catmint

BlackBrick Academy [CatMint and Winds of Fate] - {Mature}

His yellow eyes glinted with delight at Caleb's anger, although it was well-hidden the tall man could still catch the tightening jawline. Which was what he really wanted, a reaction, to push both Caleb and Ambrose closer to the edge. To test the limits of their patience. But he didn't want them to fall over just yet, at least not until he had the staff. "Hm, yes, that sounds perfect." He hummed with satisfaction, his eyes trailed back to Ambrose. "I would recommend accepting this offer, I may just increase the price... Perhaps a nice dinner too?" He tightened his grip briefly on Ambrose.

Ambrose gritted his teeth as he felt the hungry gaze, he tried his best to hide any emotional reaction, knowing it would only amuse the creature further.

The creature laughed heartily at Caleb's response, immediately dropping Ambrose from his arms. Ambrose quickly stumbled away, exhaling a breath of relief. "Fine. We have a deal. You may refer to me as Codal." He extended a clawed hand out for a handshake, "Seal the deal and I'll help you get what I know you need." He paused, "But you're on your own until you get me that staff." Ambrose hesitantly took the hand, wincing at how hard Codal clenched, shaking briefly. Codal grinned widely, "Fantastic, let me get you the map that shows the path to this temple-" He paused, pulling out the tattered map, "Do watch your step though, sweet thing." He handed it to Ambrose before taking a step back from the clearing. "I'll contact you once if you have the staff in your possession, farewell."

Codal disappeared almost immediately into the shadows, leaving no trace of his presence. Ambrose slumped forward, rubbing his forehead. "God. what have we gotten into?" He shivered before letting himself down to rest on the grass, snuggling closer to the warmth of the fire. He offered the map up to Caleb, "Here. take a look at it."

BlackBrick Academy [CatMint and Winds of Fate] - {Mature}

Ambrose clawed at the fingers around his throat, desperately trying to loosen the grip even just a little. But this had little effect on the yellow-eyed man before them. In fact, he wasn't even paying attention to Ambrose now, instead his hunger had shifted to Caleb. Who was surprisingly keeping a calm exterior. The creature eyed Caleb up and down, sizing him up.

The razor sharp grin didn't falter for a second, "Of course I'll help you if you retrieve an item for me." He pulled Ambrose closer to him, hand still locked around his throat. "It's rather simple, I would do it myself if it weren't for the wards- which by the way, you have a long way to go with your warding, sweet thing." He turned his gaze back to Ambrose, letting out a crude chortle at the shivering student in his hand.

"Anyways, the locals here have it hidden away in one of their abandoned temples. It's a staff, bring it back to me and I'll get you access to what you need." The creature finally loosened his grip, letting Ambrose slump down and gasp for breaths of air. But he still held Ambrose possessively by the neck, eye-ing Caleb to make sure he didn't do anything sneaky.

Ambrose, realizing he was now a hostage for this trade, remained quiet and willed himself to cease his shivering. He held himself as still as possibly, trying to not reveal his fear when the yellow-eyed man pressed his nose into his hair, deeply inhaling his scent. It was clear he was trying to get under both his and Caleb's skin. Ambrose swallowed thickly and stared hard at Caleb, he was disgusted but this creature was probably their best bet. But he wouldn't agree to the trade if Caleb wasn't on board as well.

"What do should we do?" He asked Caleb quietly, ignoring the snicker from the creature towering over him. There were a lot of questions that were concerning, like why did this creature want the staff? And what is it capable of doing? But Ambrose wasn't sure if they had the luxury of asking such things.

BlackBrick Academy [CatMint and Winds of Fate] - {Mature}

Ambrose held his brown hands close to the fire, enjoying the warmth. Despite the circumstances, Ambrose wasn't having a bad time. For the first time in a long time, he felt at ease around Caleb. Black curls hung in front of his eyes, lips slightly parted as his gaze shifted from the fire to the man across from him.

