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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf">Kasabian Merrick hoped like hell he was receiving the summons from the hottie that had arrived in the foyer, because his inner GPS was usually never off. Even if it was the first and only time he'd been summoned in his entire life, he wanted Mihai to be the one because his magic was the right kind in which he could thrive. Devlin's magic felt like a heavy cloak of chaotic energy whenever he was exposed to it, and the dark incantations and quest for power left Kasabian feeling depressed and depleted of his usual get up and go. When his hand touched that of Mihai's, the lambent glow within Kasabian's eyes began to intensify and burn with an otherworldly fire. </span></span><br/><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><br/>
Whatever blocking spell had been manufactured by Devlin to magically dampen his nightly dreams and the vibrations of his true witch had been cast aside once Kasabian met the witch he was destined to be bound to, and remain with forever. It was as though Kasabian stepped through the mirror separating him from the arms of his soul mate. The glass shattered with the buzz of electricity surrounded the two men. His familiar magic only sought to enhance that of Mihai's magic powers. His hope was restored as Mihai's brilliant smile came into view, and Kasabian got to see all that he'd been missing out on because Devlin hovered over him to the point of smothering his fire completely.<br/>
<br/>
"Yes! It is you, Mihai.." Kasabian parroted back, returning the bright smile he'd been given but hesitating to laugh and put his guard down just yet. <br/>
</span></span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><span style="font-size: 18px">At least not until Mihai pulled him close for a warm embrace. It was only then that he knew for sure that he was meant to be Mihai's familiar, his purpose to guide and help shape into a exceptional Master of sorcery. There were no words, no questions that needed to be asked further. Kasabian Merrick returned the hug with as much vigor and love as he could muster. His sentiment was real, not forced from him out of duty or loyalty to a particular family of witches. Even if the Blackmore family was served by the Merricks for generations, it didn't necessarily mean that everyone had to conform to the rules. In fact, Kasabian Merrick had every intention of breaking the rules.</span></span><br/><i><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf">When the rules were broken though, all hell would break loose.</span></span></i><br/><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf">Kasabian was so entranced by the man he was holding in his arms, that he'd completely forgotten they were still in the hallway outside the living room where Mihai's parents sat, looking on with dumbfounded expressions on their faces. He nervously sank his teeth into his lower lip as he stared back at his mom and dad, unsure of what to say or do next. Mihai's lanky adolescent frame had completely filled out under his hands, leaving corded muscle behind in their wake. His tinny sounding voice no longer cracked with the surge in teenage hormones, and had flattened out to a warm, rumbly tenor. It was his voice that worked to clear Kasabian's mind from the sideways glances that his parents were giving each other. </span></span><br/><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"></span></span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><span style="font-size: 18px">It was apparent that Mr. and Mrs. Ardellan were just starting to figure out that the magic spell their son had invoked brought about their sudden closeness. Mr. Ardellan was about to ask if his son found what he was looking for, when Mihai confirmed it when his parents overheard the next part of their conversation. </span></span><br/><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"></span><br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><i> “I... I’m glad it’s you. I can’t imagine a single soul I’d rather...” He took a deep breath, taking in every detail of the frame before him, a helpless grin creeping up his face as he met Kasabian’s eyes once more, “I’m glad you’re here, Kas.”</i></span></span><br/><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><br/>
"Oh wow, this is a strange turn of events, Mihai. But a very welcome and refreshing one!" Kasabian replied, trying to suppress his level of excitement and sudden relief while failing miserably at disguising both, "I'm your familiar. I am <i>so</i> glad its you too."<br/>
<br/>
Before Kasabian realized it, Mihai eased back from the embrace to take his hand in his, ascending the stairs together and heading off to his room for some much needed privacy. Once the door to Mihai's bedroom closed, the witch was full of burning questions that required answering. The first question out of the way was whether he was actually attending classes with him at UC Boulder, and involved in coven activities.  Kasabian was focused on Mihai's mouth, his lips rapidly moving back and forth when he felt the sudden urge come upon him and he closed the distance between him in order to place a kiss on that mouth.<br/>
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It was a simple kiss, after all. "The answer is yes, and ...yes again, Mihai. I came down from Colorado Springs in July in time for the beginning of the fall semester. I'm majoring in Applied Art, so I can make things. I've always been good with making things with my hands, if you still remember." he smiled.<br/>
