complete the circle, closed; tags robert & austin

[Dylan Newbury]

The moonless evening held a chill to the air which indicated that winter was coming. It seemed that since the start of fall the temperature in Hart began to drop with the burning sun. Some snow was received in Northern California but not until the winter months. Still, Dylan was not looking forward to it. Part of the reason he had moved to Miami several years earlier was due to the warmth. The New Hampshire born had spent enough cold winters with his family growing up. As an adult he didn’t feel the need to relive these often; with the exception of the three days he planned a family visit during the holidays. Wearing a long-sleeved, black Henley shirt with dark blue denim ripped slightly at the knees he moved with cat-like stealth around the property barrier of his old school; Saint Valentines. He had done this journey under the cover of night many times over the last decade only this time he wasn’t alone. Creating a barrier around himself and his guests was simple enough though he wasn’t sure how long he could contain it. The invisible field wrapped around his body; and that of Robert Ryker and Austin Beaumont; allowed the men to move about the academy undetected from any magical or electronic sources. This was need to ensure their cover so none would know about the greatest secret hidden beneath Saint Valentines’ school.

Reaching the edge of the most North-Eastern side of the building Newbury turned back to the elementalist and the empath. One he had seen a few times over the last ten years while another had been absent from his life for too long. ”This is it,” he spoke to his brothers in a short but friendly tone. With these two he didn’t have to be sarcastic or superior. They were his equals and this was a claim he could make to only one other- the fourth member of their group absent this evening. Very little had been explained to them on the phone when Dylan had contacted both of them earlier. He merely stated that he had something to show them and that it was something that could improve all of their lifestyles. At twenty-three Dylan had learned of a hidden chamber beneath Saint Valentines that had been forgotten about. Access to the chamber couldn’t even be found within the foundation as it took a minor spell to reveal the pathway from the outside. Newbury had since increased the power blocking entrance so that only he could enter. Tonight two other would find this chamber and be able to enter whenever they wished.

Turning towards Robert first he placed his left palm flat against his friend’s chest. His other hand reached towards the exterior wall of the school and he spoke a soft incantation. The words would be unknown to his friends unless they were able to understand ancient Gorgerin. As the spell was cast Dylan’s right hand began to glow a faint colour of blue. If Austin and Robert were sharp; which Dylan knew them to be; they may notice that the light source actually came from a simple-looking ring on his index finger. A pulse washed over Dylan and flowed into Rob as the arcane lock blocking the pathway would now reveal itself to the element master. Rob would begin to see the brick wall much as Dylan had; with a doorway made of light seeming to exist unnaturally. Removing his palm from Rob Newbury turned towards the second member; Austin; and conducted the same spell. Never wishing to admit true emotion Dylan was content when his flesh touched that of his friend. Beaumont had been missed over the last decade but the man’s absence from the group was needed and Dylan respected that.

Once both men could see the doorway clearly Dylan stepped towards it and seemingly vanished into the brick. Upon his disappearance from the outside he quickly materialized in a large chamber which immediately became illuminate with torches upon the mage’s entrance. Behind him the etching of a door of light was visible but he moved away from this space as he suspected the other members of the Novus Ordo to join him shortly. The chamber was littered with treasures long since forgotten or artifacts too powerful for the likes of the Covenant. The Cabal thought they fully controlled the moment mage but they were mistaken. Dylan Newbury was only comfortable trusting himself and his brothers since the fateful night ten years ago. Moving to a large circular table in the center of the room he placed himself in a wooden chair and continued to watch the doorway for the appearance of his friends. Would they realize that this table once belonged to the great King Arthur? Could they comprehend that the seemingly useless wooden planks on the far side of the room were the last remnants of Noah’s ark? With so much knowledge in this place it would take some time to explain everything- but now that three of the four were together again Dylan would ensure they would never be separated.

[Robert Ryker]

Robert had long since held hope for a reunion of the Novus Ordo. Within the private chamber he'd acquired from his father when he'd assumed ownership of the house in Maine he had arranged meetings with Dylan through the years but never before had they been so brazen as to meet in public like this. Much less had they risked inviting Austin or Winstead. Doing this felt strange for those reasons, not to mention Winstead's absence, but what was odd was the knowledge that Dylan had managed to secure such a space on Saint Valentine's campus. Or so he assumed, anyway.

The three of them moved quietly. It was hardly difficult to do. The space between them like their very words now was awkward. The past decade had not been kind to them in some ways, it seemed. Though in other ways time had improved them, made each of them stronger. The idea that this might have been the plan all along crossed Robert's mind as he followed Dylan down into the bowels of the school. For years Newbury had wished to lead them and now he was. Ryker glanced over at Austin through the darkness and tried to gauge what he might be thinking but it was impossible. It was not a skill he possessed.

It was strange, all of this. He hadn't seen them for years and he felt drawn to them both like a moth to the flame. Eyes alight with questions, it seemed that Dylan knew that Rob still trusted him enough to touch him and to cast the spell. Just as he had called Austin to secure his presence when he'd heard from Dylan regarding the meeting. He still didn't know why they were here. Perhaps it had something to do with Anthony? Surely the Cabal hadn't found he and Kimball. If so, he'd know wouldn't he?

It reminded him of those last weeks before the world had fallen apart. He had nearly told Jamie that he loved him even though he'd been using him for sex. In the beginning the sex had been something of a distraction for him and it had worked. Foolish to think in terms of love at that age. Hell, he'd thought he loved his brothers and couldn't imagine a day apart from them and look at them all now. Times changed and people changed. A man had to move on or live in the past. He didn't know what to expect when he crossed the threshold and into the chamber. If Anthony and Kimball were here he would have shit a brick.

It didn't take an archivist to recognize the pedigree present here. Rob took in the sights, waiting for Austin and an explanation as to why they were here, "Your tastes in decorating have improved Newbury." Of course that wasn't all that had improved in regard to Newbury. He might be the magical world's equivalent of a science geek but his body was rocking - for days. He likely rivaled Winstead in terms of his physique now, something Winstead would probably object to. Pissing contests aside, it was clear that they had all changed too. It wasn't just the world twisting and reshaping with each turn.