Wielders of Magic, Book 1: A Spell Binding Tale
Brother Mine

"Stop!" Drusilla cried, breathing heavily. "Can't. . . go on, let me off!"

Jack pulled his mighty steed to a halt and watched as the RedWitch flopped off onto the snowy ground.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, getting off and tyingthe beast to a tree.

"Tired, so tired." She replied, her voice a softwhisper.

"Ok, well you are going to have to get up so I can clearthe ground." He grinned and grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet."Move the horse and this will get done quickly."

Drusilla walked over to it and pulled it into a set of trees,watching in fascination as Jack preformed his magic.

He breathed in steadily, letting the air out gradually as hiseyes opened halfway to observe the area around him. He got very low to theground, in a crouch position, and started to say a few words of magic. "Asfinoses,cradia nethina acoul . . ."

The powdery snow around him started to swirl up in a whirlwind,gathering around him in a funnel. His arms were in to his chest at that time,his head tilted back and letting the spell take hold so his soul could takeover. Magic was not an intellectual thing, it was an emotional power, and onehad to feel the right emotions at the right time to make things work.

His head flung down and his hands out, fists seeming to takehold of an invisible rope as the snow dispersed into the trees around them. Hesat there for a moment, catching his breath, before looking up at hiscompanion, his eyes fading from a icy blue to their normal chocolatebrown.

That was the thing with warlocks and witches. Their eyes alwaysseemed to change a different color for each spell.

"Alright, lets’ get out the blankets and start a fire. I'llgo get the wood; you set things up, alright?" Their gazes met for amoment.

"Oh, yes. You need to teach me that spell sometime."She smiled a little and started to unbuckle the blankets from the horses’saddle.

Jackson walked along a rabbit trail with his eyes open, lookingfor loose sticks and branches to use in a fire. He would use his magic to startit of course, but having a magical flame that did not need anything todevour was a difficult spell to perform, and you needed certainingredients . . . it is too complicated to explain. Only a high level magicuser can do such a thing, and that took a century of study to perform.

"Why, oh why did you have to leave me so soon master?"He asked softly, his voice echoing more than he thought it would. "I stillhave so much to learn, so much to study!"

It was true. Jackson was still a student himself, and that wasprobably the reason teaching Drusilla was so awkward. He had tried to teachothers, but frankly, he was terrible at it. He hadn't had proper trainingeither, which made him have to improvise a lot of things in the spells,experiment a lot on his own. He had a certain way of learning things, that fithis criteria,and others wouldn't understand.

"Hmm." He mumbled as he looked around the wood,wondering why it was so familiar. There was the call of a Nightjay in thedistance, a black bird that sung almost with the same grace and beauty as awoman. Finally, he shook his head, the memory not coming into his head after agood ten minutes.

Whatever triggered that little bit of déjà vu was longsince forgotten . . .

Early in the morning, Rey Spellbinder sat up in his bed andstared at the blue drapery around it. Sameold, same old.Hethought as his feet slid off the edge, landing on the hard, cold wooden floorthat always sent the familiar tinge of awareness he got every morning. The floor is cold, the room is dark, the bed is warm . . . butnot warm enough. It is never warm enough.

Rey was a cold person, always on the verge of breaking down intodepression or throwing a vase across the room. He had once married, but his wifedied of a great illness, and his stillborn son never saw the light of day. Hedidn't really care anymore; he was numb enough to ignore it.

He got all the way up and walked slowly over to his closet,picking out his same black clothing as he did every day. A black overcoat witha blue rose (one created with magic) in the pocket, and a red vest, embroideredwith dragons. He liked the clothing yes, it was his favorite, but never wouldit fill the hole that lay gaping in his chest.

Nothing would.

He left his room, dipping his head a little in greeting to oneof his servants. The small girl smiled brightly, who made the slightest crackof a grin curl up a corner of his mouth, but it disappeared too quickly foranyone to notice.

Same old, same old. Oh hi Gregson . . . Silantra . . . Fred -never liked Fred - Ah! Susan!Hesmiled than, dipping a little lower at the maid wearing a yellow dress thatwent down to her ankles. She had bright blue eyes and dark brown hair,reminding him of his late wife. He had no real feelings for her, but seeing herevery now and then gave him a little zing that reminded him of the daysbefore.

Before . . .

