Hakeem’s focus is snatched by the voice he knows he heard. “Eddie!” Hakeem calls out to the beast, tears rolling down white fur. “Eddie, it’s okay. We’re here, try to change back,” begs Hakeem. With vision blurred he can still see the pain behind those ocean blue eyes; Eddie’s eyes.
Eddie’s beast cries out, voice echoing across the land. Hakeem covers his ears from the deafening cry, eyes shutting as he braces against the force of it. He opens his eyes and turns his head only to be met with a snarling maw of sharp teeth. The beast hunches over Hakeem’s body, boxing him in. The fear that grips Hakeem’s heart is fighting with the love he holds for Eddie, the belief he would never hurt him. His hands scramble at the ground beside him, fingers grazing a leather grip.
He curls his finger around his wand and hardens his expression. Years of studying, hours of practice and endless research, he would put all of it towards ensuring Eddie comes back to him and Jackson. Hakeem raises his wand as the beast raises a claw to strike, nary a moment to act.
Before the claw strikes down, tendrils of shadow wrap around the wolf’s wrist. Hakeem squints his eyes towards their point of origin, barely making out the blurred, handsome outline of Jackson back on his feet. A shadow returns his glasses to his face as Jackson cries out, forcibly pulling the ramping beast off the ground towards him. “Just a little more, we won’t letyou hurt anyone!”
The beast scrambles midair, landing on his hind legs and pouncing towards Jackson with supernatural force. Before either man could react, the beast barrels into Jackson, throwing them both off the cliff’s edge.
“NO!” Hakeem cries out, hand outreached towards the falling figures. He scrambles to his feet, pushing through every ache and bruise. Tears break free as he collapses at the edge of the cliff, his hand still reaching out in vain, “no.”
Hakeem pounds his fist into the soil, knuckles white around the grip of the wand. This wasn’t supposed to happen. They just needed to wear Eddie’s wolf out. He would change back, they would be exhausted, but they would be safe and together. Jackson and Eddie are strong, they could probably survive things Hakeem would never dare attempt, but they were both worn out and the cliff was so steep and high up. He has to help them, get them to safety. He needs to think of a spell, of all the spells he knew there had to be at least one.
Why can’t he think of a single one?
He should know what to do. All the years of study and research. Does he truly have no way to reach them down there?
Tears stream down his cheeks, a silent sob of frustration shaking through his body. He feels his magic growing distant, body beginning to succumb to pain and exhaustion. Could he even make it back to the manor to get help? Was Eddie’s wolf even done rampaging? Was he forced to sit here and wait for the group back in the manor to regain their strength and find them?
Was he truly this powerless on his own?
All these questions burn through his mind. He wishes with all his heart he could help his boyfriends himself.
A bitter laugh escapes him through the tears. What good would a wish do him? His magic was made to serve and he couldn’t even do that alone in the woods. His legs weigh a ton, limbs limp, devoid of all strength. He is truly nothing without them.
Remember your birthright,my child.
Hakeem snaps to attention, aching neck on a swivel to locate the source of the voice. He’s alone, but he knew he heard someone speak clearly to him. Was exhaustion driving him mad? “My…birthright,” he repeats the words in a whisper, his mind scrambling for an answer hidden within them.
“You are born of a djinn, a god of magic chained into servitude.”
Lady Eloise’s words from the spring solstice ring through his mind. He has the magic of the djinn coursing through his blood, his soul free of the bindings that held his father. His turn towards the clear night sky, the stars seem to shine brighter under his gaze.
Hakeem steels his resolve, forcing his legs to right himself, willing strength to return to his grip. He scrambles a few feet back from the cliff’s edge, arm shaking as he raises his wand to the sky. He is covered in cuts, bruises and dirt, body screaming in protest to the movement. He powers through it all, gathering every drop of mana that still coursed through him. The stars seem to flicker in anticipation.
Hakeem’s lips quiver as his mind races. This has to work, this has to bring them back to him. They would be okay, they have to be. If he can’t think of a spell he’ll let instinct guide him. He brushes away tears and clenches his jaw as he channels all his magic into this one spell.
“Nyx, primordial mother of the night. As your star walking amongst the earth I beseech thee. Grant me my birthright and open the heavens to me.”
The moon seems to shine brighter in the night sky, the stars twinkling as though applauding. A spell circle of shining silver constructs itself under Hakeem’s feet. An intricate web of lines and runes etching itself into the ground on the cliff’s edge.
“I call upon you, majestic beast of the stars. Tear yourself free from the sky and spread your wings across this world.”
The circle radiates power as silver sparks spread across Hakeem’s body. He holds his arm up with his free hand, muscles threatening to give way. He whispers a wish under his breath, willing the stars to hear his heart’s prayer. “Bring them back to me.” He strikes his wand down, screaming out the last part of the incantation as his body feels torn apart by the magic.
“CYGNUS!”
The world falls silent as Hakeem collapses to his knees, steam rising from his grip around the wand, hand losing its hold, a scar burned into his palm. His breath comes in tatters as his chest heaves. His vision blurs behind his glasses, the spell circle fading from below him. His voice cracks as the tears return and the world remains silent. “Please.”
A pillar of light erupts before him. The light shoots down from the heavens towards the spot where Jackson and Eddie fell. A mighty sound echoes through the night piercing through the deafening stillness. Hakeem holds his breath as the sound reaches his ears, a glorious…honk?
The winds pick up, picking up all the loose dust and debris in the area. Hakeem braces against the wind. He turns his head to risk a peek, a soft gasp escaping him at the sight.
Over the cliff’s edge, a shining figure elegantly flaps its wings as it flies higher. A body of silvery stars, an overwhelming aura, elegant frame and strong wings rise over the edge, before landing before him. A giant swan sings a song of victory as it appears before Hakeem. His attention snaps to the figure riding the swan’s neck accompanied by a ball of shadows.
Jackson is covered in dirt and leaves, body and face littered with cuts and bruises slowly healing. He winks and offers a rakish grin, “Hello, my love. Thanks for the lift.” Jackson slides off the celestial bird’s wing, the ball of shadows close by. The shadows disperse, uncovering the limp form of a white furred werewolf.
The swan unfurls its wings, a glorious cry ringing through the air. Its silvery eyes meet Hakeem’s, he swears it offers a bow of its head before it flies up towards the starry sky, disappearing in a flash of light.
