Memory Glitch (Book 2 in the "Glitched" Series)

'Boys! What the Nether is going on here?' Vik called as soon as he saw Rob falling down the stairs. The house fell to silence, save for the quiet curses from the wolf hybrid ("Stupid *bleeping* rug.").

'Ahah yeah, we've been trying to slide down the stairs, and because Rob's a pleb, he can't do it.' Preston answered while sliding down the banister with ease, nudging the Canadian with his shoe before looking back up. 'Yo, why did you leave so quickly earlier?'

'Funny story, actually. Gather everyone in the living room, and sit in a circle like you did at school.'
'...Three of us never went to school. Hybrids, remember? We learnt everything here.'
''Kay, then just sit in a circle, there's something you should know.'

Once the small group off our had congregated in the room and, indeed, all sat on the floor like small children, the Brit coughed awkwardly to clear his throat before he began. 'Right, so basically - Lords, this is gonna be difficult to explain. Uh... The Brandon that's been living here for the past few years is, uh, a fake. A copycat, doppelganger, whatever you want to call him. The real Brandon just got flown over by Salt, who confirmed this, so-'

'I KNEW IT!' Jerome screeched victoriously, throwing his arms up in the air and whacking Mitch's arm in the process. In turn, the Canadian smacked the back of his head and moved away. 'Guys, please, this is serious.'

'Rob's right, he's in pretty bad shape. Also, random question, but have Lachlan's eyes ever, y'know, changed colour or anything? Hypothetically speaking of course.'

'Uh, nope! They might have done at one point but we never noticed anything.' Preston shrugged, though he seemed tense as he looked around. 'What are we supposed to do then? Go and talk to the "fake" Pete?'

Shaking his head as he leant against the doorframe, Vik pushed his hair back with one hand until he continued. 'Marina gave me strict orders to not let any of you guys do that. We could go and find Lachlan though, see if he's gone back to normal.'

'Expand on "normal", would you?'

'Well I don't exactly remember him getting severe moodswings and yelling at people before storming off, and I'm the one with memory loss.'

That was all the boys needed before they unconsciously agreed that they would find him. They remembered from last time to bring weapons, and within ten minutes had set off to fund the blond.
Of course, they wouldn't find him in such form.

~~~
It is complete, Father. He won't remember his " friends". Octavia reported as she crossed the impressive room, jumping into her ruby-embedded throne as her creator nodded slightly.
Well done, my child, you have served me well. Do we have any news on Skybrine?
...His body was found on his quarter's floor an hour ago. There was nothing when they attempted to collect his soul, as if it had manages to free itself.
The separation task - How did it fail?!
Maybe if you had followed my advice in the first place, then you would've known why. Entity scolded his younger brother, waving a hand through the air to create a shimmering projection. A solid black shape, around the host's height and build took form, and a glowing gold light appeared inside.

This is the host, and that, He gestured to the light. Is that host's soul. His spirit is strong enough, but with the added strength of that soul he's dangerous to your plan. Now, there goes your original spell.
A dark red blotch slammed into the doll-like figure, and it crumpled before reforming with glowing grey eyes. So the body has been taken over, correct? No trace of either the spirit, any memories or the soul are left.
Yes, yes, I'm aware of what the-
You didn't count on the combination of spirit and soul being so strong, that it would start to eat away at your daughter's magic.
And with that, the gold overtook the red.

The youngest god spluttered, choking on air while Octavia growled and crossed her arms. Some- That human, managed to beat me?
Apparently so, and now a combination of his soul and spirit, the figure disappeared, but the sun-like glow remain and began to float around the room. Is making it's way around this world. If you'd have waited, Hero, then I would've been able to keep a tracking spell on the soul. You've foiled your own plan.

Alright, Notch, I'll just get the thing back. Scowling at the memories that name brought hack, Entity turned on his heel and began to march out of the room. Just before he did though, he turned back and locked on to his sibling with piercing ruby eyes.
Then you shall do it alone. I shall partake in this silly game no longer, dear brother.

~~~
'Last time I checked, he was headed towards the beach, so that's our best bet.' Vik announced as the boys spread themselves out. Jerome was jumping through the trees, occasionally dropping down to check on his friends before climbing back up.
It was one of those internal instincts, y'know how pack animals do it? Like that.

'About what you were saying earlier, about his eyes...'
'Yeah?'
'It hasn't happened to Lachlan before, but it would happen to his Dad.' Rob muttered has he fell into step with the short Indian. This caused him to perk up, and he looked to the Canadian with bright eyes 'Would anything happen?'
'Colby - His Dad - He'd always had anger issues. Well, not really anger, he just - He was often disappointed, usually when around the group as a whole.' The brunet admitted. About to say more, there was an odd... Thing that made him stop. Almost like a sixth sense.

'Guys, stop.' He ordered, furry ears swivelling around as Jerome dropped down from another tree about five metres ahead. 'Rob, you picked up on that too?'

'Guys, would you please explain what THE NETHER?!'

'Jeez, calm yourself Preston - Dude, you alright?'

The Texan backed himself up against a tree, eyes transfixed on the red-and-white mass that was around twenty feet ahead. The thing is, he could tell the red wasn't natural.

That was blood, as if that thing had torn something to shreds.

'Y-You don't think...' He didn't even need to finish. Not like he would have the chance to anyway, since the mass of scales (now identifiable as a dragon) uncurled from it's blood-caked ball and turned to stare at the group with piercing crimson eyes.

It looked - Almost exactly like Salt, which was startling. The only difference is that where Salt had three heads, this new dragon only had one, and was slightly smaller.

'Is it hostile?'

'Nobody's gonna risk finding out; Mitch what the Nether geT BACK HERE!' Jerome yelped as the Canadian made his way through the tall grass towards the reptile. Grey magic danced around his hands, obviously prepared to use it t get away, and instead of approaching head-on he walked around, to the back of the dragon, to a sight he would never erase.

Wherever this thing had come from, it had torn Lachlan's dragon to shreds. Salt was barely clinging to life by the look of things, deep claw and bite marks all over his body as his three heads lay limp on the ground.

'...Guys?'

Of course, the bacca hybrid was the first to join his friend's side. Upon seeing the half-dead reptile he took a step back, looking between the two dragons with an obvious tension 'That thing...?'

'And if it got Salt, then- Oh gods, Lachlan.'

-------------------------

Whelp, Lachlan calls first death.

Hah.

Hahah.

How do y'all think it went?

Theories?

See you all in the next chapter, and have a great Morning - Afternoon - Evening - Dawn - Dusk - Midnight - Paranormal Timezone!