Rey sat down at his long dining table and looked out one of thetall windows, seeing the trees blowing slightly in the winter wind. He sighedagain. His breakfast was served for him, as usual, and Susan would be performingher normal duties, the others would be doing the same.

Same old, same old.

He looked down at the roasted quail on top of a lettuce blanketand suddenly became angry. His hand flew down at it and hit it off the table,watching as it rolled over the floor and hit the wall.

"Master Spellbinder, is there something the matter withyour food?" His butler asked, a bald man with a few gray hairs around theback of his head.

"Yes! Everything is wrong!" Rey got up and looked outthe windows again, his hands clenched at his sides. "I will be back laterHeliman, and clean up that mess." He suddenly shape-shifted into aNightjay and flew up and out of a small, open sky light.

He flew a good distance into the forest before landing on theground, swiftly turning into himself again. He needed to get away from thatstifling castle of his! Get away from that prison he called his home! He hadbuilt it to protect himself, and it did, only it was doing him a little moreharm than good.

He needed something to do. He wanted to feel alive again!

In the distance, he heard a wolf howl, very far away, but withhis ears, he could hear it loud and clear.

Maybe I could be one of them for a while, see how exciting it is. . .

He quickly said a few words and shifted into the form of aslender black wolf with bright blue eyes. He sat there for a moment getting thefeel of the new creature, before he sucked a huge gulp of air into his powerfullungs and let out a savage howl to the sky.

Every creature in the woods knew he was there now.

His strong, hulking hind legs pushed off the ground, launchinghim over a log and back onto the snowy path. He galloped faster than threehorses put together, running over the snow with both agility and grace. He feltalive for a split second, than it was gone, like his smiles.

He stopped and looked around at the snow. It all seemed dull,the same, nothing was right. He needed to see something he never had before. Heneeded . . .

"Jack look!"

His ears picked up the sound of a whisper. Whipping his headaround he saw in the distance two figures, one a female woman with two largewhite wings and strawberry hair, and the other-

Did she say Jack? Jackson?

Rey transformed into his Nightjay form and flew towards them,hearing the gasp from the woman as he took to the sky. He slowly landed on abranch just above their heads, his eyes set on his brother, JacksonSpellbinder.

"What is it?" The woman asked; her eyes wide andamazed. "It was a wolf, than it just turned into a bird, right before myeyes. It doesn't look afraid . . ."

Rey tilted his head, wondering if Jackson would remember him. Ithad been centuries since they had even said a curt hello to one another, orsent a letter, or any form of communication. Jackson had stopped sendingletters a while ago, which made him very upset.

And here he was, sitting right in front of him, waiting for avoice of recognition. He looked so different, his hair was a silvery grayinstead of the dark black that used to match his, and his chocolate brown eyesseemed a little duller, more experienced. He was still his younger brotherthough, and he would recognize him even if his face had been destroyed. It wasa sense they had, that all warlocks had with their siblings. They knew whenthey were around, they always knew . . .

Now I have found you, brother mine.

"Wait a moment . . ." Jackson's eyes narrowed,focusing on the bird. He got down off of his horse and walked towards it,putting his arm out to it. "Come here, I won't hurt you prettybird."

Rey fluffed his feathers and extended his head, tilting it tothe side a little. He squawked right in his brothers’ face than took to thesky, swooping around as if he had found Jackson's words amusing.

"Rey! What are you doing in these woods!?"

Ah, after all this time, he still remembers his brother.He smiled and circled down to the ground, hitting it with a puffof black smoke that soon took the shape of a man. He bowed a little, a sadsmile cracking over his lips. "Good to see you Jackson. I missed . . . Ihave not heard from you in a while."

Jackson ran forward and wrapped his arms around him in a tightembrace, which was only to his tall brothers’ waist. "Good to see you tooRey! I missed you as well!"

"Jack, who is this?" The winged woman got down off thehorse as well and slowly approached them, her eyes still large andcurious.

"Oh! Rey, this is Drusilla, and Drusilla, this is Rey, mybrother." He replied.

"Pleased to meet you." She did a slight curtsey.

"Who is she brother? Your wife?" Rey tilted his head,looking her over.

"No! Just a friend." He blushed and darted a glanceover towards her. "Do you live in here?"

"Yes, in my mansion."

Oh yes . . .Jacksonthought. He suddenly had a wave of memories flow through his mind. Heremembered why he never came back, why he never sent letters, why he had cuthis brother off from his life.

