Well, this took an eternity. Mainly because I (bumbumbum!) lost interest for about a day or two. Easy solution: become one of the characters. This normally isn't too difficult, as Rheas is wearing my wardrobe. (from big black frumpy sweater my friends want to burn to ugly flannel jackets my brother wore in the fifth grade!) However, that wasn't working, Samhain to the rescue!
Annie: (dressed as Magenta from The Rocky Horror Picture Show!) Are you Raistlin?
Me: No, I'm Fistandantilus/Raistlin.
Annie: (Rolls eyes)
Well, that really helped! So then it was just a long chapter. lalala. Thank you everyone for the reviews! To answer questions:
1. Crysta was not in the 'dream' because she is not one of the original Companions. Note Dally ain't there either (but he will be, have no fear!)
2. "Rheas" is the same as the names "Reese" and "Rhys". "Rhys" didn't look common enough and "Reese" kept reminding me of the peanut butter cups. I also felt there should be an 'a' in there. (other name notes: Imare' deVout is pronounced "ee-MAH-reh deh-VOH")
Cameron (and the others) are OOC on purpose. First, his intelligence. I don't recall the books (by Weiss anyway) ever mentioning him going to school, he also relied on Raistlin to do the thinking for him, but he did prove himself quite capable in Legends. Now he's in school and yadda yadda yadda. He and Rheas are no longer twins, so they no longer have that um…twiny-ness. Cam's view on Rheas is pretty much the old "nobody beats up on my brother but me!"
Well, that was a long note. Beware the chapter! It's got everything! Sappy romance, bad foreshadowing, the backalley cliché, and other fun stuff. Enjoy.
The telltale knock of 'Shave and a Haircut' told Cameron who was on the other side of the front door before he even opened it. As expected, Toby stood there, smiling up at him. He looked as though he had been thrown back several centuries, which was what he was aiming for. A green tunic with a heavy brown belt, along with bright blue hose and soft leather boots tied up to his knees securely.
"Hi Cameron, I'm all ready!" he declared, stepping into the house despite the fact that Cameron had not invited him in yet. "Is Rheas ready?"
"I don't know." Cameron replied before returning to his seat in front of the telebi, "Tell me when you guys are ready and we'll go."
"I'm just about ready," Rheas announced, walking into the room.
"Hold it Rheas," his mother said, taking hold of his arm, "it ripped again, hold still while I stitch this thing back up." She tilted his head back and brushed the hair to the side. Whipping out a needle, she nimbly began to sew up the garment at the shoulder. "Don't get rough in this or it'll tear more."
"Of course." Rheas' outfit was similar to Toby's. A heavy black tunic, embroidered with ivy designs of black and red down the front and sides, had once hung down to his knees, but now it only reached mid-thigh. Reddish brown breeches, soft, black leather boots, and a heavy brown belt completed the outfit. A silly cape of red made of a fabric that easily tore and sequins, was only used during his and Toby's little 'performances'.
"There," mother said, holding Rheas out at arms' length, "you look so handsome."
"Mother!" Rheas snapped, jerking free from her hold. She simply smiled at him and walked out of the room.
"You boys have fun!" she called over her shoulder.
"We will!" Toby chimed.
Rheas swung his backpack over his shoulder and leaned over his brother. "We're ready."
"All right, let's go."
Toby suddenly pulled Rheas aside. "What about our stuff?!" he whispered so loudly Rheas was worried Cameron had heard. No, the big man was already walking out the door.
"I put it in the back of Cameron's truck. He won't see it."
"But what about when we get there and…"
"He'll park, I know him. I'll distract him, and that's where you come in, understand?"
Toby blinked, then grinned. He saluted Rheas playfully, "Yes sir!"
"Good, let's go. We have history to make!"
All three sat in the truck, more cramped than they had to be, as Rheas had scooted away from the door knowing that at any moment, it would fly open and dump him in the road. Traffic had picked up in the city due to the festival, and the truck sat still, wedged between two buses.
Toby squirmed in his seat, humming along softly to the music blaring from the radio as Cameron tapped his fingers on the steering wheel lightly. The two began to softly sing along, not paying attention to the other.
"Kickstart my heart
Hope it never stops
Whoa, yeah, baby!"
"Okay boys, let's rock the house!!" Toby sang, and all three simultaneously began to headbang furiously, Rheas strumming on his air guitar, Toby bouncing like a ferret, and Cameron beating the steering wheel mercilessly. All three burst into song, ignoring the stares from the neighboring buses.
"Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart
Give it a start
Whoa, yeah, baby!
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart
Hope it never stops,
Whoa, yeah…baby----!!"
Traffic picked up as the song ended and the three settled down. Toby grinned and looked at Cameron then Rheas, both seemed satisfied to some extent. If there was only one thing in this world that those two could agree upon, it was musical choice. Afterall, it had been Cameron who had taken Rheas off to show him what 'good music' was. The one thing Cameron had 'given' Rheas that the younger brother still kept.
"What next?" the short boy pondered as he removed the tape from the tape player.
"Doesn't matter, we're almost there." Cameron said absently. Rheas only yawned and stretched, leaning back.
There was a pop. The door flew open and Rheas fell out of the truck.
