Alright...many, many, many apologies for the long delay (like, two months, I know, it's horrible, I've lambasted myself already). I hate when authors do this myself, even though I know they have perfectly legitimate excuses, such as the ones I'mma dump on you now.
Summer showed up after winter, no spring, so we went full throttle planting and picking stone and starting landscaping. I had to go the doctors' because my knee was hurting after running; found out I have a torn ACL and torn medial meniscus, which means I'm getting surgery in October sometime. I hit a huge, gi-fucking-normous writer's block when I finally had time to look at this fic, then ran outta time again, and then was exhausted when I did have time and incentive to write. I came out to several friends and family, which was surprisingly exhausting as well. Also, took an unexpected dip in the Black River when I was whitewater rafting this past weekend and swam Knife's Edge (also managing to swallow a lot of exceptionally dirty river water), which has resulted in several days of dizziness and general miserableness *sighs* Anything else happen? Uhm...I think that's all, so far.
But! Good news! We're actually near the end; between five and ten chapters if everything goes according to plan (which it never does, but maybe this time'll be different). I can finally see the light at the end of this paper tunnel which has consumed me for the past...year and a half or so.
Moving on!
ScottyBgood-Lack of solid evidence. Even though the council is thoroughly in Thomas' pocket, they still can't bend the rules for him that much. Hahah, yeah, Jason's sons are not nearby, thus they're not in this story, but I thought it'd be nice to inject a little backstory for them anyway. *snickers* I got a feeling Imma surprise you yet, dude. I was surprised when the ending came to me, so...we'll see.
markman12-Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! I know, we're all terribly sad Thomas didn't get to exact his revenge on Tori for stealing his girl and revealing him to be an asshat to all.
Azkadellio-Hmmm...the possibilities. Yeah, but wait for the next several chapters, the vindicis will...make an appearance or two ;) Yaw, ya do care! I don't want her to get indigestion either, so it's much appreciated!
T0ran-Hahah, yeah, I thought they'd had enough drama for one day. I think a break for them was in order, yeah? Well, I'd be nervous with Sikowitz staring daggers at me, too, if he had already gone after me once before. Nope, remember a while ago, he told Thomas he wasn't going to have anything more to do with his...illicit...dealings? Yep, that's why he's siding with Tori and the others. Oh man, that...I might hafta do that now. Ideas!
Lushcoltrane-Me too, I thought it was gonna go down the tubes, but it righted itself all on it's own. Indeed, it would have had disastrous consequences for all if she had accidentally outed them. However, their collective control is getting much better.
Guest-Maybe... :p
DDMKA-Hahahaha sorry, not sorry XD You'll get what you want soon *very, very soon* but I ask for another chapter of patience, young patawan.
TimelessReader-I know, right?! I thought it'd be a good way to inject a little lightness into an otherwise heavy chapter. Seems to have worked well this far, thanks! Well, that image you have of Thomas is about to get a lot more solid...
Whew! Now that that's done...read on!
He sighed, then chuckled lowly, a little smile breaking across his broad features. "Girls, don't worry. Anyone with eyes can see how you two interact with each other, and frankly, I'm not surprised. I mean, I am, obviously, I didn't think I was going to walk in on you-" An odd, strangled sound came out of his mouth and he flushed anew. Jade retreated closer to Tori and felt her hand taken gently and held securely between them. "Now, I've got no problem with you two kissing or – whatever else you do. I can't say I understand it, but I brought up my boys to think that love is acceptable in any form as long as it doesn't harm anyone involved, and I do believe that.
"However," he said, face sobering quickly as he raised a hand and pointed at them separately, "we do need to lay some ground rules I think, just for my peace of mind." Tori made a face and Jason pointed his finger at her. "Now, Tori, you're like my own kid, so you're going to be treated like they were. That means no girls alone in the bedroom and no shut doors while you're here. I don't need to be any more traumatized than my sons have already made me...I still have flashbacks some days."
Tori and Jade sat on the back porch at Sikowitz's, reclining against opposite posts on the steps as they listened to the cicadas in the treeline and Jade idly spun her fingers in the air. Her eyes were lined subtly with silver and a frown of concentration had made lines form between her eyebrows. She twisted her fingers together and a small whirl of dust formed into a misshapen blob that quickly collapsed on itself. Jade groaned and her head thudded against the post at her back.