Rey was using dark magic.

"Care to come and visit for a bit?" The warlocks’crystal blue eyes stared into his, waiting patiently for an answer.

"Oh, well . . ." He looked over at Drusilla, whoseemed a bit hungry and cold. The night before had been a cold one, and theyhadn't eaten anything since yesterday. It would be best for her if they did,but they wouldn't stay, defiantly not. "Yes, I think we are in need ofsome warm beds and food."

"Yes, I have plenty of that. Too much actually." Rey'svoice faded out into a mumble. "Come, take my hands and I will bring usthere."

Drusilla slipped her hand into his, noting how cold and feelingless it was, how utterly dead it felt. It was as if he had been dead for over acentury, and his blood had run cold.

Jackson slowly took the hand of his brother, wondering if he wasgoing to use his new favorite magic for this little spell. He hoped hewouldn't, since such things were evil and not spoken of. Dark warlocks andwitches were the reason that they were feared, and hearing that his brother wasa part of that made him sick.

There was a weird feeling in the pit of their stomachs as Reytransported them through the air into his mansion, all landing just inside thedoorway. "I will not bother with the tour, seeing is how you stayed herebefore. Even though it was so long ago, I am sure you will remember somethings, after all, you remembered me." He took in a breath, his face theexact same expression as when he first appeared to them as a man. "Feelfree to use anything in this castle; it is at your disposal." He snappedhis fingers and disappeared in a swirl of black smoke.

"Well, interesting fellow isn't he?" Drusillachuckled, laying a hand on one of the walls. "This is weird but . . . thewalls feel alive." She looked over at Jack for an explanation.

"Don't . . . don't touch anything." He replied, takingher hand away from the wall.

"Why? What’s wrong?"

"It’s just . . . Rey doesn't use the same magic as us. He .. . he's a dark mage." Jackson bit his bottom lip, wondering how she wouldreact.

"Oh." She clasped her hands together and her shouldersscrunched up a little bit. "Right, not touching anything. Anything."

"He wouldn't hurt us; he's my brother, but still. Becareful." Jackson smiled a little and walked up the corridor, passing aperson to his left as Drusilla walked behind him. The servant stared at themfor a moment before quickly walking down a side hall.

"That was strange." Drusilla whispered.

"Why are you whispering?"

"I don't know."

The warlock rolled his eyes and began to look around. Thecorridor had high ceilings with windows that almost reached as tall, withelegant paintings of either his brother, or an unknown woman with gentle brownlocks. Who isshe?Hewondered, stopping to stare at one where she was posed with a violin in herhands.

"Who's she?" The Red Witch asked, looking from left toright with paranoia.

"Stop skulking about behind me like Rey is going to pounceupon you and eat you!" Jackson shouted, prying her hand off of his arm."He is my brother; I do not think he would do that to us."

"Alright . . . but if he does-"

"Drusilla!"

"Alright, fine!"

Rey sat in the circular, stone floored room with his head down,sitting in a wooden chair with red cushions. There was only one seat in themiddle of the room, and that was for the purpose of him. No one else wasallowed in here, not another living soul.

But he said nothing about the dead.

His voice rang around the room smoothly and darkly as he beganto chant his strange magic, summoning from the depths of the Abyss the blackmagic that most shunned and forbade. He would of too if his wife had not died,and this was the only way he could ever see her again . . .

Drusilla woke up by some unknown voice, calling to her. She gotout of bed and walked down the corridor, the darkness not bothering her in theslightest.

Yes, this castle was eerie, but this voice was soothing, and alittle sad. She wanted to replace out where it was coming from, and the only wayto do that was to replace it.

Her feet soon took her down a spiral staircase that lead to adeep and dark, unknown room. She kept on walking, the voice getting a littlelouder, more urgent this time. She found a small door, partway open, and a mans’voice chanting on the inside . . .

It was Rey, sitting in the middle of the room upon a woodenchair, his head bent low and his dark hair hung over his strange, angularface.

"Come forth my late and heavy wife, my eyes have sincemissed your face. You have escaped this live and warm life, and have alreadyfinished your race." He stood up than, a deep, water-like magicflowing from his hands and eyes, as if he was crying as he chanted. "ButI call to you now to see you again, for even I had once loved you here, andlove you I still do even now, and see you never again I fear."

