Tw: Violence 

(Not really revised. So bear with me. Just wrote it down to make a outline really.) 

I awoke bright and early, my body bruised and sore. I stare up at the ceiling. I didn't want to get up. I hear slightly normal birds chirping loudly outside. I had learned to wake up at this time. If I didn't I would be punished. I get up walking towards my closet, to find a tattered and bloody golden guard uniform, a pale cloak, and a mask that was cracked. I look at it grimly. I must've forgot to wash it from the night before, I think miserably. I grabbed it and dressed myself.

I looked in a mirror, the fear it brought me to stare upon my blank altered look made me freeze as I examined the mask on my face. I was sure this is what you saw before you died. The mask had stained blood, I lifted my hand to the mask and I rub my thumb on it to try and remove the stain. I sigh deeply as it doesn't work.

I exit my room and to my right I see Hunter exit as well, as usual my sync and waking up time has shown great progress with Hunter, the only person I would call a brother and someone who I respect.

As I too have little power. Instead of a half-witch, I am not a witch at all. Taken in as a little kid by Belos. He told me I was a boy who was crying in the woods, lost and broken. He felt pity on me and took me in. I don't know why he did, nobody else seemed to care. Maybe he saw a little of himself in me...

Hunter had his mask on and turned his head to look at me, he walked over to me, looking at my tattered look and tired slumped look. He brushed a piece of dirt off my shoulder. "You look like shit." He replied.

"Thanks," I murmured. He seemed to almost feel bad. "Come on, we better go to the meeting, we can't risk being Kate again." I nodded and Hunter left me there, before stopping and turning towards me. "And please..." he hesitated, as if he hated dating it. "stand up straighter." He left me there, and I used all my strength to straighten my posture before following him. We reach the meeting room in the royal hall. Most of the golden guards are there and up in the front are Belos and kikimora. I search for Hunter but can't see him.

"Welcome, welcome! Please take a seat!" She waved her hands and chairs appeared behind everyone. Everyone started to sit down but I didn't want to, but I'm forced, as Hunter grabs my shoulder pulling me down to sit. I hate sitting here, and Hunter knows I do. I force myself to look up towards Belos and kikimora, as he scans the crowd his eyes come to mind, at first I thought he was actually staring at me, but his eyes flickered away and he began to talk. Hunter puts a hand on my shaking one, I look at him and he's staring at me. "Your shaking." I look down at my bouncing leg and try to stop. I try to drown out the noises. I clench my fists, a feeling that had been hidden now slashing across the inside of my chest, trying to burst out. Hunter grabbed my wrist, squeezing it tightly. I look towards him but he isn't facing me. I clench my teeth and my attention finally comes back as I hear my name. I look towards Balos and everybody who is now staring at me. I feel out of place and awkward.

"Without Caleb of the royal guard, we wouldn't have figured out a way to do it. We will finally be able to reach the human world."

The human world!? I want to scream, I want to yell at him and gouge his eyes out for lying to me. but I gave a curt nod, His blue eyes flickered keeping it on me before looking down to kikimora. And saying something in a hushed tone before walking out.

"That is all!" Kikimora said, waving a finger to open the doors.

"Remember it's the blood moon ball next week." She rushed to get everyone out. I tried to storm off needing time to myself but kikimora grabbed my cloak. "Balos requests to speak to you," she gave me a wicked smile, before giving a little wave to Baloss room. Hunter comes up from behind me, but Kikimora gives him a dirty look. "Only, Caleb—"

"If Caleb is going I am too." Hunter said threateningly his voice loud and stern as he grabbed my arm protectively. She hesitated, "I very much do not advise it," she said toxicity and grabbed his arm. Hunter ripped it away, "stand down," he hissed. She looked nervous but let go of Hunter, maybe it was his height but why would she be nervous, she was Kikimora, a head coven witch, and very powerful.

"Fine go—add another collection of scars right here." She pretended to slit her throat with a finger before walking away. Hunter grimaced and I wondered if he was regretting helping me. I wouldn't be surprised if so.

"Come on," he let me go first as if I was his prisoner. I had to be the one to lead.

We entered the room and Balos was staring at a Mirror, his mask on a dresser, he was brushing a hand to his face, but I couldn't see it. I've never seen his face, nobody has, besides Hunter.