"Why is this so damn difficult? You're not even good at illusions, but you still managed to make one appear," she complained, nodding over at the small rabbit bouncing at their feet in the grass. Tori's expression was an odd mixture of sympathy and annoyance at the subtle dig, but she smiled anyway and shook her head.
"I've just had more experience than you, Jade, even if 'I'm no good at illusions.' Here, just..." She flicked her wrist and a mouse materialized out of the dust, delicate whiskers gleaming in the sunlight and nose twitching. "Put a little more oomph into your gestures. Make them more pronounced, kind of exaggerate the motions."
A wicked gleam appeared in Jade's eyes and she curled her lips. "Whatever you say." She hooked her fingers into claws and tensed her muscles but paused when a wry voice chastised her.
[Youngling...]
"Whaaaaaat?" Jade scowled and Tori's eyebrow rose.
[Thee should harken to her words instead of twisting them in jest, maybe thou wouldst learn something]
"Spoilsport."
"Jade, what is it talking about?" Tori's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Nothing, nothing. It's hearing things that weren't its to hear."
Both young women heard amused chuckling in their heads and Tori's eyes narrowed further. "You were gonna do something, weren't you?"
Jade shrugged blithely and turned her face toward the yard, sunlight spilling across her cheeks in sharp dips and ridges. "Something like that." A smirk curled her lips and she turned back to Tori. "I could still do something?"
"What?" Tori asked apprehensively, eying Jade narrowly. Jade launched herself at the brunette and knocked her to the wooden floor, fingers finding purchase in the fabric of Tori's shirt and pinning her beneath her. Tori squirmed and glared balefully up at Jade, scowling mightily. "Let me up!"
Jade sat back and pursed her lips thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her lips. "Mmmm, no, I don't think I will. I quite like you beneath me." A toothy smile showed on Jade's lips and her eyes gleamed. "Maybe if you ask nicely..."
Tori struggled but couldn't gain enough leverage to throw Jade off her hips and finally settled back with a defeated huff. "Please let me up, Jade."
"Nope."
Simultaneous huffing within and without made Jade's smirk widen but her stance remained unchanged. "Jaaade, please? Please let me up."
Jade leaned over, hands framing Tori's head and warm breath fanning across her cheek. "I like you begging..." Her eyes darkened and a thread of silver wound through blue-green irises. "...do it again."
A shudder rolled down Tori's spine and she swallowed hard, eyes bouncing between Jade's rapidly as she felt a playful gust of wind kick up and whip her hair around her head. She wet her lips and Jade's mesmerized eyes followed the movement, darkening further as her breath quickened. Tori pulled her lower lip between her teeth and saw Jade lean in before reluctantly pulling back, and she shifted onto her elbows suddenly. "I've got something better than begging."
Before Jade said anything, Tori had closed the distance and pressed their lips together, noses bumping gently until she pulled back. Jade followed her lips greedily, weight falling more heavily across Tori's hips and abdomen as the brunette reclined back onto the floor. Their lips met again, Tori's full lower lip caught between Jade's and nibbled on until Tori released a low, wanting sound that surprised them both. Jade pulled back, panting and disheveled, eyes hooded and nostrils flared. "I like this better than begging."
"Then come back, maybe I can convince you yet to let me up." Tori's hands wound into Jade's hair and pulled her back to her, and they resumed kissing, sighing and panting into each other's mouths as lips and hands grew bold and adventurous.
Jade's hand was planted by Tori's head for balance while her other had slipped beneath the brunette's shirt and was caressing her clavicle when they heard the screen door at the front of the house and rushed footsteps quickly grew louder. They broke apart noisily, eyes wide with panic and lips swollen from kisses, frantically moving away from each other and patting their hair and clothes to restore some semblance of order, desperately pacing their breaths as Cat burst through the back door in a flurry of red hair and wildly gesticulating hands.
"Tor, Jadie, it was horrible! They just – and then she – and I – aaargh!" The uncharacteristic expression of anger startled both young women and they stared in baffled bemusement at Cat as she continued to wave her hands about and her lips thinned. "That woman just – I wanted to throw something at her!" Her breath came heavily through her nose as Cat physically forced herself to calm down, sitting heavily in a wicker chair by the door as Sikowitz and Robbie appeared on the porch.