"Well that was hell," Cameron muttered as he pulled into one of the last parking spots.
"Indeed," muttered Rheas, rubbing his sore elbow absently, "fortunate then, that you don't have to remain with us." The two teens scrambled out of the truck and began to walk away.
"Hey Rheas! You forgot this." Cameron called, hopping out of the truck and handing it to his younger brother.
"Oh, silly me," Rheas replied, taking the bag. He then leaned forward and pulled his brother down to his eye level, arm around his shoulder and turning him, like a small sibling huddle. Toby took the signal and seemed to vanish suddenly.
"Cameron, this is important," Rheas whispered to him, "Toby and I shall be here until late, we will be very late returning home," he emphasized 'very' as though he were speaking to an infant, "Tell Mother not to worry, we'll be fine."
"Um, sure Rheas…"
"I mean it Cameron. Tell her that, only when she asks."
"Sure sure, I got it. 'Gonna be late, don't worry'."
"Good." And the frail boy released his hold on his brother. Turning, they saw Toby standing there, grinning oddly. Rheas shot him an inquiring glance and the shorter boy winked and gave a thumbs' up.
Climbing back into the truck, Cameron gave one last quick wave and pulled away, Nirvana pouring out the windows. The two waited until the truck was out of sight, which took longer than planned due to traffic, and then sighed in relief.
"We made it," Toby beamed. He felt freed, as though he had been locked up in a small birdcage all his life. Watching the world, a part of it, but never experiencing it. The twittering of a chickadee to the mighty cry of an eagle as it leapt into the sky, bound for infinity.
"Where's our stuff?" Rheas demanded, looking around and seeing no sign of the bags they would require for their survival tomorrow.
"I got it, don't worry. They're behind the blue Chevi. Honestly though, you could have detained him for another second or two, I thought I wouldn't be able to get that big bag out! But then again, I suppose he would have gotten suspicious and thought, 'gee, Rheas seems up to something' and would have questioned us, and there goes the plan and…"
"Shut up."
"Okay! So, now what? Do we finally get to go make, and then spend, some money?"
"We'll have to refrain from spending much if we plan to get something to eat after the ferries. I only have so much money, and I'd prefer not to live off that infernal jerky." Rheas explained, lifting one of the larger bags and slinging it over his shoulder. "But first thing's first, we need to find somewhere to leave these where they won't get stolen."
"I know just the place! Follow me."
Relieved of their extra baggage, the two youths passed under the shadow of the Needle and into the festival. It was extremely crowded, some dressed in their casual wear and others decked out in traditional garb, music seemed to pour from all directions, and the wonderful scents of various kinds of foods entered the boy's senses, flooding their minds in a chaotic swirl of pleasure. Even Rheas had to admit, he felt alive.
Dancing along a cobblestone walk, Toby led the way through the crowd, weaving in and out, until they reached the large lawn near the great fountain. On one side lay a small modern art museum, a collection of performers displaying their talents in song before it. The other side was lined with trees and small food stands. A stage had been set up in the center of the field where a duo played out their hearts on a fiddle.
"Where should we set up?" Toby inquired, stepping up onto the rim of the enormous bowl-shaped fountain.
"Not so close to the main stage, that's for sure," Rheas pondered, shooing away a small gathering of pigeons with his staff, "near the food. Then we can be noticed while the people wait in line."
"Right, how about the Tai food stand? That seems pretty crowded."
"Yes, that will do. Is there an open spot?"
"Uh-huh."
"Right then, let's go."
The two passed the stage and onto the packed street to where an open stair led up to higher ground where Celtic music could be heard. "Right here!" Toby declared, placing his hoopak firmly on the asphalt under a lamp-post.
"Yes, this will do. Help me, we only have so much time. We should have skipped school." Rheas sighed, sliding his backpack off his shoulder and yanking it open.
"That we should have."
"Let's see if I can re-figure this out…" the taller boy murmured as he stepped up, shuffling a deck of cards between his nimble fingers.
"Re-figure?" Toby questioned, leering at Rheas, "When was the last time you practiced this stuff?!"
"Um…" Rheas replied, innocently gazing around the festival grounds, "last festival…?"
"Rheas!"
"Toby!"
"I've been practicing! How are we going to make money if you suck?"
"I've been doing slight-of-hand since I was little, Toby. I'm just a little rusty, give me a minute…"
Toby shook his head and busied himself with shaking out the silly red cape, a few sequins flying off. "I think this is kinda old…"
Unfolding a small box, Rheas placed a few dollars inside and placed it on the ground. He took the cape from the shorter boy and wrapped it about his shoulders. It was silly and flashy, but it caught attention and that was the important part. He then randomly reached out and pulled a coin out of Toby's ear.
"Well, I can still do this at least." Rheas smirked, flipping the quarter.
Cards flew, quarters danced, scarves sprouted endlessly, and watches disappeared from pockets and appeared in another's. The crowd grew larger as Rheas continued his odd miracles, especially the children, drawn in by the flourishing lights. Rheas preferred the children.
They gazed at him with pure admiration, to them, he really was performing miracles. Not so with the adults, he could see the difference in their eyes. True, they were impressed with his skill and found his talent amazing, but that's all it was. They knew it was all illusionary, all a trick, and thus that certain light, that special light that made him feel…right, was gone. But it was there in the children as they gazed upon him with awe. To them, he was defying all laws of nature, he was truly weaving magic from his very fingertips.
