Drake wanted to pace. Really, he did. But her cold gaze was holding him in place. It was calculating and questioning—and he didn't like it one bit. It made him feel like he was five again, and she'd caught him with his hand in the cookie jar. The tattling little witch—

"So, who exactly are you?" Dave asked with a tilt of his head.

Drake gave him an affectionate glance. The younger lad was curled up on a barstool, holding a warm mug of hot tea. He seemed honestly perplexed by what was going on between him and the other blonde in the room. Veronica had followed them into the cozy home, and was standing off to the side with the only non-magic member of their group. Cassie, the slightly—but barely—older woman, had her arms crossed in defiance as she glared at Drake. It made him want to fidget slightly. But he refused to give her the satisfaction.

Balthazar chuckled, cupping Dave's shoulder with an amused smile. "Can't you see the family resemblance, Dave?"

A curious hazel gaze followed his Master's. It bounced between the two very powerful blonde sorcerers in the room, but nothing but confusion stayed alight in his eyes. He set the mug down and slid to his feet, inching toward Drake with a quizzical look painted on his far too cute face.

Drake wanted to kiss him and strangle him all at the same time. Seeing him there in the backdrop of the house he grew up in was a slight shocker. It was heart warming. He never thought that he would see someone he cared so greatly for come home to meet what was left of his family. Let alone stick around for the thirty minutes or so they'd been standing there awkwardly for.

His gaze dropped to the pale yellow tiles beneath their feet. It was just as it had been the last time he was in this kitchen, arguing with his mother. His breath hitched a moment, and his brow furrowed. This was why he didn't come back here. Too many bad memories. Too many mistakes. Too many could have beens—should have beens. A frown marred his tan features, and he shook his head solemnly. He practically jumped out of his skin when a soft hand landed on his shoulder.

"Drake?" Dave asked, looking up with concern.

It allowed him some relief that the younger man was looking past their nights escapades in order to make sure that he was okay. That he seemed to be genuinely concerned about him. Drake let his lips quirk up into the smallest of smiles; it was soft and only meant for the younger man. Dave returned it almost reluctantly, but it warmed something inside of the blonde man as coiled tension slowly fell lax with Dave at his side.

"Dave, luv," he found a sick sort of satisfaction as a faint blush tinged the man's cheeks at the pet name—even as he gestured to the woman across from them. "This is Cassie. Cassie, this is David. He's—"

"The Merlinian, I know." She waved it off with a brief roll of her eyes, slumping slightly within the confines of her big cotton robe. "Lovely as it is to meet you, I'm really far less interested in what you're doing here. Far more interested in knowing why my prat of a brother is following along in your wake."

Dave's eyes widened quite comically, and he glanced between them, again. This time spluttering slightly, stumbling along with his words. "Brother. You're his sister?"

A slightly bitter smile appeared on her face as she tucked a messy lock of strawberry blonde hair behind on ear. "The one and only. But I wouldn't expect you to know that. Haven't talked in what? Eight years?"

"Eleven." He replied, hiding his shame behind irate snaps.

"Famous now, aren't you?" She stepped back, starting to circle the small marble island that lay at the center of their kitchen. "Drake Stone. Magician. Must be nice not having any family to worry about."

Even Dave wanted to flinch away at the stinging tone. Her words were simple, straight forward. But there was such hidden venom beneath. Such a hurt, betrayed venom. Dave felt his chest ache with in, and he wanted to embrace the woman he had only just met. He wanted to pull her tight and make it all better. To heal all of her wounds.

It wasn't until he felt Drake tangle their fingers together that he realized what was happening. Another side effect of being the Merlinian was being an Empath. The power was still new—he could only really feel it if it was strong enough. And what Cassie was feeling was screaming at him to pay attention.

Drake must've known what was happening, judging by the look in his dark eyes. He swallowed thickly and stumbled back a step; not noticing concerned gazes that fell his way. Instead, he simply focused on the feeling of Drake's hand in his. Of the heat that bubbled just under their palms. Of the tingling that pricked perfectly along his fingers.

"Is he okay?" The dark haired man asked from where he was standing next to Veronica, tie loose and hanging around his neck, as if he were settling in for a missed day of work.

