dart back. Of course they could both gather enough to guess it would be Zander frozen there, so Cami fed into Rowan's mind as she moved. Time's up. Now!

Rowan didn't really need to be told to move then. He simply scooped his arms underneath Zander to lift him from their spot against the wall, with one hand coming up to cover his lips as well. And it wouldn't matter. He would likely scream, cry, fight like hell to not leave the others behind. And even if Rowan understood that, he wasn't about to let him stay in the line of fire. And Xypher would blow the place up not long after. He raised up to his full height, darting through the door to the back on his path to the basement.

[tiny-necromancer]

Xavier puckered his lips at Jon. “Well we can’t all be dreamboats like you.”

He narrowed his eyes as three more people started to close in. Well wasn’t that problematic.

“Next time your impending doom is imminent I’ll be sure to tell you…” Ophie shot back dryly.

He rolled off Alexander in time to jerk out of the way of the axe being hurled at him. Gritting his teeth he realized with a start there was no room to get away. “Shit…”

Rhiatt stayed where he was, surveying the shop. It was barely standing as it was. He sighed, grabbing Wyatt by the hair. “I know you want to play but we do have a purpose today.” He met Ophie’s eyes for a long moment that made the Oracle freeze as he was bombarded with visions.

Wyatt growled under his breath, his focus moving towards Alexander then. “Not here.”

“Oh he’s here.” Rhiatt replied. He gave Wyatt a shove towards where the rest of them were surrounding Xavier. “Pivot though…”

Xypher continued his slow approach. A little smirk still remained on his lips from Cami’s parting statement.

He raised a brow at Xavier and his collection of pursuers. “T’sup?”

Despite his building panic, he managed a shrug. “Oh nothing much.”

Xypher continued on, heading for the actual threat. The magical energy that was building and swirling around the shop.

It coiled around the warlock by the door. Who only had eyes for Xypher now.

Ophie had curled up under the intensity of the vision. He made no noise but his back continued to spasm.

Watching him for a moment, Xypher’s lip curled. “Well now you’ve done it. You broke my oracle.”

Working on it, love.

Vexx replied as he hoisted Chance up and corralling them towards the opening behind them that Xypher left open.

He managed to get both teenagers through the opening to Cami, but Zander wasn’t budging, just watching the mayhem with terrified eyes.

Chance stiffened at the sight of yet another warlock he didn’t know. But recognized from Ivy’s memories. He pulled Ivy back with him. His legs jelly barely holding him up.

Rhiatt laughed, as he did the remaining windows shattered. And the lights went completely out, engulfing them all in darkness.

Chance and Zander both stiffened at the sound of the familiar voice. Though with Rowan's hand over his mouth, Zander barely made a peep.

Vexx inclined his head towards Xavier and casually stepped backwards into his veil, popping himself out of sight. "They're here..." He said lowly, his voice being masked by Xavier and Stryker's conversation. "Won't be long now."

Stryker was eyeing Xavier like a piece of salty meat. But Xavier carried on. "Jon man...you're looking a little rough there...you finally let ol Stryk give you head? It's that forked tongue though..." He shuddered. "Who is into that crazy ass stuff?" As Flex approached as well. Xavier kicked his legs. "Well look at this...the ol gang is back in town. What's up, pup?"

"It's the mouth that's the problem." Bramble muttered.

Xavier blew him a kiss. "Seems like an awful lot of trouble for one kid." He mused. "Though I guess I get it. He can't just you know...make another one. What with having to kill his first wife. Was she a wife? I don't even know. Zombie at this point I expect."

Fresh tears started to roll down Chance's cheeks and spilled over Zander's hand that covered his mouth. He knew his mother was dead. His father had killed her. But reanimated her? He just couldn't handle that.

Everything suddenly went silent. No more thunder, no more shaking, just nothing. With a split moment decision, Ophie shoved Alexander out of the way as the remains of the door splintered and shot forward.

Rhiatt's shadow became visible at first, but then his figure slowly materialized. The smile on his face was misleading as he was irate and impatient. "What's up guys?"

Wyatt sighed forlornly. "Well now look what you've done...." He gestured at the dusty mess that was now Ophie and Alexander. "You broke my toys."

"Sorry, love." Rhiatt said, even though he wasn't. As his eyes fell on Xavier, the smile completely disappeard.

Xypher and Cami finally arrived, coming up through the back of the shop. Because who in their right mind would come in through the front. "Hang back a sec...." He told Cami as he descended into the chaos.

"Heeeeey..." He greeted. "Would you look at this. A party. And here I am without my birthday hat."

Vexx considered their current placement. "Zander..." He asked. "Do you have a basement perhaps? I don't recommend we be up here when the whole place goes boom."

"But Ophie! Alexander! Xavier! We can't just leave them!" Zander cried.

[tiny-necromancer]

Chance and Zander both stiffened at the sound of the familiar voice. Though with Rowan's hand over his mouth, Zander barely made a peep.

Vexx inclined his head towards Xavier and casually stepped backwards into his veil, popping himself out of sight. "They're here..." He said lowly, his voice being masked by Xavier and Stryker's conversation. "Won't be long now."

