Magic in the Bindings

:// 7 //:

Theodore pulled Mikel through the damp, narrow passage as fast their feet could manage without tripping. He knew Sylvie had seen the passage glow; she was the only reason Theo even knew about it’s existence. Their father was supposed to teach Theodore everything about the ancestral home, but he died before he had a chance. Lucky for him, with her magic-seeing eyes, Sylvie showed Theodore the secret passages.

Now he used it to his advantage as he zipped around crumbling corners, dragging the Human close on his heels. Theo knew his way around the cobblestone passage like the back of his hand. Right now, he was leading Mikel to his room, so he could figure out a plan.

Mikel on the other hand, was staring at his wrist as Theodore mercilessly pulled him. He could still feel the lingering warmth from earlier, but now that it filled him both, the feeling seemed to draw him in.

"Where are we going?" Mikel asked as he tried to divert his mind from the urge to intertwine their fingers.

"I have to hide you." Theo needed to talk. He didn't want to be left alone to his thoughts right now. Not when they were spinning with so many wonderful and horrible possibilities. "If anyone else finds you here you'll be arrested for trespassing, or worse."

"Worse?"

Theo glanced back to Mikel with a cruel smile. "Not every Magical is kind to Humans."

Mikel’s ears shuddered under Theo’s tone. What he said didn't make any sense, but something about the way Theo stared at him, stared through him, was scary. In fact, almost everything about Theo was scary in one way or another. He gave the impression of intelligence, like he always knows exactly what he's doing.

But Theodore had no idea what he was doing. He was just taking the punches as they came; Improvising would be the correct term here.

Finally, they reached Theodore's room. Once again, he rubbed his ring on a particularly marked brick and the exit opened. Mikel turned to see the impression of a bookshelf shut behind him. Thick curtains blocked out the night sky, but Theo opened the largest ones that led to a bedroom balcony and moonlight bathed the room with it’s serenity. "Sit down, and don't touch anything." He barked, but Mikel barely heard him.

The room had a light Gothic style theme, with forest green walls that almost hid the black and charcoal furniture in the little light that they had. Theodore snapped his fingers, and the room suddenly lit up. The chandelier above was fashioned with candles, and each fleetly flashed green before fading into a dim yellow flame. There were several other candles and well, but Mikel mind was already piecing together an explanation; he assumed it was wired like one of those fancy clap-lamps.

In reality, Theo was letting his Magical secret slip piece by piece. He never liked keeping secrets in general, and he didn’t care to delay the inevitable. He had to tell this poor Human the truth about his fate. Why? Well, he didn't want to be cruel as to lock Mikel up for the rest of his life, at least with no explanation.

He was about to ask for the Human's name when something whispered in his mind.

Mikel Emery.

"Mikel Emery..." Theo quoted absentmindedly, and Mikel looked up.

"How do you know my name?" The Human’s brows furrowed together with suspicion. That was just plain weird. He didn't even tell Melinda his surname.

"I-It doesn't matter." It was their connection, that was the only logical answer, but that would mean that it’s developing, quickly. “It’s not even the stupid-” Theo shook his head. "You did something to all the wine corks, didn't you?"

Mikel was going to say something, but his mouth snapped shut. He leaned back on the black, king-sized canopy bed. He didn't know why he felt so ashamed, but the feeling rested heavily as a lump in his throat. "Melinda had me put some powder on all of them."

“He really is an innocent fool.” Theo almost snorted. "It caused quite the show in the ballroom. If anyone else had found you, you'd probably be dead." It was true. Mikel could've saw one of the few cork creatures from where he hid in the cellar, and any Human exposed to Magic is either killed, or has their memory wiped; but that's if they're important. Like the staff, for example, will each lose their memory over the course of the night thanks to Emeldia’s control over their marks.

Mikel didn't look like much of a social figure, or particularly useful, so they probably would've just killed him. "Do you have anymore of that powder?"

Mikel reached into his back pocket and pulled a small velvet bag. It had very little left, but it was enough for Theo when Mikel tossed it at him. He could smell it before he even caught it, and the foul stench stained the air. Sylvie was right; it was a form of Metamorphosis.

Theo tucked it into his back pocket "That other Human that was in the library; why was he needed?"

The fact that Theo called everyone a 'Human' was very unsettling. "He uh, bought a bunch of animal parts. Like the stuff you get from pet stores."

The Warlock could laugh, and he almost did. “Of course, force the Humans to get your supplies. That way, there'd be no trail for Mother to follow.” "And neither of you found that to be even a little strange?"

"Hey-I needed the money. Adrian's the one that blindly does whatever she tells him." Mikel crossed his arms defensively. "He's her boyfriend, in case you didn't know."

