AN: Thank you Vilbyr for being my first comment!

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Chapter 3

Billy got up the next morning expecting to see Tommy in the living room eating breakfast and watching TV. When there was no sign of him Billy hoped that maybe this trip to his mom's had gone better then the last dozen visits and maybe he'd stayed the night there.

He kept himself entertained reading his comic with the news on in the background – just in case there was a crime in progress he needed to fly off to – and on commercials he re-ran the load of laundry from yesterday that had been flung into the mud.

But once lunchtime came around and Tommy hadn't returned Billy started to become worried. He checked his phone every five minutes and sent new messages to his brother every fifteen, trying not to become too paranoid.

Are you still at your mom's?

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When are you coming back?

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Tommy?

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Is everything okay?

When none of the messages got any answers and another hour had ticked by Billy had enough. He used his powers to make his suit and his headband appear as he held out his hand and his red tattered cloak flew to him. He wrapped it around his shoulders swiftly with one hand then teleported to the edge of town on the hillside. Then he levitated himself and flew off in the same direction Speed had gone yesterday.

There was a highway not far from the town that wove through two mountains lush with trees and foliage. Wiccan knew Speed would have run through the trees following the highway so he wouldn't get lost or spotted. But if he'd gone his usual route then he wouldn't be missing would he? Wiccan landed in the middle of the forest and the edges of his brown irises glowed blue as he used a locator spell to find Speed.

"Iwanttofindmybrother."

When his eyes returned to normal there was a wisp of blue energy, almost like a dull ribbon, that wound its way through the forest highlighting each turn Speed had taken. Wiccan didn't waste any time, his palms glowed cobalt as he flew again, following the path. He saw a fallen tree where it looked like Speed had made a sharp turn and pursued a different path, the blue light cutting an almost perfect ninety degree angle. His brother, Wiccan internally sighed rolling his eyes, always one for adventure and never quite cautious enough. Wiccan landed on the leaf and twig covered ground again as he made his way forward ready for any kind of attack or ambush. How many people must have gotten the drop on Speed that he didn't have a chance to outrun them? Or blow them up?

Then suddenly the temperature dropped and Wiccan saw snow covering the tree branches and all the bushes and shrubs. But it was June, how was there snow here? He knew it must have been some sort of magic which only put his senses on greater alert.

That internal alarm only grew when he found his brother's duffel bag on the ground, torn and with its contents spilt. Thankfully he didn't see any blood which was only slightly reassuring. A breeze swept through the trees and he pulled his cape tighter around him to try and keep out the chill. He had to find Speed - right now.

He hurried through the trees as the dirt under his boots became more of a path until he was walking on paved cobblestones. The trees became sparse until they stopped altogether and revealed a tall metal gate made of brass and iron with elaborate swirled designs. One side of the gate was already pushed open and Wiccan made his way through it and saw the grandest sight he'd ever laid eyes on. In the distance was a huge castle and between him and the building was an elaborate courtyard with several paths that wove back and forth and crossed with each other several times. Between the paths were ornately trimmed bushes and greenery that was all dusted with pure white snow. The cerulean colored magic that had been guiding him had been dimmer at the gate but here completely faded away. Thankfully he didn't need it anymore, he had a good idea of where he'd find his twin.

Wiccan tried to teleport to the front door but suddenly felt exhausted like he'd been using his magic for hours. He tried again and focused on the feeling inside him, his magic felt locked in his body, like he couldn't bring it out and use it.

Not sure what was happening he tried something else, something that used less power then teleportation. Wiccan's hands glowed indigo as he extended them at his sides and lifted himself into the air, flying in a large arch and landing at the base of the steps to the castle's main door. He collapsed onto his knees as his hands propped him up on the bottom step, keeping his head from cracking open as he took several deep breaths. This was bad, if something was interfering with his power then rescuing Speed was going to be an even more difficult task. Still, he pushed on, getting up and hurrying up the marble steps as his cloak fluttered around his shoulders, the tears catching the slight chilly breeze.

He pushed opened the door and stepped inside slowly, not sure what awaited him within. He was also still questioning how this place remained here all this time and he and no one else seemed to ever mention it or know it existed. Unless whatever was affecting his powers was somehow cloaking the building.

