Chapter 10

As it turned out, Asa had gone for a walk. He wouldn't tell anyone where he'd gone, but Billy saw mud on the bottom of his shoes. While he was out, Charlie helped Cynthia compile a grocery list, marshmallows at the very top and highlighted in an obnoxious shade of neon yellow. Emma and Olivia had unpacked and organized the guest room that they were staying in, while Gabriel had helped Billy set up his and Charlie's stuff in the study. Gabriel was bunking with Tancred, Lysander, and Asa in the living room for now until someone could clean out the basement. Gabriel knew that Tancred was already planning to clear it out while she was grocery shopping, not wanting to stress his cousin out anymore.

Patton had phoned the Bones and they had agreed to notify everyone else's parents. Charlie's friend Fidelio Gunn had called a few minutes later and talked with the messy haired teen. Fidelio agreed to keep an eye out for Manfred while Charlie was away, just in case he tried to return to the academy.

By the time everyone was settled in and the kitchen was more or less clean (thanks to Lysander, the saint), Cynthia seemed better. She was certainly smiling more, thanks to Gabriel's dry sense of humor and Olivia's dramatic nature. Charlie offered to accompany her to the store to buy more food while the others stayed at the house to keep an eye out for Luke or Manfred. Naturally, Tancred and Lysander instantly offered their services as guards as well, but as Emma pointed out, that would leave one illusionist, someone who could cause minor power outages, a boy who could talk to animals, and a girl who could turn into a bird to guard the house.

"Why don't you take Asa instead?" she asked.

"Where is he?" asked Patton, looking around the living room, where everyone had gathered.

"Dunno man, I think he said something about a walk." Lysander offered. Cynthia nodded.

"We can leave without him, I mean honestly, I don't need an entire guard to go to the grocery store. There's a reason Bloor waited until I was gone to go after Luke." She reminded them, eyes glinting dangerously. Suddenly, Charlie was forcefully reminded of Tancred's cousin's terrifying endowment.

"Right… er… yeah. We can um… we can go." He stuttered.

As it turned out, grocery shopping for ten people (most of which were under the age of 25) was harder than it should have been. And carrying the sacks up to the house was no picnic either, according to a weary Charlie. Several hours of shopping - and an intense mini versus normal marshmallow debate - had worn him out. Asa appeared just in time to take the last sack from Cynthia. He was rewarded with a smile from the werebeast and snickers from Olivia and Billy. Lysander kicked the latter.

"Shut up!"

"No!" Olivia protested.

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"N- wait was that Asa?" The now present werebeast smiled innocently, gold eyes dancing. Olivia quieted, a thoughtful grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Lysander and Gabriel put the groceries away while Tancred showed his cousin around the now (mostly) clean basement. Impressed, Cynthia offered to help the boys move their sleeping bags downstairs. They declined, claiming they would do it themselves. Gabriel carried his down the steps, balancing his pillow neatly on top. Lysander followed suit. Tancred unrolled his at the top of the steps and slid in. "Pike! You'll carry my pillow down right?"

"Uh, sure?"

"Great, thanks mate. Geronimo!" Bracing his hands on the doorframe, Tancred propelled himself forwards and down the stairs, laughing the whole way down. Asa snorted and threw Tancred's pillow after him.

"Hey!" Tancred protested, "you were supposed to carry it down!"

Asa grinned cheekily as he unfurled his sleeping back and climbed in. "Oh really?"

"Yes really, you jerk. Now you're going to make me move, aren't you?"

Asa's grin widened.

"Yep!" Grumbling to himself, Tancred scooted across the floor, giving the werebeast room to slide down the stairs. Lysander pretended he didn't see Cynthia at the top of the stairs, grinning at the boys' antics.

They thought they were so subtle, didn't they?

Later that night, after most of the children were asleep, Patton and Asa were in the dining room. Steaming mugs of coca in front of them, the two men whispered to each other, discussing where Asa had been all day.

"Did you find him?" Patton asked softly. Asa shook his head.

"Nah, but I think I know where he is. The Loths, they're no friends of the Bloors right? Well, my theory is that the Bloors are keeping 'im near the school. Keep your enemies close and all that right?"

Patton nodded thoughtfully. "That may be worth checking out. Have you told Cynthia yet?"

The werebeast shook his head. "No. I didn't want to get her hopes up again. I promised her I'd help, and what if I'm wrong? I don't want to hurt her any more than she already is."

The older man smiled kindly. "Asa, I think this could help her. And I'm sure she knows the area better than we do. I mean, I could find a map but…"

Asa shook his head violently. "No offence Mr. Patton, but your navigational skills kinda suck. We got lost twice. We went to Cardiff. No, I'll ask her where the school is tomorrow."

Patton stood. "That's enough for now then, it's late and we have an early start. We'll go tomorrow morning." He nodded. "Goodnight, Asa."

"Goodnight, Mr. Patton."

"You know you don't have to call me that, right?"

The redhead grinned cheekily, finishing his hot cocoa. "I know."

After Patton left to go to sleep, Asa sighed.

"You know I know you're there, right?"

Tancred stepped out of the dark living room, taking Patton's place at the table and resting his head on his arms. "Sorry mate, I just... I wanted to know what you were on about. I heard you talking about Luke and I-"

A stiff breeze swept through the room. Hesitantly, Asa reached forwards and poked Tancred's arm.

"Hey. You know we'll find 'im right? Even if we have to fight Manfred again, we will. And we'll win again, Red Knight or not."

The younger boy nodded. "Thanks Pike. You're alright sometimes, you know that?"

Asa snickered. "Thanks man. You should get some sleep."

"You too, okay? Goodnight Pike."

"G'night."

In the morning they would look for little Luke Torsson, but now, they needed rest.

Thank you so much if you read this far, and please accept my apologies for how late it is. I wanted to make this way longer, but I couldn't find a better place to end the chapter than here. :/ I'm working on chapter 11, so please stay tuned!

Love as big as mountains,

-ep