 To say Corvus was still pissed would be an understatement. Their mother’s confessions left him reeling, wanting to lash out but — who was there to lash out at? She was in pieces, their father was somewhere in Wales being held against his will, and this cult? He didn’t know where to begin. Well, he did, it was going and getting their father back, but it wasn’t like they were going to walk in blind.
Their mother had given them as much information as she had, he and Coralie did their best to find any research there was, which wasn’t much at all, but at least they’d been able to locate the place. Honestly, Corvus figured he could go in there with his bludger bat and ability to kill people with a touch and wreck their shit, but he’d been talked down from such measures. “Well, here goes nothing,” he muttered, staring at the fortress looking castle after they’d Apparated outside the grounds. “You good?” |
 Coralie has been in mental shambles. After their mother had told them who, what, and where they were, she couldn’t stop thinking about them. She even lost days of sleep over this. Her eyes were visibly sullen, showing that she hadn’t been sleeping or in the greatest of moods. Yes, she was angry but at the same time she was more disappointed. Disappointed that her parents haven’t told them about their origins. It felt like she was betrayed by her own flesh and blood. But if she didn’t have Corvus, what would she do? That was something she didn’t want to think about.
When they stared up at the fortress looking castle, she couldn’t help but feel a knot forming at the base of her stomach. It wasn’t as if she could make premonitions but this whole thing just didn’t feel good. The air felt heavy. “I mean…you really want to ask me that?” she said as she stared at him with sullen eyes. She shoved her hands into her pockets while gripping the handle of her wand. If she gripped it any harder, it might snap. She was anxious and it terrified her. She had no idea what was behind those doors. Coralie saw a head pop out from the top of a watchtower, looking down at them. When he realized who they were, the large doors before them began to open. She pressed her lips together, watching what was unfolding before her. |
| Nothing about it felt right, but Corvus figured that was par for the course when dealing with shit like cults. He still wasn’t sure how much sense the story their mother told them made, or even if it was the truth, because he couldn’t assume that from her anymore. His grip tightened around his wand as the doors opened, taking half a step forward to be in front of his sister.
There was a group coming out, dark robes flowing around them as they seemed to walk as one, casually almost. This was who had taken their father? Corvus held up his hand, stopping them before they got too close. “We want to see our father.” |
| Coralie watched the scene fold in front of her. Her hazel eyes staring at the group that emerged from the doors. She did notice a moment before that Corvus took a half step in front of her. She knew it was an instinctual move but she was more than capable of handling her own.
“Once you prove who you say you are.” the man in the front spoke. Cora glanced at Corvus from the corner of her eye before she glanced back at the man in the dark robes. How the hell were they going to prove who they are? Don’t they look enough like their father to determine they’re related? What kind of proof do they need? One of the members of the group came out from behind, holding two plants. One was dying and the other was healthy. The man decided to place the plants between the two sides and stepped back into formation. “We want you to heal and kill these plants.” the leader said as Coralie furrowed her eyebrows for a moment before she took a small step towards the plants. “I guess we have to do it, no?” turning back to her brother. |
| It wasn’t even a matter of thinking Coralie couldn’t handle things herself, Corvus knew how good she was with a wand, but he didn’t like the situation and sometimes those brotherly instincts actually kicked in. Plus he had always been a bit more reckless, so putting himself in front of danger was par for the course.
He eyed them suspiciously as they set the plants down in front of them, looking down at the perfectly healthy plant in front of him. It was like being a child again, trying to learn to control the power he never asked for yet had, killing plant after plant as he failed. It also felt like they were being treated as a party trick, but it was all for the sake of getting their father back, so… “I could always just kill you,” he replied dryly, staring at the leader for an uncomfortably long moment before stepping forward and picking up the plant by the base of the stem. It shriveled and wilted in his hand, and once it was beyond saving he tossed it down in front of the group. “Now take us to our father.” |
| Coralie walked up to the dying plant and picked it up in its little pot. The leaves were brown and shriveled and it was obviously on its last leg. Within a few seconds, the brown leaves turned vibrant green and the plant grew wildly for a moment before she stopped healing it. She placed the pot back on the ground gently as she watched Corvus chucking his plant in front of them. The group was satisfied with what they saw. They waved for them to follow them into the compound.
