Seth and Sebastian Poll Story
The Twins
The Lockwood house had changed through the years. I walked down one of the first hallways Titus created, not knowing then he was being watched. He’d assumed the fire destroyed my soul, the same way it had all the others, but I’d been touched by magic before it changed Marren Vale. Even though I no longer lived my soul was still connected with Anne’s, and there was much more I’d learnt in the years since. Unfortunately the soulbond had become a necessity, although I still had doubts it was originally - we just didn’t have the time to experiment, something I could have done after the fire, had it not been for the bond getting the better of Titus.
Family Conversations
Seth paced. “Do we trust him?
It was the same question he’d already asked multiple times. “Julian was being truthful.” He looked at me. “Seth, I don’t know whether we should trust him, but it helps he didn’t lie to us, even about his feelings for Mama. From what I could tell he’d made the choice to talk to us for the right reasons.”
People Change
Until both Seth and Sebastian walked into the greenhouse at the Gardens I didn’t know for certain if they’d make the same decision. Sebastian I imagined having a more in depth conversation with, but Seth was more complicated. Even though he had a lot of conflicted feelings when it came to Titus that didn’t mean he’d be willing to work against him. It technically wasn’t exactly my plan, not if what I thought possible actually happened, because I understood Titus better than I did Anne. We’d actually been friends, so I believed I knew the choices he’d make when it came to her.
Father and Son
Even though we technically didn’t need to sleep it was easier to rest at night. Fortunately we had separate rooms, Mama making the decision in our first life it was best for us, otherwise our lives would be too intertwined. Being twins was complicated enough without people forcing us together at all times. I moved silently, because sometimes Seth still knew when I was up to something, but today I wanted to be alone, for a conversation I wasn’t even certain I could have. That depended on whether Papa had Seen it.
Childhood Redux
What I’d always done was choose a family the Lockwoods were close to, so we’d visit them while Anne was still a baby, to begin building our relationship. This time was no different. She was a Darkholme, blonde like Cornelius once was, because Ingrid’s son had been surprisingly strong in comparison to his mother, inheriting his grandfather’s power instead. Due to that they’d managed to keep their seat on the Council, something I’d thought wasn’t going to be possible. From there it passed from one son to the next, until the birth of Anne, a daughter far stronger than anyone else in the family, so they knew for certain they wanted her to be the wife of the next Lockwood. It didn’t matter she was only months old.
Unexpected Magic
Titus was normally predictable. Learning he’d told the twins something he hadn’t been able to share with me… something had changed. Exactly what was likely another of the many things I couldn’t know. I studied my husband, his emotional control not quite where it normally was, but then that was understandable. His relationship with our sons had been distant, due to choices he made, so them actually being able to build something new was an unexpected happiness for both of us.
Shared Dreams
Anne’s tiredness wrapped around me, and I felt arms gently lift me, it could only have been Emory, as I drifted into sleep myself. Having such a young body was always the same, but this time I found myself drawn into her dream. She lay beneath me, eyes on mine, hers shimmering with a love I never thought she could feel, until she forced me to accept it, that moment one I knew she still felt guilty about. Gently, I stroked the hair off her face, able to change the dream in a way I probably shouldn’t.
A Foolish Choice
Titus fell silent. I heard him breathing, the bond stronger than it had been before, which I believed was due to me knowing it existed. Of course that complicated removing it, if he made the decision he wanted to be free. As I waited, eyes on the ceiling above me, I couldn’t work out which option I’d prefer he chose. He’d given up too much for me already, but loosing him… I’d accept the pain for him.
Titus
Unlike Anne Titus couldn’t see me straight away. He wasn’t a soul mage. I used the power of the Lockwood house to make it easier, waiting for his reaction, because that would tell me whether Anne had actually taken his memories or not. Fortunately, maybe, there was a flicker of relief in his eyes when he noticed me, and then he toddled over, eyes not leaving mine.
Titus (AU)
Unlike Anne Titus couldn’t see me straight away. He wasn’t a soul mage. I used the power of the Lockwood house to make it easier, waiting for his reaction, because that would tell me whether Anne had actually taken his memories or not. For a long time I stood in the corner of the room, watching as Titus actually behaved the way a toddler would, and that… I closed my eyes. Seeing what she’d done wasn’t something I particularly wanted to do, but I needed to, for Anne. Without Titus she was alone.