Cain stood in a front of a tree, glaring at it. He shouldn't have had a particular reason to. The tree itself was an old willow, but still very much alive and healthy.
"Cain, cut it out. You'll make the other trees mad." Alexis stretched, looking at the moon over the forest cover.
It was nearly midnight. Cain had insisted that they stay up and that they stay near that particular tree.
That's all he said.
"What did that tree ever do to you, man?"
He glanced up at the sky, then kicked the base of the tree like a child having a soft tantrum.
"Wow. Spectacular." Markus drawled.
Cain shook his head, turning back at them when he fell immediately unconscious.
When he opened his eyes, he was standing in an office with the others. They looked around in mild confusion, not quite knowing what happened.
"Hi, sorry I'm late. Some douche kicked my tree," A tall, handsome man with pointed ears slipped inside. His dark hair was shiny and combed back neatly, his smile disarming.
Cain threw a book at him.
"Nice to see you again, Cain. I see you found new friends." He smiled coyly, taking a seat behind the desk. "Oh, hold on."
He snapped his fingers. Instantly, they were made aware of where they were a minute ago and how they ended up here.
"Where the hell are we?"
"You're in my personal realm, young lady. You never would've guessed if I hadn't told you," he winked. "Damien, at your service."
Alexis exchanged a slightly disgusted look with Markus.
"Personal realm?"
He chuckled softly. "Indeed. For example," he snapped his fingers, looking at Cain. The warlock's clothes were replaced by ones that were considerably more feminine.
"Just turned him into a her."
"No you didn't." Cain said, hand on his hip, then started as he heard his own voice.
"Yo." Alexis breathed.
"True, I didn't. But I can revert you back to any state you were in previously. That's my thing."
"At what point where you in a skirt?" Markus tilted his head as he examined his outfit.
"Oh, that's a great story-"
"One we don't have time for." Cain leaned across the desk, his high heels making him tower over Damien.
"You were much more fun when you were a kid. But at least you grew into your ears now. And your eyes and your nose and your teeth."
"What the hell kind of face did you have, Cain?"
He ignored her as usual. "Damien. You know why I'm here."
Damien sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Elin, like our darling Risa, is half-fae. You don't give a fae your real name," he raised an eyebrow as they fidgeted. "Relax. Your identities seem pathetic and boring and I want no part of it. But you-" he pointed at Cain with a slender finger. "You gave Elin your real name, ergo, Elin already knows you're here.
"Sorry, darling. If Elin wanted to be found, you'd have done so by now."
Cain shook his head, his jaw clenched tightly. "No. That's not it."
"What can I say? You're not as much of a catch as you think you are."
"You know what, Damien? Suck my-"
The fae snapped his fingers, sending them back to reality. Cain woke up, the word frozen in the back of throat, unable to make a sound.
"What the hell was that?" Markus asked, picking leaves out of his hair.
Cain didn't answer, flipping off the tree before he walked away from it.
*********
The hours passed in agony for Cain. He kept glancing around, looking for someone, each time disappointed.
"Can I ask you something?" Noah started shyly. "Who exactly is Elin?"
Cain waved him off.
"I mean, you say that name a lot when you sleep."
Alexis spat out her mouthful of soup. "Damn, Noah, don't call someone out like that!"
"Sorry! I just thought it'd be nice to put a face to a name!"
"Wait, is Elin that brunette Risa was disguised as?" Markus leaned in, his inner gossip king surfacing.
Cain rolled his eyes, making it obvious.
"Oh my, Cain, a girlfriend?"
He shook his head.
"A friend?"
He raised his eyebrows before shaking his head.
"I mean, you're basically in love with this person, come on!" She threw her hands up, wanting him to admit to anything.
To her surprise, he smiled softly before turning away to go to sleep.
Alexis smacked Markus on the thigh. 'OH MY GOD.' She mouthed.
'I KNOW RIGHT?' He mouthed back.
"So cute..." Noah whispered, but not loud enough for Cain to hear.
He may have been cute but he'd still scratch their eyes out.
******************
"Cain, no offence," This was how Alexis started potentially offensive sentences. "But why can't Risa or Damien turn Noah back to normal?"
He shook his head, adamant.
"It has to be Elin? Is Elin, like, the best or something?"
Cain looked at her like she was stupid, then traced a line down the tattoo over his eye.
"Elin did that?"
'No one else can.' He mouthed, still missing the sound of his own voice.
"Ah, so you can meet your paramour and we get what we want too?"
She laughed as he gave her the finger.
"What if Elin won't do it?" Markus wondered out loud, arms crossed as he sat near them.
Cain sat up, ready to fight.
"I mean, guy I haven't seen in months comes to me with the enemy in tow-"
"The enemy?" Alexis leaned forward.
"You know what I mean. I'm just looking out for us. You too, Cain. Elin's probably not gonna like that youre-"
He stood abruptly, his face as icy as ever.
'You don't know them.'
He walked away, pretending to keep watch so he wouldn't have to talk.
"He's right..." Noah said quietly from beside Markus. "We don't know what they're like."