Stryker was eyeing Xavier like a piece of salty meat. But Xavier carried on. "Jon man...you're looking a little rough there...you finally let ol Stryk give you head? It's that forked tongue though..." He shuddered. "Who is into that crazy ass stuff?" As Flex approached as well. Xavier kicked his legs. "Well look at this...the ol gang is back in town. What's up, pup?"

"It's the mouth that's the problem." Bramble muttered.

Xavier blew him a kiss. "Seems like an awful lot of trouble for one kid." He mused. "Though I guess I get it. He can't just you know...make another one. What with having to kill his first wife. Was she a wife? I don't even know. Zombie at this point I expect."

Fresh tears started to roll down Chance's cheeks and spilled over Zander's hand that covered his mouth. He knew his mother was dead. His father had killed her. But reanimated her? He just couldn't handle that.

Everything suddenly went silent. No more thunder, no more shaking, just nothing. With a split moment decision, Ophie shoved Alexander out of the way as the remains of the door splintered and shot forward.

Rhiatt's shadow became visible at first, but then his figure slowly materialized. The smile on his face was misleading as he was irate and impatient. "What's up guys?"

Wyatt sighed forlornly. "Well now look what you've done...." He gestured at the dusty mess that was now Ophie and Alexander. "You broke my toys."

"Sorry, love." Rhiatt said, even though he wasn't. As his eyes fell on Xavier, the smile completely disappeard.

Xypher and Cami finally arrived, coming up through the back of the shop. Because who in their right mind would come in through the front. "Hang back a sec...." He told Cami as he descended into the chaos.

"Heeeeey..." He greeted. "Would you look at this. A party. And here I am without my birthday hat."

Vexx considered their current placement. "Zander..." He asked. "Do you have a basement perhaps? I don't recommend we be up here when the whole place goes boom."

"But Ophie! Alexander! Xavier! We can't just leave them!" Zander cried.

Alexander laughed a bit, but the groan from Ophie wasn't lost on him in it all. He knew something, but that meant it was likely about to come to light. And he didn't think it had anything to do with the likes of the nephilim Ophie was dressing down with words then.

The comment towards Jon had gotten the desired reaction though, to be sure, and Alexander couldn't help but smirk. "Aw come on, everyone wants to know when they'll die, if not how. So you can make the most of what little time you have left," he replied in quasi-innocence, watching Jon still although tensing his grip on Ophie at the resulting threat from the nephilim. Stalling. They were stalling.

Jon growled at Stryker now. "You try having that fucker in your head and see how it sits with you, leech. You'd raise this place to the ground, and then where would we be?"

Rowan caught the signal from Vexx, slowly coaxing the three others back flush against the wall now, taking care to keep them within the barrier of Vexx's magic though. No sooner had he done so than his focus landed on the newcomer in the room. Xavier, sitting plainly atop the shop counter. Rowan's hand instinctively reached out to cover Zander's mouth, shooting him a knowing but pleading look. Of course it would be a shock, but they couldn't afford even a peep with the fae so close.

Ivy's head snapped up at the sound of Xavier's voice, at the man she knew from memories that were not her own. The one person Marcus might want more than Chance. And he knew that of himself. He was playing the game for them, even at the cost of himself. She didn't let go of Chance though as her memories fell away from her focus, and she turned back to him now to pull him into Zander's arms and hers all the further. Because she knew how painful this would be for her dad too. Impossibly painful and confusing.

[tiny-necromancer]

Chance kept a tight hold of Ivy. Letting her be the anchor for him. Though every move one of his pursuers made he felt in his body. Like some sort of attack. Pain. Even when they weren't touching him.

Zander pulled both of the children closer to him as the voices started to get closer to them. Vexx hadn't moved at all, hadn't even stiffened, just remained completely relaxed. Which helped Zander remain that way as well. He picked up his head when he heard the High Warlock speaking to one of them, then Alexander. "Oh golly..." He whispered, dropping his head on Ivy's.

Stryker ignored Jon, as he normally did. He ignored most everyone. Other than who gave him orders. Which changed from time to time. The disarming smile from the warlock made him pause and cock his head. "I know you..." He said, his tongue darting out to scent the air.

Vexx didn't even bat an eye. "Well I should hope you would." He brushed back a little imaginary hair off his shoulder. "I am quite memorable." He wasn't about to give them his title though. Because that would give away his power. Which could then give away the ones he was trying to protect.

Flex passed by them, wrinkling his nose a bit. "Stop flirting. We have a job to do."

"Am I a liar it it's true?" Ophie shot back at Alexander. He followed the movements of the shifters until one passed by the counter and he saw Zander's pendulum. They had a visitor, another one. He groaned a bit.

Distracted now, he turned back to the conversation at hand. "Oh...you mean this one?" He gestured at Wyatt. "Not much going on in there. Not since the demons got him. Future isn't that hard to figure out. Eventually even demonic energy wears off."

Wyatt squinted at him. "Does it?" His smile turned a little feral. "Better get my hits in while I can then." He hoisted the axe back up into his hands. "I hope you aren't too attached to your head."

When Jon's anger erupted, Chance shuddered. It did also attract Stryker's attention off Vexx. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Shut up."

