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BECKER
Becker thought for sure he was done. He had no magic, no respect from others (not that he deserved it), and no Raisin Bran.

He rubbed his brows as he moved from the kitchen bar to the couch, laying down and looking up at the ceiling. This place... this place used to be a second home. And now... all it did was hurt him.

He wanted Constance back. He wanted Arlis to be happy again. He wanted... he wanted so many things.

When he was with Konrad, he thought about his plan. Konrad wants to wipe out the other species, render the world back to the witches. And that was terrible. But the additional part to that, getting his mother back. That part sounded okay to Becker.

Becker nearly let himself fall to Hell that night. He had puked and puked, made himself sick. Genocide wasn't worth his mom coming back. To think that for even a second... made him almost as bad as Konrad.

He should have hated his mother. Hated her for leaving him all alone. But every time he tried to be mad at her... a little piece of him broke. He couldn't blame her for getting away from Konrad.

But he could blame her for leaving him behind.

He closed his eyes and turned around on the couch, saying "I'm so sorry." He didn't know who he was apologizing too. Nobody could hear him. Maybe he was saying it to himself. He certainly should apologize to himself, and what he put himself through. And as for what he was apologizing for... he just felt bad for who he was and how he hadn't helped when he could.

He felt like he was going crazy. He felt... so unlike the usual Becker he once was.

He wasn't in Ireland, getting frisky with the ladies and gents. He wasn't out stealing art with Arlis and Connie. He wasn't watching over Everly and Zach.

Zach, who was imprisoned once again by Konrad. Sweet sweet Everly who was dead. And he didn't save her. Didn't even try.

It was all his fault.

Becker curled his legs to his chest and covered his head with his arms and began to cry.

"Take me. Please. Bring me to Hell's gates." He begged for death. He wanted to die. He was spiraling with no net beneath him. He was slowly drifting into darkness, every light around him shutting off one by one.

Water surrounded him, the sun shining above him. His hands flailed around to swim up but it was useless. He was sinking, deeper... and deeper. Any hope he had fled away in the air bubbles that left his mouth. Pretty soon those bubbles would stop floating up. Pretty soon, his lungs would be filled with salty liquid.

He couldn't protect his family. No wonder his mom left him. Konrad was right. Becker was weak.

He pulled his hair and let his mind drift off to the soft melody of his own breathing.

***

He woke up to someone sitting on his legs. "Get off." He huffed, trying to kick and pull his legs out from under the other person's weight.

The person huffed. "It's eleven in the afternoon, why are you asleep?" She sighed, laughing quietly.

Becker shot up, his eyes wide. He looked her up and down, checking if she was real. "Everly?"  Her shiny black hair was thrown up into a tangled ponytail. Her cheeks were hollow, her eyes dark. She held more maturity than from when Becker had last saw her.

Was this even her? Was this really her? Was his magic playing tricks on him again?

Magic... he didn't have any.

Becker reached a hand out and touched her face. She held his hand, leaning her head into his palm.

"Eve?" He tackled her in a hug, squeezing her to his chest. "Thank God."

Becker's body shuttered as he took a deep breath, the years of stress on his shoulders were slowly slipping away the longer he held the girl in his arms.

She pulled away, tears shot down her cheeks. Not very many, but they were there. "Arlis explained to me on the way here what happened."

Becker didn't want to talk about it. He didn't want to talk about how he let the planet down, how he let Konrad overpower him, steal his powers.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

She was worried about him? Through all Becker had done, he didn't deserve her worry. "It doesn't matter. How are you still alive?" He had dodged the question. He couldn't lie, so he didn't answer.

She fell flat for a moment, not being able to answer. Becker feared she wouldn't answer, or would lie. All the Dawns had the same tics. Rolling their thumbs over each other, their eyes looking anywhere but at the face of the person they were lying too.

Everly took a deep breath. "The Salem Witches aren't dead."

He tapped his foot on the ground. "I know." What did this have to do with her death? Was she doing what he was? Dodging the question, moving around the subject.

"Polyphema traded her life for mine. She brought me back, killing herself in the process." He could tell she was struggling to speak about it.

Oh.

Becker was nearly surprised at the fact that he wasn't upset. "She left me. To deal with Konrad on my own. I loved her, but she hasn't been my family since I was young. You, my Uncle Terrance, my sister Constance... that's my family. I'm glad you're alive." He didn't mean to get sentimental, to cry. But as the words poured out, so did the truth.

