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"Stevie?"

He could hear the exasperation in her voice. "I told you to call me now, not fifteen minutes later!"

Jackson glanced down the hall, at his dorm room specifically, where Kai was lounging about. He left him there to call Stevie, assuming that she wouldn't want Kai to poke his pointy nose into her and Jackson's business. 

"About that..." The Campbell lowered his voice. "I'm with Kai right now."

"Shit. Okay, I'll speak a little more quietly. Keep your reactions quiet too, okay?"

Jackson raised a brow but didn't object. "What's wrong?"

"You asked me to look into stuff about your mom, and something about Gemini and covens. I found something, and it's... it's fucking crazy."

Stevie was swearing? This must definitely be news. He shuffled closer to the telephone, gripping the cord in his left hand. "Just tell me."

"So I looked at records of your mom, Nora. I don't know if you remember this but her family is from New Orleans. They're all still there, as far as computers are concerned, but I'm not one hundred percent sure because databases aren't updated as often as they should be," Stevie spoke, and he could hear pages of a journal turn while she was talking. "But that's not it. I found a picture of her on a newspaper that you're gonna wanna see for yourself."

Jackson risked another look behind him momentarily, making sure the coast was clear. "Is there anything about... the other thing?"

"Holy shit, yeah. That Gemini coven thing is an actual coven, named the Gemini coven. Filled with people who claim to be witches. I fucking told you there was something fucked up about that psychotic freak."

He couldn't tell what he was feeling, this fog of confusion. Was he hallucinating this call? "What?"

"I found this book, I don't know how to describe it. It's sort of like a witch encyclopaedia? It talks about different covens and stuff, that's how I found out. I also managed to interview a grandma that lives on the edge of Downtown Portland. My mom mentioned once that the lady told everyone at her church that she could see the dead, so I figured I might as well try my luck. She said that the Gemini weirdos do this weird rituals with twins. She also baked really nice cookies."

"Rituals?" He could scarcely hear his own voice. 

"Yeah, I don't know if that's true. There's no evidence. Him and his freakshow of a family—" Stevie stopped abruptly, with a gasp. "Oh my God. Jo... I didn't even think about her. Is she a weird freak that claims she's a witch too? I think I need to avoid her in our shared classes. Sad that she's been brainwashed to believe in that crazy talk."

Jackson's eye twitched. "I'm going to have to call you back."

He nearly slammed the telephone back on its holder before Stevie could say anything else. He didn't want to be told anymore disturbing things about the Parkers. It was a struggle to try and make himself think about it, which came as a shock to him, to finally have the ability not to overthink. Even if it only lasted a couple seconds. 

A witch. 

A witch? Jackson stood there for a moment, uncertain to how he should process this. He should've known that bloody family was insane. Are they even a family, or are they just a cult? Oh God, what if this whole time he had been fraternising with a cult? A cult of crazed maniacs that inflicted their vitriol onto people like Jo and Kai. He let out a sound that sounded vaguely related to a laugh, though it sounded so hollow it may as well be a clear sign for him to voluntarily take himself to the nearest mental institution. He wondered if they would even risk taking him in when he brought death like a summoner of plagues. 

Or maybe he could disappear from Portland entirely, move away to a random country without even an inkling of a goodbye. It would be for his friends' own good, and for his own. Though no doubt the killer would probably find him eventually, and he had to complete his studies if he didn't want his tuition to go to waste. His fingers rubbed at his nasal bridge, trying to stop himself from thinking too much. Soon, his thoughts would be even more ridiculous, and then he would spiral to madness. Spiralling to madness did not sound particularly pleasant for Jackson. 

Jackson glanced down the hallway, his hands repeatedly flexing and curling into a fist in a fit of external stress. There was something acidic rising in his throat; a burning feeling that he wasn't used to. Anger. It headed straight to his head, tunnelling his vision. He was angry, at Kai and Jo for lying to him, and at himself for honestly believing that he could trust either of them.  

He stormed down the hall, the tail of his coat trailing behind him, and swung open the door. Kai sat on Jackson's office chair, spinning about in mindless circles while tossing a vanilla scented candle in the air. He looked mildly surprised at the sudden action, and the look on Jackson's face soon turned that surprise to confusion. The Campbell only slammed the door shut and locked it. A long breath left his lips, almost as if he was trying to expel any doubt in his mind. 

"You lied," was what he could bring himself to say first, turning around to give Kai a glacial glower. 

Kai stopped spinning, placing the candle back onto the desk, before leaning back on the chair. "You're gonna have to be specific, I lie about a lot of stuff."

A joke. In the face of serious accusations, Kai Parker decided to make a joke. Jackson growled, marching over to grab Kai by the collar of his shirt and force him against the wall beside the door. The Parker let out a quiet grunt, semi annoyed by Jackson's use of force, though he seemed mostly bored. Bored? What the hell is wrong with him?

 "Then use that pretty little head to think, because your head won't be pretty for long," Jackson hissed down at the brunet. 

