OTA

[winter_wisp]

It had been a strange week. It was his season, and so it should have been full of joy- But this year it was different. The winds that sang his name were too cold, too sharp. The trees seemed dead rather than naked, and the chill that usually lit up his magic was heavy and without spark. Everything was slightly wrong, and the longer it lingered, the more uneasy the pixie became.

 

An awakening was approaching, something powerful and dark. Winter could feel it in his bones, tainting the world around him- Something was approaching this realm, though the pixie couldn't sense who or what. He was sensitive to the change though, maybe more sensitive than most, and it was slowly altering him, as things so often could.

 

Walking down the high street he kept one eye on his reflection in the shop windows, noting the way his wings showed occasionally, even though they were hidden- And freezing in place when he saw a familiar figure behind him.

 

Aspid's eyes were dark, and though Winter knew he wasn't in this world with him, he still tensed as the reflection of the dead wizard rested his hand on his shoulder, and leaned in to speak in his ear. The words he whispered were like a low hum, but Winter heard each one, his shoulders shaking as he closed his eyes.

 

"You're lying," the pixie said quietly. "You're a liar!" he shouted, turning his head and opening his eyes- Only to find the shadow of Aspid gone, and a small group of people staring at him as though he'd lost his mind.

 

Looking back in the shop window, Winter saw himself alone again- But changed. Taller still than his new height, with a sunken gaze and painfully thin body. He looked warped and dark, and though he wanted to believe it was an illusion, he couldn't help but fear it was a vision of the future Aspid's warning had painted for him.

Comments

[winter_wisp]

"Yes," Winter whispered. "He spoke to me, told me terrible things are coming."

[harrowgate]

It wasn't safe here in the open, and it was cold, and while that might not bother Winter it was quite uncomfortable for Felix even in his scarf and wool coat. With a frown, Felix found his smartphone in a coat pocket and began to inquire of it the location of a certain book shop. Luckily, it wasn't far.

"Why don't you come with me. I know a place we can talk safely. Mr. Fell will let us stay there as long as we like, as long as we don't try to leave with any of his books." For Felix could think of no place safer than to be surrounded by books.

[winter_wisp]

Winter considered that offer, then nodded.

"I will not pilfer any books," the pixie promised sincerely.

[harrowgate]

Nor try to purchase them, Felix thought, as he followed the helpful blue line traveling across his phone screen, leading the way down the street. A few blocks over was a street that housed a handful of independent book shops. A-Z Books stood practically buried amid them, unfortunately close to Intimate Books, which was not the sort of place they needed to step in to.

Felix ushered Winter into the somewhat dingy doorway. Though the door was unlocked, there was barely any sign that the shop was open or doing business, for all that it was quite packed with books. "I know the owner here. He won't mind if we hide away in here for a bit." Certainly, the shop was not exactly welcoming to customers. "Are, er... are you all right, Winter?"

[winter_wisp]

"Yes," Winter said, looking around and touching the spines of several books as he spoke- Then pausing and looking over at Felix. "...And no. Physically I'm well, but- I saw a glimpse of a possibility of my future that I don't think I like, and felt the touch of a shadow I want to leave in the past."

[harrowgate]

"Tell me what you saw," Felix urged, though quietly and with a careful delicacy. Will had been correct in saying that he and Winter had something in common; Felix had always felt especially protective, knowing about Winter's captivity. "Sometimes visions are symbolic, not literal."

[winter_wisp]

"First I saw Aspid- Old, withered. I saw his reflection as he spoke to me. ...Then I saw myself, but- Different. Wrong. Too tall, too thin, too- Warped. Like a tree touched by dark things," the pixie explained.

Frowning, he put his fingers to his brow, then reached up so they hovered near Felix's.

"Tall like you."

[harrowgate]

Touched by dark things wasn't a completely inaccurate way to describe Felix, either. He kept still when Winter reached toward him, watching him compare... wondering what he thought of becoming anything more like Felix. "Do you remember what he said to you?"

[winter_wisp]

"There's magic on the winds. Bad magic. Dark things are coming. War maybe," Winter whispered.

[harrowgate]

Felix had to step closer to hear him, but they were surrounded by shelves of books, and the muffled quiet that always attends upon places where books congregate. Nothing bad could happen to them there. "War? Winter... Aspid is gone. The dead don't know the future."

[winter_wisp]

"He lingers, I heard him, I felt him," Winter said firmly. "His shadow may only be magic lingering in this world, but it's real."

[harrowgate]

Felix drew back for a moment. The dark power he'd experienced on Halloween came back to him, the shadow or specter of Malkar... or had it been the wizard himself?

After a long moment's hesitation, he spoke again. "I believe you. I... saw something on Halloween that..." He shook his head. "A shadow told me terrible things, as well."

[winter_wisp]

"Really?" Winter asked, voice soft and nervous.

"I am sorry, Felix," the pixie said softly, reaching out and touching the Wizard's arm.

[harrowgate]

Winter had grown so much, but Felix still didn't feel quite right revealing the truth about his past to the pixie. He was no longer innocent, but there were still truths that might tarnish Winter's shine. Felix glanced aside. "You don't need to..."

But rejecting Winter felt even more cruel than unloading Felix's fears on him. He stopped himself, and touched Winter's hand lightly. "What I mean is, I know it's frightening. But we don't really know what it means."

[winter_wisp]

Winter nodded a little, his touch lingering a moment.

"I know. I am still afraid though. Surely you are too," the pixie pressed gently, blue eyes locked on Felix, studying him.

[harrowgate]

Felix was silent for a long time before he looked away, and spoke again. "I... am. But being afraid never did me any good. Fear doesn't make it better or worse, when the shadows come. It doesn't hurt any more or less if you're afraid. It just makes it worse while you're waiting."

[winter_wisp]

"I don't know how not to be afraid," Winter confessed quietly.

[harrowgate]

"Neither do I," Felix admitted. "I... suppose we can be afraid together."

[winter_wisp]

Winter nodded a little, looking uncertain- And then abruptly wrapped his arms around Felix, embracing him like kin.

[harrowgate]

For once, Felix didn't hate being embraced. In truth, he was afraid of what he had seen, and the fact that Winter's evil former master had returned to him so soon after Felix's own. He folded his own long arms awkwardly around Winter.

"Will... made us kin," he mumbled quietly. "He worked some magic and said that it was done. I don't know why he did that."

[winter_wisp]

"Because he sensed you needed kin, maybe?" Winter suggested, pressing a soft and innocent kiss to Felix's cheek before letting go.

[harrowgate]

Felix's face burned, not just from Winter's affection, and the apples of his cheeks flushed pink. "That was what he said, because I have none. I thought he could select a less objectionable kinsman, but he didn't really listen to me."

[winter_wisp]

"Well, brother Willy can be questionable kin, so you're in good company," the pixie said cheerfully.