Up Against Your Will 2/4
Title: Up Against Your Will
Author: akire_yta
Summary: A story about growing up, finding your place, and learning what you truly believe in. And blowing up monsters with homemade grenades.
back to part one
Kevin came out of the shower, rubbing his hair with a towel. “Finally,” Frankie whined, sliding off the bed and pushed past him, firmly slamming the door closed after him.
Kevin laughed at Frankie’s cross-legged scurry. “You could have knocked,” he yelled through the cheap plywood door. He tossed aside his towel as the sound of running water filtered through the thin wall.
His favourite t-shirt was worn thing with age, and Kevin tugged it on carefully as he sat down and pulled out his laptop. In amongst the usual spam offering viagra and cash prizes was the email he had been quietly waiting for.
The pile of symbols in the sender field were becoming familiar, and Kevin reminded himself that he was meaning to look some of them up in dad’s books after Frankie’s bedtime. Well after Frankie’s bedtime -- some of the kid’s reading material was becoming a cause for concern. He put the thought to one side as Mike’s email appeared on screen.
hey from sunny florida. seems weird hunting in the sunshine state. butcher wants us to specialize in tropical monsters, and i think i might be with him on that. do you come down south much, or do i have to come up to find you. maybe we could take a holiday to canada and try to find the abominable snowman -mike
Kevin bit down on a stupid grin as he hit reply.
Hey yourself. I didn’t know there were monsters in Florida. As for the abominable snowman, rumour has it he was knocked off in the 1920s. However, big foot is still up for grabs if you want to make a season of it. -k2
He clicked open a new tab and called up from his bookmarks the national weather service reports. On the radio, he had heard of a set of severe weather warnings crossing the north of Nevada, and the pattern had piqued his interest. He sucked thoughtfully on his lip as the little animation of clouds and winds played on his screen. Could be nothing, could be something. Of course, by the time they had driven there, it might all be over either way.
There was a digital bleep. Kevin blinked out of his reverie, his eyes flicking over to the mail tab. The little dot next to Mike’s set of symbols on his contact list had gone green, and the chat popup was blinking for his attention.
evening, stranger. and there are all kinds of monsters down here. you probably don't want to know what the people in the swamps do to gators. do they have a bigfoot season? we may have to pioneer our own. carden and jonas, intrepid pioneers.
Kevin grinned, his fingers flying over the keys. We can start a trend - gators in the summer, Big Foot in the winter. If we are intrepid pioneers, does that mean I can wear a fancy hat?
i'll even buy you one with a feather. it'll be dashing
I can do dashing, He typed. You can grow your hair and be rakish. Together we fight monsters. It will be the stuff of legend
rakish and dashing? now we sound like superheroes. fighting gators and big foot, with the occasional vampire for flavor
Kevin pulled a face at the screen. Urg, vampires. Messy messy messy. Too much blood. This is why ghosts are best - ash and dust, but the evidence evaporates
“What are you doing?”
Kevin rocked back in his chair, automatically slamming down the lid of the laptop. Even as it clicked shut, he knew it had been a stupid thing to do. “Umm,” he spluttered. Frankie stood, hair damp and feet bare, and watched Kevin hesitate like it was the most amusing thing he had ever seen. Kevin had been so engrossed in talking to Mike that he hadn’t even heard the shower switch off. “Just looking up stuff.”
Frankie shrugged. “If you want to look up porn, that’s fine.”
“Frankie!” Kevin said, scandalized. “I don’t…I wasn’t…how do you even know…”
Frankie seemed unperturbed as he walked over to his bed and folded down the covers to his liking. “Joe and Nick watch it,” he said matter-of-factly. “So why can’t you? You’re the oldest.”
Kevin rubbed his temples. “Go to sleep,” he said, his jaw cramping from the effort to remain calm. “I need to go talk to Joe and Nick.”
Frankie sat up in bed. “Can I come too?”
“No, you’re clean and it’s past your bedtime.” Kevin walked over to his bedside, fussing with the sheets as he tucked Frankie in.
“Please?”
Kevin pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I’m taking the key. If you’re up when I get back, no computer and no tv for a week.”
Frankie pouted, but Kevin could tell he had been derailed from his original line of thought. He scooped up the laptop as he walked past, and juggled it awkwardly in one hand as he locked the door behind him.
Okay, if the judge doesn’t buy my claims of justifiable fratricide, will you come visit me in jail? he typed as he walked over to the car and settled on the hood. He needed a few minutes to clear his head before going to talk to Joe and Nick.
What did they do now? came the reply.
Somehow introduced Frankie to the concept of internet porn.
There was a pause. brb, lmao
Kevin bit his lip, his fingers hammering on the keys. Not. Funny.
come on, it’s a little hilarious. besides, you wanted normal. thousands of prepubescent boys around the nation learn the facts of life from playboy. its practically an american institution
How is it, Kevin typed. That you can’t use capitals, or even correct punctuation half the time, yet you correctly spell prepubescent?
natural talent. and a built-in spellchecker. what are you going to do now?
Kevin rolled his neck. Go give the talk my dad used to give. I’m very disappointed, you should know better, and so on and so forth.
There was no response. Kevin sighed and reached out to close the laptop again.
have u considered maybe giving them the talk Kevin would give?
He stared at the words on the screen in silence. Around him, the sounds of the drawing night closed in. Kevin just wants to curl up in bed and not have to worry any them like this anymore, he typed. His fingers shook slightly as he hit send.
that may be the most honest thing you’ve said about yourself yet.
Kevin considered the blinking cursor for a long time. I shouldn’t have said that at all he typed at last.
bullshit came back almost immediately. you can’t say that you didn’t mean that.
I didn’t say it, I typed it.
imagine my eyes rolling. i am going to get in my car right now and drive up and make you say that to my face. don't think i won’t. tell me where to find you. then go tell your brothers off, kevin-style. then go to bed, and i will meet you for breakfast.
Kevin shook his head as he slid off the hood. He put the laptop on the hood and rubbed his hands together to warm them. Up and out near the road, the neon sign for the motel flickered and hissed. I can’t deal with William right now on top of all this, but thanks.
i can ditch him, he’s liking the seabreeze and rum punches anyway
Kevin frowned. Highway 81, just outside of Greenville. Horseshoe Mountain motel. If I see William, I may just kill you in your sleep.
And if you skip out on me, i really will stalk you. see you for breakfast. your buying.
The little green dot by Mike’s username switched to grey. Kevin closed the lid of the laptop more slowly, unsure what to make by the sourness bubbling up from his stomach. For a moment, he looked at the car, considering his options. Then he shook his head, clearing his thoughts -- they’d paid for the night, and Frankie was probably already asleep.
Instead, he took a deep breath, and steeling himself for the inevitable argument from Nick and the mocking from Joe, he walked to the next room and knocked on their door.
~//~
Kevin crossed the threshold and scanned the dining room. Even at this early hour, the place was pretty busy. Men in plaid shirts and truckers hats lined the counter, and there were a couple of families in the booths lining the windows.
He smiled as he spotted a head of tousled dark hair. As he slung himself onto the seat opposite, Mike’s entire body seemed to relax, released from some unseen tension. “Can I get you a drink?” Kevin asked by way of an opening, nodding towards the coffee cup Mike was holding between his hands.
“If you’re buying,” Mike shot back, swiveling in his seat to flag down a waitress.
They sat in silence until the waitress returned with coffee and two pastries. Mike held his up and licked at the glaze. “Is this going to become a thing now?” he asked.
“Depends,” Kevin said, using a knife to carefully cut his into quarters. “Is you driving through the night to have breakfast with me going to become a thing now?”
Mike just grinned and sipped his coffee. “I needed a break from William. I know you don’t like the guy…”
“Who said that,” Kevin interrupted, licking the glaze off his fingers.
Mike frowned and looked away for a second. “I thought, I mean you two…”
Kevin stared down at his coffee, watching the ripples in the surface. “He was younger than I am now when dad found him and took him in. And yeah, we argued and stuff, but that’s family for you.” He looked up into Mike’s brown eyes. “He’s only a few years older than me, you know. It…” he sucked on his bottom lip for a moment, considering. “It was, like, I dunno, he took over being the eldest for a little while, which was cool. He was going to follow in dad’s footsteps and that meant the rest of us were off the hook.”
“So what happened?” Over by the door, a little girl started fussing, and Kevin watched as her mother tried to soothe her child. “Kevin?”
He blinked. “What happened? After….after everything, William just packed up and left. He said we were too young. I disagreed. You know most of the rest.” He shook his head and reached for the sugar. “Why is it you can get out of me in ten seconds flat things I would never normally tell anyone ever?”
Mike winked at him over his coffee cup. “Animal magnetism.” Kevin burst out laughing. “Besides,” Mike continued, watching him closely. “I think you really need someone to talk to who isn’t related to you by blood.”
Kevin held up a finger. “No dissing my brothers.”
“Wasn’t going to,” Mike said, hands held up in surrender. “But believe me when I say you don’t want to be left alone, not if,” he glanced around casually. “Not if you do what we do.”
Kevin leaned forward, the noise of the diner fading as he focused on what Mike seemed to be avoiding saying. “You sound like you know what you’re talking about.”
Mike tilted his head in silent acknowledgement but didn’t elaborate further.
“Kevin?”
Kevin jumped in surprise as Joe appeared next to his table. “Hey,” he said, flustered.
