by Rani Clark
Mr. Ragnar reached out and gripped his shoulder, “They don’t want to hear your entire life story.”
“Sorry. Nervous talker. Talker period,” he laughed.
Mr. Ragnar shook his head, “We’ll be staying in a hotel in town if you ever need to speak to me about anything.”
“Leif can stay here,” Jaska voiced. “If he wants.”
Mr. Ragnar looked at the young man, hesitating a moment before he spoke, “Well, Leif? I’ll still be in town.”
Leif looked at him and then at Jaska, “Um, ok. As long as I won’t be a bother.”
“The more the merrier,” Mina said. “You can bunk with Jaska and Ty.”
“Sounds fun.”
Jaska liked Leif and thought he would have fun with his family. He had become used to the young man and didn’t think that he wanted to stay here without him. Plus, they could both use a break from Mr. Ragnar.
Mr. Ragnar picked up his bag, “We’ll be here for a week. Jaska is free to do as he wishes.” He turned to go without another word.
Jaska watched him go, “We’re not inviting him to dinner, are we?”
“Heavens no!” Mina told them. “I can’t look at him without wanting to hit him.”
Jaska didn’t feel comfortable talking about Mr. Ragnar when he wasn’t in the room. Leif loved him after all. “Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be staying.”
Leif picked up both of their bags and walked with him down the hall. “Ty seems cool.”
“He is. He’s a very nice person.” He opened the door, “I hope that you’re alright staying here. You didn’t have to say yes just because I asked.”
“No, this will be fun! I hope so. Sorry if I’m talking too much, I’m just nervous.” He set his bag down by the door, “Do I at least get a sleeping bag?”
“I’ll get one.” He turned, “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do I really look that awful?”
Leif sighed, “Yes. You barely eat and you keep weird hours. You cry all of the time, of course you’re going to look bad. Don’t worry about it.”
“They know I look bad.”
“You hardly ever leave the house. When you do go out, it’s in the early morning or late at night. When was the last time you saw the sun?”
Jaska nodded and left the room. Never going outside would make him ill no matter what he did. Playing in the land of the dead was never a good idea if he didn’t explore life once in a while. “Nana, is there a sleeping bag Leif can have or something?”
“I’ll put out the blow-up mattress.”
“Thank you.” He looked at his mother, “Can we go for a walk, mom?”
“Of course honey.”
Jaska buttoned up his coat and followed his mother out the door. He walked next to her in silence, not sure what to say. He didn’t recoil when she took his hand like he normally would have done. “I’m sorry about everything.”
“You don’t have to be, none of this is your fault,” she told him.
He noticed her flinch at the cold; his body temperature was dangerously low and it was starting to get noticeable. He felt dumb for not wearing gloves. “What did dad have to say about it?”
Lilly Ann sighed, “I didn’t tell your father. Well, I lied about it. I told him you had been accepted into an exchange program. I’m sorry, but I didn’t want to cause problems. You know he would.”
“I know. I’m glad you didn’t say anything. Dad would go ballistic. How’s everything else?”
He listened to his mother talk for a short while and then she asked about him. He did his best to lie, to remember what he had written in the letters. From the look on Lilly Ann’s face she was believing him. He was glad of it. He didn’t think he could ever tell her about Mr. Ragnar shooting him.
“Is Mr. Ragnar nice?”
“More or less. I don’t think he’s ever even raised his voice to me.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He’s . . . only made me do a couple of things. I had to be introduced to a bunch of necromancers. That was pretty awful.”
Lilly Ann linked her arm through his, “So it isn’t too bad?”
“No. I miss all of you, but I’ll get used to it. It’s much like me going away to college anyway.” Jaska looked up at the sky, “Is Ty really alright?”
“He’s getting better. I think he’s getting more confident.”
“That’s good. I want him to be alright. I’ve been worried about him. He wasn’t exactly all together when I left him.” He noticed his mother was thinking about something else to tell him; she always had a look in her eyes. “Is something wrong?”
“No, everything is fine other than the fact that you aren’t home.”
His mother was lying, but he wasn’t going to call her on it when they would only be together for a week. “I’m sorry that Mr. Kircher is the one you have to deal with. It wasn’t my choice.”
“It’s fine. He isn’t that bad.”
A lie. Everyone hated Elias the moment they met him. What he did radiated from his entire being. “Yes, he is. What’s going on?”
“Nothing, honey. I’m just worried about you and I miss you.”
He doubted that. This had something to do with Elias and he didn’t like what his mind was coming up with. “Ok.” But he wouldn’t push it. He was too tired to push it. “I hope you’re alright with me going to bed early? I’m really tired.”
