boil&toil

R E B E C C A G R A Y - 29 - I was always told I was greater than my past, that I'm as strong as my future. CLOSED TO ELYSIUM

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Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

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kadenkingsman:

The expression on Kaden’s face melted into a grimace as Rebecca turned questions towards Andrew. She didn’t need anyone pushing him to ask where he was quite yet, not until she was able to get enough of a handle on herself that she would be able to protect herself from anyone that came after her. She wasn’t a werewolf anymore, she was a witch. That was something that she knew how to do, but a witch without her magic was useless, so first thing on her agenda had to be getting her magic back.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she questioned Rebecca, instantly cutting off anything that Andrew might have said about being in the other world. He might have just been in flux between the two universes, but just in case he wasn’t it was best to shut him up before he spilled. “Like you said, you’re the one that did the spell, not me, and it knocked me out. Do you need anything? Water? Food? Someone else to be called?”

The pressure that Kaden was bestowing upon her wasn’t well received in the slightest. She already had a splitting headache, and at the moment, having Andrew tell them what happened would be the step forward to knowing how it occurred and nipping it before it blossomed. Yet, all Rebecca could get from the pregnant woman was she was being shunned out. Only a minute ago she was trying to seem grateful and now she was trying to get her out of the room, and all of it seemed wrong.

Becc knew that the evil glare shot Kaden’s way wasn’t welcoming in the slightest. “No,” she said simply, already knowing that she was going to text Kyle because it was obvious something was off. All she had to tell him was that Kaden didn’t go into hysterics and he’d know. “I’ll call Kyle for you, but Andrew, after you two catch up, I’d really appreciate... Oh, I’m so sorry.” Fingers grabbed at her temples as Rebecca shook her head. “I’m Rebecca Grey, sorry for not introducing myself before. But, I’d really appreciate an explanation as to what happened. It’s been... I’ve been working on it with another named Oliver for the past two years. It would help a lot in case, you know,” brown eyes looked warily over at Kaden, watching her expressions, “It were to happen again.” She got up after a nod was given in reply from him, and she only nodded at Kaden, not doing anything to hide the concern on her face.

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Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

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kadenkingsman:

Kaden slowly stood, feeling admittedly unsteady as she had more weight than she had ever had before. She knew nothing about pregnancy, she had never even talked to her mom about it really before she was exiled, and minus the very, very basics, she was basically completely in the dark. It was definitely something she would have to research if it wasn’t going to be a huge issue for her to deal with throughout the future. Even the though of just having to give birth made her sick, but at least after birthing the baby and giving it to the father, she could run off with Kaden’s body until she was completely ready to finish the task that she had assigned to herself: bringing over the few that she cared about out of the horrid living conditions of the other world–plus to make those that had screwed her people over so many times pay.

She cautiously approached Andrew, acting like she was in shock more than anything else. Apparently he had been gone for two years, that was definitely something, and as Rebecca washed the mixture off of his face, she stood beside him, “I can’t believe this is actually happening…” her voice was still soft, as if too much energy would overwhelm her once more, “Honestly, thank you.” Her attention had turned towards the witch with the words before Kaden had lightly sat beside her “brother”. If there was one thing she knew about people, it was that they loved to be appreciated, so a million thank yous and I’m sorrys could easily be thrown around to try and improve any potentially sticky situations. 

The gratitude was much appreciated, and now that she thought of it, it was one of the first times she had been told thank you by Kaden. Rebecca had started two years prior informing her that she was honoured to help, but to think nothing of it since it would both enhance her as a witch, and ultimately, bring to a close a curse that had been instilled in a person. She did everything she could to put a genuine face on, only it was hard since the sparse stamina she had remaining was wearing thin by trying to clean off Andrew despite his protests. A half-hearted smile was turned Kaden’s way, but the frown refused to leave. There were too many energies bounding everywhere, something that she would have to clear from the space later so that it didn’t leave any result that couldn’t be fixed. “Like I said when I started, I did this for my development and for Andrew.”

Any other person would have said, “don’t mention it,” or something else regarding a formal reply. The salt that crunched beneath her boot slid as she fell to a seated position, hand quickly going to her head and hating the feeling she had. The curiosity that had been present for over two years was gradually making its residence in her mind as she turned her attention once more to Andrew, interested in knowing. “I think... What’ll be easy for all of us is to know where you went. Normalizing yourself with what you were familiar with before delving into... Our world. Because if you were truly gone, it’s been two years, but what happened? Where were you?” Rebecca did nothing to apologise for her layer of questions, wanting something to focus on so that she wouldn’t allow the splitting migraine filling her skull to explode it. 

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Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

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kadenkingsman:

Kaden knew immediately what the second presence would have been when she had been bringing Andrew over–herself, obviously. And she all too quickly rolled over, struggling slightly due to the weight on her gut, before shaking her head, looking at the ceiling, “It’s kicking, it’s kicking. It’s fine,” she momentarily hesitated, not knowing if the baby was a boy or a girl, but fearing that calling it it might cause a slight suspicion, so she covered it up by continuing, “Really, the baby’s fine.”

Andrew continued to speak, going off on something about how he’s seen Kaden, but that was it. Just seeing Kaden and hearing Rebecca’s voice, and if she knew anything about spells, which she obviously did, Kaden knew that that would have been written off. The sharp pain in her left wrist made her all too aware of the kind of spell that had been done, and if Kaden’s blood was used to call Andrew over, it would only make sense that he would see the presence of the one tied to guiding him from one realm to another. “But yeah,” she turned to Andrew, hoping to put attention on him with whatever reaction he’d bring forth, “Surprise, I’m pregnant.” Of fucking course she was.