Coralie quietly followed the group, looking around her as she did so. She noticed children playing out in the open with balls or women washing their robes and hanging them on clothing lines. It looked strangely peaceful, even though what they did to the twins was screwed up. Their belief system was wrong and described as strange in her eyes. They brought them to a room where their father was kept. One of the robed followers opened the locked door with their wand and let them enter. “Dad!” Cora exclaimed as a brown haired man sat on his bed and looked up. “Cora, my daughter.” he said, before his gaze fell onto Corvus. “Corvus.” |
| It was too peaceful. Corvus tried to imagine their parents living there, their mother doing the washing with the rest of the women there. It was difficult to even picture, which was a big part of why the whole situation confused him. Their parents being in a cult, it was almost unfathomable. Yet there they were, a product of it. He wanted to tell them all to run, the children especially — they were small, innocent, not there of their own accord. But that wouldn’t do anything.
His shoulders relaxed the slightest bit at the sight of their father, seeing him unharmed. There had been no telling what state they should have expected, but at least Coralie could have healed him better easily enough if it had been worse. “Dad.” His reply was curt, gaze only sweeping over the room before he turned back to the people who led them there. “Great. So we’d like to take him home. I don’t know what you think we are, but we didn’t even know you existed until all this.” |
| Coralie walked over to her father to check him for any injuries. Knowing what she was doing, he placed her hand on her shoulder and gave her a small nod. He was fine and unscathed. It was obvious they were treating him fine. He still had some unfinished food on the table on the opposite side of the room. “The intention is for a trade, not for you to come and get him. We need you two to lead us into a new era.” the leader explained.
She held back a scoff. Them. LEAD? Sure, Cora did some research on the cult but didn’t believe most of the things she had read. “You can’t hold us here.” Cora said as she defiantly raised her chin to them. “Your father can leave but you two cannot.” the leader responded. Coralie grew silent for a moment, trying to think of a way to get out. There were too many innocents around even if they were roped into this lifestyle. She glanced at her brother, trying to see if he had any ideas. “You may discuss it amongst yourselves.” the leader said before exiting the room, leaving the family of three by themselves for a moment. |
| “Well this is a fine kettle of fish.” It had always clearly been a trap, but it was different being snared in it. There really couldn’t be an expectation of them leading anything, especially not some batshit cult that they barely knew anything about. Not to mention, they both had complete lives they needed to get back to once they got their dad out of there. They couldn’t simply Apparate, there had been enough information about the place to know that wasn’t possible within the boundaries of the castle, which was a shame.
“I don’t know what we’re supposed to do,” he said after a moment, hands shoved into his jacket pockets as he walked over to the window to peer out, as if that was a viable means of escape. It wasn’t. “Sure as fuck can’t stay here and become a cult leader.” Corvus spared an annoyed look at their father. “What do you think, dad? They’re your old pals, after all.” |
| “I’m not leaving without you two.” their father spoke with determination. “They have my wand.”
Cora opened her mouth for a second before shutting it. Her father’s statement took it right out of her mouth. They couldn’t apparate. Cora rubbed her chin with her hand, trying to think of a solution. They had to leave. Coralie had a shift she cannot avoid. Her patients depended on her. “Dad, is there a way to get out of this?” she asked, her hazel eyes searching his blue ones. “We have to strike a deal. I’m not leaving if you don’t.” he said before rubbing his face with his hands. “What if we make a promise?” Cora said out loud before shaking her head. “That’s dumb. Promises can be broken.” |
| “What if it was a pinky swear, though?” Corvus wasn’t actually trying to be an asshole, mostly he was frustrated and angry and the only safe place for it to go was his mouth. He couldn’t think of a solution, not when he was running through any possible means of escape in his mind. There were too many people, and that was just the ones they’d seen. Three of them, only two wand, and none of them were overly skilled when it came to dueling. At least, not as much as they would need to be to fight their way out of there.
