LADY EMILY

by Evgeniya

"Body and Mind."

The words were weightless in the air. They flowed from Kevin's lips and were carried away by smoke from a lit candle. Every syllable he uttered was followed by a strange echo as if they were spoken by something unearthly, and not some young tanned blond. The words instantly surrounded Kevin and shook the small beach house from its foundation.

"I fold myself into you," Kevin continued as he brutally clutched the ceremonial bowl in his lap. "Reveal yourself to me."

Taking a deep breath, Kevin closed his eyes and waited for Tresum to work its magic. While he had no proof, he still believed that the tighter he squeezed his eyes shut, the quicker his visions would appear. If he had to, he would squeeze his eyes until they bled. He was only seconds away from finding out if his theory was true.

But suddenly Kevin felt his wrist pulled back and jerked high up in the air. As he was forced to stand, he lost his grip on the bowl.

"No!" Kevin willed and his eyes flew to the floor to make sure the bowl did not crack. Luckily, the vessel remained intact. It landed on its side with the smoke slowly fading into the air.

Kevin would have sighed in relief, but he briefly caught sight of Ambrosius's angry face over his shoulder. However, he didn't catch it soon enough because he was instantly hauled into the kitchen and bent over the counter.

"Bro!" Kevin tried to argue, but he was already pressed tight against the countertop. He couldn't push free from beneath Ambrosius's hold.

Kevin grunted at first. Ambrosius's hand was too heavy on his back. Kevin's backside was thrust forward in that familiar position that never failed to make his face redden. So, the blond continued his protests through short, jerky gasps of frustration.

Naturally, Ambrosius didn't let another second pass by before he swatted the blond's upturned backside.

Kevin's body jerked at the sudden sting. His curse words were immediately cut off by the next swats. He quickly learned that his swim trunks were meager protection against the warlock's determined swats. Each blow made him hop from foot to foot. The smacks were agonizing enough, but the next one sent him up on his toes with a shout.

Fortunately, that would be the last. Just ten burning swats and the spanking was done. It was enough to leave Kevin breathless, but as soon as he felt Ambrosius step aside, he simply stood up, rubbed at the sting, and wondered why he was let off so easy.

But Kevin got his answer as soon as he turned around and saw Ambrosius gripping the bowl. In his tight grasp, the bowl shattered in his hands.

"NO!" Kevin called out, but it was too late. The ceremonial bowl was now broken fragments that clattered when they hit the kitchen tiles.

Kevin slumped against the counter. The pain from his short spanking was momentarily forgotten, but he kept his eyes lowered to the floor. He didn't see Ambrosius leave the room, but he could hear his footsteps become faint. Once he was sure the warlock was gone, he knelt down on the floor and began gathering the pieces.

In his desperation to collect every piece, Kevin didn't hear when Ambrosius returned. A tube of cement glue was shoved at his face.

Kevin groaned. Defeated, he threw the ceramic pieces back to the floor. He wouldn't accept Ambrosius's challenge. If Bro was helping him glue the pieces together, it was only because he knew all the magic in it was already destroyed. Cement glue can hold the bowl together, but magic can never be fixed that easily.

"I didn't think you'd be back so soon," Kevin said casually as he stood up and brushed off some ceramic dust from his knees. When the dull pain in his backside suddenly pushed itself to the forefront of his mind, he started to rub again.

Ambrosius exhaled harshly. "Apparently."

It was just one word, but it was weighted with steel. Bro knew Kevin could never offer an acceptable excuse.

"I'm sorry, alright!" the blond insisted.

"You know better than to attempt magic without me," Ambrosius scolded. Then he turned away and muttered over his shoulder, "It puts me in a bad mood."

Kevin raced before Ambrosius and gripped him by both his shoulders. "I'm sorry, okay? Completely and sincerely sorry! What more can I say?"