"We have a plan, Becker. A plan to get you some power back." Everly said, her voice filled with determination and anger.

Her determination was useless. No matter how much she tried, they wouldn't succeed. "He's too powerful now. He's too powerful to steal my power back."

"No." Everly shook her head. "That's not what I mean."

Arlis walked into the living room, smiling. "Kate came up with a great idea."

"The only good idea she'll ever come up with." Everly muttered.

"Shut up, you're in my house, I can make you leave." Kate defended, snapping worse than Becker had ever seen her snap before.

Everly laughed, not at all scared of her. "Please, do this on your own, I'd love to see your newborn-ass try."

"Why are you so vile?" Kate asked, furrowing her brows.

"Why are you so soft?" Everly stood up and made her way to Kate, standing taller than her.

Kate bit her cheek. "Because. I'd rather be soft than disgusting."

Everly snarled at her. "I haven't done anything to you!"

Kate shrugged. "Just the way you act. You want to kill and destroy and come marching in like you own the place."

Everly took a step even closer. The glare in her eyes was cold, rough. "Yes. I do want to kill and destroy. Am I really someone you want to push?"

Kate gasped, she looked like she had been slapped. "Is that a threat?"

Everly smiled on back, setting a hand on Kate's shoulder. "I prefer the term promise."

Arlis stepped in then, his power much more eminent than anyone else's in the room. "I'd love to see you try. Nobody could blame me for protecting my mate, for shoving her attacker's head on a stake. I'll kill you and your little vampire friends— Moon knows where those two ran off two."

Becker began laughing.

The three people separated, almost ashamed.

"You three need to calm yourselves." Becker continued to laugh. "We're not the enemy." Laughing felt... foreign. He hadn't done it in a long time. He hadn't felt air in his lungs since Constance was still around.

Kate nodded. "You have stored magic in different objects, right? Can you get that magic back?" She asked.

Becker rubbed his chin and then shrugged. "I don't know. Since all my magic is gone now."

Everly rose an eyebrow. "Becker, it's worth a try."

"It most certainly is but what if it doesn't work?" He was thinking of the negative side. He wasn't sure if it was because his will was torn down, or if it was because he was scared. Scared to lose.

Kate shrugged. "Then it doesn't work and we figure something else out. What are some things that you have magic stored in?" She sat down on the floor, Arlis sitting next to her.

Becker thought for a couple moments. The parchment paper he gave Arlis, although they had already used it so there was probably hardly any in it left. That was... it. He couldn't think of anything else. "I only have one, the parchment paper."

Arlis looked at Becker like he was stupid. "What about your hairbrush?"

Becker chuckled. "No. There's a difference between enchanting things and making them hold my magic for others to use."

Arlis nodded. "You only have one?"

Becker sat up with realization. "Two more. A snow-globe in the Dawn house so I could always connect to it and check on them and vice-versa, only Marinda knows about it. And Constance's dagger."

"Well Konrad has my cousin's dagger, and as for the Snow-globes... we need Ralph right now to get us there and back." Everly breathed out.

"That's still not enough." Becker shut his eyes. "I'm sorry, but it's not."

Kate snapped her fingers. "What about Konrad? What objects hold his power?"

Even Arlis shot her an incredulous look.

What did she think she was going to do? Becker nearly believed she had lost her mind. Witches didn't share that information with anyone. Spouse, children, parents. If she thought Konrad would share that information, she was delusional.

"Kate that's not information witches just give out." Arlis explained, voicing just what Becker was thinking.

Kate tilted her head. "Would he do it for Polyphema?"

Arlis's mouth dropped and he slouched. "Kate no, you're not—"

"Would he? If Polyphema asked... if I could spark up a conversation about it... would he tell me?" Kate was making a bold decision. She looked identical to the late Polyphema, and she was going to use that to her advantage. "He thinks Poly is coming back, so we should make her. But not actually make her, I can be her. And Eve, you and Becker know her. You two could make me act and dress like her."

Becker wiped a hand down his face. "That sounds like a terrible idea."

"It sounds like our only idea." Kate looked at Everly. "What do you think?"

"My name is Everly to you, not Eve." Everly smirked and then composed herself. "I think it sounds like a plan that gets you killed. I'm on board."