Joe pushed in next to him, staring at Mike. “Going to introduce me to your friend?”
“I’m Mike,” he said before Kevin could speak, seemingly unperturbed by Joe’s appearance.
“Where’s Frankie,” Kevin asked before Joe could ask another question.
In reply, Joe flicked a lazy hand towards the counter, where Nick was helping Frankie balance on a stool as he picked out a muffin for breakfast. “He woke up and we were hungry.” He was openly eying Mike off. “We were going to pick you something up, but look, we don’t have to.”
Kevin was saved by his phone buzzing in his pocket. He flipped it open and frowned as he read the message. “Anything interesting,” Joe asked lightly, his eyes flicking nervously between Kevin and Mike.
“Maybe a job,” Kevin said, biting back a smile as Joe’s eyes widened and he nodded meaningfully, and not very subtly, towards Mike.
Kevin could tell Mike was trying hard not to laugh too. “A job?” he said lightly instead. “Ghost, ghoul or zombie?”
Joe’s eyes were as wide as saucers. Kevin took pity and patted his shoulder. “Come on, we’ve got to roll.” He pushed Joe out of the booth. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” He smiled at Mike, well aware of Joe’s stare. “You can tell me how you banished that black dog next time.”
Mike tossed him a casual salute. “My turn to buy breakfast,” he confirmed. “See you.”
Kevin had to all but drag Joe over to where Nick was collected a large brown bag. “I take it we’re leaving,” he said drily.
“Stella called,” Kevin confirmed. “She’s got something for us.”
The four of them tumbled out into the car park. “Kevin, who was that?” Nick asked.
Frankie skipped ahead, but stopped as he reached the curb, waiting for his brothers. “Is that the person you’ve been chatting to online?” he asked innocently.
Kevin tried to fight the blush he could feel rising up from under his collar. “Professional colleague,” he said as briskly as he could, ignoring Nick and Joe’s twin stares. “We’ve been swapping banishment techniques.”
Joe’s grin was wickedly wide. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
Kevin took Frankie’s hand and crossed the road so he didn’t have to answer. They made it all the way through the motel car park before Kevin realized his brothers’ weren’t with him.
Frankie’s hand was warm in his, and Kevin paused for a moment, unsure whether to double back together or leave Frankie here. The question became irrelevant as Joe and Nick strolled around the corner.
“Guys, come on,” he said crossly. “We’ve still got to pack up, and Stella’s waiting.” Nick and Joe swapped conspiratorial looks. Kevin felt his heart sink. “What?”
“Just waiting on our backup.” Kevin automatically pushed Frankie to the side as a black car nosed its way up the motel driveway, engine growling low and deep. “Speaking of.”
Through the early morning glare, Kevin saw Mike through the windscreen. Letting go of Frankie’s hand, he walked up to the drivers’ side door. “Your brothers have invited me along,” Mike said easily. His eyes slid past Kevin and came back, sparkling with mischief. “They said something about wanting to hear the black dog story?”
Kevin sighed and rubbed his temples. “We’re that one,” he said, pointing out his car. “We just need ten to grab our stuff.”
Mike nodded. “Cool.” He swung around into the empty bay next to Kevin’s car and cut the engine. As Kevin tugged Frankie over to their room, he heard the stereo kick in. Kevin recognized it -- The Replacements’ Within Your Reach.
Mouth pressed into a thin, worried line, Kevin went to get his gear. He wondered what Stella was going to say.
~//~
Stella was lounging on a retaining wall, the picture of sophisticated relaxation. But Kevin didn’t miss the way she turned at his approach, watching him like a cat. He had no doubt that beneath her fashionably oversized sunglasses she was seeing everything that was going on around her. Her focus and attention was part of what made her such a great seer.
She pushed off the wall as he approached. “Kevin, you big lump, there you are!”
“Hi, friend who is a girl,” he teased back, gently holding her shoulders as she air kissed each of his cheeks.
“You’re late,” she scolded gently when she finally stepped back.
“Sorry, Stella, slow start,” Joe said from behind him, and Kevin didn’t miss the way her carefully cultivated expression flickered for a moment to reveal true pleasure, before the mask closed over her again.
“Joe, how are you?” Kevin shuffled his feet awkwardly as they hugged. “Nick, Frankie, nice to see you....” She trailed off as she saw who was behind him.
Mike was watching, one eyebrow raised. “Hello again,” he said meaningfully.
Stella was expressionless for a moment, then a sly little smirk tilted her lips. “Mike Carden. Well, well, well,” she drawled. “Suddenly a whole lot of things make sense.”
Kevin glanced at Mike, a little relieved to see Mike looked as confused as he felt. “I, I take it you two know each other?” he managed to stutter out.
Mike made a face. “Yeah, Chelsea and I have met before.”
Joe looked between them, brow furrowed. “Chelsea?” he asked, almost plaintively.
Stella tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Names are like shoes,” she said, completely unrepentant. “You can never have too many. Especially given the people I tend to deal with on a day to day basis.”
There was a pregnant pause. Kevin shook his head and jumped up to sit on the concrete barrier. He patted the spot next to him. “I’ll stick with Stella, if it’s all the same to you.”
She flashed him a very real and surprisingly sweet smile. “Thanks.” With one lithe leap, she jumped up to sit on the barrier. “Anyway, on to business,” she said meaningfully, looking between them all.
“Did you have another premonition?” Joe asked eagerly.
Mike made a pained noise. “You have premonitions?” he asked Stella weakly.
She looked down at him over her sunglasses for a moment, then rolled her eyes. “Duh,” she said inelegantly. “But like I would tell you that, Mister ‘I don’t believe in magic’!”
Kevin looked meaningfully at Mike, eye raised. Mike shrugged, abashed. Stella laughed. “Did Kevin change your mind? Excellent!” She held up her hand, and Kevin high-fived her. Despite their differences, Stella’s attitude, and the fact that she only saw them when she needed something, it always made Kevin feel good to know that he wasn’t such a freak as he sometimes felt.
“Anyway,” she continued on as if Mike hadn’t interrupted. “I have a job that needs that special Jonas touch.” She nudged Kevin’s shoulder with her own. “It’s right up your alley, and shouldn’t cause you any trouble.” She dug through her handbag and handed to Kevin a folded sheaf of paper. Kevin flipped through them briefly -- photocopies of old newspaper reports, a sketched map. She tapped the map with one manicured finger. “I even did some scrying,” she said. “Just to make sure.”
Nick grunted a humourless laugh. “You mean unlike last time, where you sent us first on a wild goose chase, and then nearly got us eaten?”
She dismissed him with a wave of her hand. “You’re fine, aren’t you? See, exactly.” She smiled at Joe. “Just the boys I need for this.” Her smile fell as she looked to Mike, and then rallied into something a little more wicked. “You can go too. You might learn something.”
~//~
It felt weird to be creeping through the dark keeping track of three people, not four. Mike drifted wider than Joe or Nick, skirting closer to deep shadows than Kevin was entirely comfortable with.
The house was old, and the floorboards creaked underfoot. Kevin wished he could use his torch, but the light would have attracted trouble. If Stella was right, they could just creep in, do the deed, and be gone well before dawn. They had one shot at this -- if they screwed up now, it would be ten years before someone else could take another crack at it.
Instead, he set his shoulders and forced himself to focus. Under his breath, he whispered a litany of Latin phrases, and slowly his night vision sharpened enough that he could make out enough of the space to move through silently.
Nick led the way up the stairs, setting the tempo as they took the steps one by one. Mike’s hand rested on Kevin’s shoulder, trusting Kevin to be his eyes and guide him safely up as he kept his weapon leveled on the rear of their strange little procession.
Stella’s map had shown a twisty passage lined with little rooms, but the reality was much creepier. The slope of the roof made the narrow corridor feel even more claustrophobic, and the closed doors contained unknown terrors. Kevin took a deep breath and tried to keep his mind focused on remembering the map, the spells, and everything else they knew about this place.
The final door was planked, panels of thick wood worn with age and care. Nick glanced back, checking their readiness before he slowly eased it open.
Kevin half-expected it to creak, but it swung open easily on well-oiled hinges. His eyes were instantly drawn to the back wall. The belts hung from hooks pounded into the wall, and Kevin was captivated by the aura of power he felt emanating off them. As he stood in the doorway, Nick and Joe moved further into the room, checking out the corners, making sure there were no last minute traps between them and their prize.
“Uh,” Mike whispered, so close Kevin could feel his body heat in the cold, cold attic room. “Guys. Shouldn’t there be four of them?”
Kevin froze, counted, and then counted again. Three belts, made of hair-covered hide and laden with charms. Next to them was an empty hook.
Outside, a wolf started to howl.
~//~
“’It shouldn’t cause you any trouble,’” Nick quoted back to her mockingly. “Stella, they were werewolves. Belt-wearing, flesh-eating, full-blown human-to-monster werewolves!“
She shrugged and dismissed his concerns with a flick of her fingers. “When I had my premonition, they were all in human form, and all in that hibernating sleep thing they do,” she said. “Precognition isn’t like pay-per-view, you know. You only see bits, and the bits I saw had you burning four wolfbelts. How was I to know that you had to get one of them off the wolf first?”
Kevin drifted over to Mike as Nick continued to rant. “You okay,” he asked quietly.
