Sorry for not updating last night. I honestly had no inspiration to write anything. Instead, I went and played Harry Potter Lego Years 5-7 on the PS3- it's my new hobby-obsession-thing.
I'm going to try. I've got, like, a paragraph's worth of ideas though, so most of this will probably be made up on the spot.
Alvie looked up groggily as a figure skidded to a halt in the doorway.
"Found you!" Tobias beamed, bouncing forward. He sheathed his sword and drew a knife, cutting through the straps holding Alvie down. "Are you OK? What happened?"
"Ambush…" Alvie breathed, his ribs twinging in pain. He looked up at his brother. The colours were back, but there was a wide assortment about Tobias, like he couldn't settle down in one emotion. There was sad blue, happy yellow, a fiery red and a neutral green. Alvie coughed before asking how Tobias was.
Tobias faltered, just for a second, his reassuring smile fading slightly, before it returned.
"I'm OK." The yellow turned grey, seeping into the other colours.
"You're lying." Alvie said. Tobias looked stunned, the blue battling the grey. He quickly regained control and smiled.
"Don't worry about old Tobster." He insisted, cutting through the last strap. Green started ebbing about, fighting a losing battle against the grey.
"You're not OK." Alvie mumbled. "You've gone grey." Tobias froze and stared at him in bewilderment, a curious orange sparking amongst the grey.
"Excuse me?" He eventually quizzed. Alvie hesitated. Tobias ran a hand through his hair, as if trying to detect more grey than his natural streak.
Shouting outside and the clash of weapons bought Tobias to his senses. "Can you walk?" Alvie nodded meekly. Tobias helped him to his feet, but Alvie's legs were about as reliable to stand on as cotton wool. He ended up relying on Tobias to keep him upright, but every step hurt and sent waves of dizziness and sickness washing over him. "Um…" Tobias looked around as they walked out of the room. "Which way was it?"
"Left…" Alvie told him.
"Sure?"
"Think so…"
"I can live with that. Come on." Tobias urged kindly, walking at a pace his brother could stumble along to.
Alvie's directions had them away from the fighting. Tobias initially thought that they were trying to get out, but then he saw the parents at the very centre of the fighting; swarms of demons and Luke and his minions surrounding them. "Um… Alvie, I love you to bits, but aren't we supposed to be going away from this bit?"
"But I thought you wanted to be here…"
"Well, after getting you out."
"I'm fine." Alvie muttered, rubbing at his forehead. "Where are Elsie and Kia?"
"Oh… um…" Tobias looked round. "Lou and Leo said they were going to look, but…" Tobias waved at the fight ten metres from them. "They got distracted, apparent- what are you doing? Please tell me you're not having some psychic attack?" Alvie shook his head, leaning heavier on Tobias as he tried to summon as many storm owls as he could.
"So… how long do I have to wait then?"
"Uh… about six months, give or take a few weeks." Crystal stared at her mother. "I only found out the other day!"
"Still…" Crystal grumbled. Then she jumped up, beaming from ear to ear. "I'm going to be the best big sister ever!" Joy laughed, relief crossing her features. Crystal hugged her mother. "This is so cool! Boy or girl? Names! We need a nursery and-"
"Crystal… time out, time out!" Joy grinned, making a T-shape with her hands. "We've got months to go yet, so calm down."
"No!" Crystal laughed. "Wait, is that what you told Nico?" Joy pressed her lips together as she tried to remember when she told Nico. She had kicked Crystal out of the IM conversation and told Nico- that was it. Joy nodded, smiling slightly. "What'd he say?"
"If it's anything like Crystal when it's older, I'm drowning it."
"Did he really say that?"
"Not those exact words…" Crystal pulled a face. "He did seem genuinely excited though."
"Good. I'm having stern words with him when he gets home."
"You're so turning into me." Crystal mocked a horrified look, tangling her fingers in her hair.
"Oh gods, no! Nnnnnoooooooooooo!" Joy laughed and hugged her daughter. "Hey, you won't call me your baby anymore."
"No, you'll always be my baby."
"But-"
"Shush."
Alokia managed to push Harvey's dead weight off and stared up at the dark shadow in the doorway. Elsie was as well, for once in her life, speechless.
"You- you… but… how-?" Alokia was distracted by a second silhouette stopping behind the first one. They cursed in shock and stumbled back a step. Then they bopped themselves on the head.
"Duh, should've known?" Elsie found her voice.
"Nico?"
"The one and only." Nico moved past the first figure, who moved back and more into the light. Nico faltered slightly and Alokia gave a small squeal of terror. "OK, now that is weird." Max just stared at him, blank and lifeless, the technology around his head giving him a harsh, inhuman and rugged impression.
Nico cut his adoptive nieces free, pulling them to their feet. Elsie was pale and quiet- in shock, probably- while Alokia was trembling from head to foot in terror and realisation of what could have happened and what was happening.
"M-Max…" Alokia stammered. "How-? Why-? I thought…" Max stared at her for a second before turning and walking stoically out. "Max, wait!" He didn't even hesitate at her voice, rambling off. They all looked at each other and followed him.
