Song: The Quiet by Troye Sivan
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Day 3

Toms been sleeping all day in Phil's room, and I'm so glad he's getting some sleep. He looked so tired and scared on the trip down here. When we arrived, the wizards were more than happy to let us stay after we told them what happened. Phil even offered to give Rosie some more bunnies, but I declined. I don't want any other things getting killed because of me.

Tom took Phil's room and I took Matts. He didn't want to sleep alone so I gave him Rosie to sleep with. I didn't really want to sleep after what happened, so I stayed up with the wizards all night to discuss possible defense plans for my family. They said they could cast a better barrier spell on the house, but I dismissed that plan. He obviously has no trouble with barriers.

"What if we just let you move in with us? We have plenty of space!" Matt offered.

Tom dismissed the idea almost immediately. "We can't have mortals living here, Matt. It's the law."

"But we're only trying to protect them! And it will be only for a little while Tom, just until we can figure out how to protect their home. Please? You saw how freightened they were when they got here! Don't you want to help them?" Phil asked Tom.

"Of course I do. But they cannot be living with us in the tower. I can't allow it."

Then where will we go? I wanted to ask. No where else is safe. He'll just follow us.

"What if they lived in the town? We never use it anyway and we have tons of vacated homes! And the tower heart protects the entire area, so they would be safe. Pretty please?" Phil clasped his hands together and put on a puppy dog face.

That actually wasn't a bad idea. I'm sure Tom would love to stay here longer.

Tom pondered on it for awhile until he looked up at me. "Would you keep the area clean?"

"Yeah. I'll clean it everyday." If that means you'll let us stay.

"You won't break anything?"

"No. I'll keep Tom restrained." Although I'm sure somehow he's gonna break almost everything here.

He thought on it a little while longer, until he finally shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose you can stay here until the end of the week. And if we haven't come up with a defense plan by then, I will allow you to stay longer. Is that alright with you?"

"Yes that's perfect. Thank you so much Tom." Oh thank god. My family is finally safe.

He smiled warmly at me. "Don't mention it. And I do hope Syndicate feels better when he wakes. He looked very ghastly when you arrived."

"Yeah...I need to check on him. But uh, thanks you guys. I wish I could pay you back some how but you sort of have everything already." Not to mention you can have everything you want with just a snap of your fingers.

"Don't you worry about it Jordan! Choosing to fight on our side is payment enough!" Matt gave me a pat on the back and nearly broke my spine.

I only nodded and left Matts room before I could say anything stupid. I'd been thinking it over, and if Botan is trying to kill us because I'm fighting against him, then maybe I should just mind my own business and stop fighting him. I have a family and I need to put them first.

I wish I didn't have to choose sides.

~
Day 4

"I love you...I love you...I love you..." Tom traced little kisses all down my jaw line, while I giggled like an idiot. He's been in a better mood since we moved into a house in the wizards town. A way better mood. He won't stop kissing me and kissing Rosie and squeezing the life out of us both.

"Tom...Stooop." Please for the love of god don't stop, is what I meant. He smirked and kissed me underneath my jawline, and I moaned. I shouldn't be doing this while my daughter is sleeping in her crib beside us, but sweet god I don't want this to ever end. "Tom Rosie's here..." I breathed out.

"So? She's asleep. It's fine." His voice sounded so silky and deep. Oh my gods I don't want him to stop talking.

"Say more stuff please..." I begged him. He chuckled lightly, his finger tips tracing over my stomach making me shiver.

"What do you want me to say?" He purred.

Recite every single spell in Wags huge magic book, I wanted to say. "I dunno...stuff." It's getting harder to talk every moment he's doing this.

"Botan is a dick," he whispered in my ear. His breath tickled my skin and I shuddered.

"More..." I said breathlessly.

"I want to slice his head off," he hummed. His fingers lightly dragged themselves down my side, and I arched my back at the feeling. I am enjoying this way too much.

"Oh my god please more..." I begged him.

"I want to burn him alive and watch him die a slow painful death."

Well that's a turn off.
He saw me tense up a little, and he looked at me apologetically. "Sorry. Didn't mean to get so aggressive. I just get furious when someone messes with my family...especially my hubby." I felt his teeth nip at my neck, and that was it for me. I melted into a puddle in his arms. He chuckled at my limpness and let go of my body. "We probably shouldn't do this right now. But I promise...later we'll have some fun."

I groaned in protest. He can't just rile me up like that and leave me hanging. It's cruel.

"When's later..." I muttered. I need this now.

"Later is when Matt and Phil come pick her up and take her to the mini zoo across town. Which shouldn't be less than an hour from now. Just a little while longer..." He placed a light kiss on my cheek.

"Why are you in such a good mood today? I haven't seen you this happy in forever..." I sat up and tried to straighten out my clothes and hair.

"I'm just glad my family is safe and my Sparklez is happy." He hugged me for the tenth time that day.
A knock sounded at the door, which made us both look at each other in confusion. Matt and Phil aren't supposed to come for an hour now. Did they come early?