With some of them distracted, and some not, Bramble decided to investigate the most suspicious one out of all of them. The warlock standing in the corner.

Vexx, upon seeing the fae approaching, used one hand to shoo Zander and the others back some more. Up until the point they were pressed to the wall. "Hi..." He greeted Bramble. "Come here often?"

"What are you doing back there?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at him.

The spinning pendulum finally stopped, clattering to the counter. There was a shimmer in the air as a curtain opened slowly to reveal Xavier, lounging on glass, between Vexx, those hidden and Bramble. "Always were so distracted by a pretty face..."

Everything and everyone froze at that. And turned to face Xavier who rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Oh come on...can't a guy come visit his family?"

Ivy rested her head atop Chance's, crying with him, crying for him. She cycled through more people, more memories. Cami and Jules. Abi and Jessie. Thaddeus and Des--of Des' memories of them too. How could things have turned so very dark in the span of a day? And yet she wouldn't trade it. What she already knew of Chance, she loved. It was as easy as breathing, and she was certain it would be that way even without their bond. It was how she was raised, to lead with love. And she did that. She took people into her heart, into her family. Chance was her brother now, and nothing--not even the danger--could make her regret that.

"Hard to get a word in with your fuck-ass thought process disturbing the peace," Jon shot back cooly, ignoring Stryker's pissing match of a comment. He didn't give a damn about the opinions of a glorified leech.

Alexander genuinely smiled at Vexx then, both grateful and admiring of his ease with playing into the situation and upholding the shield all the while. But thankfully even despite his own lack of amusement, Ophie decided to follow suit. The comment resulted in a pointed scoff from Alexander and a soft scowl in Ophie's direction. "Aw, now you just sound like a jealous liar."

He was about to speak up again, but stopped himself as one of the shifters moved forward to assess them. Their lack of fear. And then his mind drifted to quite how close the others would be to the back. Damn it, they might be fucked. He then very pointedly and nervously glanced at the stairs, hoping at least to divert focus to there as the potential hiding place. But he spoke as he did, responding to the nephilim. "Ophie here wouldn't really give out a reading for free--that's just bad business. Although I'm sure he could make an exception for the lot of you fine gentlemen?"

Alexander focused in on the last shifter who'd begun to approach the door to the back. He sent his magic out to him with the glance, linking into his memories with little to no effort. "Surely you'd be interested in that, Jon. Wouldn't want to unknowingly end up like Maurizio now, would you?"

Jon spun around as if he'd been struck, growling openly as he approached Alexander, eyes flashing a dangerous shade as his body began to shake. "You stay the fuck out of my head unless you'd like to be next on the chopping block!"

[tiny-necromancer]

Chance was shaking so hard he was sure that would at least be making noise. His bones. He felt the sold presence of arms around him. Which felt wrong some how. Very, very wrong. But he didn't have the energy or resolve to push them away.

"Shhhh...." Zander whispered against his hair. He gave Ivy an encouraging smile as she came to sit before them. He let go of Chance with one hand as Ivy took a firmer hold. Wrapping his fingers around Rowan's ankle he shut his own eyes.

Chance couldn't stop the silent tears, but as Ivy's hands took his he was able to take in a deep breath. The magic brushing over them drowned it out. The illusion? That had to be what it was. And a very strong one if his father's people couldn't see right through it. He wasn't able to follow that line of thought anymore though. Because the images of pain and fear were now combatting someone else. Someone's else memories. Ivy's memories.

He saw her, as a little girl. The man with Xavier's face. Only smiling. Xavier never smiled like that. Of the man that cursed him. Only, in her memory he wasn't nearly as scary. Then all the rest of them. There in the shop. With exception to the one shielding them. He silently sobbed, burying his face in Ivy's neck. Just praying. Not even sure who he was praying too.

Flex shot Jon a dirty look. "Well I don't see you being helpful."

"Neither of you are ever helpful." Stryker hissed, making his way further into the shop. Past where Wyatt stood. He came to a stop by the counter, and the warlock standing there.

"Well hello hot stuff." Vexx winked at him. "If you weren't so gosh darn evil I'd do you."

Stryker cocked his head, intrigued.

Ophie stumbled but then caught himself on Alexander. The stars behind his eyes knocking him off his game momentarily. "Ow..." He muttered, touching his jaw gingerly.

Vexx beamed back at Alexander. "Love you too, doll."

Rolling his eyes, Ophie glared between the two of them. He knew what Alexander was doing, but he was in far too bitter a mood for games. But, he played none the less. "Well...you do have cobwebs in your ears. I can see them from here."

Wyatt grinned an eerie little smile at them. "You are funny. Ain't they funny, Brambs?"

Bramble was not amused. "Can we just get this over with? Before Rhiatt takes out this whole block?"

There was another crack of thunder that shook the shop again in response.

Flex frowned then. "Something weird is going on in here." He moved closer towards Alexander and Ophie scenting the air. "No...not from them. I smell fear. Check the back."