"Fine," Dave mumbled. "I'm fine."

There was a hand guiding him forward, hovering at his lower back as he was ushered back to his chair at the island. "You're not fine, pet. You're overwhelmed."

He opened his eyes enough to offer an annoyed glare, but it only earned him a bemused chuckle.

Drake slid the mug of tea closer to him, wrapping the boy's hands around the porcelain with extreme care. His dark eyes darted around the room, noticing the slightly smug look on Veronica's face, and the faintly agitated and impatient look on Balthazar's. It wasn't until his gaze fell on his sister that a small frown overtook his amused features.

"Don't give me that look." He muttered.

"Why not?" She tilted her head, green eyes flitting to Dave, her anger momentarily forgotten. "I think I have a right to look at you funny when you just practically grew two heads right in front of me."

"It's really not all that unusual," he sneered back, feeling himself shift closer to Dave, as if there was a massive gravitational pull that he couldn't deny or fight.

"Not unusual?" She was practically gawking at him as she leaned forward against the countertop. "This coming from the man who pointed and laughed when I broke my leg?"

He rolled his eyes, lips quirking faintly at the memory. "Don't be so dramatic. You took a dive off the slide thinking you were a flying unicorn. Any eight year old would have laughed."

"You said that eating 'Lucky Charms' would give me magic powers." She retorted quickly, eyes gleaming with remembrance, and giddiness was shared between them—faint laughter bubbled over their lips.

Dave glanced between the two of them as if they had gone mad in the last few moments. Certainly these weren't the same two siblings that had just been bitterly arguing. Certainly things couldn't have possibly settled so quickly. There had to be some catch—granted, Dave couldn't say he knew anything about having a brother or sister. He was an only child reared up by a single mother and a drunken step dad.

When Cassie scowled once more, Dave felt like things were falling back into place. "I'm still pissed at you."

"Haven't given you reason not to be."

She scanned him warily a moment before releasing a tight breathe and nodding. "What is it that you needed?"

Balthazar finally took a step up, interjecting into the conversation, and Dave couldn't help but feel like his master was trying to shove a puzzle piece where it didn't belong. "We need you to do a reading."

Her brows shot up in surprise as she looked at him. "On the Merlinian?"

"On both of them."

A flash of confusion found its way onto her face, but it was quickly replaced with dawning realization as she glanced between her brother and the young man sipping at his tea. "Both of them."

She caught Drake's eyes and searched them for the longest time, and Dave could feel unfamiliar zings of protectiveness shooting along his skin. He could feel her shock and pride trying to crawl beneath his flesh, and he shuddered before nearly dropping his mug. Drake quickly settled it onto the counter, his hand finding purchase on the back of Dave's neck to offer assurance.

"You never told me," she muttered, sounding more betrayed then ever, and Dave felt a sharp pang in his chest that had him gasping softly.

"Didn't exactly know," Drake tossed back, not looking her way, his full attention focused on the way the brunette's hand sought his free one. "Not 'til I was told. Didn't have anyone after I went the states, Cass. My master abandoned me—sixteen year old roaming the streets of New York without someone to show 'im what's what."

"You could have come home—"

Drake laced his fingers with Dave's and that familiar warmth itched and tingled at the center of their palms. "No. I had to prove somethin', didn't I? Couldn't come crawling back. Had to stay and work it out on my own."

Cassie's jaw clenched, hating the answer and the idea of her little brother roaming the streets on his own. She could only imagine what he had been through before he finally got lucky. Got famous. She wanted to hop over the counter and wrap him up in a hug. Just to reassure herself that he was there. That he was safe.

Balthazar made an impatient sound. "Listen, as sweet as it is that you two are reconciling, we really need to get on this. We're in a bit of a rush—"

"Why?" Cassie snapped at him, eyes narrowing dangerously, and Balthazar realized just how out of his element he was—and how out of bounds it was to try and push around a Seer in her own home. "Morgana is dead. Even the weakest of magicks could pick that up. Gone forever. She's not coming back. Can't. What's the rush?"

