Wielders of Magic, Book 1: A Spell Binding Tale
The Midnight Twins

"I am sorry to see you go so soon, brother mine." Reysaid, his eye locked on the strawberry eyed witch. "And your friendalso."

"Yes, quite unfortunate." Jacksmiled apologetically, opening the door to his brothers’ mansion, Drusillastepping out without a hint of hesitation. It was snowing, somewhat strongly,and they knew it would be cold. But it was far better than staying in the cageRey, the Dark Warlock, had created for himself, and anyone who found out hissecret.

Farbetter.

"I hope to see you soon." Rey said honestly, his eyeslarge and glassy. If they didn't know better, they would of sworn he was aboutto burst into tears. He reached out and touched them gently; his hand sort ofhesitant, but he did none the less.

The mansion spun out of sight, and the two magic users foundthemselves in the very spot they had found Jack's brother. Their horse satfrozen, magically of course, and they decided it was the dark warlocks doing aswell.

The horse suddenly broke out of its prison and shook its head,staring at them as if they had never left.

"Well, that's new." Drusilla chuckled, going over topet it. "Where are we going now?"

"We are still going south, as before. I don't know where itwill take us, but we will have to run into something that will except us. Asyou can see, we are not the only magic users out here, and there has to be agathering place somewhere." He rubbed a hand through his silver hair."I just . . . don't know where." He looked down at the snowy ground,wondering if they would ever replace a home.

"Don't worry, we will replace one." Drusilla walked overto him and placed a hand on his shoulder, standing in front of him. "Andwe will have each other till then. Alright?"

"Yes. Thank you." He clasped her hand for a moment,squeezing it with compassion, before dropping it and mounting his horse,Drusilla taking to the sky to scout ahead. They had worked up a pretty goodroutine while they traveled, Drusilla being the scout of the sky, and Jack theground alert.

But still, the woods were a dangerous place, who knew whatdangers lay ahead as they got closer and closer to them with every step theytook.

One never knew . . .

The night sky was dark, with stars littering it every which wayshe turned. She felt relaxed, almost at peace among them. Her white wings werespread out wide, hitting each air current as soft as a pillow and bringing hera little bit higher each time.

They are so beautiful, the stars. They lay in the wide, warmblanket of a deep blue ocean, with whims of purple fish swimming hereand there with every turn of the head. Up here, I feel as though allmy worries were left on the earth and here in the air I can havenone, only listen to the soft currents and rest for a while.

I wish Jack had wings, than he could experience thiswith me, the overwhelming relief is too great to be settledwithin me, hidden, never to be uttered from my lips. I have to replace out away to get him up here with me, there has to be a way.

Jackson looked up at the sky and watched as his companionfloated with her arms out wide and one leg rose to her knee level. She lookedlike an angel, a wonderful, beautiful, innocent angel. He knew she wasn't,but she seemed like it.

She always seemed like it to him. She was so captivating hecould not turn away. He was beginning to fall for her, beginning to love hereven though every effort within him told him not to. He couldn't. She thoughtof him as a friend, nothing more, and he knew it.

Besides, his feelings could cut their ties, could destroy them.He couldn't tell her, he never could. She was too good to be ruined byhim.

There were things that she didn't know about him, things he hadnever uttered to another soul. He was a monster, a real monster,and he had made choices in his past that had almost lead him down the same pathas his brother, to the dark magic that settled within the black corners of theworld. The dark corners that only the depressed and hopeless retreated to cryall their tears out, trying to remove the sadness from their veins. It wouldnever work; they had lost too many pieces of themselves along the road of lifethat no one dared to pick up for them. Either too lazy, or to careless to helpanother living soul.

No one picked up his pieces anyway. It had gotten to the pointwhere he wouldn't let anyone pick them up. They were lost, gone within the windof time, and he had been trying to forget them ever since.

Trying was right, he never could, and he knew it.

His eyes turned back up to the wondrous figure that wasDrusilla, and he pushed all his troubles to the back of his mind. He was herefor her, not her for him, and he knew that.

He hated it though.

The Red Witch swooped down low and glided her way back over tohim, her eyes large and sparkling with their usual wonderment. She was alwaysso curious, always so amazed at the world. Maybe she never had time to seethings through all the red that covered her history. Now finally she could beat rest, with him by her side, and strength in her veins.

"That was beautiful!" She exclaimed, running over tohim with her hair flowing behind her, mixing with the soft feathers of herwings. "The moon was so large and round, it was like the eye of an owl,and the stars that dotted the sky were like an audience waiting for anon-coming champion! You should of seen it, you should of been up there with me!"

"Yes. I don't have wings unfortunately though." Hesmiled a little, his emotions seeming to be sort of guarded. "I found arabbit, cooked it too, and it’s over the fire in the pot. We will sleep welltonight."

