A/N: Okay, here we go. Reviews are amazing guys, thank you so much!
Chapter 4
Trials
The air seem to run thin as the two stood in an unbearable silence. Pip held his own breath as he stood in front of his brother. His hands went behind him, becoming nervous, he bit his lip and bounced his foot behind the other. There were a number of things that ran through Pip's head. The number one thing that bounced around was the fact that he had no idea what his brother was thinking.
"Jeremiah..." Pip spoke slowly and in a whisper. He was terrified.
Jeremiah shook his head and blinked a few times, coming back from reality. Everything he knew and everything he was being sorted. Everything good and everything bad was scrambled. All he knew in that moment was that his brother was there. That's all that really registered. He had no idea what to do with this information. Pip was his brother and the fact that he trusted in him that much to tell him something so huge was very brave and could mean death.
"Phillip." He started. Pip perked up. Taking a step forward before taking two steps back. "Thank you, for your honesty, but..." Pip held his breath and he felt fear. "I-I...I am your brother and I'm sworn to protect you." He firmly stated. Pip sighed of relief. His brother wrapped his arms around him and Pip did so back. He smiled into Jeremiah's shoulder. "I promise to keep this secret, but you have to be careful, Phillip." Jeremiah released him and Pip nodded.
"I've been very careful brother, I've been for almost a whole month." His brother's mouth almost fell open.
"A whole month?" He asked.
"Almost." Pip confirmed.
"Wow," Jeremiah breathed. "The son of the devil Huh?"
"His name is Damien. He's a very nice boy." Pip smiled.
"That sounds odd," Jeremiah thought out loud. "I would have thought for him to be ruthless." He said.
"Well, he's nice to me. I don't know how he'd be around other people." Pip shrugged.
"How'd you-"
He was stopped by the door shaking and then opening, "Phillip, Jeremiah," it was their mother. "Your father needs everyone at the church." She said. "Things seem to have gotten worse."
Pip and Jeremiah glanced at each other before following their mother out and to the church. She was walking fast and the boys were wondering how bad things have gotten.
"Mother, where's Grace?" Pip asked, looking around for the little blonde girl.
"She's with goody Anne; she doesn't need to be a part of this. She's just a child." His mother told him. There was worry in her voice, like she thought her little girl wasn't safe; that no one was safe. This made Pip worry. His heart pound in his chest as he thought about Damien in the woods.
'What if they found out?' Pip thought. 'I've told my brother and he is very trustworthy, but what if he slips up?' Pip felt his hands begin to sweat, gripping at his shirt and then abruptly releasing them. 'No, he wouldn't.'
As they arrive at the church they could hear all the commotion from outside. And as they entered, it got louder. Pip noticed three older looking men with white hair and black robes sitting at the head of the church. Pip became perplexed as he sat down. Mr. Pirrup brought everyone to silence and motioned to the three men. Pip sat nervous as to what was going on.
"Bring in goody Anne." One of the men said. And Pip fell frozen. Was she going to be held accountable for charges of being a witch? Pip had known her his whole life. Pip felt his mother tense when goody Anne's name was called. Pip felt tense too. Who accused goody Anne.
"Goody Anne, your charges are as follows: witchcraft." One of them said. "How do you plead?"
Goody Anne hesitated, folding her hands in her lap where she said. "Not guilty." She spoke. There was a bite of small conversation gone about.
"We shall see," he said.
Following this was a long ongoing trail. There really was no point. It was a game of cat and mouse; back and forth. First there would be some kind of evidence at which would point to witchcraft, but she would counter with her logic. There seem to be no end. Until they called for a recess and everyone left accordingly, sound disgruntled about how the trial was going.
"Jeremiah," Pip pulled his brother aside. "I need to see Damien," he whispered.
"Alright, I will cover for you." Jeremiah said.
"Oh thank you so much Jeremiah!" Pip said, hugging his brother tightly. He nodded as Pip released him. Pip then ran back to his home and the corn fields.
"My, oh my, Jeremiah, where is that boy off to?" His mother asked, walking over with Grace.
"Um, home, ma'am. He's very tired." Jeremiah lied.
"Oh, would I have known I would have asked for him to take Grace home." His mother said.
"I'll do it." He said. "I'm kind of tired as well." Jeremiah said. "Come along Grace," he said pulling her along.
"Put her down for a nap please as well!" She called after her children.
"Will do mother!" He called.
Jeremiah took Grace home and laid her in her room for a nap. "Jeremiah, where's Phillip?"
"He's sleeping," he lied again.
"Ooh! Okay! I go sleepy bye too then! Just like my big brother!" She said, shutting her eyes and pretended to sleep, before she actually did fall asleep within in five minutes.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Pip walked through the path to Damien cabin. He was full of excitement, even though moments ago was full of fear. He bounced up to the door and knocked three times. He was here not even a few hours ago. He waited a minute and knocked again. When another few minutes went by, he opened the door.