Wyatt hummed in agreement. "Well then mates. Have at it then." He smiled back at Alexander and Ophie as the shifters panned out to search the shop. "It's funny." He said, dropping the axe down by his boot. "Well...dumb. But funny. That the kid ends up here. In a...psychic shop. Because wouldn't you lot just tell 'hm he's doomed to start?"

Ivy spoke in between Chance's pauses, listing off the abilities of each person he was sensing. "Netting vines magic... Viper hybrid... Panther shifter... timber wolf shifter..." She winced at the axe, but didn't speak again, focusing now on pulling Chance back under the veil of Vexx's magic. She was facing him, one finger gently pressed to his lips to try to signal to him to be quiet. But Vexx was right, he was nearly scalding to the touch. She knelt down in front of Zander and Chance accordingly as the ground shook with another lightning strike.

Rowan having moved to shield his body across the three just in case things went south. It might do all that much good, but it was instinctive. They were his family, and if they'd decided that that included the boy, then that was all it took for him to protect him too.

Ivy was unable to keep herself from shaking at the sight of Chance in such a state of distress. She moved to wrap her arms around him and Zander. The first thought might have been involuntary: a flash of Ivy hugging Desmond goodbye when they'd first met, and the way he'd given into reciprocating it after a moment. But then Ivy realized she could show Chance something else. Anything else to give him something to focus on.

She shifted her postion to grip his hands before allowing her magic to flow through them both, alternating between knowledge and memories of her childhood. All of the faces of people she loved. Happy memories and faces that she hoped Chance would get to know. She wanted that so badly for him.

Jon's eyes scanned over the room as much as its occupants. And the air reeked of fear... but not from the three people his gaze met. It was curious, and irritating, to be sure. But he wasn't perturbed enough yet to even flash a fang or talon in their direction. Their lead was right. They wouldn't be here otherwise. He rolled his eyes a bit at Flex's offered comments. "Real helpful."

Alexander hadn't moved from his spot even as the strangers advanced into the shop, just crossing his arms and looking on at the scene quite casually. It was Ophie's shop and they were vandalizing it, so obviously he had all reason to be the angered aggressor. That redirecting he'd been aiming for earlier.

But the suddenness of the root sprouting up and clocking Ophie in the jaw activated his reflexes, catching the other warlock easily before he fell back any further. He kept his hands on Ophie's shoulder and waist as he set him back upright, but his gaze remained on the nephilim that seemed to be leading the charge even as the fae who'd conjured the offending vine seemed to step forward. "Might have to be more specific. I mean, Vexx over here is certainly the most youthful looking out of the three of us, but he's older than dust," he replied calmly, shooting Vexx a wink as he did. "And I don't really think I'm a kid... What about you, Ophie? Do you think I look young today?"

[tiny-necromancer]

Chance was shaking so violently he could barely keep his hold on Ivy. Tears were streaming down his cheeks as he named each of his father’s people as they arrived. “Bramble…Stryker… Jon…Flex…” He paused momentarily. Until there was the thunk of an axe shoving through the door. “Wyatt.”

Zander caught Rowan’s arm with his free hand. His other on Ivy. Between the three of them they got Chance behind the veil.

Vexx’s hand clasped Chance’s shoulder as the illusion solidified around them. “He’s burning up.” He said offhandedly to Zander who was not tracking all that well currently.

Ophie twitched more at all the names. “And you just expect us too…”

“Stall.” Vexx replied making a shooing motion just as the door completely splintered.

Wyatt slid his axe backwards and back over his shoulder as he stepped inside, the three shifters behind him. The lights flickered again and he sucked his teeth. “Alright alright…”

Stryker came up beside him, glaring at the floor as it seemed to move under them. He stomped on it angrily, his forked tongue coming out in a hiss.

Ophie stepped away from Alexander to approach them. “We’re closed.”

The grin from Wyatt as he eyed the broken door was almost giddy. “Not anymore.”

The windows around them started to shake as another bolt of lightning hit full force.

Zander slid down to the floor, holding Chance against him, trying to keep him quiet.

Chance had let go of Ivy completely and was curled in on himself. Blood was dribbling down his chin from the force he was biting his lip to keep from screaming.

Vexx had to stay where he was to keep the illusion up. He was barely using any actual effort though. But if they started snooping around or the kid made a noise. They’d be in trouble.

“It’s quiet.” Flex offered, scenting the room. He could smell magic but not the source of it. There was another crash of thunder and he rolled his eyes. “Well it would be.”

Wyatt was smiling serenely at Ophie and Alexander. “Regardless of your openness. We’re just here for the kid. Word is he’s here.”

Ophie opened his mouth to make a comment back when a root suddenly shot up from the floor, clipped him in the face and sent him backwards into Alexander.

“Brambleeeeee.” Wyatt cooed.

Chance was beside himself with panic. If it wasn't for the pressure of Ivy's hand around his, he might have lost it completely. He could feel his father's anger sizzling in his veins threatening to burn him from the inside out. Which wasn't entirely out of the question anymore.

"You aren't fine." Zander told Ivy firmly. She was shaking. And he didn't know why other than she was gripping the other frightened teenager's hand. A teenager who grew paler by the second the longer he stared back at him.

"Not who...." Zander asked, starting to feel a little panicked himself.

