ten.

Adaire's warning

"YOU NEED TO call her in."

Adaire Barebone didn't look up from the papers spread across her desk, brushing a piece of her curly black hair behind her ear, "No."

"Adaire, I'm serious." Snarled her sister, the Elemental witch pacing back and forth the room. It was a decently sized space but the sparking anger from Narcissa made it feel much smaller.

"And so am I," Adaire finally looked up from the paper she'd been reading, looking at the barely contained fire that pulsated beneath Narcissa's veins. "She has always been carving her own path from the moment Olivia died and now she has obligations to her Ranju. I can't just call her back because a scout thinks they may or may not have seen a Forsaken witch. Besides, I thought you didn't want anything to with Maev."

Narcissa finally sat down, lounging on the chair as if it were a throne instead of a flimsy piece of plastic. "I don't want anything to do with her, but she's the only one of us who's actually fought them and that information is invaluable."

"When she was younger," Adaire reminded her sister, "it's been nearly ten years since the incident and the remaining Forsaken are scattered across the globe. I acknowledge your anger but I will not call her in on a whim, have one of your generals look into if you wish. You and I both know that the last time Maev was called in on council matters it was a disaster. Hardly any of the top covens know how to deal with her and you know the rumors that float around—"

Narcissa snorted, "What? That she apparently Settled twice? That she neglects her duty as a Sister? That she is a ticking time bomb? Or do you want me to dig deeper and talk about the classic one where everyone thinks Olivia—"

"Narcissa," Adaire narrowed her eyes in warning, her eyes flashing a bright silver that would make any other witch cower.

But Narcissa was used to her sister and just rolled her eyes, standing up abruptly. "Whatever. Forget I even stopped by." And then the Elemental witch prowled out of the Bone witch's office, taking all the warmth with her.

Adaire leaned back into her chair, drumming her fingers on her thigh in an even rhythm. She stared into space, thinking and mulling over several possibilities before finally pulling a white rope from one of her many drawers. It was thin and finely woven, perfect for her to complete her task.

Adaire closed her eyes, tilting her head to the side as she summoned her magic to the surface. The air in her office dropped several degrees to the point where her breath was visible in plumages that rose a few inches before vanishing. Her skin was leeched of any warmth and her lips gained a bluish tint that would've been alarming to anyone else.

She opened her eyes. A brilliant silver had replaced the usual brown, vibrant and otherworldly, complete with slitted pupils and veins of icy blue. With quick fingers, she tied the first knot.

By knot of one, the spell has begun.

Adaire didn't blink once as she began to chant under her breath, the ancient language thick and heavy, weighing down the air and dropping off her tongue harshly. The air grew heavy and crackled with energy.

By knot of two, it cometh true.

Shadows stretched up the wall, twisting and curling, pulsating with energy. 

By knot of three, I summon thee.

Darkness dripped from the ceiling, pooling onto the floor and molding into the shape the Bone Witch desired.

By knot of four, this message I store.

A sliver of bone trembled as it rose from the basket at her feet, symbols being carved into it by claws crafted by air, before being flicked to the creature she'd summoned.

By knot of five, I grant thee life.

Dark eyes blinked solemnly, the black cat-like demon with glistening red pupils the color of dried blood leaned down to take bone with needle-sharp teeth. 

By knot of six, I send this warning to the Blood Witch.

The cat stretched luxuriously before strolling into the wall, melting between worlds to find her sister.

By knot of seven, I leaven this spell.

Ice encased the rope and shattered without warning, leaving no remnants behind. Adaire felt her magic slumber and she waited a moment for the numbness to fade before turning her attention back to the paper she'd been trying to read for the past hour, her mind finally clear enough to read the words, unaware of the fears she'd just made into reality.

Maev and James sat in the back of the cramped car, music filling the gaps between Steve and Sam's whispers in the front. Maev stared out of the window, her chin propped on her hand as they neared an airport, debating on just how much she should help the trio.