Either she was still having the effects of the ritual the air was still simmering down from, or there was something wrong. The majority of her magic was running on empty, so the portion of her stomach that always let her know which instinct to follow was silent. Just as Andrew had just been, it felt as if her body were silent. However, Kaden? She had just been calling the baby a she, not an it. Had finished saying how they wanted to keep it a secret, yet now of all things to bring light to, it was her pregnancy? The confused stare being shot the woman’s way was turned her brother’s way as he began to speak, her mind already trying to piece two and two together. It was important to know how the spell had gone, yet even that was thrown out the window when Kaden announced the obvious.

Of all the things she would imagine Kaden to do when Andrew returned, her being as impassive as she was wasn’t something that was expected. For two years, she had driven herself crazy with trying to get her brother back, had given both her and Oliver the hardest of times for not coming up with results. Yet now? There was no hugging, no crying, no hysterics. That was the biggest thing, no hysterics. There didn’t even seem to be any life in her tone. Andrew was fine, Rebecca got that, apart from his mind falling apart from the information given, he seemed fine. His reaction upon first returning was perfect – concern, anxiety, that same loyalty she had talked to her about – however, Kaden’s? The witch pulled herself from the table, a towel in hand with lemon to rid his skin of the stain that lined his body. She said nothing to Kaden, focusing on Andrew since that was the most that her mind could do at that time. 

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Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

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kadenkingsman:

She couldn’t do magic? Now that was an inconvenient change since the last time she had been in this world if she had ever heard of one. What’s more was talk of two years. That was just about how long she had been waiting to be brought back to this meddling little world. Kaden didn’t recognize the other voice in the room, but it was obviously female, a witch most likely since she was claiming that Kaden herself didn’t have magic and didn’t do the spell. She might have only been faking for a few seconds, but it was already enough to go deliriously off of.

Kaden groaned, rolling over as if in immense pain, before putting a hand to her head, remaining in that position before halting. It wasn’t her act that had caught her off guard, but rather the sudden move in her abdomen. She was lucky that her face was still pointed towards the ground, because otherwise the pure shock would have given her completely away. No magic and now a fucking baby? Her and Oliver hadn’t planned for either of those hiccups. “I’m fine, I’m fine…” she finally forced herself to look towards the other two in the room, vaguely recognizing the witch from her world as well. She knew just about every witch in the other New York City. “I can’t believe you’re back.” That was a safe starting point, right? He had been gone for two years and they had done a spell, a spell that had opened up the opportunity for her to come here. Andrew wasn’t in her life anymore, but it was obviously him in front of her. Even in this world she could tell her brothers apart. Now that he had sat down, Andrew himself seemed rather shocked, which seemed understandable after being told that he had just been gone for two years. Instead she turned to Rebecca, “What happened? It all went correctly?” she wanted more information on the spell if she could get it. If it could bring herself through, it could bring through others as well.

Seeing his reaction to the two years was enough to send him doing exactly what she had requested, and for a second, Rebecca felt guilty for allowing her annoyance at Andrew not allowing her to resuscitate her innards. What she was most concerned about was that Kaden was still on the floor far longer than she should have been. She understood herself being down for the count, but Kaden? From what she knew, if anything, Kaden only offered a portion of her energy. Unless... “Is the baby kicking.” she stated rather than asked. Her body stood, too rapidly upon her body needing to press over the table in the sway that had taken over her head.

Never had she ever felt the way she did, not even while intoxicated. “You should be perfectly fine, Kaden, but if your...” The presence of Andrew had all but left her mind, waiting for any response but not getting any, only mirroring dark eyes that belonged to her brother staring down a the mass that made up her stomach. “Yes, Andrew knows now, Kaden, surprise, answer me please.” She had felt a second presence somewhere, had felt it in her mind with Andrew. At the time, it wasn’t strong, yet maybe it was her spell that had been too potent and brought someone else along with the original person they intended to bring. “Wait, Andrew, I know there’s a lot going on right now, but if you can remember something for me, that’s be great, because I need to know if something or someone else came with you.”

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Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

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kadenkingsman:

She had been waiting for this for over two years now. A second chance at getting to the world that was so, so much better than their own. Kaden was ready to take back what was hers, to get back at those that had killed her and her people not once, but twice, and to make sure that they faced the same fate that she had along with everyone else that she cared about. They had sacrificed her people like they were nothing, and why? Because they had been the idiots to open the portal in the first place. Nobody in her world had asked for this, nobody had asked to die or to have everyone they loved ripped away. Nobody had asked to be brought through the void only to live again in this similar place, and nobody had asked to be sent back to where they came from after they were dealt with once more. The only positive regarding the continuous meddling was that at least after the last time they had gotten their own world back, but even then it wasn’t the same. Thoughts had gotten into peoples’ heads, people had died, and life just hadn’t been like it was for generations before. They may have gotten their world back the second time through, but they wouldn’t have lost it in the first place if the others had just minded their own damn business instead of playing with magic they should never have touched.

She heard before she saw, her name being yelled from above her, and as eyes slowly opened, Kaden took in a familiar face. Oliver and herself weren’t on good terms in the other world, they were exes after all and he had conspired to turn her into a werewolf, but he had also been standing by with his magic for years to send her through the portal as soon as he saw an opening. Apparently it had finally come. “Hi…” she purposely made her voice feel weak, although it was already naturally there, squinting up as if she hadn’t seen the light of day in ages. She had no idea the situation she had been thrown into, who was around, where she was, or what was going on, and Kaden had learned from the many times before that she needed to play dumb before outing herself. Kaden reached up to touch his face, opening her mouth as if she was going to speak before slumping back over, hand hitting roughly against the wood floor. People always spoke more when they were scared, and his rapid talking above her as she feigned another loss of consciousness provided exactly that. Yelling about some spell, obviously whatever brought her here, reassurance that she would come back to soon, something about texting another familiar name… She couldn’t play half-dead long, but at least a few moments would give her much more than just trying to fake it from the start. 