Mike nodded, not looking up as he picked at his nails. “Yeah,” he said, just as quiet. “Close one, huh?” he added with a humourless laugh.
“We’ve had worse,” Kevin said philosophically as he sat down next to Mike. “That was actually pretty easy by Stella standards.” Mike gave him a doubtful look. Kevin smiled ruefully. “Okay, at the top end of pretty easy by Stella standards. She was three-fourths right.”
“Yeah,” Mike said flatly. “Three of the pack were out of their skins and deep in their hibernation, textbook. But that still left one werewolf, and that’s one werewolf too many for my liking.”
Kevin drew his knees up to his chest, his eyes on Nick and Joe and Stella even as he answered Mike. “Is that why you came loaded to bear?” He dared a sideways look. “Where were you hiding that grenade, anyway?”
Mike’s expression was guarded. “Trade secret. But tell you what, you tell me what that hocus was and I’ll make you one.”
“One what, grenade?” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “Why am I not surprised that you home brew grenades?” Mike was grinning silently. “Concussion sound spell. Makes a big bang and a heck of a noise,” Mike made a querying noise in the back of his throat. “I figured he was stalking us by sound,” Kevin elaborated. “So I really gave him something to listen to.”
Mike nodded, shifting so he was angled slightly in towards Kevin. “Well, it worked. I think dog-boy would have ripped my throat out before I even got the pin out otherwise.”
Kevin chuckled. “What is it with you and throats being ripped out?” Mike froze, and Kevin blinked. Mike’s face had, for just a split second, shown raw grief and real pain, before sliding smoothly back to his usual, neutral expression. “Come on,” he said by way of peace offering as he stood up. “If Nick and Stella come to blows, I think Joe might explode trying to decide whose side he’s on.”
~//~
The night sky was clear, the stars brilliant pinpricks in the velvety darkness. Kevin closed the door behind him, cutting off the noise of Nick, Joe and Frankie laughing at the television.
He found Mike by the glow of the cherry on the end of his cigarette. “I didn’t know you smoked,” he said, feeling more unbalanced by that than he expected. “I guess,” he added with a weak laugh. “I guess there’s a lot about you I still don’t know.”
Mike took a deep drag on the cigarette. Kevin watched the cherry glow brighter, hypnotized. “I guess,” he mumbled.
“You know it’s bad for you, right?” Kevin winced as the words tumbled out.
Mike’s laugh was short and bitter. “Given the shit I breathe every time I blow something up, I think a little nicotine is the least of my problems.” But he took one last drag before dropping it to the dirt and grinding it out.
“We’re, umm, I mean, my brothers’ have found an old movie, if you want to watch. Microwave popcorn,” he added enticingly.
“William called,” Mike said instead of answering. “Wants my help on a gig out west.”
“Oh,” Kevin said quietly. “Right. Of course.”
Mike stood up from the wall he was leaning against. “I need to leave tonight to make the rendezvous.”
“Of course,” Kevin said, nodding as he took a step back. “Long drive and all. Have a safe trip.”
“Thanks,” Mike muttered. He turned, stopped, and turned back. “Tell me,” he said suddenly. Kevin’s head snapped up at the harsh note in his voice. “Is it always like that? I mean,” he waved his fingers in front of his own face. “With your eyes and the magic?”
Kevin frowned, then realized in the dark Mike probably couldn’t see. “What do you mean?”
Mike moved closer, and the slight height difference forced Kevin to either look up or step back. He held his ground. “I was looking at you, when you were doing your hocus thing.” His voice was tight and low. “And your eyes…I swear to god, they changed colour, like they were almost glowing.”
Kevin swallowed with difficulty. “You had just set the werewolf on fire,” he pointed out. “It was probably just the light reflecting or something.”
The shadows on Mike’s face shifted as he considered. “Yeah, maybe,” he said, unconvinced. This close, Kevin could hear the quiet exhalation of his breath. “Stay safe, okay?” His hand landed on Kevin’s shoulder, heavy and warm as Mike gently squeezed the junction of his neck. Mike’s fingers were calloused as they brushed against the bare skin exposed at the neck of Kevin’s t-shirt. He let go, and his boots crunched on the gravel as he walked away.
“You too,” Kevin managed, barely loud enough to be heard. He stayed where he was until he heard Mike’s car rev, and the tires roll out onto the highway.
The cicadas chirped in the night. Kevin turned back towards the light spilling out of the motel window. His brothers’ laughter grew louder as he eased back through the door, stepping carefully over the salt line across the threshold.
“Hey Kevin,” Joe said as he lay sprawled over one of the beds. “Popcorn?”
Kevin pasted a smile onto his face and waved Joe off. “In a sec.”
The bathroom door clicked as he closed it and turned the lock. He leant against the basin, painfully aware of his brothers on the other side of the thin wall. He closed his eyes and willed his breath into a deep and even rhythm. He let the sound of the television, his brothers’ laughter, and the distant muted hum of the traffic all fade away. He took his time, enjoying the luxury of being able to concentrate, commit himself fully to the practice. Calmness stole over him.
Carefully, he let his eyes drift open. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, all pale skin and deep shadows in the streetlight filtering in through the high-set window. He held up his hand, palm open to the ceiling. “Fiat lux et facta est lux,” he whispered, pouring his will into the words.
A small ball of flickering silver light materialized in the palm of his hand. Kevin ignored it, staring at his own face, unable to process what he had seen. He snapped his fingers closed over the palm of his hand, canceling out the magical orb. Taking a deep breathe, he tried again. “Pario aequora,” he hissed, his tongue twisting around the phrasing.
Cool, fresh water bubbled over his palm and into the basin. This time, there could be no mistaking the golden flash deep in his irises as the magic released itself.
Kevin closed his fist, canceling the spell. He leant forward, hands on the edge of the basin, taking his weight until his forehead touched the cool glass of the mirror. Why had nobody seen this, told him, he wondered. Was Mike the only one who had noticed? He sighed, feeling exhausted from more than just the effort of materializing his will into tangible things.
He jumped as someone banged on the door. “Yo, Kev! Come on, don’t fall asleep in there.”
“Just a minute.” He splashed some water on his face and scrubbed it dry, trying to wipe away any sign of his thoughts. Turning on the light only to turn it off again as he opened the door, he grinned weakly at Joe. “You better not have eaten all the popcorn.”
He watched the movie with them without seeing a single scene. All he could see was the looping memory of his face in the mirror, his eyes flashing from brown to gold over and over again.
~//~
Kevin didn’t remember falling asleep. He woke with a start, legs tangled in the sheets, heart racing, chased by unrecognizable monsters from his dreams.
He forced himself to relax, concentrating on getting his breathing back under control. A quiet whimper had him sitting straight up in bed, almost falling out as his feet hooked the sheets again. He freed himself and crept across the dark carpet.
Frankie was tossing and turning, making small whimpering noises of fear as his head thrashed on the pillow. By the faint glow of the streetlights filtering in through the curtains, Kevin could see damp tear tracks on his cheek.
Kevin sniffed, and gently took Frankie by the shoulders. “Frankie? Hey, Frankie. Come on, little man, wake up. It’s okay, it’s only a dream. Come on.”
Frankie woke with a gasp, his little body going rigid for a moment until his eyes focused in on his brothers’ face. “Kevin,” he whimpered.
“Hey, hey, I’ve got you,” Kevin soothed, scooping his baby brother up in his arms. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He pressed his mouth to the top of Frankie’s head, his hands rubbing Frankie’s arms until the trembling finally began to subside. “Wanna tell me what it was?” he asked quietly.
Frankie buried his face in Kevin’s chest and shook his head.
“Shh,” Kevin murmured, shifting to stroke his hand soothingly down Frankie’s neck. “It’s okay, look.” He twisted so Frankie’s head was resting against him as he pointed around the room. “We’ve got salt across the threshold for spirits, and charms under the windows. Nothing can come in uninvited, and we’ve got the doors locked against anything that doesn’t need to ask. And you know what else you’ve got?” Frankie made a weak noise. Kevin tightened his arms around him. “You’ve got your big brother who will never, ever let anything bad happen to you. Got it?”
“Got it,” Frankie snuffled, rubbing his hand over his face.
Kevin hugged him tight as Frankie’s breathing slowly evened out and his hands stopped clutching so desperately at Kevin’s shirt. “Don’t tell Nick and Joe,” he said. “But you are totally my favourite.”
Frankie snorted a laugh. “Of course I am, I’m awesome.”
Kevin laughed and brushed Frankie’s hair off his face. “Okay now?”
Frankie nodded, his face a picture of uncertainty. “Can you, maybe, stay here…”
Kevin sighed. “Of course. Here.” Kevin shifted Frankie around until they were settled, Kevin resting against the headboard with Frankie safely nestled against him. He reached over and pulled up the covers. “Shh, you can go back to sleep, I’ve got you.”
Frankie sighed and melted against him. Kevin surreptitiously tried to flex the cramp out of his arm from holding Frankie up for so long. Frankie murmured unhappily in his sleep at the moment, only settling as Kevin put his arm back.
Kevin rolled his neck slowly and settled into his vigil, waiting for dawn.
~//~
Frankie had nightmares every night for the rest of the week, and Kevin forgot what sleep was like. After the third night, he sent Frankie off to get breakfast with Nick and Joe and barricaded himself in the bathroom.
