Of Heroes and Villainy

It took some time to get together the items they would need for the spell James was going to do. Walt didn't go home again until the small spring break, which led to no real answers for either of them. Wilhelm was, of course, angry that the potion hadn't gotten into Kageo. Kageo had doctored the memory to show Walt doing what he was ordered to do, but they could only guess either Kageo didn't drink it or he was more powerful with blood magic than Wilhelm knew, and that seemed to make the man anxious.

It had been crucial to Walt to mask his feelings surrounding Wilhelm and his actions while playing the perfect toady in order to get close enough to liberate the man's favorite pen. Kageo used his time at home to get the items he could gather up, and to look into some of the laws that were pushed through not long after the Blackwoods were killed. Darius had been right that Wilhelm had pushed through the law to make memories gained from psychic magic inadmissible as evidence.

Of course, that really only saved Wilhelm from legal proceedings. It did not make him immune to consequences of the public finding out what he had done. Kageo was weighing that in his mind as the spring break came to an end. Public opinion could sway things, but he'd have to do it in a smart way, and with all of the information.

They set it up that they would meet with James the weekend after they came back to school. There was a small road block in their way though. The Sullivan family generally kept up heavy surveillance of their land to keep people off of it since the murder of the Blackwoods. So far, the Sullivans had refused James' attempts to get permission, and that left them trying to figure out what to do.

They knew that the Sullivans, at least, didn't seem to support Wilhelm's ideas about the Blackwoods. When Walt had finally gotten to the library and remembered the book Stella had told him to look into, he found a diary from Stefan Sullivan, who was her date's dad, that detailed things around the time the Blackwoods were murdered. He had been furious that they were killed on his land at all. He had told them about the opening to the Underground there, and had promised the safe passage as long as they were on his land. He had thrown a fit at the Council over it, demanding compensation, at the very least, for the area that now would be useless for keeping cattle and other animals, as well as the bridge being tainted with dark energy.

It didn't much change Walt's opinion of Stella's date, but it did make it clear that the family had been more friendly to the Blackwoods before their death. Even if they weren't friends, they were at least

friendly

before it happened. According to the journal, Stefan steered far away from the Council and Wilhelm after, saying, "

He has a dark, wild look in his eyes. I do not believe the man is as sane as he would like to portray.

"

Kageo was watching Stella's date as he made his way over to sit at the table with her and her posse. Eventually he took a breath and turned to look at Walt. "I don't think we can get around it, love. He's their eldest son, and could hold a lot of sway with his parents. We need to get on that land to do the spell. It's the best choice and has the most energy for this."

Walt glared at him while addressing the table at large. "Stella's Date. Come sit over here," he commanded.

Stella's date stared at him in surprise for a moment, turning to look at Stella before he got up from his seat and came down to sit next to Walt's group hesitantly. Kageo was biting his lip to keep himself from smirking at Walt. Stella's date cleared his throat before saying, "Is there something I can help you with?"

Walt waved for Kageo to fill him in, shifting his glare to the offending party as soon as he had sat down. The man looked a little uneasy under Walt's stare, but Kageo ignored that and went into his explanation of what they needed.

"You're why James Cabot asked my parents to go onto the land?" he asked once Kageo was done.

Kageo nodded his head. "You can't really cleanse an area of that kind of event, so it holds a lot of power for seeing what happened."

"I know," the man replied with a shake of his head. "My parents have tried to cleanse it as best they could but mostly we don't use that area much anymore. They won't even let council members on it without paperwork filled out to force them. Do you really think whatever you might see will help you? Do you even want to see your parents die like that?"

Kageo's eyes took on a darker look to them, though Walt wasn't sure how that was possible. "I've already seen it, so it won't be something I've never experienced before. If it leads to answers, though, I'll deal."

The eldest Sullivan looked sympathetic then before he looked back over at Walt. "Just promise me one thing if I agree to this and talk my parents into it."

Walt felt Kageo staring at him and looked over at his love. "He's talking to me isn't he?" he asked, annoyed.

