"...others... sil... ight..."
Hands shaking atop the cool soil, a single bead of sweat rolled its way down a throbing forehead.
"Crim -ood... stai... the moonl..."
Whispered words only heard by the sparse grass beneath his fingers. Drawing in a gasping breath, palms sinking into the dirt, more sweat made its way down his back as it arched under the assault of the words.
"-eed... set... me free..."
Now covered in a heavy sheen of sweat, the small man gave an almost imperceptible moan. As the tingling began to build in his stomach, he gasped, this time the sound was aloud, but he didn't care. The words washed over him, capturing him like a kiss from a deliciously agressive lover.
"My.. swe... -amb..."
Back arching up into the words, desperate to be touched by the one speaking them, aching for release... a helpless whimper escaped his lips as the voice laughed soflty, amused by his distress.
"Come play with me..."
Evan shot up from his cot, panting heavily and covered in sweat. He'd woken up in strange places enough to be used to the initial disorentaion, so he settled for glacing at James instead. Storm was at his post, up and alert, perched on the dryer closest to the door.
Sighing in relief, Evan sat up, trying to catch the remains of his confusing dream. Unable to remember much but the helpless desperation, he shook his head, opting to push it away until he could speak with Rob about it.
Not that Rob's sharing anything with me, he though with irritation. He was not the most expirenced of the group -having spent much of his life in The Tomb helping his mom run Holloway- but he derserved to know who or what was trying to kill im.
Sighing as he finger combed his hair, determindly shoving such thoughts away. Bitching about not being let in on the big secret would get him nowhere. Besides, it made him feel and sound like a petulant child. He didn't need to give Shelley and Sabin another reason to tease him for being as much of a toddler as Jo.
Wincing, he glanced over at the Werekat. Tail twitching irritably, calico ears laid back on his head the 13 year old stil seemed riled up. His shoulder length dark hair hung in his face, so Evan couldn't tell if he had one of his two expressions on his face -angry and disinterested- but the tension radiating off the cat/human hybrid spoke volumes of his mood.
Oh boy. Whatever's going on, I hope its over soon. If Randal doesn't calm down, Jo's gonna murder him.
The door banged open, reveling Trish and Rob, who were both beaming -and carrying something that smelled suspiciously like McDonalds.
Rob scanned the room, pausing to frown slightly at his son, who was still propped up against the wall, saring at nothing. Rob sighed, then caught sight of Evan and smiled weakly at the undoubtably pathetic look on the young mans face.
"Evan, hun, wipe your mouth," said Trish as she bounced accross the rom to stand infront of Jo.
Blushing slightly, Evan reached up his hand, grimacing at the string of drool he found at the corner of his mouth. Wiping it away impatiently, he stood, heading towad Rob.
Setting the paper bags down on a washer, Rob opened one and laid out several tightly wrapped breakfast sandwiches, grinning as Evan snatched up the nearest one hungrily.
"Wheres Bobby?" Evan asked, the urge to know rising so suddenly he choked on his egg and cheese burrito before he'd finished speaking.
Rob said nothing, didn't even look worried or suprized as he patted Evan on the back. Coughing more from supprize at the feeling of desperation flooding him, Evan leaned on the washer, blinking back tears.
What the HELL was that?
Looking questioningly at Rob, he found that gentle, understanding look he'd been seeing since he was a child. Breathing in slowly through his sore windpipe, he felt the natural calmness that alway sourounded Rob take effect, using it as an anchor of sorts.
Rob gave him a reasuring smile, patting him more gently on the back as he took up a sausage and cheese croissant, "He's out with Randal. They went to walmart for suplies."
"WALLY WALLY WALLY WALLY WALLY WALLY WORLD!"
Raising an eyebrow at Rob, Evan turned to see Trish standing infront on Jo, shaking her ass obscenely in the air as she sang loudly and off key.
"WALLY WALLY WALLY WALLY WALLY WALLY WORLD! WALLY WALLY WALLY WALLY- "
"Ug! Shut up already jesus!" snarled Jo, flicking his hair back and glaring heatedly at Trish, who paused, her fingers wrapped around her ankles and her ass right in front of the Werekat's face. She looked around her backside at the Kat, grinning wickedly.