"Uncle?" Hunter called and Balos grabbed his mask, putting it back on before turning to us. "Ah, nephew, I don't think it was I who asked you to be here." He said, his voice was stone-like.

"Is there a problem with me being here?" He said it a little too harshly before clearing his voice. "Sorry, I'm just... worried for Caleb, uncle." Balos nodded, "that is quite understandable. "For we all know what must happen."

Hunter looks away cringing. "What do you mean, what's going to happen?" I asked Hunter and before I knew it Balos had snuck behind me and wrapped an arm around me. I yelp trying to break free. "Let me go!" I screech, squirming in his grip. I thrash as he grabs my arm pulling off the gloves and pulling down the sleeve until my bare skin is visible.

"Just one more test Caleb and you'll finally have fulfilled your purpose." He brings me over to a table with a metal clamp you'd see in a dungeon. He put both my wrists into it. I thick the table but it's buried into the ground. I look around for Balos and can't see him, "how stupid could you be for not even realizing why I was giving you a chance." He said, pulling back my hood. "Stop!" I say but he doesn't listen and takes off my mask. Revealing my blue eyes and brunette hair underneath. And a scar hidden on my forehead by hair. He puts a talon through my hair moving it to reveal it before looking at me with almost prideful eyes. "You were stronger and more wonderful than I had thought, something I strive to see in a young head witch. And your lack of powers is replaced with strength and determination. But I see you failing to wake up everyday. Your lack of obedience is something I have to acknowledge."

Belos walked around me before pulling out a large knife, "fresh human blood mixed with titans blood and a drop of the crows essence." I knew what bird he was referring to. He grabbed a crow talisman from out of a cage. "Stop-you don't know what you're doing—" I sob, struggling. He pulled over a jar setting the talisman down before walking over to me, he let the knife nestle between my palm before pulling it sharply across it. I cry out in pain, blood oozing off of the knife. Belos let's the blood drip into a jar full of purple blood, the color changed to a fiery blue. I look for Hunter who is near the back of the wall, his fist is clenched and shaking.

"Hunter!" I say, struggling in the wrist clamps.

Belos interrupts my cries for help. "—Unlike you, Hunter is an obedient little nephew." Belos bopped me on the nose with a talon before he grabbed the crow talisman once more. The crow suddenly turned into a live crow moving with life in Balos's clutches. It squawked loudly, clawing its feet at his hand trying to escape. He plucked a feather from the crow and dropped it in the jar. "I need more."

His grip tightened and the crow cawed loudly, as it was strangled. I felt the crows' pain, sharp and unbearable. I squirmed trying to breathe, there was a splitting crack and the crow was once again turned into the wooden talisman. Now a large crack down the side of one of its wings. Sparkling translucent liquid dripped out of the crack and into the jar making it flash before fading back into a dark sloshing liquid.

"I'll save you for later." Belos murmured to the crow. One of my hands instantly unclamped and he tossed the crow to me. not caring if I caught it or not. I catch it with my bloody hand wincing in pain and hold it close to my chest.

"Y-your a monster—" I let out gasp and spit down right on his boot. He looks down at my small form, unbothered.

"I would be careful with what you say." He came close to my ear. "Once we unite both worlds, wild magic will never exist. Until then, if you try to stop me, I will find you and personally hunt you down myself." With that he left me there.

He walked to Hunter before leaving, "clean him up and get him a new uniform, if I see him trying to use his talisman I will...have to take matters into my own hands." He walked out and Hunter walked up to me before unclamping me. once he did, I shove him away. "Get away from me."

He didn't seem angry that I did. just empathetic. "They were going to do something even worse to you Caleb—they were going to kill you but I was there, I knew he couldn't do it in front of me. So I came with."

I knew he was right but I was still angry, "you knew what he was going to do?"

"It would have been better if I didn't tell you, trust me. If he knew I had told you I'd be dead." I ignored him, looking at Wilbur in my hands, his form seemed lifeless to me. He was so alive in his wooden form but now he looked broken and tired.

"Wilbur shouldn't have sneaked into his secret room." He said looking at the crow. I look at him, I shake my head and I sob more cradling the crow. "It hurt Hunter, I could feel his pain." I stammer. Hunter tries to comfort me by kneeling down and wrapping his cloak around me.

"He'll be fine," Hunter whispered. "You're safe now." 

I kinda like the story so I may keep writing it, just for funsy. Nothing serious.