Ryder

Ryan too joins the fight.

I hadn't heard anything from Ryan since Mother announced that she was declaring war on Styxx and I. It worried me slightly because it wasn't like Ryan not to email me every day. even if it was just a few sentences, he always wrote me an email to let me know that he was okay. It had been a day and a half since Mother announced her war declaration and I hadn't heard a word from him. I was starting to get worried. If mother had hurt him, I was going to tear her apart. Ryan was one of the only people in the world that I actually gave a s**t about and I was not going to have him hurt in any way. Finally, after two days of waiting, Ryan emailed me. It was a paragraph long and desperate sounding. I read it quickly. 

 

 Dear Ryder,  

 

Hey bro. I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. Mother has been keeping tabs on me lately. I've finally convinced her that I'm on her side, though, so she's left me to my own devices again. For your information, I'm not on her side. I just convinced her of that so she'd let me do what I wanted. I'm writing because I'm scared dude. She's talking about killing you bro. Like...she's talking about cold blooded murder here dude. Would you talk to Styxx? Ask him if I can come live with you? I don't want her to use me against you and I know she will if I stay here. I'll do anything, even become a f*****g servant. Just please get me the f**k out of here. Write back as soon as possible please. I'll be waiting for your email. Hurry. 

 

Ryan.  

 

Picking up my laptop, I ran downstairs to Styxx's office where he was busy replying to emails about the war. He turned around and read the email carefully, eyebrows raised. When he was done, he gestured for me to sit down while he reread the letter slowly this time. When he had finished reading it over again, he looked to me for explanation.  

 

 "Do you think he's telling the truth?" Styxx asked me. 

 

I nodded. "I know he is. Ryan wouldn't take Mother's side. We're too close for that."  

 

"We'll take him. But I'm not taking him on as a servant. He's your brother and he is as welcome here as you are." 

 

"Are you sure? He'd be more than happy to work for you in exchange for room and board."  

 

Styxx rolled his eyes. "I'm sure he would be. But I don't make my guests work in exchange for anything. Send him an email back and tell him we'll meet him in front of the Black Cove tonight at midnight. Tell him to make sure he has everything he needs."  

 

"Okay. Thank you Styxx. He'll appreciate it...and I do too."  

 

"It's not a problem. Your brother is an innocent. I would not be able to live with myself if he were hurt because I refused to let him come here. I would warn him that Merlin is here. I don't want to shock him too much." 

 

"Okay."  

 

I turned and headed back upstairs to my Suite. Setting my laptop back on the desk, I sat down and began to write another letter to Ryan. I was thankful that Styxx had agreed to let Ryan come here. It meant that Ryan would be safe. Well, as safe as we could be in the middle of war. I grinned a little as I replied to Ryan's letter. Taking him to live with Styxx and I would undoubtedly piss my mother off more than anything else. And, since she had declared war against her own son, I didn't really care how badly I pissed her off. She deserved to be pissed off after everything she'd done. I wrote a letter to Ryan, telling him what Styxx had said. I made sure he knew to meet us out front of the Black Cove at midnight that night and to have everything he needed. He replied a minute later saying that he could do that. We ended our conversation by saying that we'd see each other later.  

 

I spent most of the rest of the day reading The Ancient Arts and talking to Merlin in the library. Merlin told me a little more about his days with Arthur. He told me about how Arthur's last words had been, "I love you," and how he'd felt like his world was completely empty after he'd lost him. I couldn't really relate to that, having never been in love like that before, but I could see how much losing Arthur had hurt him. It was in his eyes, those bright green eyes were filled with an agony I'd never experienced. He explained that the legends of Arthur returning to life had been wrong. Arthur was never coming back. His voice cracked when he said the words  as if he wanted to burst into tears. After that, we changed the topic to different types of Magick. We talked about different types of Magick for a few hours before Styxx came down with Sophia and changed the topic to Ryan's arrival. 

 

 "Ryder's twin brother Ryan is coming to stay with us." Styxx said. 

 

"Why is he coming here? Isn't he on your mother's side of things?" 

 

I shook my head. "Ryan and I have always been close. He said he heard my mother planning to kill me and he doesn't want to have anything to do with her anymore." 