He blinked in surprise when he saw how serious and genuine Caleb answered his question. "Oh... Um..." He trailed off, eyes flickering away, desperately avoiding making eye contact. He didn't expect that sort of answer. Ambrose stiffened even further as Caleb went on on to his other question. Ambrose swallowed thickly, knees brought up to his chest and arms wrapped tightly around them. He looked small, and vulnerable, face lit up a deep orange by the fire.

His first instinct was to change the subject, but because of everything that was happening, he couldn't bring himself to do that. "I..." He coughed, "I honestly don't know the answer to that... I don't even know if it's possible." He took a deep sigh, and ran a hand through his soft curls. "I can't deny... That I feel something for you though. I want... I don't know what I want, but I know it involves you." Ambrose confessed, his cheeks were burning with embarrassment. He scooted himself closer to Caleb, hesitantly.

Just when he was reaching out, he felt an alarm in the back of his mind. He froze, before registering what it meant. "Something broke the barrier." He choked out, eyes wide with fear. Ambrose leapt to his feet, scanning the undergrowth around them. He had immediately assumed the worst, that this was finally the end for them.

A figure emerged from the darkness, a sharp toothed grin glinting in the firelight. "Hello boys," It rumbled, it's voice smooth as silk. He stood tall and commanding over Ambrose, his yellow eyes looked him up and down with a barely restrained hunger.

Ambrose quivered, but gathering his courage, he started his incantation for a glyph of warding. But before he could blink, the tall man had his hand around his throat, claws digging into him. A panicked growl escaped Ambrose's throat, struggling hard against the iron grip.

"Sweet thing, I'm not here to hurt you just yet." A chuckle reverberated from his throat, sending shivers down Ambrose's spine. "I know what you seek, and I currently control the territory that it resides in. Now I can help you, but only if you agree to my trade."

BlackBrick Academy [CatMint and Winds of Fate] - {Mature}

Ambrose couldn't hold back a grin at his handiwork, glancing at Caleb for approval. He probably wouldn't admit it publicly, but he did look up to Caleb in terms of magic ability. So hearing he was impressed, made him stand up straighter, taking pride in his progress. Ambrose cast another glance around them, seeing only the underbrush of the forest, Ambrose figured he could get comfortable. He settled onto the grass across from Caleb, legs tucked underneath him. He returned his gaze to Caleb, and once again felt that connection he experienced the first day they met. It was electric, almost addicting, and Ambrose despised how he couldn't get enough of it. If anyone else had put him through what Caleb at done, Ambrose wouldn't have tolerated at all. But with the circumstances, and the feelings he couldn't shake, Ambrose still found himself drawn in.

A snicker escaped his lips, eyes crinkling in amusement, "A penny? yeah alright..." He trailed off as he snapped his fingers, a small flame appearing above them. "Honestly, I feel like something is following us..." His voice dropped in volume, eyes flickering back and forth as if he was afraid the thing he spoke of would hear him. "Just can't shake the feeling, I think I might be paranoid though." He paused, and strained his ears to listen. He could have sworn he heard a soft voice while he was speaking, but once again he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination. Ambrose was always on edge these days. Other then that, the rain forest was beautiful, and the usual sounds of life echoed around the pair. "I wish you could distract me somehow, I don't really want to be stuck in my own head again, only worrying about the future instead of appreciating whats right in front of me." Ambrose admitted, his gaze drifted to the flame hovering weakly above his fingertips. He huffed a breath of air, blowing it out. "It's gonna be pitch black soon... We should probably start a fire."

He picked himself up, searching the ground for any kind of wood. Once he had gathered enough twigs that went soaked from rain, he dropped it down in the center and took his seat across from Caleb again. Leaning forward, he snapped his fingers, a small flame appearing once more as he tried to start a fire large enough to keep the both of them warm. "Well? What about you? What's on your mind?" Ambrose asked with a note of curiosity.

