Sloan's POV

I sit on the rock at our usual spot after school, grateful it's finally Friday. I wait patiently for Cody to appear, a little surprised when I had read his text for me specifically to meet him here.

Honestly it means a lot that he's willing to spend time with me at all. After hopping down, I'm looking out over the lake when I finally hear Cody's light running steps flashing through the trees, the stunning Omega growing faster by the day, I swear. I turn towards the woods just in time to see Cody break through the tree line, a beautiful smile painted along his lips, glasses slightly askew from the run.

He stops a few feet away, barely panting as he takes off his bookbag and reaches for me, red racing up my neck and cheeks as I breathe him in, honey and daisies engulfing me.

"Hi, Sloan. Thanks for meeting me here." He tells me, always polite and I have to resist the urge to laugh.

"Baby boy, you don't have to thank me for something so simple. Fuck, you're adorable." I praise him, swooning mentally over how sweet and loving Cody is, always looking out for everyone else. He smiles at me before he breaks away, his clear excitement uncontainable as it breaks free in his little jumps of glee as he finally explodes with whatever it is he wanted to meet for.

"Okay, well, when I switched with Jessie the other day, I did give you guys the privacy you deserve. But after we switched back, he would still think about the conversation and feelings you shared and I got to thinking. Even though it might be rare, this can't be the first time this has happened. Some other wolf has had to want to have their own identity, their own physical representation for who they are in their soul. So I asked Taylor, who didn't know anything Faerie wise, but Enza did. Apparently he's heard of some Witch who's name is circling around school and in Vilin that he's sure is able to help. He was able to track her down and set up a meeting in Revelia. We can do this. For you and Jessie." He tells me, sincerity and joy in his eyes and all I can feel is shock.

A dream I've had since I understood there were truly two of us. When I realized the things we did and how we look effect each other.

One I thought was impossible.

Somehow this boy has done something I couldn't have dared been possible in a million years.

'Maybe you were so sure you couldn't, and I was scared you could, that we never really tried.' James admits quietly and I can tell there's shame there that he's still struggling with.

'True, but we're past that now. So stop being an idiot and just be here with me.' I tell him before refocusing on an almost vibrating Cody.

I gather his hands in mine and meet his eyes with love filled in my own. "Thank you so much for doing this for me. You have no idea how much this means." I admit and it's his turn to blush, his ears to his neck is red, earning a smirk from me. "So easily flustered. How dirty your thoughts must be." I tease, loving how easy it is. He gasps, then huffs, stopping his bouncing to stomp in protest, his dusted blush changing into an imitation stop sign causing me to laugh.

"They're not dirty, you are. Anyway let's get going before we're late. We're meeting at the Witch Market- so if we run, we can be there in a little over two hours." He tells me and I groan.

"I'm glad we have the magic and speed we do, but it's hard to believe that with all this mana and knowledge around we conveniently haven't figured out a spell for teleporting." I complain, wishing I had angel wings as  Cody gathers his bag, mine already in the Pack House.

"I don't know. I'm still not convinced we haven't. I would bet for some reason, it's deemed a Forbidden Magic. Probably because Satan is sealed in Hell, another dimension, which can only be accessed, beyond a Divine God, by a witch portal." He reasons with a shrug as if it's that simple. And once I think about it, it sort of is.

"Huh." Is all I say, Cody always a surprise when it comes to the random knowledge he's acquired.

We double check for our things before handing off, the early summer sun staying high in the sky, not setting until after eight, giving us plenty of time to get there and head back, shielding up within the walls of Vollmond before dark. While we haven't heard any more upsetting violence or crime within the pack these past few weeks, I did get a report this morning from Zee that a Faerie Apprentice and Young Lord were attacked in the streets.

'Wait. Wasn't it House of Earth that the two belonged to?' James asks.

'Uh, yeah. And it was Commander Elvyn Lake, House of Water that saved them, why?' I ask, weary of his curiosity.

And his answers tell me I should be. 'I don't want to ruin your day, so we can talk to Cody and everyone about it tomorrow, but if you ever paid attention to people's positions, you would have remembered that Chelsea is Apprentice to House of Water and Taylor, Cody's friend, is the High Lords younger brother.' James informs me and I vaguely remember these details, though James is right I tend to pay attention to the person rather than any position they hold. One of the reasons I'm not cut out for the political aspect of things.

I agree and plan to bring it up tomorrow, wanting instead, to enjoy the day and the amazing opportunity Cody has granted me.

We of course take Silk Road, the long road going almost two miles wide between Vilin and the Pleasure District, creating a road and no man's land from Vollmond straight to the capital. We arrive at the Capital and I thank Celeste when I see that this time the line at the gate isn't long, Cody and I inside the Capital within minutes. Getting through the Market and then the residential area of the Capital is the most annoying but also most scenic.

Where we are now though, we find ourselves surrounded by sky high apartment buildings, some of them housing as many as four hundred people. There's an unease to the air. Like the other foot could fall at any moment, though I'm not sure when the first ever did. The five by seven square miles of land covered in dirty, grey, overpacked apartment complexes, while Angels and Faeries rule the world. I'm relieved when we finally break out of the neighborhood, walking through a huge park before finding the road towards Revelia.

There's a few guards that double check our IDs before we're outside of Capital borders, the road getting smaller and smaller, the two of us alone in the middle of Witch territory. Unlike the Capital with its magic barrier, and Vilin with its anti-mana metal, Revelia's borders aren't so clear.

One of the reasons it's best to stay clear unless you want to be arrested and tried in Revelia.

Something I've heard you want to avoid.