 

"How did you find this out?" 

 

"He sent me an email. That's the only way we can communicate while he's with my mother. Calling each other is too dangerous. Mother could hear him talking to me and hurt him for it. It's also why we're going at midnight to pick him up. Mother is always in bed before eleven. That gives Ryan an hour to pack his things and get out of the house." 

 

"Where are we meeting him?" Merlin asked. 

 

"We?" Styxx asked. 

 

Merlin rolled his eyes at him. "Of course. Do you really think I'm going to let you walk into enemy territory alone? If you did, you're crazy." 

 

"So, you're coming with us?" I asked. 

 

"I told your mother that you are under my protection. Of course I'm coming with you."  

 

"All right then." Styxx said. 

 

I glanced at the clock. It was seven-thirty at night and I hadn't eaten yet. If I didn't eat before we left, my Magick wouldn't work right. And if we were attacked, I'd need my Magick at it's best. Styxx looked over at me and seemed to have the same thought because he snapped his fingers, summoning a servant from the kitchens. He ordered dinner for everyone present and sent the servant back to the kitchens. He then looked at the rest of us and smiled. 

 

 "We need to make sure we're in top shape for tonight. If we don't have our strength up, we're not gonna be able to fight off an attack. And we can't be sure that Helena doesn't have Ryan under surveillance. If she has him under surveillance, we'll be under attack the minute we step foot on the mainland. We need to eat and make sure we know what we're doing tonight." Styxx said. 

 

Merlin nodded. "I agree." 

 

"While we wait for the food, I'll explain what we're going to be doing. Merlin and I will protect you from the back. Ryder and Sophia will stand at the front. He'll recognize at least Ryder if not Sophia." 

 

"Good idea." I said quietly, looking over at Merlin who was shaking his head. 

 

"No...I think Sophia should be behind with you. I want to be beside Ryder in front. That way, should something happen that you cannot stop, he has added protection."  

 

Styxx nodded. "That's actually not a bad idea. With Merlin beside you, not many people will actually want to attack. They'll be able to feel his power and it'll deter most of them from attacking you."  

 

Sophia looked over at Styxx. "Styxx is right. Not only that but, seeing as how Merlin publicly claimed Ryder as his apprentice, it'll show solidarity." 

 

Merlin nodded. "I have to agree with the lady. Not only will it show solidarity but I think it's about time I come out and let people know that I'm still alive."  

 

Styxx looked to Merlin in shock. "Are you sure? You...you did say that people knowing you were alive could cause problems for you." 

 

Merlin nodded. "In this case, it's going to cause even more problems if I stay 'dead' because people will assume that you have no protection. This way, less people will want to go against you."  

 

"All right. Do we want to publicly state that you're still alive? Like, include it in a newspaper article?" 

 

Merlin thought about that for a moment. "That actually wouldn't be a bad idea. The more people know, the higher our chances are of winning this ridiculous war. I think we should most definitely do a newspaper article." 

 

"People aren't going to want to believe that you're still alive, you know." Sophia said.  

 

Merlin nodded. "I know. But there's a way I can prove who I really am." 

 

Styxx raised an eyebrow. "And how would you do that?" 

 

Merlin smiled. "There's still a portrait of me hanging in the International Museum of Mage History. If they deny that it's me, I'll have them compare my picture to the portrait of me hanging in the museum. They won't be able to deny that it's me then." 

 

Styxx nodded. "That's actually true. You'll have to let them do a Magickal analysis on you so they know that you're not using charms to reflect that image because you know some people will say that's what you're doing." 

 

Merlin nodded. "Of course."  

 

Our dinner came then and we stopped talking long enough to eat. Styxx had ordered chicken and cheese quesadillas with Spanish rice and raspberry lemonade. It was a better dinner than I could have cooked myself so I dug in. Next to me, Merlin was commenting that even he couldn't have cooked this well and Styxx was rolling his eyes. It took about fifteen minutes for us to eat and, by the time we'd finished eating, it was ten o'clock at night. Styxx stood up and said that we'd better get down to the boat and we headed off to find the boats. WeDown at the boat, Harrison was just finishing up the preparation on Styxx's yacht.We climbed aboard and got comfortable. There would be a long ride to the mainland.  

