Brick tore through the crowd, ignoring his brothers' confused shouts. He'd felt it. For one single, delirious moment, he had felt her return to him. She'd called to him, giving him a general idea of where she was before the connection was broken. He would know her magic signature anywhere, but he couldn't track it. It had wrapped around him for a second, disappearing before he could fully lock onto it. He prayed he was running in the right direction, consequences be damned. She was his. And she finally remembered.
Brick stumbled on a row of houses, skipping those as he stopped in front of a single one at the end. It was spaced further from the others in an attempt at privacy, making it the perfect location for whatever Reed had planned. Panting, he approached the house cautiously, Boomer's surprise attack flashing in his mind. When he made it to the door without incident, Brick grew increasingly more suspicious. As if to answer him, the door swung open further. Brick belatedly wondered why no one was home. If Blossom was here, wouldn't at least one of the girls be? Yet no one came around the corner, prompting him to venture further inside. Maybe if he had listened to his instincts, he would realize the oddity of the situation. If this were anyone else, Brick would have scoffed at their actions, demanding they at least fully check their surroundings. But Brick was no spectator in this. His feelings were blinding him, preventing him from thinking as rationally as usual. He did hesitate at the doorway, blood red orbs sweeping the perimeter before venturing further.
When he was fully inside, the door slammed shut. Brick whirled around, not for the first time cursing his lack of power in this life. His worry for Blossom warred with his instincts screaming at him, shouting that this was a set up. But it was too late to turn back now. Brick jiggled the door knob, frowning when it stayed stubbornly locked. Well, might as well continue walking right into this...Brick turned toward the living room, his steps carrying him across the room to the kitchen. When he hit a dead end there, he doubled back, unknowingly tracing Blossom's steps. Except this time, he noticed the enchantment hiding a door. It was situated between two paintings, before you reached the stairs. Brick steeled himself, reaching for the doorknob. It gave under his grip without protest, revealing a shady staircase into what was no doubt the basement. Brick could swear he heard the Jaws theme song begin, growing in volume as he descended the staircase. However, the room was dark, eerily so. Brick stumbled, bumping in to something hard. It felt cool under his palm when he put his hand on it, but a faint glow from the further in the room. It was a soft cyan. Brick pushed carefully forward, his hands slightly extended forward to keep himself from falling again. As he shuffled forward, the glow grew brighter, until it morphed into an actual shape. Brick rushed forward, his mouth falling open before his mind could register what he was seeing.
"BLOSSOM!" She floated almost peacefully, a mask hooked to her mouth and leading to a tube that connected to the top of the container that held her. Brick pressed his hands against the glass, afraid breaking it would have adverse effects. He was so absorbed in figuring out how to free her, he almost missed the second reflection that appeared on the glass. He turned to it, a growl in his voice.
"What have you done?!" Reed held his hands up in the universal sign of peace, but his cruel smile called for war.
"Relax Brick. She isn't dead. She's just sleeping, until I'm ready to wake her up." Brick coiled his muscles, ready to strike. Before he could, Reed help up a deceptively innocent looking remote.
"Ah ah ah. No sudden moves. We wouldn't want Blossom to get uncomfortable." He pressed a blue button, and at first nothing happened. Just as Brick released the breath he'd been holding and began advancing on Reed again, Blossom screamed. She thrashed in the container, her eyes flying open and wildly looking around. Brick turned to her immediately, his hands once again on the glass. Blossom locked eyes with him shortly after, her eyes begging him. For what, he didn't know. He turned his head back to Reed, his shoulders sagging.
"Enough! Enough." Reed grinned manically, pressing the button again. Blossom thrashed harder, slowly losing control of her limbs. Blossom continued looking at him urgently, but Brick smiled reassuringly at her.
"It'll be alright." Blossom continued to look like she wanted to say something, but whatever was in that liquid prevented her from doing so. He was slightly disturbed by her look even as her eyes unwillingly closed, and she was back in that deceivingly calm state. He let his fingers linger a bit longer before turning away, following Reed back into the main room. Reed turned on the lights, temporarily blinding the boy. Brick's eyes narrowed, recognizing the sacrificial alters set up. They were the same ones they'd rescued Boomer from. How ironic. So it's my turn this time? Brick laid on the table under the red orb without complaint. He thought of overpowering Reed, but Reed's eyes glowed in warning. Just because Brick and his brothers didn't have their powers, didn't mean Reed and his brothers suffered the same fate. Even as he allowed himself to get strapped to the table, his eyes never lost their raging disobedience.
"You won't win this time either." Reed ignored him, making sure the ritual was ready, and nothing had been tampered with during all the unexpected visits.
"Nonsense. We only need one. Boomer was a failure because I hadn't properly prepared. But this time..." He stepped back as he picked up a heavy tomb, standing at Brick's head as he started to chant. Brick felt his body grow hotter, flexing against the restraints. His head began to pound as a foreign entity began pushing on his brain, fighting for control. Brick wasn't even aware of the scream that tore through his throat, his unseeing eyes now glowing an ominous fiery red. His limbs slowly became encased in a halo of crimson flames. The orb above his alter began pulsing, a single line linking it to Brick as his screaming increased. Reed, meanwhile, began chanting louder, fighting to be heard over the crackling of the ever consuming flames sprouting out of Brick. If he didn't put up his wind barrier, he would have been burned alive hours ago.
With a final chant, the building pressure exploded. Reed was thrown to the side, slamming his head against the doorway leading into the room Blossom was being held in. As blood trickled into his eye, his crazed smile decorated his face. For there, sitting up and facing the stairs, having melted the restraints, was the God of Fire, having successfully possessed Brick's body.
"I did it...I finally did it!" The God of Fire sat there, turning his head to face his summoner with an unflinching gaze.
Elsewhere, Boomer and Butch suddenly stopped, collapsing against each other. Boomer wordlessly looked to Butch, his midnight blue eyes filled with fear. Butch clutched his brother's arm tighter, uncaring that they were drawing curious stares. They had both felt it - their brother was gone.
