Molly, age 10, had managed to snag a couple of red threads, enough to make bracelets for the three of them. Kingsley eagerly offers his arm for Molly to wrap the string around his wrist, while Lucien rolls his eyes.
"What even is this for? It's not like we need anything more to make us indistinguishable from each other."
"But Luccccci," Molly whines, holding out the thread towards him. "This isn't any normal string, it's special!"
Behind him, admiring the splash of color against his lavender skin, Kingsley snorts. "Don't let that get to his head now. Luci's ego is so fat, I'm amazed he can keep his chin up." A pillow hits him square in the face, knocking him flat on his ass with a squeal.
"No, listen, listen!" Molly waves his hand in Lucien's face, dragging his attention back to him. "Folks say red strings bind people together so they'll always find each other, no matter how lost you get." He glances up at Catha, smiling at her light. "With this, we'll always find our way back to each other."
Lucien goes quiet in thought, but Molly thinks his brother is just humoring him. Especially when he tilts his head and asks, "More Moonweaver shite?"
Molly huffs. "It's very romantic shite. Don't tell me you're suddenly too cool for this."
On the ground, Kingsley cackles.
Lucien throws up his hands with a drawn-out groan. "Alright, put it on, so you two can stop pestering me about it!"
Later that night, Molly catches Lucien by the oil lamp, hunched over one of the books Kingsley swiped for him. His fingers pick at the bracelet, admiring it in the light.
Molly quickly shuts his eyes and bullies into Kingsley's space. He slips off into a slumber, clutching his bracelet with a smile on his face. His brother is such a liar sometimes.
------
Molly ducks under Beau's grapple and rushes forward. "Lucien!!" He can't tell if it's rage or grief that fills his chest. Maybe it's both. The brother he used to tease, who used to put up with Molly and Kingsley's shenanigans, is cutting down his friends. Those damn eyes slide around Lucien's body like some sort of parasite.
His hand clasps around Lucien's wrist, tugging him away from landing another strike towards Fjord. "Stop! Just stop, Luci!" He begs, gripping his hand. "What is all this worth? Just come back... Please, come back with us."
The roaring snowstorm sweeps through them, drowning out the shouts and screams behind them.
Frosty breath pushes past Lucien's lips as he sighs, glancing upon Molly as if he were a child. "This is worth everything, you just don't know it yet." Lucien grips Molly's wrist in return and yanks him in. "But perhaps you'll see reason if you're one with the pattern."
All nine eyes flash, filling his vision with red. Fear fills his chest as he desperately tries to will his legs to move, but his eyes lock him in place. Then someone snatches him from Lucien's grasp. Molly's fingers snag on something before it gives and goes with him.
"Yer a piece of shite!" Kingsley snarls, clinging to Molly as Jester flies them away.
Molly stares down at the shrinking visage of their brother, swallowing the heavy ball of disappointment and despair. Dangling from his fingers are frayed strings of a familiar bracelet. He clutches it tightly as his friends run into the dark with Lucien's warning trailing after them.