Butch~
Hecate is rough with me as she sucks the life from me.
I mean literally, shit I wish this was a blow job but it's not. She pulls magic and energy from my body as I exert myself. Energy flows from my body and forms into a physical green flame that she pulls into her body. Shivering as the power enters her. This was much easier when she could feed daily off of me with kissing and sex. I feel my second wind finally dying down and slowly let my power levels return to normal.
"Just a little more amore." She begs and I oblige, I'm not sure what Hecate is but I know she is ancient.
I make as much energy and heat that I can before I fall to my knees gasping. She pulls enough on the energy around my body that it causes a pain in my chest.
"Oh I'm sorry Master Butch…." She comes to me kissing me fully on the lips. My lids flutter and I start to lose consciousness.
"I just need as much as you can give me tonight." She soothes as I fade to black.
I wake from my nap to a searing pain in my bicep. My bond is glowing bright hot and sapping even more energy from me. I feel out for Hecate's mind and it is nothing but a vortex of raw ancient emotion.
Something is wrong.
Terribly wrong.
I sniff out Buttercup, I don't want to leave her alone at the manor. This could be some sort of attack, that and I don't want to give her any opportunity to escape. I bite my lip as I realize that I'm no better than my brothers but push the feeling down for now. I need to focus and every second that Hecate has this melt down is another ounce of power she is stealing from me. Possibly Buttercup too, all contracts, feeder or not, sap some sort of power from the non-wielder. That is unspoken and cannot be negotiated.
I'm not surprised that her sweet scent leads me to the gym in the back of the property, just peeking out from the tree line. I open the doors to find Buttercup on her knees, covered in a sheet of sweat. She falls to her right shoulder, gripping her left shoulder tight. My heart races as I process where she is holding, the bond then burns bright, illuminating the gym in a purple light. I rush to her, removing her hand from the smiling moon while Hecate's band on her forearm glows gold. The magic fights within her, golden and purple lightening coursing under her skin between the two marks. She whimpers and the sound makes my blood boil. I hiss a curse and grip her arm tight; I can defuse Hecate's no problem but this mystery mark…
I send my own energy into the band on her forearm and it stops enough that the magic is no longer trying to dominate within her.
"Are you alright enough to travel?" I ask. She swallows hard before nodding slightly. She looks me over for a second and her fingers fan on my cheek for a moment.
A moment much too short. Her hand flies away and her lips turn downward.
"The question is are you? You look like you've gotten your ass handed to you."
Hecate sends a powerful emotion through the bond. It feels like vengeance, rage.
"We must go now!" I grab onto her and transport us to Hecate.
Brick~
I pour over previous reports while the more recent documents pile up.
"Come in, Pet." I call to Blossom who stands on the other side of the office door. The door creaks open and Blossom holds a large cup of coffee for me.
"Good morning." She cheers, "Would you like me to look over the older documents?"
I think for a moment, reading her body language as if it will tell me her other intentions.
I see none.
"Yes pet come and take a seat." I scoot away from my desk a few inches to make room for those long creamy white legs. As she makes her way over a black envelop appears near her feet.
"Oh!" She exclaims, bending to pick it up, I look up to see what has caught her eye. I stand trying to shout no but it's too late.
Her soft hand grabs onto an envelope and a soft sizzle follows in its wake. She whimpers dropping the black stationary while clutching her hand delicately to her chest.
"Oh babe." I rush to her, "Let me see."
I gingerly pull her hands to me, her right hand is shaking and the burn is third degree.
"CLOVER PHONE BUTCH OR HECATE! NOW!"
"Yes king!" I hear from the kitchen. I don't know how to heal bones or muscles like Butch or how to fix anything the way Hecate does but I do know the severity of injuries. I get the medical aspect of it.
"No one is answering at the manor your majesty." Clover is out of breath, bowing and slightly shaking.
"Shit," She flinches, "Try again, please."
She nods, eyes shining when she spies Blossom's hand she hurries.
For the time being I guide her to the bathroom, putting the faucet on full blast.
I gently guide her hand under the cool water. She hisses from pain and I kiss her hair line.
"I'm sorry, Pet. I know you were just trying to help and now you're hurt."