Her words hadn’t been taken into consideration in the slightest, and it was enough to get her voice up in a few octaves above the gasping whisper she had been able to muster. “She didn’t do the spell!” For a second, Rebecca thought that she could taste blood in her mouth, finding that it was indeed that, but not from her body turning inside out as some grimoires had said could happen. Again, she tried to raise her hand to wipe the blood, finding it a little more easy than the previous attempt. Then it was all gradual, her energy returning since the entirety of it had been poured into the reacting form holding his sister. She took a quick glimpse, almost laughing to herself over how deranged he looked with the blood line on him. The outburst had been enough to get her heartbeat racing, forcing her blood back into her body and, ultimately, her brain.

Another minute passed before Rebecca was able to raise her head, the glory falling as reality began to settle back in. Whatever it was she felt before evaporated quickly from her system as the heavy, ominous cloud of emptiness filled her. All of the magic she had used had drained her, and what she had felt was the residual outcome of it leaving. Now it was gone. “Andrew,” she said harshly, using the table to hold her upper body up. “She can’t do magic, okay? It wasn’t her, just... Sit back. She’ll be fine, sit back and relax, here.” Without being careful, she threw the last crystal she had into his direction, hoping he’d catch it but not having enough energy to care if he did. Any other case, she would be careful with it, yet never before had she done anything of the same magnitude she had recently done. “Two years. You’ve been gone two years, okay?”

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Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

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kadenkingsman:

Kaden refused to even breathe. There was too much of a risk of screwing something up. Rebecca’s actions, the feel of everything in the room, all she could do was stand silently. Frankly if she wanted to breathe, Kaden wasn’t even sure if she’d be able to. There was too much going on that she was trying to process to use brain activity to do something as currently unnecessary as consume oxygen. The flames of the candles were flickering, the power in the room seemed to be shifting, and her full attention was on Andrew’s form waiting for something, anything, to show that they had finally succeeded. Rebecca’s eyes were shut tight, and Kaden could see the trail of blood beginning to lead from her nose. The same had happened to her in the past and she knew what it meant, but Rebecca’s words also resonated strongly within her. She wasn’t supposed to move.

In an instant the flames extinguished themselves, but nothing was for certain until she heard the gasp. A foot began forward before she stopped herself, still waiting for the word so that she wouldn’t somehow fuck this all up and send him back to the shadow realm or wherever the hell he came from. “Can I…? Andr–” She had been so focused on Rebecca and Andrew, waiting for the signal that she could approach that Kaden hadn’t noticed a lightheadedness about herself. She hadn’t seen the corners of her vision darkening or an adjustment in her breathing or heartbeat. It was the excitement, it just had to be. Of course, there was no search for logical explanations as Kaden’s body collapsed lifelessly to the ground. There was no considering reasons mid-plummet. It was just full visual and audio and then nothing. Nothing but the cold blackness of what she could only relate to what she thought about death.

Consciousness brought a returned serenity, a joy at finally seeing her brother once more. Eyes opened to take in the view around her. A ceiling that she didn’t recognize and a bed she didn’t remember. She felt like she had a nasty hangover, hitting her head in the fall perhaps? But all it took was her getting out of bed with stumbled steps to realize that something was all too wrong. No bump, no movement, no nothing. A glance in the mirror only confirmed it. Hair cut to the shoulders, lighter than how she she wore her own. Horror had already masked her face, a scream silenced in her throat that she couldn’t quite bring to life. She might have been looking at a copy of her face, but the eyes she was looking through weren’t her eyes at all.

It took her a second, but the grey candle was out and she was left the the underwhelming feel of a soreness she hadn’t felt before filling her body. Before she could comprehend anything else apart from Andrew sitting upright and breathing was that he was off the table and feet were on the floor. Only the sighs of laughter came from Rebecca as she rested her head, a thickness of overworking herself settling in her bones. She wanted to wipe away what moist substance was beneath her nose, but even then, she couldn’t find the strength in her to do that. What she could do was, with closed eyes, whisper to Kaden that he was back. That she could move because he was back. What felt like hours in mere seconds passed before she heard him talk for the first time, distant in nature from where her mind was venturing towards, yet he was talking. Two years. Two fucking years, she celebrated to herself until she comprehend what Andrew was saying.

Kaden, wake up. Kaden, wake up. Rebecca, wake up. Rebecca, wake up. It took the last bit of strength to open her eyes and see that Andrew had gone to the floor, holding his sister before her lids became too heavy, like bags of sand, and they closed. It was the energy. All of the energy in the room had been sucked into pulling him over that it made sense why they, both, would be unwilling to come to their senses. Only the draining euphoria kept Rebecca from falling under, feeling the elation that he was off of the table. That he had gotten himself off the table and that he was back. “You’re back,” she found herself whispering, head trying to lift but not doing any good. There was a lapse where emptiness took over, passing out for however long before she rose to Andrew’s voice shouting at, from what little she could grasp, her. “She’s fine... Energy... For you... A second.”

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Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

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kadenkingsman:

Kaden made the cut quickly as opposed to drawing it out, like ripping off a band aid or whatever other comparison she could make between the act of causing herself pain. There was hesitation as Rebecca warned her to not spill a drop of blood in the circle, mainly cause she couldn’t help but imagine what would possibly occur after that, but she knew that now was not the time to ask. It took longer to fill up the vial than one might have thought, it was never as quick as the movies, Kaden knew that, but within time it was full, and she all too carefully passed it along to Rebecca with halted breath. All too soon she would know if this was going to actually work. In just a few minutes she could finally have her brother back.

“I’m in, I’m staying in,” she replied, already taking up residence where she planned to stand. She wouldn’t miss this, no matter how much she might have feared for the safety of Rebecca and Andrew in the room. It would be horrible to watch whatever happened, mainly because trying to continuously force the positive thoughts was a tortuous task, but she wouldn’t be able to bear it being outside. “Let’s just…” she paused, sending a tense smile Rebecca’s way as she fidgeted slightly with the crystal in her palm before moving her hands down in front of her stomach, trying to assist in keeping herself completely still as opposed to adjusting her weight or anything else, “I’m ready for this when you are.”