Are you awake? Can I call you? he texted. He perched himself on the closed toilet seat, clutching his phone. He rested his elbows on his thighs and let his head hang, too tired to think.
He jerked awake as his phone vibrated in his hand. “Hello?”
“Wow,” Mike said, his voice sleep-rough and warm. “You sound like shit.”
Kevin laughed flatly. “Gee, thanks.”
For a long moment, there was only static. “Okay, calling me, and then not calling me on saying shit. What’s wrong?”
Kevin rubbed his temples. “Nothing, just,” he grimaced into the expectant silence. “Frankie’s having nightmares. Like, every night so far this week. And when he doesn’t sleep, I don’t sleep, and I’m ready to punch someone.”
He could hear Mike shifting, and for a fraction of a second had the mental image of Mike, warm and sleepy under covers. The thought was scarily attractive. “Well,” Mike drawled. “As far as I can tell, you have two options. You can either drive over here and punch William -- he totally deserves it,” he added as Kevin choked on an exhausted giggle. “Or,” Mike continued more seriously. “You can spread the load. Get Joe and Nick to help.”
Kevin stood up, already shaking his head. “No, Frankie’s my responsibility.”
Mike made a rude noise over the static. “He’s their brother too. And unlike you, they’re not driving on no sleep. I’m not kidding, you sound like shit. Let them take some of the weight.”
Kevin studied his reflection in the tiny mirror above the sink. His eyes were bruised and over-bright. “Frankie’s a handful after a nightmare. I don’t think they could handle him,” Kevin said finally. “And I’m not going to punch William,” he added quickly.
“Then you need a third option,” Mike said flatly.
“If you think of one,” Kevin started.
“I’ll let you know,” Mike finished.
Kevin turned around as he heard his brothers in the other room. “I’ve got to go. And Mike -- thanks.”
“Any time.”
~//~
Frankie’s nightmares continued. Kevin found himself lying awake, waiting to hear that snuffling hiccup that was his cue to cross to the other bed and draw his brother into his arms. He held Frankie against his chest, and silently wished that whatever it was would just leave his little brother alone.
On the fourth day after calling Mike, Kevin’s head was throbbing and nothing he took seemed to touch it. Everything was starting to hurt, the constant pull of tense muscles leaving a bone-deep ache. Frankie was asleep before the sun had finished setting, and Kevin stood at the end of the bed, watching him sleep, willing that tonight he would make it through unscathed.
He looked over at his own bed, but he knew that it would be pointless. He paced the room instead, looking for something to occupy him, but the ache behind his eyes forced him to put aside the idea of research. For a brief moment, he considered the book, but discarded the idea. Magic wasn’t the cure for all ills, and the way he was feeling, he’d more likely make it worse than better.
Frankie was sleeping deeply, his breathing calm and even. Kevin made a split-second decision. Snatching up his coat, phone, keys, he slipped out of the motel room and went next door. “Guys,” he called as he knocked on the door. “Just me.”
The chain rattled as Nick opened the door. “Kev,” he said blandly, making no move to let Kevin in.
Kevin pushed on the door, feeling the resistance of the security chain. “Come on, let me in. I need a break, can one of you guys go sit with Frankie for a while.”
Nick’s eyes flicked from side to side, and Kevin felt his stomach turn to ice. “Nick,” Kevin said warningly. “Open the door, now.”
Nick sighed, his entire body slumping as he closed the door. Kevin heard the snick of the chain being released, and pushed past Nick as he reopened the door. Kevin stood in the centre of the room and turn around on the spot. “Nick,” Kevin asked, forcing himself to remain calm. “Where’s Joe?”
Nick approached slowly, hands out in appeasement. “Don’t flip,” Nick started. Kevin took a deep, steadying breath. “But he went out.”
“Out where, Nick?” His nails dug into the palm of his hand as Nick told him. “Right,” he said with a calm he did not feel. The pounding in his head was making him feel vaguely nauseous. “You are going to stay with Frankie tonight. Get your things.” He handed Nick his room key. “I’m going to get Joe.”
His tone brooked no argument, and Nick quickly and silently collected his things and slipped out the door. Kevin stayed where he was a moment longer, breathing against the nausea that was threatening to overwhelm him with each throb of his headache.
The bar was less than a block away, but Kevin drove, prepared for anything that Joe was going to throw at him.
The noise of the jukebox clashed against his headache, and Kevin winced as he pushed through the door. The noise inside grated against him, and he had to steel himself before pushing on into the crowd.
The smell of smoke mingled with the sharper tang of spirits and the earthy stink of spilled beer filled his nose, and bile rose up to burn the back of his throat. Kevin held his hand to his mouth, ignoring the stares as he hunted for Joe.
He found his wayward brother shooting pool. Kevin stood for a moment, leaning against the wall, watching as Joe sunk the black. “Haha,” he crowed. “Pay up.”
An older guy in a battered denim jacket slapped a ten dollar note into Joe’s outstretched hand and disappeared into the crowd. Joe waved the note above his head. “Hey, can I get another beer over here?”
Kevin pushed his way over and grabbed Joe at the wrists. “How about let’s not, huh?” he hissed into Joe’s ear.
He felt Joe stiffen, his muscles tensing to instinctively counter Kevin’s grip before stilling. “Uh, hi Kev,” Joe said, faux-bright. “Fancy seeing you here.”
Joe was smart enough not to argue as Kevin half-dragged him out of the bar and pushed him into the passenger seat of the car. “Kev, I can....”
Kevin stopped him with a wave of his hand. “Just, just save it Joe.”
“But Kev!”
Kevin winced and leaned against the steering wheel. “I don’t want to hear it, Joe,” he snapped, his head throbbing. “Seriously. I, I just can’t deal with this right now, okay.” He turned the key, listening as the engine rumbled into life. “I’m just so disappointed in you right now, Joe.”
Joe stayed silent for the short trip back to the motel. Kevin slapped the keys into his chest as they moved to the door of Joe’s room. “Get inside. I’m just going to check on Nick and Frankie.”
Nick answered the door at his gentle tap. “Hey, find Joe?” he whispered.
“Yeah,” Kevin said curtly. “Frankie okay?”
Nick’s mouth was a thin line as he stepped outside, pulling the door almost-closed behind him. “He had a nightmare,” Nick said. Kevin grimaced and bit back the urge to swear. “Yeah, but I think I’ve got him settled again. You should have told us it was that bad, man, we’d have helped. He’s our little brother too.”
Kevin shook his head, ignoring the rebuke. “Thanks, I can watch….”
Nick’s hand slapped into Kevin’s chest, stopping him cold. “I got him to tell me what his nightmare was,” Nick continued in the same calm, quiet tone.
Kevin felt strangely stung by that, that Frankie would confide in Nick and not him. “What is it?” he managed to say.
Nick blinked. “He’s dreaming of you. Dying, all by yourself with no one to help you.” Nick’s hand moved up to hold Kevin by the shoulder. “He’s afraid for you, Kevin.”
Kevin said a silent prayer for strength, the one his mother used to say. “What happened when he realized I wasn’t here?”
Nick shrugged. “He really woke up quick, but once I explained that you were with Joe, he seemed okay.” Nick smiled. “It was the idea that you were with Joe that settled it.”
Kevin nodded. “Okay, let me just go tuck him in.”
Frankie was curled up in the middle of a tangle of sheets. Kevin gently tugged and smoothed them out. Frankie made a little noise and rolled over, his eye cracking open. “Kevin,” he whispered, half-asleep.
“Yeah, buddy,” Kevin said, leaning over to press a kiss to his forehead. “Just me, we’re back, everything’s okay. Go back to sleep.”
Frankie mumbled something as his eyes drifted close again.
Kevin moved slowly back to where Nick was standing guard by the door. “Thanks.”
Nick opened the door and made a shooing gesture. “Go, deal with Joe, get some sleep. I’ve got this,” he added heavily.
Kevin glanced back at Frankie, sound asleep under the covers. He scuffed his hand through Nick’s hair. “Lock it, and try and get some sleep,” he murmured.
The light was still on in Joe and Nick’s room. Kevin rolled his shoulders as he let himself back in across the threshold. Joe was in his pajama pants and an old t-shirt, sitting on the end of his bed.
“Kevin,” he began.
“Joe,” Kevin cut him off. He opened his mouth, then sighed. “You know what, forget it. You’re underage, and what’s worse is that you snuck off. I’m angry, and you know I’m angry, and you know why. But it’s done.”
Joe nodded. “I just wanted to have some fun,” he said softly. He waved at a crumpled pile of notes sitting on the table between the beds. “I made $80,” he added.
Kevin sat down on the other bed, pinching the bridge of his nose in a desperate attempt to ease the pressure. “Keep it, you earned it.”
“Kevin, are you okay?”
Kevin sat up straighter. “Go drink a glass of water. You’ll thank me in the morning. And let’s just get some sleep.”
The light clicked out as they finally settled for the night. Kevin tossed from his back to his stomach, trying to get comfortable. Joe’s breathing was a different rhythm to Frankie’s, the feel of the room settling with a different energy.
“Kev,” Joe whispered in the dark. “I really am sorry.”
Kevin closed his eyes. “Get some sleep,” he repeated. Slowly, Joe’s breathing evened out. Kevin rolled onto his back and stared up at the dark ceiling, his ears pricking for any sound, his eyes burning with fatigue.
Hours later, he finally drifted off.