The thought suddenly left him feeling hollow. He didn't want to do anymore tricks.
The crowd slowly dispersed when Rheas finished his act, and he sat beside Toby heavily, head between his knees. The shorter boy sat back and played his harmonica lazily, earning them a few more pennies.
"Great job man, look at that wad," Toby praised, gesturing to the full box of money, "you think you'll be ready to do it again soon?"
"Uh huh."
Hopping off the step, Toby gathered their money and props, stuffing it all into the backpack. Rheas lifted an eyebrow, leaned forward, and pulled Toby's jacket roughly. Several items, presumably belonging to many of their previous viewers, came tumbling out.
"Goodness, how did those…!"
"Stow it! Let's go before they come back."
The two hurried up the steps to the side of the museum where many small shops had been set up. Collections of glass, walking sticks, jewelry, clothing, books and instruments everywhere one looked. The two teens took a moment to drool. Toby turned, and his eyes widened in fear. He grabbed Rheas by his tunic and pulled.
"What!?" the taller boy demanded, yanking free.
"'The Gates of Hell have opened and set the greatest of demons upon us!'" Toby cried dramatically.
"I love you too, midget." Imare' replied curtly as he sauntered up to them. He wore a black turtleneck and khakis, a beanie, bracers, and a pair of shoes that looked like he had stolen them off a corpse from the fifties. Black was his favorite color, and it enhanced his pale complexion, something he found alluring. "How you two doing? Rheas, I see the gloves are off?"
The freshman self-consciously pulled the sleeves of his tunic down. "Shut up."
"Rheas just finished his whole performance, but he'll do it again later so…" Toby began.
"I know," Imare' cut in, "I saw from a distance." He then turned to Rheas and whispered, almost inaudibly, "You can do better."
"What?"
"Anyway, I think I have something you'll both like! Guess who's coming home!"
"Lassie?"
"Yo mom?"
"I wish Toby, but no. Pearl Jam! And guess who's got tickets for the show?"
"A shot in the dark, but I'm going to say…you?" Rheas said wryly.
"Correct!" and the junior produced three tickets out of nowhere. "Now, since I don't have a girlfriend of any kind, nor very many friends, for that matter, I think these two shall go to you guys." Imare' held the tickets out for them.
"Wow…" Toby whispered, his hand reaching out lovingly.
"I thought the show sold out?" Rheas inquired, looking the ticket over carefully, "You're not the type of person who has connections."
"Well, when you have a name like Imare' Nightstalker…"
"You're name's deVout."
Imare' glared at him. "Fine. When you have a name like Imare' deVout, you have a way of getting noticed!"
Rheas gazed at him suspiciously, but said nothing.
"Hey! Rheas, we might be able to make this show! It's next weekend!" Toby crowed happily.
"That we will. I'm certainly not going to miss this," Rheas said. He then turned to Imare', "How much do I owe you?"
"Owe me? Nothing buddy, my treat. And you're not talking your way out of it, so there!"
Toby fell to his knees before Imare', taking hold of his shirt. "Imare', you are a god."
"I know," Imare' replied in amusement, shrugging.
Rheas shook his head and Toby kissed his ticket before pocketing it. The three wandered the grounds, gazing at weird odds and ends.
"That's a nice staff by the way," Imare' interjected at random when Rheas was picking through a collection of runes, "Your hoopak too, Toby. Where'd you guys get them?"
"Gifts from Fizban." Rheas replied casually.
"Never heard of him." Imare' shrugged.
"See Rheas, it is a hoopak! Um…how'd you know what this was?" Toby asked, spinning the hoopak slowly so not to knock anything over.
"Seen those things before. Quite popular with midgets you see."
"I swear I'm adopted because my parents and sisters are all pretty tall actually. No one knows why I'm so short, Pops just says I'm a late bloomer but I don't know I think…"
"Do you smell that?" Imare' inquired, turning slowly.
Rheas inhaled, his mind rapidly separating all the smells into recognizable forms. "Yeah…is that what I think it is?"
"What?" Toby demanded, unknowingly pocketing a silver ring.
Both of the taller boys leaned out of the booth and inhaled, gazing down the street for the source. "Is that…?" Imare' began dramatically.
"It is!" Rheas gasped.
"Gyros!" the two cried in delight.
"Yuy?" Toby piped, poking his head out.
"Not Heero, gyro!" Imare' declared, pointing to the stand not too far away.
Toby whooped with joy and the three teens bounded down the street to the Greek food stand.
"I feel so sick…" Rheas grumbled, lying back on the grass, arm draped over his eyes. The half-eaten gyro lay on his stomach and both Toby and Imare' gazed at it longingly.
"I challenge you to a duel, Tobias Bender! Winner gets the rest of Rheas' gyro!"
"You're on!"
"Hey wait…" Rheas said weakly, lifting his head off the ground.
"Paper, rock, scissors!" the two chanted.
"Banzai!" Toby cried, hands in air, "I win."
"Stupid midget thing…" Imare' sulked.
"Did anyone consider I may want to finish this?" Rheas demanded, sitting up.