At any other time, she would have drawn out the spell to ultimately not get around to it and have someone else do it. Kaden had allowed her into something personal, and for that, she would forever be grateful that the youngest Kingsman had allowed it to be so and had granted access for her to find out what she was truly capable of. Of course, Oliver, too, but it was always Kaden. With the warmth of the blood still within her fingers, holding it more delicately than she did with a vile of wolfsbane extract, Rebecca went to stand on Andrew’s right side, slowly shifting her feet until she felt everything line up. Before fully setting herself, she looked up at Kaden one more time, eyes alit with the excitement coursing through her. “Good thoughts,” she decided to say, but the smile on her face said so much more. This time was different. This was it, and everything inside of her said it was. Telling her this was it would simply jinx it, and at this point, Rebecca couldn’t have that. 

Everything became still to her thing. The clarity in her mind brought no pain, no thoughts, no happiness, nor anxiety. Fingers held the grey candle, charged with the energy of the eclipse, having taken the colour after the event had passed. She focused on the warmth it would bring, the awakening of its flame and those surrounding. Pulling from the incense of the white candles that signified the purity, absorbing their energy to reflect the same onto each flame that lit in the circle they were in. To anyone, it was a circle, to her it had every rune, herb, crystal, everything that would guide his soul to them. Her heart felt thick, mind felt light as the grey candle finally became alive with a blue flame. Its energy called to her, and in that moment, hands began to take motion without her say. She grabbed the bowl brought together with such faith, the vile in her opposite hand being tilted over the blue flame as she began to whisper, allowing one drop to fall before pulling it to the bowl. Eyes were pointed down, barely appearing to be open as they focused on the path that was before her. The opening she couldn’t see, yet felt all around her. 

Rebecca tipped the rest of Kaden’s blood into the bowl, leaving it turned down to allow every last drop to fill before allowing her two fingers to swirl. “Aeris in terra... Sanguinem et ignem, et ita uos desidero...” She could feel it pulling to her, letting it guide her into its bidding until it let go. “Adiuro novem tribus luna, sol anima mea fiet...” Eyes closed, allowing the blood to guide her forward as she made impact with Andrew’s forward, bringing it down in a straight line in the middle of his face. Creating both a path and a border for his soul to return and follow. Putting the two in half to represent they needed only one. “Verum corpus tuo, ut a te nocere, funis circumirent mea sit potestate tenetur...” He was there, she felt him. She could see him. Loyalty. Devotion. Craving. Jealousy... Rebecca flinched slightly, quickly going back to the power of the candle as if it were an oasis in a desert. “Manifesta luce veritatis signari–” There was Kaden, not just Andrew. The burning of her allowing its flames to whip at her olive skin even as she heard Andrew’s heartbeat. There was someone else. There wasn’t just Kaden and Andrew, but someone else. She clenched her eyes even tighter as she pressed her fingers more violently into Andrew’s skin, his chest where his heart could be seen beating despite her eyes being closed. He was there, she felt him. He was in there. “Veniat vestra et tacete semper!”

It ended with a shout from not only Rebecca, but the entirety of the room as each flame clapped to a end and crystals died. She was shaking, the shivers of the freezing air surrounding her as the tears poured from her eyes and the warmth of blood came from her nostrils. She didn’t pull her fingers away from where the were pushed into Andrew’s navel, even the embarrassment as he gasped for air didn’t pull her away. There was confusion, yet she knew why she was confused. Everything inside of her was drained. It felt empty, she felt empty. There was no sweat, no cold, no heart, yet she could feel this suffocating cloud surrounding her. A flat palm rested on his thigh as Rebecca, all at once, got a blood rush into her brain, head swaying as she tried to lean to the side and blow the grey candle out. His gasping was it, he was back. The weak smile on her face said so.

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Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

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kadenkingsman:

She could only hope. With the life that Natalie was being brought into she needed all the protection and help that she could get. Kyle, herself, his pack, her family, she could only hope that it would be enough. It would have to be enough, she wouldn’t be able to settle for any less, but until she was physically able to talk to everyone that would be around her in her early life and get a feel for how they felt, Kaden wouldn’t feel completely ready. Until Andrew even knew he was going to be an uncle, she wouldn’t be entirely ready. Zachary finally knew as of a few weeks ago, but it still wasn’t enough. He wasn’t here after all, he wouldn’t be as involved as Andrew throughout the entire thing. 

“Does it matter either way?” she questioned back. Kaden might have been a witch, or had been one in the past, but that didn’t mean that she knew the ends and outs of everything that was going on, and especially not of this off the wall, rare spell that she had never really even heard of. The knife didn’t scare her. A little loss of blood was nothing when compared to the result that it might bring forth, and Kaden nodded. “Yeah, I’m good,” she moved back towards Rebecca, “So just… go ahead and fill it up? Nothing needs to be said before or anything?”

Rebecca gave a quick shrug, a downturned U pulling down comically on her face. “I mean, if you plan on staying in, then good vibes.” The person she needed more than anything in that point in time was Avery. If there was one person she would choose to do the spell with her then, it was her, all the way. She wouldn’t even have to ask, the natural edge to the young woman being enough. The thickness of oils filling the air from the candles were already filling her lungs, bringing forth another clarity between her and what she was going to embark on. “Yeah, just fill it up.” Brown eyes, mirroring the bowl that she was looking down on, took note of each and every single colour she saw, able to pinpoint their original appearance while in plant form. They had been Avery’s best of her garden, so technically, the best in the world in Rebecca’s opinion. “Oh, just make sure you don’t accidentally drop any on the floor in the circle. That’ll be something else, entirely.”