"Thaddeus!" Magnus barked. "Calm down. I need to think."

"Calm down?" He snarled. "No. This is shit. This is fucking shit. He might not be pleading for your help but I am!" The pain in his eyes made Magnus pause momentarily. "Fuck all of you..." Thaddeus muttered before another portal appeared and he stalked right past Magnus and into it.

Vexx leaned back against the counter. "Well this is cluster."

Chance met Ivy's eyes then, seeing in her face that she wasn't lying to him. This wasn't Xavier even though he looked just like him. He was so confused and almost blinded by panic. But he managed to reach back out to the other warlock holding Ivy.

Magnus' attention turned from the pop of the closing portal towards Ivy. "Platonic?" He rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. "Well of course he is. Because why in the universe would anything ever be simple."

Zander pulled both teenagers with him towards the counter where his pendulum was spinning erratically. It didn't make any sense. The last charm he used on it was to track Xavier. It never did this before.

"It's too late..." Chance whimpered as the whole shop shook. nearly knocking all of them off their feet. The ground started to shift underfoot. "Oh no..."

Magnus was busy arguing with Vexx. "Well do something useful for a change! Call Xypher." His eyes were glowing amber as he took in the lot of them. "Well....hide!" He shouted before opening his own portal and darting through it intent on following Thaddeus.

The lights above them starting flickering. The rising panic in Chance only intensified. He clutched tighter to Ivy unable to stop trembling. "It's Rhiatt..."

Zander glanced around with wide eyes. "Ophie...." He called out uneasily. "Oh golly we have a problem."

Ophie finally stepped into the shop. "Of course we do!" He snapped. "Thaddeus brought us the spawn of Satan. Then took off again. Magnus suddenly decided to jump ship, leaving us with Ken doll over here. We have no portal, or offensive magic we are properly fucked."

Chance recoiled into Ivy at the new warlock's anger, that seemed to be directed at him. "I'm sorry..." He whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"Ophien." Zander said, pulling Chance a little closer to him. "Being angry is not helpful right now."

"No. But it makes me feel better." He retorted.

Vexx had been ignoring them all to text with Xypher. Amusement despite the situation plain on his face. "Calm calm." He said, stuffing his phone back in his pocket. "Help is on the way. We just need to stall him. Or them. Or whatever." He twirled his hand dismissably. It didn't really matter. Or wouldn't matter. "Zander...you and the children...please?" He extended a hand to them as a shimmering curtain appeared and started to spread. "You..." He regarded Ophie and Alexander. "Do what you do best and distract them."

[tiny-necromancer]

Chance was beside himself with panic. If it wasn't for the pressure of Ivy's hand around his, he might have lost it completely. He could feel his father's anger sizzling in his veins threatening to burn him from the inside out. Which wasn't entirely out of the question anymore.

"You aren't fine." Zander told Ivy firmly. She was shaking. And he didn't know why other than she was gripping the other frightened teenager's hand. A teenager who grew paler by the second the longer he stared back at him.

"Not who...." Zander asked, starting to feel a little panicked himself.

"Thaddeus!" Magnus barked. "Calm down. I need to think."

"Calm down?" He snarled. "No. This is shit. This is fucking shit. He might not be pleading for your help but I am!" The pain in his eyes made Magnus pause momentarily. "Fuck all of you..." Thaddeus muttered before another portal appeared and he stalked right past Magnus and into it.

Vexx leaned back against the counter. "Well this is cluster."

Chance met Ivy's eyes then, seeing in her face that she wasn't lying to him. This wasn't Xavier even though he looked just like him. He was so confused and almost blinded by panic. But he managed to reach back out to the other warlock holding Ivy.

Magnus' attention turned from the pop of the closing portal towards Ivy. "Platonic?" He rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. "Well of course he is. Because why in the universe would anything ever be simple."

Zander pulled both teenagers with him towards the counter where his pendulum was spinning erratically. It didn't make any sense. The last charm he used on it was to track Xavier. It never did this before.

"It's too late..." Chance whimpered as the whole shop shook. nearly knocking all of them off their feet. The ground started to shift underfoot. "Oh no..."

Magnus was busy arguing with Vexx. "Well do something useful for a change! Call Xypher." His eyes were glowing amber as he took in the lot of them. "Well....hide!" He shouted before opening his own portal and darting through it intent on following Thaddeus.

The lights above them starting flickering. The rising panic in Chance only intensified. He clutched tighter to Ivy unable to stop trembling. "It's Rhiatt..."

Zander glanced around with wide eyes. "Ophie...." He called out uneasily. "Oh golly we have a problem."

Ophie finally stepped into the shop. "Of course we do!" He snapped. "Thaddeus brought us the spawn of Satan. Then took off again. Magnus suddenly decided to jump ship, leaving us with Ken doll over here. We have no portal, or offensive magic we are properly fucked."

Chance recoiled into Ivy at the new warlock's anger, that seemed to be directed at him. "I'm sorry..." He whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"Ophien." Zander said, pulling Chance a little closer to him. "Being angry is not helpful right now."

"No. But it makes me feel better." He retorted.