"No." With that, Toby snagged the gyro and licked it.
"All yours…" Rheas sighed, dropping back down. Toby sniggered.
A new band began setting up on the stage as Toby continued to bore his small audience with a tale of his Uncle Hunter and his ability to kill three squirrels with a plunger in a single throw. They both knew the story all too well and simply dozed off as the freshman added the horror element; a rabid squirrel bent on avenging its cousin. He was at the climax of the story when the new band began to perform.
"…Little did Uncle Hunter realize that the evil squirrel had rounded up his posse! So now, instead of one squirrel, he had six to deal with! He gazed around the tree house warily, knowing that the squirrel would soon……Hey! They're playing Irish drinking songs! Boss!" Toby leapt to his feet. "C'mon Rheas, Imare'!"
"Too sick…" Rheas sighed.
"Go have fun." Imare' smiled, waving him away.
"Oh, okay. I'll be back soon!" he cried, then bounded over into the crowd that formed around the stage, disappearing from view.
"Saved by the power of the influence of booze on instruments." Imare' smirked, sitting up, "Do you really feel that ill?"
"Actually, now that the tale of Uncle Hunter has ended, I'm making a miraculous recovery."
"Thought so. Oh, I have something for you." the junior declared happily, rooting through his backpack.
"Let me guess, tickets to a Guns 'n Roses concert? Or am I being too hopeful?"
"No, but I can get you some."
"Thanks, but I'll get my own."
Imare' shrugged. "Your loss. But here, I think you'll find this better than tickets to any show."
"Oh?" Rheas yawned, pushing himself up to a sitting position.
"Yep, here," and Imare' handed him an antiquated tome, "careful, it's really old. That's genuine cave lion skin it's bound with."
"The cave lion's been extinct for…" Rheas began, running his fingers over the tome carefully.
"Uh huh." Imare' nodded, emphasizing his point, "That thing could be almost as old as the I Ching or…something…for all I know."
Opening the tome carefully, as though it would fall to dust in his hands, Rheas turned a few of the pages slowly, his eyes widening. The writing scrawled on the pages in thick black or red ink, presumably blood, matched those that were carved on the wood piece!
"Where did you get this?" Rheas gasped, turning to Imare' quickly.
Imare' just shrugged. "In my attic."
"You live in an apartment." the freshman stated flatly.
"My grandma's attic." countered Imare'.
"You don't have a grandmother."
"Well I have her attic! Do you want that book or not?"
Rheas shook his head, as though to clear his mind. "There's no way I can accept this," and he held the tome back out to the older boy.
Imare' held up his hand, rejecting the book. "Listen Rheas," he sighed, "I have that book because no one wants it. But you do. You can use it for something, I know it. Just do me a favor and take it off my hands."
Rheas gazed into Imare's steel-gray eyes, the only eyes that had never given under his own, and agreed, pulling the book close. "Very well."
"Good!" Imare' beamed. "Here, you'll need this then," he pulled out a spiral notebook, well used, and handed it to the younger boy. "These are the notes I've taken on that book for the past ten years. You'll find them helpful."
Flipping through the pages of the notebook, Rheas looked up at Imare' in surprise. "These are translations!"
"As best as I can assume. The tome is a collection of notes by an apprentice of some guy only referred to as 'Fahtea'. You'll find it quite fascinating." Explained Imare' as he rose to his feet, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. He reached out his hand and pulled Rheas up.
"Ten years work and you hand this over as if it were an old school assignment. You're some piece of work Imare' deVout."
"Yeah well…" Imare' grinned, yanking his beanie off and scratching at his greasy hair, "I'm a walker of paths, not a pathmaker. Well…well…I guess I'll catch ya later!" The junior suddenly opened his palm and blew sand into Rheas eyes, blinding him.
"Imare'!" Rheas shouted, rubbing his eyes vigorously.
"Poof! I disappear!" he heard Imare' whisper, and then the sound of footsteps running off.
He finally opened his eyes to find, as expected, Imare' had run off. "Stop doing that!" Rheas snarled at the crowd as though the junior could hear him. It was one of Imare's more annoying trademarks, blowing sand or dust into someone's eyes and then running off. It was his own 'magic' he claimed. Muttering in frustration, Rheas ran his fingers over his eyes, trying to get any remaining bits of sand out. There was none. Whatever had been thrown in his eyes, it was gone now, as though it had never been.
Toby was still fascinated with the band it seemed, and would be for some time. When he got back, they would try another performance, close up on any remaining booth browsing that was needed, drop by the children's theater for a Celtic performance, and then head out towards the docks. Rheas sighed and sat back down onto the grass, wrapping the tome in the silly red cape and sliding it into his backpack with the notebook. Reaching in, he pulled out the spellbook that had been sent to him and studied it. He didn't even know why he was carrying the thing. It wouldn't do him any good.
He flipped through the pages absently and then stopped. The pages fell open and he stared at them, wide-eyed.
He could read it.
He shut his eyes and counted to ten in Russian backwards. When he opened them, the words were still there. "I think the drugs from this afternoon are kicking in…" he whispered. Something stung him in his right eye, and he pried at it with his pinkie.
He withdrew his hand, and on his finger was a small speck of dark blue sand.