Everyone stared at Cat for a minute, then their gazes shifted to Tori and Jade. They both squirmed uncomfortably and Sikowitz's expression was knowing as he lifted an eyebrow while Robbie paid them scant attention before hesitantly approaching Cat. "Cat? Are you alr-"
"Don't say it, Robbie! I just want to – take my hands and-" Cat made a strangling motion with her hands, clenching them viciously around the air and shaking the imagined person harshly.
Robbie's Adam's apple bobbed nervously and he took a careful step back. "It's fine, it was just-"
Cat's hot glare was enough to send him scrambling and he took shelter behind Sikowitz, peeking nervously from behind the man's shoulder. Jade's eyebrow shot into her hairline and she had to fight back a chuckle at Robbie's actions. She stood and dusted off her dress, addressing Sikowitz. "Does anyone want to explain what's going on? Preferably before Cat's head explodes, of course."
Robbie's face paled and she heard an irate snort from behind her, but Jade's eyes were trained on Sikowitz's face. The man sighed and ran a hand through thinning hair. "It is...it appears that someone has been spreading rumors...that are somewhat-"
"They said that I'm crazy, and I hurt people!" Cat waved her arms again and practically breathed fire, then visibly deflated and curled into herself sadly. She wrapped her arms around her waist as she stared at the floor and toed a knot in the wood. "I wouldn't ever do that...I don't like violence. Why would they say that about me?" Her eyes, watery and beseeching, tugged at even Jade's heart, but before she could say anything Tori had stood and moved in front of Cat. She wordlessly wrapped the redhead in a hug and whispered to her, stroking her hair softly.
Jade heard Sikowitz sigh and returned her attention to him. He seemed to have aged in the few hours they had been gone, worried grooves having carved themselves into his forehead and around his eyes. "Yes, that is it, essentially. Someone has been spreading rumors about us all," and his tone indicated that Jade was included in the adjective, "that are rather...spiteful, and harmful, if left on their own. It doesn't matter that they're completely untrue, but..."
He shrugged helplessly and Jade's temper flared. She heard Cat hiccup behind her and Tori's continued whispers as she tried to calm her. "Whoever did this...they need to pay."
Sikowitz was shaking his head before she finished the sentence, and she felt caution being pushed at her from the vindicis. "If we resort to violence, we only give the rumors stock. We need to go about this diplomatically."
"Screw that! They're hurting us, hurting Cat! For no other reason than to be a spiteful, vindictive-" Jade froze suddenly, eyes wide as an outlandish idea blossomed in her head. "...asshole." She ignored Sikowitz's reproving look and blinked several times. "It was just...what if it was..."
She heard Tori suck in a harsh breath and they said in the same breath, "Thomas."
"They won't get away with it...if I can't get her back on my terms, I'll assure myself that she does not survive untarnished." Thomas sat in his study, the curtains drawn haphazardly against the bright sunlight so sunlight spilled randomly across the cigar-hazed room. His eyes gleamed manically, hand rapidly moving across the thick tome opened on his desk. He wrote feverishly, mumbling to himself as the inkwell quickly emptied. He grunted in annoyance and violently crossed out a mistake, leaving a tear in the thick paper that bled through to the next page.
"I'll show them all what happens when you mess with a West...when something undesirable comes trickling down the tree." A macabre smile twisted his face, shadows dancing across his skin and giving him a ghastly appearance. His low laughter trickled through the open door and down the hallway, alerting the staff in the area, and they nervously glanced up the stairs before clearing the space.
Sikowitz's motley family sat at the scarred wooden table in the kitchen, untouched plates of food before each of them. They watched each other silently, waiting for someone else to broach the subject that was stifling the air in the room. Cat was still sniffing quietly and Robbie ran his hand soothingly over her shoulder.
Tori sighed heavily and shoved her plate away. "Alright. Fine, I'll say it. Thomas is trying to discredit us, get us run out of town, or at least ostracized." She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms, glaring at the table. Everyone else shifted in their seats and frowned. "There, it's out there in the open. So what are we going to do about it?"
"I still think we should go pay the old man a visit," Jade muttered mutinously from beside Tori.
