Royal Brats

[Dark Raven]

Wind was whipping outside the small house in the village that lay at the edge of the kingdom, bordering the kingdom over. Branches of trees swayed around and the occasional debris flew across the ground, slamming into a wall or shutter. Jumping at the sound of a bang Alyssa was more than on edge as she sat on her bed, tears still remaining in her eyes as she hugged her knees. The rain that slammed against the windows that had no shutters and the howling wind made her feel all the more miserable. Pulling her knees closer to her chest she attempted to make herself as small as possible and buried her face into her knees. Her body jerked a little at the soft sobs that escaped her lips and though it would have been better not to sit so far from the fireplace as it was apparent that the small worn out nightdress that she wore was not enough to keep her warm. But right now she just couldn't care. She lost her one lifeline and all that she had left now was her big brother. But how was he going to take care of her now their mother wasn't going to anymore. Having refused her meal after their mother passed she let herself go hungry willingly.

Hearing another bang she looked up slightly and thought it was the wind once more but this bang was followed by several more, coming from the front door. Tensing up Alyssa looked frightened into the direction of the front door just in time to see it being broken open and men in cloaks and armor bursting in. Screaming in fear she hid under her bed and covered her ears and closed her eyes tight as possible while calling for her brother Alex in fear, the only one she had left. when she felt the bed lifted and her arm grabbed she looked at who got her, hoping it was Alex, but she looked up at a strange man which just made her all the more frightened. Enough so that she defensively put her hands in front of her and blasted the man away from her against a wall. Not sure how she did this she looked at her hands startled. She knew she had magic but she wasn't able to move anything like that before, not until now. Three other men came into her room while the rest of the 6 focused on her brother and were quickly able to overpower her, dragging her out of the house and from her mother's lifeless body while she screamed bloody murder. Being shoved inside a carriage then she backed up as far as she could to a corner of it and curled back up crying and calling for her brother.

[animefangirl]

Alex had been just as devastated as his little sister as they watched their mother passing. He felt so helpless and angry that he couldn't heal her, he'd tried but his knowledge of how to use his powers was very limited and really just kept him from hurting people accidentally since he hadn't had time to learn more than that before his father sent the family away. Mother told them many times that their father had sent them away to protect them, but Alex had only been eight years old at the time so he couldn't help but feel that the man abandoned them and the last seven years hadn't done anything to help his feelings grow more fond for their father. As far as he was concerned they were on their own now, and after covering their mother with a sheet he took Ally out of the bedroom and carried the little girl to her own room and got her tucked into the bed, starting a fire for her to help keep the storm's chill out. He'd gone to his own room then, not knowing that she'd pushed her blanket off and was sitting there in the cold or else he would ahve gone to get her and have her sleep in his bed with him just to make sure she was alright. He couldn't sleep though, he just laid on his bed in his equally worn nightclothes and stared up at the ceiling as he fought to keep from crying.

Hours later there was a thumping at the front door and he frowned when he heard it, wondering who the hell would be coming this late at night to call on them, especially since Mother had kept to herself more or less so she didn't really have any friends in the little village that they called home. He got up and started to head out of the room to answer the door when it suddenly burst open and cloaked men rushed inside. He was shocked for a second but then he heard his sisters screams and that was enough to get his protective side going. "Ally!" He called for her, a bit desperately as he ran towards her room, fire erupting from his hands as he did and he threw massive balls of fire at the men, catching about three of them on fire the men fell screaming as they frantically tried to put it out but to no avail, they were dead within seconds since his magical fire burned hotter than normal fire. He moved to attack more of them when he suddenly found himself incapable of calling his magic, which was a terrifying thing to experience but as soon as he noticed one of the caped men's eyes were glowing and a hand was pointed in his direction he understood that his magic was being bound right now.