Alokia held onto her sister's hand tightly, as if she would gain a death penalty should she dare let go. Elsie held a knife in her free hand. Nico had found their weapons before finding them and had dutifully returned them, much to Elsie's approval. Max had left his axe in Harvey's shoulder blades, not that it bothered him.
Since seeing Max back- well, back ish- Elsie had hoped that something could go right and she could apologize for being such a cow to him. That small glimmer of hope was keeping her going at the moment- that and the fact that Alokia would go ballistic without some familiar comfort and support.
But if he was a mindless, emotionless zombie controlled by Luke, why did he stop Harvey from abusing Alokia?
Elsie was so lost in thought that she bumped into Max, unaware that he had stopped. He was staring down the hall. She saw that they were at a crossroads, of sorts, and in the centre were their parents fighting apparent endless waves of enemies. Tobias and Alvie were watching the fight from the left hall, Alvie pale and sickly and leaning desperately on his brother.
Tobias didn't notice Max at first, but when he did, he paled and stared at Max as if he had just been presented with the universe's most precious and most breakable vase. Elsie had never seen Tobias freaked, accustomed to his casual, laid-back attitude. The tide of emotions flickering through his eyes and over his expression rocked her back on her heels- Tobias never showed fear.
Alvie saw Max seconds after Tobias had. His brother's assortment of colours had plummeted into a dark blue with patches of black. He sensed the surprise from Tobias, but also the pain and the grief and… was that… was that fright? Worry? Desperation? Alvie couldn't pinpoint it, but was distracted by Tobias pulling him aside as a dozen or so monsters changed course and ran at them.
"Adrian. Thomas. Elliot. No, I don't like that actually… Um…"
"Crystal, it might not be a boy."
"I'll do the girls' names in a minute!" Crystal stuck her tongue out at her mother. Joy mimicked.
"Besides, who said you were picking the name?"
"I did."
"Of course…" Joy rolled her eyes, reclining in her seat on the sofa and watching her daughter pace about. Crystal had been filled with an excited, nervous energy since Joy had told her and there was no sitting still or quiet for her. She kept chopping and changing her mind- she wanted a brother; no, she wanted a sister… brother… sister… twins! One boy and one girl. (Not happening).
Then the nursery designs, Crystal debating colours, furniture, toys and decorations with herself, constantly contradicting herself, scrapping plans, starting new ones and then rekindling old ones and then combining various ones.
And finally, the names. Joy had given up trying to calm her daughter and just watched in amusement as Crystal's excitement bubbled.
"Nico Junior! No, no, no, the poor kid would have nightmares…"
"You're harsh."
"I know." Crystal grinned. "Um… Joy Junior? No, terrible."
"Oy!" Joy protested. Her daughter gave a sweet smile.
"Crystal's a great name!"
"No."
"Aw, what?" Joy raised her eyebrows at her daughter, smiling judgementally. "Oh," Crystal stuck her tongue out, "To you, Mother." Crystal flopped in the armchair, drawing her knees up to her chest and fiddling with a loose strand of hair, plaiting and unravelling it with fumbling fingers. She had a faraway, dreamy look about her and Joy decided it would be best to leave her be for a short while.
Joy's thoughts turned to Nico and her smile faded slightly. He had gone out to fight somewhere, she was sure of it. It was selfish of her for wanting him to come back now and leave the others, but she couldn't bear to be without him again. Besides, the Jacksons and Valdezs were Nico's family and she was well aware of how much family meant to him.
She thought of Alvie and looked at her daughter, her smile returning. Yes, she liked Crystie very much. So cute!
Alvie was such a sweetheart and she would quite happily adopt him if it wasn't for his parents. Alvie was their calm amongst the chaos of seven children- seven- and they would never let him go. Alvie would probably end up as one of those forty year olds that weren't allowed to move out, even though his siblings would have left.
Imagining Alvie as a forty year old was a weird thought. She shook her head in an attempt to rid her mind of it and looked back at Crystal. She was now staring into space, humming to herself and nodding her head from side to side, curling her hair around her finger.
"Crystal?" Crystal's eyes came into focus and she looked at her mother, expectantly and patiently.
"Mom?" She said when Joy didn't speak.
"Hold onto Alvie. You need someone calm in your life." Crystal turned pink and hid her face in her hands. Joy laughed and chucked a cushion at her. Crystal made to throw it back, hesitated and lowered the cushion, thinking better of it. Joy looked at her curiously.
Crystal remained contrite for at least a minute, the cushion held tightly in both hands before she gained a wicked grin and launched the cushion at her mother.
"Win!" She exclaimed happily, throwing her hands up. They ended up having a cushion throwing war.
One of the Big Twins must have spotted Max standing oh-so-calmly and casually in the midst of a full-out battle, as a hurricane danced around the friendlies and slapped away any and all opponents.
Louisa and Leo ran to their daughters, forming a group hug. Alokia clung to her mother, shock catching up to her and forming in tears. Alokia stumbled through what had happened while Louisa let her cry in her arms. Leo looked horrified as the story tumbled out. He turned to his wife and looked at her like: What did I tell you?! - Louisa ignored him.