The Parker raised a brow, his lips curving into a playful smile. "Jack's first threat? To me? Don't make me blush."

He sneered at Kai, though he didn't seem to care all that much. "Keeping your distance isn't really threatening. Let me help you out there." 

Kai grabbed a fistful of Jackson's shirt and pulled him in, so that he was flushed against Kai's body. "There you go, Jack. Now I'm scared and horny."

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I should ask the same question - what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Gemini Coven, does that ring a bell?" Jackson's grip tightened on Kai's shirt. He could feel himself shaking. "Are you in a fucking cult or something? You keep begging for me to trust you and in turn, you carelessly thrust me into danger when it's inconvenient for you to explain it to me. What's all this witch stuff, huh?"

Kai studied Jackson with a blank stare, as if he was assessing something within the Campbell. He gave an small nod, then, before Jackson could react, kicked the taller man's knee. Jackson let out a hiss of pain, his knees buckling, and Kai took that moment of instability to use his weight and force the both of them down on the ground by the lapels of Jackson's coat. The Parker was protected by the brunt of the force by being on top of Jackson, while the man had to deal with a sore knee and an achingly painful back. 

To make matters worse, Kai sat right on Jackson's pelvic area, making him grunt at the pain of having an entire grown man sit where people shouldn't sit. His side still hurt from Jo's training with him. The Parker's weight prevented him from raising his hips and trying to get him off that area. Jackson grabbed Kai's waist, attempting to pull him forward and away from his pelvis, though Kai grabbed Jackson's arms and pinned them down onto the floor. 

"Easy, cowboy. I had to stop you from doing something stupid somehow, you know," Kai smirked, releasing the Campbell's arms from his grasp. "Is that a pager in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

Jackson glared up at him, sitting up. "Get off my dick, you psychotic—"

"—Psychotic freak, I've heard that one before. And it's not like this is the first time I'm on your dick. Now, take off your clothes."

"What?"

"Sorry, force of habit. I meant, take off your coat."

Jackson continued to gawk at him, awaiting for answers on why he needed to take off his coat. Kai didn't seem to think he deserved answers, leaning forwards to rip off the trench coat for him, letting it drop in a crush of thick cotton. The Parker grabbed Jackson's right arm, rolling up his sleeve to his elbow before the Campbell's shock wore off.

"What are you—"

Kai pressed an index finger to his lips, glancing momentarily at the door to indicate his thoughts. Shut up unless you want everyone to listen in. He lowered his hand from his lips and hovered it closely above Jackson's upturned arm. A violent red glow came from Kai's hand, channelling a golden glow that had settled under Jackson's skin, now rising to the surface. Whatever freakish magic trick Kai was doing, it was uncomfortable. He could feel a heat coming from his hand that would've never been possible for a human to generate alone, like a heater. The word thermochromic came to mind, a word Stevie used when talking about Bea's collection of mood rings.

The Parker's fingertips drew closer, brushing against Jackson's arm, and he could feel that same static shock he felt earlier at breakfast and a couple days ago when Kai grabbed his hand. Jackson quickly drew his arm away, his teeth gritted in pain, staring up at the brunet. Kai's gaze seemed neutral, though by the way his eyes was searching for something on the Campbell's face, he knew it was calculated. He couldn't wrap his head around what had just happened, but he knew for certain that he didn't want to experience it again.

"What are you?" His voice came out as a whisper, warily assessing Kai as a threat with his confusing magic tricks. He had no doubt in his mind that Kai could wipe the floor with him.

"An abomination to witch-kind. AKA, a siphoner," There was a little smile on Kai's face.

"Siphoner?" Jackson could not tell if it he was mad or Kai was. It was like his brain tried to delay the full realisation, distracting himself with silly definitions. "You realise that means to take something from someone unfairly or dishonestly."

"Well..." He paused to think. "Okay, maybe that definition is kinda accurate—"

"Did you just say witch-kind? Like there's more of you cult members out there?"

"It's not really a cult. And sure, there's more," Kai patted Jackson's chest, making the Campbell flinch in fear. "I'm sitting right on top of one."

He's insane. "I'm not a witch, and also witches are often used to describe women who practice magic."

Kai rolled his eyes. "God, I forgot how insufferable you can be with your English major. Witches are popularly depicted as women, doesn't mean it's true. Witches, warlocks, I really don't care about gendered terms. It gets the point across either way: someone who practices magic."

"Magic isn't real."

"Would you like me to show you again?"

"No," Jackson's words came out too quickly, glancing nervously at Kai's hands. "Whatever you did, it hurts. You must have some kind of heat generating chemical on your hands to make thermochromic reactions."

"That would require you to be in on the joke, because you'd need to be dipping in liquid crystals," He countered. "Last I checked, you don't have any liquid crystals on you. Also they're toxic, which kinda makes your theory impossible."

"I don't care if I'm wrong, because I know I'm not wrong when I say magic isn't real," Jackson's hand rubbed at his nasal bridge. "Do you expect me to believe that you're a human personification of a thermogram, and you just so happened to have the magical ability to take magic from someone and... what? Turn it into pixie dust so little Wendy can fly with Peter Pan?" He let out a frail burst of laughter. "Please put me in the nearest mental institution."