The words of the spell had been embedded in her mind by that point. For the last week, it had been the only thing she could think of. She quickly looked over at Andrew, taking in the appearance of the unconscious body, knowing full well that in no more than ten minutes, he would be animated once more. She needed him to be alive once more. Two years was more than long enough for her to spend on something, and to date, this would be the greatest feat to overcome. There was no chair beside him now, only the circle, what laid within, and the three of them. Becca extended an arm out to take the vile, being wary with it seeing as it was one of the most critical ingredients. “Once I start, if you’re in or out, I really need you to stay exactly where you are, okay? Do not break any barrier. Like, if you see him breathe, stay. If you see me dying, stay. If you see us dying, stay. If I blow up, stay. I’m just saying whatever is coming to my mind as an unrealistic thing, but please, do not move until I say it is.”

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Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

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kadenkingsman:

Kaden shrugged, looking downward. It was awkward having to talk about intimate, personal details like that because she just hadn’t been brought up that way. With close friends she had gotten around it, but she wouldn’t exactly say that Rebecca was on that level, and instead she hesitated, eyebrows raising slightly as she continued to avoid the other girl’s gaze. “I mean I’m just excited for him to be here…” she took the candle that was outstretched to her, holding it between her palms.

Rebecca’s specficic suggestion had already brought forth a flood of memories. Their weekly family dinners, especially the one that Zach had showed up at, the fact that they would also go out to eat at least once a week–and of course Kaden would always be the one who made the final decision on where to eat. “I mean  eating is actually something I’m looking forward to,” she admitted, “We used to do weekly family dinners, partially because we were the only friend the other had, we also used to go out to eat a lot–sushi, burgers, teriyaki, pizza, whatever I wanted really.” It was already starting to hurt, anytime that she allowed the door to open to her memories with Andrew is all just started to uncontrollably seep in, “He was always the one I could count on to be there if I needed him, especially back in the day if I needed a rescue from an alley or something…” She didn’t need to go into more detail about that one and she didn’t want to, Rebecca would unfortunately know what she was talking about, “But I’m just excited to see him again. He was like my best friend, basically my only family, and I miss hearing about his day and telling him about mine–no matter how much he judged my decisions. Plus, I’m excited to tell him about this cause I want him to be able to know before there’s an actual baby.” She readjusted how she was posed, well aware that that would be a situation all itself, “I mean, Kyle will be brutally murdered,” she was only half-joking, “But at least she’ll have another uncle that’ll protect her with his life.”

Loyal. That was the only thing that Rebecca found herself summing up about Andrew. No matter what happened, the presence of him was always there. It was mesmerising to see how someone could be like that, since she had mainly only seen it in her mother. She never had any siblings, but to get an account of how Andrew was, giving meat to what few things Kaden had to give were coming naturally. Talk of the alley was obviously a terrible topic to even skim the surface of, so she remained quiet, rather focusing on the words and absorbing their meaning. There was a pressure building up in her bones, the magic that resided in it manifesting like a vine in her veins as they wrapped around and began to constrict in a comforting way. Over the past two years, she had developed from her brews and creations to someone who wasn’t afraid to try her spells anymore. She let out a soft giggle, already getting side-tracked by that point, but laughing nonetheless. “Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen for the baby’s sake,” she affirmed. “Because, in my honest opinion, between you and Kyle, there’ll be a whole armada ready to protect her.”

Small hands went back to grab hold of the second white candle, this other one having the scent of rosemary – lavender wasn’t as potent – and the grey candle, setting it beside Andrew’s head lightly as to not disturb him. “Also, I’ll leave it up to you to decide, you can either be inside the circle or outside,” Rebecca spoke, pulling out a matchbox from one of her many pockets and fiddling with the box with occupied hands until she was able to get one of the matches out to strike. Getting the aroma to every point of the room was her version of the first step, second was setting them down to let them burn, and third was the small vile. “I need this whole, albeit, little thing filled up, if that’s okay with you?” It would make more sense to have Kaden’s hand just act like a faucet, but not when she knew she would be needing to focus on the spell rather than where Kaden was to do her bidding. “It’ll make things go quicker during the whole process, but I got a knife and arnica to soothe the cut for you, sound good?”

[xrebeccagray]

Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

[xrebeccagray]

kadenkingsman:

There was a small part of Kaden that feared Rebecca was only reassuring her to reassure her and no because there was actually no way that it could happen, but realistically she doubted it to be the case. She had faith that if something could actually go wrong that the other witch would tell her. She wasn’t the type of person to hide something like that. Kaden and Rebecca might not have known each other that well, but Kaden at least knew that. “It’s fine, you’re fine…” she took another deep breath, shaking out her arms to try and get rid of some tension before she crossed them once more. 

“What do you want to know?” she questioned back, still hesitant about saying anything because of how it made her feel. It was hard to talk about Andrew after all of this time. It just reminded her of how much she had lost. It had been such a long two years and so many things had happened, trying to tap into those memories or moments of Andrew at all just led to such a severe emotional pain that she could hardly handle it half the time. There was still a palpable anxiety as Kaden sat, forcing a small smile at Rebecca’s words, but not quite believing it herself. “What all am I going to do during this?” she questioned, “Just give blood and sit back? Or is there more?”

The same pessimistic nature that she had come to learn was one of Kaden’s leading attributes was brought to light, annoyance quickly filling her frame as she adjusted the strap that seemed to continuously fall no matter how many times she picked it up. It wasn’t in the way she said anything, more in the way she wasn’t saying anything. Rebecca knew better than to tell her to get a grip on herself, that now was definitely not the time to hold back. “I want to know what you want me to know, honestly,” she explained, trying to think how she could elaborate on the topic to compile a list that could be of some assistance to her. “Or, how about, tell me what you’re excited for, you know, for when he comes back?”