Vexx had been ignoring them all to text with Xypher. Amusement despite the situation plain on his face. "Calm calm." He said, stuffing his phone back in his pocket. "Help is on the way. We just need to stall him. Or them. Or whatever." He twirled his hand dismissably. It didn't really matter. Or wouldn't matter. "Zander...you and the children...please?" He extended a hand to them as a shimmering curtain appeared and started to spread. "You..." He regarded Ophie and Alexander. "Do what you do best and distract them."

Ivy barely seemed to register that they were in the shop, let alone that her dad was speaking. She was instead looking back in the direction of the portal with silent tears rolling down her cheeks. But she came back into herself as she felt her arms being removing Chance from her hold. She flinched, tensing her grip on him before she realized it was Zander shifting her about. They were safe... for now, they were safe. She relaxed herself just a bit, but moved her wrist that Chance still held so that she could lace her fingers through his. He'd be terrified for a million more reasons than she would right now, and she wouldn't leave him alone in that.

She was trying to focus on the conversation unfolding in front of them, but Zander's cooing and preening was hard for her to get a word in over. "Dad, I'm fine," she repeated, though he didn't quite seem satisfied with her assessment on its own.

At the sound of Vexx saying her name, she tried to cut in again, but Thaddeus was on rather a tirade, and she might as well have not been there at all. She was struggling to pick what to focus on--the boy whose hand she still held, her very worried father, her bond with Desmond, and this conversation turned argument. And it was brewing into a rather loud cacophony of emotion and information.

But as Zander and Magnus seemed to put Chance under their collective microscope of inspection, Ivy found herself moving closer to his side again, squeezing his hand in hers. "He's not hurt," she explained after he trailed off. "But--" Her words were cut off by her dad embracing her again. And normally she'd love nothing more, but right now it was neither tonic nor comfort. She was just as panicked as Thaddeus.

She gently pushed against Zander's hold with her spare hand, repeating again that she was fine and she wasn't hurt. But clearly nobody was listening to her over the din of their own arguments and worries. It was only after Chance spoke again that she became aware of the confusion on his face, and the way he was looking at Zander. She squeezed his hand again, trying to get his attention. "It's not him," she whispered, her expression now an attempt to say that she would explain everything later. But for now she was overdue a near Ophie level anger.

"Desmond is my platonic," Ivy called out, knowing that only Thaddeus would know that out of the room's current occupants. "He's a good person. He doesn't want any of this." She was looking at Magnus pleadingly then. "He doesn't deserve any of this. It's my fault that they came to the pier... please. Please save him."

She pulled Chance a bit closer to her and Zander then. "They'll come for Chance. And they'll know where he is soon. We don't have much time." She looked up at her dad then. "Cami can help, can't she? She could try?"

Alexander and Ophie could hear the yelling from upstairs, though neither really seemed to rush downstairs even given the clear few phrases that they could catch. But they did both linger on the back stairs as Ivy spoke up, catching further details of the unfolding situation.

He cast Ophie a wary glance as they stepped into the room, but didn't speak as of yet, just taking in the room's occupants and their mix of fear, distress, amusement, and curiosity.

[tiny-necromancer]

Coal caught Chance's eye again as he moved forward. "C'mon kitten...you know the drill. Come to me...or I'll come get you. Right?"

"I do hope you clipped your claws this time, Coal. I am fairly certain the master would not like to receive his...goods back full of holes."

Chance caught hold of one of Ivy's wrists holding her with him. He took a cautious step backwards, hoping to not be knocking them both into the water. But...choices were slim to none at this point and maybe drowning wouldn't be such a bad choice anymore.

Coal muttered something unintelligible at Cade. The spark of irritation in his eyes was the very reason Chance didn't want him getting anywhere near either of them.

As the shifter went to move closer there was a loud POP and CRACK as a portal suddenly appeared in the space between them.

Thaddeus popped his out to glance around at the mostly unfamiliar faces. Then the kiddos. "Damn I'm good." He said with a fresh dose of smug satisfaction. Glancing behind him, he jerked his chin at Desmond. "You out....squirt and squirt x2 lets go."

At the sight of Desmond, Marcus curled his lip. "Ah...Mr. Squall I presume?"

Thaddeus gave Desmond's rump a smack out of the way of the portal. "You..." He pointed at Marcus. "Imma have words with you. But not right now." He glared back at the shellshocked teenagers. Rolling his eyes he muttered off colorful curse.

Marcus raised a brow. "Words you say?" His lip ever so slightly upturned at the idea. He cast a suffering sort of look at Desmond. "He's cute."

Coal went to take another step forward but Thaddeus' head snapped back into his direction. "You!" He pointed. "Stay." Because you know....Thaddeus had some sort of authority for that to happen. "Lots of words." He growled back at Marcus.

Chance was frozen in place. He recognized Desmond, but not the other warlock. He could only assume that would be Thaddeus. And as amusing as it was to see someone so small so utterly dismissive of his father, he could only gape.

Cade stayed by Marcus, watching the whole thing unfold. But his attention was for Thaddeus. Who was showing absolutely no fear. Not even a glimmer that his power could tug on. "What are you?" He asked, though more to himself than anyone else.