 

Two hours later, we were pulling up the docks on the mainland. We got out and slid into the formation we'd decided on back at home. As we walked, people stared at us, their eyes wide. I knew why. They could feel the power exuding from Merlin and were shocked by it. Merlin kept his head up and his eyes straight forward. He didn't bother looking back at those who gaped at him and I chose to follow suit. Soon, all four of us were walking with our head straight and our eyes forward. There was a sort of raw power exuding from us that swirled in the air, making us seem more powerful than we were and I could see a small smirk on Styxx's face because he knew exactly what effect we were having on people and he loved it.  

 

Ryan was standing outside the Black Cove. I looked him over for a minute, totally ignoring Frank standing next to him, and smiled. My twin had gotten a tattoo of a Phoenix on his neck and he'd gotten snake bites on his lower lip. He stood, smirking slightly, as we walked towards him. We stopped in front of him and Merlin stepped a bit closer to me as I stepped forward to hug him. Ryan and I hugged for a minute before he stepped back. 

 

"You should introduce me to your crew." he said, grinning. 

 

I rolled my eyes. "This is Styxx Lancaster. He's one of my Mentors." I gestured at Styxx who grinned and waved a little. "This one is Sophia De Luna. She's a friend of Styxx's and she's on our side of this whole war." I pointed at Sophia. "And this lovely dude right here, is Merlin himself. He's my other Mentor." 

 

Ryan's eyes widened. "You didn't tell me Merlin was your freakin' Mentor." 

 

I grinned. "It's not the klnda thing you say in an email. But we should get going. Mother might realize you're gone and send someone out to find you. We're prepared for a fight...but I don't really want one." 

 

"Ryder's right. You guys need to get going," Frank said, pushing Ryan towards me.  

 

"All right. Come on. Thanks for waiting with him Frank." I said, grabbing one of Ryan's bags.  

 

"No problem dude. Keep in touch man. I always have your back." 

 

"Thanks dude."  

 

Hugging briefly, I turned and led the way back to the boat. Harrison was standing on deck, looking out over the ocean as we approached. We climbed aboard and took seats below deck. The night, while it was warm, was cool with the ocean spray so it was a bit more comfortable below deck. Styxx broke out a bottle of Tequila Rose and poured everyone a small glass. Smiling at us, he toasted to a successful rescue and grinned as we downed our drinks.  

 

 "Does Mother know that Merlin is your mentor?" Ryan asked.  

 

Merlin nodded. "I proclaimed it right in front of her so of course she knows."  

 

Ryan rolled his eyes. "So why is she still going through with this stupid war? She should know by now that you're pretty much the strongest Mage in existence."  

 

I glanced at him. "No one ever accused Mother of being smart, Ry." 

 

"That's true enough." 

 

Styxx grinned. "Regardless of how smart she thinks she is, we're going to win this war. We've got Merlin on our side." 

 

"We've got you on our side as well." Merlin pointed out to Styxx, rolling his eyes. 

 

"I'm not much." Styxx said. 

 

It was Ryan's turn to roll his eyes. "Dude, you don't know your own reputation, do you?"  

 

"What do you mean?" 

 

"You're known as one of the most bad a*s f*****g Mages in history dude. You're second only to f*****g Merlin dude."  

 

"Really?" Styxx asked, raising an eyebrow. 

 

"Really."  

 

"Wow. I didn't know I was so...impressive."  

 

"You totally are dude."  

 

It was funny how down to earth Styxx really was. He had a reputation for being kind of stuck up but I couldn't honestly see how he'd gotten that reputation. I'd never seen him be anything but kind and polite. I mean, you could tell that he knew how powerful he was and liked it...but at the same time he wasn't cocky at all. In fact, it was as if he really wasn't aware of his massive influence on the Magickal World. And he did have a massive influence on the Magickal World. Even Mother, before she'd decided to declare war on him, had realized this and had tried to get him on her side. Granted, she had been pretty stupid about the whole thing but she'd still tried to get him on her side and that just showed how influential he was. If people like Mother, who was Head of the most influential Order in the Magickal World, wanted him on their side he had to be pretty influential.  