A large door started to open out of the wall, and darknessflowed from it, whispering to him, overpowering the black water that flowed fromhis form. He had to keep control; he couldn't let it take him as it had oncebefore. That was when he almost lost his soul.

Oh but he had to see her! Even with the risk!

"Rey darling?" Came her soothing voice over thewhispers. "Are you here?"

"I am here my love!" He groaned, loathing and longingfor her voice at the same time. "I missed you!"

"PLEASE HELP ME!" She screamed, her voice a raggedsob, as she had been crying for ages. Fear stuck his heart and he let his handsdrop, the doors to the Abyss shutting once again and the whispersreceding.

His voice came in a whisper, echoing ominously though out theroom. "I'm sorry, my love."

"Oh, name of the gods!" Drusilla's voice hissedthrough the air, horror spread over her face.

He whipped around, his eyes landing on hers. They were not theirnormal crystal blue this time, but a deep, blood red with diamond pupils, likethat of a cats or dragons. He bolted towards her, a savage roar scaring twoyears off of her life as she quickly closed the door, hoping it would give hera head start.

Drusilla flew up the spiral staircase with her wings flappingquickly behind her, trying to give her extra bursts of speed as the darkwarlock ran after.

"This will be the last time you spy on me!" He growledbehind her, making her cry out in a whimper of fear. She finally made it to thetop and her wings gave her one, powerful boost through the corridor, shootingher far down it before he could grab at her ankle. Unfortunately, he did catchone of her white slippers, and it was left in his hand as she rounded a corner,making it back to her room as quickly as possible.

She was about to enter her room when she remembered Jackson wasright across from her. She burst through his door and flew into his bed,crawling over the top of him and huddling in the corner of the curtained roomwith her wings wrapped over her head.

"What, what!?" He shouted, sitting up sleepily.". . . Drusilla?" he asked with a yawn right after.

"Yes!"

"What are you doing in my room?"

"Hiding!"

"From what?" He tilted his head in annoyance.

"Your brother!"

"I told you before; he is not going to hurtyou!"

"NO!" She burst out of her ball of feathers andgrabbed his arm, their eyes meeting, locking, together. "I saw him down ina dark room, performing dark magic and talking to a woman who cried out to himfor help! He called her 'my love' and she was inside a magical room with suchpitch black darkness, my eyes could not bear to look at it! He opened that doorJack, he opened it and talked to someone through it! I accidentally saidsomething and he turned around and looked at me with red, dragon eyes!

"He ran after me, saying that was the last time I would spyon him! Jack I am so scared, I think he is going to kill me, or torture me, ordo something that is so terrible I can't even imagine-" She started tocry, her words becoming inaudible.

"Hey, it’s alright!" He wrapped her in a hug, feelingher shake in fear under him like a frightened fawn. "It’s ok, you stay inhere and I will make sure he doesn't do anything to hurt you. All right? Hewon't hurt me, so if you with me, he won't do anything to you."

"Are you sure?" She looked up at him with her large,strawberry colored eyes.

"Yes. Now go to sleep. I'll keep watch." He strokedher red hair and gave her a kiss on her forehead.

Drusilla gave a shaky sigh in relief and laid down beside him ashe sat up, coming up from beneath the covers and sitting cross legged besideher. She reached up and grasped his hand, her wings falling over her like ablanket. "Thanks’ Jack."

"No problem. Now go to sleep." He held her hand andlooked at the curtains around them, just waiting for one to open. It was true,they could not stay here. Already Drusilla was in danger, and he couldn't havethat with his own brother. It was not safe with him around, and they had toleave.

Tomorrow.

Eventually, Jackson did slump back against the back board of thebed and fell asleep, unable to fight the urge. What they didn't see what thedark figure looming in the corner, with red, dragon eyes that shone out in thedarkness like a cat watching a mouse. No one knew of his secret, NO ONE, and ifshe ever spoke a word, he would kill her. Of course, she had told his brother,but that was a different story. He was family, he didn't really care aboutthat, but it was the fact he had opened a door to the Abyss, opened a door toevil beyond belief.

And he couldn't shut it. Not permanently anyway.

He sat there and watched them until the morning light, which waswhen he returned to his room without a trace left behind. No one wouldever know how he watched his brother and the winged woman, ready to strike atany moment. No one . . .