Bubbles is buzzing with excitement, her light sky eyes taking in all that she can as the train rushes by woodland scenery. When she glimpses a bird in the blurs she squeezes my hand and her smile widens. I squeeze back, give her a small kiss on her hair line and then go back to my brooding. Butch lives a few hours, by train, outside of Inner City much to Father's disdain. I can't blame him for moving but I can blame him for leaving Brick and I. Though he always reminds us we are more than capable of moving out from under Father's thumb.

I glance at Bubbles whose sunshine gold hair shines even under the grey clouds; it's the raining season now which is her least favorite. Her eyes still watch the window while mine watch her. It isn't easy giving her away to Butch. He's too handsy with her and it will be especially hard after his last stunt. More so with that violent vermin living in his home and he claims her as his mate.

HA!

She is nothing but a destructive being that has nothing to contribute to our society. Who knows how she will influence Bubbles. Her spending leisure time with Brick's pet was pushing it. My eyes linger towards Brick's private car in front of us. I can hear Blossom giggling, something has changed between them. He allows her to read now when before he thought her illiterate but even saying that doesn't sound right, Blossom being illiterate.

The train comes to a halt with sounds of air flowing from the brakes. I kiss her knuckles before standing to collect Bubbles' things. Her baby pink and blue duffle back is heavy as if she plans to stay for a month. She reaches for her matching backpack but I hold out my hand before she can slip it onto her shoulders.

"I would hate for you to wrinkle your dress, Bub." I say softly, her eyes shine as she smiles handing me the bag. I sling it on my shoulder and listen to the fresh paint bottles and brushes bang against one another. I usher her off of the train and onto the bright platform that reads as 'Border Limits Last Stop, Butch Manor'. It's shows that it is the last stop in the middle of nowhere all the platform is, is a construction of wood no awning or even a bench. I loathe coming to this stop.

"Hello ladies, brothers." Butch smiles holding out his hand for Blossom and Bubbles. His vermin mate stands behind him with crossed arms. Her nostrils flare as those green eyes spy the dainty chain that leads to Blossom's throat, Brick places it in Butch's palm as Hecate grabs her bags loading them into the coach led by horses. I know this is all for show, I wonder if the horses are even real or just magic made by Hecate. Vermin's eyes shift to me now, boring holes into my chest before they shift to Bubbles, they soften before they linger where her B sits. As Bubbles hug Butch around his neck I grab onto Hecate's arm.

"Will you heal that B for me please? I…." I don't go on and my eyes linger on her smiling figure, arms still tight around Butch's neck who kisses her cheek tenderly before guiding her and Blossom to the coach. Vermin makes her way towards Hecate and I. I swallow down the fear building up in my throat. It's a subconscious reaction as those green eyes glare at me, why I'm not sure.

"Are you planning on marking Hecate now too?" She spits venom my way. I tongue my cheek mulling over whether to answer or not. Apparently even a second is too long of an answer as she shoves my hand away from Hecate's midnight arm.

"Vermin, you need to know your place." I growl, I've had enough and I will not be shown up again. I grab onto her arm tight, bruises spreading under my palm, "What good is a mate if she's wild?"

"Better than being brainwashed into thinking mine is a novelty doll." She snarls, trying to wrench her arm free.

"Buttercup, let it go." Butch calls from the coach, "Hecate can fend for herself and I'm sure Boomer means no harm."

I'm surprised he's taking my side for once; I wonder if that tune will change once he sees the bruises decorating her skin, I notice the other patterns too. Three cursed marks decorate her left arm.

"Funny that you think you're a better mate to Butch than I am to Bubbles when I see you are whoring your body out for bargains."

Her eyes go wide with malice and she punches me hard in the face. I expect to hear her bones shatter on impact but instead they just creak.

"You don't know what these marks are for." She's seething, huffing for breath, she rears her fist again but Butch catches her wrist.

"Enough." He growls into her ear before pulling her behind him.

"Are you alright? I know she instigated but there was no need to further provoke her."

"I'm fine." I growl, "You're whisking Bubbles away before I can even give a proper good bye."

"Had you not been calling my mate vermin I would have given you two a moment." Butch snarls, "I'm not deaf."

I roll my eyes while his deep green ones bore into me, he stares me down a moment before turning. He lazily drapes his arm around Vermin, for once she doesn't look annoyed when he does it.

The letter in my breast pocket it grows heavier. I swallow a bit of my pride.

"Can I trust you?" I call out. Two sets of green eyes peer over strong shoulders. Butch whispers something into Vermin's ear, she gives him a pointed look before heading to the coach. She stands facing us, toned arms crossed.

"You can always trust me Booms." Butch says, "What's wrong?"

I look him up and down, scanning his face and body language for any deception. Though it could be wasted effort as he is the one who taught me to read into it. I sigh after finding none.

"I need you to give this to Bubbles, not now but when the time is right. It's….." I fish the letter out of my pocket and place it in Butch's hand. The envelope is white with a swirling crest in blue wax.

"It's?" He prompts but I can't go on. He grips the envelope but I don't let it go just yet.

"When the time is right brother give this to her." I confirm and give him a knowing look. It takes him a moment to dissect my vague message that I don't even know what I'm trying to convey. I know he will know when Bubbles needs to read this letter. Butch has always had good intuition.

"You're worrying me Booms. Are you in trouble? You know I can get you out." He's looking at me hard. I let go of the letter and look away. I catch Brick's eyes, he gives me a puzzling look before stepping up to the open window of the coach to kiss Blossom good bye.

"Be good, Pet." I hear him murmur to her and she giggles.

"I'm only bad for you." She whispers.

Butch clamps his hand on my shoulder pulling me back to him.

"I will do as you've asked." He nods before searching my eyes one more time, "You are my brother and I will always bail you out."

"I know." I say, holding his eyes. He places the letter in the pocket of his dress pants, his laurel of emeralds and onyx glisten even in this overcast as he heads towards the coach. He turns Vermin around and guides her into the carriage.

"Ready ladies?" He asks, they nod and Hecate hits the reins against the horses and they start at a steady pace.

Brick stands next to me as we watch them fall off in the horizon, their laughter echoing back to us down the tree lined path.

"Is something after you?" He asks nonchalant. I shrug; nothing is really after me but me. I only dream of how things should be with Bubbles. We should be tangled in her bed in her childhood home, already graduated and just killing time until fall semester. I should be overhearing Brick laugh in the room next door and Butch talking sternly to Vermin. My head burns but the images are so vivid I wonder if they are more than fantasies.

"Nope nothing is after me." Brick nods and drops it, just in time for the train's departure. I stand on the steps of the train staring out after that carriage that I can't see anymore and sigh.

I just hope Bubbles knows that this isn't who I really am.