His Obsession

“Secure the hair around the crystal and make sure it doesn’t slip off.” Talisa instructed Porter as she held the pendulum in the middle of the table. The young sorcerer nervously tied the hair to the clear quartz.

“Okay, everyone grasp the chain with your forefinger and your thumb.” Talisa told and everyone reached out and gripped at least one portion of the chain. Even Puck curiously held onto the chain, leaning slightly on his blushing friend.

“Now everyone concentrate.” She said after clearing her throat. “Focus, not on the crystal, but on the strand. Reach out with your senses and ask the all knowing spirits to grant us a light to lead us to the owner of the hair.”

“All knowing spirits~” Puck sang. “It’s Puck, gimme light.”

Everyone except Talisa glared at the vampire. The witch giggled and ruffled his hair playfully with her free hand. And then it happened.

Dimly the crystal began to glow. The Wiccan Club members gasped and oo’ed and ahh’ed at the magic they had worked. Puck smiled and removed his hand from the chain to touch the glowing crystal, now glowing slightly dimmer.

“Gee Firerose, you make magic look easy.” Chase said suddenly appearing and jerking the pendulum out of everyone’s hands. He ignored everyone’s incensed muttering and continued speaking to Talisa while Puck batted at the ever glowing crystal.

“You sure you don’t want a job with me and the pack?”

“You and your pack are all social rejects that probably got kicked out of your previous pack.” Talisa snapped. Medina growled at her from his table and she summoned a ball of fire to her hands in response.

“Hey now,” Chase said with a chuckle, watching Puck tap the crystal in obvious fascination. “There’s no need for name calling. It was merely a friendly question.”

“Then here’s a friendly answer, get your mercenary tails up and go fuck off.” Talisa snapped.

“That didn’t sound very friendly.” Chase replied.

Before the witch could snap back at him, Puck put in his two cents.

“Puck agrees. That didn’t sound friendly.”

“You’re a real sweetheart.”, Chase said as he leaned over and ruffled Puck’s hair. The vampire scrunched up his face with cute distaste and the werewolf laughed.

“Always a pleasure Miss Firerose.” Chase told her with a short bow. “Bye Ms Gray!”

He turned to leave when his dog like hearing picked up someone else’s goodbye.
“Have fun Puppy.”

Chase chuckled and left the pub with his pack.

************************

“How many does this make?” Jirou asked two hours later.

Porter held up the pendulum and it briefly glowed bright before dimming. At his side, Chase sighed and leaned against a grave stone.

“Three morgues, each across town from one another. Two funeral homes and five cemeteries.” Medina reported stoically. Chase turned to Porter with a snort.

“Think the all knowing spirits are having one over on us?” he asked with a smirk. Porter held out the pendulum and it briefly glowed before nearly completely winking out.

“Spirits don’t have a sense of humor,” the sorcerer replied. “They’re dead.”

“Then the only other reason as to why we’ve been lead all over the place is Firerose fucked up somehow.” Medina growled. Porter opened his mouth to fervently defend Talisa when Chase shot him a stern look of warning.

“I doubt very seriously it’s Talisa’s fault.” the werewolf leader said. “If the spell has been fucked up, it was probably by one of her friends.”

“Probably the white haired guy leader-chan was flirting with.” Jirou replied and continued saying raising his voice up to an annoying falsetto. “It’s Puck, gimme light.”

Chase smacked him in the back of the head harder than was deemed playful.

“Guess we have to go back to the Jalapeño for a fixer spell.” He told everyone, adding in his head, And see that cute guy with the white hair and nice ass.

“And some beer.” Medina added. “After chasing our tails for two hours like puppies, I need to unwind.”

“Seconded.” Jirou replied catching the giddy look Chase had on his face. He knew what that eager look meant. Leader-chan is on the prowl…

Together they walked out of the cemetery and climbed into their van. Medina pulled the vehicle out of the long drive and onto the road, driving back toward The August Jalapeño. While Jirou sat in the passenger seat, Chase rode in the back and spoke quietly with Porter.

“Hey back when we first met, did you ever expect doing this sort of thing?” he asked. Porter snorted and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

“When you and I first met, your birth parents were still alive and we were in kindergarten.”

“Yeah, back then I pictured being a cop like ol’ Officer Dad.” Chase said with a memory filled sigh. He vaguely recalled his biological father, a tall broad shouldered man with blond hair with eyes like his son. Chase mostly remembered a gruff voice and scarred hands always holding a cigarette.

“Kinda funny how a camping trip can change everything.” Porter replied also caught up in the memories of one life altering night in their childhood.

The moon was full that night the Smith and Damien families went out camping together. Porter’s father knew a place where the fishing was good and so the old high school chums went out, leaving their wives and sons alone at the campgrounds.

The fire pit was positioned in the middle of a half circle consisting of three tents, two two-person tents for the adults and one pup tent for the boys. Chase and Porter were sitting outside roasting marshmallows when they heard the first howls.

“What do you think they are?” Porter whispered to Chase. “You d-don’t think they’re…”

“What?Werewolves?” seven year old Chase Damien snorted. “It’s probably someone’s dog.”

It was then that they were attacked.