"Are you alright Jack?" She walked towards him and placeda hand in his, her eyes large and staring into his, piercing their way into hissoul. She was so beautiful, so pure . . .

He cleared his throat. "Yes, just fine. Thank you. Now eatand go to sleep, you need it. I will keep watch, alright?"

"Uh, ok, but if you need to talk to me-"

"I am fine." He turned away and picked up a stick,throwing it into the fire for some extra warmth. "Snatched some herbs frommy brothers’ kitchen before we left too, we will use them sparingly so we canhave some tasteful meals. Sound good to you?"

"Yes, but Jack-"

"Eat this!" He shoved a bowl of rabbit stew in herface, his eyes intense and somewhat angry. She took the bowl after a shortpause, sitting down across the fire and eating slowly. Her eyes were turned onthe flames, somewhat hurt that Jackson did not trust her enough to talk to her.Something was wrong, and she wanted to help, but . . . he wouldn't lether.

She could do nothing to help him.

"I am going to go for a walk." She got up, putting herleftovers back into the pot and throwing the bowl to the side.

"Drusilla-!"

"I am bringing this, alright?" She held up a VERYexpensive sword, one with a silver handle, dotted with emeralds and rubies.

"Where did you get that?" He stood up, staring at itwith awe.

"Oh, same place you got your herbs, only this one was onthe wall." She grinned slyly and winked.

"That could be imbued with dark magic for all weknow!"

"Nah, I already 'scanned' it, with a spell. You know,searching for any magical properties. I found it in one of your books. Veryhelpful those things." She belted it around her waist and walked throughthe trees.

"She is going to get herself killed." He mumbled underhis breath and sat back down, staring at the fire with irritated eyes.

A gloved hand suddenly wrapped around his mouth and sleep cameover him. His eyes closed before he could stop it, and everything wentblack.

Drusilla walked calmly though the woods with one hand on thesword at her side. It was large, and awkward, and a little heavy, so even ifshe could draw it out in time of an attack, she could never kill anything withit.

At least she had her magic.

Two dark figures walked out of the darkness, one a man in blackleather, with a wide brimmed hat, and the other a woman in the same clothing.They both wore long trench coats, with red vests and a feather on top of theirhats. Their heads were turned down towards the ground, but they still walkednear her, making a crawling fear spider up her spine.

She quickly drew the sword, hoping that if they took it from hershe would have enough control over her magic to use it. "Stay back!"She shouted.

One hand of the man was raised and her sword was gone, appearingin his belt. Drusilla than raised her hand, holding it in front of them as ifit was a deadly weapon.

They looked at each other, wondering why she was doing such agesture.

"I said, back away!" Her voice became powerful, hereyes blazing, turning the color of embers.

"Come with us, quietly, or we will kill your littlefriend." The woman said; her voice a whisper that echoed in herears.

"You . . . you have Jack?"

"Oh yes, he didn't see it coming." The man looked up,his eyes raven black, seeming to stare right through her. "Now do as mysister told you, and come quietly."

Drusilla slowly walked forward, her wings quivering behind herwith every step. They had Jackson, they had him and as long as they did, shewould let them do anything to her.

As long as he wasn't harmed.

The woman shot forward and pricked her arm with a dagger.Drusilla felt an overwhelming urge to sleep, and her eyesclosed involuntarily, her body relaxing without her consent.

She hoped she would see Jackson when she awoke, even if theywere captured. She just needed to see him alive, just a glimpse, and she wouldbe all right.

That's all that mattered to her.

So tired . . . just . . . so tired. Why am I thinking when I cansleep? No! I have to awaken! I have to replace Drusilla and warn her.

Wake . . . up!

Jack's eyes snapped open, and he sat up. He was ready to use hismagic, ready to kill whoever had captured him. The only reason that hadhappened was because he was caught off guard; if he had seen them coming, hemight not of been taken.

He was sitting in the woods, the morning light coming throughthe trees and shinning on the camp around him. There was a small fire in themiddle, with two tents set up on either side of it, and something wascooking.

Something delicious.

"Ah!" He screamed, looking to his side and seeing alarge, black cat. Its head was bigger than his own was, maybe twice as big, andhis large, white fangs glimmered in the light as it yawned. It had two big,green eyes that stared at him with dilated pupils, his large paws sittingon his lap. It leaned forward and licked his face, making him cringe at therough tongue across his cheek.

"Ah ha! She likes him!" Someone laughed. He lookedaround and saw two people walking into camp with none other than the Red Witch,Drusilla, draped over their arms.

"Muffin, come!" The woman shouted. The cat got up andran to her, purring loudly as it rubbed against her. She pet it a little beforegiving it a dead rabbit that hung from her belt. It took it and ran, going offinto the brush to eat it.

