Hello all and thank you for reading! This is just a portion of a story on which I'm working. Saying that, there will be certain terms or titles that may not be understood at this time. But, depending on how it's received, I will most definitely be writing more! I, more than anything, just wanted to get it out there and see if it was worth pursuing!
Please feel free to send any comments you may have to shayzac@gmail.com. I would be honored to hear from you!
As usual, the work presented before is the sole property of the author.
Again, thank you for your time! Let a bitch know! :) Zac
"Alex told me what happened," Mavis said softly as she entered the room. I was sitting on the edge of the bed, my hands folded, looking quite calm after what had happened. My emotions were seething near the surface though, dangerously close to flowing over.
"Did he?" I asked, perhaps a little too forcefully. Mavis flinched before resuming her slow, cautious march towards me.
"He did. So you finally hit the Magistrate," she stated, jumping up and coming close to me. I closed my eyes and shook my head.
"That I did. And believe me when I say he had it coming. Did Alex tell you what he `suggested'? What his solution to this entire, royally-fucked situation was?" I asked, turning to face her. All she did was stare at me, waiting for me to finish, waiting for me to get out whatever I needed to.
"He wanted to kill Alex. He said that he was too dangerous to live. He said that we would be better off if I just put him down. The bastard didn't even have the brass to do it himself. He said it should be me," I said, my voice shaking with rage. Mavis remained silent. God, that was infuriating.
"Don't you see how ...despicable that is?! The man is in charge of the one faction dedicated to protecting humans, and he's telling me to kill one! How could I not hit him!? Hell, I wish I'd put more force behind it! How could he, Mavis?!" I asked, getting up, my anger finally flowing over. The books on the shelf near my window began to shake, the trinkets and baubles on top quivering as my power raged forth. But all Mavis did was stare at me silently, completely nonplussed by the show.
"I could never kill a human! He knows that! And then to go on about how my feelings for Alex are blinding me to what need be done. What the hell was that? Going so far as to say that I was in love with him...," I finished lamely, the rage still pouring forth. The books weren't so much dancing now as doing a jig.
"I'm not in love with him. I swore to protect him, to protect them all! I don't care if he's the Writer or the fucking Anti-Christ! I swore to protect him and that's what I'm going to do! Wielders be damned! I'd like to see them try to take me down. I've been pulling my punches for far too long. It's time they learned their lesson!" I shouted, causing the books, baubles, and trinkets to fly violently through the air, smashing and breaking. None of this broke Mavis' calm.
"GOD, WOULD YOU SAY SOMETHING?! ANYTHING, MAVIS! I'M NEARING THE END OF MY FUCKED-UP ROPE HERE AND I COULD USE SOME GODDAMN ADVICE!" I shouted at her, causing a few of the books to light on fire. With an irritated wave of my hand, the flames extinguished, leaving an acrid smell in the air.
Mavis, God bless her, simply stood up and looked me dead in the eye before speaking.
"Dage, you're in love with him." Her words, though simple and small, hit me with the force of a thousand bricks. The anger I'd been feeling evaporated, leaving me with a confusion that was even worse. Unbidden, the tears sprang forth, pouring down my face as I sank to my knees.
"I didn't mean to. I swear, I swear I didn't mean to. I didn't want to fall in love with him. I didn't want to. I just wanted to do my job, just wanted to do what was right," I cried, sinking to the ground. Mavis got off the bed and came to me, her warm body pushing against me.
"I know, baby. I know. Let it out. Let it all out," she said, cooing softly. And I did. I cried 24-years worth of pain into her, crying and screaming, the frustration and confusion almost too much to bear.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be like this. I didn't mean to fall for him, I swear," I said meekly, crying into her, holding her as close as I could. She let me do this for a second before pulling away and looking at me straight on.
"Baby, I know! You say these things like you did something wrong! Dage, you fell in love! You found the person who made you feel like you weren't worthless, like you were something! How could any fault you for that? How could I, the one being who's wanted nothing but your happiness, be upset with you for falling in love? You have the weight of the world on your shoulders, my boy. And the one thing that I can give you, the one thing that I think you should be allowed to have, is love, no matter who it may be with. There will be Hell coming our way. A war is brewing, my boy, and you're gonna be the one to win it. You need a reason to fight, you need a reason to live, and that boy out there, that sweet, kind, caring boy is it. I will NEVER begrudge you that. And anyone who does is NOT your family," she said, shushing my tears. Her words caused me to cry even more. And all she did was rock me back and forth, gently calming me as I fought the biggest battle I would ever wage.
An hour passed before I had finally cried myself silent. Mavis was still there, gently soothing me. Once I was silent, once all the emotion had left, Mavis helped me get up.