"Damien?" Pip called, but there was no answer. The place was empty. Pip wondered for a moment and then he realized, "The creek!" He said. "Damien said, if he wasn't home you would almost always find him there." Pip turned around, shutting the door behind him and tried to remember the path to the creek. After a few minutes of walking and tracking, he found it and Damien. He smiled, Damien's back was turned. He was facing the creek leaning back on his arms. He decided to sneak up behind the unexpecting demon boy. He tip-toed over and slowly got up behind him. He wrapped his arms around the teen and whispered, "Boo." He could feel Damien smirk, but do nothing else.
"Ooh, scary." He murmured.
Pip kissed his cheek, "You weren't startled?" Pip frowned.
"I could hear you coming," Damien said. "I have heighten hearing." He said, pointing to his ears. "I could hear your cute little foot steps from back at the cabin."
Pip pouted, "Well you could have at least played along better!" Pip said, unwrapping his arms from around Damien and folded them in front of him and sat back on his knees, pout still on his face.
Damien pinched his cheeks, "You're so cute."
Pip slapped his hands away, "I am not cute." Pip said. "I'm bloody adorable." He smiled. He giggled when damn pushed his ass over and crawled on top of him, kissing his cheeks and all over his face really.
"You are adorable." Damien smiled.
Pip giggled, "I love you." He whispered.
"I love you, too, Pipsqueak." Damien said, poking his nose. Then he kissed his lips softly. Pip blushed, Damien's lip's were warm despite the cold. Pip snaked his arms around Damien's neck, boldly and pulled him closer. There was a small pit that formed in the bottom of Pip's stomach, all pertaining to what happened in the last few hours. Damien could sense the vibe Pip was giving off and who could tell what he was feeling. He pulled back and licked his lips. "You okay, Pip?"
Pip nodded, "Aye, I'm fine."
Damien kissed him again. "You are the one who told me that you weren't a very good liar, Pip."
He sighed, "Well things were certainly not right chipper in the village." Pip said. "I witnessed a trial today, well not the entire trial." Pip explained. "I wanted to come see you."
"Aren't you worried," Damien asked.
"Of course and Damien there's something...you need to hear." Pip said. He crossed his legs in the grass and exhaled.
"Aye, what is it Pip?" Damien asked.
"I told my brother." Pip said, not removing his eyes from the grass. The wind blew slightly as silence swept over them. He feared to look up, afraid Damien would be upset with him. There was one thing he guessed he should mention. "He has sworn to keep it a secret. I'm sorry Damien, I couldn't keep it from him, he is my brother, after all..."
"It's fine, Pip," Damien said, kissing his lips lightly, smiling. "Just so as long as we can trust him."
"Oh, he unbelievable trustworthy!" Pip said, sitting back up on his knees, snaking his arms around Damien's neck. Damien's finding their way around Pip's waist. "I trust my brother with all my heart. He's always stood by me." Pip smiled. "When I was little this boy used to pick on me, I believe his name was Eric. He used to pick on me because I looked more feminine than the other boys."
"Well you are very pretty," Damien pursed his lips making Pip blush. "Your hair and your eyes; they shine and sparkle." Pip blushed harder, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. Pip hid his red face in Damien's cloth shirt and clutching at his brown vest.
"Stop it, Damien. Oh my gosh." He muffled. He could feel a rumble in Damien's chest as he chuckled lowly.
"C'mere, let me see you," Damien said. Pip popped his head up, inching closer with his nose to Damien's chin. Damien pecked his lips, taunting Pip to come back for more. Pip closed his eyes, grazing his lips over Damien's with a small grin. Damien pressed his lips harder against Pip's to leave a chaste kiss. Damien kissed his cheeks and all over his face. Pip giggled and blushed. He smiled, Damien holding and rubbing his cheeks with his thumbs. "Why don't we go back to the cabin and warm up." Damien said. Before Pip could stand, he found himself being picked up by Damien in a bridal style fashion. Pip squeaked, clinging tight to his partner. Damien chuckled as he carried Pip off.
Once they were back to the cabin, Damien made a fire, plopping Pip down right in front of it and wrapping him in a blanket. Pip opened his arms for Damien to join him. Damien obliged with a smile. He lightly kissed his forehead, wrapping his arms around the blonde and just sat there.
"How long can this last?" Pip asked, out loud.
"What do you mean Pip?" Damien asked.
"This...us..." Pip trailed off with a sigh. "I'm very worried."
Damien kissed his cheek, "Don't be. I will protect you." Pip closed his eyes, nodding solemnly and drifting off to sleep.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Hours later, Pip awoke and it was dark out. Pip sighed, looking at Damien beside him. He had to go home before people got suspicious. Even though he knew his brother would cover for him.
"Damien," He shook the boy awake and he groaned in frustration. "Wakey wakey, Damien." Pip smiled to himself. Damien smiled, knowing who the voice belonged to. "I have to go back home, now." Damien's smile quickly faded and he opened his eyes. "I'm sorry, love." Pip whispered. Damien pulled Pip down toward him and smirked, kissing every visible piece of skin. Pip moaned and giggled, smile growing wider every second.