Ambrosius studied Kevin for a moment. His face was still flushed from the swift spanking. The boy was certainly sorry now, but only because he was caught. Kevin still thought there was a way to bring Toby back and Bro was beginning to realize how impossible it was to compete with a dead man.

So, Ambrosius just sighed. It seemed like a fact he was going to have to learn to live with if he wanted to keep Kevin.

"What am I going to do with you?" he whispered distractedly as he brushed back the blond's hair.

It was a question Ambrosius pondered a lot. Kevin still wanted to harness the power of Tresum for his own use instead of honoring the dark magic of the island.

But Tresum was not a toy to be played with. It was a mysterious energy responsible for all the twists and turns in the universe.

Unfortunately, Kevin was always good at distracting him from the larger questions. The blond pressed his face against Bro's neck and began kissing the place where his skin was most sensitive.

"You could always send me away," Kevin murmured teasingly against Bro's skin, "but I know you don't want to do that."

Ambrosius moaned as the hot wetness of Kevin's mouth worked its way along his jaw. No – he absolutely could not send Kevin away. They were destined to share the dark spoils of Tresum together and he was determined to see that through. He just wished Kevin would be a more obedient aspirant until the time came.

While Ambrosius hated to push that warm, pink mouth away from his lips, now was as good a time as any to test his aspirant's obedience.

"Clean up that mess," Bro ordered as he shoved Kevin back a step. He was pleased with the shocked expression on the boy's face.

"Are you kidding me?" Kevin shortly burst into laughter. He was in the middle of lathering Bro up with his tongue. As far as he was concerned, the mess could wait. Unfortunately, he took one look at Ambrosius's eyes and realized that the warlock was serious. However, Kevin quickly decided that he could not yield to that smug look just yet.

"You created that mess!" Kevin pointed out as he continued to laugh. "That's all you. I wanted to keep that bowl! I would have returned it all nice and snug on the mantel."

"So you can continue to perform magic without me," Ambrosius accused casually. He instantly noticed that Kevin's soft laughter was having an effect on him. So much so that he could not scold the boy appropriately. Bro had to remind himself to remain stern, so he cleared his throat and demanded more forcefully, "You are the aspirant! Do. As. You're. Told."

Kevin stopped smiling so he could think it over for a moment. But as he did so, he reached up and wiped the moisture from Bro's neck. His smile instantly returned because he enjoyed the way this big, bad warlock responded to his touch. Ambrosius could pretend that he was all evil, but he still had the same weaknesses as any mortal man.

"But then I have to lug out the broom and dust pan," the blond pouted then smirked as he continued rubbing Bro's skin. "I like watching you work your magic. You're so exceptional at it."

Ambrosius moaned. The blond's arm was wrapped around his neck now and shoving his face closer. He felt Kevin's every breath on his skin. Bro finally conceded that he was the powerful warlock that Kevin admired. If the boy wanted to see a trick, then he shall have his wish.

"Alright, Kevin," Ambrosius relented. "Watch and learn how a proper warlock cleans up a mess."

Bro proudly slung his arm around Kevin's shoulders. With a wave of his hand, the bits and pieces of the bowl slowly levitated from the ground. Soon, they were tossed into the air and landed inside the garbage bin.

Ambrosius was smirking, eager to earn Kevin's praise, but the blond was distracted by something else.

"What's that?"

Kevin had been watching the mess levitate from the floor, but he happened to notice something across from them. A letter had been slipped underneath the front door. It looked important.

Kevin retrieved the letter and held it out to Ambrosius. Bro recognized the wax seal, so he wasn't as impressed.

"It's from the Tresum Council," Bro informed as he took the letter from Kevin's hands.

"Council?"

"Organized magic. It's of no use to us." That's all the explanation Bro would give. He quickly tore up the letter and scattered it on top of the counter.

"Wait!" Kevin shouted. "If there are more Tresum warlocks, we could—"

Kevin quickly bit his tongue. He thought Tresum was exclusive to Dante's Cove. If there were more Sun warlocks out there, their power could only be stronger when combined. However, Kevin knew Ambrosius wasn't interested in saving Toby. That was why he couldn't finish his impulsive thought.