"Dage, expect no judgment from me. Those people may have birthed you, may have raised you, but I have always loved you. You, my dear, sweet boy, are the closest thing to family that I've ever had. Nothing you do, and I mean NOTHING, will ever make me turn from you. I want you to remember that," she said, eyeing me cautiously. All I did was nod.
"Are you feeling any better? Or do we need to go find something to kill?" she asked me. A slight laugh escaped my lips.
"Come on, Mary Potter. You've been way too serious the past hour and half. SOMEONE need to liven the mood. Now are you going to come and join Alex and I for dinner or are you going to stay in here?" she asked heading towards the door.
"I think I'm going to stay in here," I said softly. "Maybe I'll take a shower or something. I just...need a little more time to think."
Mavis just nodded.
"Okay, baby. There will be food out there if you want it. Bacon. And booze, for that matter. Hell, I didn't even fight my father over the love of a man and I'm feeling like I need a shot or two. I know I'd love to see you and I KNOW Alex would. If you feel like it, come and join us," she said to me. I nodded again.
"Thank you, Mavis," I said, the full meaning of my words unspoken. All she did was smile and walk out the door.
"Oh the gays. Be they mages, humans, or anything else, they still LOVE the drama...," she said as she sauntered down the hall. I couldn't help but laugh.
I took a few more minutes to calm myself. I was still shaking from my little meltdown. A glance at the clock told me that it was nearing midnight. Part of me wanted to go out and be near Mavis and Alex, but part of me was still too scared. I didn't know what to make of it all. Alex had, at least I'd thought, been the person I was supposed to protect. He was the Whitney Houston to my Kevin Costner. Adding the romantic element simply made it more complicated. No longer was he SUPPOSED to survive; he HAD to survive. His making it through this was no longer an option; it was a necessity. And I hadn't even said anything to him. I'd made no overture, no gesture to show him how I REALLY felt. Could I do this? Could I protect the man I love without him knowing that I actually loved him?
I shook my head to rid myself of these too complicated thoughts. I couldn't handle them right now. I needed something simple, something that was easy. I needed a shower. Stripping off my clothes, begging my overly-occupied mind to give me a moment's rest, I walked to my tiny bathroom.
Half an hour later, after taking the hottest shower imaginable, I walked out. I put on the most comfortable pair of pants I could and was in the process of pulling on a shirt when I heard a soft knock on my door.
"Come in," I said, finishing putting on my shirt.
"Mavis, I promise I'm doing better. I'm not the raving lunatic I was before, I swear," I said, not facing the door.
"Well, though I'm not Mavis, it's nice knowing that my protector isn't a raving lunatic," a voice said. I quickly spun around, seeing Alex standing in my doorway. I think I may have turned five shades of red.
"Oh, Alex! Hey! I thought you were Mavis. Did you need something?" I asked hurriedly, attempting to cover my blushing.
"Uh, yeah, I did," he said, staring at me. "But it was stupid. Forget it," he said, turning to leave. I hurriedly finished putting my shirt on.
"No! Alex, what was it? I'm sure it's not stupid," I said, making a move towards the door. He stopped, still not facing me.
"Really, it was stupid," he replied.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Alex, you saw me air my dirty laundry with my entire family this evening. I hit my father and made myself the most wanted criminal in all of the magical community because I wouldn't turn you over. I think, after putting you through that, I'm entitled to a `stupid' request," I said, still laughing. Finally, he turned around, fixing me with those magnificent eyes of his.
"It was like Maury, but with magic," he said, his face turning into a grin. I smiled at him too, fully aware that I was in sweat pants and a tank top and feeling awfully vulnerable at this moment in time.
"So, what was it you wanted?" I asked him. His eyes fell to the ground and a small blush filled his face.
"Well, uh, I was wondering...well, I was wondering if it was okay if...I stayed...in your room tonight," he mumbled, unable to meet my gaze.
"Of course! I've had you sleeping on the couch all this time. It's time you got the bed. Just let me grab a spare set for the couch and you can have full-reign," I said, smiling at him and making a move to the closet. I'd almost reached a pair of sheets when Alex's hand gripped my arm. I stopped and looked at him, confusion in my face.
"No. I want to stay in your room. With you in it," he said softly. I froze. His hand touching my arm, my hand touching the sheets, our eyes locked on each other...it was almost surreal.
"You want me to...stay with you?" I asked. He nodded, letting go of my arm and walking towards the bed. My hand stayed on the spare sheets, watching as he turned down the left side of the bed, crawling inside the sheets.
"Is this okay?" he asked me, his eyes meeting mine. Nothing, and I mean nothing, had or ever will feel as right as having him in my bed. Despite my desire to say this, I simply nodded, slowly bringing my arm down. My eyes still locked on his form populating my bed, I walked to the lights and turned them off. For a moment, I stood there, trying to collect myself. The man I'd been wanting, the man I'd given up everything for, was laying in MY bed, waiting for me.
"Are you coming?" he asked, his voice uncertain.