"Hey Rheas! Rheas? You dead man?"
"I suppose not if you're still here…" Rheas replied. Lifting his arm from over his eyes he stared at Toby uncaringly. "What do you want?"
"Guess who came to the festival!" Toby cried, pulling an unhappy Rheas up.
"Half the state of Washington?"
"No- er…maybe…but no. Crysta and Erica!"
"Ooh," Rheas growled sarcastically, "shove a sword through my gut and call me excited. So what? What time is it anyway…?"
"Well, somebody had food poisoning apparently." Toby sorted at Rheas, crossing his arms. "If you must know, it's five thirty-two. Where's Imare'?"
"'Thus the great demon retreated to the Gates as the Earth closed up behind him' as you would say."
"Ah. Come on, new band, this group's playing some lively jigs I know you'll love!"
"Very well." Rheas sighed, following his shorter comrade. The two sat in the grass with the crowd, Toby clapping with the music happily.
"You see, this is what it's all about. Just you, me, and some live music and I'm happy. I mean, I'd love it if maybe the whole meet was here, or better yet, Thomas and the gang! But Thomas is sick…did you know that Rheas?"
"I--"
"Quite sad, he was such a nice goober. All of us together in our little motley crew…"
"Toby, Thomas is--"
"The glue that held us together, he was! Now that he's gone…given the ultimate Shaft…we might as well call it quits!"
Rheas grabbed Toby's topknot and shouted in his ear. "Thomas is going to be fine!"
The shorter boy shuddered and drew away. "Really?"
"Really."
"Oh…tight. I thought we were all shafted for a minute there!" Toby's mood improved greatly and he began dancing in his seat to the music. Rheas just shook his head. Suddenly, two hands clamped over his eyes, blinding him. He merely crossed his arms and sighed.
"Good day, reverend's daughter."
The hands slid back, pulling his head back not ungently. "Stop calling me that!" Crysta snapped.
"See!" Toby bounced in excitement, "I told you Crysta and Erica were here!"
"I didn't doubt you." Rheas countered flatly as he scooted and made room for the two girls. "You have no creativity." he scolded them, observing their common street clothes.
"Shame on me." Crysta replied, rolling her eyes.
"How long have you guys been here?" Erica questioned, running her hand through her short hair.
"Not too long, only since about three-thirty." Toby said, settling back down. Rheas put a finger to his lips to silence them as another song began, a slow rhythmic melody lulling even Toby into a relaxed state of mind. A few couples danced to the music in a display of some foreign unorganized ballet. Crysta watched them in fascination, hypnotized by the rhythm and movement. Her gray eyes shifted and fell on Rheas beside her, his head tilted forward, eyes shut, and his ears perked for the music and the shuffling and light tapping of the dancing feet, watching them in his mind's eye. She took firm hold of his arm and rose to her feet, taking him with her.
"Dance with me!" she laughed, and pulled him out with the other dancers despite his protests.
Toby's eyes widened and a large grin spread across his young face. "Dance with me!" he cried, arms opened to Erica.
"No thanks." she stated flatly.
"Nuts…"
Out of the crowd, Crysta turned and took hold of Rheas' hand, at which he jerked back on instinct. He didn't like to be touched, and she knew that, but she brushed this fact to the corner of her mind as she placed her other hand on his shoulder.
"I can't dance!" he protested, trying to pull away again.
"Bull, I see you do it all the time. Sure, that's random puttering around with Toby, but this isn't too different. Now, what are you going to do with that?" by this, she meant his other hand, which remained at his side.
"Nothing, as I am not getting involved in this foolishness in any way!" he snarled.
"Just move your feet and go." she insisted, pulling him with her as she stepped in with the music. "There you go…no, stop looking at your feet…"
"I'd much prefer just listening to the music."
"You are, just make yourself become it!"
"Very well." he smiled darkly as he slid his hand around her waist and pulled her along as the music picked up. The pair was mismatched, one in a tee shirt and denim skirt and the other in a tunic and breeches, yet they did not notice this. They spun and twirled until they thought they would be sick, Crysta laughing in Rheas' ear the whole time. For once, he didn't find it absolutely annoying.
"And you said you couldn't dance," Crysta teased, wrapping her arms around his neck. He stiffened and fumbled, and she drew back, allowing him to regain his composure.
"I know this song," he replied, quickly getting back instep.
"You know so many, yet you never sing any for me."
"You never ask." he replied softly, and she could almost feel the words slide down her neck. He suddenly leaned forward and whispered softly in her ear, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine.
"And all the roads we have to walk are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you
But I don't know how.
Because maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
And afterall
You're my wonderwall…"
She shut her eyes and pulled a little closer, smiling. "I don't think Oasis counts as folk Rheas…"
"It was the first thing that came to mind…"
She looked at him then; into those golden eyes that she hoped would someday soften and let her see him, just a little. But they were just as hard and mirror-like as ever, and she only saw herself.
"I want to see you…" she whispered aloud without realizing, leaning toward him. He did not pull away as she gently brought his face closer to hers until their lips almost touched, when he seemed to pull back within himself and raise the outer shell that kept the world out and his own hell in. He snapped back to reality and jerked away from her.