~/~
onto part three
Author: akire_yta
Summary: A story about growing up, finding your place, and learning what you truly believe in. And blowing up monsters with homemade grenades.
back to part one
Kevin came out of the shower, rubbing his hair with a towel. “Finally,” Frankie whined, sliding off the bed and pushed past him, firmly slamming the door closed after him.
Kevin laughed at Frankie’s cross-legged scurry. “You could have knocked,” he yelled through the cheap plywood door. He tossed aside his towel as the sound of running water filtered through the thin wall.
His favourite t-shirt was worn thing with age, and Kevin tugged it on carefully as he sat down and pulled out his laptop. In amongst the usual spam offering viagra and cash prizes was the email he had been quietly waiting for.
The pile of symbols in the sender field were becoming familiar, and Kevin reminded himself that he was meaning to look some of them up in dad’s books after Frankie’s bedtime. Well after Frankie’s bedtime -- some of the kid’s reading material was becoming a cause for concern. He put the thought to one side as Mike’s email appeared on screen.
hey from sunny florida. seems weird hunting in the sunshine state. butcher wants us to specialize in tropical monsters, and i think i might be with him on that. do you come down south much, or do i have to come up to find you. maybe we could take a holiday to canada and try to find the abominable snowman -mike
Kevin bit down on a stupid grin as he hit reply.
Hey yourself. I didn’t know there were monsters in Florida. As for the abominable snowman, rumour has it he was knocked off in the 1920s. However, big foot is still up for grabs if you want to make a season of it. -k2
He clicked open a new tab and called up from his bookmarks the national weather service reports. On the radio, he had heard of a set of severe weather warnings crossing the north of Nevada, and the pattern had piqued his interest. He sucked thoughtfully on his lip as the little animation of clouds and winds played on his screen. Could be nothing, could be something. Of course, by the time they had driven there, it might all be over either way.
There was a digital bleep. Kevin blinked out of his reverie, his eyes flicking over to the mail tab. The little dot next to Mike’s set of symbols on his contact list had gone green, and the chat popup was blinking for his attention.
evening, stranger. and there are all kinds of monsters down here. you probably don't want to know what the people in the swamps do to gators. do they have a bigfoot season? we may have to pioneer our own. carden and jonas, intrepid pioneers.
Kevin grinned, his fingers flying over the keys. We can start a trend - gators in the summer, Big Foot in the winter. If we are intrepid pioneers, does that mean I can wear a fancy hat?
i'll even buy you one with a feather. it'll be dashing
I can do dashing, He typed. You can grow your hair and be rakish. Together we fight monsters. It will be the stuff of legend
rakish and dashing? now we sound like superheroes. fighting gators and big foot, with the occasional vampire for flavor
Kevin pulled a face at the screen. Urg, vampires. Messy messy messy. Too much blood. This is why ghosts are best - ash and dust, but the evidence evaporates
“What are you doing?”
Kevin rocked back in his chair, automatically slamming down the lid of the laptop. Even as it clicked shut, he knew it had been a stupid thing to do. “Umm,” he spluttered. Frankie stood, hair damp and feet bare, and watched Kevin hesitate like it was the most amusing thing he had ever seen. Kevin had been so engrossed in talking to Mike that he hadn’t even heard the shower switch off. “Just looking up stuff.”
Frankie shrugged. “If you want to look up porn, that’s fine.”
“Frankie!” Kevin said, scandalized. “I don’t…I wasn’t…how do you even know…”
Frankie seemed unperturbed as he walked over to his bed and folded down the covers to his liking. “Joe and Nick watch it,” he said matter-of-factly. “So why can’t you? You’re the oldest.”
Kevin rubbed his temples. “Go to sleep,” he said, his jaw cramping from the effort to remain calm. “I need to go talk to Joe and Nick.”
Frankie sat up in bed. “Can I come too?”
“No, you’re clean and it’s past your bedtime.” Kevin walked over to his bedside, fussing with the sheets as he tucked Frankie in.
“Please?”
Kevin pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I’m taking the key. If you’re up when I get back, no computer and no tv for a week.”
Frankie pouted, but Kevin could tell he had been derailed from his original line of thought. He scooped up the laptop as he walked past, and juggled it awkwardly in one hand as he locked the door behind him.
Okay, if the judge doesn’t buy my claims of justifiable fratricide, will you come visit me in jail? he typed as he walked over to the car and settled on the hood. He needed a few minutes to clear his head before going to talk to Joe and Nick.
What did they do now? came the reply.
Somehow introduced Frankie to the concept of internet porn.
There was a pause. brb, lmao
Kevin bit his lip, his fingers hammering on the keys. Not. Funny.
come on, it’s a little hilarious. besides, you wanted normal. thousands of prepubescent boys around the nation learn the facts of life from playboy. its practically an american institution
How is it, Kevin typed. That you can’t use capitals, or even correct punctuation half the time, yet you correctly spell prepubescent?
natural talent. and a built-in spellchecker. what are you going to do now?
Kevin rolled his neck. Go give the talk my dad used to give. I’m very disappointed, you should know better, and so on and so forth.
There was no response. Kevin sighed and reached out to close the laptop again.
have u considered maybe giving them the talk Kevin would give?
He stared at the words on the screen in silence. Around him, the sounds of the drawing night closed in. Kevin just wants to curl up in bed and not have to worry any them like this anymore, he typed. His fingers shook slightly as he hit send.
that may be the most honest thing you’ve said about yourself yet.
Kevin considered the blinking cursor for a long time. I shouldn’t have said that at all he typed at last.
bullshit came back almost immediately. you can’t say that you didn’t mean that.
I didn’t say it, I typed it.
imagine my eyes rolling. i am going to get in my car right now and drive up and make you say that to my face. don't think i won’t. tell me where to find you. then go tell your brothers off, kevin-style. then go to bed, and i will meet you for breakfast.
Kevin shook his head as he slid off the hood. He put the laptop on the hood and rubbed his hands together to warm them. Up and out near the road, the neon sign for the motel flickered and hissed. I can’t deal with William right now on top of all this, but thanks.
i can ditch him, he’s liking the seabreeze and rum punches anyway
Kevin frowned. Highway 81, just outside of Greenville. Horseshoe Mountain motel. If I see William, I may just kill you in your sleep.
And if you skip out on me, i really will stalk you. see you for breakfast. your buying.
The little green dot by Mike’s username switched to grey. Kevin closed the lid of the laptop more slowly, unsure what to make by the sourness bubbling up from his stomach. For a moment, he looked at the car, considering his options. Then he shook his head, clearing his thoughts -- they’d paid for the night, and Frankie was probably already asleep.
Instead, he took a deep breath, and steeling himself for the inevitable argument from Nick and the mocking from Joe, he walked to the next room and knocked on their door.
~//~
Kevin crossed the threshold and scanned the dining room. Even at this early hour, the place was pretty busy. Men in plaid shirts and truckers hats lined the counter, and there were a couple of families in the booths lining the windows.
He smiled as he spotted a head of tousled dark hair. As he slung himself onto the seat opposite, Mike’s entire body seemed to relax, released from some unseen tension. “Can I get you a drink?” Kevin asked by way of an opening, nodding towards the coffee cup Mike was holding between his hands.
“If you’re buying,” Mike shot back, swiveling in his seat to flag down a waitress.
They sat in silence until the waitress returned with coffee and two pastries. Mike held his up and licked at the glaze. “Is this going to become a thing now?” he asked.
“Depends,” Kevin said, using a knife to carefully cut his into quarters. “Is you driving through the night to have breakfast with me going to become a thing now?”
Mike just grinned and sipped his coffee. “I needed a break from William. I know you don’t like the guy…”
“Who said that,” Kevin interrupted, licking the glaze off his fingers.
Mike frowned and looked away for a second. “I thought, I mean you two…”
Kevin stared down at his coffee, watching the ripples in the surface. “He was younger than I am now when dad found him and took him in. And yeah, we argued and stuff, but that’s family for you.” He looked up into Mike’s brown eyes. “He’s only a few years older than me, you know. It…” he sucked on his bottom lip for a moment, considering. “It was, like, I dunno, he took over being the eldest for a little while, which was cool. He was going to follow in dad’s footsteps and that meant the rest of us were off the hook.”
“So what happened?” Over by the door, a little girl started fussing, and Kevin watched as her mother tried to soothe her child. “Kevin?”
He blinked. “What happened? After….after everything, William just packed up and left. He said we were too young. I disagreed. You know most of the rest.” He shook his head and reached for the sugar. “Why is it you can get out of me in ten seconds flat things I would never normally tell anyone ever?”
Mike winked at him over his coffee cup. “Animal magnetism.” Kevin burst out laughing. “Besides,” Mike continued, watching him closely. “I think you really need someone to talk to who isn’t related to you by blood.”
Kevin held up a finger. “No dissing my brothers.”
“Wasn’t going to,” Mike said, hands held up in surrender. “But believe me when I say you don’t want to be left alone, not if,” he glanced around casually. “Not if you do what we do.”
Kevin leaned forward, the noise of the diner fading as he focused on what Mike seemed to be avoiding saying. “You sound like you know what you’re talking about.”
Mike tilted his head in silent acknowledgement but didn’t elaborate further.
“Kevin?”
Kevin jumped in surprise as Joe appeared next to his table. “Hey,” he said, flustered.