"Stop being so dramatic. How can I prove it to you?"

"You don't,"  The Campbell's mind was definitely fracturing. "But you should get off me so I can call the police and have myself voluntarily admitted to a psychiatric ward. If you don't, I'm afraid I won't be finding myself compatible with living by the end of this day."

Kai frowned, glancing around the room. Jackson didn't like the way gears turned in the Parker's head. His eyes landed on the candle on the desk, making him get to his feet and pull up Jackson in the process. As soon as Jackson was up, he tried to move away from the Parker, but Kai simply grabbed his forearm and sat him down on the office chair. He pushed the chair in the direction of the candle, leaning down so that his voice was right beside Jackson's ear. 

"You're gonna light that candle," Kai said, his hands on Jackson's shoulders. 

The Campbell pushed down the urge to tense his shoulders and shiver. "Kai..."

"Just shut up and listen," He cut the man off in a composed tone. "You are what witches call untapped, which means your magic remains pure because you've never used it. We're gonna tap into that potential. So, I want you to concentrate on that candle. Make sure you can memorise it."

Jackson hesitated. It would be hypocritical to call Kai crazy, but at the same time, it was such an insane possibility that he was shocked by Kai's certainty. Not that the Parker was ever a poster child of sanity... not that Jackson was a connoisseur of being right in the head either. The image of the thing Kai did wouldn't leave his mind, especially when he saw the gold trapped underneath his skin. Maybe it wasn't such an insane possibility. He let out a heavy sigh, nearly laughing again when he realised he was considering such a strange thought. 

"What now?" He asked. 

"You're gonna make yourself believe you can light that candle," Kai simply responded, like it was the most normal thing spoken. "Close your eyes and imagine the candle in front of you. Listen to the cadence of my voice; to the air rising and falling in your lungs."

Running his tongue over his bottom lip, Jackson reluctantly closed his eyes, trying to envision the candle on the desk in his mind. Kai's voice was soft and steady, like an anchor that pulled him down. He could feel Kai's right hand glide over his shoulder, letting his fingertips slowly drift down Jackson's chest. 

"Listen to your heart beating in your chest, hot blood pumping around your body. Think of the flame that would light the candle and melt the wax."

Being in his thoughts gave him the freedom to feel things he shouldn't be feeling. There was a shock that shot down his body when Kai's hand reached down to the top of his jeans, his fingers teasing the edge of the waistband. It wasn't the shock of pain he got from Kai's siphon trick, just the stirring of old emotions that he tried to bury. His mind redirected all that feverish sentiment on the flame, the flame that would light the candle because of him. 

The Parker's breath was hot against his cheek, his nose brushing against the skin, and Jackson released a shaky exhale. Kai withdrew his hand from the waistband, both hands holding the back of the office chair. "Good. Now open your eyes."

He opened his eyes, narrowing his gaze at the lit candle. The flame licked at the wick, making drops of liquified wax run down along the curvature and cool down at the base of the candle. It didn't make any sense, how did he do that? As in, how does magic work? How does magic allow him to telepathically do something? How did he have magic in the first place? His mind stopped at that thought. How did he come to have magic, and not remember it?

"Did you know the entire time that I could do this?" Jackson found himself asking.

Kai said nothing, prompting for Jackson to speak again, glaring at him. "Malachai."

"No need to say my full name like I'm in trouble," The Parker grumbled, even though Kai did the exact same thing when he wanted to be serious. "Yes, I did. I knew the entire time. It's kinda hard to explain to someone who doesn't know they're a witch that they're a witch. You basically convinced yourself you were going crazy."

A scoff left his lips as he stood, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Crazy? You spouted out some nonsense and I'm the irrational one?"

"You called me a thermometer."

"Thermogram!"

"Sure. Same difference," The Parker frowned. "Why do you look like that?"

Jackson's skin felt hot with an emotion that crushed him. It was the same sensation he felt when he was a fourteen year old boy, standing in the kitchen, before his family home went up in flames. It must've shown on his face, a degree of it mixed with hurt, by the way his nose scrunched and his eyes were squinted. He squeezed his eyes shut, letting out a shaky breath in an attempt to try an expel the intense pain that flooded his head. But it was still there; he was still hurting. 

He tried to make a beeline to the door, but was quickly intercepted by Kai, his hands on his upper arms. "Woah, I'm not sure I can trust a newbie witch to be alone with new feelings. Also you just said you might kill yourself. It's nothing personal."

It was a reaction out of pure panic, when he shoved Kai back. "Get your hands off me." He stepped away from the Parker. "For once, just let me have ten minutes to myself. Ten minutes. This is all I've ever asked of you."

Kai seemed to pause, carefully studying the Campbell's face in order to formulate a response; like he was the crossroads. He couldn't tell if Kai was hurt by his words. "I'm sorry."

Jackson shook his head, heading towards the door. "No, you're not."