Of course, Ambrosius knew what he was thinking, so he scowled.

"An avatar's power is only increased by his aspirant!" Ambrosius maintained fiercely. There was no need for Kevin to look for anyone else. Ever.

"I know!" Kevin insisted and threw his hands in the air. He would have just walked away from the conversation, but there was a knock at the door.

"Don't!" Ambrosius instantly warned, but the stubborn blond opened it anyways.

There weren't too many visitors at Sunset Point and Kevin didn't have many friends left on the island, so he was always eager for whatever company came their way.

He was surprised to see Griffen. Sure, they met once when they battled the House of Shadows, but Kevin was knocked out cold and couldn't remember all the details. He only knew what Ambrosius had told him.

"Good morning," Griffen greeted. He didn't wait for Kevin to reply. He just pushed passed him and headed for Ambrosius.

"Come on in…" Kevin muttered with a roll of his eyes and trailed after their unannounced guest.

"You remember Griffen," Bro said to Kevin with a frown.

"Whatever," Kevin mumbled and went to stand beside Ambrosius. He looked just as uninterested as his warlock lover.

"Ambrosius," Griff acknowledged with a polite nod. "I see you've received my invitation," he said as he eyed the torn pieces of paper in front of Bro. He then offered the other man a knowing grin.

The letter was obviously enhanced with Tresum magic. Griffen would have instantly known if it were read or destroyed.

"I haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet," Bro responded. He made a show of ripping the shards into smaller pieces, his eyes daring Griffen to react.

"Perhaps we can speak in private?" Griff asked pleasantly enough.

"Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of Kevin."

To prove his point, he wrapped his arm around Kevin's neck and pulled him close. He then began caressing the young blond's face in an oddly possessive manner. He wasn't letting Kevin go anywhere.

Griffen wasn't impressed by the scene. He just cleared his throat. "The only aspirants I deal with are my own. Unless, you're offering a trade?"

"Kevin stays!" Bro demanded firmly.

Kevin fought the urge to roll his eyes, but eventually lost. He knew this was some sort of pissing match and he was stuck in the middle. Bro would never back down.

"You brought the Sun House back to the Cove," Griffen reminded swiftly. "You are responsible for its survival."

"I have my aspirant. There is nothing else to be said. Be gone."

"You are supposed to initiate the age of the Sky House, not lollygagging with some blond twink."

Ambrosius felt Kevin twist uncomfortably in his hold. He managed to restrain his own disapproving growl, but only because he knew it was awkward for Kevin to stand still and silent while they talked about him as if he wasn't there.

However, he didn't want Griffen to see even the slightest sign of defiance by his aspirant and he knew that Kevin could only curb his tongue for so long.

"You've had a rough morning," Bro whispered hoarsely into Kevin's ear. Then he ordered, "Go lie down."

"Gladly," Kevin sighed. He eyed Griffen guardedly before he leaned in and kissed Ambrosius. He squeezed the warlock's shoulder for a moment then left.

Bro watched Kevin as he walked away and marveled at the unexpected kiss that still lingered on his lips. It wasn't like Kevin to be affectionate and follow orders. If anything, he used affection to postpone the latter.

"Shouldn't Kevin be an ascendant by now?"

Bro's lips thinned. It was perfectly fitting for Griffen to interrupt his pleasant thoughts with a highly accusatory remark.

"We move at Kevin's pace," Bro explained through tightly gritted teeth. Their progress was slow but only because Kevin had a remarkable taste for power. Because of that, Bro would only feed Kevin so much information at a time.

Of course, he would never admit that to Griff, but there was very little that the master warlock did not know already.

"Uh, huh."

Bro glowered. He knew exactly what the other man was implying and he regretted ever confiding in Griffen in the past. "Kevin hasn't been draining my power again, if that's what you think."