"If you get up and eat I will," she said, still poised to start shaking her ass again.
The teen narrowed his eyes at her, his long thin whiskers twitching as is ears lay back again. Glancing at the doorway, he licked his lips, a nervous habit he had when he was irritated.
"I'm not hungry," he tried, shooting Evan a look that clearly said 'help'.
"Too bad then! WALLY WALLY WALLY WALLY WALLY WALLY WORL-"
"Nnn! Okay okay just stop!" hissed Jo, standing up and trying to dodge around the small red head.
Trish was upright in a flash, one arm wrapped around Jo's shoulders as she guilded him along, grinning in triumph.
"Ha! I win! Now, what kind of McHeartattack do you want?"
"Okay, this shit is just ridiculous."
Evan rolled his eyes good naturedly, grinning at the disgusted look on the Werekat's face as he slammed the washer door shut.
"What do you expect Jo? Its a seedy motel," the older man said, glad he could stand beside someone only an inch or two taller than him for once.
Jo sighed, shutting another washer, hitting start, then turning his back to it. Running a hand through his unruly hair, he leaned against the machine, one foot on the floor, the other pressed to the washer door.
Sensing his mood shift, Evan dropped his armload of towels into a dryer along with a dryer sheet. Sutting the lid, he hopped up on the machine as it began to hum. Looking over at his young friend, he waited.
"Something... somethings happening," the Kat said, his voice comming out strangled like he didn't want to say anything at all.
Evan cocked his head and Jo seemed to take that as a sign of disbelief, "I know that someone's after you or whatever... but this seems even bigger than just another pissed off witch clan targetting a Guardian," his soft features scrunched up in an effort to explain his thoughts, "Its like... the air is wrong."
Evan thought for a minute, "You mean like when the portals blew up last month?" he remembered waking up a month ago covered in sweat and head pounding as an ear splitting shriek tore through Monroe at 3 in the morning.
Jo nodded, frowning in thought, "Yeah, like that. Actually, everything has seemed off for a while now. I first noticed it around august of last year..."
Evan nodded, "Yeah, your birthday to be exact," he continued to nod for a split secod until he realised what he had said. Eyes widening, he turned his head to Jo, who's usually impassive gaze mirrored his anxiety.
"Its a coincidence..." Evan said, the words shaky and desperate to his own ears.
The Kat looked down, biting his lip in thought as the thick coat of fur around his neck bristled in agitation, "There are no coincidences," Cocking his head, he contemplated the floor as if seeing something Evan couldn't, "If the tension started building on my birthday, then did it come to a head when the portals exploded or was that just a taste of whats to come?"
Evan closed his eyes, his worry divided between the threat before them and the fact that this 13 year old knew entirely too much about the darker side of life. Before he could head down emo road, bitching about the cruelty of his and Jo's stolen childhoods, he picked up the Werekat's train of thought.
"I very much doubt that blowing up the portals was the eye of the storm. Operating on the idea that the calm before the storm started on your birthday..."
Jo nodded, pushing a strand of dark hair back from his face, "You're right. I don't see 9 months of buildup ending in just the portals blowing up. I mean, its not like thats the only way to travel, its just the fastest. Whoever did it disturbed the leylines and shut the portals in Louisianna down, which is annoying but not really detrimental unless you're a visiting Otherworlder on a weekend pass with urgent bussinss back in your home dimension."
Evan frowned, "Yeah, but what if that the point?"
Mor cocked his head, "Meaning?"
Evan waved his hand impatiently, "What if thats what it was meant to do? Blow the portals up to annoy the Guardians and Otherworlders. Not like a prank but as a determent. Keep them here and out of the way."
The Werekat nodded thoughtfully, catching on, "I see," he clicked his small fingers, the snap louder than one would expect, "A distraction! Not only do the broken portals keep Otherworlders and Hunters here, it keeps everyone busy. Otherworlders who need to get back home but are restricted within state lines can't leave the state in search of another portal, so they're stuck here until leylines return to stability, the Order fixes the portals, or the Guardians sort out their paperwork and let them jump state lines. Which means the Guardians are swamped with work, meaning they can't watch their territories as effectively and the Hunters that haven't left to find working potals are overworked keeping impatient Otherworlders from crossing state lines without permisson."