Sikowitz fixed a stern look on her and said, "And I already expressly said that it would only exacerbate the problem, Jadelyn." Even though her full name set her on edge, Jade recognized the warning in the man's voice and quieted herself with some effort. "We need to approach this carefully, understand?" They all muttered their consent and Sikowitz sat back. "So, obviously we can't directly confront him, he's too powerful and it would only be seen as confirmation, anyway."
"We could-"
"Jade."
Sikowitz shot her a sharp look and Jade scowled. "Whatever."
[Youngling]
I don't need your two cents' worth, either.
[I merely offer counsel, young one]
What if I tell you to shove your counsel up your-
"Jade." Tori's voice was quiet, barely noticeable beneath the murmur of voices at the table, but her fingers had found their way to Jade's thigh and were squeezing gently. "Maybe you should listen." Jade grunted and pushed apology, felt reassurance and forgiveness return.
[Perhaps a more...discreet approach is necessary]
How so? She felt sardonic amusement and an undercurrent of dark enjoyment pass between them.
[Mine talents are many, youngling...and there are others] Jade was confused for a moment, then awareness dawned and she sat up straighter. [Thee can summon forth more of us, can ye not? 'Twould be most fortuitous an advantage, and...unfortunate if something were to happen to thy kin]
Jade felt a smile curl at her lips and a mirroring amusement flowed from the vindicis. Tori shook her head but leaned closer and whispered, "What would it accomplish?"
"Wouldn't my satisfaction be enough?"
[Might it be mine accomplices could...obtain information for thee, which could prove most useful in future endeavors]
"But how?" Tori ignored Jade's snarky comment and felt faint approval through the link, although if it was for her questions or persistence, she didn't know.
[Perhaps, thine curiosity about thy kin's motives could be sated]
Tori frowned thoughtfully and Jade studied her profile raptly. "C'mon, Tori, what's it gonna hurt at this point? He's already put our actions in doubt; as long as we don't get directly involved, he can't do anything else."
"But he's on the council. You saw at the trial how much pull he has; even though they had no evidence against me, I think that councilman would have still said I was guilty if you all weren't there. He could still-"
[Ye will not come to harm, young one, this is mine promise] The vindicis swore solemnly, the words echoing in their minds.
Tori chewed the inside of her cheek pensively but finally nodded minutely. "Fine. But if there's the slightest hint of trouble, we stop, okay?"
Jade smiled and agreed, taking Tori's hand that was still on her thigh and entwining their fingers. "Sure."
['Twill not come to that, young one. Mine kin are most able to evade detection, we will not be espied by such eyes as mortals have]
Tori's eyebrows furrowed but she grunted her approval and they both tuned back into the conversation. "...lay low, alright, kids?" Sikowitz met each one's eyes in turn, lingering longer on Jade and Tori. They all nodded and he rubbed his face. "Alright then. We've got to let this die out, and as long as we don't make any ripples by acting out or being impulsive," he met Jade's eyes and stared at her seriously, "we should be fine."
"Papa?"
"Yes, Cat?"
"What if I already...acted out?" Cat winced as she spoke and Sikowitz groaned loudly, slapping a hand to his forehead in frustration. Despite the grimness of the situation, Jade found herself snickering and Tori quietly joined her while Cat looked bashfully at the table.
Beck followed Lane into the tavern down the road from the lawyer's office, a small briefcase at his hip and a genial smile on his face as he listened to Lane talk about a previous case that he had taken on. "It was a mistake, I'll tell you that much. Neither party was willing to cooperate, negotiate, or even attempt to talk to each other. The woman kept threatening to – well, do rather unsavory things to her husband, and he was rather..."
Lane made a face and Beck smiled. "Not a nice character?"
"Far from it! Neither was particularly nice, but I've never been so glad to represent a woman as I was then. She, at least, was pleasant to look at, even if her words about what she wanted to do to her estranged spouse did make me cringe."
Beck laughed sympathetically and they sat at a table by the window. Lane waved a waitress over so they could order lunch and Beck stared around the room, his eyes drawn to a booth at Lane's back where several men were gesturing emphatically and speaking over the din of the crowded room. "-rd it myself, didn't I? Said the little whelp was a terror, going off on nice people without a speck of reason. Not that I would expect much different from Sikowtiz's brood; have you seen that other girl, the dark haired one? Always hanging 'round that negro boy, disappearing somewhere, it ain't right I tell ya. Can't trust a man who lets his kids run 'round like that. No good will come of it, mark my words."