It was definitely an insult beyond insults, but Kate still smiled sweetly back at her. "Cool! You're helping me."

"Arlis... can you go get Ralph from Rylee's pack?" Kate asked, her voice falling halfway through.

Arlis wasn't there.

"Arlis!" She shouted, standing up.

"You're not going." Everyone looked into the kitchen, where Arlis stood, leaning over the sink. From the stench, Becker could tell he had been puking.

Kate walked over there, grabbing a rag and wiping his face. "I am. I need to."

Arlis put both of his hands on her shoulders, grabbing her. "No, you're not! We will send Becker back to him, saying that he wants—"

"It won't work. You know it won't work." Her voice was shaky as she spoke.

Becker agreed. He hated the idea of sending her in there alone, but... Kate was right. If "Polyphema" came back, Konrad would be too ecstatic to believe for even a second that it was a trick.

Even Becker sometimes found himself tripping up over his tears when he looked at Kate. Her mannerisms, her heart, her eyes... they were all like his mom's.

"I can't lose you again." Arlis whispered, leaning his head into Kate's shoulder, wrapping his arms around her. "I just got you back. Please don't leave me." His voice was muffled, but Becker could still hear the crack in it.

"I have to. I can't sit by and watch while everyone around me suffers." Kate put a hand on Arlis's cheek, wiping away a tear. "Please. Please let me do this."

"I love you. I'll go grab Radulphus. In the meantime... you two better make her more Polyphema than Polyphema is Polyphema." Arlis moved his hands down Kate's arms and into her hands. He brought her left hand up to his mouth and kissed her palm.

Arlis turned and shifted into his wolf, ripping the clothes he had just put on ten minutes earlier. He dashed off through the house, where Everly held the door open.

Becker clapped his hands together and then looked Kate up and down. She was perfect.

"Don't use conjunctions. There. We're done." Everly walked into the kitchen, opening the fridge.

Kate looked like she was going to say something and then thought better of it. Becker inwardly giggled. At least one of them was smart.

"She's right. My mother didn't use conjunctions, something about her native tongue? Also, wear your hair half up and half down. Keep your morals straight, Kate. My mom wouldn't agree with what he's doing. But do still stress that you love Konrad anyways, because no matter what he did my mom loved him." That was the thing about his mother, she was always kind no matter what. She put up with a lot of shit.

Kate cleared her throat and pulled a hair tie off of her wrist, putting half of her hair in a ponytail. "I guess it is no more conjunctions for me. What if he asks me something? And I don't know the answer?"

Becker smiled. "You will. You're a werewolf Kate, you have a bond with Arlis. Even now, you can mind link him. Arlis can ask me, and then I can answer."

"Or I can mind link you directly so I don't falter." I argued.

Becker felt bad for the poor girl. She knew nothing of this world. "I'm not a werewolf. If I was still Salem right now, we might have been able to pull it off, but I'm human until further notice." Kate was going to be fine, wasn't she?

Becker nodded to himself. Konrad would be so crazed by the idea of her being back.... he wouldn't even think twice, hopefully.

Becker wanted to go back to Ireland. He wanted to drink until Constance had to tape his mouth shut. There was a lot less stress when he was doing that.

Becker smiled at Kate, who was popping her fingers nervously. "You'll be fine. He won't kill you even if he does figure you out." He tried to reassure her. He wasn't actually sure if that was true, but Becker felt like it might be. Konrad could have easily killed Kate on a multitude of different times, but never did.

"If he turns on you, shift and attack his throat so he can't speak, and then run." Everly opened a box up and took out a package of popcorn, putting it in the microwave. Such a Dawn, being rude in a werewolf's home.

"What do I do if he believes me?" Kate licked her lips.

"Sleep with him." Everly laughed. "No, kidding, don't do that. We should get a hunter's dagger, stab Arlis, give it to Kate, and then just pray she tricks him enough to get him to let his guard down enough so she can stab him."

Becker loved his cousin, he did, but some times she was just a little too rash. A little too... simple. That wouldn't work with Konrad. Kate was too weak. Not in a mean way, Becker just thought Konrad could over power her.

"If she's going you might as well." Becker hadn't heard his voice in a long time.

"Ralph." Becker turned slowly around to the guy. If Becker was Yin, Radulphus Hollingsworth was Yang.