"Thank you for the dance, it was…memorable." he hissed, a new wave of buried anger swelling up in his eyes. What for, even he didn't know. "Toby! We must go now if we plan to get another show in! Hurry up!" and Rheas Madison strode away, leaving Crysta to stand alone in bewilderment.
"I think that was our best show ever! What a crowd! What a show!"
"There were about twenty people max there at one time, Toby. Shut up."
"But we got the most money we've ever made! Look at all this loot we bought!"
"More to carry."
"We'll lock it up when we leave."
"What about when we go home, hmm?"
"Remember our discussion on half-full glasses Rheas?"
"Maybe…" Rheas yawned, rolling over onto his side in the grass, his fingers lightly running up the wood of the staff.
Toby stretched and lay back slightly, his back resting against Rheas' stomach. He gazed up through the leaves of the tree they lay under, the sun, long past its zenith and now walking back to the horizon, threw splattered sunbeams down on his smiling face. "Rheas, what'll happen to us? After school I mean, just what happens to guys like us?"
"Whatever we want, I suppose."
"I'm thinking of going to art school or something, learn photography. Gee, wouldn't that be a great job? Travel around, taking pictures, capturing all my own adventures forever. What fun!"
"Mn."
"What about you? I bet you could get into one of the best colleges in the world if you wanted!"
"Have no interest…"
"Why not?"
"What would I do then? Little interests me in this world."
Toby sighed and slumped down until his elbows rested on earth, his topknot draped over Rheas' side. He felt his eyes drooping, but fought against them.
"Why did you do it?" he asked suddenly, a heavy air of seriousness settling over him.
"Do what?" Rheas said drowsily.
Shifting, Toby pointed to Rheas' wrist, free of the gloves, with his foot.
Rheas unconsciously pulled the black sleeves down, attempting to cover the red scars that had refused to go away. "I don't know," he hissed in anger, more towards himself, "I was having a rotten day and did something stupid. I don't even remember doing it, to tell you the truth, I just…woke up and there it was. I don't want to die."
"What about the bathtub, and the pills?"
"I don't know…I occasionally just…lose myself and do stupid things."
Toby said no more, just wiggled a bit, getting comfortable, and let his eyelids fall. Rheas sighed, letting his head rest on the cool grass, until the same sleep came for him as well.
They didn't stir until Toby awoke with the setting sun in his eyes. "Stop that." he told it drowsily, pointing at the sun dramatically. A sudden shadow fell over him, blocking the light. "Thank you." He turned and tried to bury himself in Rheas' tunic. Rheas, waking up but still pretty drowsy, pushed him away roughly and rolled over.
"How rude," Toby yawned, stretching. He poked Rheas several times in the shoulder until a warning growl informed him that the taller boy was more alert now. Looking up at his new sun-block, Toby could make out a beard and a big hat and…
"Fizban!" he cried, delighted. Rheas whirled around and sat up in one swift motion.
"You!" he shouted, leaping to his feet before the old man.
"Who?!" Fizban demanded, whirling around to the supposed person behind him. Finding no one, he gazed at Rheas as though he was insane. "You're a jumpy lad now aren't you?"
"Why are you here!?" Rheas demanded, a wild look in his golden eyes, "You left with the others after Chaos long ago and look at this I'm talking and I don't even know what I'm saying…!" he paused, shaking his head, and tried to recap what he just said, but nothing came to him. Fizban smiled and pat him on the head sympathetically.
"I get that problem every now and again."
"More like every day…" Rheas muttered, jerking away.
"Wow Fizban, it's great you're here too! We've just been seeing everybody it seems, Crysta, Erica and even Imare' decided to…!"
"Imare'!" Fizban cried, "you boys should stay away from that hooligan! Especially you young man," he tapped Rheas with his walking stick, "A nasty fellow, stole my hat, he did!"
"I hang around Toby all day old man, I think I can handle petty thieves." Rheas sighed.
"Well," Fizban turned and gazed at Toby, "I suppose that's true…"
"I'm not a thief!" Toby shouted, genuinely insulted. The old man winked at Toby apologetically, as though silently explaining he was simply humoring Rheas. The golden eyes did not miss this exchange, and flashed angrily.
"So where are you boys heading off to this time?"
"We have tickets to a small Celtic concert at the theater," Toby explained excitedly, "Are you going too?"
"Sadly no, I'm just heading home now."
"Aww…"
"Oh, too bad." Rheas mumbled sarcastically.
"I see you two are using your gifts," Fizban smiled at them.
"I love it, great for traveling!"
"I'm very attached to it, I admit, thank you."
"So you figured it out then?" the old man said slyly, turning to Rheas.
Up went the hairs on the back of Rheas' neck again. He knows! "Sort of." he replied flatly, his exterior giving no clue to his inner turmoil. Fizban just smiled.
"Well, I'll see you youngins later, bye bye." and with that, the old man walked back down the cobbled street to the roads.
"Bye Fizban!" Toby called, waving, "And remember, your car keys are in your left hand!"
Mulling about on the couch, despite the liveliness that surrounded him, Cameron tilted the beer can, still mostly full, swirling the liquid about its constraints. One of the biggest parties of the year and he was not enjoying himself. No matter what he did, his thoughts would always pull him back to earlier that day. He wasn't the quickest of thinkers, but when something nagged at him so, he was determined to figure out what.