Evan's eyes widened as the implications sunk in, "Oh my god. With the Guardians busy with Otherworlder work, The Order trying to fix the Leylines, Enforcers looking for the one screwing with them in the first place and the Hunters off to other states or chasing down Otherworlders, we're..."
The teen nodded, "We're on our own. Since the Portals are fucked, there's no way to transport a group of Enforcers or Hunters here quickly."
"Goddamnit!" swore Evan, anger in his words, "Savage told Kenzo you guys needed more people in this area. You guys aren't Order, Hunters or Enforcers, yet you're the only freaking fighting force in the north half of Louisiana!"
"Actually, we only cover 10 parishes in the north east corner of the state-" said the Werekat absently, his ruff standing up as if electrified. He was staring at the door, delicate features pinched in something like worry.
Evan cocked his head, then frowned as the sound hit his ears, taking longer to reach his human ears.
It was long and low, but not soft. It was a high pitched whine, but more mechanical... no. The only, unsatisfactory word Evan could come up with was otherworldly, which seemed redundant given his occupation. But that was the only ajective his mind would spit out, however inadequit.
The sound deepend, making the Werekat beside him cringe, his ears flatening to his head, though Evan knew that wouldn't help much. As suddenly as it had deepend, the sound hit an odd note, a sound both screeching and low, loud and soft, like nails on a chalk bord and the muted cries of a drowning creature.
It sounded like a scream.
Evan shivered, wishing he had a really big weapon and cursing the others for leaving them alone. He glanced over at Jo and cursed again. The werekat was leaning heavily on the washer behind him, ears flat to his head and one hand over his left ear. The teens chest was heaving laborously and beads of sweat rolled down his face, soaking the fur around his throat.
Evan knew he should be reaching for the dagger in his hip holster, or the gun on the oposit leg, but the sound had him paralyzed, waiting for the next note.
It came all too soon for his companion. Like a creature in the throes of death, the scream rose several octaves, becomming alost imperceptible to Evan's human ears. That was not the case for a certain Werekat though. The lincreasingly lucid wail had the sensitive Kat sliding to the floor, arms over his ears.
As the sound hit its peak, there was an accompanying supersonic boom that was heard, then felt. Something crashed into Evan and he slid off the dryer, warm wetness that he assumed was blood streaming down his cheeks. The whole basement shook from the wavs of power radiating from the sonic boom, causing the washers and dryers to fall and sent chunks of concrete crashing to the floor from the ceiling. Even after he was certain he was laying on the floor, the room continued to tilt, the contents of the laundry room rolling across the floor like it was a life sized washing machine.
A chunk of concrete hit the basement floor very close to Evan, then rolled as the room tilted. Evan tried looking around, not understanding why he wasn't sliding across the floor with the rest of the objects in the room. Straining his neck, he realised that Jo had his arms around his chest, holding him close. More straining and he saw why they wern't tumbling across the room. His protector had one hand morphed into a paw and had his claws deep in the concrete of the wall. Which was odd, since Evan could have sworn Jo had said not long ago that he was rather weak for a Were and couldn't do much with his beautiful claws and teeth.
The room began tilting the other way, the process taking progressively less time. The big chunk of ceiling that had almost hit them began rolling toward them and Evan would have screamed had he been able to hear or speak. The arm around him tightened and they swung suddenly, Evan cathcing on quickly and throwing his body weight into it.
He didn't hear Jo scream, but he saw a bit of the boulder break off and slam into the Kats arm, leaving a ragged bleeding gash. Evan blinked, feeling another vibration reverberat though the room, this one shaking him to the marrow of his bones.
He still couldn't hear anything, but apparently Jo could because he seemed to curl up momentarily, his whole body going rigid. The room had lost the patern and was tilting haphazardly now, which Evan soon concluded was very very very bad.
Crashing right for them was a herd of washers and dryers, banged up from their trips around the room and several peices of the walls and ceiling. Evan felt panic rise in him, no longer paralyzed by fear and not disoriented from his deafness enough to be indifferent to this new and very imediate threat to his health.
