“No”
“What? But why not?” Jackson whined.
“Yeah. Why can't they join us?” Georgia turned around with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Didn't you hear them? Their dad is Cor! And don't forget how upset mom said he was when he didn't get chosen in that competition a while ago. Who knows what he's willing to do to get revenge.” Lance glanced at the two siblings.
“Oh come on! Do you honestly think he would use his own kids to get revenge for something that happened years ago?!” Nellie exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.
“Yes. Yes I do.” Lance said seriously.
“How about we give them a… a trial period?” Ash piped up, and everyone turned to look at him.
“What?” Lance blinked.
“Well, we don't know if we can trust them right now, but if we gave them something to do to prove that we can, or just give them a bit of time on the team, we can decide whether or not we should trust them.” Ashton scratched his head as he explained.
His siblings glanced at each other and shrugged.
“You're smarter than you make yourself out to be Ashton.” Nellie commented.
Ashton shrugged in response.
“How do you two feel about his idea?” Georgia turned to ask the kids.
“We'll do anything to get on your team!” Margaret said eagerly.
“Ok then. We'll go with the trial period part of his idea. Unless anyone else can think of something for them to do?” Georgia looked at her siblings.
No one said anything, so Georgia turned back to Margaret and Jackson.
“You won't be officially on the team, and if you do anything we think is suspicious, you're never going to be on the team. You will have 2 weeks to show us that we can trust you.” Georgia looked them in the eyes.
“Got it” the two kids said in unison.
“Nellie, Georgia! You gotta help me!” Briar begged her two daughters, her lollipop green eyes full of tears.
“Mom! We already told you! We are trying to find someone who can get rid of whatever is inside you!” Nellie said as she pulled out a white handkerchief and wiped her mother's tears.
“You'd do that for me?” Briar looked at Nellie and then Georgia.
“Of course! Once we show an exorcist proof, then we will bring them here and they can get that demon out of you!” Georgia wrapped her arms around her mom.
Briar buried her head in Georgia cloud-like green hair. “Thank you.”
“Now let's get you somewhere where you can't hurt anyone. I have a feeling that if the demon gets control again, it might try to hurt someone.” Nellie said, her voice soft as she slipped under one of Briar's arms and Georgia slipped under the other.
Briar nodded and the trio began walking, Briar wincing anytime her feet stayed on the ground too long, leaving red prints on the marble floor.
“Here. Do you think your room, with enough enchantments would be able to hold you, or the demon rather?” Georgia said as they paused in front of Briar's door.
“It should.” Briar nodded as she lifted a finger to the scanner outside her room. There was a click and the door swung open.
“click the button on this necklace if you need anything alright?” Nellie said softly as she out a purple necklace around her mothers neck.
“I will. Thank you guys for helping.” Briar smiled and then shuffled into her room, the door closing behind her.
“Now thats sorted. What do we do about the Cor?” Georgia turned to her siblings.
“Confront him?” Lance offered, scratching his head.
“No, that won't work.” Nellie shook her head and crossed her arms. She furrowed brow as she thought about it.
“What about we ask his kids to spy on him instead?” Ashton suggested, glancing at each of his siblings in turn.
“Hold up.” Georgia leaned toward Ashton and looked him up and down, “Who are you and what have you done to my brother?”
“Huh?” Ashton asked, his confusion evident in his face.
“My brother does not have good ideas. So, I repeat, who are you and what have you done to my brother?” Georgia suddenly held a knife to his chin.
“Georgia… put. The knife. Down.” Lance cautioned as he held his hands out protectively.
“No. Not until this imposter tells us who he is and where our brother is.” Georgia growled.
“Georgia why are you so sure this is not actually Ashton? For all you know he could have just been faking how smart he is this whole time!” Nellie threw her hands in the air.
Georgia scoffed, “There is no way he has been hiding it since he was a baby. No one is that smart.”
“Georgia you're right.” Ashton smirked as everyone turned to look at him. “I'm honestly surprised it took you so long to figure out.”