Chapitre 12 :

° Disclaimer still in the prologue.

° This chapter is for you Carlough, because you asked for it so nicely^^

Half an hour later at the hellish house…

The cook had just finished to wash the breakfast's dishes when he looked at the clock, it was nearly half past seven and he knew that he still had an hour and a half till the owners went down to ask for theirs. So putting everything back in its place, he thought back to when the little master went down to his kitchen. It brought a smile on his lips, as he had seen for the first time since he came to work here, a look of pure joy and excitation on the boy's face.

The invitation for that boarding school was exactly what the boy needed; he was lonely here with no one of his age, and the fact that he was taught at home, didn't help any. He had never understood why the owners forbade the boy to go to a private or public school, but he knew for a fact that having no friend, made the boy bored out of his mind. He had no one to talk to, no one to play with… it was really sad for a boy of his age. So seeing that look of joy; made the cook happier than he had been for a long time, for his little master.

Everyone who worked in this house felt a liking for this child, he was respectful of them, he never judged them by their status but by whom they really were. He was extremely different from his parents; he would even say that they were opposite in nature. There has always been a tension between the child and his parents, and he thought that the distance from each others could only help them in the long run. It would give them the time to try and understand the other, without the tension of living under the same roof. As he was looking once more at the clock, an explosion sounded from the back of the house.

At the same time in a taxi driving to the London station, two children were looking at a watch with glee. It was half past seven and they knew that it was the time for their last spell to be triggered. "So Ethan, I never had the time to ask you before, but why did you need my magic for that last spell?" asked Ripper.

"You know how my magic is natural to create illusions?" Ethan questioned. At a nod of the other boy he continued. "Well my illusions are just that, illusions, they can't make the damages we needed for the escape to seem real. They wouldn't have broken the cage door, nor led a path of destruction on the way to the exit. I needed your help too for the doppelganger, because your magic being based on order, is the exact opposite of mine, being based on chaos. Where my magic made illusions, once I added yours to it; it made them physically real. Our magic may be opposite in nature but they are completing themselves perfectly." He explained.

Back to the house; an explosion was heard violently shocking and shaking all of its occupants. As everyone was trying to regain their senses, the guards could be seen rushing to where the explosion had just taken place, telling everyone they met to stay hidden and safe. Where the house's back door had been, only shards of woods and glass remained, there was nothing left but a gap between two walls that had also been partly destroyed. Glass had been blown away everywhere and some shards of wood had been hammered in what remained of the walls, by the force of the explosion.

The guards knowing that whatever came through the door were still in the house, backtracked to where they just came from, following the traces of shards left in the trespasser's wake. Arriving to the stairs, they were stopped by an irritated couple who looked like they had fallen out of their bed. And they couldn't have been more right as the sound and the tremors caused by the explosion had jolted them awake only to fell head first on the floor. They were shocked, grumpy and moody, but as they were going to demand what was going on, an alarm sounding coming from the basement.

Looking at each others eyes opened wide in shock and fear, they realised that only one thing could be of interest in the basement and that was what they were guarding in the cellar's cage. They rushed down the stairs not even waiting for the guards and ran through doors that were completely destroyed and leading to their captive. The more they continued and the more they lost their hope in keeping their victim. They wouldn't stand a chance against a pack of demon that came to rescue their child, they would be fortunate enough to escape with their life, but they couldn't seem to turn back and find a place to hide. They had to see what was going on, and what they saw they would never forget.

They warily looked through the last destroyed door and saw a part of that same demon pack that should be restrained in one of the council's properties, and whose young they had taken away. But here they were angry enough to be in their demon's form, the form was of an ebony black fox, four times bigger than a normal fox with eyes that were blood red and glowing in the darkness.

It was a vision of nightmare with fangs that were at the moment powerful enough to rip off the bars like they were made of butter. The demons turned back to them once their young was delivered and growling with pure anger, savageness and hate rushed by them, knocking them on their ass and disappeared at the corner of the stairs. The couple could hear the screams of the guards as they were violently pushed away by the demons mad rush for the exit, some of them were knocked out by their crash landing in the wall.

Once the couple was back on its feet, they ran to the door but knowing that they would be already long gone. A devastated look was clearly seen in their eyes as the couple was making their way in the guards' direction. They could only thought about their now lost promotion and the reprimand they would have to suffer from their leader.

