From Little Flame to Raging Fire
I don't own anything but my OC's.
Chapter 8
Xavier blew some of his hair away from his eyes as he pushed a branch away. God, why did his old clan have to live so far away? He hadn't seen Amanda or Arachnid in months and, for the first time in a long time, he had had to hunt for food instead of just buying it from the shops. If there was one thing he would tell Keith- other then 'You realize you snatched me away from my wife, right?'- was: 'Make the clan move a little closer to Halloween Town'. Xavier paused when he smelt smoke from a freshly burnt out fire. He smelt the air. It smelled like wet dogs and smoke and a disgusting stench that could only be described as 'Keith'.
Xavier moved closer and suddenly had an arm around his shoulders. He jumped, but the person laughed. "You alright, Xave?"
"Barry?" Xavier asked, smiling at the brown haired Man-wolf. "Good to see you."
"You too." Barry grinned. "Haven't seen you since we were kids."
Xavier grinned.
"Xavier,"
Xavier looked over at the shaggy-haired Man-wolf, who glared at him. "Keith. There better be a damn good reason why I'm here. My wife's waiting for me."
"And that's exactly it."
"What?"
Keith, dressed in his signature black suit and bolo tie, frowned. "Your wife."
"What about her?"
"She's human."
"Really? I wasn't sure. Thanks for clearing that up." Xavier said sarcastically.
"You know werewolves of our clan are not allowed to marry humans."
"I'm not a part of your clan anymore."
"Actually, your father never said anything about leaving the actual clan. He just said you both were to go and live in Halloween Town. Technically, you're still a part of our clan." Keith narrowed his eyes. "And you broke one of our biggest rules. The punishment, of course," He almost smirked. "is death."
Xavier's eyes widened. "What? Just because I married a human?"
"And got her pregnant."
Xavier stiffened. "What…? Amanda isn't…"
"We've been spying on you for weeks." Keith snapped. "She's with child."
Xavier didn't say anything. She was with child? Why hadn't she told him?
"Are you ready, Xavier?" Keith suddenly asked.
"What?"
"I'll take that as a yes."
"No. Wait! Wait!"
Keith threw the lit match at him.
Xavier didn't scream. Not on the outside. His whole body was alight and Barry was crying. Flames danced on his body, burning the skin and hair. Xavier looked up at the sky as this happened. Thoughts swam through his mind. He'd never see Amanda again. His child would grow up without a dad. And Arachnid…He wanted to say sorry to him. For stealing his friend. Xavier knew about Arachnid's love for Amanda and he was guilty about it. He'd never have the chance now. He'd never see his child grow up either. He would never see his child take part in any school plays or award ceremonies. No graduation either. Xavier had always imagined he would be burned to death but, if it did happen, he imagined Montarg would do it; not his own kind.
There was stinging all over his body and he made no effort to stop it. What was the point? If he did, they would hang him anyway. If he tried to run, they would catch him.
Xavier tried to cry, but the fire took away his tears. Despite the fear and sadness, Xavier grinned.
Because his child would live on, even if he could not.
…
Arachnid squeezed the note tightly in his hand, tears pouring down his skull. Amanda's throat was sore from screaming. She was sitting at the kitchen table, arms folded on top of it, her face buried in her arms; sobbing. Maverick was asleep in his crib, his tiny wolf tail wagging slowly at whatever he was dreaming about.
Arachnid couldn't believe it. His friend was dead. His best friend, his companion. How could the werewolves kill off a member of their own kind? That was disgusting.
He should have gone with him. Arachnid should've gone, or at least send someone with him. Then Xavier would still be alive. It was his fault. His fault Maverick would grow up without a father.
Maverick suddenly awoke and began wailing loudly. Arachnid looked over his shoulder at him. "You know what's going on, don't you…?" He walked over, scooping Maverick into his arms. The skeleton began bouncing on the balls of his feet, trying to calm the baby down. Maverick continued to wail, like Arachnid wasn't even there. "Please shush…"
"Arachnid,"
Arachnid looked over at Amanda. She still had tears running down her face, leaving black trails down her cheeks from where the tears ruined her mascara. She sniffled. "Give him to me."
Arachnid walked over and gently handed the baby to her. Amanda gently rocked her son and Maverick soon began to calm down, recognizing this woman as his mother.
"Or," Arachnid muttered. "You just wanted to see your mother…"
…
"Please, Edwin."
Edwin just pushed the plate further away. No way was he going to eat that mess on the plate. He hated vegetables. They were disgusting. He preferred meat.
His mother placed her hands on her hips. "Mangez vos légumes, Edwin."
Edwin scowled at the plate. "No."
His mother sighed. Edwin was so stubborn.
The door opened and his father walked in. As he passed Edwin, he paused and looked back. Seeing the problem, he scowled. Suddenly, he grabbed the back of Edwin's head and slammed the boy's face into the plate. He roughly brought his son's head back up by pulling on the hair on the back of his head. "Eat it, boy." He ordered then released Edwin's head, walking off toward their living room.
Edwin stared down at the plate his father had just slammed his face down onto. A patch of blood was on the green lettuce. Blood dripped from the boy's nostrils.
His mother quickly took the plate from her son and placed it by the sink, then got a tissue and wiped blood away from her son's face.
Edwin stared down at the table the entire time.
…
Montarg's eyes snapped open and he shot up. He looked down at his lap. His father never understood how children were- refusing to eat vegetables, wanting to run around in the sun. To his father, children were just short adults. To Montarg, they were pests.
That didn't mean he loved his father. God, no. He hated his father's guts and his father hated his. It was rare that they agreed on something. His father had never held him, not once. Not one hug. Not even when he was a baby. Montarg wrinkled his nose. Oh, well. He didn't need hugs and love. What was the point? Who would be there to love him now? He didn't care. Love was a weakness. It was ridiculous and silly. He didn't need it.
