Things changed a little after the 'incident', as Alex called it. The two former siblings spoke civilly to each other, but never beyond that. Alex preferred to go on pretending like nothing had happened, and Justin put up a front as if there wasn't a problem, although he was really hurting inside. That kiss had confirmed what he had been trying to ignore all this time: he was in love with her, and there would never be anyone else. Her spurning him was like a knife in his heart, twisting deeper every time she threw up her defenses against him. Why did she have to be so headstrong?
Bassett and Farren noticed the tension and guessed rightly what had happened. Bassett shook his head, muttering how he had a feeling something like this would occur eventually. Farren contradicted him. "Give them time" was all she said.
At least the plan was going smoothly. The resistance—or so Justin's supporters were beginning to be called—was divided into four groups: three to be dispatched to the major counties of the wizard world, along with a couple pro-Emrys mummies, vampires, and ogres who promised to create as much mayhem as they could, and one to infiltrate the council building to confront Brenin. The infiltration group was small, consisting of Justin, Alex, the Greys, and four people who wouldn't draw attention considering they worked within the building. This small group, dubbed Control, left the Grey chateau before dawn en route to the capital, Caerdydd. They traveled separately in two old Bentleys that were Bassett's pride and joy and would not look out of place. Wizards got around by all means of travel, from flying carpet to carriage. Several Model Ts, most likely running with the aid of magic, puttered by on the group's forty-five minute drive to Caerdydd.
Alex was not enjoying the trip whatsoever, due to a blond, barely-twenty council file clerk named Delilah. Alex had already made up her mind to despise her, and not just because she was completely perfect from head to toe. This Delilah seemed to be a little too interested in Justin, never taking her big blue eyes off of him and laughing at every single thing he said. Alex narrowed her eyes at her, anger rising in her throat, and the idea of pushing the clerk out through the conveniently-located car window was far too tempting. She was one obnoxious giggle away from ripping out her blond extensions when the Bentley rolled to a stop.
"We're here," Bassett announced, getting out and opening the door for the others. They found them standing in front of an external wall of the council building, one that sidled up to an alleyway and was unrecognizable otherwise. There was a small door in the wall that nearly blended in with the crumbling white brick of the structure and no windows. Not many people knew about this entrance, considering it was used on rare occasion for deliveries.
"Come along, quickly. There may not be security at this entrance, but the perimeter of this building is patrolled regularly," Farren informed, ushering them inside. They entered a dimly lit hallway that smelled of old carpet in need of replacing. The walls were plain white and glowed oddly in the light of the fluorescents, and ever so often a nondescript, unfinished wood door interrupted the plainness. There was one, however, labeled 'storage' in boring black text, and the group hastily filed through it. It was here, in a storage room filled with nothing but dusty metal shelves and even dustier cardboard boxes, that they planned to wait until the rest of the resistance gave the signal that they had succeeded in drawing Brenin's men away.
Sitting around waiting was predictably uneventful. Those who got too restless branched away to wander the enormous maze of shelves, poking through the boxes in hopes of finding something interesting. Alex, venturing to the far side of the room, found something of value: a collection of weapons, from folding switchblades to devices much like pistols that used magic as ammunition. She was about to run and tell the others about her discovery when something on the other side of the shelving unit caught her attention.
"You're so terribly brave, taking on Rience Brenin nearly all by yourself. How ever did you think of such a brilliant plan?" The voice, which dripped with overdone sweetness, belonged to none other than Delilah. Alex pushed aside a box and saw her standing there with Justin, fawning over him in a way that made her sick to her stomach.
Justin looked uncomfortable. "Erm, it was actually Alex's idea. She's pretty good at this kind of thing."
"Don't be so modest, Justin." Delilah slithered closer, eyes hooded, pouting lips parted slightly. She draped herself over him, ignoring how he kept trying to back away despite the fact his escape was impaired by a shelf. "You make one handsome hero."
Justin opened his mouth to protest, but Delilah cut him off with a forceful lip lock.
That was the last straw. Past fuming, Alex marched around the shelf that had hid her. She grabbed Delilah by the arm and shoved her into a nearby wall.
"Touch him again and you can forget about that pretty little nose ever being straight again," Alex hissed, the look in her eyes revealing that the threat was most definitely not an empty one.
Delilah, who was quite fond of her pin-straight nose, gulped and nodded. When Alex released her, she zipped around the corner and was soon out of sight, the frenzied clicking of her heels slowly fading in the distance.
Justin breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks. I thought she'd never—" he began, but was interrupted once more when Alex grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the same wall.
"Don't you dare think about going after her. Now or ever," she told him. Not allowing time for a response, she kissed him.
Her grip on his shirt loosened as she melted into him, his arms encircling her to bring her even closer. It didn't feel wrong this time. In fact, she was surprised at the newfound, insatiable hunger raging within and found herself unable to pull away, enjoying the tingling feeling that resulted when his hand slid up to push her head deeper into the kiss.
Nearly a minute later, Justin fuzzily remembered that they both needed oxygen and reluctantly broke away, gasping for air. He grinned and ran his fingers through her silky curls as he had yearned to do for so long.
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you before, Justin. I was just…confused," Alex apologized.
"So the whole brother thing doesn't bother you anymore?"
Alex tilted her head, feigning puzzlement. "I only have one brother, and his name is Max. But there is this guy who lives down the hall from me who I kinda have a thing for."
"That must be one lucky guy," Justin murmured, leaning down to kiss her nose. His lips roamed over her cheek until they reached her left earlobe, giving it a slight, affectionate tug. Alex's eyes slid closed as he explored the bit of neck below her jawbone and would have lost herself entirely if it weren't for Farren calling hers and Justin's names. They barely had time to separate before the woman appeared.
"We just got the call. Time to move…out…" Farren trailed off, her keen eyes noting the twosome's closeness and burning red faces. She smiled knowingly and disappeared once more between the shelves.
"We should probably get going," Justin said grudgingly.
"Right. Showtime." Alex slipped her hand into his, and they followed the older woman, not even noticing that their feet were falling in perfect step with each other the entire way.
Note: Caerdydd is the old Welsh name for Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Thought it made a good name for a wizard city as well :)