Rebecca thought against telling Kaden to wait outside, knowing that it would spike her anxiety even further through the ceiling. Having her watch would settle her more than not being able to be apart of the ordeal. She quickly grabbed hold of one of the white candles, followed by the bowl that held the concoction of what was needed. “I literally just need your blood and for you to send good vibes his way, or more specifically, to the circle. I hand made the salt myself, so it’s fresh, but the charcoal I got it from burning the bark of a walnut tree yesterday. With each point, I’ve got a crystal cleansed during the celestial, so they’re all powered, and... Just, tell me what you’re excited for, if it’s eating with him and what it is you’re excited to eat, just let your mind go wild.” After stepping over each marker, Bec handed Kaden the first white candle, the stem unlit and the wax that smelled of bay laurel. She didn’t even realise it, but she was explaining everything. “When lit, it’ll enhance him memory when he breathes it in, and honestly, I just want him to have a smooth ride here.”

[xrebeccagray]

Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

[xrebeccagray]

kadenkingsman:

Trying to melt away the frown on her lips was difficult enough, but trying to actually let go of the negativity that had sprung within her posed even more of a challenge. It was one thing to fake faith that the spell would work, but it was another to persevere forward after being told that it could potentially have a negative influence on other potentials involved—especially when those potentials were completely unaware and innocent. She clung to the stone, pressing it into her palm so tightly that she was sure there would be micro-indents in her skin.

Kaden nodded along, trying to keep her face as passively neutral as possible. The stress on her brow was most likely still present, but at least it wasn’t as actively negative as a look, “You’re sure?” she questioned back, hesitation still there, “Because if you’re not… If you’re not there has to be another way or another solution or another something.” If there was one thing she had learned with magic, it was always that. There was always some kind of loophole somewhere or another. They just had to be able to find it and exploit it.

Rebecca nodded the disagreement, knowing that they were so close and that it was finally time. Her slip wasn’t something that she would allow the night to be ruined by, after all, it had been two years of both her and Oliver looking into what they could do to bring the Kingsman twin back. So much had gone into it, and here they were, trying to extract him from where he lived and have him back home. “I’m positive,” she confirmed, putting emphasis into both words. “Besides, now that I think of it, grimoires have state that only under specific moons and a different incantation that I’m going to use are needed, so technically... I’m sorry.” There was not much else she could say, but Rebecca knew that it had already done its damage on Kaden. By that point in time, it was obvious the effect.

Quickly, she looked around, trying to see what could be done for Kaden’s sake, maybe bringing up something? Talking about something despite the pressure to get it done? “Let’s just... Calm you down, okay? Talk to me about something that’s soothing, or actually, talk to me about Andrew. Specific things, because it’ll help me put it into what I’m going to say.” Maybe having her recall such things would make it easier. After all, they never really got to talk about him apart from obvious traits. Every time Kaden tried, especially – so she noticed – when Kyle was gone, it left her in a state that not even her best teas and lotions could fix. “And when this is all done, you get to...” Rebecca paused, not quite sure if she should say it but mustering the courage up anyways to try and lighten the mood. “Tell me how you’re able to get that glow because it looks beautiful on you.”

[xrebeccagray]

Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

[xrebeccagray]

kadenkingsman:

“You know I can’t…” there was an overwhelming stress in her tone, Kaden more trying to convince herself of that statement than Rebecca. She couldn’t go forth with it if it meant a risk to the baby’s life, it just wouldn’t be even slightly moral to risk that, but having to admit to herself that the one chance she had to retrieve Andrew was quickly slipping through her fingers was going to drive her nearly mad. “Is it a proximity thing?” Maybe if she just left the site of the ritual it wouldn’t be as big of an issue. If the problem was the fact that there was an unborn baby in the bloodline then she had to figure that that was always a problem in one way or another. If she took every single relative on the Tolbert side, there had to be some distant cousin somewhere that was probably pregnant. If not in the Tolbert line, the Kingsman line didn’t have one, minus herself of course, but most family’s hadn’t been killed and massacred over the years. For a relatively normal individual, it seemed like a rather plausible issue. Did they all risk possession every time something like this was done?

“Or can it be put on hold?” she questioned, “If I could get a hold of Zachary and convince him to fly out would they work?” She had to assume it would take around twenty-four hours, and that was just if he dropped everything and headed to Sea-tac as soon as she got a hold of him. “Or is that still too genetically close too?” It wasn’t like the baby was purely Kingsman blood, there was Davidson in there too. Kaden was just trying to find every excuse now to convince herself that it was safe, that they could make the entire ritual safe, but she could feel the negativity taking up root in her chest too no matter how tightly she clung to the crystal, “I have a cousin here, but he won’t do it. Plus that’s not exactly that close of blood with Andrew.”

Though Rebecca was neither a werewolf nor a vampire, she felt as though she could smell the anxiety radiating from Kaden. “Let your mind absorb the Amazonite,” she ordered, voice stern despite her size. See what you caused Rebecca Anne, you nitwit. It was the shock, she was trying to convince herself. Surprise that she hadn’t caught in the past however many months Kaden was. After all, they had spent nearly every other week together, apart from the days that she couldn’t make it to the penthouse. At the beginning, after Kyle had asked her to join in to try and find out what was wrong with Andrew, she had been there nearly every day for almost three months straight. Slowly that began to wane, but she saw Kaden more than she saw her own friends at that point. Yet another negative emotion filled her chest, something she immediately forced herself to claw out.

Everything was in order, but brown eyes gradually turned their direction to have their attention on Kaden. “I’m sorry,” Becca started with, hands going out to express the statement. She took a step forward, fingers dropping as they knotted together to busy themselves only to go to lift the strap of her overalls that had fallen. “I was just in shock, my bad... She’ll–” The witch stopped quick, leaning backwards with wide eyes as she pulled her arms to her chest only to feign innocence with palms turned outwards in Kaden’s direction. It had been an automatic thing, the knowledge, nothing else. “Your baby will be fine, I just, I’ve read too much into everything. Plus, I’ve been a little hyped up all day, so I’m sorry. Everything will go fine, and if it doesn’t it’ll just be off by like, two percent.”