We will be very late returning home…Tell Mother not to worry, we'll be fine.
Well, there it was, but so what? Rheas had said that before, and returned late. Why was it bothering him? Cameron took another sip and slumped in his seat. Leave it to Rheas to ruin his party when he wasn't even there!
Tell Mother not to worry, we'll be fine…
Why was that bothering him? Rheas could be dramatic, and sometimes downright cryptic, but there was something about the way he said it…Cameron had heard it before. Rheas had been a little smaller then, thirteen years old, his hair a little shorter, hanging loose down to his ears. His full wallet on a chain and a backpack…
"Cameron, I'm heading to town to get some cold medicine and a bonzai. I'll be back later."
"Sure Rheas."
"I may be very late, tell Mother not to worry, I'll be fine."
He didn't come home at all until several days later. He snuck in the back window, dirty, hungry, and rather roughed up. He only came back because he had to. That had been his parting, in a way...
"Shit!" Cameron snarled, slamming the can down and hurrying to the door.
"Hey Cameron, where you going?" one of the more sober partygoers called after him.
"I think my brother's making another run for it!" he snapped, mainly to himself, and slammed the door shut.
"That was fun!" Toby beamed, strolling alongside Rheas as the two walked down the street. Having dropped off their stuff and reclaiming their gear, the two were back in their street clothes they had packed and were hurrying down to the docks for the next ferry.
"We can take the ferry to Bremerton and spend the night there…" Rheas murmured to himself as he studied his ferry schedule.
"Where will we sleep?"
"I dunno, the woods for all I care. Then tomorrow we hitchhike up Route3 to Seabeck," he shut the pamphlet, "Once there we can pay someone to boat us across Hood Canal to Brinnon. We'll decide where to go from there."
"Cool. Do we have enough money for food? I mean, I like jerky just as much as the next fellow, but it's so good to have during a movie I'd hate to get sick of it."
"If we eat junk food we should be perfectly fine."
"Oh good!"
The next thing Toby knew, someone yanked his topknot so hard he was sent against a wall. A cry of surprise and Rheas was beside him, a knife pressed to his throat.
"Oh bad!" Toby whimpered. They were wandering the streets of the not-so-nice part of the city late at night, why wouldn't they get mugged? He felt like he was in a movie…
"Let go you fuckin' cunt!" Rheas struggled. A punch in the gut doubled him over and he was silent. A grubby hand from the shadow that reeked of alcohol and cigarettes grabbed Toby by the shoulder and pushed him into the wall roughly.
"What do you want?!" Toby shouted, though he was pretty sure of the answer. What was he supposed to do? Stay silent as this guy stripped him of all he owned?
A face leered into view, frightening and sharp featured, a masculine harpy face. The face twisted into what Toby assumed was a smile, baring yellowed teeth.
"A blow job."
Whoa, that wasn't what Toby had expected. "Ack! No way! Not if you paid me ten thousand dollars!!"
"Like you gotta choice kid," the harpy-man rasped, his knife flipping towards Toby's throat. The hand pushed him against the wall again sharply, and his head snapped back, the only thing keeping his skull from cracking on the hard surface was his topknot.
"Listen, I'm sure there are plenty of hookers around here that can do what you want and…!" Toby babbled, not too sure of what he was saying, only that his hand darted to his left pocket where the pocketknife lay in wait. Or was that the right…?
"Hey fucker,"
The harpy-man lifted his head in time to see Rheas' boot collide with his groin. He fell to his knees, bending forward, right into Rheas' steel-toed boot. He jerked backwards and lay still, unconscious.
Toby stared as Rheas swiftly removed the knife from their attacker's hand, along with his wallet, which he flipped through and then tossed back disdainfully. "Wow Rheas…"
"You okay?" Rheas sighed, as though annoyed.
"Yeah but…but…That was so cool! How come you never did any of that stuff before?!"
"The fool was so engrossed with you that I caught him off guard. Had I lost the element of surprise, I'd have stood no chance."
"But still, you were like…" and he started mimicking moves from his latest kung-fu movie as the two moved back to the street.
"There's a reason I wear these boots Toby."
"Still, that was neat."
"Let's get out of here." Rheas sighed, slinging the staff over his shoulder.
"Right!" and the two hurried down the street.
"See, there it is, right down at the bottom of that hill!" Toby stated, gesturing towards the lights not much more than a quarter-mile away.
"Good, I thought we were lost for a minute there," Rheas sighed wearily. The day was catching up to him rapidly and he feared he would collapse soon if they didn't sit down to rest. He'd have plenty of time to relax on the ferry once they got there.
"Toby Bender never gets lost!" the short boy declared, thumping himself on the chest.
"Right, whatever, let's go, we don't want to miss this one, the next doesn't arrive until one-thirty." Rheas said quietly as he strode towards the hill. Toby nodded and bounded after his friend, more excited than ever. Once they were on the ferry and pulling away from the shore, it would be as though no one could stop them, that their wonderful little adventure had finally begun. Toby's dream-come-true.
Rheas suddenly stopped and turned, listening. His eyes narrowed as a bright light illuminated his face. Toby spun around, seeing the truck that was coming towards them.