"Because we have something else to deal with." He grit out, his character unable to back down, even if he knew that he should. "Because the fate of the world is in the balance—"

"The fate of the world is always in the balance," she hissed, and the light flickered above them as some the china began to rattle. "You come to my home—my very neutral home—bringing me the last of my family. I do appreciate that. But if you dare even think that you have the right to rush me into things, then you—"

Dave was watching her with wide eyes as the man from earlier took a few stride forward from Veronica's side in order to wrap Cassie up in a strong embrace. Almost instantly, everything settled, and she leaned into the comfort with a sigh. He stroked down her back soothingly, murmuring sweet nothings in her ear. Drake found himself wanting to punch the kid and welcome him into the family all at the same time.

When her hackles had finally gone down, she smiled gently up at him before pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Thank you, Charlie."

He smiled ruefully, giving her a small wink. "Not a problem, darling. Any excuse to get you in my arms—"

"Charles!" Her scolding tone failed miserably as she pulled back, laughter in her eyes as she hit his chest playfully.

Drake felt Dave's fingers tighten around his, and he glanced down to see the young man's attention was focused on the pair across from them, a small scowl on his face. There was… something. Dave could feel it. Something unusual about the other man. Something not natural.

Charlie's green eyes turned on him, as if sensing his gaze, and he offered a small smile. It seemed to appease Dave, for the moment. But Drake could tell that he was still slightly wigged out.

"Well, then," Cassie cleared her throat, casting an apologetic glance their way before glaring quite coldly at Balthazar. "Why is it that you came to me? You've got a very powerful Seer right behind you. And a Merlinia—ah, forgive me, two Merlinians that can easily examine the confines of a teacup. Why come here?"

"You're the best that there is," Balthazar replied, taking a slow step back, knowing not to upset her again. "And we need your special reading."

That statement even confused Drake as Charlie took a protective stance in front of his lover. "Not happening."

Balthazar glared at the man, and Charlie returned it full-heartedly. Drake felt Dave tremble, and wondered what it was that he sensed about the man that Drake, himself, couldn't.

"Charles," Cassie cut in softly, hand on his shoulder. "It's fine."

"It's not fine, darling." He replied, never taking his gaze off of Balthazar. "It's dangerous enough with one person—now, you're going to do two? Two of the most powerful sorcerers in the universe? I can't let you."

Veronica finally took it upon herself to speak up and find a solution. "I can act as a focal point."

Stunned gazes looked her way and she smiled gently. Dave looked up at Drake, and confusion was evident all over his face. All the blonde wanted to do was lean down and press a kiss to his lips. But he knew better then that. He couldn't take advantage of Dave while he was still on a magick roller coaster.

Later, though. He would definitely take advantage later.

"You could get trapped." Cassie replied, tone dry and warning as Charlie laced an arm around her waist. "Stuck on the other side. You could go mad."

"I've been trapped away before," she smiled gently, and Balthazar went to protest and she shushed him easily. "I would like to help David and Drake. It is a sacrifice I'm willing to make, if it comes to it."

Cassie gave her another once over, knowing the stories about the other woman. Knowing what she'd been through. What she'd done for the world. How powerful she was. Without a bit of reluctance, she nodded, and Charlie pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Let's do this, then."

"Sir," Ethan spoke softly, not wanting to incur the wrath of his master.

"What is it this time?" Horvath bit out, fingers in an iron grip around his cane. "More bad news?"

"Yes," the tall, young man spoke with sincerity, face blank as Horvath turned on him with a livid gaze. "They are taking the Spirit Walk."

Horvath's nostrils flared, and the four glasses—along with a bottle of brandy—sitting on his desk, shattered. "Find them. Find them, right now. Stop them before they can even begin."

TBC.

A/N: And I know… it's been, like, three months. Maybe even four. I don't know. I was just busy in Germany. And now, I'm busy with my senior year of high school. But, you know what? I'm going to keep plowing at this story. Even if it's slow going, I hope you all stay and enjoy. I'm sorry to keep you all waiting all of the time, but this story has taken on a life of it's own, and it deserves time to be written.

Guess you'll just have to go along for the ride.

Hope you enjoyed,

Review,

Love Tara