One of the guard doing his job asked, "Mr Giles, do you want me to contact the witch for any magical clue of their whereabouts?"

"No, No, don't bother. Now that they have rescued their young, they must have already returned to the safety of their hellish dimension." He sighed disgusted.

Knowing that nothing else could be done, the couple turned back to the half destroyed house, stopping the alarm in passing and getting ready for the dressing down that would occur, once they entered in contact with the council. It had only taken ten minutes for their life to be turned upside down, but they were happy that their son had already left before the attack occured, or their heads would have rolled. Nothing was to happen to the boy, the council leader had great plan for him…

That boy in question was gleefully smiling knowing that his 'parents' were in for a big surprise and one, they were sure to hate. He was still sitting with his friend in their taxi and they were excitedly waiting too arrive to the train station. He took the other boy's hand in his and said, "Ethan you should try to contact your family now, don't worry I'm going to help you."

Ethan looked at Ripper a big smile on his lips, "Oh, thank you Ripper. I'm very worried, what if something had gone wrong and they had been hurt?" he said. He didn't have the strength to mentally contact his parents without the other boy's help, but Ripper had already done so much for him that he didn't dared to ask him for more.

Not wasting any time, he concentrated on his father. His father was the one with the mind ability to speak with his loved ones and Ethan had been lucky enough to inherit it from birth. They had always been aware of each others but with their captures they had been blocked by a ward that had been placed by one of the council's witches. Now that they had all escape the link had returned, but as his family was in another dimension, he needed a lot more of strength and magic than usually and with the state he was in at the moment he couldn't do it alone.

A voice filled with love and happiness gained back his attention, "Ethan? Are you all right my child? We were so worried about you; we didn't know if you had successfully escaped! Are you hurt and his that young man keeping you safe as he promised?" his father asked.

"Yes I'm alright, I'm hurt but Ripper his helping me healing and I'm happy to say that our plan had gone perfectly well, we haven't met any problem. So how is everyone, dad? I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to reach you even with the help of Ripper. Those wards were really strong I wouldn't have been able to pass through them on my own; Ripper had been a great help to me and even now he is using his magic to heal me." Ethan said.

"I know and I'm extremely thankful for what he did and is still doing, please tell him that if he ever need help or a place to be safe, we will always be there for him. He saved you and that's something we will never able to repay him for." His dad said meaning every word he had just said.

Ethan told the other boy what his dad had just said and Ripper was greatly moved, it was the first time that someone who didn't even knew him, was willing and wanting to help him if he ever needed it. Not needing to say anything as his eyes were showing everything he felt, Ethan replied to his dad that Ripper was touched and awed by his offer. His father then assured him that their family wasn't hurt and that they were all safely back at home worrying on Ethan's health and safety. Then Ethan felt a boost of magic and energy send by his family.

"It will help you heal most of your injuries, what you need now is sleep. Oh and before I forget I expect to know what they wanted from you the next time we speak together. I know that you won't tell me now because you fear of my reaction against those bastards, but you can look forward to a conversation about it coming really soon. One last thing, I want you to promise to keep in contact with me at least one day a week; now I wish you a great time in that school and hope that all we go well. I love you son, and you better take care of while we will not be around." They then said their goodbyes and love to each others with Ethan's dad including Ripper as well and saying his thanks one last time.

With a last goodbye on his part, Ethan turned smiling brightly to Ripper and said. "All is well they are all safely at home and uninjured, but next time we speak I hope father will be there to help keep dad down. Because he will lose it when he learns what the council intended to do to with me; protective doesn't even begin to describe my dad."

"Well I'm happy to know that I'm on his right side" Ripper said a tad nervous. Ethan couldn't have stopped it even if he had tried and burst out laughing, making Ripper smiled at finally seeing Ethan laugh without a care and being so relax with him.

He was going to say something when he felt the taxi slowing down, he look through his car's window to see that they were finally arriving at the station. A feeling of nervous excitation passed through him, freedom at last. He looked at Ethan's eyes to see the same agitation and once their taxi was parked and the driver paid, they took their bags and rushed to the station. Before entering they looked at Ripper's watch and saw that it was nine o'clock sharp.

"So... We have more than an hour before we have to take the train, what do you want to do first?" Ripper asked taking Ethan's hand and smiling.

"Well what would you think of having breakfast first? I'm still really hungry despite those two apples." He said pouting as his stomach grumbled his agreement. Ripper laughed and leaded him to a welcoming looking coffee shop where they stayed for more than an hour comfortably talking over their breakfast.