"I'll tie her to the tree also." The man walked pastJack as he shouted and started to tie the winged woman to another tree, onethat was a little smaller than Spellbinders.

"You bastards! Leave her alone!" Jack shouted; angerin his voice. The woman raised her hand and did a slight, precise motion.Suddenly he couldn't speak, and it only made him even more enraged at thestrange people.

"This one has fire." The man walked over to theWarlock and ruffled his silvery hair. "It was like you before you becameall deep and serious."

"I regained control of myself, brother, unlike you whodisintegrates everything that angers you in the slightest." The womanstared at him with narrow eyes. Her hat shadowed most of her face, but it didnot cover her lush red lips and olive skin. "Like that bird thatpooped-"

"Do not remind me of that bird sister!" He growled,looking down at his boot for a moment. There was a clear, very light, stainthat was splattered across it. "It never quite came out."

There was the slightest hint of a smile on her lips."Hungry warlock?" She asked, her raven black eyes shifting over toJackson. "We have some stew over the fire."

He stared at her, hate and rage burning in his chest. Keep control . . . just keep control. If you lose it, you mightharm Drusilla, and that can't happen. Ever.

"Oh yes, you silenced him didn't you?" Her brothermade the same motion with his hand, his eyes changing to blue for a splitsecond.

Jackson cleared his throat and began to speak. "No I wouldnot like some of your poisoned broth you maggots! LET US-"

A grin spread over the woman's face and suddenly one of thebirds in the trees above finished his sentence. "GO!"

The man burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Beingenraged will not help anyone. Now would you like some food or not?"

Jackson just stared at both of them. He wasn't getting anywherewith these people!

There was a noise a few feet away from the camp and upon looking;they found that the Red Witch was awakening. "Jack . . . where . . . whatin the name of the-" She looked up, her eyes clearing."ABYSS!"

"Drusilla, thank the gods you have awakened!" Jackcried.

"Oh, you’re alive!" She sighed in relief, beforeturning over to the brother and sister. "Let him go, now!"

"Or what? What will you do?" The man stepped forward,his dark eyes locking with hers, a playful grin spreading across hisface.

"I will tear your insides out!" She hissed, her eyeschanging to burning embers.

"Not before we do the same to him." He tilted hishead. "Besides, you can't, you are wearing a collar."

She reached up and felt a small, leather band around herneck.

"You can't remove it, and all you can do with it on isfight with your own two hands . . . or wings, which ever suits you."

She looked over at Jack and found him looking at the fire. Hewas concentrating on something.

"Why are you holding us here?" Jack looked up at thewoman, than the man, expecting an answer.

"Well . . ." The warlock of the two walked over to alog that was pulled up beside the fire and sat down, staring into it. "Weare hunting someone named Adeen Adrendas. He is a terribly dangerous man thatgoes after the giftedchildren of the world. You know, those few people thatare-"

"Wielders of magic!" Drusilla shouted. "I . . . Ihave seen a man like that! He uses two short swords and he killed my brotherwhen I was but a child!"

"Yes, that is the one." He looked over at her."How were you spared?"

"I escaped with my wings."

"Oh, how did I not see that coming?" He grinned againand winked at her. Spellbinder felt a surge of jealousy race through hisveins.

"Why are we here? You have not answered the question!"Jack shouted.

"Because you two were not killed by him!" The womansaid, shouting back at him. "Which means you can help us!"

"But . . . why did you capture us?" Drusilla tiltedher head, her eyes wide and curious.

"Because we could not take the chance of you possiblybeingin league with him. We have been on his trail for a while, and after we saw youhad magic, our suspicions were eliminated. But we cannot reset the past, whichmeans we had to tie you up. If you ever awoke without restrictions, you wouldkill us." The man looked from one of the companions to the other."Would you not?"

"Yes, we would." Jack hissed in reply, his eyes fullof hatred. "Now let us out of these!"

"Sister, if you would."

"I do not trust them at all." She replied.

"They will not harm us, they are not hunters. We are theirkin."

She stood there for a few more seconds before walking over toDrusilla, untying her hands and removing her collar hesitantly. She moved toJackson soon after.

"We would gladly help you, but since when does a warlockhunt a hunter?" Drusilla walked over to him, sitting down on anotherlog.

"Since now!" He stood up, his eyes locking with hissisters as she turned to him, Jackson quickly sitting beside his companion."Since . . . since . . ."

"It is not important. Now eat, before you die ofstarvation. We will move out at dawn." The woman walked past them and intothe woods, a bow and arrow hanging from her back. "I will be backshortly." She could be heard calling to "Muffin" soonafter.

"What is her name?" The Red Witch asked curiously,staring at the part of the forest the woman had entered.

"Asha. My name is Arthur; we are the Midnight Twins."She cocked his head to the side and grinned at them. "Welcome to ourcompany."