Beck frowned and slid out of his seat. He sauntered over to their table and casually stood in front of it, waiting for them to look over. One of the men glanced over at him and grunted before returning to his meal, while another, with scruffy brown hair and an equally scruffy beard, addressed him. "Whataya want, boy? Can't you see we're eating here?"
Beck nodded affably and set his hand on their table, tapping a finger against the stained wood. "Well, I couldn't help but overhear you talking about Sikowitz."
"What about it, boy?"
Beck's eyes hardened as he leaned further over the table. "Don't."
They stared at him and then the scruffy one laughed meanly. "Or what?"
Beck sneered as he fought back his rising ire. "What have they ever done to you?"
"Don't matter, I know what I heard."
"How do you know it's the truth? Have you seen anything with your own eyes?"
The man seemed taken aback and blustered to cover his confusion. "See here, boy, you better get outta my face 'fore I-"
"What, hit an unarmed, nonthreatening person? That's certainly the mark of a brave, upstanding man." Beck's voice was cutting, cold, and derisive. The man grumbled under his breath and Beck saw his fist clench on the tabletop but he didn't move. "How about this? You try using your brain and think for yourself instead of listening to mean, ignorant gossipers. If you come across one of Sikowitz's kids, watch them and see for yourself; they're some of the nicest people you'll meet, I can guarantee it."
"That girl's a gypsy, she'd just as soon stea-"
"That girl was raised by Erwin Sikowitz, one of the most giving people I've ever met. She has never been anything less than kind and friendly to me, and I'd be ashamed if I ever judged her just because of her heritage, not because of what I'd actually seen." The man cowed under Beck's glare and he nodded in satisfaction. Before he left their table, he said over his shoulder, "Whoever's spreading these rumors is a vindictive person with nothing better to do than try and ruin a nice family. They deserve better than they're getting, and I'm going to help them get it."
The study was darkened, curtains drawn tight against the intruding summer sun, with several lamps lighting the area immediately around the desk, which was littered with half empty bottles, several glasses, and stained with water rings. In his chair, Thomas sat, unkempt and dark eyed as he stared at an open book in front of him.
"Damned, conniving, wicked spellcasters..." He lifted a half empty tumbler of whiskey to his lips and took a long sip, ice clinking against the side as he tipped it back. Pen in hand, he scribbled in the margins of the book, short angry strokes that left ink blots and ripped through the paper. "I'll fix them, I'll get back at them all..." He mumbled to himself and continued writing, underlining words in heavy black ink.
He was unaware of a shadow that was hovering on the edge of the flickering lamplight, the pale dome of its head gleaming and casting lurid shadows across the empty sockets which should have housed its eyes. The creature tried to smile but was inhibited by the crude stitches which held its mouth shut, but a wheeze of laughter escaped its confines.
Thomas froze in his chair and shook his head, swaying drunkenly as he tried to clear the faint drone from his ears. "They'll regret crossing me...a West always gets what he wants." He leaned further over the desk and the creature leaned with him like they were attached by a macabre tether. Laughter floated out of its mouth again like brittle leaves, sending chills up Thomas' spine. He twisted in his seat as fast as he could without spilling out of it and his eyes, hazy with alcohol, widened as they met the empty gaze of the creature.
He opened his mouth to scream and a dark tendril closed over it, silencing him, while others bound his arms and legs to his chair. The creature leaned in and Thomas felt his gorge rise as the metallic scent of blood filled his nose. "Mistress...sends her...regards..." The seams of the creature's stitches ripped and a long, forked tongue slid from between its bleeding lips, sliding wetly along the length of Thomas' face. The scent of blood was potent now as long, pale digits draped over his shoulders and dug in, drawing blood, and his vision hazed further as the droning buzz grew louder in his ears. Before he passed out, Thomas heard chilling laughter that grated against his last nerve and felt something hot and heavy press against his chest.
Tori and Jade wandered, hand in hand, through the trees. The vindicis slipped silently through the trees to their right, barely disturbing the detritus on the ground. "Are you certain this is a good idea?"