"It's a struggle to keep the world in balance," Griff announced as he maintained full eye contact with Bro. "Tresum needs to return to a normal cycle or the entire universe will be in permanent disrepair. It's bad enough we have to work around your and Grace's rogue magic, but now we have a dimwitted aspirant running around and practicing irresponsible magic."

Ambrosius's face twisted into an offended scowl. He knew his aspirant's behavior was a reflection upon himself, but Kevin was still flawless in his eyes and no self-proclaimed council was going to tell him otherwise.

"Kevin hasn't been calling upon Tresum," Bro swore. "You have my word on that."

Griffen inhaled sharply. He was almost in disbelief that Bro would lie to him about something that was so painfully obvious. "You may think that you're protecting Kevin, but you're not."

"Go!" Ambrosius growled. He still wanted to believe that he was fully capable of controlling and protecting his aspirant.

Griff considered Ambrosius for a moment. "You swore your life to serve Tresum," he tried to remind the other warlock, but with the expression that Bro shot him, it was fair to say that he didn't care. So, Griff made the difficult decision to back down.

"I will go," Griff conceded. "But I will drop by from time to time."

Ambrosius met Griffen's dare with a stony stare. However, it had no effect on Griff because he just faded away and vacated the lone beach house.

"Fucking bureaucrats," Ambrosius mumbled darkly. Then he went to go find Kevin. The day had barely begun and he was already exhausted. Keeping the boy close was the only thing that could lift his spirits.

Ambrosius found Kevin in the bedroom, lounging in a plush chair and listening to something Bro had once heard him refer to as an ipod. Bro stomped up to him and pulled the ear buds away.

"I thought I told you to lie down," Ambrosius grumbled and eyed the still neatly made bed.

Kevin pulled a face. He didn't think it was that big a deal. "Yeah, but I thought you and Griff could use some privacy."

Ambrosius raised an eyebrow, but he supposed it was better that Kevin didn't listen in on his conversation. It would have only made him more willful.

"Your consideration is noted," Bro said because that was as close as he could get to saying thank you. "I am heading down to the club. I would like you to come."

The boy shrugged off the invitation. "I'm cool here."

Ambrosius frowned as Kevin returned to playing with his ipod. The blond was certainly making it difficult to spend any time with him.

"That wasn't a request," Ambrosius growled and then headed towards the dresser. He wanted Kevin to wear something more than just his swim shorts to the club, so he grabbed what he remembered was Kevin's favorite pair of jeans. As he yanked the denim from the drawer, he felt something drop.

Ambrosius bent down to retrieve the item that fell to the floor. It looked like a wallet, but Kevin had no need to carry money around now that he was always with Bro.

Kevin watched Ambrosius carefully. "They're family portraits," he explained with some hesitation when he saw what the warlock was playing with.

Ambrosius's eyes immediately narrowed in offense. Something about that explanation just didn't ring true. The blond hated his family. Bro felt his pain and sadness whenever he tapped into his memories. Any memories Kevin had of his family were tainted with abuse and despair. Ambrosius didn't want that energy around the boy, so he impatiently flipped through the wallet.

Surprisingly, the first photo raised a smug smile on the warlock's face. Kevin didn't mean family in the traditional sense. The boy chose to surround himself with photographs of his friends.

The first one was of Grace's adorable little fledging. That's why Ambrosius was smiling. Like the fool she was, Grace waited 200 years for a student to finally appear to her. Van was gone now and once again Grace was all alone. Ambrosius was almost tempted to give a little prayer of thanks to Tresum for playing such a perfectly cruel joke on his ex-fiancé.

The next photos were not as pleasing, but at least acceptable. Ambrosius's scowl almost returned when he came to Adam because it was unsettling to think that Kevin could ever be friends with such a ne'er-do-well. However, the boy's taste in friends had greatly improved since he became Bro's aspirant. Kevin no longer had any time for such riffraff. He and Bro now spent all of their time together. There was room for no one else.