“That’s fine.” She kissed his forehead, “You really look awful. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Just a little tired. Necromancy takes a lot out of you.”
When they returned to the house he hugged everyone and bid them goodnight. He found traveling had exhausted him. As he lay down on the bed in the slight dark of the room he felt his heart begin to hammer. What made him think this was a great idea? He was worrying his family with how bad he looked and the odd way he knew he was acting without thinking about it.
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much.”
Jaska looked over at Monarch who had appeared out of nowhere as per the usual. His Spirit Guide sat on the other bed. “Worry about what?”
“You always get that look when you’re worrying about something. How are things with the family?”
“Fine, I guess. I’m glad to see everyone, but now they know what’s going on. At least some of it.” He stared at the ceiling as he spoke, “What have you been up to?”
“He has been up to nothing.”
Mads appeared then. Jaska stared at the two of them, “Aren’t you supposed to be finding that book?”
“I have been! Well, I’ve been looking. I met someone, another Spirit Guide, who might know something. If what I've been fidning out is correct we need to find something called Death's Book. Mads is no help.”
“You know, I have my own necromancer to look after. Vladimir is a capable adult, but he still gets into scrapes.”
Jaska covered his ears, “Guys, can we take a break? I just want to sleep. We can talk more about it when I get back, ok?”
“Fine.” Monarch stood, “Don’t worry Jaska. Your mother is glad to see you, everyone is. Try to have fun. At least a little.” He squeezed his shoulder, tilting his head in concern before vanishing.
Jaska didn’t want to think about the book that he hadn’t told Mr. Ragnar about or what was going on with Death’s Mark on his chest. He dreaded the thought so he tried to put it out of his mind. He closed his eyes for what he thought was a moment. He found himself being shaken awake in the darkness of the room.
“Huh?”
Ty was sitting on the bed, “You were crying.”
Jaska wiped his wet cheeks, “What?”
“You were crying.” Ty was speaking quietly as Leif snored. “Really hard, actually. Are you ok?”
Jaska shook his head, “I cry a lot. Just ignore it and go back to sleep.”
“It was kinda hard listening to.” Ty looked at Leif, “He sleeps like a log. Want to go for a wa
lk?”
Jaska nodded and stood from the bed. They both grabbed their coats, gloves, scarves, hats, and boots before heading out the door. Ty shivered in the cold as they walked, folding his arms against the brisk air. Jaska was used to the cold and didn’t much regard it. “I cry every night. I’m getting used to it.”
“You shouldn’t have to get used to it.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You look terrible. When you said that you weren’t sleeping . . . you smile and it isn’t in your eyes. You’re too thin and you-” he stopped. “You know that though.”
“I do. I don’t go out in the sun much and I keep weird hours with my lessons.” It wasn’t the complete truth. Mr. Ragnar had remarked how sick he looked. “I’ll get better.”
“Take some vitamin C maybe. Something. Anything. I don’t want you hurt.” He looked up at the stars, “Anything interesting happen?”
“I accidently summoned a Demon Beast that almost ate me.”
Ty’s jaw dropped, “How did you accidently do that?”
“I was working on summoning and I thought I could handle it. Turns out I couldn’t and I almost got killed.”
“Anything else?”
“Yes. I cried so hard once that I couldn’t open my eyes. Mr. Ragnar cared for me. He was nice about it.”
“Why were you crying that hard?”
“Just . . . I guess the pressure of everything got to me that day. I don’t know.” He shook his head, “It’s been awful.”
Ty reached out and took his hand, “I wish there was something I could do to help.”
“I told you, I’ll be fine. How about you? Anything fun happen while I’ve been gone?”
“My dad screamed at me and told me never to come back. My mother sort of defended me. At one point, I thought your mom was going to clobber him.”
“Did he hit you again?”
“No, but I wish he had. At least then I would have understood better why I was crying so much.” Ty shrugged, “I like living with your mom. She’s nice and cares about me.”
Jaska walked closer to him, happy to be able to talk to him. Ty was his only friend outside of this mess. “You haven’t tried to kiss me once. I’m assuming things are better?”
Ty laughed, “Much, actually. I’m really sorry about that. I never wanted to hurt you or make you uncomfortable.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re feeling better about everything though?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
They didn’t talk about anything else as they walked around the forest until both became too cold. The bed was warm as Jaska crawled underneath the covers. He didn’t cry himself to sleep after that.
* * *
He woke up to the smell of pancakes. The bright sunlight made him flinch, he wasn’t used to this. Ty and Leif were already up so he stood from the bed and dressed. Lantern was eating a bowl of fruit and drinking milk. Jaska was glad he wasn’t stuffing himself with pancakes. The little creature had hardly any self-control with something like that. Gus was no longer barking at him. The dog was staying as far away from Lantern as he could get without leaving the room.
