The Things We Fear

The drive over to his house was awkward. James sat in the passenger seat silently. His body was stiff and prepared for attack. Marcus wanted to comment on it, but words fled his brain. The last time they had been alone together had been the night of Theo’s turning and it had ended with them agreeing to shelve the conversation for later. It was later, but it still didn’t feel like time. Marcus didn’t think there was ever going to be a right time, but he was happy to put it off as long as possible.

When he arrived home, his dad’s police car was in the driveway. meaning the man was likely home for his lunch or just popping in.

“Marcus, there you are? Where have you been?”

“There’s been a lot going on, dad. A lot, a lot. You remember James don’t you?”

“The wolf-boy who dumped you years ago, yeah, I remember him.”

Marcus might have been embarrassed, but he was a little too happy about his dad’s need to defend him to scold the older man.

“Sorry, sir. There were a lot of contributing factors and mitigating circumstances. We did not know your family was,” he paused, “aware of certain elements in this town.”

“Marcus!” came the screech as a small missile barreled into him.

“Brody-bro, my favourite man, how have you been?”

“I missed you. You and Theo have barely been here. Did you find better friends than me?” if his brother didn’t sound so upset, the pouty lips would have been adorable, having to resist the urge to squeeze the little guy, Marcus assured his brother that no friends would ever be more important than him.

Whilst comforting Brody he missed what transpired between his dad and James, but they appeared to have come to an agreement. At least there weren’t any guns involved.

“Your mum’s on her way home but has to go straight back out. You couldn’t take Brody for the afternoon, could you?”

He shared a look with James, he needed to get that bracelet before his mum got home, and the longer they were here the more danger there was of the monster returning. The more he thought about it, the worse he felt about leaving Brody here without any protection. Well, more than the ones around the house, but against the Seimetriuma he wasn’t sure how they would hold. It made the decision for him. No matter what his dad might feel about it, Brody’s safety was the first priority. Hopefully, with James there, Theo’s new status wouldn’t be an issue either.

“We’ll have to take him to Cassius’. It’s the best place for everyone right now,” he hoped his dad got the underlying message.

The look of sucking on a lemon was the only way to describe deputy Gall’s reaction.

“Can I, dad? Can I?”

In the face of Brody’s excitement, no one could resist.

“Okay, but be a good boy, and listen to your big brother. No touching things you aren’t supposed to and no talking to people you shouldn’t.”

Brody nodded so enthusiastically, Marcus was surprised he didn’t get whiplash. He was pretty sure he heard his dad mutter something about staying away from Cassius, too, but it was too low for his human ears.

“We came back to grab a couple of things. Do you remember where mum keeps my baby stuff? There’s something in there we’ll need.”

The man looked curious for a moment but shook his head as though saying he didn’t want to know.

“It’s in the wardrobe. I need to change my shirt,” he pointed to the coffee stain on his torso, “It’s why I came back. I’ll grab it whilst I’m up there.” The deputy climbed the stairs two at a time as he went up to his room.

“Alright, Brod’s, I don’t know how long we’ll be at Cassius’ so you’ll need to bring plenty to entertain yourself, and maybe a change of clothes if we need to stay the night.”

The boy ran up the stairs cheering about a sleepover. He didn’t have the heart to tell him it would be more like sleeping in a prison than a fun night with friends. Maybe with Brody there, it wouldn’t be too bad.

“I need to grab a few things from my room. Maybe pop the coffee on?” He pointed to the kitchen, “I could probably do with a cup to keep me going.” He forced a smile before also going up the stairs.

Once in his room, the first thing he did was open his laptop. Going straight to his favourite forum.

#Creature who eats fear and kills victims. Can take souls. Shape-shifter. Likely from another plane of existence. Seimetriuma suggested. Any other ideas or clues for getting rid?#

With that done, he started collecting his things. The computer was already pinging with replies and a few private messages popped up. Throwing clothes into a bag, he debated whether he should bring other shoes as well. Cassius liked to look his best even when traipsing through the forest, and with Brody there, the man would likely want them to have a sit-down meal. It might be worth humouring the man. Make it less awkward on his baby bro. He threw his dress shoes in the bag. He hadn’t worn them since the wedding his mum had made him go to last year. He hoped they still fit.

Returning to the computer, he looked at the comments before the messages. Many people said it was a demon. A few of the older crowd commented below those people to say demon just meant a negative spirit from another realm and could be anything.

Clicking on the messages, one of his friends, a fae from the east coast, had asked him what was happening, as well as sending a scanned picture, luckily translated into English, about the Seimetriuma.