He didn't have long to be angry about that before the men grabbed his sister and he heard her screaming in fear, and he tried to get to her, calling her name but six men had swarmed him and quickly overpowered him despite his best efforts to fight them off. They were both dragged out into the rain and he watched as his sister was forced into a carriage and when he saw the symbol painted on the side his breath caught in his throat and he felt that familiar hate welling up in him. He was shoved into the carriage after his sister, the door banged shut behind him cloaking the windowless carriage in blackness and he could feel the mage that was binding his magic was still close by, probably driving the carriage so he could keep Alex's magic from flaring again. "Ally" he called, moving blindly until he found her and drew her into his arms. "It's going to be okay Ally, I think this is the King's carriage, we're probably being taken to the palace" He said, hoping that the knowledge that they were being brought to their father would help ease her fear but he couldn't help but still be angry about the whole situation and he had no desire to see his father again but he knew he had to do his best to reassure his sister so that was what he tried to do.

[Dark Raven]

Alyssa was completely unaware as to who or what, the men were that took her, or why they were doing it. The confusing sounds that she heard coming from the house along with Alex calling for her and her own screaming only made her more frightened. As she was shoved into the carriage into the pitch black and silence she curled up and just cried. When hearing Alex call for her then as he was also shoved into the carriage she whimpered at him and clung to him trembling ice cold from sitting up in bed and wet from the rain. Taking comfort in his presence and words she just buried into his chest and sobbed softly. "Why is he doing this.. we done nothing" she mumbled between sobs not remembering the man that is her father at all since she was only a baby when then Prince Salvador made them leave and hid them out there in the village so his father the king wouldn't be able to get to them and have them killed simply for being 'bastards' . She was just too young to really get any of it and even the stories told by their mother made little sense to her. She knew who Salvador was, though not much of him becoming the king and how that worked. He was just a stranger to her, nothing more. "I want mommy.." she mumbled then, just being unable to resist longing for her mother even if she understood that the woman wasn't going to come back. "He's not our father.." she added to that, dismissing that man as a source of comfort. And knowing how Alex felt she couldn't help but follow his example and see the king as nothing more than a mean brute that didn't want them and abandoned them and now mistreating them.

Meanwhile in the palace, a grand place as big as a village it seemed, Salvador paced in his chambers while handmaiden attempted to dress him in his formal robes and tend to his needs as the king. The man was on edge to say the least. He wasn't known to be gentle or overly kind to the help so they were naturally careful not to tick him off and give him a reason to use his powerful magic on them. Their previous king had been powerful but just, the prince who now is king has a temper that his father controlled with an iron fist, now that Salvador was no longer controlled he had no one to scold him on his temper either. Though he was not a brute or a cruel man, he just was not gentle either. Continuing to pace, the warlock was impatient for the carriage with his children to arrive. He had known of their mother's passing as he never stopped looking over them and keeping an eye on them through a black mirror he had kept well hidden from his father. He had mourned his love's passing as he never stopped loving their mother even if he had to spend his time away from her to keep her safe with his children. He had hated his father for aiming to kill all three of them simply because they were bastards, down to the last breath he drew. Having sought satisfaction by telling the dying man that they had survived under his care all this time before he passed but it granted him just bitter emptiness instead.

Hearing the carriage pull in onto the paved road outside of the palace he brushed aside the maid, sending the poor woman tumbling over backwards as he waved at the doors, causing them to slam open instantly before he made his way through the doorway, heading down the grand stairs, down to the halls and through the corridors that seemed to never end. Armored guards stood watch at each doorway and in the hall not moving and inch as he passed. His cloak whipping on the wind behind him he was an intimidating sight as he was tall, dark, and his blue eyes seemed to pierce through anyone. Coming to a stop finally at the grand front doors he was just in time to see Alyssa being hauled out of the carriage by some of the man, pulling her from Alex and ushering her and the boy to go inside immediately. Not so much due to the rain, but more so to not keep the king waiting.