Inside, the castle was just as lavish as the outside, marble floors, walls and ceiling, pillars of stone with gold trim. A wide grand staircase laid in front of him. Along the rails were thick ribbons of gold and carved marble that wound themselves up not only the railings but the walls and pillars. They were purely decorative and were obviously meant to show just how wealthy the owner of this castle was. They moved like waves and the railings seemed to sprout from under them in a unique sort of beauty. He'd never seen anything like it.

The railings and the steps they housed between them extended to many levels, some staircases branching off around corners and into darkness beyond his line of sight. Just how big was this place? He didn't want to waste more time here then he had to, he was hoping to grab Speed and get out quick. Hopefully before his captor realized Wiccan was even there.

"Oh he looks magical." A voice whispered as Wiccan walked around the main level looking for threats.

"Kate, hush!" Another scolded softly.

"Maybe he can break the spell Eli."

Wiccan turned, not hearing much other then whispers but he knew someone was there. "Who said that? Who's there?"

There was no response as Wiccan stepped away from the staircase and looked around the foyer again trying to find whoever had spoken. There was a fireplace crackling away but no one was around enjoying the warmth. Unless whoever had lit the logs had already run off to tell Speed's captor that Wiccan was there.

Then he heard a groan of pain and turned around in the direction of the sound. This time he didn't hesitate to run up the steps following the noise. The main stairs branched to the left then took a sharp turn upward. But another groan from a shadow drew Wiccan's attention and he walked over finding a smaller doorway. Inside there was no lavish marble, everything was a cold stone that reminded him of a dungeon. Speed had to be there. Wiccan rushed up the steps that curled along the edge of what he discovered was a tower. Eventually he started passing empty cells with cold and slightly rusted metal doors made of criss crossing bars.

About halfway up the glassless windows of the tower stopped which made everything darker and colder, a kind of cold that seeped directly into your bones. Wiccan pushed on hoping to find his brother as the steps broke apart into more pathways, some that overlapped others and some that ran under new archways like a maze. Wiccan was just about to continue up the steps that wrapped around the edge hugging the curved walls when a cough from a cell to his left stopped him. He floated to the landing there – hating how much energy that took - and grabbed the door, his fingers lacing with the rusted metal as he peeked in and saw a figure lying on the ground.

"Speed!"

"Wiccan?" the platinum blonde asked as his head snapped to the side looking over his shoulder to make sure he hadn't hallucinated the familiar voice. When he saw his twin his green eyes widened in shock before he stood and rushed to the door, though not fast enough that he was a blur. Speed latched on to the same spot of the door letting his fingers cover Wiccan's. "How did you find me?"

"I knew there was no way you were staying at your mom's this long." Wiccan joked and Speed laughed though it was cut short by coughing and he grabbed his chest like he might be hurt. Wiccan hoped his ribs weren't broken. "Who did this to you?"

"Wic, there's no time. You've got to go."

"I'm not leaving without you!" Wiccan protested, "I'm getting you out."

"You can't get me out. I can't even get myself out." Speed admitted.

"Why? Why haven't you blown the door off? Why didn't you run to begin with?" Wiccan asked expecting to hear Speed cockily say how he thought he could handle it. His brother did have an ego and a self-esteem that was bigger then it should be.

"I couldn't." Speed said, which was not what Wiccan was expecting at all. "I tried but I couldn't run fast enough. Much less make something explode. This place. . . this place does something to powers."

Wiccan thought that over, so it wasn't just magic like with his attempt to teleport earlier, it was all abilities. Even the non-magical.

"There has to be some way." Wiccan insisted glancing over the door hoping to find a weak spot. Maybe a link that was rusted enough to break it manually.

"There's no time, Wiccan, please, go." Speed urged him.

"I told you I'm not leaving you -" he was harshly pulled back by a firm grip on his cape. The cloak pushed against his throat cutting of his air supply and when Wiccan landed hard on the stone floor he coughed and gasped for air.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" A voice roared.

"WICCAN RUN!" Speed shouted desperately grabbing the bars and peering through making sure his brother was okay, for now.

Wiccan sat up on the floor using one elbow to prop him up. He lifted his other hand flat, trying to keep it ready in case he needed to use his powers and throw back any threat; though a small voice in his mind questioned if even something as small as that would work here. He looked around for whoever had grabbed him and saw a dark figure on another stairway across the hollow tower and a few levels up. All he could tell from the silhouette was that the person was tall and well built. Without his powers the captor was probably someone who could choke the life out of Wiccan without much effort.

