AN: I forgot to mention- in this story, Wind looks like the pictures of the boy with black hair using purple, fire-like power in the season 2 trailer.

only one of his hands is mutilated...so...*awkward moment*


The Seeker Within

Chapter 43- Captivated

Will looked between Dante and Zhalia, jade eyes filled with suspicion and distrust. "Well?" As Dante opened his mouth to answer, the teen tilted his head to one side, listening to something only he could hear. Motioning for the others to be silent, he put his hands together as if in prayer, green light blossoming around his joined palms, spreading to cover his entire body. The Casterwill was still for a moment before a frown briefly crossed his face and he released the power he had summoned.

Noticing the half-curious, half-worried looks he was receving from his mentor, the boy explained what he had done, playing with Sabriel's amulet as he spoke, looking into the distance. "Her energy flare lit up about five miles to the east." His eyes darkened to the colour of moss as Will's mouth curled into a sarcastic almost-smile. "Wind knows the Casterwill powers well, as do the rest of his twisted brotherhood, but I am stronger now then when I was five. He still thinks he is dealing with a child, and that five miles are beyond my range to sense." At a questioning look from golden eyes, the smirk on his face became a full-blown grin. "In truth, my limits are close on ten miles, and Loki's power is familiar to me now- I could sense it from about twice that distance, since I know her 'voice'."

Dante raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. Upon meeting his sworn enemy again for the first time in over ten years, Will had changed dramatically. No more was he the moody, studious teen whose only concern was to be a great Seeker. Instead, he was a warrior in a child's form, jade eyes adult in his young face. Loki's capture, and by the Blood Spiral of all people, had made him grow up fast. The brunette wouldn't lose another to Wind's hands. This time, he'd win.

The Casterwill, thinking hard, folded his arms across his chest against the bitter, winter cold. "Though in any other circumstances, your house would be a better base of operations, Dante." He turned away, eyes distant. "I think this time we should stay at mine. LeBlanche doesn't feel comfortable outside the house, and his contacts will be a valuable asset. Santiago's too."

The russet-haired padded over to his student. "What made you change your mind?" He asked softly, feeling the boy sag beneath the gentle hand he placed on his shoulder.

Will looked up into the amber orbs of his friend, his shoulders lifting. "You know the reason." He said with a wry grin, seeing something in Dante's eyes that he recognized in his own heart. "It just took me a bit longer to figure it out."


An hour later

Will opened his front door, ushering his companions inside. Cherit, looking around from his place on the boy's shoulder, couldn't help but be impressed by the grandeur of the mansion all over again. After deciding to follow the Casterwill's plan, Dante had contacted Solwing, who had in turn contacted the little, white titan. The ancient creature had met up with them a few streets from their destination, unusually quiet as his wide, grey eyes looked from human to human. Choosing to perch on Will's shoulder, he had remained silent, thinking back over what he knew of the Blood Spiral. It wasn't much, but there had to be something in his memories that would give them an edge.

LeBlanche greeted them in the hall, suit and hair as immaculate as always, bowing to his master and his friends. "Master William, Mr. Vale." He remained as impassive as ever, but Will, who knew him well, could tell he was shocked to be meeting the blue-haired woman beside Dante. "Miss Moon."

The blue-haired woman inclined her head to the greying butler, and he smiled at her before turning to his master. "I'm afraid I wasn't expecting you, Master William. If you could escort Mr. Vale and Miss Moon to the tea room, I shall be along shortly."

The brunette nodded, a rueful grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "I would appreciate that. If you could also find Santiago, and bring him to us, that would be of great help to me."

LeBlanche bowed once more before walking down one of the many corridors in the grand house. Zhalia raised an eyebrow. It was a wonder Will was as forward and... normal, if you could say that, as he was, growing up in a stifled, formal environment like this. Emerald eyes serious, the Casterwill led them down another corridor to the room he, Loki and Dante had gone to the first time they had visited.

Almost as soon as they arrived, LeBlanche appeared with a tray of tea, and a cup of coffee for Zhalia. The mocha-orbed Seeker didn't know how he knew she preferred it, but she wasn't about to argue- she really needed a caffeine-loaded mug of the stuff right now. "Santiago is on his way." The steel-eyed attendant murmured to his lord, and made to withdraw, but Will held up a hand to stop him.

"Stay." The word was a command, but the tone was pleading. "I need the help of people I can trust with this mission. I shall wait till Santiago arrives to explain- the matter is complicated, and I have no wish to explain it twice."