"Hey, that looks like Cameron's truck…" he stated slowly. Rheas' eyes widened and he whirled and started running.
"He figured us out! Run!"
Toby jumped and bounded after, using his hoopak to knock aside an old garbage can. He couldn't believe it! So close…so close!
Too late, the truck drove ahead of them and onto the sidewalk, blocking their way. Cameron leapt out of the truck. Rheas skid to a halt and then turned, attempting to run back, but instead ran right into the oncoming Toby. A large hand took a firm hold of his arm and spun him around roughly.
"Let go of me Cameron!"
"What the fuck are you thinking!?" Cameron bellowed, shaking his younger brother.
"I'm thinking you'd better release me this instant! You wouldn't understand, you never could! This is what I have to do!"
"Bullshit! Get in the damn truck!"
"Let go! I can't…! Oh gods…Gods, shut up!!" A violent shudder ran through him and his head jerked back momentarily. His hand tightened around the staff, and he swung it, Cameron barely dodging it.
"Shirak!" he shouted, holding the staff out.
Nothing happened.
His head tilted at an odd angle and drooped. He stood there awkwardly, knees bent in and leaning on the staff.
"Shut up…" he whimpered, and started to shake.
"Rheas…" Cameron reached out and gently took hold of his wrist, the black glove warm underneath his skin, "come on, let's go home…"
"We just wanted to find something…we could do it!" Toby protested meekly. Cameron glared at him, momentarily resembling his brother.
"Sharcum pas edistus…" Rheas hissed, gripping the staff so tightly his knuckles became white, "Shirak!" His eyes rolled back until only the whites were showing, his hands trembling. His knees buckled and he fell, shuddering, still leaning on the staff that would not obey his commands. His brother knelt beside him, wrapping his arms around his brother's shaking form as though trying to hold him together.
"Rheas! Snap out of it!"
"Shut up! Damn you! Shut up!" Rheas screeched, grabbing his head and tearing at his face.
"Rheas!" Cameron shouted, pulling him to his feet and shaking his shoulders.
"I can't do it…! I can't! Stop it! Leave be!!"
Cameron shut his eyes tightly, reaching his decision. "I'm sorry!" he cried, then held Rheas out, drew back his arm, and firmly struck Rheas across the face. His head jerked wildly that for a moment he feared he might have snapped his neck, and then Rheas crumpled. Cameron caught him and held his still form tightly. The staff clattered to the ground.
Toby stared, shaking a bit himself. Cameron hefted his brother up and turned his attention to Toby.
"Get in the truck." he ordered. Toby looked up at him. This wasn't Cameron, the Cameron he knew was easy going, happy, everyone's friend. He didn't know whose voice was coming out of Cameron's mouth, and it frightened him.
Toby Bender was frightened. He didn't know how to react.
"Now!!" Cameron bellowed, carrying Rheas back to the truck. Toby jumped and picked up his bag. He moved forward slowly then stopped. He turned and moved back to the staff and reached for it.
"Leave it!"
"But…"
"No 'buts'! Ever since he brought that thing home he's been acting up. Let someone else ruin themselves!"
Toby hesitated, then stepped over the staff and doggedly followed Cameron into the truck.
The trip was a silent one, and it began to rain. Toby stared out the plastic windows at the passing lights for the eternity it took to get home. Why? That was the only thing that came to his mind. Finally the truck pulled into Toby's driveway.
"Get out and go home." Cameron sighed tiredly. It was the first he had spoken the whole drive. Toby pushed open the door and slid off the seat, disappearing into the rain. Cameron didn't pull away until he saw the light of the front door open, and then shut.
Their own driveway was empty, no one was home yet. Cameron gently lifted his brother into his arms as though he would break if handled too roughly and carried him into the house. Rheas moaned slightly when Cameron wiped the blood away from his nose and put ice on his bruised face. The big man took him up to his room and laid him on his bed.
Rheas woke up with a start when Cameron shut his door. He leapt to his feet and pulled the handle. The door didn't budge.
"Oh no…Cameron, let me out! Cameron!" he pounded on the door angrily, "Let go of the fucking door Cameron! Let me out! I'm gonna frggin' kill you if you don't let me out!"
Cameron sat down in front of the door heavily. His hands were shaking. He put his head between his knees as Rheas continued shouting, sometimes at him, sometimes at whatever insanity was lurking through his mind.
"Oh gods Cameron…please let me out of here!" Rheas wailed on the other side of the door. There was a loud thud, and then a crash, the bookcase, probably.
"Shut up! Oh gods shut up!!"
"Stop it…" Cameron whispered.
"Holy shit!! How many of you are there! Get away from me!"
"Stop it Rheas!"
"Please Cameron, let me out of here!"
"Shut up!" Cameron shouted.
And then there was silence.
That was um…interesting. But now the fun begins! The songs were "kickstart my Heart" by Motley Crue and "Wonderwall" by Oasis. Last chapter (I forgot to mention) was "bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. I want to draw out that scene between Rheas and Toby, that was dumb, but kinda fun. Anyway, now we can shift into the psychological 'horror' of it all (the only DL fic with the primary genre of horror *-*) and then the actual adventuring! Yay! It's late, I have school, goodbye.