Jaska sat next to the creature and took a pancake and a glass of milk. As he ate he listened to his family talking with a smile. This was wonderful. Ty wasn’t at the table, but he assumed his friend was in the shower. He finished his pancake just as he heard a knock on the door. Byron stood to get it and, a moment later and with annoyance, called Jaska in.
Mr. Ragnar stood at the door, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but there is something I wish for you to accompany me in doing.”
Jaska nodded, “Alright. I won’t be gone long?”
“Not long. Half an hour at the most.”
“Ok. I’ll be back mom!” he called into the house as he grabbed his coat. “Where are we going?”
“I need to see Mr. Kircher about my watch. I want you to get used to this sort of thing in case I need you to do it by yourself.”
“You mean asking about the watch?”
“Yes.”
Elias was on his list of people he didn’t want to see. He could live without speaking to the psychopath ever again. Mr. Ragnar put his hands in his pockets as they walked.
“So he really is the only one who can fix your watch?” Jaska asked.
“I know how you feel about him, but trust me he is harmless enough if I remain with you.”
“Fine. You know, you never told me what that watch is used for. Mr. Kircher said that it was-”
“It really isn’t any of your business,” Mr. Ragnar snapped.
Jaska nodded and continued to walk beside his master in silence. Benson greeted them with a smile when the two walked in the door, “You can head on back, sir,” he said as he continued to help the customer he was with.
“Leif said I wasn’t getting enough sun,” Jaska said as they walked towards the work room. “That’s why I look so sick.”
“That could be. You don’t go out much, you probably need more. Not that pale is a bad thing, but some sun would be nice.”
“I guess. I mean, I don’t really-” His mouth fell open when Mr. Ragnar opened the door. “Oh my god!”
Elias and Ty were passionately kissing one another, Ty was reaching up the back of Elias’s shirt. Jaska had never seen Ty behave this way. The young man jumped at the sound of the shout. “Jaska!” he shouted in surprise. “What-what are you doing here?”
Mr. Ragnar folded his arms across his chest, “I could ask you the same thing.”
Elias let go of him, “I know how this looks, but let me explain.”
He didn’t get any explanations out. Mr. Ragnar leapt forward and punched Elias so hard he slammed back into the wall with a grunt. Blood began to flow freely as Mr. Ragnar punched him with all the power in his body over and over until Elias was panting heavily.
Ty leapt forward, “Stop!” He pushed Mr. Ragnar back, “Don’t hurt him.”
Elias was having problems standing up. Blood dripped onto the floor as he shook from the blows issued. “I think . . . you broke . . . my nose.”
“I will break more than your nose you son of a bitch!” He shoved Ty aside and took Elias’s left arm.
Jaska gasped as Mr. Ragnar pulled his arm forward and snapped the bone, the disturbing cracking sound causing Jaska’s stomach to turn. Ty shouted and tried to intervene. Jaska grabbed him before things got heated, “Sir, stop!” he shouted at his master.
Mr. Ragnar released Elias, who fell to the ground. Sweat poured down his face. Ty had tears in his eyes, “Why-why did you do that?” he sobbed. “Why in the hell did you do that? I told you to stop.”
Mr. Ragnar narrowed his eyes at the werewolf, “What is going on? Elias, you are very aware of what this is, don’t you? You’re lucky that I don’t kill you.”
“You can’t! I love him!” Ty shouted.
“Excuse me?”
Elias nodded, “We’re together. Have been for a few months.” He looked at his arm, “You broke my arm.”
“What do you mean together? You’re dating this thing?”
Ty smiled when he looked at Elias, “Yes. I’ve never been treated like he treats me. He . . . he’s kind and fun.”
Mr. Ragnar looked between the two, his eyes narrowing. He unclenched his fists and regarded the two of them with a cool calm that Jaska knew meant something bad was about to happen. “You really love each other?”
“Yes. I’ve never felt this way before,” Elias told him with a smile; blood coated his teeth. “I want nothing more than to be with him.”
Mr. Ragnar smiled sweetly, “You really are in love with him? Fine then.” He gripped Elias’s hand and squeezed, a frown replacing the smile. A dark light seeped into Elias’s palm. “Break his heart and you die. The end you disgusting pervert.”
Elias shouted as the dark light throbbed. He fell back, panting as blood flowed from his hand. Ty knelt down, “Are you ok?”
“No,” he grunted.
Jaska stared at his friend, how could this have happened? He was delighted that Ty could escape his comfort zone, but unhappy that he had found that escape with Elias Kircher. “Ty, you-you like him?”
Ty looked at his friend, “Yes. Don’t look at me like that.”