Kageo couldn't help the chuckle that bubbled up as he nodded his head. "Yes, he is."

"Can you get him to stop?" Walt continued.

"Not if we want to be able to do this, no," Kageo replied while Stella's date barely held back the eye roll he wanted to show. He looked unamused as he watched them though, which was a contrast to the grins on Elliot and Yami's faces while they watched Walt deal with this.

Walt suppressed the urge to vomit and addressed the Sullivan lad without looking directly at him, "What is your bribe?"

"I don't want any of this coming back on my parents or siblings," the man told Walt, knowing that if anyone in this group had the ability to do that, it would be him. "So you can go and do your spell, and find out what you want to, but you make sure my family isn't part of this. If anyone gets a whiff that you went there, you claim you did it against their will, or something. I don't really care how you do it, I just want them safe."

Walt met his eye and stuck his hand out. "You have my most solemn vow on that, Sullivan," he said with the utmost sincerity.

Sullivan shook hands with him and then said, "Consider it done then."

It didn't take long for James to let them know that they had permission to do it, but it needed to be done at night. So they took the trip into the city early on a Saturday, taking their time to bring what they needed and get there. They ate dinner with the Cabots, and then once night had taken over the entire area and James had led them outside with the bags that held what they needed for the spell, they saw the lights around the bridge and the barn go out.

"That's our cue," James told them.

He led them across the property and towards the bridge. The closer they got to where the murder happened, the more they could feel a chill in the air. It was like the temperature dropped at least ten degrees in an instant, and it felt darker and more foreboding here. Kageo couldn't stop the shiver that went through his body at the feeling of it.

Once they got to the bridge, James had them bring out the items they had brought with them and each stand around in a circle. He drew a circle around them with what looked like chalk of some type, including sigils around it once the original circle was closed. He continued his sigil drawing around each person, connecting them to the spell and to the items they had brought. The sigils around himself and Elliot were different, because their family was on the sidelines.

Once the sigils had begun glowing softly, James stepped back into his spot and looked around at them. "I know how this works when you aren't this emotionally connected to the events you'll be seeing, but I'm not sure if you'll experience it differently because it relates directly to you and your families.

"What the spell should do is let you be a spectator. You may be able to see each other, but it doesn't always happen. I will be using the items you've brought to shift us from scene to scene. It might not be the smoothest transition though."

He asked them each to explain what they had brought with them. Yami had a necklace that her mom had always worn, and had even been wearing the night she died. Adiran had cleaned the blood from it and kept it for her for later. Kageo had brought a few items, from his father's dagger that went with him everywhere, to a few of the journals he had been writing in when everything was going down, and finally a vial of blood that came from Colton Blackwood. He had saved it just in case someone would need it later, likely for blood magic.

Walt explained that Wilhelm carried this pen with him pretty much all the time. He did not say that he had seen some pretty horrific memories attached to the thing, but Kageo had sensed it even hidden away inside a pocket dimension that Walt had made to keep it safe in.

Finally, Elliot had their dad's gavel that he had used for decades now, even before he officially became a judge. It had been his goal so he bought it and kept it in his office as he worked towards it. He had brought it just in case their dad came up in any of the memories. James gave a nod of his head once everyone was done, and the glow of the circle around them became brighter.

"Alright, my friends," James told them. "See you all on the other side."

As he lifted his hands to start their journey, they could see the grounds around them moving around, as if shifting through night and day, from season to season, across years. Their place in the circle didn't change but they knew something was happening because of everything outside of the circle. The whole circle was filled with a bright light and when it faded, the scene had changed completely. James was using the timeline they knew from his dad, as well as what Kageo had worked out, to shift them through time, going to the earliest memory to help them follow the story.

The first memory they emerged in was inside Wilhelm's office. Yami, Elliot, and James could all see each other, but Walt and Kageo were nowhere to be seen. Yami looked a little worried but James shook his head to say they were fine. He could still feel them connected to the scene, so he wasn't worried about them right then. If he had to make a guess, he thought it was likely Walt and Kageo were seeing things from their fathers' points of view, which could actually be helpful for them. And he was right, but he wouldn't know that until later.

