Magic in the Bindings

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Emeldia stood by the giant doors as she waved to the last of the guests. They were all congratulating her on her ‘performance’ with the cork creatures, and many wished Theodore luck for tomorrow's mating season. Sylvie, Melinda, and Ariana were waiting in the hall as the staff cleaned the ballroom. When the last of the guests waved goodbye, Theo emerged into view.

Sylvie stifled a small gasp. With her violet eyes she could see the change in her brother that others couldn't. A thick silver thread started in his abdomen and led off in a direction, up towards the second floor, until it seemingly faded away. She glanced at Melinda, who's cord was shriveled thin and cut, and then her Mother, who's cord traveled straight up into the air, and then back to Theo. Sylvie has never seen a cord thicker than her Mother's, which was the width of rope, but Theo's was as thick of a chain. Maybe even thicker.

She started to smile a bit, but Theo suddenly shot her a glare so sharp her breath caught. “Why was he so...angry?” It scared her. He almost never glared at her like that.

The grand front door made it’s close, and Emeldia faced her family with a strained smile. "Explain. Now." She was looking at Melinda, who smiled innocently.

"What? It wasn't me."

"Melinda." Aunt Ariana crossed her arms over her chest. Even the jokester Aunt was upset with her. She's pulled a lot of stunts, but none as serious as this.

"Tell the truth." Theo was the most intimidating of them all, and ever since the fight before the party, Melinda's been wary of him. "Or I will."

Melinda could feel her confidence fading. “Does he really know anything, or is he bluffing? Wait...”

Mikel.

He was still missing, and what if Theodore did find him? He could easily hide the Human with the charm she stashed on him, and the Human had no loyalty to her yet. “This isn't good...”

"I am." It was more of a whisper, but it was still an answer.

Emeldia studied her son, even his stance was rigid with anger, when she noticed something in his hand. "Theo, what do you have there?"

Theo held out the felt bag of powder for everyone to see. Emeldia delicately took it from him as her eldest daughter’s stomach dropped. “He did find Mikel.”

Emeldia pinched some of the powder between her fingers. She recognized the smell from the corks all the staff were sweeping up off the floor. "It's the same." Sylvie mumbled. She could see the fog around the bag that all the corks had before they reformed.

"Theo, where did you find this?" Ariana asked, and Theo weighed his options. He couldn't let anyone know he found Mikel, because they'll want to know where the Human is. “If I defend him, then they'd know.”

But maybe Theo should reveal him?

If Mikel was killed then, Theo would have nothing to worry about. Losing a Soulmate isn't life threatening unless the bond is strong enough to cause death by heartache. His Mother had a medium strength bond, and she's doing fine. Maybe a bit lonely, but she's alive and breathing. She would know how to avoid that horrible suffocation…

Theo side glanced Sylvie. She's been staring at him this whole time. The look on her face was surprised; like she saw something she never thought she'd see.

"In the cellar." He began. Melinda will know something's up because of his story, but that's a risk he's willing to take. "The Human I found earlier library said he was delivering animal parts to her. You know," Theo straightened his back as he stared his sister down. "like the kind you find at pet stores."

Melinda's mouth formed an almost perfect 'o'. She was shocked and enraged. How dare he? "You're lying. Adrian would never rat me out!" She pointed a finger at her brother. Everything she just accomplished was ruined. She just knew he was hiding something with this tall-tale. After all, she trained Adrian too well for him to out her.

"Melinda please-" Emeldia began.

"No!" Melinda was smiling, but even that seemed cracked. "You know, when I turned eighteen you didn't throw me a party. In fact, you refused to."

"Theo's betrothal is extremely important to this family. Do you not understand what his future could mean for this family?" Emeldia held no sympathy for her daughter’s bratty behavior. "Besides, what would have been the point? You damned yourself the moment your tie was cut." Everyone seemed extremely shocked by Emeldia's tone. Everyone except Theo that is, who couldn't get the first words out of his head. "Go to your room. I forbid you to leave this house until the Solstice is over. You are grounded."

Melinda was going to argue, his breath haughty through her teeth, but in the end, she stormed off, glowering at her brother as they passed each other. She'd get him back for this. He was certain.

"Auntie." Theo began with a much calmer tone. "It's terribly late. Why don't you stay here for the night?" Everyone looked to Theo. Sylvie and Ariana could sense something was up, but for different reasons.

Emeldia, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice. "Yes that's a wonderful idea." She pressed a handkerchief to her forehead, still clearly upset, but too tired to worry right now.

"I'll show her to her room."

Theo dragged his Aunt up the stairs without another word.

'/,

"Theodore!" Ari slapped his arm. He was gripping her wrist so hard it hurt. "Let go!"