Joe pushed in next to him, staring at Mike. “Going to introduce me to your friend?”
“I’m Mike,” he said before Kevin could speak, seemingly unperturbed by Joe’s appearance.
“Where’s Frankie,” Kevin asked before Joe could ask another question.
In reply, Joe flicked a lazy hand towards the counter, where Nick was helping Frankie balance on a stool as he picked out a muffin for breakfast. “He woke up and we were hungry.” He was openly eying Mike off. “We were going to pick you something up, but look, we don’t have to.”
Kevin was saved by his phone buzzing in his pocket. He flipped it open and frowned as he read the message. “Anything interesting,” Joe asked lightly, his eyes flicking nervously between Kevin and Mike.
“Maybe a job,” Kevin said, biting back a smile as Joe’s eyes widened and he nodded meaningfully, and not very subtly, towards Mike.
Kevin could tell Mike was trying hard not to laugh too. “A job?” he said lightly instead. “Ghost, ghoul or zombie?”
Joe’s eyes were as wide as saucers. Kevin took pity and patted his shoulder. “Come on, we’ve got to roll.” He pushed Joe out of the booth. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” He smiled at Mike, well aware of Joe’s stare. “You can tell me how you banished that black dog next time.”
Mike tossed him a casual salute. “My turn to buy breakfast,” he confirmed. “See you.”
Kevin had to all but drag Joe over to where Nick was collected a large brown bag. “I take it we’re leaving,” he said drily.
“Stella called,” Kevin confirmed. “She’s got something for us.”
The four of them tumbled out into the car park. “Kevin, who was that?” Nick asked.
Frankie skipped ahead, but stopped as he reached the curb, waiting for his brothers. “Is that the person you’ve been chatting to online?” he asked innocently.
Kevin tried to fight the blush he could feel rising up from under his collar. “Professional colleague,” he said as briskly as he could, ignoring Nick and Joe’s twin stares. “We’ve been swapping banishment techniques.”
Joe’s grin was wickedly wide. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
Kevin took Frankie’s hand and crossed the road so he didn’t have to answer. They made it all the way through the motel car park before Kevin realized his brothers’ weren’t with him.
Frankie’s hand was warm in his, and Kevin paused for a moment, unsure whether to double back together or leave Frankie here. The question became irrelevant as Joe and Nick strolled around the corner.
“Guys, come on,” he said crossly. “We’ve still got to pack up, and Stella’s waiting.” Nick and Joe swapped conspiratorial looks. Kevin felt his heart sink. “What?”
“Just waiting on our backup.” Kevin automatically pushed Frankie to the side as a black car nosed its way up the motel driveway, engine growling low and deep. “Speaking of.”
Through the early morning glare, Kevin saw Mike through the windscreen. Letting go of Frankie’s hand, he walked up to the drivers’ side door. “Your brothers have invited me along,” Mike said easily. His eyes slid past Kevin and came back, sparkling with mischief. “They said something about wanting to hear the black dog story?”
Kevin sighed and rubbed his temples. “We’re that one,” he said, pointing out his car. “We just need ten to grab our stuff.”
Mike nodded. “Cool.” He swung around into the empty bay next to Kevin’s car and cut the engine. As Kevin tugged Frankie over to their room, he heard the stereo kick in. Kevin recognized it -- The Replacements’ Within Your Reach.
Mouth pressed into a thin, worried line, Kevin went to get his gear. He wondered what Stella was going to say.
~//~
Stella was lounging on a retaining wall, the picture of sophisticated relaxation. But Kevin didn’t miss the way she turned at his approach, watching him like a cat. He had no doubt that beneath her fashionably oversized sunglasses she was seeing everything that was going on around her. Her focus and attention was part of what made her such a great seer.
She pushed off the wall as he approached. “Kevin, you big lump, there you are!”
“Hi, friend who is a girl,” he teased back, gently holding her shoulders as she air kissed each of his cheeks.
“You’re late,” she scolded gently when she finally stepped back.
“Sorry, Stella, slow start,” Joe said from behind him, and Kevin didn’t miss the way her carefully cultivated expression flickered for a moment to reveal true pleasure, before the mask closed over her again.
“Joe, how are you?” Kevin shuffled his feet awkwardly as they hugged. “Nick, Frankie, nice to see you....” She trailed off as she saw who was behind him.
Mike was watching, one eyebrow raised. “Hello again,” he said meaningfully.
Stella was expressionless for a moment, then a sly little smirk tilted her lips. “Mike Carden. Well, well, well,” she drawled. “Suddenly a whole lot of things make sense.”
Kevin glanced at Mike, a little relieved to see Mike looked as confused as he felt. “I, I take it you two know each other?” he managed to stutter out.
Mike made a face. “Yeah, Chelsea and I have met before.”
Joe looked between them, brow furrowed. “Chelsea?” he asked, almost plaintively.
Stella tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Names are like shoes,” she said, completely unrepentant. “You can never have too many. Especially given the people I tend to deal with on a day to day basis.”
There was a pregnant pause. Kevin shook his head and jumped up to sit on the concrete barrier. He patted the spot next to him. “I’ll stick with Stella, if it’s all the same to you.”
She flashed him a very real and surprisingly sweet smile. “Thanks.” With one lithe leap, she jumped up to sit on the barrier. “Anyway, on to business,” she said meaningfully, looking between them all.
“Did you have another premonition?” Joe asked eagerly.
Mike made a pained noise. “You have premonitions?” he asked Stella weakly.
She looked down at him over her sunglasses for a moment, then rolled her eyes. “Duh,” she said inelegantly. “But like I would tell you that, Mister ‘I don’t believe in magic’!”
Kevin looked meaningfully at Mike, eye raised. Mike shrugged, abashed. Stella laughed. “Did Kevin change your mind? Excellent!” She held up her hand, and Kevin high-fived her. Despite their differences, Stella’s attitude, and the fact that she only saw them when she needed something, it always made Kevin feel good to know that he wasn’t such a freak as he sometimes felt.
“Anyway,” she continued on as if Mike hadn’t interrupted. “I have a job that needs that special Jonas touch.” She nudged Kevin’s shoulder with her own. “It’s right up your alley, and shouldn’t cause you any trouble.” She dug through her handbag and handed to Kevin a folded sheaf of paper. Kevin flipped through them briefly -- photocopies of old newspaper reports, a sketched map. She tapped the map with one manicured finger. “I even did some scrying,” she said. “Just to make sure.”
Nick grunted a humourless laugh. “You mean unlike last time, where you sent us first on a wild goose chase, and then nearly got us eaten?”
She dismissed him with a wave of her hand. “You’re fine, aren’t you? See, exactly.” She smiled at Joe. “Just the boys I need for this.” Her smile fell as she looked to Mike, and then rallied into something a little more wicked. “You can go too. You might learn something.”
~//~
It felt weird to be creeping through the dark keeping track of three people, not four. Mike drifted wider than Joe or Nick, skirting closer to deep shadows than Kevin was entirely comfortable with.
The house was old, and the floorboards creaked underfoot. Kevin wished he could use his torch, but the light would have attracted trouble. If Stella was right, they could just creep in, do the deed, and be gone well before dawn. They had one shot at this -- if they screwed up now, it would be ten years before someone else could take another crack at it.
Instead, he set his shoulders and forced himself to focus. Under his breath, he whispered a litany of Latin phrases, and slowly his night vision sharpened enough that he could make out enough of the space to move through silently.
Nick led the way up the stairs, setting the tempo as they took the steps one by one. Mike’s hand rested on Kevin’s shoulder, trusting Kevin to be his eyes and guide him safely up as he kept his weapon leveled on the rear of their strange little procession.
Stella’s map had shown a twisty passage lined with little rooms, but the reality was much creepier. The slope of the roof made the narrow corridor feel even more claustrophobic, and the closed doors contained unknown terrors. Kevin took a deep breath and tried to keep his mind focused on remembering the map, the spells, and everything else they knew about this place.
The final door was planked, panels of thick wood worn with age and care. Nick glanced back, checking their readiness before he slowly eased it open.
Kevin half-expected it to creak, but it swung open easily on well-oiled hinges. His eyes were instantly drawn to the back wall. The belts hung from hooks pounded into the wall, and Kevin was captivated by the aura of power he felt emanating off them. As he stood in the doorway, Nick and Joe moved further into the room, checking out the corners, making sure there were no last minute traps between them and their prize.
“Uh,” Mike whispered, so close Kevin could feel his body heat in the cold, cold attic room. “Guys. Shouldn’t there be four of them?”
Kevin froze, counted, and then counted again. Three belts, made of hair-covered hide and laden with charms. Next to them was an empty hook.
Outside, a wolf started to howl.
~//~
“’It shouldn’t cause you any trouble,’” Nick quoted back to her mockingly. “Stella, they were werewolves. Belt-wearing, flesh-eating, full-blown human-to-monster werewolves!“
She shrugged and dismissed his concerns with a flick of her fingers. “When I had my premonition, they were all in human form, and all in that hibernating sleep thing they do,” she said. “Precognition isn’t like pay-per-view, you know. You only see bits, and the bits I saw had you burning four wolfbelts. How was I to know that you had to get one of them off the wolf first?”
Kevin drifted over to Mike as Nick continued to rant. “You okay,” he asked quietly.