"It's okay." She whispers.
Still the guilt burns through me and rests at the nape of my neck. I leave for the aloe plant in my office. I rip a giant leaf off in hopes that my temporary fix will work. I heat the plant up in my hand until it is a nice gel like substance. I pat dry Blossom's hand with my free one before gently rubbing the now aloe gel on her burn. I rip my sleeve and wrap it around her burn from now.
"Is this okay?" I ask and she nods, "Then let's return back to work."
Hours pass before I hear from my brother. A greenish black envelope appears on top of my work causing Blossom to flinch.
"It's okay pet, it's only from Butch, he normally doesn't use protective spells on his envelopes." I adjust her weight onto my other leg fingering the letter, "How is your hand?"
"It hurts only a little," She murmurs and I kiss her cheek. She always did lie about how much she was hurting.
"Would it be insensitive of me to ask you to make me a cup of coffee?" I ask gently, eyes fixated on her wrapped hand. Coffee always makes me think of her. It's warm and wakes me up gently like she does, keeps me going.
"No, it wouldn't." She smiles, and stands slowly. Her pink eyes fall onto the letter before she leans in close and kisses me with a slow burn kiss.
I gasp when she lets my lips go.
"Don't miss me too much." Her cheeks flush as she leaves the study for a few moments.
I open the letter gingerly, I asked her to leave just in case Butch is angry over Father's meeting and feels like taking it out on me. Though he's never done that with magic before but I just can't risk it.
Butch's hand writing jumps off the blackish oil spill colored paper in golden ink,
'Brother,
I am sorry to have missed your call, Hecate has been tied up most of the day with her own personal matters and she will be dropping by moments after you open this letter. Please use her as you wish, she is at a peak of magic at the moment.
But do not send her home to me completely drained.
-Butch.'
I glance at my watch, eleven thirty, would she visit at this hour? Well he sent the letter and said moments after reading it, maybe he intended for me to get this in the morning.
Hecate appears before me in a rush of golden light, answering my questions.
"Ah Hecate." I say, standing, "Thank you for coming, I tried to call for you down the mirror you gave us but no answer."
I glance up to see her golden eyes shining. I swallow feeling suddenly mesmerized by their beauty.
"Would you like to make a contract?" She asks, extending a midnight hand that is glowing gold, "You could call me down the bond whenever you like. I'll always answer."
My mind empties as I stare into the light, then I'm glued to her eyes. The room around me begins to disappear and it is as if Hecate and I are the only people, things, in existence atop a black backdrop. Her golden hand the only light
I slowly extend my hand, a breath away from clasping hers when Blossom enters the study. Shattering the illusion.
"Oh Hecate!" She smiles, the room comes flooding back to me as she sets the cup down on the desk. I feel a little dazed and disoriented. Hecate is no longer glowing or as mesmerizing as she once was.
Was she glowing before?
Was she even trying to make a contract with me? What use would it be to have another Rowdy Ruff in her corner? I stare Hecate down as she moves her hands over Blossom. Midnight skin contrasting with a creamy rose color. She gently unwraps the makeshift bandages around her slender palm. Soothing her when she hisses out in pain.
"Ah a magic burn," Hecate says, fingers lighting up, "It seems to be powerful magic too. What cursed item did you touch child?"
Blossom's cheeks blush as she recalls the envelope, her expression screams that she feels foolish.
"A black envelope that appeared at my feet."
"A death summons." I state. The room grows cold as the words slip from Hecate's mouth,
"Surely not for lovely Blossom."
"No! Never!" I half shout before collecting myself, "I am often Father's messenger. He normally makes them appear on my desk."
"Where is the envelope?" Hecate asks, eyes still fixated on Blossom's burn. The burn begins to dissolve with little bits of purple lightening combating the golden light before it is gone all together. My eyes wander over my desk and I don't see the envelope in question. Many others have piled atop my desk but none as black as this one.
I could have sworn I picked it up, but then it reappears, right at Blossom's feet again. Hecate's lip curls up as she stares down at the fine stationary.
"Brick, take Blossom and leave." I have never heard her voice so hard before.
"Leave?"