Ambrosius admired a few snapshots of Kevin alone. Whoever had taken those photos managed to capture a happiness in Kevin's eyes that Bro had yet to elicit - not with any sincerity anyways.

However, he vowed he would make that happen.

The next photo was also all smiles, but it was of Toby and his grandfather. Then there were more photos of Toby and his family – so many faces of people Bro knew Kevin had never met. One look at Kevin's dirty, ratty ex-boyfriend and Ambrosius's fingers clenched around the photos until he formed a fist and all the pictures fell to the floor. The ground was tiled in a mess of bright white smiles that Ambrosius resented. He knew instantly that this wallet did not belong to Kevin.

It was Toby's.

Ambrosius held back a growl before slowly facing Kevin. Dark and horrible accusations sat on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't dare voice them for fear they might come true. Tresum could be vindictive like that. The only thing he could do was tense his lips to show his disapproval.

"Toby's family is my family!" Kevin defended. He saw the look of anger and betrayal on Bro's face. For a brief moment, he wanted to reach out and embrace him, but he knew Bro was a dangerous force whenever he felt threatened.

"I lost every person in that album!" Kevin said instead. "Let me keep it!"

Bro didn't answer. He just tightened his jaw and turned away. Grace had been horribly correct when she said eliminating Toby would never transfer Kevin's love to him.

Insufferable shrew! It was as if she had cursed him all over again. And if that wasn't torture enough, Ambrosius found it hard to ignore such a simple request from Kevin, even when he didn't deserve it…

"Please?" Kevin asked a couple moments later, but Bro still would not answer. A Tresum warlock was something to fear, but even Kevin knew that there were times Ambrosius used anger to cover up his hurt. The young blond's face practically withered when he realized that Bro couldn't even look at him.

So, Kevin sighed. Usually when Ambrosius did not answer, it was his dismissive way of saying - do as you please and just be done with it! Carefully, Kevin bent down and began to gather all the photographs back together, still keeping a cautious eye locked on Bro.

"I did make one addition of my own," Kevin said thoughtfully as he finally stood. He shuffled the stack of photos in his hands.

Ambrosius noted a hint of pride in the young blond's voice, so he slanted him an assessing glance over his shoulder.

But that would be all he would get! Ambrosius wouldn't tolerate any more excuses that day.

"Here it is!" Kevin smiled as he held out an old daguerreotype of Bro.

The corners had curled and the image had faded, but Ambrosius Vallin still looked impossibly proud and noble in his top hat and scowl.

Momentarily distracted by his own image, Ambrosius accepted the photo from Kevin's hands. Practically in a trance, he rubbed his face as if he was comparing himself to his old image. He noted how differently he looked today, but by no means any less handsome or authoritative. Bro had pride himself in being a paragon of gentlemanly comportment. The same still bode true today and always would, he decided proudly. He held the proof of that in his hands.

"Where did you get this?" Ambrosius asked. His voice was so low. He was still caught up in remembering and admiring.

"I stole it from the Historical Society," Kevin boasted.

For a moment, the corner of Ambrosius's lips twitched upward. There were times when he could admire Kevin's mischief, so he chuckled along with him.

"I knew you associated with thieves," he told the blond, "but I never suspected you were one."

"Well, this technically didn't belong to them," Kevin argued with a smile. "This is mine. Or more specifically, ours."

Kevin reached for the photo, but Ambrosius pulled it back.

Ours.

That time, Ambrosius fought to hide his smile. He couldn't let Kevin know how easily defeated he was by a single word. For 165 years, he begged for Tresum to send him a young man to set him free. Finally, when Ambrosius called for Kevin, Tresum obeyed. Ambrosius put himself through amazing sufferings just to make Kevin officially his.

But now, Kevin said ours like they were partners, a duo, a team… Kevin may have been Tresum's gift to Ambrosius, but this feeling that welled up inside Bro was far greater than possession.

