The Things We Fear

Driving back to Cassius’ home was a bit more lively than the way there. Brody had shouted shotgun and James had accepted the little guy’s win. The fact that he and James could barely look at one another without resembling tomatoes had nothing to do with the decision. Even Brody had asked him if he’d gotten sick. The innocent child wondering if his brother needed a lie down rather than a cold shower.

He’d ignored the knowing looks of his dad and the warning glares the man had shot at James. His mum getting home had been a relief. The woman was more interested in why he was taking Brody to Cassius’ house than whether or not he had been kissing his childhood friend. He’d had to make up a lie about online meetings and zoom calls he had to be present for. It sounded like bull even to his ears, but it was more believable than Marcus suddenly wanting to spend more time with the man he casually referred to as “sperm donor”.

Luckily, Brody’s excitement at going somewhere new and meeting the man he’d only heard about in passing had distracted the woman from delving too far. Sometimes Marcus thought it would be easier if his mother knew about the supernatural, but he also knew how there was no going back once that door was opened, and sometimes ignorance was bliss. The town was safe, mostly, and other than this recent problem, her not knowing meant she was safe from all the rubbish and politics Marcus was now going to be embroiled in.

They’d left soon after, lying about having to be there soon and needing to stop at the grocer’s on the way. He didn’t, but he had borrowed Cassius’ credit card again and planned on buying a few treats. He’d nearly died (again) earlier. Marcus was owed chocolate. And it would keep Brody on his best behaviour if he knew he’d get candy later. Really, he was just being smart.

Brody was happily singing along to the radio, his little high voice almost screeching in parts. He could see James intermittently wincing through the rearview. He had to force himself not to laugh. Brody didn’t have the best voice, bless him, but it wasn’t too bad. Though with supernatural senses, it was likely a little worse.

“That’s a biiiig house,” Brody marvelled as they pulled up the driveway.

“Yeah.”

“And your other daddy lives here?”

Marcus winced at the innocent question. He didn’t know how to explain to the younger boy how this man was not his dad, not like their dad. He couldn’t exactly say the only reason they were here was a murderous spirit creature that wanted to kill him. He simply smiled instead.

“Have you got your bag?”

“Yah-huh,” he said lifting the bag of toys.

“And the one with your clothes?”

The boy looked around confused.

“I put it in the trunk,” James answered for him.

Brody sent him a sheepish smile, having clearly forgotten the second bag. Marcus had been in no state to remember, so he flashed James a grateful look.

“Are you bringing me yet more strays?”

Marcus threw Cassius a filthy look.

“Cassius, this is my little brother Brody. I’m looking after him,” he said in a stern tone, allowing the other no arguments. “Brody, this is Cassius, my biological father,” there was no way in hell he was calling the man “his other dad”.

“Nice to meet you sir,” Brody said, extending his hand.

Marcus worried for a moment that Cassius would reject the offer, but it seemed Brody’s cute was too much even for the stone faced warlock.

“Welcome to my home. Dinner will be at seven,” (Marcus knew it!) “make sure your brother looks presentable,” with a sharp nod the man began retreating toward his office.

“Dude, you were gone–little dude! What are you doing here?” Theo asked, before sweeping the little man up in his arms.

Marcus caught the disapproving look from Cassius as he had hovered in the doorway. The man likely checking the vampire was okay with the boy before shutting himself in.

Brody gasped. Holding his hands to Theo’s face, “Theo, you’re a vampire?”

Marcus was sure he wasn’t the only one whose heart skipped a beat.

“Brodester? You know about–?” Theo was the first to be able to speak.

Marcus was still struggling to work his jaw.

“Oh, yeah, my bestest friend, John, is a Wolfie, and Anna, James’ sister is too. Lots of people in Breckon Heights are, didn’t you know?” The boy titled his head to the side, like a puppy.

“Nah man, I got the big supernatural reveal when a vampire decided to chow down on my arm,” Theo said, using his free arm to indicate where the now healed wounds were.

“Wait, the day after Marcus’ birthday? When he made you the smelly garlic drink?”

Brody shot Marcus a very accusing look.

“I wanted to stop the turning,” he argued, defending his actions. “And how long have you known? Does dad know you know? Has mum known all this time and just pretended she didn’t?”

Brody rolled his eyes at him. Him, his older brother, who the little brat should respect.

“You and dad aren’t as subtle as you think. And I don’t think mum knows. If she can ignore you flying the sheets from one room to the next every weekend when doing chores, I think she may not know.”

Marcus had not known Brody was aware he did that, but sheets were really difficult to dry and fold, maybe his mum wasn’t as oblivious as she feigned.

“Why didn’t you say anything to me or dad, if you knew we knew?”

Brody shrugged. “Didn’t seem important.”

Marcus was about to argue, but realised he had nothing to say. What difference would it have made knowing Brody knew? They would have still sent him to watch cartoon when they discussed anything important, and it wasn’t like (before now) the supernatural had been a big part of their lives.

“Right. Well, from now on, any life-changing discoveries, maybe run them past me or dad?”

“Like how the red skittles taste the best?” Brody said innocently.

“It’s the purple ones you heathen, and no, but like an entire secret society within our own, or like if you need help with stuff,” it sounded weak to his own ears by the end.

“As interesting as this discussion is,” Cassius began to interrupt.

“Can you really do big magicks, Mister Marcus’ dad, Sir?”

“Call me Cassius, we are sort of family, I suppose, and yes, I can do big magic,” though he pulled a face at the childish term.