"This is time sensitive and if you must be in the room when I open this envelope, stand in the corner and protect Blossom." Her voice is serious and full of malice, so I obey. I push Blossom up against a bookshelf and hide most of her slender frame. Normally I am pushing her against a bookshelf for a different reason. I lick my lips at a memory as a sheer gold barrier blocks off Blossom and I from the rest of the room, the heavy wooden door to the study slams shut.
Hecate's eyes glow golden as she picks up the letter and breaks the purple seal. Odd Father's is normally red.
Magic swirls out, causing my room to fill up with a purple haze that has little purple lightning bolts. The magic reacts negatively to both the barrier and Hecate. I'm quick to realize that this is not my Father's magic, that this is not a death summons from Him. But from a separate entity.
The letter begins to read itself aloud, the voice hauntingly familiar but I cannot place it to save my life.
"Blossom and Brick, Oh!" You can hear the smile in the disembodied voice, "I see my letter has found neither target but you my old friend."
Angry magic pours out of the envelope so hard that the force causes the stationary to push itself out of Hecate's grip. She snarls.
"Don't worry, you may or may not remember much of what happens next but I have one question for you. Why do you resist? This is a new era for us, for you! We could be Go…"
But the letter is cut off with a fire so bright that not even I can look at it.
Hecate is huffing, though I can't tell if it is from exertion or anger. The air is charged with energy and the barrier is beginning to feel like a cage.
"Hecate." I try to soothe and she whips her head towards me, markings I've never seen before glowing deep gold. The markings resemble a crown across her forehead; it looks to be draped pearls, shells, and sharp teeth all leading to a large symbol at the center of her forehead. A full moon with a crescent moon sitting atop it, tips skyward. Suddenly Butch appears in the study, looking drained as ever, gripping tightly to Buttercup, who seems to have some purple glowing moon on her shoulder. Butch's own band glows bright gold. I squint from the brightness as Butch drops Buttercup's arm.
"Oh love," His voice sounds weak, as if exhausted. He places his hands on her arms, "Why are you so worked up?"
Her golden hue deepens and a sheen of sweat appears on Butch's forehead almost instantly. His breathing turns labored, his normally sun kissed skin missing its luster. I do not like how pale my dark headed brother looks. Buttercup must notice it too, her deft lime eyes roaming over Butch's features. She curls up her lip, eyes glued to Butch's glowing Bond.
"Hecate." She snarls, her own bond now glowing gold, while Butch's fades. She removes Butch's hands and stands between the two. Eyes narrowing on Hecate as if she were to pounce. Buttercup wraps strong hands around Hecate's forearms. She flips them so that Hecate's are underneath hers and Buttercup's eyes seem to glow. It seems right that her eyes glow when she's angry, illuminating with a lime green. My head begins to burn from the familiarity as my stomach twists out of fear.
Actual true, gut clenching fear as I stare blankly at Buttercup's rising power. A ghost of a feeling washes over me, seeing those eyes directed at me, at my dark haired brother. I swallow as Blossoms hands wring into my shirt.
Sweat starts to bead on Buttercup's forehead but she is unfazed by it, as if giving away so much of her is nothing. Her bond gets brighter as Hecate gains more power. Whatever is going on between them Butch is unhappy about.
"Be careful. You wouldn't want to drain her dry." He growls, his own bond then flashes a deep bright gold and Hecate starts to come to her senses.
Her markings fade and the barrier between the rest of the room and myself fades to nothing.
"I'm sorry I just became so angry that…"
"We will discuss this later." Butch cuts her off, "I know how your temper can get."
Butch caresses Buttercup's moon with solemn eyes as the purple hue begins to fade. Then he turns to me.
"Brother, forgive me. Had I known the result of tonight I would have accompanied Hecate and in the morning instead." His voice is not in his normal cocky tone, as if he is drained both physically and mentally.
"No need to apologize." I grip his forearm tight, "Everything alright brother?"
I give him a look, a 'be honest with me' sharp eyed look to which he smirks, half annoyed.
"Yes I am fine." He says, holding eye contact with me. I half believe him before giving his arm a tight squeeze. It is only now do I realize that Buttercup and he are half dressed. Buttercup in tight compression shorts that barely stop mid-thigh topped with a black sports bra. Butch is shirtless but still has on his dress pants, both of them barefoot.