[xrebeccagray]

Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

[kadenkingsman]

xrebeccagray:

A quick, knowing smile was given as a form of reassurance rather than it being a genuine action. All she had to keep reminding herself was to stay positive, to think positively, and this would be the final attempt that would actually end with a result. With the movement Andrew displayed the week prior, it was enough to easily get Rebecca into the mood she had to be in, severing any ties to whatever negative past she had been through and paving way for a two year venture to come to an end. “Yes, I put it at ninety instead of the normal human body temperature,” she began to explain, subconsciously brushing back the baby hairs that refused to become damp in the humid air. The heels to her Chelsea boots echoed across the room as she stepped over the display, walking back towards the candles that were on the dresser since the table held no vacancy anymore. Her obsessively compulsive mind fidgeted with each article, putting it into the order she would need, pulling from what Oliver had informed her about what he had done previously to return the alternate minds back to where they came. This time, it would have to be done in the opposite order, yet each key component was vital. “As usual,” she replied, looking back at Kaden to ask her to close the bedroom door but stopped. “Kaden…”

It wasn’t often that Rebecca became shocked at events or sights. Even as a child, when they went on school trips to visit historical acclaimed locations, she was never rendered surprised or in awe. Sure, certain things had that effect on her – more specifically, whenever a new spell or concoction was created, a new band she adored – nothing beyond it. “I didn’t know, uh…” From what she took from the size of her stomach, it wasn’t just something new. “That you were, uh, expecting.” The last word was spoken like the softest note on a piano. The mindset she had created for herself came crashing, the positivity she had been trying so desperately to hold onto began to crumble as the lifeless smile held onto her olive features. It changed everything. She couldn’t have Kaden do this, it was wrong! Morally wrong, and besides the point, she couldn’t condone having a pregnant woman take part in a ritual that could potentially harm an unborn baby. However, instead of voicing her thoughts, she remained silent and wide-eyed, conflict cemented upon her face.

Kaden didn’t even need to see the sudden change in Rebecca’s expression to sense the sudden change in feeling in the air of the room. “Uh, yeah, we’re trying to keep it quiet…” she replied back, “Once again, for obvious reasons.” There was a sudden hesitation within herself, frown forming over her features, as she lightly crossed her arms over her chest, a half-hearted attempt at somehow covering a part of her body that her arms didn’t even lay over. “Is that going to be a problem?” The way Rebecca had explained it, it was just blood. Just a little bit of a Kingsman genetic link to try and pull her brother back from wherever his mental existence had fled to. There shouldn’t have been any danger with that, right? It wasn’t like she was having to hop to some other dimension herself to try and retrieve him. As far as she knew, he was just supposed to appear right on his own.

What if it was going to be a problem? Now the negativity was seeping back into her pores. If she had to choose between performing the spell and potentially causing harm to her unborn daughter, Kaden knew what the morally proper choice would be. She knew what Andrew would have wanted her to do, and Kyle, and so many other people that would have seen it as the easiest choice in the world. Admittedly even Kaden knew that it was the right choice, they could keep trying to find something else to bring Andrew back, but having to walk away from a spell that they had truly started to believe would work would destroy her. She couldn’t do it, she just couldn’t, it would feel like having to say goodbye to her brother all over again.

[xrebeccagray]

Rebecca knew that her own facial expression had morphed into what Kaden’s was. A frown pulling at the delicate forehead, the light lines announcing themselves as present despite the amount of times she had to remind herself not to frown. She could see the visible change in the way that Kaden held herself, and it triggered the fact that they were starting out the ritual terribly. She had initiated a form of negativity to be present, and though she didn’t force a smile back onto her face, she went into her pocket to grab her own amazonite, nails dragging across the smooth surface that continued to pulsate into her bones. It wasn’t an instant change, but Rebecca could gradually feel it making a difference. “No, no problem,” she reassured herself, nodding harshly and feeling her baby hair fall down once more. “But I want to let you know, setting expectations and letting you know why you should be precautious about it, since what we’re doing is attempting to bring, basically, the soul of another individual into the body, there is a possibility that it can enter another if the vessel allows it.” It was a long shot, but it was still something, at least according to what she had researched on the subject.

As horrid as it sounded, maybe it was simply her being overwhelmed by what she was about to do, yet every single thought that was bombarding her overactive brain made sense. In certain satanic rituals that had been recorded, they usually used the body of an expectant mothers since the the fetus was more susceptible to receiving what it was they wanted to retrieve. “I mean, it’s highly unlikely since we’re not seeking that, but it’s still something I read can happen and might happen since we’re choosing your blood and, yeah, you’re attached to both Andrew and you, um… Your baby...” Rebecca felt terrible for not being more happy for Kaden, and obviously Kyle seeing as they were both devoted to one another, but under the current circumstances, and the circumstances that had been present for the last two years, Andrew was her priority. “I’ll give you a minute to think about it? I’ll still get everything ready, but I’ll give you a minute, I’m sorry.”

[xrebeccagray]

Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

[kadenkingsman]

xrebeccagray:

It wasn’t as if she had anything else to do that night. Usually, if she were a person that was involved with her family, just as the rest of her family was ironically, Rebecca would have been enjoying the festivities of a nationwide event, but instead, brown hues stared down at Andrew. Her hair had been pulled into a high ponytail, overalls adorning her body as the middle pocket came in handy for being a third hand. A light sweat was upon the crown of her hairline, the heat in the house meant to reflect Andrew’s body temperature to tempt his mind to perceive the familiarity of it. All of the herbs, every cleansed stone that had absorbed to powers of the celestial event weeks prior, it was all set, and all she needed was for Kaden to arrive. That was all. No Oliver, no exact time, she just needed Kaden at that point.