"I love you," Damien whispered, before kissing his lips one final time.
Pip stroked his cheek with a smile, "I love you too." Pip gave Damien one last quick peck and sat up and off the bed. He slipped his boots on and glanced toward Damien, "Goodnight, Love. I will see you tomorrow." Pip smiled. Pip heard Damien shout a goodbye and saying 'I love you,' a thousand times over. Pip giggled to himself. Oh, that silly demon.
Pip raced through the trees, making his way through the corn fields before he stopped; seeing an ominous red glow. He stared at the sky for a moment. It normal would be pitch black out, but there was something shining on the other side of the field. He continued on and got to the end of the field when he saw what was making the glow. A shit ton of the townspeople had torches heading to the center of town.
'What the bloody hell is going on?' Pip wondered. He scanned the people. He noticed a few of his neighbors and kids from school.
"Phillip!" He turned over seeing his brother.
"Brother, what is going on?" Pip asked, wide-eyed and shocked.
"After you left, a few more trials went on and they were deemed guilty!" Jeremiah explained. "Mother told me all that went on. She's at the courthouse right now. Father says it's an outrage!" He said.
"How many?" Pip asked, seeing Grace walk up to him, he picked her up and she buried her face in his shoulder. "How many people."
"At least six." Jeremiah said. Pip's jaw nearly dropped. It was unbelievable! What proof could one have?
"Six?!" Pip nearly shouted. Any worry or any doubt Pip had before was now doubled. Fear seeped and pulled at the binds of the blonde's sanity. He was afraid.
"Let's go inside." Jeremiah said. "Grace doesn't need to see this." He guided to the two inside, but the noise was all that could be heard. Pip held Grace tight to his chest and rocked her back and forth. He was now in danger and even possible so, his family. Brother, sister, mother and father. They were all pretty much doomed.
There seemed to be a lot going on outside, considering the noise. Pip, Grace and Jeremiah were alone for what felt like hours until their mother got home. Soon after, she laid Grace into bed and the two other boys followed suit. Pip couldn't seem to find sleep. That nap he had could of shot his sleep for the night. So he just laid there; he thought of things. Things like all that happened today, Damien, what happen to those people? Damien. Damien.
'Pip you need to sleep old chap.' Pip told himself. His body was more than willing to let him sleep, but his mind wouldn't rest. Everything that's gone on, he felt he couldn't possibly find sleep at all. He felt...alone, but he wasn't. He had Damien and his brother to have his back. Still, he feared the worst. What if he was found out? What would happen to him? What would happen to Damien? Would they even catch him? Would they be to afraid to?
So many questions, all unanswered. A few, if not all, he hoped to never be answered. He wish he could turn off his stay of fear, but that wasn't a thing that could be done. It wasn't possible really. The fear was absolutely eating him alive. He feared he may slip up and say something that might get him in deep trouble. He feared for himself. His family. This lie could hurt them too.
He sat up. He could sleep at all. He had to go see Damien. He needed him to calm him down. He wanted to lay by him; he wanted Damien hold him and kiss him. He wanted him right now. But how would he sneak out? There was a ton of people outside. Would they be too distracted by the event to even notice? He had-no needed to try.
He stepped outside his room and down the hall to the stares. He walked slowly and quietly. He saw his mother sleeping on the chair. He opened and shut the door quietly, desperate to not make a sound. He made sure his path was clear of everyone's vision before taking three deep breathes and bolted for the fields. He ran all the way to the cabin without one break and luckily no detection.
He walked up to the door, inhaling deeply and knocked on the door. He knew Damien would know it was him. Damien opened the door and saw Pip, smiling softly. The demon wondered what he was doing here at this hour. But, nonetheless he let him in.
"What're you doing? Is there something wrong?" Damien asked, knowing Pip wouldn't have come if he had no other choice.
Pip fiddled with the fabric of his shirt. He suddenly couldn't speak. He was so scared. Finally, the fear ripped and tore at his sanity and he just broke down. This isn't something he could handle by himself. He was in so much danger, the fear paralyzed him. He felt the tears fall, taking the smile with it. Damien immediately reacted accordingly; wrapping his arms around Pip and soothing him by rubbing the top of his head, running his fingers through his silky blonde hair.
"They killed s-six people today, Damien." Pip stuttered. Fear fed off him like a leach. "I'm so scared Damien. I don't want to lose you," Pip sobbed. It had almost been a month and Pip was attached to Damien. That's the way Pip had always been. If he got close to someone, he'd become attached and heartbroken if they even abandon him without rhyme or reason. Pip needed Damien. There was no If and's or buts about it. He was a lifeline and Pip clung for dear life.
Funny how that sounds. Damien being the son of death and destruction, being some kind of lifeline. But, Damien wasn't as he seemed. He was nice and kind-hearted-to Pip at least. That was all that mattered.
"It's going to be okay; I won't let anyone touch you." Damien vowed. "I love you so much."
Pip kissed Damien softly, "I love you too."
'I'll protect you. No one shall touch nor hurt what is mine. I'll kill if I have to.'
