Marking

"Why the f*ck did you cut yourself?" he said, his voice dangerously low.

Whenever Mason became like this, it meant he was VERY angry with Aeryn.

"Uh... bro, it's alright. I needed it so I could bind the twins to me."

"IT'S NOT ALRIGHT!!!" He yelled angrily.

"Older brother..."

"WHY DID YOU HAVE TO USE BLOOD MAGIC?!?! IT'S A DEAL WITH THE BLOOD REAPERS.

"THEY'RE NOT THAT BAD!!!" She yelled back.

"OF COURSE THEY'RE THAT BAD!!! THEY'VE KILLED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO NEVER FULFILLED THEIR DEALS!!!"

"They deserved it. If they were going to make a deal with the Blood Reapers, they should've fulfilled their end of the bargain."

"What did you promise them for your use of blood magic and binding the twins to you?"

"Nothing." She said defiantly.

"Aeryn."

"I.."

"What is it, Aeryn?"

"I promised I would take over the Blood Reapers after the current leader dies."

"You-"

"The leader has been looking for a successor after he's dead, so I volunteered."

Mason laughed.

"You really are an idiot."

"I know."

"But what about the other deal? Don't you have two deals?"

"To bind people to me, I need to find someone eternally loyal to me, and me only."

"Who?"

"Of course it's you, idiot."

"How will they know that you found someone eternally loyal? They can't leave their domain unless their king allows them too."

"Umm... I could..."

"Could what?"

"I could also cut out a spade on you?"

"What?"

"It won't hurt."

"Yeah, but that would be allowing myself to become your equal. I'd be bound to you forever. An even stronger bond then the one our parents did to us."

"My mom, your dad, you mean.

"Yeah, whatever. But there's no way I would let you do that."

"Would you rather become a toy like the twins?"

"No."

"Then let me cut out a spade."

"Where?"

"On your wrist.."

"What?"

"I don't care. Lift your sleeve." She commanded.

Lifting his sleeve silently, he looked at his little sister, who was currently cutting out a spade on his wrist.

'If only she was a bit smarter.' He thought, 'Then she would be able to destroy the kingdoms without the help of the Blood Reapers.'

When she finished carving out the spade, she looked at her brother.

"Maybe I should do the mind... or the heart..." she muttered.

She continued to carve a mind underneath the spade.

"Almost done." She whispered.

"numquam sine perpetim"

Instantly, blood from his carving had rose in the air. Blood from Aeryn's carving had floated up too, which was that of a spade and a crown.

Their blood merged and flowed back down into their carvings. Throughout the entire process, Mason didn't feel an ounce of pain.

"That was interesting." A voice behind Aeryn said.

*****