A warmth that was enveloping and tender rose in him, not strong enough to flood him, but prevelent non the less. Too panicked to think strait he latched onto the warmth and in the face of his mortality threw it and wahtever was left of his stregth at the on comming barrage.
If he had been in another situation, he would have though it strange. He was sure he would have at least laughed, but the bisarre occurence held no significance for him at the moment. He did however, store the image of the smaller bouders, some of the laundry carts and a table that had been careening toward them suddenly morphing inyo various stuffed animals.
However, there were still massive objects falling toward them like hail from hell and whatever he had done had not been good enough. Just as Evan was contemplating the gramatical make up of his eulogy, Jo's body went rigid, the hand now possitivly crushing him. A strange, smell hit Evans nose, like hot night breezes and steamy lakes in the summer moonlight. Power that Evan had never felt before surrounded them, and the rocks directly infront of them bounced of a shimmering barrier that was gone as soon as it appeared.
Before Evan could even begin processing these events, the pandemoniun around them slowed, time itself slowing down and for a moment Evan tensed, waiting for the next wave of insatiable chaos to errupt.
But it never came. Instead, a figure appeared, right infront of Evan, hands palm flat to the wall, and feet supported by nothing but air. Evan's body relaxed, relief washing over him like rain on a scorching august afternoon.
Rob's arms incircled both Evan and Jo, who gav Rob a look if deep appriciation, then collasped agianst his father. Craddling both his charges, the wizard shifted, moving the timestream to his will, bending the time space contineum in a way that very few were cleared to.
Evan closed his eyes, hating the feeling of nausea that came with time travel. When he opened his eyes, he was on his back staring at the gray sky, squinting against the raindrops. Long blond hair obstructed his vision and before he could brace himself there was warm breath against his ear and the smell of the ice glazed skies in his nose.
Then he wasn't smelling anything, he was shooting up right, hands clamped over his ears as sounds assaulted him from all directions, his retured hearing comming too suddenly for his abused eardrums.
Coughing and shuddering, he waited until his senses returned to normal. Once he couldn't hear what he smelled and stoped tasting with his fingers, he sat up and looked around, alarmed that the first thing he heard was the distinct sound of throwing up. Spotting Jo, he cringed as the Kat's small body convulsed and he hurled into the bushes beside him as Rob rubbed his back.
Evan wathced, worried, but Jo had it under control. It only took him two more heaves to supress the nausea before he sat up, leaning forward on his knees. Wearily, he shot Evan an exausted smile, which Evan was happy to return, despite the ringig in his ears still making him wince.
Blond hair flashed again, this time out of the corner of Evan's eye. He turned, winced, grabbed his neck, then tried again, moving his whole body slowly. A thin wiry man crouched beside him, long blond hair almsot brushing the dirt.
Evan slowly lowered his hands from his ears, blinking and gazing around, trying not to turn his neck, "Hey Jay. Um, its nice to see you..."
Jason Reso scoffed, reaching out his hand and placing his warm palm on Evan neck. The smell of winter was back. Evan groaned loudly as his neck poped and the mucsles spasmed. Jay finished the healing, the smell of icy winds and melting snow receding.
Dusting the soil from his jeans, Jay stood, looking down at Evan, "No one's ever happy to see me. I'm like Sabu. I only show up when thngs get really bad and you all need someone to revive your sorry corpses."
Evan smiled at Jay's crass tone, just glad to be out of the laundry room. He looked over at Jo as Jay knelt next to him. The Kat made a face as Jay started healing him, but said nothing. Evan locked eyes with Rob, who sighed, all cheerfulness or good humor gone. He settled back on the ground, legs folded indian style.
"Guess we're chilling here for a while," Rob said, looking at his son sadly.
Evan let his head fall to the ground, giving into exausion without a fight. He would sleep now. He could worry about other stuff later. The lies his dad told him, the dream he'd had earlier, the weird scream in the laundry room, the warm power he felt well in him, the boulders turning to stuffed animals, the barrier...
It could all wait just a few hours...