Kicking against Theo in a sign he wanted to get down, Brody moved over to the warlock with big, round eyes.

“Can you show me? Can you show me, Sir? Pretty please,” the boy begged.

“Perhaps after dinner. For now, Theo, did you feel a bond with Brody like you did with Marcus? As you did not bite him, I assume you were not driven insane by his blood.”

Marcus wanted to hit the man across his head for how he chose to phrase the question.

“He felt like my little brother, so I think it extended.”

“Good, it should mean you are okay near my ex-wife as well, but the deputy may still be at risk. A task for another day. Before I forget,” Cassius turned to Marcus, “did you get it?”

He wordlessly handed over the small gold bracelet.

“Perfect. I will leave you boys to it. I suspect we will need to go after this thing as soon as we are able,” looking in James’ direction, “I have sent several of your pack to search for a cedar branch. Most in the hardware stores, but a few more accustomed were convinced one was growing locally. I doubt it, but your mother seemed relieved to get them out of the house and give them something to do.”

“It’s Lara’s funeral tomorrow,” the wolf replied quietly. “She probably wanted them out from underfoot whilst organising everything.”

Marcus suddenly felt a suspicious zap run down his spine.

“Brody? Your babysitter wouldn’t happen to be a wolf as well, would she?”

“Claire?” The boy shrugged, raising one hand dramatically. “She’s never said anything.”

“Brody,” he repeated in the same way their mother would.

“She may or may not flash her eyes when I threaten to put on werewolf themed movies.”

“Of course she does,” He muttered, turning to James, “What time is the service? I’d like to pay my respects.”

“Eleven.”

“I’ll-” a cough from Theo, “We’ll be there.”

“Well, now that’s all settled, I’m going to see if I can scry for this monster. Hopefully, if we get the cedar, we can go after it tonight whilst its still weakened from my attack and before it can feed again.” With that Cassius finally closed his office door. “No making a mess,” was shouted from the other side.

Marcus scoffed, before grabbing his brother by the shoulder and pulling him towards the living room.

“You, mister, have some explaining to do. And don’t you dare think I won’t be telling dad.”

“But Markiiieeeee.”

“Nope. you keep big secrets, you get big tellings off.”

The boy muttered lots of complaints which Marcus couldn’t quite hear, but judging by the grins on James’ and Theo’s face, the little guy was a regular comedian.

“Mr Cassius, Sir, can I come eat here every night? Your food is much better than Mum’s cooking.”

Oh gods. Marcus hoped his mother never heard her son saying that to her ex-husband. He resisted the urge to bury his head in his hands, barely. Hissing at Brody to shut up, but was ignored.

“You can come whenever you like, you have much better manners than my actual son.”

It might have been meant as a dig, but Marcus didn’t care. He was always happy when people liked Brody. Brody was the type of kid who blossomed under anyone’s positive attention.

“Can you teach me magic?”

“No!” Marcus shouted before Cassius could reply.

“Why not?” Brody’s cheeks flushed with the rising anger.

“How would we explain to mum that you kept coming to her ex-husbands house.”

“There’s a pool. We could say it’s swimming lessons.”

“We have a pool.” Granted, it was tiny, but they still had one.

“I want to spend more time with my brother.”

“Who says I’ll be here, anyway?”

“Because you’re learning magic now. And Theo is here,” he pointed to the vampire, sticking out his jaw stubbornly.

“Now, now,” Cassius cut in, “One needs a spark of magic in their veins in order for it to grow. You may have it, young master Gall, but you may not. We can test tomorrow if you really want to know, but it would be up to your parents if I or one of my coven mentored you, and I don’t believe either of them are overly keen on me.”

Marcus, Theo, and James scoffed in unison at the statement.

“Just a little bit,” he agreed.

“If I have it, and they agree, would you teach me with Marcus? Pretty pretty please?”

“Well, you do keep saying I’m learning what children do. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch.” Marcus added petulantly. Not that he was still bitter about Cassius’ comments, he wasn’t a child, after all.

Cassius threw him a dirty look. He sighed. “If your mother and father agree, then yes. But this would mean telling your mother, and she may not be best pleased to learn I kept things from her during our marriage.”

“Mum will forgive you. She always says Marcus should be nicer to you because you’re not a bad man, just the stupidest, brainy person she ever met. I don’t think she hates you,” Brody smiled widely, like he hadn’t just wielded a sword of words and slashed Cassius open.

After coughing awkwardly, and placing his napkin on his half finished plate, Cassius excused himself.

“Was that a yes?” Brody asked looking at the remaining three.

“It was a definite maybe, little dude. But maybe don’t share anything your mum’s said about other people to their faces again.”

“But Marcus said to share life-changing things?”

Theo looked at Marcus before shrugging the “I tired” clearly communicated.

It was Marcus’ turn to sigh.

“We should get some rest. The wolves will probably be back soon.”

“We should think about who will watch Brody whilst we’re out, Marie doesn’t work nights.”

“Theo’s playing babysitter.”

“Hey!”

“We can’t risk him near humans just yet, and we don’t know where the Seimetriuma might be hiding. Sorry, bro. But I’d rather you were here protecting my baby bro. That way you’re both safe.”

Theo looked like he wanted to argue, but one glance at Brody had him caving. He soon wheeled around to the wolf, fork pointed threateningly.

“You better keep him safe, or I’ll gut you with a rusty spoon.”