Ralph was short, very contradictory to Becker's tall height. He had near-white curly hair that no matter what he did, sprawled out in different directions. His eyes were the shade of wet soil, or the dark chocolate Ralph ate all the time . His skin was a deep tan color from the years under the sun Ralph spent working. He always wore black robes over various colored outfits and lots of jewelry.

Ralph's brown eyes widened. "Beckerann."

"How's your sister, the only good one from your group of friends." Becker genuinely liked his sister, Mishelle. Although, the two drifted apart after Becker and Ralph had a falling out.

Ralph frowned. "Dead. Konrad killed her when she was fighting next to Corin and Anaforo."

Becker put a hand over his heart, a small gasp escaping his lips. "I'm very... sorry to hear that."

Ralph nodded. "I'm here. Reluctantly. What do you want?"

Becker side glanced at Kate. "Teleport her to Konrad."

"I don't know where he is." Ralph didn't look apologetic, but he did look mad. "Arlis filled me in on what you guys want but I'm not sure I can deliver."

"King Anaforo trained you himself. The great Runefelt helped you out. I know you can." Becker had once been very close to Ralph. Too close. He let Ralph get too close. He let himself get too close to Ralph.

Ralph hummed. "Even if I could— if this backfires I'll be second to die next to her." He pointed at Kate. "I kind of like her. Would be a shame if she were to die."

"I'm sorry I punched you." Kate whispered, making Ralph laugh.

"Oh that's alright love." Ralph took a deep breath. "Where is he?"

Everly walked over to Ralph. "I'm changing the plan a bit. Ralph, can you mind link? Like the werewolves? I heard necromancers could."

Ralph rose one eyebrow. "Not all of them. King Anaforo can. I can. My sister could." He narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"Go with Kate." Everly said.

Arlis finally came in, dressed thankfully. Judging by his face, Becker knew he had heard what they were talking about. "Konrad would know it was a trap then."

Everly scoffed at Arlis. "Not if he didn't know Ralph was there. Or if Ralph said he brought Poly up for him. Ralph, how close does Becker need to be for you to switch the powers to him?"

Ralph smiled. "I like challenges. Where is Konrad?"

"Canada." Everly was all business now. She had a couple different personalities that took her over. The fighting one, the family one, and the very serious Dawn one.

"We could take Becker with us, hide him away. Becker should be unnoticed due to him being human. As we put power in him, mine and Kate's will trump over his, we'll have stronger auras than he." Ralph smirked. "We can kill him with all three of us there."

"I don't like this." Arlis stepped in, his voice deeper than the rest of the house's. "First it was just a go in and go out problem. Now it's— a whole plan to kill him."

"It's now or never, Arlis." Everly spat. "We kill him now, or he commits genocide. It's not that hard."

Arlis looked around his house, looking for an answer he couldn't find in his head. "I want a full plan. And then I'll think about it."

"This isn't your choice. This is mine." Kate looked up at Arlis through her lashes. "And I want to do it."

Arlis had a dumbfounded expression on his face. "You're not doing it, thats final. As your mate I say no, as your husband I say no, as your Alpha... I say no."

Kate smirked but she wasn't at all happy. "As your mate I say yes, as your wife I say yes, as your Luna I say my authority is above yours. According to law books."

"I don't give a fuck about the law books. You're not going!" Hair was sprouting from the back of his neck. Becker tried to step in to intervene but Arlis growled at him. "You're not going God Damnit!" Arlis yelled again. "Don't make me lose you!"

"Lo Egin!" Arlis collapsed onto the floor. "He's asleep for an hour or two. Depending on how tired he was when I knocked him out." He looked Arlis's body up and down. "Maybe three or four for him."

Kate got onto her knees and kissed his forehead. "Beck, can you put him on the couch?"

Becker nodded his head and picked Arlis up, struggling to do so, and put him on the couch. Becker pulled a throw blanket off of the armrest and threw it over Arlis.

"He is right, we need a full plan." Kate stared at Arlis's body.

He was only worried about her. Kate overreacted. They both did, but Arlis had a reason to be that upset. Becker agreed. He didn't want Kate out doing what she's about to.

"So we'll come up with one." Everly sat down on the floor, Becker sat next to her. Soon, all four of them excluding Arlis were sitting in a circle.