 

The boat ride back to Blackwater Island was pretty quiet. Sophia and Ryan had a pretty good conversation about War Magick. By the end of their conversation, she'd decided to become his Mentor. He accepted gratefully after realizing that she was the person who had led Mother's army which was what he'd wanted to do. Mother had always denied him that job, though, because it was supposed to be mine. I was supposed to be the one leading the Eternal Order's army. Thankfully, neither of us would be leading her army as both of us now had apprenticeships with people we really did look up to. Which was far better than the miserable existence we would have led had it not been for Styxx rescuing us.  

 

When we entered the castle, Styxx handed me the key to the Suite across from mine. He told me to make sure the kitchen in it was stocked - if it wasn't, I had to alert the servants so that they could stock it - and get Ryan settled in. Grinning, Ryan and I thanked him before heading to the Suite. I unlocked the door and handed the key to Ryan before stepping inside. His living room was much the same as mine. He had a desk in one corner and a television in the center of the room. He had two couches and an armchair. We went into the kitchen - it wasn't stocked so I made sure that a servant knew to stock it the next day - and I showed him where everything was. When I showed him his bedroom, his jaw dropped. It was blue and black and had - like mine - a king size four poster bed with a nightstand on either side. In the corner of the room he had a large blue armchair with a bookshelf right next to it. His bathroom, like mine, had a jacuzzi style tub and stand up shower. He stood in the bedroom, staring around in amazement. Even his room back at Sullivan Manor hadn’t been this nice.  

 

 "Dude. This is sweet." he breathed, staring at me. 

 

"Yeah, I know. When I first came here, I figured Styxx would give me a pretty nice room but nothing like this. He handed me the key and I walked into mine and I almost had a heart attack. By tomorrow morning you'll have a fully stocked kitchen. If there's anything not in your kitchen that you’d like in it, just snap your fingers. That's the cue for a servant. A servant will come and you can tell them what you need and they'll get it for you."  

 

"Wow. What'd he say when I offered to be a servant?" 

 

"He just said you'd be a proper guest not a damned servant."  

 

"He's a pretty nice guy...huh?" 

 

"Yeah, he kinda is. I'm glad I got the apprenticeship with him."  

 

"When you told me you'd gained an apprenticeship with him, I almost lost my s**t. You know he hasn't had an apprentice in like five hundred some years, right?"  

 

"Yeah, I know. He told me. I was honestly pretty surprised he picked me. I mean, I'm not that much."  

 

"You're pretty f****n' strong." 

 

"I guess I must be if he picked me. Plus Merlin picked me too. Which really shocked the s**t outta me."  

 

"I would have s**t my pants dude."  

 

"At first, I just thought he was saying it so Mother would get off my back about things. But then he said he was serious and I about fainted. I mean he's Merlin. The most famous Mage to walk the earth. Mortals write books and s**t about him. And he wants to be my Mentor. It's f*****g crazy."  

 

"Yeah, it kind of is."  

 

Ryan sat down on the bed and set his bags down next to him. I said goodnight and headed across the hall to my Suite and unlocked the door. Locking it behind me, I went over to the kitchen and smiled. The servants had stocked chai lattes for me. It was kind of girly but I really did love chai lattes. They were delicious. Especially with four cubes of sugar and just a little bit of honey. My favorite thing to drink before going to bed. I made myself one, just the way I liked it, before heading to the armchair in the living room to finish reading the last chapter of the book Styxx had given me. The Ancient Arts was a pretty interesting book and I'd already learned a lot. So far, I'd learned that the incantations used in ancient Magick was in French and it was usually pretty straight-forward. Usually, it was just whatever you were trying to do but in French instead of english. But you had to put effort behind whatever you were doing. Like, you couldn't just say the incantation and expect something to happen. You had to put Magick and effort behind it or you wouldn't get anything.  

 

I finished my latte - and my book - and headed to bed. It was early in the morning and I wanted to be awake before three in the afternoon. I knew well enough to know that I wouldn't be awake by noon but hopefully before three I could be out of bed and dressed. Yawning, I sent out a burst of Magick and found that my nocturnal brother was - as was his usual - sitting up on his laptop. I grinned as I fell asleep, knowing that we were going to be all right.