Midday meal was coming along nicely. The stew bubbled happily as Arthur added the spices from his garden. Flying Mint Bunny rested on his shoulder as fairies fluttered around in the air above the pot. Arthur did a quick mental check of all his familiars that was so natural from centuries of practice that he barely even noticed. Everything peaceful. Several of his familiars were sunning themselves out in the clearing or napping in the trees. Arthur hummed as he stirred the pot. He was going to pay close attention to this one. He would not forget about it and let it burn like he had the last and the one before and the one before that. The serenity of the atmosphere was interrupted by an abrupt knocking at the door.

At first, he thought it was part of a vision as none of his familiars had warned him of anyone's presence. But then the knocking continued. Arthur could sense no one behind the door. No matter of demon, Old One, wizard, or spirit could go undetected by one such as he. For the first time in recent memory he felt a sense of apprehension. He approached the door warily. He would readily admit to anyone who asked that he for once had no idea what was about to happen. When he pulled the door open he was greeted by the face that kept him up at night. The face that belonged to the person who infuriated him and made him feel the most alive. Impossible.

"Alfred?!"

Alfred's eyes widened at this. Then they hardened. Arthur, still shocked at the sight before him, had little time to react when he was attacked. Arthur blasted the staff Alfred swung at him away and it clattered to the ground. Arthur cast a freezing spell as Alfred tried to leap on him. Frozen in place, Alfred glared. Arthur came closer and inspected him. He couldn't sense a presence even though his eyes told him someone was there. Upon closer inspection he realized there were a few things different. The eyes had a light purple hue to them. The hair was much longer and curled at the ends. There were scars on his face that a vampire could never get.

"You aren't Alfred. Who are you? Speak!"

Arthur released his head from the spell at the snap of his fingers

"Like I'd tell you."

The clone's voice was similar to Alfred's but quieter and raspier.

"You will tell me. I can and will make you."

"No doubt. I'm not afraid. I'll kill you like I killed your wizard buddy."

"You're saying you are the one who killed the Wizard of the West? What are you?! Why have you taken Alfred's form?!"

"I didn't 'take his form.' I wish I didn't have to see his fucking face every time I looked in the mirror. I have to remember that my brother is monster every single day."

Arthur was shocked by this information. Alfred never told him of a brother and when he'd touched him, he sensed nothing about a sibling feud. The man before him eyes almost glowed with their anger.

"Alfred is no monster. Your brother is one of the kindest souls I've ever met. From where I stand, you appear to be the one who is a monster."

The man only looked away. Arthur went to his phone to call Alfred. He had a lot of explaining to do.

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Alfred waited impatiently outside of the house Arthur took up when he was in this realm. From past conversations, he knew the magic fairy tale book forest the wizard was usually in would like destroy nonmagical creatures so he wasn't allowed unless he wanted to die painfully. Which he didn't. He hadn't eaten a delicious hamburger in what felt like forever. And he wasn't going out without a last meal. And of course the painful part. Just no.

The average door was flung open to reveal a robed Arthur. With his breathing heavy, he welcomed Alfred in with a gesture. Arthur's Lord of the Rings appearance looked so at odds with the normal house décor that Alfred barely held back a nervous giggle as he entered.

"It's nice to see you again, Artie."

"We don't have time for pleasantries, tell me about your brother."

Alfred gave Arthur a confused look for a moment. He expected this conversation to be about a lead, not Mattie. But wait Mattie was missing. Maybe Arthur had a vision. But he could have just called and told him about it. Unless he was dead. Oh no!

"Well, he's a hunter now apparently. When we went to go get Gil's bro, Mattie was there with the hunters. And one of the hunter chicks told me he's missing now so. . ."

"Would he happen to be your twin?"

"Yeah. So if you had like a crazy vision and I was doing something crazy or dying or something-"

"It is nothing like that."

"Why do you ask?"

"You said he was missing right?"

"Yeah. That's what she said. (lol)"

"He's not missing anymore."

Arthur procured a mirror and handed it to Alfred. He saw his brother frozen in place with a face that held a rage Alfred had never seen on those features.

"He successfully approached me without any of my familiars or myself detecting him. Is there anything else you can tell me about your brother?"

AN: So I'm done with all my finals and in less than a week I graduate from university. Hell yes.