Thaddeus really wanted to just unleash fury on the whole bunch of assholes. He cast one last meaningful look at Desmond that clearly meant, 'Don't you dare die.' Before grabbing the closest kiddo by the arm and hurling them both through the portal and ducking inside after them before all hell broke loose.

"Oh you do..." He said raising a brow. He shared a glance with Chance.

That glanced turned Chance's blood to ice. Front two different things, his own fear and his father's current temperament. Which was definitely not good.

"She's just a dumb girl!" Chance tried again, forcing himself to hold onto her rather for her own safety than his. "Of course she feels affection."

Marcus hummed, holding Chance's eyes. "A dumb girl. Funny. She seems to be far more than that." A lifetime of pain shared in their eyes between them. "Affection is an interesting thing. I would argue it makes one weak. Desmond...for example. His affection has hardly served him in the end. I did try to rid you of that silly sentimentality." He sighed, attempting to sound like he cared one way or another. "But yes. The girl does seem to carry quite a lot of it."

The air around them seemed to thicken as two more joined them. On instinct Chance shoved Ivy behind him, breaking her hold on him. "No! Not her. She doesn't know any better! Please..."

"There's that damned word again." Marcus tsked. He inclined his head to one of the others that joined them. "Coal..." He purred as the shifter stepped around from behind him. "Do go fetch Chance for me. He seems to have amnesia again. We do need to fix that."

"Sure." He replied to the order, obviously quite pleased. "Come on kitten...let's let the adults talk, mm?"

Chance met Coal's eyes and stiffened again. But still...he tried. "She doesn't know anything! Surely she's more use to you alive then dead!"

Marcus' lips twitched a bit as Cade came up on his other side. "Oh I never said dead did I?" He asked the other warlock.

Cade shrugged. "Well...she'll likely wish she were at any rate."

[tiny-necromancer]

"Oh you do..." He said raising a brow. He shared a glance with Chance.

That glanced turned Chance's blood to ice. Front two different things, his own fear and his father's current temperament. Which was definitely not good.

"She's just a dumb girl!" Chance tried again, forcing himself to hold onto her rather for her own safety than his. "Of course she feels affection."

Marcus hummed, holding Chance's eyes. "A dumb girl. Funny. She seems to be far more than that." A lifetime of pain shared in their eyes between them. "Affection is an interesting thing. I would argue it makes one weak. Desmond...for example. His affection has hardly served him in the end. I did try to rid you of that silly sentimentality." He sighed, attempting to sound like he cared one way or another. "But yes. The girl does seem to carry quite a lot of it."

The air around them seemed to thicken as two more joined them. On instinct Chance shoved Ivy behind him, breaking her hold on him. "No! Not her. She doesn't know any better! Please..."

"There's that damned word again." Marcus tsked. He inclined his head to one of the others that joined them. "Coal..." He purred as the shifter stepped around from behind him. "Do go fetch Chance for me. He seems to have amnesia again. We do need to fix that."

"Sure." He replied to the order, obviously quite pleased. "Come on kitten...let's let the adults talk, mm?"

Chance met Coal's eyes and stiffened again. But still...he tried. "She doesn't know anything! Surely she's more use to you alive then dead!"

Marcus' lips twitched a bit as Cade came up on his other side. "Oh I never said dead did I?" He asked the other warlock.

Cade shrugged. "Well...she'll likely wish she were at any rate."

"Not everyone sees them as empty. I don't, so it isn't," Ivy retorted, knowing well enough that she was only adding to the flames of Marcus' anger. But she wanted Chance to hear this, if nothing else. She needed him to see that he didn't have to be alone.

At the feeling of him tensing again, she tightened her own hold around Chance, willing herself to hold still. In truth, each second she held Marcus' gaze made her feel like she was one step closer to her grave... and she couldn't quite tell if it would be in a literal sense.

She held her tongue then, at least initially. Because he was talking through details he would have long since gathered for himself. The only new detail would be her connection to Desmond, as that itself was very new. But even if Thaddeus was already known, she wouldn't set him on the pyre to save herself harm.

Ivy lifted her chin a bit, even such a small action would go against her better judgement in different circumstances. "You're asking questions you already know the answer to, so I don't see why you need my help in confirming or denying," she pointed out, her tone rather unlike her in its firmness. "I can't create a portal. And nobody is here with me to do so. That's the point I was making."

"Desmond told you the truth, for what it's worth. He did have only one tie until now." It would be easily gathered, and better to be uncovered now rather than by means of torturing Des later... or at least she hoped to spare him that. "He knows loyalty better than anyone."

[tiny-necromancer]

Chance's grip on her became tighter the closer his father stepped. Of course she had to go and make all of this worse by taunting him. "Be quiet." He hissed to her. As if that would do them either any good at this point.

At the brave...but very foolish taunt, Marcus laughed. Though not an amused one. "Ah...but hugs are a mere illusion. Aren't they? A empty declaration of affection? And who here has such a thing? Certainly not Chance."

Chance finally dared to glare at him. "Father, please."

Marcus' dark amusement only intensified, but he didn't move any closer to them. "Chance....what do we say about the word 'please?'"