Mike nodded, not looking up as he picked at his nails. “Yeah,” he said, just as quiet. “Close one, huh?” he added with a humourless laugh.
“We’ve had worse,” Kevin said philosophically as he sat down next to Mike. “That was actually pretty easy by Stella standards.” Mike gave him a doubtful look. Kevin smiled ruefully. “Okay, at the top end of pretty easy by Stella standards. She was three-fourths right.”
“Yeah,” Mike said flatly. “Three of the pack were out of their skins and deep in their hibernation, textbook. But that still left one werewolf, and that’s one werewolf too many for my liking.”
Kevin drew his knees up to his chest, his eyes on Nick and Joe and Stella even as he answered Mike. “Is that why you came loaded to bear?” He dared a sideways look. “Where were you hiding that grenade, anyway?”
Mike’s expression was guarded. “Trade secret. But tell you what, you tell me what that hocus was and I’ll make you one.”
“One what, grenade?” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “Why am I not surprised that you home brew grenades?” Mike was grinning silently. “Concussion sound spell. Makes a big bang and a heck of a noise,” Mike made a querying noise in the back of his throat. “I figured he was stalking us by sound,” Kevin elaborated. “So I really gave him something to listen to.”
Mike nodded, shifting so he was angled slightly in towards Kevin. “Well, it worked. I think dog-boy would have ripped my throat out before I even got the pin out otherwise.”
Kevin chuckled. “What is it with you and throats being ripped out?” Mike froze, and Kevin blinked. Mike’s face had, for just a split second, shown raw grief and real pain, before sliding smoothly back to his usual, neutral expression. “Come on,” he said by way of peace offering as he stood up. “If Nick and Stella come to blows, I think Joe might explode trying to decide whose side he’s on.”
~//~
The night sky was clear, the stars brilliant pinpricks in the velvety darkness. Kevin closed the door behind him, cutting off the noise of Nick, Joe and Frankie laughing at the television.
He found Mike by the glow of the cherry on the end of his cigarette. “I didn’t know you smoked,” he said, feeling more unbalanced by that than he expected. “I guess,” he added with a weak laugh. “I guess there’s a lot about you I still don’t know.”
Mike took a deep drag on the cigarette. Kevin watched the cherry glow brighter, hypnotized. “I guess,” he mumbled.
“You know it’s bad for you, right?” Kevin winced as the words tumbled out.
Mike’s laugh was short and bitter. “Given the shit I breathe every time I blow something up, I think a little nicotine is the least of my problems.” But he took one last drag before dropping it to the dirt and grinding it out.
“We’re, umm, I mean, my brothers’ have found an old movie, if you want to watch. Microwave popcorn,” he added enticingly.
“William called,” Mike said instead of answering. “Wants my help on a gig out west.”
“Oh,” Kevin said quietly. “Right. Of course.”
Mike stood up from the wall he was leaning against. “I need to leave tonight to make the rendezvous.”
“Of course,” Kevin said, nodding as he took a step back. “Long drive and all. Have a safe trip.”
“Thanks,” Mike muttered. He turned, stopped, and turned back. “Tell me,” he said suddenly. Kevin’s head snapped up at the harsh note in his voice. “Is it always like that? I mean,” he waved his fingers in front of his own face. “With your eyes and the magic?”
Kevin frowned, then realized in the dark Mike probably couldn’t see. “What do you mean?”
Mike moved closer, and the slight height difference forced Kevin to either look up or step back. He held his ground. “I was looking at you, when you were doing your hocus thing.” His voice was tight and low. “And your eyes…I swear to god, they changed colour, like they were almost glowing.”
Kevin swallowed with difficulty. “You had just set the werewolf on fire,” he pointed out. “It was probably just the light reflecting or something.”
The shadows on Mike’s face shifted as he considered. “Yeah, maybe,” he said, unconvinced. This close, Kevin could hear the quiet exhalation of his breath. “Stay safe, okay?” His hand landed on Kevin’s shoulder, heavy and warm as Mike gently squeezed the junction of his neck. Mike’s fingers were calloused as they brushed against the bare skin exposed at the neck of Kevin’s t-shirt. He let go, and his boots crunched on the gravel as he walked away.
“You too,” Kevin managed, barely loud enough to be heard. He stayed where he was until he heard Mike’s car rev, and the tires roll out onto the highway.
The cicadas chirped in the night. Kevin turned back towards the light spilling out of the motel window. His brothers’ laughter grew louder as he eased back through the door, stepping carefully over the salt line across the threshold.
“Hey Kevin,” Joe said as he lay sprawled over one of the beds. “Popcorn?”
Kevin pasted a smile onto his face and waved Joe off. “In a sec.”
The bathroom door clicked as he closed it and turned the lock. He leant against the basin, painfully aware of his brothers on the other side of the thin wall. He closed his eyes and willed his breath into a deep and even rhythm. He let the sound of the television, his brothers’ laughter, and the distant muted hum of the traffic all fade away. He took his time, enjoying the luxury of being able to concentrate, commit himself fully to the practice. Calmness stole over him.
Carefully, he let his eyes drift open. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, all pale skin and deep shadows in the streetlight filtering in through the high-set window. He held up his hand, palm open to the ceiling. “Fiat lux et facta est lux,” he whispered, pouring his will into the words.
A small ball of flickering silver light materialized in the palm of his hand. Kevin ignored it, staring at his own face, unable to process what he had seen. He snapped his fingers closed over the palm of his hand, canceling out the magical orb. Taking a deep breathe, he tried again. “Pario aequora,” he hissed, his tongue twisting around the phrasing.
Cool, fresh water bubbled over his palm and into the basin. This time, there could be no mistaking the golden flash deep in his irises as the magic released itself.
Kevin closed his fist, canceling the spell. He leant forward, hands on the edge of the basin, taking his weight until his forehead touched the cool glass of the mirror. Why had nobody seen this, told him, he wondered. Was Mike the only one who had noticed? He sighed, feeling exhausted from more than just the effort of materializing his will into tangible things.
He jumped as someone banged on the door. “Yo, Kev! Come on, don’t fall asleep in there.”
“Just a minute.” He splashed some water on his face and scrubbed it dry, trying to wipe away any sign of his thoughts. Turning on the light only to turn it off again as he opened the door, he grinned weakly at Joe. “You better not have eaten all the popcorn.”
He watched the movie with them without seeing a single scene. All he could see was the looping memory of his face in the mirror, his eyes flashing from brown to gold over and over again.
~//~
Kevin didn’t remember falling asleep. He woke with a start, legs tangled in the sheets, heart racing, chased by unrecognizable monsters from his dreams.
He forced himself to relax, concentrating on getting his breathing back under control. A quiet whimper had him sitting straight up in bed, almost falling out as his feet hooked the sheets again. He freed himself and crept across the dark carpet.
Frankie was tossing and turning, making small whimpering noises of fear as his head thrashed on the pillow. By the faint glow of the streetlights filtering in through the curtains, Kevin could see damp tear tracks on his cheek.
Kevin sniffed, and gently took Frankie by the shoulders. “Frankie? Hey, Frankie. Come on, little man, wake up. It’s okay, it’s only a dream. Come on.”
Frankie woke with a gasp, his little body going rigid for a moment until his eyes focused in on his brothers’ face. “Kevin,” he whimpered.
“Hey, hey, I’ve got you,” Kevin soothed, scooping his baby brother up in his arms. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He pressed his mouth to the top of Frankie’s head, his hands rubbing Frankie’s arms until the trembling finally began to subside. “Wanna tell me what it was?” he asked quietly.
Frankie buried his face in Kevin’s chest and shook his head.
“Shh,” Kevin murmured, shifting to stroke his hand soothingly down Frankie’s neck. “It’s okay, look.” He twisted so Frankie’s head was resting against him as he pointed around the room. “We’ve got salt across the threshold for spirits, and charms under the windows. Nothing can come in uninvited, and we’ve got the doors locked against anything that doesn’t need to ask. And you know what else you’ve got?” Frankie made a weak noise. Kevin tightened his arms around him. “You’ve got your big brother who will never, ever let anything bad happen to you. Got it?”
“Got it,” Frankie snuffled, rubbing his hand over his face.
Kevin hugged him tight as Frankie’s breathing slowly evened out and his hands stopped clutching so desperately at Kevin’s shirt. “Don’t tell Nick and Joe,” he said. “But you are totally my favourite.”
Frankie snorted a laugh. “Of course I am, I’m awesome.”
Kevin laughed and brushed Frankie’s hair off his face. “Okay now?”
Frankie nodded, his face a picture of uncertainty. “Can you, maybe, stay here…”
Kevin sighed. “Of course. Here.” Kevin shifted Frankie around until they were settled, Kevin resting against the headboard with Frankie safely nestled against him. He reached over and pulled up the covers. “Shh, you can go back to sleep, I’ve got you.”
Frankie sighed and melted against him. Kevin surreptitiously tried to flex the cramp out of his arm from holding Frankie up for so long. Frankie murmured unhappily in his sleep at the moment, only settling as Kevin put his arm back.
Kevin rolled his neck slowly and settled into his vigil, waiting for dawn.
~//~
Frankie had nightmares every night for the rest of the week, and Kevin forgot what sleep was like. After the third night, he sent Frankie off to get breakfast with Nick and Joe and barricaded himself in the bathroom.