[animefangirl]

Alex sighed when he heard his sister asking why the king was doing this and shrugged, holding her tighter as he felt her shivering and had his magic been working he would have lit a fire beside her to dry and warm her but he couldn't right now and that was another thing that pissed the teen off. "I don't know" He answered honestly and then winced when she added that she wanted mommy and then mumbled that he wasn't their father. "Technically he is, Ally, that's probably why he kidnapped us like that" He said, having calmed enough to actually think about it but there was clear anger and hate in his voice as he talked about the king so it was clear that he was not happy right now and that he didn't want to go to their father. "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe I promise" He said, hugging her tighter and rubbing her back as he did his best to keep her calm on the long ride to the capitol and the palace, sort of hoping that was actually where they were going and this wasn't something worse like one if their fathers rivals kidnapping them to use as leverage against the king or something. He was silent the rest of the ride to the palace, fuming quietly and trying his best to be there for his sister. When they arrived he glanced towards the doors as he heard the noise of the soldiers jumping off the carriage and he glared at them when the door was pulled open and Ally was suddenly pulled out of his arms.

"Let go of her!" He screamed, letting himself be pulled from the carriage and as soon as he was out and saw his baby sister so freaked out was enough to piss him off to the point where his full magic flared, taking his guard by surprise the power of his magic shattered the binding that had been on him and within seconds fire was raging around him, lashing out at everyone but mostly focused on the one that had his sister. Faster than anyone could react he burned the man holding Ally and ran to her, picking her up and then lashing out at the other guards before feeling another binding slam down on him hard enough that he actually cried out in pain as he felt his magic forced back down and felt an almost iron like barrier between the power and himself so that he could feel it but couldn't touch it anymore. He was breathing a bit heavily at that point and holding his sister close to his chest, glaring at the now wary soldiers as if daring them to try and take her away from him again and then he finally looked up the staircase to where a man was standing, and he had enough memories of his father to recognize the man even though he had aged a bit since they'd last seen one another. He didn't move towards the King he just stood there and glared with all the hatred that he could summon, his eyes flashing dangerously and if looks could kill his father would have been ash on the stairs right now that was how pissed he was but he did realize that further fighting right now would be useless when someone, his father he was guessing, had bound his magic so he just held his sister and waited to see what the man would say or do now as the cold rain continued to pour down on them.

[Dark Raven]

Ally was already a mess and the kidnapping didn't help at all, it made it a hell of a lot worse on the small girl so she clung to her brother shivering and crying, even though her eyes were red as could be from her previous crying so far. She wasn't sure why their father took them like that and wanted to know, but also couldn't really care. She just wanted Alex and to go home. Staying silent the rest of the trip to the palace she was thinking on his words and tried to take comfort in that. Though as she was quieting down finally the carriage came to a stop and the door opened, the torch that was held by a man lighting up the inside and temporarily blinding her. Shocked then she found herself be yanked from Alex and instantly let out high pitched screams and crying as she kicked and squirmed, trying to summon her magic to defend herself as she once more called for Alex to help her. When hearing him yell to let her go to the man that had her in his grip she looked over to Alex in time to see him attack those around him and her captor, hoping he'd manage. Thrilled then she let Alex pick her up when he freed her, clinging to his neck scared of the strangers. Though as he cried out in pain she looked at him startled asking "What's wrong?!" as thinking someone attacked him before following his gaze and looked over to the strange man with glowing blue eyes, pointing at her and Alex.