Wilhelm was sitting at his desk, twirling his pen in his hand when Colton came in with two cups of strong coffee. He shut the door behind him and came over to put Wilhelm's in front of him before he sat down in one of the chairs across from him. "You know, it would be okay for you to take some time away from the Council after such an attack," Colton told him. "No one would blame you for it."

Wilhelm uncharacteristically ignored his coffee completely while continuing to stare into the middle-distance. This silence was also quite unlike him. Wilhelm had famously been very vocal about pretty much everything, prone to running off at the mouth sometimes before his mind was fully engaged in the discussion. Now he was scarily quiet. After what felt like a long time, Wilhelm focused his gaze on Colton.

"I can't afford to take any time away. This proves that our enemies are much more dangerous than we imagined. This requires immediate and decisive action. I will never allow my family to come under fire again," Wilhelm swore, his eyes glowing briefly in an eerie green light.

Colton took a long sip of his coffee as he stared at Wilhelm for a moment. He took his time to put his cup down on the desk before he asked, "What kind of immediate and decisive action are we talking about? If I can help keep your family safe, you know I'm behind you."

Wilhelm had taken on a disturbing countenance. "We have to secure the government, make sure that the Council is made up of loyalists, and convene a special tribunal to look into the attacks. Pettmont and Ewing were also attacked, you know. Sullivan narrowly avoided a confrontation earlier this week on his way to his country estate. These people must be stopped!" Wilhelm said, that last sentence rising to a near shout.

Colton could feel a coldness settle over his body at that. He had never seen his friend like this before. It was chilling to see, and he didn't know how to pull his friend back from the edge. It took him a moment to figure out how to respond, because his feelings were conflicted right then. "I agree that a tribunal to look into it is important, and pushing forward nominations for the council will matter as well, but there's only so much pushing for loyalists that we can do before it becomes treason, Wil."

The crazed look that entered Wilhelm's eyes was terrifying. Even moreso, however, was the absolutely bone-chilling tone of deadly calm in his voice when he said, "Colton Blackwood, are you accusing me of treason?

Me

?!? After what I just experienced? No, it's not treason to ensure that our government is as stable as it can be. It's in the best interest of the people."

"I'm not, Wil," Colton replied while bringing his hands up in a placating gesture. "I just want you to be careful. I also want the council to be as stable and suitable as possible, which is why I've been going with Yuna to the middle class and working poor areas to speak to people. Honestly, some of the danger may go down if the Council has newer blood in it."

Wilhelm seemed to attempt to gather himself with an effort. "It's dangerous to give power too strongly to the working class. They tend to be far too short-sighted, as they've proven time and again over the past century, and they are only concerned with their own interests," Wilhelm said, more arrogant than Colton had ever heard him.

That statement annoyed Colton, because he had been more closely dealing with those same people Wilhelm was talking down about than anyone on the Council ever had. He knew their motives and the things they yearned for. Colton straightened up, bringing his chin up slightly as he looked Wilhelm in the eye. "Actually, if anyone tends to be short sighted and only focused on their own interests, I'd say it was the nobility. We work on keeping the poor in poverty, and advancing only the things that benefit us. The attack on your family only happened because someone with money and power got greedy about it."

Wilhelm straightened up himself, rage creeping into his face. "Are you insinuating that we brought this attack on ourselves, Blackwood?!?"

Colton's own eyes flashed with anger. "You know me better than that, Wilhelm. What I'm saying is that it was likely connected to a noble family and not the poor. The poor don't even have the ability to acquire guns or money to have paid for all of that."

Wilhelm was not to be mollified so easily, unfortunately. "Clearly I am aware that these attacks were orchestrated by someone of means,

Colton

," the derision in Wilhelm's voice when saying Colton's name stung like a slap in the face. "Which is why we need to ensure that the Council members are loyal to our government. Now is not the time to introduce wild cards by inviting the working class into politics. Frankly, I need to see to some things. Shall we speak again later?"