Kevin raised an eyebrow when Ambrosius refused to let go of the photo, but instead of asking for an explanation, he just continued on with the conversation,

"They had your obituary, too," the boy shrugged, "but I hate the thought of you dead."

The sadness in Kevin's voice was a slight diversion. Bro weakened his hold on the photo and Kevin managed to yank it back.

Ambrosius hardly realized that he was no longer holding the photograph.

"I won't ever leave you," Bro promised in a dark voice.

Kevin attempted a smile. Then a laugh. "Right…"

Ambrosius glowered and watched as the blond slid his photo back beneath Toby's as if that were his rightful place – beneath some scruffy, insignificant mortal.

The warlock's lips thinned at that thought. Ambrosius suddenly became aware of the tension in his shoulders and the agitated sharpness of his breath. He scowled at Kevin's uncanny ability to build him up one moment then tear him down the next. How was that possible for such a young aspirant? Ambrosius was a Tresum warlock! Such insecurities weren't supposed to affect him.

The familiar trap had been set. Ambrosius could feel himself walking into it, but Kevin was far too good at manipulating emotions for him to stop now. Before Bro even grasped what was happening, he started to wonder if Kevin ever made that unkempt boyfriend of his feel like this. Was Toby ever frustrated? Haunted by the thought that Kevin could just disappear? That Kevin even wanted to?

Instantly, a wave of violent energy coursed through Ambrosius when he realized that he was thinking of Toby. Of Toby and Kevin together. In a brief moment of weakness, he actually put himself in Toby's shoes. How could Bro let himself get so powerless?

"We're going to the club. Now!" Ambrosius growled and made his way to the door.

"Fine," Kevin grumbled and stopped playing with the wallet, "but I'm going to need a uniform. I don't want anyone to think I'm getting special treatment just because I'm sleeping with the boss."

He offered Ambrosius a wink, but the warlock wasn't amused.

"That's exactly what I want!" Ambrosius's insistence was shockingly ominous. "I want everyone to know that you're mine!"

Kevin pulled his wrist back when Ambrosius reached for it. "I have a fucking idea! Why not get a uniform that says 'Property of Bro' on it?!"

"Kevin…" Ambrosius warned. He tried to compose himself, but he found it hard to take a complete breath. "You know I hate it when you're difficult!"

Kevin snorted his outrage. "I know I promised to serve you, but you're really pissing me off!"

Ambrosius came to a halt. Then he took a deep breath to push down some of his anger. Kevin had to yield to Bro in order to practice Tresum, but Bro tried to treat him as an equal in anything that didn't concern magic. It was an adjustment that wasn't coming easy to Ambrosius.

"Come down to the club with me and you can wear whatever you want," Bro tried to compromise, but his tone still sounded like he was issuing orders.

"And if I want to stay here?" the blond demanded to know firmly.

Ambrosius could feel a growl working its way up his throat. Relationships were by far easier in 1840. Raymond would have never presented such difficulties.

"Then stay here and wear whatever you want!" Ambrosius barked out crossly.

Kevin crossed his arms, presenting another challenge to Bro. "Then I choose to stay."

Ambrosius's face was grim. He was now fully ensnared in Kevin's trap. The blond knew Bro wasn't used to having his orders brushed aside, but he would merely have to accept it.

"As you please," Ambrosius gritted out tensely. "But I won't be back until late. There's an empty position at H2Eau and I intend to interview applicants until it's filled."

"W-what position?"

Ambrosius recognized that tremor in the blond's voice. He felt like he was regaining control of the conversation and answered smugly, "Cook."

Kevin's eyes widened in shock and outrage. "You can't just replace Toby like that!"

Anger flickered through Ambrosius, knowing that all their arguments will always be about that first boyfriend. Of course, he promised himself he would never act out his rage when he was around Kevin. He would always remain controlled.

"No," Ambrosius promised darkly instead. "You will see just how easy Toby is to replace!"

That was Bro's parting words. He stormed out of the beach house, leaving Kevin to ponder just how true that statement would be...