LeBlanche took the customary three steps back to stand behind his master, but there was pride in his voice when he replied. "I will be glad to give any assistance I can." A wistful glint shone in his grey eyes, and he thought to himself that the teen sounded very like his parents- he had that same aura of command and strength, that solid determination. The older man's family had served the Casterwill for generations, and he knew that from this noble tree, only a few did truly great things, and he had trained Will to be one of those that grew into something better than the rest. He knew that the boy had that spark of greatness in him, and that he would be a credit to the long, lengthy list of ancestors that began with Casterwill himself.

Santiago stepped from behind a pillar to the back of the room, his staff poking out from behind his head, walking over with silent footsteps to kneel before the brunette on the sofa. "My lord, you sent for me?"

"Sit down, both of you." The eastern man could tell it was serious at once- Will did not usually defy LeBlanche's preference for the old ways of service, where servants tended to their employers with diligence and reverence. "I will get to the point. Loki woke this morning, but is now in the hands of the Blood Spiral."

Dante leant forwards, knowing that it was now that his input was needed, and Zhalia did the same. They hadn't felt comfortable enough to say much before, as they had both had a terrible shock, and neither of them had ever had any experience in settings of higher class. "Will," He asked, face grave and eyes dark. "What do you know of the brotherhood? Apart from the rumors of what they do to those who cross them, not much has come my way in terms of real information." Zhalia kept quiet- her sources weren't exactly on the legal side, or the Foundation side for that matter...

The jade-orbed lad gave a savage smile. "The Blood Spiral brotherhood was originally an ancient order who allied themselves with the Nullifiers during the war, so as to gain power and immortality. When my ancestor defeated their protectors and benefactors, the group disbanded, some seeing the errors of their ways. But two, the high favorites of the Nullifiers, remained." His eyes narrowed.

"They were the only ones deemed worthy of the gifts of their lords. They are immortal, unless killed, and impervious to all but the curse of the Legendary Titans in way of illnesses. They swore revenge on my family so that they could open the way to their masters again. They were married, once, and I believe them to still be so. Their names are Shauna, and Rassimov."

LeBlanche, face as pale as his name, stared at his young ward with wide eyes. "Where did you learn this from? We have no books on the Blood Spiral- they were to be kept until you were ready..."

The boy sighed, and rubbed his temples. "Necessity forced my hand, LeBlanche. Believe me, I had no wish to go against my parents' orders." Looking up, he met Zhalia's eyes first, then Dante's. "Twelve years ago, in my family's house, fanatics of the new Blood Spiral attacked my home, setting fire to it with my parents and I still inside." His emerald eyes seemed to reflect a memory of those terrible flames, eating and devouring his entire life. "Santiago rescued me, and now he, LeBlanche and I are all that's left."

Dante bowed his head, thinking. "Then, if Rassimov and Shauna are members of the Blood Spiral, how is it that Wind came to be the leader?" Zhalia bared her teeth in a disgusted smile.

"I can answer that. There's been rumors that a new, powerful, pair of Seekers joined the Organization not long ago. They defeated all in their way till they were second only to the Professor himself."

Will's gaze snapped onto her. "Where did you learn this?" He asked, voice almost a snarl. Another mark against Zhalia's name added to the long list in his mind.

The woman smirked, playing with Gareon's amulet around her neck. "I have my sources. In any case, it would explain why they would hand over control to a trusted member... though I can't see why they would trust someone so young..."

The Casterwill sighed. "I can explain that. Wind is their son, which is why he is so trusted. But," He clasped his hands together, tapping his lip with two extended first fingers. "It is also his greatest weakness. As a human, although he has the immense power of his parents, he is mortal." The edges of his smile stretched beyond the fingers covering his mouth. "He can be hurt."

Dante grinned. "Then I think you're going to like what I have to tell you, Will..."


With Zhalia's help, the auburn updated the trio before him of what had happened that evening. He tactfully left out his phone conversation with the blue-haired woman, a thing she was grateful for. God knows she didn't need another tally on the 'Why Zhalia is evil' board.

Will leant back, eyes distant, lips pursed. "We can't tell Guggenheim. He'll just flood Venice with a load of lesser Seekers, and they'll mess up the hunt." Dante frowned.

"How will having help work against us?" He mused, and emerald eyes flickered over to him.

