"Ash, Will! They're here!" Arsenic runs into our room yelling, their hands shaking violently. I go over and wrap my wings around them as Will gets up from the desk. I open my wings slightly as he comes over so he can see them.
"Who's here?" He asks them quietly. They shake their head and bury their face deeper into my chest. They clutch my shirt, their wings shaking violently behind them, almost hitting Will in the face.
"Polly and Tucker," they say, muffled by my shirt. Kaiser and Cocoa run in not even a minute after. Cocoa looks scared for life and she grips into Kaiser's hand like a lifeline. I wrap my tail around them and pull them closer to me.
"We need to get all the kids in the basement. We'll have a few of the older people stay with them," Kaiser says rapidly. I nod and lead Arsenic to the basement. Them, Ink, and Caramel sit next to Cocoa's kids. I kiss Arsenic on the forehead.
"Be careful," they tell me. I nod and give them one last hug before walking out. A few of the older couples are walking into the basement with some of the younger kids. A baby starts wailing when they're passed from their dad's arms to an older couple's.
I walk past quickly and back to the living room where people are getting ready. When I walk in almost everyone stops and stares. Will walks over to me and takes my hand in his. Kaiser walks into the middle of the room and claps a couple of times to gain everyone's attention.
Once they all look over at her she starts giving instructions but I can't focus. The sounds of the battle outside are muffled by the walls but still loud enough for us to hear. I cover my ears only to have Will uncover them after.
"It's going to be okay. We're all going to be okay," he whispers to me. I nod and listen to Kaiser give out the instructions. She walks over to me and Will. She smiles at us, which makes me awkwardly smile back and wonder what the hell she has planned.
"We are going to use them as bait, " she says authoritatively. I look at her with wide eyes and squeeze Will's hand. I hear some of the people outside fighting. I reach down and make sure my sword is by my side, sighing in relief when my hand meets the hilt.
"Okay, so how and what are we doing?" I ask her. She starts to explain and I have to admit, even though it puts me and Will in danger, it's a really good plan. She gets done and goes back to the center of the people and gives them their instructions.
"You ready?" Will whispers to me. I listen to the fighting noises outside and hear the screaming. I wince slightly and grip onto Will tighter than before. I shake my head, trying and failing to get the noises out of my head, and look over at him.
"Ready as I can be," I say shrugging. He wraps his arms around my waist and rests his head on my shoulder. We wait until Kaiser is done with the instructions before walking back to the basement one last time. Kaiser and Cocoa are right behind us.
Two guards stand at the door and let us in when they see who we are. I gawk at the amount of children and older people that are sitting there. I look around and try to find Arsenic and Cocoa's kids. I point to them and we make our way through the kids.
"Ash? Why are you back?" Arsenic asks. I go over to them and hug them tightly to my chest. Will joins in on the hug and I kneel down in front of them. I put my hand on their shoulder. They look at me with pure panic in their eyes.
"We want to say that it's going to be okay. No matter what, you are going to do amazing in life and we love you so much Arsenic, don't forget that," I tell them. I kiss them on the forehead as tears start streaming down their face. Will wipes the tears from their face.
"Dad, I don't want you to go. I don't want pops to go either," they say quietly. I'm shocked by the fact that they called me dad but I quickly get over it. I ruffle their hair and give them a wobble smile. Will sits down in front of them.
"We have to. We will be back. We love you Arsenic, we love you so much," Will says, his voice cracking. They pick up on it and let go of us. I hug them one last time and kiss their forehead. Their state once again reminds me that they are still a child, no matter how much they've already been through in their life.
"I love you Dad. I love you Pops. Be safe please, " they whisper. We nod and walk out of the room. Kaiser and Cocoa are waiting at the door, remnants of years still on Cocoa's face. Kaiser holds her hand and talks to her softly as we walk back to the living room.
I look outside one of the windows and see the fire that is flying through the lawn, hitting bodies and setting wings on fire. I realize that I can't summon fire and I don't know my real powers. I lean my forehead against the cool glass of the window.
"What's wrong love?" Will asks as he wraps his arms around my waist. I lean back into his touch and sigh. Tears prick my eyes as I look back out at all the people fighting outside, realizing that I can't help the way that they can.
"I can't summon fire and I have absolutely no clue what my powers are. I hate having to rely on people to do everything for me," I whisper quietly. He nuzzles my neck with his nose and sighs.
"But you do so much more for everyone. And you can use a rapier to kill which is way more efficient. You do help, just in your own way," he says soothingly. I nod and grab his hand, holding it near my chest.
"I'll help you with the fire and your powers when we get back, I promise," he says. I smile at him and quickly peck him on the lips. We both look outside as we wait for Kaiser to give the word for everyone to start. I grip his hand tighter and breath out.
Here goes nothing.