Cody reaches for his phone, and using the address and instructions Enza provided, guides us deeper into the thickening woods. As we head deeper into the forrest, I start noticing houses, buildings and walk ways built into and around the nature, not disturbing anything around them. It's shocking to me, Divine Extremist love to declare that Faeries have the best bond with the world and natural mana, but the connection and respect that Witches and Warlocks have for their practice and gift.

It leaves me in awe as we finally arrive at the Market, shops set up on either side of the narrow streets, sexy men and women in revealing clothes calling out to us as we pass them.

'Don't forget. Warlocks and Witches are infamous in their rejection of Soulmates. Most people here are polyamorous.' James reminds me, a concept as a wolf, I've never been able to wrap my head around.

Cody's brain also seems to be processing all that's around us, but I can tell he's on a mission. And less than two minutes later it's complete, the two of us stopped in front of a purple tent, the outside small, but I cast aside my doubt as Cody has me turn towards him. "I know that this is my idea, but you deserve to have this moment with Jessie. I'm happy I got to bring you here, and I can't wait to meet you, the real you." He says before closing his eyes and allowing his wolf, the second love of my life, to come forward.

When his eyes are opened, they're black, the only indication that there's anyone else standing before me.

But all of that is about to change.

'Good luck, Sloan.  I'm going to step back, too. This is for you.' James tells me softly before fading away, leaving only Jessie and I standing before each other in an impossible situation.

"Hi." Is all I can say with a slightly crazy laugh, and Jessie echos it, his head shaking in disbelief as he looks around, taking in the new sights and smells for himself.

"Hi." Is all he says for a me or my before shaking his head once more and meeting my eyes. "Can you believe we're doing this?" He asks me, and I can tell he's just as nervous as I am. I squeeze the hands that are still in mine, my eyes welling with tears for how massive this moment is. I shake my head in response unable to find words. "You ready?" He asks me and I take a deep breath before nodding, allowing Jessie to take the lead, one of his hands securely in mine as we enter the huge tent, the spatial magic allowing what looks like almost five hundred square feet of space in the middle of the market. There's an area with a mini cauldron, and a wall full of exotic ingredients, a fire always kindling under the adorable pot, some of the ingredients gathered next to it, pillows on the ground around it. To the left there's an area with chairs, one of them attached to a table where we find a Witch sitting, going over some papers.

The Witch is olive skinned, with dark hair and vibrant purple eyes, trademark Nightly tail with the typical Daemon arrow at the end flicking by her ankles as she looks up. Her smile is charming, and she stands up to greet us introducing herself first which puts me at ease.

"Hi! You must be Sloan and Jessie, I've heard all about you. My name is Makayla, it's so good to meet you. I apologize for not meeting you sooner, I had to set up before all the spots were closed at the Market. I heard you guys wanted to have your appearances change as your conscious state does?" She asks, and I nod, grateful all the details are handled. "Okay, well first let's sit here. I'm going to cast a creative spell on you and a pencil and have you guys draw how you see yourselves.  While you do that, why don't we get to know each other? Is there anything else I can help you unlock?" She asks and I shake my head, but Jessie speaks up as she leads us towards the chairs.

We both sit down as she pulls everything out and sets the tools in our lap.

I shake my head, but Jessie speaks up as she pulls out her wand, blessing both Jessie and I with her mana. I feel a floodgate open up within my mind, my hand immediately going to move on the paper as I think about the way I see myself. The way I want Cody and Jessie to see me.

"Actually, Cody and I have been trying to unlock our Omega abilities. I'm told they try manifest around eighteen. I was wondering if there was any way that you could, i don't know, jump start them?" Jessie asks as his own hand flies across the paper. I think to look, but then decide against it wanting this vulnerable special moment to be our own to control and reveal.

Makayla answers him eagerly as I focus on the drawing, a part of me seeming to heal as I bring what almost feels like a memory to life.

"While it's something I haven't done myself, it's actually a common practice. During the Daemon Wars, Witches and Warlocks were often use to help unlock mana welders latent powers and abilities so they could help serve the war. I'm sure while your guys are doing that, I can find a spell or potion for it." She shares before standing up, heading towards another wall that's covered from ceiling to floor with age old books I couldn't read even if I wanted to.

Finally after what seems like eternity and all at once not enough, I finish my drawing, awe consuming me as I stare at myself. The me that hasn't been perceived or acknowledged once.

I'm so lost in the picture that it startled me half to death when the Witch returns, just as Jessie finishes his own picture, the results tilts away from me, though the light dusting of blush along his cheeks tells me he saw himself too.

"Awesome, it looks like you guys are done. Let me get those, and I will start working on the ink I need for this rune." She says before heading towards the mini cauldron and a book with a million bookmarks. She immediately gets to work, only stopping to ask for some hair from the two of us, the Witch mixes them into separate beakers, one meant for each of us.

She then takes the picture and inscribes a few runes before folding it and placing it in the beaker, the paper dissolving almost instantly into the liquid.

I watch as she finishes adding the things she needs before pouring a small amount into two small bowls, two Rune Markers waiting at the long table covered with herbs and unfinished books.

"Okay, both of you hold our your right arm and I will apply the Rune to Jessie first and then Sloan. It will burn at first, but once it is healed, you'll be able to access your own personal form as well as your humans as easily as you can in your mind. Are you ready?" She asks and Jessie and I turn to each other, worry, excitement and impatience spread along our faces.

"I love you." I suddenly tell Jessie, unprompted, but sorely needed, at least for me.

Those with his answering smile I can tell he did, too. "I love you, too. Now let's do this."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What do you guys think?! I made it canon that James and Cody can basically shapeshifter thanks to a controlled shapeshifting spell that allows Jessie and Sloan to have a body of their own that represents who and what they are.

Thoughts?

Comments?

QOTD: Favorite one piece character?