Tori chewed her lip anxiously and Jade sighed, pulling her to a stop. "Tori, relax. Nothing's going to happen; we've already been through this. Have a little faith." She smirked and Tori rolled her eyes.
"I'm just worried he'll see something or-"
"Nothing will happen." Jade pressed her palm over Tori's mouth to quiet her worried mutters and stared seriously into her eyes. "Do you understand?" Tori only grumbled some more and glared.
The vindicis appeared beside them, humor lacing its mood and words. [You needs must require a demonstration of mine power, young one?]
"You don't ha-"
[Methinks I do]
Without warning, the shadow disappeared from sight and they both looked around in wonder. "Where the hell did it go?" Jade glanced around the trees with curiosity while Tori held her breath. She felt a faint stir of air on her nape and suddenly hands were on both shoulders. She yelped and looked over her shoulder to see the shadow staring down at her with piercing blue eyes, smugness practically radiating from it.
[Dost thou understand now?]
Tori felt a surge of deja vu lance through her chest and an image superimposed itself over the vindicis for an instant. Before she could fully see what it was, the shadow disappeared again with a faint pop and reappeared at Jade's shoulder.
[Ye needn't worry, young one, 'twill be alright]
Despite herself, Tori felt a smile slip across her lips and she reluctantly agreed. "I guess."
Jade bumped her shoulder and sat on a fallen log, setting her chin in her palm and smirking. "So, now that crisis has been averted-" Tori scoffed and Jade ignored her, "can we please practice some more? I think I'm actually getting the hang of this whole creating thing you're trying to teach me."
"Are you sure?"
"Tori."
"Fine, fine, stop whining." Tori sat beside Jade and gently slapped her shoulder. "Alright, remember what I told you last time?"
"Think of it, will it, be it." Jade smirked as silver played in her eyes and Tori shook her head as she laughed.
"How?..."
Jade nudged her shoulder and flicked her ear. "Hey! That's no way to treat me!" Tori rubbed the shell of her ear and glanced askance at Jade, who fluttered her eyeslashes and adopted a heavy accent.
"Oh, how dreadful of me! Whatever shall I do to make it up to you, dear Tori!"
Tori rolled her eyes again and snorted ungracefully. "You can start by quitting that silly accent, Jae. You sound ridiculous."
Jade stared at Tori in affront and she took the opportunity to flick her between the eyes gently. Jade reared back and rubbed the spot, glaring at Tori. "That was uncalled for."
"You're uncalled for," Tori shot back. Her teeth clacked together as she realized what she had said and she stared at Jade with wide eyes.
Jade's eyebrow rose and her lips curled into a sneer. "Oh, really?"
Tori swallowed and shuffled back on the log, scrabbling for a way out of the hole she had dug herself into. "Now, Jade, you know I didn't meeeep!" She squealed when Jade launched herself at her and they rolled off the log, hands scrambling for purchase on the needle covered ground.
Jade found herself perched atop Tori's hips, hands clasped tightly over her wrists and a victorious smirk on her lips. "Well, well, well...look what I caught." Her voice dripped with intent and her eyes glimmered with magic. Tori felt something slide over the delicate skin of her wrists and looked over to see roots wrapping themselves over her arms, Jade's fingers leaving trailing lines of heat behind as she planted her hands on either side of her head. "You should know better than to mess with me, Tori."
Tori's throat bobbed and her hands flexed uselessly in the air as she strained against her bonds. "Well, maybe I like antagonizing you," she breathed with glimmering eyes.
Jade leaned closer so her words ghosted across Tori's cheek and into her ear. "Keep it up, and maybe I'll have my wicked way with you right here." She relished the shiver she felt roll through Tori's body and the way her breath hitched, drawing back far enough to see how widely blown her pupils were and the flush that sat high on her cheeks.
Tori smiled toothily and Jade froze, mesmerized by the way the light played across her face and glinted off the silver in her eyes. "You wouldn't know what to do with me." Hands suddenly appeared at Jade's waist and rolled them over so Tori was on top, the length of her body pressed against Jade's, one hand cradling her head while the other kneaded her hip. "But I think practice might help."
I'm a bitch, I know. I don't even feel sorry! On the upside, you're all getting rewarded next chapter (which is already partially written) for being so damn great.