Of Clouds and Blood
restart
@DNight: glad you enjoy the story. Thank you for your kind words!
Chapter 22: restart
“Baby, are you going to come out of your room anytime soon?” Byron casually leaned against the door frame.
“When I'm done with my homework.”
“Shall I help you?”
Cade turned around and smiled at him, “Would you?”
“Of course.” He closed the door and fetched a stool for himself, “Whereby do you need help?”
“Chemistry.”
Byron took a close look at the book and notes of his brother, realizing full well that Cade avoided eye contact. It was just one day but he already hated being shut out. He knew beforehand that under the quick-tempered surface of his brother lingered a lot of pain and a different nature that he let on.
The fledgling for sure didn't have an idea who or what he was. Who would at that young age but he tried hard to find out. Byron decided to give the younger one a little push, “Don't shut me out, Cade. Tell me, what happened.”The younger one hung his shoulders with a sigh. Even though, he'd dreaded the question, the tension vanished from him and this was Byron. He turned his chair around and faced Byron but still didn't get a word out.
“Where were you?”
“The graveyard.” He picked up the picture which Julian had framed and handed it to Byron, “Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of their death. How could I stay in this house making merry alongside everybody else and forget about them? I didn't want to run away or trash the party. I just wanted to be with them.”
“But something went awry.”
“Yes. There were wolves, at least I thought they were but …” The fledgling bit his lips, awkward as if not knowing whether it was safe to speak his mind or not.
“But?”
Cade got up wrapping his arms around himself, his breath was uneven. The remembrance of the night bone chilling. He turned back to look at Byron. The older one got up too and tugged at a stray bang of Cade's hair, the silence unnerving him.
“I think, the wolves transformed.”
The question in the words wasn't lost on Byron. He gulped, shaken by the mere thought, he could have lost Cade, “Lycans … they are called lycans.” He got up and wrapped his younger brother into his arms as tight as possible, “If Julian hadn't found you ...”
In the meantime Julian discussed the events of the previous evening with his own maker.
“If you hadn't found him...”
“I'm not sure about this, when I reached the grave, he had already taken out tree of them all by himself.”
“Impressive. A mere fledgling. Do you still refuse to recognize his nature, my Jewel?”
“No, father, I don't.” He briefly considered whether it was time to come clean or not and decided for the first option, “He has the war-eye.”
Marius considered Julian's wording, poured himself a cup of tee and another one for his son, “I can't say, I'm surprised. I expected as much from the reaction to mine.”
Julian narrowed his eyes. Sure, the boy didn't show any signs of fear or recognition when Marius warned him in the library a few weeks ago. Even though he hadn't been in the know of vampiric rules he should have crumbled by nature. That he hadn't was testament to a wild spirit and willful mind. Still, Julian didn't expect the war-eye to transpire, at least not so soon.
“The covenant will claim him, once he's of age.”
Marius’ unrelenting hand seeped under his chin, forcing his eyes up until they met his own. Julian’s were soft, questioning, and incredibly sad whilst Marius gaze didn't waver an inch, “He will survive, anyhow it's about a century we're talking about.”
“You are probably right.
“I am.” Marius handed the cup to him, “but don't spoil him like your other kids.”
A polite knock on the door ended the conversation.
“In!”
~~~
The mood in Cade's room somehow lightened after telling about the incident with the lycans. Byron helped with the chemistry homework but got bored afterwards and opted for a nap on Cade's bed while the younger one typed away on his laptop. Apparently he got a lot of homework to do. By the time he finished, Byron was sound asleep so Cade scribbled a note on a piece of paper, reading Don't leave. I will be right back.
He made for Marius' quarters and knocked politely on the door.
“In!”
He peeked through the door, a little surprised to find Marius and Julian in the room. His stomach was tied in knots again. Not knowing how to approach Julian he froze on his spot in the door frame. Marius waved him nearer, “Come on, little one, take a seat. We were just talking about you.”
Cade's feet moved automatically towards the ancient but he paused at Julian's chair, not daring to look at him. He couldn't prevent his eyes from watering. The older one sneaked an arm around his waist and dragged him to sit on the armrest of his chair, “You scared the heck of me last night.”
The youngster hung his head in shame.“Your father here is an excellent piano player. I'm sure he will teach you if you ask nicely.”
Cade turned his head to finally look Julian in the eyes. The older vampire returned his gaze without a hint of reproach. His eyes held only warm affection for the teenager, he called his son.
“Cade?” Marius asked after the fledgling had ignored his comment while the younger one wondered why Julian was looking at him with fondness. On the spur of the moment he slung his arms around Julian's neck, “Thank you for coming after me.”
“Always.”
“Julian, pass your son to me. He needs blood.”
Julian prolonged the inevitable by closing his arms tightly around the boy. He tugged Cade's hand under his chin and pressed a quick kiss to his hair, “I anyhow have to go to work. We will talk later, little one.”
“O.K.”
Marius practically snatched the boy from the spot and mimicked Julian hugging him tight, “Does your exceptionally good behavior today mean, you finally gained some wisdom?”
“No, just seeing a little reason .”
“You look stunning in your school uniform. Don't spill on it.” He pressed his wrist to the fledgling's mouth, adding in good humor, “I hope I still get to see you in more casual attire.”
“Not today, gramps. Byron is waiting for me.”
“Gramps? You just wait. I'll have the last laugh over you.”
The fledgling darted his tongue out at him and dashed of. He paused at the door, “Marius, what happened to the lycans?”
“The corpses are taken care of.”
That didn't satisfy Cade's curiosity, “Will you tell me one day?”
“Of course.”
He gave the ancient a tentative smile and closed the door.
~~~
He could feel Byron's pulse speed up underneath his palm, his green eyes opened and met his own. Cade leaned over and kissed him gently. The elder one held his breath but clutched Cade's shirt and pulled him closer, “I missed you, baby.”
“Me or my body?” He didn't mean to hurt Byron and instantaneously regretted the remark, gnawing his lip. He was awfully insecure in that moment and needed as much as the older one to be constantly assured of their connection, be assured of being wanted. He stretched out on his side next to his brother, “I'm a dick sometimes, I'm sorry.” Byron caressed his hip in a reassuring gesture, “You shut me out. I was scared, still am and baby, God help me, I can't stand the thought of you rejecting me. I like everything about us, being your brother, your buddy, your…?”
“How about lover?”