"Wind has people everywhere, and Venice is his head quarters. He'll notice if we get more Seekers in, and go underground. We'll lose our chance of finding him, and Loki." A bitter, predatory smile made the teen seem much older than his 17 years. "That rat is good at hiding."

Zhalia sighed, brushing some hair out of her eyes as she thought. "Would it be possible to infiltrate the Blood Spiral?" She asked out loud, thinking of her own abilities. The auburn beside her seemed to see what she was thinking, and immediately shook his head.

"It's too dangerous- we need all the help we can get here on the outside, and Wind will recognize any of us."

Will, surprisingly, agreed, turning to Santiago. "We can't get into the group, but I've been placing a few contacts around the city for a few years now. If I give you a list of their names and addresses, I'll need you to gather what information you can, along with any sources you and LeBlanche have of your own. Go to my desk, and open the second draw on the left side. There should be a small, black book inside. The contacts in Venice should be about halfway through."

The dark-haired man stood, and bowed once before picking up his staff. "As you wish, my lord. I shall be back as soon as I am able." He disappeared in a swirl of black smoke, leaving a husk smell and empty space behind him.

LeBlanche stood too, inclining his head to everyone in the room in turn before turning to his master. "It is getting late, Master Will, and I have matters to attend to. If I may...?" He left the question hanging as the brunette smiled and waved a hand.

"As you wish, LeBlanche. You are dismissed."

Dante gave his student a crooked grin. "Since when were you so formal, Will? You're not a bit like the boy I remember swearing because he was sea sick."

The teen blushed, and looked nervously over his shoulder. "Please don't tell LeBlanche that." He begged, turning back. "He's tried his best to raise me as a noble, and he gets a bit upset when I'm, well, not so noble." Zhalia scoffed.

"So, not only does the mighty Casterwill have a heart, but he has a rough side too? It's all too much to take in one day." She smiled at the end to show she didn't mean it, stretching with her arms behind her head. Will grinned, then stood with a wince as his joints popped and clicked.

"It's getting late." He murmured, looking at the tall, intricately carved Grandfather clock to one side of the room. "If you want, you can stay here tonight." When the others nodded, the emerald-eyed lad gave a small smile, said goodnight, then left to find LeBlanche.

Almost immediately, Zhalia turned to Dante with a skeptical, raised eyebrow. "Why did you let Will take charge?" She demanded, confused about the way the auburn had just sat back and watched. "You have much more experience at this kind of thing than he does- he's just a kid."

Solemn, gold eyes closed for a moment as their owner thought over what the blue-haired woman had said. "I did it," The russet-haired man began. "Because Will needs to do this." When Zhalia still looked confused, he explained what he meant. "Wind, and the Blood Spiral, took something precious from Will a long time ago- his parents, and his life as a initiated Casterwill noble." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose against the frustrated headache that he could feel coming on. "Will needs to do this because, this time around, he's strong and capable enough to get back what they stole from him."

Zhalia gave a soft laugh. "I don't think Loki would like being seen as one of his possessions." Dante smiled weakly back.

"You know, you might be right there."

Amber eyes looked out the window to the sky, golden pinpricks of starlight the only thing breaking the endless darkness. Unknown to them all, in the ruins of old, filled in canals, and forgotten sewer ways, azure eyes mapped the same stars into their mind, bars of light broken by the bars of her cell window casting stripes of bright moonlight and dark shadows onto Loki's face.

She sighed and looked away, back to the chains wrapped around her wrists. She glared at them, hating being trapped more than anything, and looked to the floor instead. Those stupid, magic handcuffs, made using a tablet with the Casterwill power Breakspell, stopped her from using her magic, from blasting the door and escaping. It seemed she would have to wait for her moment to strike, if one ever came. A small smile crept across her face, unbidden. Puzzles took patience- she could wait this out, of that she was certain. But still...

The blonde remembered Zhalia's face when they had seen each other- shocked, disbelieving, but her coffee-coloured eyes held a strange sort of hope. Sitting on the floor, Loki curled up, tucking her knees under her chin and wrapping her arms around her legs. They wouldn't try to find her if they knew the truth- they'd run as far away as they could, or just stay still, that same look on their faces. Shock, disbelief, but that hope would wither and die, killed by who, no, what she was. A single tear fell down the girl's cheek.

She still couldn't help but hope that they would come.

"Guys," She thought.

"Loki," Dante thought.

"Where are you?"


AN: Sorry, but due to the snow, signal is gonna be patchy at my house over the next few weeks. SORRY.

Also, Merry Christmas from me, Loki and the gang!