Lingering at the edge of the barrier, a figure loomed out of sight. It appeared to be a tall, long man. It wore handsome, sharp features. But something about him seemed otherworldly, and his eyes glowed a soft yellow in the dark, and his irises were a sharp slit. This creature was a native of the forest, and was the one who had called out softly. He had taken amusement at Ambrose's confusion, and seem to enjoy causing the paranoia. He peered from behind the coverage of the forest, looking upon the two with curiosity. It wasn't an exactly a menacing presence, perhaps more curious then anything. But still, a grin from the creature revealed a row of sharp teeth and saliva gathering at the edge of his lips. The barrier Ambrose had eradicated earlier would keep him at bay for a little while longer, but for someone who had lived as long as he had, he was fully capable breaking such a novice protection field.

BlackBrick Academy [CatMint and Winds of Fate] - {Mature}

He picked his way gingerly through the underbrush of the rain forest. Ambrose almost looked delicate in this situation, as if he didn't no how to hold himself in such an environment. Which was true, as he had only lived in suburban or urban areas. He had never even been camping before. Even under these circumstances, he was a little excited to get the experience. Unfortunately, his mind was still too focused on the rustling from earlier to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

A deep blush graced Ambrose's brown skin at Caleb's compliment. "O-oh, thanks." A nervous laugh poured from his mouth, "You're not the only who has been practicing." And that was very true, Ambrose was nearly tireless in his studies. Although still a novice compared to his others in the group, his progress was astonishing.

He inched a bit closer to Caleb at his request, "Right." He nodded as he tossed another paranoid glance over his shoulder. "Hopefully we won't encounter anything tonight at least..." He murmured as he tried to peer deeper into the trees. He couldn't help but feel eyes on the two of them. And he couldn't tell if it was just anxiety or he was actually onto something.

Ambrose breathed a sigh of relief once they finally reached a clearing, happy to stop walking around for a while. He stared at the marvels of the bag, even though he should probably be used to such magic by now, it was still amazing in his eyes. "Uh, I think I know the charm. I have no idea how to work tents though." He admitted as he stepped to the center of the clearing. Ambrose tapped his chin as he thought for a moment before his fingers interlocked, a deep chant mumbled under his breath. Ambrose cursed as nothing happened, "Wait, uh, I think I know what I did wrong." He said, trying to hide his embarrassment. Starting from the beginning, at the end of the incantation, a light shot from his fingers before disappearing. But this time the energy from the protection could be felt around them. "Phew. There we go." Ambrose smiled widely as he took a seat on the grass.

BlackBrick Academy [CatMint and Winds of Fate] - {Mature}

Ambrose gulped as he gripped tighter, the scenery shifting and twisting to an entirely new environment. He flinched when he felt the first raindrops pour onto his head, yelping, he stepped underneath a nearby tree. "I probably should have expected this." He said as he peered back at Caleb, who didn't seem to mind the weather at all.

But Ambrose couldn't mind it much, the rain forest was breath-taking. It was vast, seemingly endless, and nothing like anything Ambrose had ever seen before. He appreciated it even more considering how long he had been stuck on campus.

Ambrose snorted in response, "Ha. Ha. Such a nice date, almost makes me forget that an evil demon is after us." Ambrose said sarcastically, stepping out from underneath cover and following in Caleb's footsteps. His head was lowered, concentrating on not tripping on any vines or roots. "A couple days? Do we even have supplies for that." He asked with concern, glancing around them. His eyes widened when Caleb mentioned creatures of lore, of course he should have expected that. But still, it made him uneasy. "Right. Got it."

He muttered an incantation to himself, fingers interlocking. Above the pair, the rain stopped pouring on them. As if an invisible barrier appeared over them, the rain stopped and slid off the sides. "Here." Ambrose grinned at his handy work, "I didn't actually think I would have to use this when I learned it..." He trailed off when he heard a nearby rustling, instantly he was on high alert, eyes widened in terror and teeth clenched tightly.