He moved over to the door, banging on it with his fist. “We can’t stay here forever, we have jobs and lives.” Pausing, he thought a moment before adding: “People will notice if we’re gone. They’ll start asking questions. You want that kind of attention? Quidditch World Cup coming up, I’m supposed to play for England… it’d definitely make headlines if I don’t show.” |
| She pressed her lips into a fine line when he mentioned pinky swearing. She had an overcoming urge to punch her brother in his shoulder but she knew this wasn’t the time. She was used to his asshole comments but this wasn’t the time or the place to do so. “You’re not making this easy, you know.” Cora returned.
When he moved towards the door, her eyes followed him for a moment. When he mentioned the World Cup, she had forgotten it was coming up but she did reserve her ticket as usual. When Corvus was done pounding on the door, the group reappeared in the doorway. “If that’s the case, you can go, your sister and your father must stay.” he said as Cora’s eyes widened. “I have patients.” Cora said, pointing to herself. “Well, we’re at an impasse once more.” the leader spoke with a small shrug. Cora had the urge to lunge at the leader and choke him in front of everyone but she knew that wouldn’t get them anywhere and one of them might get hurt. Cora chewed on her inner cheek as she flexed her jaw muscles, trying to think of a solution. |
| “Fuck that,” Corvus snarled at him, eyes narrowed and fists clenched in his jacket pockets. He wasn’t about to leave Coralie there — and not their father either, he supposed, even though he was still angry with him.
“We’re not at an impasse, you just aren’t bringing anything to the table.” He sized up the leader as best he could considering they all looked the same in their giant robes, still not working off an actual idea or solution but speaking to what he knew was true. “And you’re still fucked. You think they won’t wonder when the head physician doesn’t show up at St. Mungos? You keep any of us here, this operation is going to get a lot more attention than I think you want.” |
| The leader pondered for a moment. There was a charm hiding the fortress from the rest of the world. It would be hard for the twins to be found if one were to go looking for them. But an idea did pop into his head. “We did overhear the word promise. What about vows?” the leader said as he looked at the three before him.
“No. We’re not doing that.” their father spoke, his voice serious and final. Cora glanced at her father’s way for a brief moment before turning back to the leader. “I’ll do the unbreakable vow.” Cora said as she stepped forward. Unlike her brother, he had his daughter and her mother. She didn’t have any children or relationships to speak of. She didn’t need to have this sitting over his head. Corvus had done enough for her. “Alright.” he motioned towards the other members of the group to assist. |
| “Abso-fucking-lutely not,” Corvus said sharply, stepping into his sister's path and turning to face her. “Since when are you the one with the death wish?”
He grabbed onto Coralie’s wrist to keep her from going over to them, but turned to look at the leader again. “No one’s agreeing to anything until you tell us exactly what your meaning is. What are you suggesting as the terms?” |
| Coralie narrowed her eyes at him for a moment in a “you can’t stop me” kind of way like when they were kids. “I don’t have any children to look after, you do! Think of her.” she said as she tried to yank her wrist free of him but she didn’t yank hard enough. His hand was still wrapped around her wrist.
“Promise that you’d live here permanently within the next week.” the leader said as Coralie’s eyes widened behind her. There was no way she was going to do that. Over her dead body. |
| She was right, sort of. Yes, he had a daughter, but who took care of her, really? He loved her, he did, but he knew her mother was the one raising her and, if anything happened to him, Coralie would smother her with love. And probably be a better parent than him, because she was a better person. Which was also why she couldn't be the one, if one of them had to.
“Try again,” Corvus said, his tone sharpening. “We are the ones you've been waiting for. You want us to lead you? Why insult us by not listening to us now? We can't be here permanently — that's not on the table. Try again.” |
| The leader narrowed his eyes for a moment. Of course the twins were valuable to the cause. If they were to lead, they needed to also be happy with the arrangement they were trying to forge. “Alright. Make your suggestion then. We’d hear it.” he said as Cora glanced at Corvus who was still in her path.