Are you awake? Can I call you? he texted. He perched himself on the closed toilet seat, clutching his phone. He rested his elbows on his thighs and let his head hang, too tired to think.
He jerked awake as his phone vibrated in his hand. “Hello?”
“Wow,” Mike said, his voice sleep-rough and warm. “You sound like shit.”
Kevin laughed flatly. “Gee, thanks.”
For a long moment, there was only static. “Okay, calling me, and then not calling me on saying shit. What’s wrong?”
Kevin rubbed his temples. “Nothing, just,” he grimaced into the expectant silence. “Frankie’s having nightmares. Like, every night so far this week. And when he doesn’t sleep, I don’t sleep, and I’m ready to punch someone.”
He could hear Mike shifting, and for a fraction of a second had the mental image of Mike, warm and sleepy under covers. The thought was scarily attractive. “Well,” Mike drawled. “As far as I can tell, you have two options. You can either drive over here and punch William -- he totally deserves it,” he added as Kevin choked on an exhausted giggle. “Or,” Mike continued more seriously. “You can spread the load. Get Joe and Nick to help.”
Kevin stood up, already shaking his head. “No, Frankie’s my responsibility.”
Mike made a rude noise over the static. “He’s their brother too. And unlike you, they’re not driving on no sleep. I’m not kidding, you sound like shit. Let them take some of the weight.”
Kevin studied his reflection in the tiny mirror above the sink. His eyes were bruised and over-bright. “Frankie’s a handful after a nightmare. I don’t think they could handle him,” Kevin said finally. “And I’m not going to punch William,” he added quickly.
“Then you need a third option,” Mike said flatly.
“If you think of one,” Kevin started.
“I’ll let you know,” Mike finished.
Kevin turned around as he heard his brothers in the other room. “I’ve got to go. And Mike -- thanks.”
“Any time.”
~//~
Frankie’s nightmares continued. Kevin found himself lying awake, waiting to hear that snuffling hiccup that was his cue to cross to the other bed and draw his brother into his arms. He held Frankie against his chest, and silently wished that whatever it was would just leave his little brother alone.
On the fourth day after calling Mike, Kevin’s head was throbbing and nothing he took seemed to touch it. Everything was starting to hurt, the constant pull of tense muscles leaving a bone-deep ache. Frankie was asleep before the sun had finished setting, and Kevin stood at the end of the bed, watching him sleep, willing that tonight he would make it through unscathed.
He looked over at his own bed, but he knew that it would be pointless. He paced the room instead, looking for something to occupy him, but the ache behind his eyes forced him to put aside the idea of research. For a brief moment, he considered the book, but discarded the idea. Magic wasn’t the cure for all ills, and the way he was feeling, he’d more likely make it worse than better.
Frankie was sleeping deeply, his breathing calm and even. Kevin made a split-second decision. Snatching up his coat, phone, keys, he slipped out of the motel room and went next door. “Guys,” he called as he knocked on the door. “Just me.”
The chain rattled as Nick opened the door. “Kev,” he said blandly, making no move to let Kevin in.
Kevin pushed on the door, feeling the resistance of the security chain. “Come on, let me in. I need a break, can one of you guys go sit with Frankie for a while.”
Nick’s eyes flicked from side to side, and Kevin felt his stomach turn to ice. “Nick,” Kevin said warningly. “Open the door, now.”
Nick sighed, his entire body slumping as he closed the door. Kevin heard the snick of the chain being released, and pushed past Nick as he reopened the door. Kevin stood in the centre of the room and turn around on the spot. “Nick,” Kevin asked, forcing himself to remain calm. “Where’s Joe?”
Nick approached slowly, hands out in appeasement. “Don’t flip,” Nick started. Kevin took a deep, steadying breath. “But he went out.”
“Out where, Nick?” His nails dug into the palm of his hand as Nick told him. “Right,” he said with a calm he did not feel. The pounding in his head was making him feel vaguely nauseous. “You are going to stay with Frankie tonight. Get your things.” He handed Nick his room key. “I’m going to get Joe.”
His tone brooked no argument, and Nick quickly and silently collected his things and slipped out the door. Kevin stayed where he was a moment longer, breathing against the nausea that was threatening to overwhelm him with each throb of his headache.
The bar was less than a block away, but Kevin drove, prepared for anything that Joe was going to throw at him.
The noise of the jukebox clashed against his headache, and Kevin winced as he pushed through the door. The noise inside grated against him, and he had to steel himself before pushing on into the crowd.
The smell of smoke mingled with the sharper tang of spirits and the earthy stink of spilled beer filled his nose, and bile rose up to burn the back of his throat. Kevin held his hand to his mouth, ignoring the stares as he hunted for Joe.
He found his wayward brother shooting pool. Kevin stood for a moment, leaning against the wall, watching as Joe sunk the black. “Haha,” he crowed. “Pay up.”
An older guy in a battered denim jacket slapped a ten dollar note into Joe’s outstretched hand and disappeared into the crowd. Joe waved the note above his head. “Hey, can I get another beer over here?”
Kevin pushed his way over and grabbed Joe at the wrists. “How about let’s not, huh?” he hissed into Joe’s ear.
He felt Joe stiffen, his muscles tensing to instinctively counter Kevin’s grip before stilling. “Uh, hi Kev,” Joe said, faux-bright. “Fancy seeing you here.”
Joe was smart enough not to argue as Kevin half-dragged him out of the bar and pushed him into the passenger seat of the car. “Kev, I can....”
Kevin stopped him with a wave of his hand. “Just, just save it Joe.”
“But Kev!”
Kevin winced and leaned against the steering wheel. “I don’t want to hear it, Joe,” he snapped, his head throbbing. “Seriously. I, I just can’t deal with this right now, okay.” He turned the key, listening as the engine rumbled into life. “I’m just so disappointed in you right now, Joe.”
Joe stayed silent for the short trip back to the motel. Kevin slapped the keys into his chest as they moved to the door of Joe’s room. “Get inside. I’m just going to check on Nick and Frankie.”
Nick answered the door at his gentle tap. “Hey, find Joe?” he whispered.
“Yeah,” Kevin said curtly. “Frankie okay?”
Nick’s mouth was a thin line as he stepped outside, pulling the door almost-closed behind him. “He had a nightmare,” Nick said. Kevin grimaced and bit back the urge to swear. “Yeah, but I think I’ve got him settled again. You should have told us it was that bad, man, we’d have helped. He’s our little brother too.”
Kevin shook his head, ignoring the rebuke. “Thanks, I can watch….”
Nick’s hand slapped into Kevin’s chest, stopping him cold. “I got him to tell me what his nightmare was,” Nick continued in the same calm, quiet tone.
Kevin felt strangely stung by that, that Frankie would confide in Nick and not him. “What is it?” he managed to say.
Nick blinked. “He’s dreaming of you. Dying, all by yourself with no one to help you.” Nick’s hand moved up to hold Kevin by the shoulder. “He’s afraid for you, Kevin.”
Kevin said a silent prayer for strength, the one his mother used to say. “What happened when he realized I wasn’t here?”
Nick shrugged. “He really woke up quick, but once I explained that you were with Joe, he seemed okay.” Nick smiled. “It was the idea that you were with Joe that settled it.”
Kevin nodded. “Okay, let me just go tuck him in.”
Frankie was curled up in the middle of a tangle of sheets. Kevin gently tugged and smoothed them out. Frankie made a little noise and rolled over, his eye cracking open. “Kevin,” he whispered, half-asleep.
“Yeah, buddy,” Kevin said, leaning over to press a kiss to his forehead. “Just me, we’re back, everything’s okay. Go back to sleep.”
Frankie mumbled something as his eyes drifted close again.
Kevin moved slowly back to where Nick was standing guard by the door. “Thanks.”
Nick opened the door and made a shooing gesture. “Go, deal with Joe, get some sleep. I’ve got this,” he added heavily.
Kevin glanced back at Frankie, sound asleep under the covers. He scuffed his hand through Nick’s hair. “Lock it, and try and get some sleep,” he murmured.
The light was still on in Joe and Nick’s room. Kevin rolled his shoulders as he let himself back in across the threshold. Joe was in his pajama pants and an old t-shirt, sitting on the end of his bed.
“Kevin,” he began.
“Joe,” Kevin cut him off. He opened his mouth, then sighed. “You know what, forget it. You’re underage, and what’s worse is that you snuck off. I’m angry, and you know I’m angry, and you know why. But it’s done.”
Joe nodded. “I just wanted to have some fun,” he said softly. He waved at a crumpled pile of notes sitting on the table between the beds. “I made $80,” he added.
Kevin sat down on the other bed, pinching the bridge of his nose in a desperate attempt to ease the pressure. “Keep it, you earned it.”
“Kevin, are you okay?”
Kevin sat up straighter. “Go drink a glass of water. You’ll thank me in the morning. And let’s just get some sleep.”
The light clicked out as they finally settled for the night. Kevin tossed from his back to his stomach, trying to get comfortable. Joe’s breathing was a different rhythm to Frankie’s, the feel of the room settling with a different energy.
“Kev,” Joe whispered in the dark. “I really am sorry.”
Kevin closed his eyes. “Get some sleep,” he repeated. Slowly, Joe’s breathing evened out. Kevin rolled onto his back and stared up at the dark ceiling, his ears pricking for any sound, his eyes burning with fatigue.
Hours later, he finally drifted off.
~/~
onto part three