Salvador was not a patient man and so he was pleased that the carriage arrived so soon, and that the men instantly worked to get the children out though when hearing Alyssa scream bloody murder and squirm in the hold of one of them he was getting angered. Not at her, but at the man holding her since he was not happy with her being under the impression that they meant her harm. Wondering how the rest of the procedure has gone he counted the number of men returning before seeing Alex unleashing his wrath so to speak. Feeling like he had no other choice really he moved his hand to his son and made a fist as to clutch the magic in his grip, using his powerful mind to put a strong bind on the teen. He was impressed with how strong he has grown, and proud with that, were it not for him killing 'his' people. Descending down the stairs then as he locked stares with Alex and noted the hatred in his eyes he headed over to them and stopped by the corpse of the man that had taken Alyssa. Waving his hand at it he turned it to ash and had the wind blow it away, cleaning it up in silence. Looking back to his children then he waved at the men, dismissing them. As they scattered and went on to take care of their tasks Salvador made a circle around Alex and Ally, his hands neatly folded behind his back, inspecting them so it seemed. "You are filthy, wet and cold. I shall have baths prepared, you will use them immediately and dress in decent, fresh night clothes. After that we shall have a talk over a meal, there is much to discuss my children." he told them then as he came to a stop before them both. Signaling some maids then to run the baths and prepare clothing for them both with a hand movement he never took his eyes off them. How he had missed them, wished to have been able to be near and able to hug and comfort them. And now here they were. Though he wished that the circumstances were less dire than this.

[animefangirl]

Alex was really pissed off that they were scaring his sister so badly right now, and that coupled with them pulling her away from him again and hearing her screaming and crying was the last straw for him. So he attacked as soon as he was out of hte carriage, leveling his fire at the guard that had Ally first and then scooped her up and wasn't surprised when she wrapped her arms around his neck he just held her and kept trying to attack the others but then his magic was bound and he looked at Ally when she asked what was wrong. "Bastard bound my magic" He answered as he glared up at their father, noticing how his eyes glowed and that was the tell tale sign that someone was using magic. It could be masked if you were experienced enough so that you could do magic without that visible sign but Alex couldn't do that yet, nor would he be able to for some time yet. He watched as the king came down the stairs towards them, tensing when the man reached them and looked at the guard he'd fried and Alex didn't feel the least bit of remorse for that one. He relaxed slightly when the king sent all the guards away before glaring at Salvador again when the man started to circle them, "Knock it off" He snapped, it making him uncomfortable and then he snorted when their father started talking, annoyed that the first words out of the mans mouth were to criticize them for how they looked and order them around. "What makes you think you have any right to order us around? You're a real bastard, your idiot guards broke into our house and dragged us off, and they scared Ally" He said, raising his voice again and sounding angry but it was more for his sisters sake than his own even though he'd been scared too. "We're going back home, just leave us alone, you dind't want us growing up and we don't want you now" He snapped, backing away from his father as he spoke and holding Ally closer to his chest though how he was expecting to get them home before they got sick from the cold rain he had no idea since the carriage ride took hours to get here and it would take twice as long as that if they had to walk all the way bac. Even longer since they had no money so Alex would have to stop and do any odd jobs he could find to get money for food on the way. But he was determined that he would take care of his sister and that they didnt' need their father, so that was what he was focusing on but it wouldn't be hard to point out that Ally was shivering and could get sick if he didn't come in and accept the warm bath for her, and that would be enough to get Alex to at least cooperate a bit so that his sister could be taken care of before they left.

[Dark Raven]