Why did Corvus make everything difficult? He didn’t do it on purpose but he knew that she’d lay down her life for him and vice versa. It was a bond that they shared and never wanted to sever. “What about where we currently reside in London and just …commute.” Cora chimed in. The leader turned to his colleagues for a moment to discuss under whispers. “Every day then. You can move between here and your residences.” |
| “Every week,” Corvus corrected, giving his sister's wrist a squeeze as if to check with her that what he was offering was alright. “At least one of us will be here at least one day a week.”
It seemed reasonable to him, but these were people who thought it reasonable to kidnap a man to then hold his children hostage. Not exactly rational. Besides, assuming they weren't all nut jobs, he wanted to know what information they had about their powers. He wanted to know how it would have happened if they'd been brought up there, rather than left to fend for themselves cluelessly. “And you won't harm or go anywhere near any of our family.” |
| Coralie curtly nodded when Corvus squeezed her wrist. Once a week wasn’t too bad but why were they negotiating with this particular cult? It felt like they shouldn’t be doing this in the first place but if their parents didn’t escape, this would be their world.
“Deal.” the leader said with one simple nod. One of the members rolled up his sleeves to reveal a wand to do the vow. Coralie looked at Corvus for a moment. “I’ll do it!” Coralie chimed in fast again. “I’m not letting you throw your life away, as per usual.” Cora angrily whispered at her brother as their father watched on. “I’ll do it.” their father stood up from where he sat. “This is my fault that you’re in this mess.” “No,” the leader replied dismissively, shaking his head. “It must be one of the two.” |
| “Cora,” Corvus started, turning to face his twin, his jaw set. He didn't want to have this conversation, didn't want to fight over who was doing what, and the whys of why they were doing it. To have to list out all the reasons Coralie was more important to stick around, how if things went wrong and he died it wouldn't be as bad for the world. Death was, after all, his thing. “Don't be stupid,” is what he said instead. “I made the deal, I'll do it.”
He let go of her wrist to push her over toward their dad, taking a step forward to close the gap between him and the robed men. Holding out his hand, he wondered if they’d thought it through when choosing a spell that required skin to skin contact. How easy it would be to simply oops and take down the leader. But there would still be everyone else to get through, so no. |
| Coralie scrunched up her face out of annoyance. She knew if she fought him, they’d be duking it out on the floor — wrestling each other until one of them shouted uncle. She hated being the one always being protected and he was the one that carried the burden of the world on his shoulders. When he let go and he pushed her to where their father was, she began fidgeting with her hands. Her father placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a small squeeze to comfort her. Coralie did not like this in the slightest. It bothered her.
Sure they thought that he wouldn’t kill them on the spot. He wasn’t so brazen was he? There were so many people in the compound that would come to the rescue if something were to happen. “Ready?” the leader said as he rolled up his sleeve to reveal his forearm. The spell was going to be performed by another. |
| BBarring an actual means of escape, which seemed near impossible given the size of the place and just how many people there were there, Corvus couldn't think of a better way out. They couldn't stay there, couldn't become prisoners of these people, trapped. He did want to know whatever information they had about these powers, information he likely would have known already if they hadn't been lied to their entire lives. It was feasible, the deal they were making. One of them, once a week, and their family was protected.
Scowling, he reached out to grasp onto the leader’s forearm as the man gripped onto his, and they both shifted to kneel as one of the others stepped forward and placed the tip of their wand on their joined hands. He spoke before the leader had a chance to, making sure to word his part carefully, that no one associated with the Order would harm or go near their family, lest the leader thought it only applied to him. A red thread of light bound their hands at his acceptance, and another when Corvus agreed to what they'd already discussed — at least once a week, at least one of the two of them would come. The light grew brighter, tighter around their hands before it dissipated and the robed man holding the wand stepped back. |