In reality, James was her priority and by extension, Steve was included in that tiny circle of protection simply because James wanted him to be. However, the others were none of her concern, but it was likely they were going to cause trouble. If she had this her way she would've simply transported herself and James to Russia, but he felt responsible for the rift between Steve and his teammates, resulting in her tagging along to an airport (she was a witch, for star's sake, she didn't need a plane to travel). 

But with that arose another problem: she also couldn't just reveal that she was a witch to these humans either. They had asked her if she was an enhanced individual, to which she'd just nodded slightly, and that was that. As much as Maev wished to help James, there were only so many people she could tell that she was a witch, and two humans with a penchant for trouble were not at the top of her list.

Maev had a tendency to bend the rules, but there were some that even she couldn't ignore.

They pulled into a parking space on an empty level of the parking garage and Maev practically jumped out of the car, eager to stretch her stiff limbs. James hovered by her side as she leaned down to touch her toes before shifting to stretch her arms above her head causing her shirt to rise, revealing a sliver of tanned skin.

A van pulled into a space a few lots down and Maev watched with interest as a man with brown hair got out, accompanied by a young woman that quickly caught her attention. Maev subtly lifted her head, inhaling deeply and tasting the energy that crackled around the woman. At that same time, the woman's eyes flew to her and Maev felt that strange energy reach for her mind, only to reel back as a wall crafted of wicked metal slammed down. 

Maev tilted her head, more predator than human. A mind reader, one that was made and not born. She nearly smiled, how interesting.

Wariness entered the woman's eyes but she didn't say anything, standing next to the driver as he opened the sliding door of the van, startling yet another man who had been asleep. Introductions flew around— the driver's name was Clint, the mind reader was Wanda, and the sleepy man was Scott —along with quite a few curious glances cast towards her and James.

"And what do you do?" The man who could apparently shrink, Scott, asked her with such curiosity she felt the corners of her mouth quirk up.

"It's complicated."

He shrugged, accepting her answer, before turning his attention back to Steve who'd begun to talk.

Maev meant to pay attention but a bitter taste flooded her mouth, familiar enough to not cause her to outwardly panic, but rare enough that a thread of fear still lingered. Maev tuned the humans out and she looked around the large space, eyes narrowed as she searched for her sister's familiar. Red eyes gleamed down from the rafters, the familiar swishing his tail lazily, white glinting from his muzzle.

A message from Adaire. Uncommon, but not unwarranted. Still, Maev pursed her lips, annoyed at her sister's poor timing. As the humans shifted around her, starting to gather gear and the like from their cars, Maev turned to James. "I'll be back." She tells him, watching his eyebrows furrow together slightly. She tilted her head slightly, "My sister seems to want a word. Don't worry, I won't be long."

He nods, appeased by her explanation, and doesn't say anything as she quietly walks away from the group, following the familiar as he prowls along above her. She takes the stairs, going up to the very top, finding Alistar awaiting her. He spits the bone at her feet and curls around her legs, his dark energy clashing with hers. 

"No thank you, dearest?" The demon purrs, watching her with those crimson eyes.

"Thank you, Alistar," Maev answers, leaning down her pick up the bone shard. The demon huffs in annoyance at her lackluster response, sniffing her shoes.

"You reek of humans. What exactly have you been brewing, Blood Witch?"

Maev resists rolling her eyes at the noisy demon, "I've just been doing my usual work."

Alistar settles onto her feet, curling his paws underneath his body, "You may be able to fool others with that, but you forget who you're talking to." He yawned, teeth glinting in the sunlight, "But I don't mind a bit of secrecy every now and then, it just makes things more interesting for me."

Maev sighs softly, knowing perfectly well why Adaire sent Alistar to deliver the message.

Alistar the All-Seeing. Alistar the Truth-Seeker. Alistar the Illusion Breaker.

Although a rather small familiar, Alistar could not be lied to, seeing through every deception no matter how well versed the liar was. It was why Adaire sought him out, so no matter who sat in front of her, she could judge them fairly. After all, it was her job to judge those who committed crimes and announce their sentence. 