Salvador ignored Alex telling him to knock it off when he was circling around them and raised a single eyebrow at Alex' words. "Watch your tone son. I am not just your King but I am your father as well, that gives us the right." he said then paused and sighed deep "I regret however that the manner they done so is not what I have ordered. There have been casualties too I imagine since there are fewer of them." As Alex then said that they were going back home and to leave them alone.. especially the part of not wanting them Salvador shook his head instantly and with a wave of his hand closed the doors tight with a bang loud enough to make Alyssa jump. Looking over her shoulder to the man she had no idea why he was doing this and just wanted to go home with Alex. "I have never for one moment not wanted you two! The whole reason you were not living here is because I loved you both. Have you not heard what your mother has told you many times, son? Nor have I for a single moment not watched over you. Your spell books Alexander, those that she brought home for a 'bargain'? Or your dolls Alyssa, that she traded for.. Or the time you have burned down the old mill and it was kept silent Alexander." Pacing then Salvador visibly seemed to need to get a hold of himself as his cloak swayed behind him. "I did what was needed, to keep you alive and out of my father's reach. Had I not done this you would have been killed. All of you. All for the mere reason that your mother is not of... was.. not of royal blood." he continues then, trailing off at the end as he comes to a stop. Clenching his jaw then he turns to the pair saying "I loved that woman and have spend that time since she walked into my life paying for it. But it was worth it, worth it because of you both and worth it because I at least had her for the short time I could." Eyeing the pair then in silence he was studying their response. Looking at Alex first, Ally wasn't sure what to make of it but wiggled out of his hold then and turned to Salvador fidgeting scared, not trusting this man even if told that he was her father, she gathered the courage and spoke up "You can do magic?" Nodding curt Sal said "Indeed I can child." Though Ally already knew this, it was her way of leading up to the real question. "Mommy said you were the most powerful in the land..." Nodding once more Sal wasn't sure what the girl was aiming at. Welling up then Ally had trouble not quivering her lip and cast her gaze at the ground finally saying "You could have healed her.. you let her die." Giving her a shocked look Salvador instantly shook his head firmly and wanted to grab her to make her look at him but she shied away instantly, hiding behind Alex for protection which made him stop and just kneel down instead to be at her height saying "No child, I didn't let her die. I have spend countless of nights.. weeks.. looking for a way to save her. I know this is hard to understand, but there is nothing I could have done. If there was, I would have done so without question. What I can do now, is take care of you both. As my father is no longer a threat.. you are safe now. This is your new home, and you are both my heirs. You will soon be officially of royal blood and treated as such. Since I am the king, it shall be done. You will have a full title as Prince , heir to the throne, and you my girl.. a Princess."

[animefangirl]

Alex had some pretty warped views on why his dad left them and he wasn't afraid to throw them up in Salvador's face even if it wasn't very nice. So he snapped at the man about circling them and then he ranted at the man about how he'd had them kidnapped and scowled when told to watch his tone. "You're not my father" He snapped at the man, holding his sister a bit more securely since in his eyes she was the only family that he had and the only one that he cared about in the world. He rolled his eyes at the casualties bit and then gave the man a hard look, "They broke in and grabbed Ally, did you really expect me not to defend her" He challenged, since their mother had raised him with a strong sense of honor and in his mind that meant that he had to protect his sister from anything that may be trying to hurt her. After tossing his challenge of sorts up at his dad he told the man that they were going home and was startled when Salvador used magic to close the doors tight before they could leave, the loud noise getting a jump out of the teen as well though he shook it off and turned back to the king to glare at Salvador as their father countered what he'd said about the man not caring. He was a bit surprised that Salvador knew about the scoldings his mother gave him about how much his father loved them, and the books, dolls, and time that he'd thought for sure he'd be in for a judicial whipping for burning down the old mill by accident when his magic flared when he was ten. His eyes widened slightly as Salvador brought those things up "How did you know 'bout all that?" he asked, having a sinking feeling in his stomach as he thought about it and realized that the man must have been keeping an eye on them and that the books and toys, and help with the mill had come from him. Why hadn't their mother told them that then? He didn't get it and he didn't like feeling confused.

He didn't get long to think it over before the king went on to tell them that he'd done everything he could to keep them safe and loved their mother, that last bit gettng a slight gasp out of him since thinking of her still hurt and he had to take a few deep breaths not to cry since he was trying to be strong for his sister. The speech sounded convincing, especially the bit at the end about everything being worth it because the man was able to keep them safe, and he did have enough memories of their father to remember that he used to love the man but he'd had seven years to foster his hate and that wasn't easy to let go of. He was distracted from those thoughts when Ally wigged from his grip and he set her down, though when she ducked behind him as their father tried to grab her he instinctively moved to block the man, putting a hand out as if to shove Salvador back but that ended up not being needed as the king knelt and assured his sister that he'd tried everything he could tos ave their mother. He held one hand out still to block his sister from their father and gave him a distrustful look, not sure he believed that Salvador had tried all that hard to save mother when he hadn't been in their lives for so long. "I don't want to be a prince, I dont' give half a damn if you've got an heir or not. Ally's the only family I got left and I can take care of her myself I don't need you" He snapped, though the uncertainty in his voice was clear since he really wasn't sure if he could provide for his sister. He would try of course, but he was still just a boy and there was only so much he'd be able to do to protect her from the villagers back home if they found out that they were magic users. Peasants were not born with magic, it just didn't happen and hadn't for hundreds of years. The only way they could have magic was if they were born to a lord and that would make them a target. Their mother had kept that a secret but after the way he'd attacked those guards before it was bound to get out and they wouldn't be safe there. He was just now realizing that but he was stubborn and still thought he could provide for his sister he would just have to move them somewhere else where they weren't known and could be safe.