BlackBrick Academy [CatMint and Winds of Fate] - {Mature}

Ambrose watched closely, clearly absorbing the information presented to him with an intense focus. He mimcked the hand gestures shown to him by Samantha before breaking out in a smile. It made sense, and Ambrose was reassured of his aptitude in magic. "Thanks Ariana," He murmured, patting her shyly on the shoulder. At first Ambrose was unsure of how to think of her, but he saw she had only the best intentions for all of them. She was simple, and she didn't play any mind games, which he greatly appreciated.

Jeremy nodded in response to Sam and picked up his backpack from the corner of the room, sighing loudly as he walked out of the underground library. He didn't notice the small surprised yelp, although it was barely audible. Morgan tucked himself up closer into the corner, hand covering his mouth. His heart pounding as his mind raced with the possibilities. With Caleb and the headmaster himself involved, everything transpiring became incredibly valuable. Morgan just needed to figure out how to maximize the profit.

For now, he would wait. Explore this forbidden part of the library, and plan on what he needed to say to snake his way into the group's inner circle. Morgan repositioned himself comfortably, this time tuning into the conversation taking place between Ambrose and Caleb. A smirk crossed his lips as he watched them silently.

Ambrose took another deep sigh as he thought of the task ahead of them. Fear shook through his body as memories of the demon's victims flashed through his head. He just hoped none of the other members of their little group would up like that. It was incredibly dangerous, but this was their only option now. Ambrose could recognize that, but it still felt wrong. "Wha-?" Ambrose glanced at Caleb, his train of thought interrupted. He swallowed thickly as an image of Caleb's torn up body appeared before him, it was awful how likely that outcome would be. "R-right," Ambrose regained his composure, glancing away as he approached a table. "I mean if it comes to that, I'm probably already dead." Ambrose said, like a true pessimist. "But, yeah, I get your point, I'll do whatever I can." Ambrose smiled weakly, feeling a bit sick to his stomach. "Let's just get this over with, would you lead the way?" Ambrose asked as he stepped closely to Caleb, placing a soft touch to Caleb's forearm.

BlackBrick Academy [CatMint and Winds of Fate] - {Mature}

Jeremy shook his head and followed Ariana to the bookshelf, running his fingers over the books he had spent the last weeks studying. He saw a flicker from the corner of his eye, and his head quickly snapped in the direction he saw it. But nothing seemed to be there, so he chalked up to nerves. Everyone was scared of leaving campus, unimaginable danger waited for them out there. Jeremy pulled out a couple books and a map, laying them out on the table in the middle of them. "Here is all we know," He gestured to the books sprawled on the wooden table, "and here are the locations." Jeremy pointed to the red dots sporadically marked on the map.

Ambrose stiffened as the subject turned to him, slouching down in mild embarrassment. Alex was right, he was the least experienced out of all of them. But a part of him wanted to stand up for himself, to be stubborn and insisting on going solo. Ambrose pulled himself up and off the chair he had been lounging on. "Yeah, whatever I get it." He said as he joined Caleb's side. "I'll just help out with Caleb." Ambrose sighed inwardly, hating to give in so easily. But it was for the best. There was no point in arguing for his case to go alone, and the pair made a good team anyways. "Let's just move on to what we need to do now."

"Uh right, I don't think I've learned that one yet." Ambrose said, glancing to Caleb for assistance.

Meanwhile, Morgan had been sitting in the corner, listening intently with wide eyes. His mind was racing, trying to connect the dots. Could this all have something to do with the massacre that taken place at the beginning of the school year? And the attacks that had happened since then? Morgan wrote everything he heard down into a small black journal. He suppressed a chuckle to himself, knowing if he made a peep, his cover would be blown. Everything was working out perfectly, and even better yet. Morgan happened to know the location of one the daggers.

BlackBrick Academy [CatMint and Winds of Fate] - {Mature}

Ambrose walked by Caleb's side, absorbed in his thoughts. Truthfully, he wasn't sure their group could defeat this monster. Ambrose was still a novice to magic, and Caleb, who was powerful for his age was still defeated easily. He didn't understand why the headmaster would trust this job to a bunch of kids. Ambrose sighed heavily as he went over these thoughts. He entered the underground library , thanking Caleb for holding the door open. But he didn't really return his full attention to the outside world until Ariana called out Caleb's name, throwing her arms around him. But Ambrose's interest was spiked when Alex murmured something in Caleb's ear. He was tempted to ask, but it didn't seem appropriate.