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Attempting to stifle the flood of testosterone in his body was difficult, so his eyes scanned Mihai's room for something that could run interference. "Oh shit! You still have the mask I made from middle school dude? I didn't even think you liked it that much!" <br/>
<br/>
Kasabian pulled away from the kiss to take a look at Mihai's bookshelf, and the paper mache tribal mask that he'd made in 7th grade art class. It still looked quite fierce, and the colors were just as vibrant as if it were painted yesterday. When he turned around to look at Mihai, he'd settled back on his bed, signaling to him to come closer. The sensual line of Kasabian's lips curved into a grin, as he spun on his heel and approached the bed. Taking his hand, he was rewarded with a soft, yet urgent tug that encouraged him to collapse on the bed with Mihai. <br/>
</span></span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><span style="font-size: 18px">Maybe it was the cat within him that yearned for a gentle touch. He curled into Mihai's body, and turned his face up to look into his eyes as he went through the awkward apology he felt he owed Kasabian for what happened downstairs. "Mihai, I thought we'd moved past all of that. Hm? What happened was that you found me, and I found you. Now what do we do?"</span></span><br/><div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf">____________________________________________________________________________<br/>
<br/>
</span></span>​</div><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf">While the cat familiar and his witch consort were fortifying their connection, Devlin Blackmore had arrived at Kasabian's off campus apartment because he'd skipped out on their meetup and he was in a dangerously angry mood right now because of the no show. He hated making arrangements and plans for the day with Kasabian, and having the blonde make up a thousand excuses as to why he couldn't do so. He was beginning to feel that Kasabian just wasn't all that into him, and that was a real dissapointment. The Merricks had always provided his family with familiars that served his kin without hesitation, and Kasabian's disrespect had struck a nerve with Devlin.</span></span><br/><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf"><br/>
A very disgruntled, raw nerve. As Kasabian closed in for yet another kiss, his skin started to shimmer with spots of white opacity. Almost like white noise on a TV channel, he became a pixelated image of himself. The knocking from his door sounded in his ears like someone repeatedly pounding a hammer, and then the pleasant rush of arousal he felt towards Mihai was replaced by a black nothingness.  All Mihai would probably see was Kasabian laying on the bed, looking up with interest as they shared a conversation, and the sudden burst of energy as he dematerialized from sight right there on his bed. In seconds, Kasabian Merrick had completely vanished as if his presence hds all been a very strange dream.<br/>
<br/>
When Kasabian reappeared, it was in very familiar territory. <i>His. </i>There was a different kind of energry present and it was dark and foreboding as he popped into the bedroom of his apartment about four feet above the carpet, still reclining like he was laying on Mihai's bed. The magic bubble burst, and Devlin was there to witness his sudden fall. One moment Kasabian was in the air, and the next second he tumbled from the air and not unlike the cat he was, landed on the floor on his hands and knees. He saw Devlin's feet first, then his legs and slowly his gaze shifted up to look upon his anger filled countenance. <br/>
<br/>
"Stay there, I like you on your knees, Kasabian. You can explain to me why I waited outside your classroom for 45 minutes today, as well as where the hell you were this whole time. And don't lie to me, because I will know, I assure you of that." he sniffed, smelling something foreign and different about Kasabian.<br/>
<br/>
"What did you do, Kasabian? Who were you with?" Devlin asked impatiently, before violently snatching Kasabian up by his long hair. "You better explain yourself, before I make you regret it."<br/>
<br/>
Kasabian released a howling screech as his hair was tugged hard enough for several strands to remain stuck in Devlin's tight grip. "You don't deserve me, Devlin Blackmore!  Just because your family owns half of Boulder, does not mean you own me. I am not your familiar, I'm Mihai's and I will NOT be yours!" he yelled back.<br/>
<br/>
Devlin lifted him up but with magic this time, as Kasaabian struggled to right himself in case he fell again. "You think so, little cat? I beg to differ on that. You are mine, you were promised to me and only me!" and with that being said, Devlin dashed his hand forward rapidly, in the direction of the bookshelves in his bedroom.  <br/>
<br/>
"No, stop it Devlin, please! STOP, let me go!" Kasabian demanded, and he got more in return from an enraged Devlin.<br/>
<br/>
The force that Kasabian was propelled across the room was a hard enough impact to splinter the wooden boards holding his books and art work in a downward volley that continued tumbling  like rain on his head when Devlin catapulted him into the wall.  There was no way Kasabian would be able to rise to the occasion after both his wind and his consciousness were knocked from him.<br/>
<br/>
"I will fix you and this impostor that believes he owns you, Kasabian Merrick. I don't share my toys." Devlin growled, as he looked down briefly at Kasabian's crumpled body before leaving the apartment in a hurry to begin his remedy to take care of the troublemaker that just moved to the top of his shit list, Mihai Ardellan.<br/>
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