"Hmm?" Theo's mind was in other places; mostly in his bedroom, where the possible worst or greatest gift to his life was supposedly waiting. "Oh, sorry." He released her, but he didn't sound sincerely apologetic.

Ariana sighed. After all the stuff that's happened today, she really wanted to go home and see her horses. “But now I’m apparently spending the night.” "Why are we going to your room? The guest room's back there." She corrected.

Theo stopped outside his bedroom door. Clearly, after all the stress of Melinda, and maybe a few more drinks, his Aunt had forgotten about what she predicted only a few hours ago.

With a sharp inhale, Theodore knocked on the door.

Mikel immediately shot up out of the bed. It was so comfy that he couldn't help himself, but now he was alert on the tail-ends of adrenaline. “If that’s anyone other than Theo-”

"It's me." Theo announced as he opened the door. Mikel sighed, his body naturally sliding off the bed to greet the company. This night had been crazy, and he honestly just wanted to go home to shitty apartment. He was about to ask if he could when someone else stepped into the room.

A gorgeous woman, ripe in her late thirties, stumbled into the room as Theo shoved her. Long red hair the color of strawberries graced her shoulders, only slightly shrouding the delicate blue eyes. Her clothing was strange compared to everyone else Mikel had seen in the house; an classic farmhouse orange dress tattered with age, but it just seemed to suit her just lovely.

"Mikel" Theo called for Mikel's attention. "This is my Aunt, Ariana." Theo turned to his Aunt, who was gawking just as much as the Human. Theodore shut the door behind them and locked it. "And I think you know who this is, Auntie."

"I-I told myself it wasn't possible. People rarely ever find their Soulmates even on the first day of the Solstice, not the night before!" She kept glancing back and forth between the boys. "I-I can't believe..."

“There’s that word again.” Mikel thought. “‘Soulmate’.” He really wished that someone would just tell him what it meant already.

"It gets worse." Theo grimaced as he held his hand out to Mikel. "The charm, please." Ariana seemed extremely confused as she mumbled 'what charm?', but she understood as soon as it left Mikel's hand.

The seemingly black hole appeared in Mikel's chest. Ari instantly took a step back. "O-Oh my..."

Theo bit his lip. "I don’t understand." He whispered. He was racked with so many emotions he couldn't even manage to be aggravated anymore. Everything was building up inside of him, and he needed his Aunt's guidance. "Please, Auntie. Tell me what to do."

Mikel could feel a pit of dread forming in his stomach. He hated the way Ariana was staring at him, only breaking the trance to she shake her head. She had no idea how to handle this situation. A homosexual Soulmate is one thing, but with Human, well...that's outta her ballpark.

Mikel watched Theo practically crumble against the wall. It was like he just lost something precious to him, yet there it was nothing but a boy standing in his room.

But Theo thought that he did lose something precious; his future. "H-Hey..." Mikel reach out to Theo as he sunk into the floor.

Theo was laughing at his own pathetic nature as he swatted at his Soulmate. "Get away from me!"

Mikel’s mind flashed back to his own little sister when she was upset. This person he had pictured as so dignified and mature was suddenly so...childlike.

"What's a Soulmate?" He asked again, but this time to Ariana. That only hurt her more.

“He doesn't even know.” She thought, looking to her beloved nephew who just stared at their shoes.

With both boys appearing emotionally defeated, Ariana shoved the charm back on Mikel. Then, she raised her hands for a moment as she focused her concentration. Human and Warlock alike watched as the Witch’s magic built in orange wisps between her fingertips.

Suddenly, she flicked her wrist, and a table of supplies appeared in Theo's room. It barely fit it was so big, but Mikel was appalled that it just-poofed into existence like that, with nothing more than a puff of smoke.

Theo stared at her. He knew it was a Teleportation spell she had set on her stuff. He'd see it before, as Ari was always prepared for magic, but his concerns were elsewhere. “What is she doing?”

Mikel stumbled back into the bed. "H-How..."

Ariana repeated the action, shutting up the Human with a summoned basket. Then a another, and soon half of Theo's room was littered with her things. She then faced the shocked little Human, boldly with both hands upon her hips, with such a serious tone that he almost whimpered. "Your future."

"W-What?" Mikel stuttered.

"Him." Ariana pointed a fierce finger at her nephew. "Your life, your future. That's what a Soulmate is. And I swear to the Goddess above if you ever disobey me from here on out I will not hesitate to kill you. Do you understand?"

Mikel energetically nodded. Despite how crazy that sounded, he was terrified of this woman.

"Good." She sighed. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail, she even managed a smile. "Then let's get started."