Ambrose shared the same blank expression as Alex, he had of course heard the named Leviathan before, but not in the same context as the others. "So... Gathering from your faces, that's even worse then what we thought?" Ambrose said as he looked around the room.

"Way worse." Jeremy spoke up from Sam's side, wearing a grim expression. "We know where at least five of the daggers are...The others are still up in the air." He crossed his arms over his chest.

Ambrose shook his head and took a seat at a nearby table. "Are we certain this time? I don't think we could afford to be wrong again..." Ambrose shuddered, "Shouldn't we get the headmaster to help if it's that level of evil?" Ambrose said with a sigh of defeat.

Jeremy shook his head defiantly, "No. He trusted us with this, we can do this." He said stubbornly, looking around the room for reassurance.

The whole time they were discussing this, Morgan had stalking just outside. He could hear wisps of voices, and he had a hunch that this was shady business. He couldn't just walk in, not without some kind of help. After pausing to think for a moment, he whispered a chant to himself. His fingers danced as he did so, the movements in sync with the syllables he whispered. Once he was done, it seemed like he faded from view. Morgan wasn't completely invisible, but if anyone tried to look directly at him, they would feel a wave of confusion and lose sight of him. He was only really detectable from the corner of someone's eye. Like a ghost, Morgan slowly cracked the door open. Slipping inside silently as he took in the group. Morgan completely retreated to the back corner of the library to watch and listen.

BlackBrick Academy [CatMint and Winds of Fate] - {Mature}

Ambrose stayed by Caleb's bedside a little longer, watching quietly and even mumbling a few comforting words now and then. But Caleb was exhausted and as he drifted away, Ambrose dismissed himself from the room. He returned his dorm exhausted, even though the day had barely started. He plopped down on his side of the dorm bedroom, ignoring pestering questions from Morgan and plugging in his headphones. For the first time in weeks he felt inspired, starting a new painting. It was harsh, jagged lines and deep colors. It depicted a gruesome scene that made Ambrose quiver from within, but he didn't stop. Not even when it was late into the night and Morgan had shut off all the lights. He kept on painting.

The passing week was generally quiet for Ambrose actually. He was too focused on his studies to really worry about anything else at the moment. Even when he heard of the attacks, Ambrose shut it out of his thoughts as much as he could. Instead he was just grateful it wasn't him, and Ambrose was aware that was a selfish thought. But he didn't really care. Ambrose had even scheduled times to train with Caleb in the upcoming days, and hopefully they could figure what type of magic was Ambrose's niche.

The phone on his desk beeped loudly, and Ambrose knew immediately it was Sam calling another meeting. Ambrose groaned and leaned back in his chair, setting down his notes. "Goddamnit... I have a test tomorrow, I don't have time for this." He whined to himself as he pulled himself up to start getting ready to go. Morgan sat up in his bed from across the room, ears perking as he caught the words Ambrose grumbled to himself.

"What's going on?" Morgan poked, eyes following Ambrose as he slid on his jacket and shoes.

"Nothing. It doesn't concern you." Ambrose replied, not even bothering to glance back at his roommate. He was going through the group chats, catching up on the messages he missed. A knock rang out and Ambrose breathed a sigh of relief, rushing to the door.

"Caleb, I'm ready to go." He murmured quietly, hoping Morgan had lost interest. He tossed a glance back at his roommate, who seemed to have turned back over in his bed, sound asleep. Ambrose nodded and stepped out into the hallway, "Let's go." He said and started down towards the underground library with Caleb in tow.

But a few minutes after they had left, their dorm room door creaked open slowly. A blonde head peaked out, blue eyes glinting slyly. Silently, Morgan took off his targets, quiet as a mouse.