Told Myself I Wouldn't Go There

He could feel her there, on the edge of the garden, his teeth gritted tightly to resist the pull of magic, the need to raise her. It would be a simple thing, to do so, even as he tried to ignore the spirit that would be his sister again. And none of us want you to go, so no, I won't tell her. His dark eyes rolled right to where her spirit stood, head tilted to the side as he regarded her, ignoring the body now, since he couldn't actually ignore her outright.

Malik resumed his pacing, when their father to arrived, and he parted from the man's path as he swept into the house, the two Eye's Mages ordered out of the way, Go secure the perimeter. Stay out of the house. He curled Annie into his chest still, kissing her head to calm her, See, everything will be alright, your grandpa will take care of everything. Annie finally silenced, little hands gripping strands of his hair tightly, he waited as Malachai carried Ella through to the sitting room, and then stepped into the doorway to prevent Kaczor from rushing after them.

Malik turned, when he realized Kaczor was not going to stop, shielding Annie as he physically blocked the woman's path.

Get out of my way, that's my wife, Malik!

He turned again, hip checking her back out into the garden, feeling Ella's spirit waiver -- if Malachai was stopped they might lose her. He wouldn't let that happen. Stop yelling, you did admirably keeping her stable and in the Fade while we waited for the Chancellor. She didn't have the chance to move past, you should be proud of what you were able to do for her. He stepped out into the garden, pulling the doors closed behind him, so that the three of them, Annie, Kaczor, and Malik all stood in the garden, his eyes going towards the journals on the table as he side stepped an attack, whirling to keep Annie safe, and to keep the door guarded.

There were no words now, only Kaczor's blinding panic to get to her wife, which Malik understood, all too well. On the next attack, he spun, getting an arm around his sister-in-law's neck, and taking her down to the ground with him. He sat, the three of them down there in the garden, and folded the woman against him. Shh, there will be time for this rage, and this chaos, He trailed off as he lost Ella's spirit from his sight, his own shoulders dropping in relief, as he heard the sobs inside. But she lives, she does, and she's going to need you in the next few weeks, so if hurting me right now is what you need to be her stability as she recovers, let's at least let me go put Annie back in her crib and then you can fight me until we're both bloody and unable to stand. He tightened his hold as Kaczor fought, before his sister-in-law finally turned into his chest and started to cry. Malik made a promise in that moment that he would never mention it again in his life. It would be their secret, even as Annie tried to pull at her mother's hair, unaware of what was happening, but asking if, [i]Mapa kiss? Mapa up![/q]

Malik shifted so that Kaczor could take the child, and then made a move to step away, to allow the woman a moment with her child, to check inside without having the two of them follow too closely on his heels.

@Malachai Valentius
@Novella Tilani
@Kaczor Tilani