The rest of the time was spent in a blur, buying normal clothes and toiletries for Ethan that Ripper didn't had the time to shop for at the alley. They had never had so much pleasure in shopping than at that moment laughing at the silliest of thing, just loving the freedom they had fought for an gained together.

They had another thirty minutes before the train left but Ripper feeling the sleepiness coming back in Ethan with a vengeance decided to go wait for the train on the platform. He was hoping that the train would already be there and that they could take a compartment for themselves, knowing that Ethan would need calm to rest.

Though he had a problem, the platform on the train tickets was nine and three quarter, but he could only see a platform nine and a platform ten; there was nothing in between except for a pillar. He told Ethan as much and the boy laughed. "Wizards are strange." He told him, "They don't want to be discovered by the non-magical community, but they came with entry or passages that are all but discreet. Come, follow me and I will show you."

With that the two boys went in direction of the pillar and stopped in front of it. Once he had make sure that no one was watching them, he took his bags and dashed for the pillar. Ripper confused was going to shout for the boy to stop when his eyes widened in shock at seeing the boy passed through the pillar. Shrugging his shoulders in incredulity, he took his bags as well and not wanting to think about it, rushed to the pillar. Having closed his eyes at the last minute, he had to open them back when he didn't felt himself crashed against it, and stood in awe at the sight of the train. It was of a glowing dark red, shining under the sun and it was striking by his majestic form and impressive size; in a word it was magnificent.

He shook off his awe and spied his surroundings searching for Ethan; he began to walk alongside the train and finally noticed him as he was looking at the sight not too far from him. Ethan was smiling with awe and excitation like a little kid would in front of the window of a toyshop and it brought a feeling of protectiveness that burst through Ripper, reminding him that Ethan was only nine. It was easy to forget when you saw him fight against tortures every days, make plans, teach you how to use your magic, Ethan was really mature for his age forced to grow out of his childhood because of torturers.

Though seeing him like this without a care in the world looking at the train like it was the best thing he had ever seen, joy shining through his eyes and hopping in excitation like the child he should be; brought a fond smile on Ripper's lips. It was nice to see him act his age for once and there would be a lot more occasions for him to act this way during school, he promised himself.

Noticing that the number of families that was coming through the pillar was growing with every minute that passed, Ripper went to Ethan and told him that they should take a compartment now, before the train was full. Nodding in agreement they took their bags and climbed aboard finding an empty compartment in the back with ease. They sat beside each others and knowing that Ethan was exhausted, Ripper made him lied down with his head pillowed on his knees. He reached in one of his bag and took the blanket he had thought to pack for Ethan and cover the boy with it. He felt the boy sigh with ease as he lulled him to sleep, his hand stroking his hair.

They were in that position, Ethan already deeply asleep when the door to their compartment opened and the four boys he had met at the alley came in. They were shocked at first but soon were smiling joyfully at finding each other again; they sat with Ripper being careful of not awaking Ethan. They had seen the black circles under the boy's eyes and knew that he really was in need of sleep, so they made themselves comfortable making the less sound possible.

Ripper was happy to see the respect they showed to Ethan without even knowing him and felt like those boys were right, they would make great friend he was sure of it. It was amusing to watch them restrained themselves of speaking fearing to wake the boy sleeping on his lap. Taking pity, he asked them how the end of their holiday had been, making sure to keep his voice down and he had to chuckle at the look of relief, the four boys sent him when they understood that they would be able to talk if they kept their voice down as well.

"And this began the seven better years of my life" Ripper said at his audience. "The rest is another story, that I will tell you later." He looked at his watch and was shocked. "Okay it's really late, or early if you prefer and it's time to go to sleep. Kyle, Xander you can share the couch; Angel we will share the bed, my room is light proof. Don't argue it's too late for you to return to the manor, the sun is beginning to rise!" Ripper said.

"Oh, I wanted to listen to the rest of the story." Xander whined yawning, as Angel and Kyle were nodding in agreement.

"We are all exhausted and we need to sleep if we want to be aware sometime before noon, and you know it." Ripper told them smiling. And with that he let them to prepare their bed and leaded Angel to his room for a well deserved rest.

A.N:

° I'm considering making a side story of Ethan and Ripper's school years. What do you think?

° Please review.