[Dark Raven]

Salvador was not at all happy about the warped view his son seemed to have for as far as he has been able to see when using the mirror. But though his expression didn't show it much, he was pained to see such hatred in Alex's eyes and fear in his little Ally. When snapped at that he wasn't his father he eyed the boy, shaking his head at him. "Yes, I am." He wasn't about to let Alex push him out of his life so soon after he managed to finally have them before him. He was never out of their lives, but there was such distance that to them he must have never been in it, or too short to matter in Alex' case. "I didn't expect you not to defend her, and I am pleased that you have. It matters little now even if I am not pleased with your murder, I had not expected you to go that far. You have grown strong, son." He went on to prove them wrong about him not caring or wanting them and inform them about knowing what they been up to as well as what he has managed to do to at least take care of them in a way and wasn't really surprised at Alex' question how he knew this. "I have hidden a mirror I use for scrying from everyone all this time. I have spend hours just watching you three, watching you grow up and make mistakes and learn from them, playing with the toys I got you and the books I provided. It pains me that you couldn't be told about that, but we couldn't risk it.. your mother and me. The villagers couldn't know of your origin and bloodline or your magic, no one but her and me could." Salvador explained hoping that they would make more sense of things.

Noticing the expression and reaction he got out of Alex when mentioning his love for their mother he knew that they were in great pain, even more than he was over her passing. Seeing Alyssa wiggle out of her brother's hold then his first response was that she maybe was warming up to him after hearing all that but as she said that he let her die he choked up and wanted nothing more than to hug her into his chest and tell her how wrong she was for thinking that and that he wasn't like that. Alyssa wanted nothing to do with him still however and was quick to hide behind Alex when Sal moved to grab her, putting her on edge and seeking comfort with her big brother instead. Glad that he shielded her and guarded her from the man. She eyed him when he knelt down and went on to say that he did try to save their mother, not all that sure he wasn't lying, even if he sounded sincere. She gave him an odd look when told that she and Alex were to be Salvador's heirs, not entirely sure what that meant apart from being royalty. Though the sound of being a princess was appealing to her, the choice was easy if she had to choose between him and Alex. Where her brother went she would too. Merely peeking from behind Alex now she was still shivering and sneezed before rubbing her nose onto her sleeve as she was used to do. Sal looked at her alarmed that she may be getting sick on her bare feet, wet and dressed in only her nightgown, now even more determined to get her to a warm bath as soon as possible. Though that would prove to be difficult since she didn't seem to want to come near him, and Alex won't stop shielding her. Standing back up as Alex snapped that he didn't want to be his heir and that he would take care of Ally himself Salvador slightly narrowed his eyes though it wasn't out of anger, but concern rather. He had zero intention of letting the two of them be out there on their own without help and left to their own devices. "Out of the question son, you cannot provide for the both of you all by yourself. You cannot return to your house either as the villagers unmistakably been alerted now by the events transpiring this night and you would only put yourself and your sister in danger. It will be the death of you out there on your own. You have a home here now and as your father, I will see to it that all your needs are met." Salvador was quick to say, his tone slightly raised as he was not only concerned but growing increasingly alarmed with the state they were in. "Alexander, I do not wish you force you, but you must know that I will if I have to.. " he started then before gesturing to Alyssa and continuing " She is in no state to be outside, and she's becoming sick already. A bath and a good meal, as well as a talk, will be first thing on the list for now. I know you care for your sister deeply and you know that this is what is best for her. Even if you yourself need this as well I also know that you think yourself a man already and will not accept this from me. Do it for her instead then, you know she will not accept it if you don't." Hoping to persuade Alex with this as time was starting to press he aimed to at least try to make them go willingly before he'd resort to more forceful manners even if it would piss them off, it would be worth it if he avoided them getting sick.