Just as it was Narcissa's job to hunt down those who were wronged.

Just as it was Maev's job to carry out the sentence.

"Do me a favor dearest?" Maev glanced down at Alistar, finding his piercing eyes already fixated on her, "Summon my sister. She's growing rather restless lately."

Maev hummed in acknowledgment before pricking her thumb, letting a drop of blood bead to the surface and roll over the pristine bone. Slowly her sister's message appeared, carved in the symbols of an old language that only a handful of witches bothered to learn. She read it once. Blinked. Then she read it again and again and again as dread boiled in her stomach. So transfixed she was on the message that she failed to notice when Alistar moved from her feet to her shoulders, brushing his face against her ear. "Is this information true?" She asked him quietly, specific words to warrant a response from the truth teller side of Alistar.

"They're watching you dearest, they've always been watching." He murmured before vanishing into thin air, the bone disintegrating to ash in her fingers, lost to the musings of the wind.

She couldn't bring herself to move, frozen by the demon's words that only confirmed one of her greatest fears. A shiver coiled down her spine and the world went silent, the fighting of the humans below shut out by the barrier she'd unknowingly produced. 

She needed to... she needed... she...

Maev dug her fingernails into her palms, letting the pain prick through the panicked haze that had settled over her mind. Now was not the time to let her past encase her, she needed to focus on the matter at hand, which was that someone was hunting her and she had to end it as quickly as possible before things got too messy.

First things first, she had to find whoever was watching her, and if what Alistar said was true, then they were most likely watching her right now... and that they had been for a while. All those days wandering in the slums of the world and using her magic and then helping James—

The blood drained from her face. The barrier around her shattered as an explosion sounded in the distance. 

She had to get James out of here. 

Maev backed up a few feet, slinging her backpack onto one shoulder and ruffling in it before drawing her blade out. She clipped the sheath onto her pants, drawing the blade out and rolling up her sleeve. 

To hell with keeping a facade with the humans, she had much bigger things to worry about then pretending to be an experiment. 

And so, as she activated her magic, Maev didn't bother putting on her sunglasses, nor did she bother to put her sheath back into her bag. She walked to the edge of the tall parking garage, peering over the side at the chaos ensuing below her as her magic woke eagerly, pressing against her skin, beginning to be released.

They looked tiny from her standpoint and Maev let herself feel strong. She let herself feel bigger and more important than those below her. And she held onto that feeling as she grappled for that tether that tied her to James.

She pulled on that tether and vanished from the rooftop, twisting through that nothingness that filled the space between one place and the next as easily as breathing.

Static crackled through earpieces as former friends and strangers alike clashed. Despite the severity of the situation, Peter Parker was having a rather good time. His blood was singing with the newfound freedom he felt fighting alongside heroes he'd revered his whole life. Though, to be fair, being flown to Germany to fight Captain America was a bit much.

Simply because it was Captain America and the sides were a bit messy, but Tony Stark had entrusted him to help restore the peace between the teammates and Peter would be damned if he didn't give it his best. 

He was prepared for Clint Barton and Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson. He was surprised by the shrinking man and mystic abilities of Wanda Maximoff. He was a bit intimidated by the dude with the metal arm who he was pretty sure he'd seen in his textbook that this entire battle revolved around.

But he felt like all things considered, he was doing pretty well.

Even as Ant-Man grew way too big for anyone to grow, even as an explosion singed his suit with heat, even as his web fluid grew low, it was going alright.

But then he was knocked aside, skittering across the floor and ending up with a nasty headache. It was then that Mr. Stark told him to rest, that his part was done. It was then that Peter felt just how far he'd pushed his body, definitely much further than he ever did swinging around Queens. It was then Peter was wondering if he hit his head too hard when the hair on his neck and arms stood at attention. 

Something was wrong. 

He scrambled to his feet, lifting his hand to his ear, "Uh Mr. Stark? I think something's going to happen."

run run run run run

Static fizzled in his ear before a short response came through, "I'm going to need more than that kid."

RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN

"I just— something is wrong, I can feel it. I think..." His mouth grew dry as a woman appeared in thin air, eyes wholly black and hands trembling with barely contained energy. "Someone's here." He whispered.

danger danger danger danger

And then Maev Barebone turned her gaze to him and Peter felt every nerve in his body come alive.

DANGER DANGER DANGER DANGER RUN RUN RUN SHE'S DANGEROUS RUNRUNRUNDANGERDANGERDANGER

But those dark eyes simply slid over him. Dismissing him. And Peter felt a flood of relief wash over him as she moved her attention to the people still fighting.

Once again, Maev winked in and out of existence, this time appearing between an annoyed James and a startled T'Challa. "Time's up." She said before grabbing James's hand and letting that energy she'd been storing up go, the two shifting through the pockets of nothingness and suddenly slamming into the plane Steve had pointed out earlier. 

Speaking of the blond, Maev tilted her head, jumping once more to reach the startled man, barely giving anyone else time to react as she touched his shoulder, the air shuddering around them as they vanished.

Maev swayed on her feet as the two men gained their bearings, Steve running to the controls and flipping several switches to start the plane up. "You couldn't have done this earlier?" He asked, his tone almost annoyed, but mostly mystified. 

"Mmm," she slurred before turning and vomiting on the floor. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, "I can't take that many people with me." Maev slumped into a seat, snapping her fingers to erase the vomit, sighing as the plane lifted off. She leaned her head back against the cool metal, closing her eyes and checking her reservoir of power. Traveling between places, particularly with guests, and in a rapid succession drained her quickly. 

She still had enough to cast a trip around the plane, an invisible barrier that when crossed would warn her of an intruder. 

Depending on the witch following her would depend on if they'd be able to follow them into the air. But as the jet picked up speed she felt her body relax. The more distance between them and Germany the better.

"What about your friends?" James mumbled to Steve, his soft voice barely reaching Maev's ears.

"I'll worry about them, they all knew what they were signing on to do." But there was hesitance in Steve's voice, enough so that everyone knew he was concerned about the fate of those they left behind. 

The hum of the engine lulled Maev into an uneasy sleep, one where was she was still slightly conscious of her surroundings, but her body was getting rest it needed.

However, as the jet banked, nearing their destination, Maev jolted awake. She stood up quickly, turning in a circle as she felt a rise of power near the plane. She curled and uncurled her fingers, eyes darting around the space.

"Maev, what's wrong?" James asked, twisting in his seat to look at her.

"Whatever happens, don't turn this plane around," Maev commands.

"What are you talking about?" James stands up just as the plane rocks, a strong gust of wind causing it to twist to the left.

"Go to Siberia. Stop the other assassins. Then come back for me."

"Maev—"

The lights flicker and the jet shudders before a figure tackles Maev to the ground. The witch is wearing a mask that haunts her dreams, a mask that Bucky recognizes, and Maev snarls as she claws at their hands wrapping around her neck.

"Affici."

The wind witch snarls back, voice distorted by the mask, "Soror Sanguis."

Maev knows that the Forsaken has the advantage, that she'd have to protect not only herself but the two humans scrambling to do something behind her. So she bites her lip, letting her blood sing, whispering the two words needed.

The two witches disappear in a whirl of wind and darkness.

They struggle against each other as frigid air slams against them, the jet high above them as they freefall through the sky. Magic hisses through the air, Maev's hands encircling the wind witch's wrists, ensuring that they couldn't escape as her magic pushed against them.

As one they fall through the cloud riddled sky, hurtling like fallen angels to the frost-bitten earth below, air stolen from their lungs and their bones freezing and magic surging and surging and surging. Not to slow their fall. No, they needn't waste their magic on things like that. Witches were made of iron and blood and the blood of old gods still lingered in their veins.

And when they slam into the earth, the ground collapses, taking them down with it.

—affici = disgraced one

—soror sanguis = sister of blood

let me know what you think :)