The question made Chance shudder as he realized it was the entirely wrong word to use. But Marcus' attention wasn't on him anymore.

"Interesting you speak of your access to a portal?" He asked, raising a brow. "Don't you though? Especially with tossing Desmond's name around so flimsily as you are. Family...did you say? And here I thought he only had one tie in Chicago. He's been holding out on me. Shame on him. Now...step away from the boy. I grow tired of your stupidity."

"She doesn't!" Chance retorted. "Just because she has access to Desmond doesn't mean anything." He was pulling at straws. He didn't have any idea of what her ties to Desmond were.

"Doesn't it though?" Marcus mused, taking on his best lecturing tone. "What is the one and only thing Desmond cares anything about? Certainly not loyalty. Not to any of us. But his portal hopper? Certainly so. Isn't that right, poppet?"

"I can't!" Ivy wanted so desperately for him to understand. She knew so much now, and it was because of that that she was running into the fray for Chance and Desmond. She couldn't possibly run away and leave them to a danger that she knew all too well now. "Chance, please just--"

Ivy's words were cut off by a voice she both dreaded and expected, but she didn't move from her spot even as her eyes met Marcus' now. "What harm can hugging him do?" She countered, holding Chance still as she stared down his father. "I'm not going anywhere with him, am I? I can't teleport, and you know it."

[tiny-necromancer]

"But you have to!" Chance pleading know it was too late. Even if he got away from her, his father saw her face. Knew what she'd done. And that voice was laughing in his head. There was nothing he could do. There was nothing he could ever do. "Take Desmond and go..." He sobbed even as she hugged him.

"Well...now that's just darling." Marcus said as he stopped into the scene.

Chance immediately stiffened as the sound of his voice. He caught onto the girl's elbows as if holding onto her would save her.

"Young lady..." Marcus tsked. "I'm going to have to ask you to stop that right now. He's not for you. He's mine."

Ivy shook her head, not moving an inch further from him. "I'm not running... I wouldn't--"

Her lip trembled a bit at the way that Chance seemed to crumble in front of her. And she was powerless to help, which only broke her heart in turn. Of course her actions only magnified the danger she was in, but she couldn't help any of it. He needed to be protected. He needed to be love. And Ivy made it her mission.

When he started to sob, she darted forward to close the distance between them, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. It didn't matter if he didn't know her. She knew him, and she knew he was good. And she wanted to at least try to steady him. "Because Des wouldn't leave you behind. And that means I wouldn't either," she whispered.

[tiny-necromancer]

He recoiled even more at Desmond’s name. But when she touched him he knew what happened. What she was.

He choked on a sob as he continued to stagger away. “No… you really… you really have to run. I can’t-“

A voice purred through him, making him shudder. He squeezed his eyes closed as if that could stop his father from seeing.

Chicago has so many interesting people.

Chance openly sobbed then, digging the heels into his eyes. “Why…” he whimpered. “Why won’t any of you listen to me.”

Ivy felt a sort of jolt run up her spine as he turned to look at her, and not just from his words. Chance Meyers. The face and name, the knowledge and memories through Desmond's eyes now flashed across her recollection. She was all too certain her expression showed some level of recognition, although more than anything she felt concerned for him given what she knew. "My family isn't really the sort to run from trouble. We hold our ground for each other." Though they hadn't faced anything like this in her lifetime, heaven knew. She moved closer to Chance, slowly though. "And I have to believe that we could end up okay. I have to hope." She kneeled down next to him now, unable to help the slight frown that tugged at her lips. His fear, his guilt, his sadness seemed to grip the space between them. And she wanted to fix it somehow, to take it away. Desmond's feelings towards Chance seemed to color Ivy's in that instinctual way through their bond. And she took a chance then, likely one she shouldn't have, but she couldn't keep herself from doing so. "I have hope for you too, Chance."

[tiny-necromancer]

At the look of recognition that passed across her face, Chance stiffened. Had he said too much? The desperate need to flee only intensified as she got closer to him. But he couldn't let her believe that was a good idea. What she was thinking. "You would end up dead." He replied. "And then...reanimated. Is that the lives you want? Or the unlives?"

He sucked in a breath when she said his name. And he knew. He was so screwed. His wide, frightened eyes met hers for a moment before self preservation kicked in and he scrambled to his feet intent of running.

Ivy felt a sort of jolt run up her spine as he turned to look at her, and not just from his words. Chance Meyers. The face and name, the knowledge and memories through Desmond's eyes now flashed across her recollection. She was all too certain her expression showed some level of recognition, although more than anything she felt concerned for him given what she knew. "My family isn't really the sort to run from trouble. We hold our ground for each other." Though they hadn't faced anything like this in her lifetime, heaven knew. She moved closer to Chance, slowly though. "And I have to believe that we could end up okay. I have to hope." She kneeled down next to him now, unable to help the slight frown that tugged at her lips. His fear, his guilt, his sadness seemed to grip the space between them. And she wanted to fix it somehow, to take it away. Desmond's feelings towards Chance seemed to color Ivy's in that instinctual way through their bond. And she took a chance then, likely one she shouldn't have, but she couldn't keep herself from doing so. "I have hope for you too, Chance."