"Did this interrupt something?" I ask, smiling a devilish smile.
"He wishes." Buttercup hisses, though her eyes give her away. Worry shines in them as she looks over her counterpart. Forest green eyes cut to Buttercup and he reaches for her. She obeys the silent command and finds herself under his arm. He leans on her a little too much for my liking.
"I was only about to get into a bath, that's all. I found Buttercup training on the grounds." An honest enough answer out of him. He does look as if he was stripping his clothes to bathe. I grit my teeth, biting back the questions I want to ask.
"Is the work here done then Hecate?" He asks voice even. She nods and disappears to the manor, "Can I do anything else for your Brick?"
"You must be sick if you're offering help." I laugh and so does he. His knuckles turning white as he grips Buttercup who sways from the weight. As I open my mouth to express concern Buttercup cuts me off.
"See you around, red cap." The nickname sounds odd as they disappear in a dark green light. The burning returns and I grip the back of my head tightly.
"I'll get you some migraine medicine." Blossom's hand brushes my bicep as she leaves for the kitchen. I pinch the bridge of my nose as daydreams cloud my head.
Buttercup~
Butch collapses the second we hit the dark hardwood in the foyer.
"Hecate!" I holler, even send a nasty shock down the bond like Butch taught me but she doesn't stir. She stays deep within the estate. I try to send something one more time but instead I cough up blood. It splatters at our feet and Butch growls. I gave her too much so she would leave Butch alone. My knees wobble as I scream a final time down the bond.
USELESS!
He grips me tightly, leaving bruises along my shoulder.
"When did she begin to feed off of you?" His voice is deep and sinister, "I will kill her."
The bond on his arm begins to spread rapidly and whatever he's imagining must be bad.
"Hey, let's get you out of those pants." I say in the most flirtatious voice I can muster. But it doesn't even faze him. He helps me as much as he can as I half drag him up the stairs and through the door to the sitting room before his bedroom. I know I cannot make it to the bed so I hoist him onto the black couch where he has been staying since my arrival. Reminding me that he doesn't want to force sharing a bed with me. My body shakes from the exertion of both giving up parts of myself to Hecate and lugging 275 pounds of muscle up a flight of stairs. I try to catch my breath as Butch's condition worsens. The bond has fully covered his arm and over half of his face, bleeding black into his eye. I look at the intricate weaving of the same symbol that I will later learn is called Hecate's circle. I grasp onto it tight and try to disrupt its path.
"Enough." I growl and it slinks slowly back down his face and arm into the perfect band it once was. I sigh with relief as sweat begins to bead once more on my brow. I hiss a curse as I assess Butch. Two teas appear on the side table which Butch swipes off. The amber liquid stains the fur carpet beneath our feet and another two appear in their place.
"Do not drink it." He snarls to me, the bond reacting negatively to his roughness.
"Suddenly you don't trust her?" I ask, staring into his swirling green eyes. He bares his teeth.
"No I do not. She never should have made that TYPE of contract with you! A feeder contract on two people." He hisses out, "I will give her a lashing for that."
He goes into a coughing fit that ends with his hand stained a dark red. I swallow my fear.
"I made this bond before you taught me anything about magic," I smooth damp hair from his face, "So maybe her magic assumed that this was to be a feeder contract. She only stated one thing the rest is in between the lines."
Thank you comes up the bond and I hiss back down Shut up this isn't for you
He sighs, hands glued to me now, holding me tightly as if I disappear into thin air.
"I know I am not the last bond she has made before you." He thinks aloud. His eyes search mine for a moment before he gingerly takes the tea.
"It should be rejuvenating tea, like how my bath was going to be. It's probably cold now." He refers to the bath and I shrug.
He takes a sip and a devilish smile curves his lips upward.
"You could still help me out of my pants though." He chuckles and I playfully growl at him. Collapsing on beside him.
"In your dreams."
"Always." he sips his tea as he passes me my cup. I stare down into the liquid, seeing the gold swirls. It's funny that that's what he would say. That he would still respond the way he used to.