Before the two boys could blink, their mothers were screaming and there was growling and the boys were running. Spurring them onward was the sounds of animalistic death and dismemberment. And the sound of something chasing them.

“Up in the tree.” Chase commanded his friend shoving Porter in front of him and giving him a needed boast into the closest tree.

And then that shadowy something that had chased them pulled Chase back by his leg with its sharp canine like teeth. Porter watched helpless up in the safety of the tree as a huge dark wolf creature tore into his friend.

To his credit, Chase scored several kicks to the monster’s snout and one mean punch to the ear before the werewolf seized a hold of the boy’s arm and snapped it like a toothpick.

Both little boys screamed, scaring some creatures away and leading others straight to them.

The creature mauling Chase was about to go for the boy’s throat when out of the night, a larger wolf leap upon it and began savaging its body. Other large wolves crept out from the dark while the two fought. Jaws tipped with blood grabbed a hold of Chase’s collar and drug him backwards away from the fight.

It wasn’t long afterwards that the larger wolf won and tore Chase’s attacker’s throat out. Once the fight was won, everyone assumed their human shapes.

“How’s the boy?” the former larger wolf and obvious leader asked those crowded around Chase. He knelt down beside of the savaged boy and took his uninjured hand in his own.

“Broken arm and some nasty scratches and bites.” Came an answer from one of those gathered. The leader squeezed Chase’s hand. The little boy whimpered and cut his eyes up to where Porter huddled in the tree. The leader looked up and saw the boy.

“Ah, you were saving your weaker friend.” He murmured as he rose to his feet and allowed his pack to care for Chase. “It’s safe now, little one. You can come down now.”

Porter shook his head and made a distressed noise as Chase was lifted up. The leader held open his massive arms and gave him an inviting smile despite being nude and drenched in blood.

“He wasn’t one of mine. Come with us while your friend recovers, there’s much I need to know.”

“L-like what?”

The werewolf laughed, “Your names for one. I’m Mackenzie, you can call me Mack.”

“I’m P-porter. He’s Chase.” The little boy went to point at his friend that was being carried away but ended up losing his grip on the tree and fell straight into Mack’s waiting arms.

“Well P-porter,” the man teased easing him down onto his feet. “I have some very bad news for you and Chase. But you have my word, I will make sure everything is all right.”

The pack took the two boys to their home, a sizeable lodge in the middle of the woods built near a system of caves. Chase was taken to the shamans and doctors so he could be treated. Porter was taken to a cozy room where he was bundled up in warm blankets and had a cup of coco thrust into his hands by a kindly older woman.

Mack returned freshly shaven, showered and clothed. Now in the light, Porter could see kindly brown eyes. Scruffy long dark hair peppered with gray was pulled back in a neat plait. His clothes were a worn red flannel and a pair of slacks. He then sat Porter down and explained everything.

“I’d rather you hear this news straight and not have it candy coated… yours and Chase’s parents are dead.” He said softly and the little boy could feel tears burn their way to his eyes.

“My pack and I had been tracking this rogue band for days. You have no idea how lucky Chase and yourself are. This same band attacked another family camping a few states away, nobody made out alive.”

“Is Chase gonna turn furry like you?” Porter sniffled. “Are you gonna turn me?”

“Mother Goddess!” Mack exclaimed. “Yes your friend is a werewolf but no one is going to be changing you. It’s one of our laws, right next to, Thou shall not kill humans.”

“What’s gonna happen to Chase an’ me?”

“Well, Porter, if you have no family to take you or willing to take you in, you stay here. Chase will stay with my pack and I.” Mack told him. “Here, he’ll be surrounded by those like him and can easily take care of his needs.”

The grizzly man noticed Porter needed a bit of comfort so he added, “It’ll be alright.”

“Your adoptive father was right.” Porter said back in the present. “Everything turned out alright. My aunt took me in, we ended up going to school with one another—”

“You know Dad rigged it that way.” Chase interrupted. “He bought out your aunt’s apartment building and rented out one of the pack’s houses to her. And it was all because a stuttering little boy looked like a lost puppy.”

“Fuck you.”

“Sorry sugar, you’re not my type.” Chase retorted with a wink.

************************

Puck adored his room down in the basement of The August Jalapeño. He didn’t need much, only a pillow and some blankets. Instead he got a hard army cot, a quilt, a dresser, plus a pillow and soft fluffy blankets.

After his shift upstairs, Puck came down into his room and began work there. Boxes were looked through and stacked in a more convenient location. Where once a pile of cartons full of clothes sat under the steps, now was where his bed sat. His dresser was crammed full of second hand clothing Puck had raided from the boxes upstairs and in his room to get.

In his rummaging, Puck found pots and pans for his herbs he brought back from his previous home. Boxes that were full of things the vampire couldn’t use and Felissia or Talisa didn’t wish to throw out, became makeshift shelves for the herbs. A large spool of wire became a nightstand and a nightstand became a work bench for Puck’s miscellaneous projects. Currently, the vampire sat on the floor tilting the lamp down where he could better light his work on the bench.

Small stitches, the Voices instructed him. Make sure you don’t catch any of the fur while you sew, else the thread will be visible.