"I'll get it." I hopped off the bed and headed towards the door. The houses the wizards built are all really weirdly shaped. It's like a giant H, both bedrooms are the top of the H and the kitchen and bathroom are on the bottom, while the front door is in the middle of the hallway. It's nothing like the tree, but it's nice nonetheless. Even though most of the furniture is really uncomfortable and there are no windows at all. The hallway is creepy too. There aren't any frames or wall decorations on the walls. It's like we're living in a dollhouse or something. I don't really like it.

There wasn't a peep hole on the door either, so I was kinda nervous about opening it. Half of me was expecting Botan to stab me in the neck when I opened the door, the other half was expecting Phil and Matt. I sucked in a breath and opened it. It was neither of my guesses. It was just Tom.

"Sorry to bother you during your settling in, but I wanted to give you something that I found in your home. I went to clean up the um...the mess that he left. I found a note near the um...the deceased rabbits. If you'd like to see it I'll give it to you but...I won't if you don't wish to see it. It is a bit nerve wracking." He was holding a blood splattered slip of paper in his hand. My throat felt tight just looking at it.

"Is it...is it really bad?"

"Um...it's disturbing to say the least. But I can assure you, it's just empty threats and promises. I have faced Botan before and he isn't all that menacing."

Okay so it is bad. But if I don't read it, I'll probably wonder about it all day. It can't be that bad, right?

"I guess I'll read it." I took the slip of paper from him.

I unfolded it and tried to avoid touching the blood that stained the paper. The first words instantly made me feel sick.
This is only the beginning. Continue to fight against me, and I won't hesitate to snip those little threads you hang on to so dearly. The little magicians can do no harm against me. You will never be safe.

Threads. How did he know about the threads metaphor? I've always kept that to myself. I could feel the nausea rising up in my throat. What else does he know about?

Tom put a hand on my arm, which was suddenly shaking uncontrollably. "Jordan, they are empty threats. We have defeated him before. We won't let him hurt your family."

"He killed Rosie's bunnies. He could have killed her. You said the barrier would work and it didn't." I shouldn't be accusing the head wizard that's allowing us to stay here of lying. But I can't help it. I'm scared.

"The barrier worked long ago when he was weak, and I assumed he was weak now. And he isn't, so I will be using stronger methods to keep him out. I'm sorry I assumed wrongly. But he isn't going to hurt your family, I can assure you that."

My head was pounding so loudly I could barely think. All of this stuff wouldn't even be necessary if I just did what Botan said and stop fighting against him. My family would be safe and I wouldn't have to worry about them getting killed when I fall asleep at night.

"Tom would it be so bad if I were to just...not fight him? I mean, I have to protect the ones I love and if I'm putting them in danger I should stop, right? Botan will leave them alone if I just stop fighting, right?"

He gave me a disapproving look. I wanted to punch him in the face. He doesn't know what I'm going through! If I want to give up and protect my family then that's my decision! He sighed and began his lecture. "If you choose to stop fighting him, then-"

"I know, you'll kick me out and stop helping me. I get it. You only like me because I'm trying to fight him. I understand." You don't care about us, you just want to win your stupid battle. You're just like the gods. You only want us to do your stupid deeds and win your stupid wars. Stupid stupid stupid...

"Jordan, I like your family. I love your daughter. She's very sweet and kind hearted, and I want to protect her and you and Syndicate. But if you choose not to fight Botan, there won't be a world for your family to live in. I've seen this happen before. Botan will destroy this world until there is nothing left. Everything will be sucked into a dark void and...it'll just be a blank universe. If we can't destroy him, all of us will die."

Well. That was inspirational. If I don't fight Botan, the world will end. If I fight Botan, the love of my life and my baby girl will most likely die. This sucks.

"So I'm screwed either way is basically what you're telling me?" I asked hopelessly.

"No, I'm saying don't stand by and watch the world burn. I know you aren't really from here, but if you help us keep our home, we will certainly try our best to get you home. I will leave you alone to think on this. Matt and Phil will be picking up Rosie later if she still wants to accompany them to the zoo. Goodbye." He turned to leave, but I stopped him.

"Wait, how did you know about that?"

"Know about what?"

"That...that I'm not from here."

He only smiled. "The gods aren't the only ones who can see dreams and memories."
~~~~~
I honestly have no excuse for not posting yesterday other than my body gave out on me and I had to go to bed xD but heyyyy I posted today so it's okay now :3

Also, the second part of blue neighborhood came out yesterday.

TROYE BETTER NOT DIE IN THE THIRD ONE OR I WILL SET FIRE TO CITIES AND RIOT. I AM HOPING AND PRAYING ITS JUST THE ABUSIVE FATHER WHO DIES BECAUSE I REALLY ALREADY WANT HIM TO DIE A SLOW PAINFUL DEATH FOR BEING A HOMOPHOBIC JERK. WHY WOULD YOU THREATEN TO KILL YOUR SON BECAUSE HES GAY. WHY. I DONT UNDERSTAND.

*sobs* I really really really really really really am a mess. BUT HEY, IF YOU LIKED THIS SUPER SHORT AND LATE CHAPTER, LEAVE ME A COMMENT OR A FAVORITE! THANKS!

- Lee