I did it!! (jumps around) I submitted insignifically silly chapter but I did it! I hope you will like it. Thanks to Pash for helping with several word problems (smile) Enjoy, comment and kick my ass. I am happy to receive reactions, lol. It is updated chapter due eye torturing stuff so thanks to Rich for proof – reading although I did fight back several sentences of mine, lol.

The Wizardry

Lara nervously sniffed the air and threw the blanket aside. She did not want to talk to Kurtis and for some days was successfully avoiding him but when your house starts to smell like this – something must be done. She quickly ran down the stairs and entered the kitchen. The whole space was filled with herbs and smelled the same. In the centre of this mess stood Kurtis and was attentively reading a book while stirring something with a long spoon in a black liquid that stank like the pits of the underworld. Lara cleared her throat, cracked her knuckles and grabbed Trent by the neck.

"Now, what do you think you're doing?"
Kurtis calmly put the spoon on the table and sighed.

"Believe me, I have no idea…"
"Excuse me?!"

He quickly turned away from Lara,
"That is long story…"

Lara let go of his neck and crossed her arms.
" Try me."

And Kurtis tried. As the story was revealing itself in front of Lady Croft, her eyes widened, as she could not believe what she was hearing.

"… And so now I am here, like Gandalf, trying to create the potion that will hide the signs of transformation. Am I the only one who feels highly embarrassed and humiliated with the fact?"

Lara tried to say something, snorted and then giggled.
"No, you are not alone. What are you planning to do now… when you and Ian are finally together?"

Kurtis pondered for a while. Indeed, what did he plan to do? He did not know anything about Ian. There were plenty of things to ask and to talk about. Now, when his brother knows the truth it is impossible for him to return back. Ian has to stick with Kurtis. And if the Prophecy was true, then Trent – junior is in a great danger as he will be hunted like a fox. Little options, but even less time…

"I must study books and talk with Ian. His story will make situation clearer. But for now I have to finish this darn drink." he said.

Lara felt sympathetic for Kurtis. Too much had suddenly fallen on his shoulders. She actually wondered what her actions would be when his own brother would try to kill her. How would she behave, when someone considered dead just walked into her life? She must at least try to make Kurtis a bit more comfortable and must not start any scandals. At least, for now.

"Hey… Need a helping hand?" asked Lara carefully and took the book.
"Huh? Oh… Ok." Kurtis rubbed his neck, which always showed his confusion.

His wife smiled cheerfully and made herself comfortable at the table.
"Now, did you put camomile in?"

Ian grunted and turned around in the bed. The stench of herbs hit his nostrils and brave assassin felt his stomach making a double spin. In two leaps he was near the window. It took a second to open, next minute – vomit. When Trent – junior thought that it was already over, one whiff of the air made him go for the second round.

"Dammit…" he whispered coming out of the room, blindly searching the walls to hold on to and trying to wipe black sticky liquid from his eyes and mouth.

Soon enough Ian appeared in the kitchen and bumped into Lara. The defensive reaction from the experienced archaeologist was a smack in the face. Before the kitchen would turn into a battlefield, Kurtis forced assassin into the chair and put something horrible in front of his nose.

"Drink."

Ian sniffed the air and felt squeamish once again.
"May I ask what…" Ian swallowed hard, pulling a face, " … It is exactly?"

"It is something that will make you feel better." Kurtis replied.
Ian raised an eyebrow.

"And no, it is not a poison." Kurtis added, seeing the look on Ian's face. " Now, before I tie you to the chair and made you to drink it, do me a favour…"

As assassin reached out and clutched his fingers around the cup, Kurtis gave Lara a stare, asking to leave. His wife already read the book so it was not needed to ask twice. Things could get really nasty.

As the door closed, Kurtis put a hand on brother's shoulder and squeezed it a bit.
"It may hurt."

Ian wriggled free from Kurtis' grip.
"I have known you for just a few hours. I suggest you do not touch me anymore."

Short, but the more simple version would be, 'Go away, you mean nothing to me yet.'

As Ian pressed his lips to the hot edge of the cup, he felt a strong urge to throw up. How new and original. The unique stench of herbs made him sick. Nevertheless, two gulps and the beverage was finished. And nothing happened.

"You are one crappy herbalist, Trent. I do not feel any…"

It started from the stomach. Within a moment, pain spread all over his body, reaching the tips of his fingers and reaching up to his brains. Pain was eating him alive. As the scream left assassin's mouth, with one powerful blow he smashed the table. The burning feeling in the body refused to disappear. Ian could not think, he just wanted it to stop.

Kurtis watched his brother as he smashed the oak table into pieces and twirled towards the fridge. One hit with his fist and the refrigerator ended its life as the pile of metal. An incredible strength, born out of undue suffering. Or is it so?

Kurtis knew that he himself was stronger than any man but Ian… A true strength of fallen angels. In all its deadly beauty.

The scream made Trent moan in pain and cover his ears. The human could not hear it but for Kurtis it was as painful as if someone had pierced a burning needle in his brains and was constantly twisting it round. It did not bother him, however, to watch Ian and hope that his elixir did not trigger the process of turning to the Nephilim. The next few seconds brought a hell of a sweating as Kurtis saw how Ian's face got a little bit blurred, like he was trying to shape shift but could not succeed. It lasted for several seconds. Another scream. Deep trace, left by fingernails on the stone floor. An unconscious body, curled up in the corner. Kurtis sighed deeply and sat on the cold tiles. As Lara peeked in, horrified by the amount of destruction, and demandingly turning her head to Kurtis, her husband forced a faint smile and stood up.

"Well… I guess I am not making such a bad Gandalf after all…"
A grin crawled onto Lara's lips, as she stepped in and looked at assassin.

"Gandalf needs some help and rest. Grab the gear."

Soft laughter dingled through the room, bouncing from the walls, twirling in the air. Kurtis could bravely state that right now, at this moment he was strangely, idiotically and absolutely happy.