“Puck want squirrel blanket to look like all one piece.” He said as he sewed. “Make people think it came from a monster squirrel from Planet X.”

Why Felissia still has 1940’s comic books we will never understand, a few of the Voices commented while others snickered or groaned. Puck hummed random songs as he stitched for a moment before the Voices called his attention back to them.

Chase Damien has returned, they informed Puck and the vampire giggled.
“Puppy’s back!” he exclaimed as he put his craft down to clap his hands eagerly. “He was kinda scary at first but called Puck a sweetheart. He’s a nice puppy.”

He’s not as nice as you think. The Voices warned. Don’t go up and see him, Puck. Chase Damien’s motives are selfish and he will hurt you.

“Puck doesn’t think so.”

The Voices quieted to a low murmur before gathering strength and spoke up once more. You trust him that much only from a single meeting?

“Yes Puck does,” he replied climbing up the steps then opened the door that led into the pub. True to what the Voices said, there was Porter, Chase and his pack walking through the door.

“Hey Firerose, your magic sucks!” the pack leader shouted and the bar went quiet. Talisa rose from the back table where she and the Wicca Club sat.

“Excuse me, what did you just say to me?” She snapped and Puck began to second guess his decision of coming upstairs. In the time he’d been around her, Puck had never seen Talisa so angry. Chase’s grin wasn’t helping matters.

“I said your magic sucks.” He repeated. “I just spent two hours seeing dead people when your spell was supposed to track someone very much alive.”

“They appreciated the visit.” Puck told Chase helpfully and cringed when Medina glared at him in annoyance.

“If the all knowing spirits don’t feel like assisting a bunch of mangy, flea ridden, Hell’s Angel rejects—” Talisa snapped before one of the pack growled at her. The witch snorted, unimpressed.

“So you weren’t just playing a joke on us?” Chase inquired calmly. Talisa crossed her arms in front of her and glared up at the taller man.

“Nope. I’ve done that spell tons of times, alone and with a group. The only time the spell hasn’t work was when the all knowing spirits didn’t wan—” she cut herself off the moment she realized what had happened with the spell.

The hair they gave me was white…The all knowing spirits are the Voices and the only reason they’d refuse their aid is to protect Puck.

Chase gave Talisa a mysterious little smile that left her with the impression he knew more than he would have if not for her little slip. She replied to the grin with a disgusted snort.
“Um.. Do you have any suggestions?” Porter stammered breaking the uneasiness between the two groups. “Is there any other spells you know that could help find the person we’re looking for?”

“I don’t know, Porter.” Talisa replied apprehensively. “Your first attempt rebounded on you and the all knowing spirits weren’t any support. I’m beginning to think that looking for this person is a bad idea. A very bad idea.”

“Scared, Firerose?” Chase taunted and Talisa shot him a dirty look. He shrugged, “Well I guess we’ll have to do this the hard way and plant our noses to the ground to sniff this guy out.”

“And that would be my cue to head home.” Porter replied. “I have a six page dissertation to type out one handed for my plant propagation class.”

“If you have any trouble, call me.” Talisa called after Porter as he left. He stopped in place, shoulders hunching in for a moment before he turned and began backing out the door.

“Okay, thanks!” Porter told her brightly before adding with a smirk at the door. “I doubt any of my other friends know how to use a PC.”

“Kiss my ass.” Chase retorted with a wave and wink.

“Bye bye person!” Puck said brightly before turning on his heel and followed Talisa away from Chase back to the Wiccan Club table.

As Chase and his pack strode back to their previous table, the leader listened to the talk around him.

“I swear to you, three bags of AB+ for ten dollars…”

“No way! An angel and a demon sleeping together?!”

“That woman’s cheating on you.”

“Karnik has a what?”

“Two of my last clutch had white feathers…”

As Chase sat down he heard something which caught his interest. Over the other conversations, coming from the two beast men Puck had served earlier a familiar name was uttered.

“Remember last week when Luk Jiang came busting in?” asked one beast man to the other.

“Hell yes,” he replied with a nod. The creature took a gulp of Lager before continuing. “Heard some rumors that he’s dead now.”

The first beast man winced, “Shit, you don’t think—y’know Puck could have anything to do with that?”

“No way, that little guy? Jiang has a hundred pounds, more muscle and combat experience on that kid!”

“I don’t know.” His friend replied cautiously and glanced over at Puck who was laughing brightly at something Talisa whispered to him. “He was insane enough to clock Luk and that freak blast of wind— there’s just something about him that tell me not to mess with him.”

“You hear that.” Chase murmured to his pack. Medina nodded back and Jirou cut his eyes toward Puck. Their leader pulled the crystal out of his pocket and discretely pointed it toward the vampire across the room. It glowed eerily bright for a brief moment, brighter than it did outside before it stubbornly went dark.

“That clever sonofabitch.” Medina growled as Chase took the hair off from around the crystal and drew it close to his eyes. It was pure white, the same shade as Puck’s hair.

“So what’s the plan?” Jirou inquired. Chase grinned as he put the hair and crystal in his pocket.

“We’re gonna cash in our cute little paycheck.”