Joined Forces

He needed to be alone; his mind was in overload with everything he had just learned. Luka! One of the most trusted people in his life; why would he do such a thing? Did his father know? Was he in on it? Was his mother’s death a lie? There were more questions now than ever before.
The moon was full; showing brightly on the flowing stream before him, the trickling sound of the water eased his soul. After realizing what Christian was trying to tell him, Brayden needed to get away from everything. He didn’t remember the walk to the stream, his mind was reeling so fast, all he knew was he now sat on the ground leaned against the huge boulder she had found him during their first encounter.
It brought him peace; and that’s just what he needed right now. Harper had tried to stop him from leaving but Christian knew he just needed some time to comprehend what he had just learned; and they both were well aware of his temper, so she conceded to let him leave.
Everything was a lie; and nothing made sense, but one thing was clear and that was that he could not trust anyone near him. Brayden knew there was no going back now; he needed to find out the rest of the story and that would only come from the elder Christian spoke about. He was well versed on the supernatural, and how their powers were unique to each individual; although some had multiple abilities that stemmed from their lineage.
He scoffed at that thought, THEIR LINEAGE, he knew more about them than his own; and that angered him. Thinking back on his past he realized there were several gaps in his memory, he never questioned it before, but now he questioned everything.
“I figured I’d find you here,” Harper interrupted his thoughts as she appeared beside him. This was one of his favorite places to go to clear his head. “Everything is so unknown now; I don’t even know who I am anymore,” he sounded defeated; Harper had never heard him speak in such a way. Bending down she took a seat next to him, “Brayden, all of this mayhem, battles, vendettas; it was all a planned execution from the beginning, just neither of us were privy to it.” Her voice was soft, she stared straight ahead as she continued, “When Christian began to explain everything to me I was much like you; in denial. There was no way a spell could’ve been placed on me to alter my mind; I’m a Scarlet Witch, it takes a powerful supernatural to accomplish that. So you see, we both have been duped, and we both have questions that demand answers; in order to stop what they intend to do.” “That’s just it! I don’t even know what exactly they ARE trying to do, and what is it about me that they felt the need to alter my memories? What is the purpose?” She took a deep breath, knowing she had no answers for him nor herself; but the difference in the two was she was part of the supernatural world and had faith and beliefs in it where he was mortal and had a distinct distrust in the supernatural. And after all that they had recently learned she didn’t blame him.
“Am I to put my trust in some elder witch, that I know nothing of, now? Was it not a warlock that put the spell on me in the first place? And just what is it that she can tell me that you and Christian cannot? Surely with your powers combined you two could come up with some answers for me?” His distaste was evident in his tone; he was a mixture of emotions right now and she understood. Deep down he knew what he needed to do; but convincing him to fully give himself to learning the whole truth would be no easy task.
“Elders have abilities that we do not; they have seen and survived centuries of atrocities, and they have learned and advanced. Even combined, Christian and myself cannot give you the answers you seek; that is a feat that not even I can do, for reasons you would not believe nor understand.” She knew why she could not help even in the least, but she was not willing to tell him the entire reason.
Brayden, I have been hindered as well; someone altered my mind as well, this in part is the reason I cannot help you. Christian does not have the ability to reach into the past; this is something only elders can do. The most important thing for both of us right now is to do whatever we need to do in order to put the pieces to the puzzle together. If in fact Luka has set the wheels in motion then we have to stop him. Both of us know that taking control of the Kingdom of Abyss is a dangerous move; to give complete control over the supernaturals will have detrimental effects on the rest of the world. We don’t have to like each other; but it seems as though we do have to find a way to work together.”
He stretched his neck back; his head hurt, he knew she was right. Although he still didn’t trust her, he knew he had to figure out a way to work with her; at least until he got his answers. They had to act quickly as he knew his father would begin searching for him once he realized he was gone. It wasn’t uncommon for Brayden to disappear for three or four days at a time; his father was used to him needing time away from everything, but if he was gone too long it would raise questions.
“I need rest,” he said as he stood up. For the first time they looked at each other, he felt a sense of unease in the pit of his stomach; he missed her, and he didn’t like it. She placed her hand in his, accepting his notion to help her stand, and they began the walk back to the cottage in silence.
Brayden was washing up in the basin outside as Christian and Harper sat at the table. “Where is his mind, Christian?” “He battles his emotions; he’s conflicted between what he knows and what he feels. Let him be, sister, it was a lot for him to take in,” Christian said as he stood to pour them some tea. “I feel his pain in my heart; it’s been that way from the beginning, when he hurts I feel it,” her openness shocked Christian; she rarely spoke of her emotions. “It is because you two are connected; I may not be able to grant you both all the answers you need but I do know that. Your journeys are just now beginning.” He placed the cup of tea in front of her just as Brayden walked through the door. His face looked dim and his eyes were red from exhaustion, “come, have some tea; it’ll help you rest,” Christian told him. “Nae, the last time I drank tea given to me by a warlock all this happened. I think I’ll just take my chances without it.” Brayden just wanted sleep, un-altered sleep.
“I understand, perhaps something to eat?” Christian knew he hadn’t eaten and for the journey they were about to take he would need his strength, “maybe in the morning; for now I just want to sleep,” he replied then went into the room and closed the door.
They sat in silence for a moment before Harper asked, “brother, who would have the power to alter my mind? I am unaware of anyone that would be able to do that aside from an elder?” Knowing someone was able to do that to her not only made her nervous, it down right scared her. That meant the rules were changing; and that was dangerous.
“I know not, but whoever it was has a very specific reason for doing so. It is crucial we move quickly; Luka is a half breed, his powers are limited; that means he has help from someone. Only an elder can lead us to the answer. Once they realize he is missing, they will surely come looking for him here; given the recent events between the two of you.”
Part of her wanted them to come look for him there; she didn’t have all the answers but she had one very important fact and that was that they had a hand in deceiving and manipulating them both; she wanted nothing more than to end their very existence.
“Christian, I do not understand the reason for Luka’s spells on Brayden but I feel there is a connection to his mother’s death. If my intuition is correct it will destroy Brayden.” Her concern for him was real, Christian thought to himself, although he himself did not have all the answers, he believed it was in fact directly connected. His mother was killed by a bolt of lightning from a Queen Witch, while she was holding her toddler son in her arms. The electrical shock would have killed several grown men; so just how did a toddler survive?