It hadn't even been three days, and he was already into the whole 'fake dating without any strings attached' thing. And surprisingly he was really good at it, he always had to come up with excuses every time Emery asked about his parents. Not that he was embarrassed of his parents, but he couldn't come to talk about them. Or any of his family. And of course he wouldn't mention his past or where he comes from. Because he knows Emery isn't ready. Not until she talks to the person who'll hurt her the most.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjKhnIAgxn
"Cassian, did you bring the stuff I asked you to bring?" His sister, or well half sister asked.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAoWPeb2In
"What? Oh yeah, they're in the car. Sorry."6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpScXXvGCi
"I've told you not to leave things like that in the car. Tonight it's an important ceremony, you can't just leave that in the car." She groaned, walking past him and to the car that was parked by the opening of trees.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtCo7FjGwU
She came back, holding the box. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6PzbPqX1g
"Harper, are you sure you're ready for this?"6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VvcvxPUYd
"Of course I'm ready for this. I'm the one who was born with powers, you weren't. Well I mean you were, you just aren't powerful enough. Talking to the dead isn't so special, you know? Now being born a golden witch is." She said, heading back into the cave. Cassian sighed, he couldn't believe this was happening. His phone buzzed, he reached into his pocket to check it. A message from Emery.
"Hey, Cassian. Sorry for bothering you, but is it possible for you to meet up later? At the coffee shop again? It's important." 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUwJyXYAHA
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He blinked, even if his heart screamed to go meet up, his mind knew what he couldn't do. This ceremony was important, but helping Emery was also important. Even if he never told her the whole truth yet, he looked up and ahead at the cave entrance. He knew how important this was for the Covenant, and for the family. For Harper, for his sake. And Ian, and if he didn't attend the ceremony they couldn't proceed. He's the only one who can talk to the dead, the only one who can talk to the judges of justice, time, and harmony. He shook his head.
"Hey, no worries. But I won't be able, I think. Something came up with my family, I promise I'll be able tomorrow." 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKF7TEzVum
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A few minutes later: "Oh, okay." That was all, Harper appeared behind him. He nearly jumped out of his own skin. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dc8Nx45rn
"Oh, Emery texted you. She doesn't know about us, right? The whole half sibling thing, how I'm the next holder of the mist?"6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4CK2gh79B
"Yeah, yeah. She doesn't, but you know the time is coming near."6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9P8lPVvCw
"I know it is, she'll be ready by then. Just like Ian." She said, adjusting her dress. Cassian looked at himself, still in his casual clothes. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xWJtNmyqL
"Go change, I got one of the caretakers to get your clothes to your room. Or whatever dad calls them." She said, walking away. Cassian entered the cave, and into a whole other place. An underground estate, hidden away from the world outside. He went up to his room, and got changed. He hated this, how he had to carry the whole weight of the family.
He stood next to his mom, who whispered something to him in Latin that he barely paid attention to. His dad started to talk, about the new age of brightness and gold to their world. How a new era of control would start, and the mist would be feasting in no time. Harper walked down the stone path, the keepers and mist-weavers on either side of the path. The whole ceremony was boring, Cassian's mind kept going back to Emery. It hurt like hell not to be with her, and help her uncover something he already knew. But all that spiraling stopped when his name was called to the center. He stepped forward, he stepped in front of the mirror of the afterlight and pressed his palm. He had done this billions of times, enough to know how badly it burned after you were transported inside. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavrolPQHvU
"Cassian Lockwood, our friend." Justitia said. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxxs47EEvw
"It's great to see you again, Justitia. Good evening, Tempus. And Harmonia, you look lovely." He said, a soft smile spreading over his face. They all smiled down at him, he stood before them. Looking around. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2AgSJnnbJ
"I see you're ready to deliver if Harper is truly worthy as the next witch of her age?" Harmonia asked, Cassian nodded. He waved at a spirit who swam by, and looked back up at her.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBc9SLiZA1
"Yes I am, and I trust that she is truly ready. And I know that the keepers of the mist have seen visions of it, and that the mist-weavers keep mentioning the prophecy. I am also aware that Harper is indeed worthy as next great witch of her age, even if there is a few things about her that scream evil." He said, pacing around. Justitia pulled out her scale and set it down, watching both platforms move. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe3bUeAwIe
"I see, yes. She has the potential, and yes there is some parts that are taking us to the dark side, Tempus do you have a say in this?"6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBEtSxWUvn
"Well, all I can hear and see is someone saving the Covenant from ruin, in a matter of months. I also see a great evil taking control of the mist. Harmonia?"6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuZollVi4G
"And the strings of harmony are shattering, I think it is a matter of evil or not. That's for the mist to decide though."
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Cassian nodded, as he paced around once more. Thinking, what if? He knew how everyone would react if Harper didn't become the next mist holder. They knew that if she didn't become the next golden witch, Ian would get sacrificed into the abyss of time. And Emery would be the next target. He didn't know what else to say, or do at this point. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsKS9bXebv
"Can I speak to Minerva? Please?" He asked, the three looked at each other but nodded. The mind changed, now turning darker. Minerva looked up from where she stood beside the pond of knowledge. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAYVRKy8SD
"You called for me?"6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g14HUjHuf
"Yes, uhm. As you know today is the ceremony of mist bloom, and well. I spoke to the three, but-"6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uPGG9mHDB
"But you don't know if Harper is worthy or not? Yeah, it can be hard. But she's part of the prophecy that has been established from the moment the seed of chaos landed here. Now my child, what do you think is best? A flower with no thorns, and a story to finish? Or a thorn with no stem to grow?" 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI41KxLVSw
"Uhm, the first one?" He said, watching as she paced around and laughed. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Iebm90Wll
"No. The second one, the story has to grow. Not finish. It's the only choice, if not the Covenant would be gone by now." She said, and she was right. There was someone out there who would save everything, only if he knew who. Well he did, but not yet. "Very well then." He said, and returned. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1Zcvehfjs
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As he re-entered the real world, the burn from the afterlight mirror causing him to wince in pain before turning to everyone. He reached for Harper's hand and the blade of truth, the same dagger Emery found placing the sharp edge onto her palm. "It has been decided by justice that you are to balance out the hunger and the mist." He implanted the dagger down, cutting into her skin. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG4ymPm2lH
"It has been decided by time that a great evil will come and a savior will rescue us." Another inch.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZL9akWU1o
"And it has been decided by harmony that the strings of the people remain tied."6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS5fDZJGxG
He said, and it has been decided by wisdom that the worst choice is the best choice. But of course only he knew that, with one final push the dagger pushed itself into her palm, no flinch no nothing. And it was done, she had been chosen just like that. The after party came, too boring again. So he fled, changed back into something more casual and sneaked into Emery's room from her window, she nearly stabbed with with the pencil she had. She blinked. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTSHpSqCpG
"Woah, are you okay? Looks like sandy from Rise Of the Guardians threw up gold dream dust on you." She said, standing up and dusting some of the dust off of him, he laughed it out. Trying to not remember the real reason of the dust. 6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMeAQGwRJB
"Yeah, it was sandy all right." He said. It was done, now it was up to her to save everyone without him telling her.
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