"Who are you?" Wiccan asked trying to sound demanding and tough as he got off the floor, still holding out his hand defensively.

"The master of this castle." The figure replied, "Who are you?"

Wiccan wasn't used to people not knowing who he was, at least, not when he was in uniform.

"I just came for my brother."

"Your brother is a trespasser and a thief." The figure answered. Wiccan had to wonder if this could have been someone Speed had wronged back before he became a hero with his twin. Back before juvie when he had a record for making trouble. But if Speed had ever crossed someone who could take away your powers surely that would have been something he would have shared with Wiccan. He looked back at Speed through the bars and remembered the promise he'd made him. After the Cube he'd never be a prisoner again. And Wiccan intended to keep that promise no matter what. His brother had spent enough time behind bars in his life.

He turned back to the dark figure and lowered his hand, "What if I stayed in his place?"

The figure leapt across the air and landed on the same landing Wiccan was on but he was still encased in shadows thanks to the lack of windows. He towered over Wiccan and the mage had to restrain himself from backpedaling in fright. "You would take his place?"

"Wiccan no. It's forever. You can't do that for me -" Speed tried to protest but Wiccan cut him off answering the question.

"If I did, would you let him go?"

"Hmmm." The figure pondered the idea while Wiccan wracked his brain trying to find something that could give him the upper hand in this situation.

"Why aren't you coming into the light?" He asked and the figure paused and tilted his head. When he didn't answer Wiccan raised his hand again and used what little magic he had access to and made the tower glow for a moment. The bright ball of light in his hand illuminated everything, including the green scaled skin, claws and wings that were hidden under the captor's torn grey trench coat. Wiccan gasped and stepped back, never having seen such a creature before. The light from his magic dulled and went out as Wiccan backed into the bars of Speed's cell.

"No!" Speed shouted in Wiccan's ear, "I'm not letting you do this!"

Wiccan shook off his shock and placed his hand back on the bars, over his brother's fingers as he turned to him, "I made you a promise."

Speed shook his head, "I can be a prisoner, I've done it before, it's no big deal. You've got a clean record, you're a good person. You should go. Live a good life. I'll be fine."

Green met brown as the two shared a long look before Wiccan muttered, "Fine I'll go."

Speed mustered up a smile as Wiccan turned back to his brother's captor.

"Can I have a minute with him?"

The Beast scoffed.

"You want to keep him locked up here forever, but can't give a twin a minute to say goodbye to his other half?" Wiccan asked stepping forward. The Beast hesitated then turned and pulled a lever that made Speed's door open.

"One minute. Then this door shuts forever." The captor warned.

Wiccan rushed into the cell and embraced his twin. Speed slowly brought his arms up into the hug and patted Wiccan's back.

"It's okay Wiccan, I got this." Speed tried to comfort him but Wiccan knew it was a tough guy act. Speed didn't want to be left here but he also couldn't live with the guilt of letting his own twin rot in a cell for him while he walked free.

"You're not afraid?" Wiccan asked still hugging his brother.

"Nah. Can't be as bad as the Cube. Lots of peace and quiet this time." Speed tried to ease the serious tension and Wiccan gave a small chuckle.

"I'm not afraid either." He replied, "And I'll find a way out I promise."

Speed was confused but in the next second Wiccan had used everything he had to teleport Speed out of the hug, outside the cell and onto the landing. Then Wiccan turned and slammed the door shut locking himself inside. His captor stepped forward as Speed pushed himself off the floor still figuring out what just happened.

"You took his place." The Beast said surprised as he looked through the bars at his new prisoner.

"He's my twin brother." Wiccan said giving all the explanation he thought was needed for such a situation.

The Beast scoffed and rolled his eyes, "He's a fool. And so are you."

Then he grabbed Speed who was still on his hands and knees, by the back of his uniform and dragged him down the steps while Wiccan gripped the bars and tried to keep his eyes on his brother for as long as possible. Speed fought against the firm grip and Wiccan cringed at how his body slid from one sharp step to the next.

"Don't hurt him!" Wiccan shouted after the pair's retreating figures. He remembered how Speed had coughed and grabbed his chest in pain, he didn't want his twin to get injured any more then he already was. Speed started to shout back to his brother but his voice grew smaller and further away as he was dragged off. Still that didn't stop him from shouting promises to come back for Wiccan no matter what, "I'll come back! I'll get you out!"

But Wiccan only half hoped those promises would be kept.