[animefangirl]

Alex glared at Salvador when the man insisted that he was their father, of course knowing that was true and remembering the man from when he was a boy, but in his heart all he could focus on was the fact that the man abandoned them and how angry that made him. He shook his head but decided not to verbally argue that point anymore and instead just countered the casualties comment by informing the King that he protected his sister and he snorted when the man called his actions murder, "It's not murder if you're defending yourself" He argued, since he really didn't feel like he'd murdered anyone he felt that he'd protected his sister since he'd had no way of knowing that those men were sent by their father until they were dragged outside and he saw the crest painted on the side of the carriage. The bit about him having grown strong did please him, though it annoyed him that he felt pleased at the praise and he scowled a moment later as if to deny the fact that he'd been happy at all. When their father went on to outline all the things he knew about their childhood Alex was startled and couldn't help asking how the man knew, frowning when Salvador told them about the scrying mirror since he'd read about those things in one of his spell books and it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to think that his father had ignored them completely after sending them away from the palace when he was just a boy and his sister only a one year old baby.

He didn't have long to think about that before Ally wiggled free and asked her questions, and he immediately moved to block her from Salvador when she hid behind him and then when their father knelt and assured her that he'd done all he could to keep their mother safe he frowned and reached back to put a reassuring hand on his sister's head, trying to soothe her a bit since he could tell she was upset though he wasn't sure what to think as far as their father letting their mother die. That was just something he'd have to think about more later. For now he just challenged his fathers claim that they would be made royal and announced that he could care for his sister and he was admittedly a tad nervous when Salvador narrowed his eyes, since the boy actually did remember just how his father used to react to open defiance and disrespect like this when he was a boy and he wasn't eager to find out if the man would tan his hide now that he was older and while his magic was bound he'd be defenseless against the man should Sal try that so it made him a bit wary. He gave his father a hard look of his own when Sal pointed out that he couldn't take care of both of them but as the man continued talking and he heard his sister sneezing he wavered since he really did care about her and he didn't want to see her get sick even if he could probably heal a cold he couldn't heal anything worse than that with his limited magical knowledge. He looked back at her and saw how she was shivering and clinging to him, her trusting eyes looking up at him to see what he would decide and he sighed, knowing what he had to do for her even if he wasn't happy about it.

"C'mere Ally" He said gently, holding his arms out for her then scooping her up. "Fine we'll stay the night but then we're leaving" He said, his voice as stern as he could make it though he realized he didn't really have any way to enforce that he was mostly trying to save face and appear as if he was doing this because he wanted to not because their father could force them if he didn't. Then he walked around his father, keeping a wide berth so that the man was never in grabbing distance and carried his sister up to the rooms that used to belong to them and wasn't surprised to find the hot bath was ready in Ally's room as well as a thick, warm nightgown for her to change into when she was done. He glanced awkwardly at the maids before gesturing towards the door with his head, "I'll take care of her, if you wouldn't mind leaving please" He asked them, his mother having raised him to be nice to people, especially women so he was trying. Once they were alone he closed the door and went over to the tub. "You want me to help you bathe or can you do it yourself?" He asked, already knowing she was capable of doing it herself but sometimes when she was feeling sick or clingy she wanted someone else to help her so he was willing to do that if she wanted him to and he intended on taking her with him to his room so he could take a bath later so she would be close to him all the time and no one could spirit her away and use her as leverage against him. He didn't really think their dad would do that but he couldn't know for sure so he was being careful now not to get separated from her.