The maple wood bowl filled the exact dosage of each herb she had perfectly calculated, the black tourmaline and clear quartz lay beneath for his passage, and all she needed was blood. Eyes quickly scanned the room once more, the Himalayan pink salt circle surrounding them with pinpoints of every crystal she was hoping would influence the negative act they were about to proceed with to have a positive outcome. “Aquamarine, apophyllite…” Rebecca heard the door open, her petite body snapping up and holding her hand out. “Stop, stop, stop, here,” she hopped over the masterpiece she had created, pulling out the silk cloth from her pocket with a green stone beneath. “Since I already know you, this is for you. Clears the toxic energy from you mind.” Amazonite, always the best and the only thing she would need since the rest would be up to her. She had memorised the incantation, had created the candles accordingly, and was filling herself up with the optimism she needed. “I have a really good feeling about this time.”

Rebecca darting towards her and handing her the stone was the first thing that caught her attention, but after clutching it within her grasp, her attention fell to the scene unfolding in front of her. Crystals, a salt circles, and a penetrating heat that made her own apartment feel like an arctic day. “Is it supposed to be a thousand degrees in here?” she questioned, venturing a step or two further into the familiar space before halting her steps. If there was any other reason for her to not proceed, she wanted to make sure that she stopped herself before she screwed anything else. A smile was sent in Rebecca’s direction at her claim, Kaden wanted all too deeply to believe the same, and forcing herself to actually feel that faith was finally on their side. “If you’re optimistic then I believe you. It’s been more than long enough.”

The heat was already getting to her, a slight sheen already forming on the high points of her face, and Kaden immediately took off the sweatshirt, setting it on the couch and far away from all the magical activities going on. Her stomach wasn’t on full display so to say, but it was definitely not as covered up as usual. The t-shirt sitting tighter around her belly than it would have for any other reason. “So, walk me through this…” there was a brief pause in her request, Kaden adding quickly, “Also Kyle says that, if usual, if anything goes weird or I seem off to call him so he can come get me–cause, you know, it’s not like I’m a block and a half from home or anything.” There was some sarcasm in her tone, but honestly Kaden appreciated it. At least it meant that he cared, albeit slightly overbearingly at times.

[xrebeccagray]

A quick, knowing smile was given as a form of reassurance rather than it being a genuine action. All she had to keep reminding herself was to stay positive, to think positively, and this would be the final attempt that would actually end with a result. With the movement Andrew displayed the week prior, it was enough to easily get Rebecca into the mood she had to be in, severing any ties to whatever negative past she had been through and paving way for a two year venture to come to an end. “Yes, I put it at ninety instead of the normal human body temperature,” she began to explain, subconsciously brushing back the baby hairs that refused to become damp in the humid air. The heels to her Chelsea boots echoed across the room as she stepped over the display, walking back towards the candles that were on the dresser since the table held no vacancy anymore. Her obsessively compulsive mind fidgeted with each article, putting it into the order she would need, pulling from what Oliver had informed her about what he had done previously to return the alternate minds back to where they came. This time, it would have to be done in the opposite order, yet each key component was vital. “As usual,” she replied, looking back at Kaden to ask her to close the bedroom door but stopped. “Kaden…”

It wasn’t often that Rebecca became shocked at events or sights. Even as a child, when they went on school trips to visit historical acclaimed locations, she was never rendered surprised or in awe. Sure, certain things had that effect on her -- more specifically, whenever a new spell or concoction was created, a new band she adored -- nothing beyond it. “I didn’t know, uh…” From what she took from the size of her stomach, it wasn’t just something new. “That you were, uh, expecting.” The last word was spoken like the softest note on a piano. The mindset she had created for herself came crashing, the positivity she had been trying so desperately to hold onto began to crumble as the lifeless smile held onto her olive features. It changed everything. She couldn’t have Kaden do this, it was wrong! Morally wrong, and besides the point, she couldn’t condone having a pregnant woman take part in a ritual that could potentially harm an unborn baby. However, instead of voicing her thoughts, she remained silent and wide-eyed, conflict cemented upon her face.

[xrebeccagray]

Wake Me Up // Kaden, Rebecca, Andrew, Kaden

It wasn’t as if she had anything else to do that night. Usually, if she were a person that was involved with her family, just as the rest of her family was ironically, Rebecca would have been enjoying the festivities of a nationwide event, but instead, brown hues stared down at Andrew. Her hair had been pulled into a high ponytail, overalls adorning her body as the middle pocket came in handy for being a third hand. A light sweat was upon the crown of her hairline, the heat in the house meant to reflect Andrew’s body temperature to tempt his mind to perceive the familiarity of it. All of the herbs, every cleansed stone that had absorbed to powers of the celestial event weeks prior, it was all set, and all she needed was for Kaden to arrive. That was all. No Oliver, no exact time, she just needed Kaden at that point.

The maple wood bowl filled the exact dosage of each herb she had perfectly calculated, the black tourmaline and clear quartz lay beneath for his passage, and all she needed was blood. Eyes quickly scanned the room once more, the Himalayan pink salt circle surrounding them with pinpoints of every crystal she was hoping would influence the negative act they were about to proceed with to have a positive outcome. “Aquamarine, apophyllite...” Rebecca heard the door open, her petite body snapping up and holding her hand out. “Stop, stop, stop, here,” she hopped over the masterpiece she had created, pulling out the silk cloth from her pocket with a green stone beneath. “Since I already know you, this is for you. Clears the toxic energy from you mind.” Amazonite, always the best and the only thing she would need since the rest would be up to her. She had memorised the incantation, had created the candles accordingly, and was filling herself up with the optimism she needed. “I have a really good feeling about this time.”

[xrebeccagray]

Text ✉️ Kaden Kingsman ✨🐺

Kaden: No, I want to be there. If you guys think that this is actually the solution, I want to be there

Rebecca: Then I’ll send some teas your way, none with caffeine because I need you calm and with good vibes.

Rebecca: Is Kyle coming for this one?

[xrebeccagray]

Text ✉️ Kaden Kingsman ✨🐺

Kaden: I hope so too, but I've decided to stop getting my hopes up-just in case

Rebecca: Maybe you should stay home then? We can’t have any negative energy around, it could mess things up.