Colton couldn't help the growing dread from bubbling up in his stomach, but he masked it from Wilhelm's view. He slowly nodded his head in response and got up, grabbing his coffee before he left the room. Once he got to the bathroom, he dumped his coffee and threw out the cup, feeling too sick to stomach anymore to drink it.

James concentrated on the memories connected to Colton and Wilhelm as he shifted them to the next vision. Colton sat on a bench in his backyard, watching as his two kids ran around the backyard. Yuna was corralling them, keeping them close to the playground they had built at their home in the Capital when Kageo was still unable to walk.

He turned his head away from his family only when Duke Anderson made his way from the walkway leading into the backyard toward him. Colton gave a nod of his head and then looked back over where the kids were playing while Anderson sat down next to him on the bench.

"Things have been tense of late," Anderson commented when Colton didn't say anything.

Colton nodded his head at that. "Truth be told, I'm not even sure what I did other than disagree with Wil. He's acting like I'm becoming his enemy though. I've always loved him like another brother. It's the type of friendship that I always thought life couldn't be complete without. I don't recognize him though."

"He's putting quite a few big moves on making sure the people he's chosen will get elected," Anderson replied. "Plus they're talking some fairly extreme measures against people who are against the regime. Torture, death penalties."

Colton let out a bitter laugh, not quite believing what he was hearing despite having heard these whispers himself. "I don't believe Wilhelm can do this and come out himself. He'll be destroying himself in the process. These plans, these ideas, they're a poison inside of him."

"Right, but how do we stop it?" Anderson asked.

Colton shook his head. "I have no idea. I've put in my nominations for council seats but I can't see what good I can do right now while Whitmore is raging like this. I think the best option for me right now is to take Yuna and go back to Vailmont. I'll stay on the periphery of the Council, but give up my council seat. For now, that's the best option. I need to keep my family safe."

"Very well," Anderson agreed. "I'll keep you updated about what is going on from here. Will you continue your searches into the lower classes?"

"Yes," Colton replied. "I'll keep doing what feels right, just not from here. Hopefully that will cool some of the anger in my friend's heart. I can only hope that once it cools, he will want to speak with level heads."

As Colton looked out at where his children were, he felt a pang in his heart though. Kageo and Walt were always so sweet with each other. Kageo had always been such a shy child, but he would follow Walt anywhere with just a word. He'd never seen those adorable shy smiles on Kageo's face before until he met Walt. It killed him to take his son away from his friend, but he had no choice. He only hoped it wouldn't be permanent.

James waited until their talk turned to other things, and then shifted to the next memory. He seemed to be leafing through memories, through times of long ago, feeling what pulled him into it. The magic knew what he was looking for and he followed it. The next scene that appeared was Wilhelm in his office, looking agitated and anxious. He was looking down at the paperwork that Colton and Yuna Blackwood had both handed in to resign their Council seats and ask to work elsewhere for the council's needs but no longer as council members.

Wilhelm tapped his pen against the pages, formulating thoughts that he did not like. He was interrupted by a knock on his door followed immediately by the door opening enough to allow Pettmont's bulk to pass through. Whitmore shoved the papers across his desk when Pettmont had seated himself on the other side.

"It appears our concerns about the Blackwoods attempting to begin a grassroots movement may have been founded after all," the Baron said once he was finished reading. "They were reportedly meeting with Anderson as well at their Capital Estate, practically flaunting their association under our very noses."

Wilhelm grimaced but nodded his agreement. "Ewing is also going to be a problem. He's not exactly going about things the way the others are, but his resignation from the Council came yesterday. He's been meeting with Anderson as well, though reports from that sector claim there was shouting," he informed Pettmont.

Pettmont shook his head, his jowls swaying back and forth with the movement. "Whatever it means, it cannot be good, Lord Whitmore. We should consider making... arrangements," he suggested cryptically.