Percy was staring at Max, stunned. He looked like he wanted to go over to Max to see if he wasn't going crazy or that wasn't a holographic projection, but his feet were glued to the floor.
Annabeth didn't have that problem, but she didn't seem to muster enough reserve to go to Max, moving over to her other two sons. Tobias was knackered from fighting and sleepless nights, but he managed a weary, reassuring smile for his mother. He managed to find the strength to get up and stagger to Percy.
"Dad, you OK?"
"Y-yeah, I…" Percy looked at him, seemingly pulling himself together. He pointed at Max- Waaat?
"Still figuring that out for myself." Tobias muttered. He heard his mother talking to Alvie in soft tones and turned. Alvie was panicking and scrambling away from Annabeth, his eyes tightly shut. Percy noticed too, but he was torn between Max and Alvie.
Annabeth grabbed Alvie's wrist, her tone still kind, but firm and reassuring now.
"Alvie, it's OK. We're here now and we're going to get you out. We'll take you home, yeah?" Alvie opened his eyes, biting his lip. Annabeth shifted closer and pulled her son into a hug. Alvie hid his face in her shoulder.
Tobias looked from one brother to the other. Max was staring at him, but there was a frown tugging at his lips.
Luke and Harvey returned, storming past Annabeth and Alvie. Luke went straight for Max, yelling obscenities in Ancient Greek. Something stirred in Percy, but it wasn't until Luke cuffed Max about the head did Percy act. Tobias wanted to pummel Luke, but his father beat him to it, drawing Riptide and putting Luke at sword point in a second. Luke moved away from Max, summoning Backbiter.
Tobias had seen his father fight before, but not with that much ferocity. He fought like a man possessed and then some. Well, and then loads. Luke could barely keep up.
Alvie peered over his mother's shoulder; exhaustion, terror, guilt and pressure finally taking their toll on him and bubbling up into tears. Annabeth stroked his hair and talked softly to him in Ancient Greek, but he barely noticed, staring at Max.
"Mom…"
"Alvie?"
"Max… he…" Annabeth sighed. "There… there has to be… be something… we can do… right?" Annabeth hesitated.
"I… I'm… I'm not sure, Alvie. That's seriously advanced technology, if it's bought him back and… and letting Luke control him." Again.
Anger surged through Annabeth and she fixed her eyes on Luke. Ooh, how she hated him. All those years ago and he had been that fun-loving, cool guy she had had a stupid crush on. Then he had sacrificed himself to save Olympus, dying with the knowledge that she loved him as a brother, but then he came back, twisted and evil with no intentions of staying dead and every intention of tearing her family apart.
Annabeth glowered. "Go to Tobias, Alvie. There's something I've got to do." Alvie nodded, shakily getting to his feet. Annabeth got up, pulling a knife from each sleeve.
Tobias stared at his mother as she sprinted towards Luke, completely stealing the attacking gig from Percy and taking her anger and frustration out on the villain.
A trembling hand on his arm redirected his attention and he pulled Alvie into a hug.
"What's going on with Max?" Tobias asked quietly. Alvie tensed. Tobias rubbed his brother's back comfortingly and Alvie told him everything- from the tunnel to the pool to the mistake that cost Max's life and then to this.
"I'm sorry…" Alvie whimpered. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I made all this stupid mess and-" He choked and was cut off by a tide of emotion. Tobias wrapped his arms more securely around his brother.
"None of this is your fault." Tobias told him firmly. "You've been under a lot of pressure lately, bro, and there's no need to blame yourself for anything." Alvie sniffed miserably. Tobias frowned. "You better not be getting snot on me." Alvie shook his head. Tobias held him at arm's length, studying his brother's teary face. "Not. Your. Fault." Tobias insisted, his tone indicating no arguing. He wiped away the tears with his thumbs and smiled warmly. "Let's go say hi." Alvie tensed.
"No!"
"It'll be OK. Besides, he has shiny thing on his head. Me wanna know how much I get for it." Alvie looked petrified, but he didn't resist Tobias's gentle pushes towards Max.
Leo was examining the headpiece, frowning and muttering to himself. Max remained oblivious as his uncle paced around him, prodding at his head and grumbling.
When Leo saw Tobias and Alvie, he backed up a few steps and stood next to Louisa, who had her arms around her daughters. Tobias managed a grateful smile, putting his hand on Max's shoulder. "Hey, Max." Tobias tried. Max stared at him. Alvie was shaking something chronic, biting his thumb, but Tobias kept him in place with his other hand firmly on his shoulder. "Maximus." Tobias said, speaking as clearly and as calmly as possible. "It's me, Tobias. Tobster." He corrected. "And Alvie. Look." Tobias nudged Alvie forward. Max glanced at Alvie, but no emotions appeared.
Tobias clenched his jaw stubbornly, refusing to give up. "Leo, you got any rope?" Leo looked at him blankly. Tobias smiled grimly. "I'm kidnapping my brother."
Update! Yes! And most of this was made up on the spot. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself!
Now, off to bed. Oh gods, I finished this really good book and I feel like there should be more after it, but there isn't! In the woods by Tana French. I think that's her name anyway, but a seriously good read if you like murder mysteries and detective-y stuff.