#What have you gotten yourself into?#

#It’s tried to eat me, twice. Not my fault#

#You lived?!?#

#I’m pretty sure it swallowed me whole and definitely killed me the first time. It’s killed several others. Seems my magic is a little more powerful than I thought.#

#Finally ready to embrace the witchy heritage? Your father will be pleased.#

Marcus winced. Fey, her username, not exactly imaginative, but to the point, was a friend he had been speaking to for years. When she’d asked why he didn’t seek the local community Marcus had shared his woes. The benefits of anonymity online had helped him have an outlet he didn’t have in real life.

#I’m not so sure. Seems he tried to get rid of me a few times. Not dead, just moved away.#

#Wow. That sucks. sorry.#

#Is what it is. But now I have a demon reaper trying to eat my fear and feast on my soul, so y’know, priorities#

#Do you have Cedar?#

Before he could type a reply, his dad was standing in the doorway, blessed bracelet in hand.

“Thank you.” he took the small bangle carefully, putting it in the side pocket of his bag.

“Brody is ready when you are. You sure about taking him there?”

He hadn’t told his dad about the second attack and worried if he did, the man might never let him leave.

“It’s the only place safe from that thing, and we can’t have Brody here on his own anyway.”

“Yeah, the babysitter cancelled at the last minute. Her family’s had a recent loss or something and the funeral is tomorrow, so she couldn’t be here.”

There had been that many deaths recently. It was probably taking longer than normal to organise what came after. He gave a nod to his dad, spotting Brody over his shoulder. The boy had packed a bag filled with toys and no clothes.

“I best go and grab a couple of things. James was making coffee if you want some before you head out?”

“Yeah, I’ll wait for your mum, make sure she isn’t worrying where both her kids got off to.” He sent Marcus a smile before making his way back downstairs.

“Alright, little man, let’s get you sorted.”

Brody raised his bag as though to say “I am sorted”. Snorting at the little guy, he nudged him back to his bedroom.

“Sleeping clothes? Fresh undies? Clothes for tomorrow? Your toothbrush and favourite toothpaste?” Knowing the younger boy would throw a strop whenever he didn’t have the ‘nice tasting paste’.

“I’ll go get it,” Brody said, zooming off again.

Marcus shook his head at this brother’s antics, grabbing another bag for the boy’s clothes. He could still hear the pinging of his laptop in the other room. Likely Fey checking he hadn’t been eaten again. He returned to a whole host of messages. Quickly reassuring her he was fine and currently packing to get behind safe wards.

#I’ll check my other stuff later, send anything else I find, but stay safe!#

Sending back his agreement, he shut the laptop and put it in his bag. He’d yet to use it for what his dad had originally bought it for, but it was already proving handy. He threw the charging cable in after and looked around his room to see if there was anything else.

“Ready?” came the voice from the doorway.

He jumped in place, turning to scowl at the wolf.

“Learn to make some noise would you,” with a hand over his chest he said, “you nearly gave me a heart attack.”

James wasn’t listening though, his eyes set on a picture frame on his window. It had been there for years. In a set of five images. For all he’d wanted to remove and burn it several times, Marcus could never bring himself to do it. There was a look of awe on the wolf’s face as he held the faded image in his hand.

“You kept it,” he breathed out.

“It’s a good picture,” hear could hear the defensiveness in his own voice.

If Marcus had known James would be coming up to his room, he’d have hidden it first.

“I still have mine, too. On the wardrobe. I never moved it. No matter what alpha said,” he spoke like it was a confession.

Marcus had no idea how to respond. “Thanks for not getting rid of me entirely,” “Why would you keep it?” “Why are you telling me this?” what could he say to that?

“It’s a good picture,” he settled on. It felt safe.

“Yeah. we were happy. Weren’t we?” The boy looked fragile as he asked.

A vindictive part of him wanted to snap and snarl. To hurt the other. But he could bring himself to destroy that fragile look.

“Yeah. We were. We were happy. Back then.”

It wasn’t quite admitting they weren’t happy now, but it was something. James replaced the picture on the windowsill gently, as though afraid one little push might destroy the thing. With the number of times Marcus had knocked it over, it was unlikely, but it was sweet to watch.

It took his mind a moment to realise the wolf was striding toward him. Blinking in shock when a hand gripped his waist and pulled him forward. He opened his mouth - to protest or ask a question, something - but before a sound could form, lips were on his.

His mind flashed back to that hallway. The way those hands had gripped him tight. There were no velvet walls to lean against, but at least he wasn’t completely unsure what to do this time. Hungrily kissing back, he hooked an arm around the other’s neck and pushed his hips against the other. The two moaned into each other’s mouths as their hardening lengths brushed up against one another.

“You stole my first kiss,” Marcus said breathily when they finally pulled apart.

“That wasn’t your first kiss,” James corrected.

“No, you stole the second as well. You owe me at least two,” he said before pulling the other back in.