“Yes, she has many of those.” Theo could see that Mikel didn't really care for Melinda, and for some reason that made him feel better. Though only a little. "So what? You're just the paid culprit?"

"...Yes."

"Hmm." Theodore pondered for a minute. Something about this didn't fit Melinda’s scheming personality. She rarely played fair. "What did she pay you with?"

Mikel hesitated. He really didn't want to give anything back. He needed the money for his sister. "Well?" Theo asked again, and Mikel caved under his intimidating gaze. He reluctantly tossed Theo the earring like a scolded child.

Theodore recognized the solid gold earrings of his Mother. They were a present from a relative, but she never wore them. ‘Too tacky’, is what she called them. "She said she'd give me the other one tomorrow." Mikel mumbled as if that would in any way help his case.

The young prince groaned through his teeth. "Did she also tell you to go to the pawnshop on main street?"

Mikel blinked. "Yeah..."

This time, Theo let his humor show as he laughed a little, which made Mikel's chest tighten. "You i***t, it's a trap." Theo set the earring on his dresser. "She knows people there. They'd probably be ready to pin you for theft." Melinda's pulled that little trick before when she had a servant wreck her brother’s room. She paid the Human with his favorite silver cuff-links, which he reported missing. He didn't charge the poor bastard though; his room needed redecorating anyway.

Mikel's heart sunk a bit. So now not only is he not getting paid, but it was a trick all along. How could he not see it? “How could I be so stupid-”

Something landed in Mikel's lap. Upon examination, his mouth gaped as he realized that it was a thick roll of fifties. "I..." He was shocked, and beyond belief that the famous Theodore Corvinus was paying him for crashing his own party.

"Don't thank me just yet." Theo warned. "There's a catch."

Mikel bit his lip. "Yes...?"

Theo thought for a moment, before deciding. "What's the money for?" Mikel didn't seem like the kind of person that did just anything for cash, like some less dignified versions of his kind. Sure, the Human dressed like a ‘bad boy’, but he certainly didn't act like one. Even in this situation, when he was caught trespassing on private property and vandalizing the bottles, he bent to Theodore’s will, who intimidated him like an angry father to a child.

"I uh..." Mikel sighed. It wasn't exactly a secret, but this would be the first time he's talked about it out loud. "It's for my sister."

"Why? Is she sick?" Theo asked idly. Humans would do stupid things for money; especially when it was for someone they loved. “If it really is love.”

"No, her birthday's coming up in a month." Mikel smiled sweetly at the thought of his little sister. "And she wants this ridiculously expensive toy."

Something in Theo's throat caught. He could almost feel the care Mikel had for his sister just by the way his eyes softened. They looked like silver clouds now. "So, you plan to spoil her silly."

"She deserves it." Mikel strongly advocated as his eyes lost their softness, which made Theo frown. Mikel sighed, he didn't know why he was telling him this, but he was. "Ours parents died a few years ago; it still gets to her a lot, even if she barely remembers them. And this past year hasn’t been much easier."

The words spilled from his mouth so easily, it was strange. As if Mikel was speaking to an old friend rather than a man he barely knew apart from rumors. Regardless, Theodore’s reaction was grim. "How?"

"Car accident." Mikel mumbled as he ran a hand though his hair, automatically assuming that Theo was asking about his parent’s death. “Why is it so easy to talk to him?” It took him forever just to bring it up with Adrian. "I wanna get her something nice, but my grandparents are still in debt from the funeral costs." “And me.” He thought but didn’t bother to mention.

Theo swallowed a pit of sympathy. He knew what it was like to lose one parent, he couldn't imagine running this place without his Mother. “But I will one day, when I have too, with this boy by my side.” "How old is she?"

"She'll be seven this year."

Theo nodded solemnly, but he didn't say anything else. Mikel felt a little lighter with that piece of information being out in the open, but he didn't say anything either. His mind was still running rampant with questions: “Why does he care? He paid me for…some reason, so I probably won’t go to jail, thank god. The holding cells were bad enough.”

Theo glanced at his wristwatch. The party should be ending soon. "Alright." It sounded like he sighed out the words along with the rest of the night’s stress. "Stay here, and don't remove that charm. If anyone, besides me tries to come in here, I want you to hide. Understand?"

Mikel nodded, though he didn't really understand what was going on, he just had the sense to follow directions.

Theo opened his bedroom door. He had to get his Aunt; she was the only one who would have any idea what to do.

He glanced at Mikel once more before leaving. "I won't be long." He promised, and Mikel nodded.

Though it was beyond his comprehension, Mikel felt incredibly lonely as the mysterious prince left.