Still, that didn't mean he agreed with his father's abuse. Besides, he was only seven when that man slammed his face down onto that plate.
Montarg got up and dressed. He paused when he saw his mirror and, beside it, a specially sharpened rock that Rodney had made for him. It was for shaving. Montarg put a hand to his chin. His stubble had grown all over his jaw line and chin and it felt uncomfortable and fuzzy. He picked up the 'razor' and a small tub of shaving cream. He dipped his fingers into the cream and applied it to the right places (he could still feel that strange tingling sensation he'd gotten when Rodney had drawn that imaginary goatee on his face), then ran the sharpened rock over it.
…
That fateful day when Xavier died had been months ago, and Amanda was just getting over it.
She took a walk with her child in his buggy, Maverick giggling and clapping his tiny hands in delight. Amanda grinned at her child. Since Maverick gave out his first giggle (which was when Amanda was holding one of his toys above his head), he had been giggling at almost anything. Amanda stopped the buggy and walked around it, picking Maverick out of it and holding him in one arm. "C'mon, you." She muttered to him. Maverick took hold of her necklace in one hand and put it to his mouth. Amanda pushed the buggy along.
"Hey, Mandy!"
Amanda looked up as Marcus jogged over. She smiled. "Marcus! I was just about to come and see you!"
Marcus grinned back.
Amanda reached into the back of the buggy and handed him a tub. "These are for you and the sorcerers."
Marcus opened the tub up and saw the cookies inside. "Oh, Mandy! You're a saint!" He looked up and noticed the baby she was holding. "An' who's this lil' guy?"
"Marcus, this is Maverick." Amanda said, moving to hold her son in both arms.
"Aw, hey there, Maverick." Marcus cooed, tickling Maverick's belly with his index finger.
Maverick giggled and his little tail swished.
"Aw, he's adorable." Marcus grinned.
"Marcus, what're you doing?"
Amanda looked over Marcus's shoulder.
Montarg stormed over. He looked the same as he did when Amanda was still pregnant, except- Amanda's breath caught in her throat. On his face was a goatee. She smiled. He'd taken her suggestion. Admittedly, when she had said it, she was half-teasing him. Maverick suddenly began squirming and she looked down at him. He was holding his arms out, but not for Marcus.
Montarg wrinkled his nose and his brow furrowed at the child. Marcus grinned at him. "I think he wants you to hold 'im, Monty."
"Well, small child, here is your first lesson in life," Montarg said and leaned down to the baby. "Life's not fair. Get over it." Montarg straightened himself and turned to go.
Maverick watched him, then his eyes filled with tears. Why was this man not holding him? Maverick began to cry loudly. Amanda began bouncing him, trying to get him to stop. Marcus tried pulling faces.
Montarg listened to the crying as he walked. If there was one noise he absolutely despised, it was a baby's crying. It was just so annoying. Why couldn't babies' learn to shut their little mouths? The half-werewolf continued wailing and Montarg growled angrily, his teeth gritted, and turned around; storming back over to them. "Fine! Give him here, then!"
Amanda held Maverick out as the baby stopped crying. "Be careful, Montarg."
Montarg practically snatched Maverick from her. He held him, hands under the baby's armpits, at arm's length- away from his face. Maverick smiled at the man. "I hope you realize," Montarg said. "that I have never held a child before, so, if I drop you, it is hardly my fault."
Maverick began giggling, reaching out for him. Montarg leaned away. "Woman, your child is making grabs for me!"
Amanda and Marcus laughed. "Go on, Monty, hold 'im a lil' closer."
"No."
"Go on."
Montarg hesitated, then brought Maverick half a centimetre closer. "There."
"Closer."
Montarg brought the baby a little bit closer.
"C'mon, Monty, don't be afraid."
Montarg moved the baby closer. "There. That's as far as I'm going."
What he didn't notice, however, was Maverick's tiny hand reach up and grab hold of one of Montarg's bangs and gave it a harsh (for a baby, anyway) tug. Montarg bared his teeth in anger as Marcus and Amanda laughed. Montarg shook his head, freeing his hair from the child's grasp. Maverick just smiled at him as the fire sorcerer frowned. "I dislike you…" He held the baby out for Amanda. "Take him back."
Amanda took her baby back into her arms. She paused, then turned to Marcus. "Actually, Marcus, could you hold him for a second?"
"Oh. Sure thing, Mandy." Marcus said, putting the tub of treats into his pocket and taking the baby from her, muttering, "Hello."
Amanda walked up to Montarg, who looked like he was trying to brush his hair with his hand. "So, I see you took my suggestion."
"What suggestion?" Montarg asked, almost spitefully.
"The goatee."
Montarg grunted. "I took Rodney's suggestion, not yours. I don't care for whatever words explode from your mouth. Rodney's words, however, I care about."
Amanda rolled her eyes. "Still, it looks good on you."
Montarg stared at her for a second with that old 'why're you talking to me?' look, before wrinkling his nose and grunting at her. He looked over at Marcus. "Stop cooing over the boy, Marcus."
"But he's so cute!" Marcus exclaimed, tickling Maverick's stomach. Amanda grinned.
Montarg frowned as Marcus handed the baby back to Amanda. "Marcus," Montarg said, giving Maverick another disgusted look. "We're going."
"Sure thing, Monty," Marcus leaned down and grinned at Maverick. "See ya later, lil' guy."
Maverick gurgled at him.
Marcus turned and walked back over to stand by Montarg's side. "Say goodbye to Mr. Montarg, Maverick." Amanda said.
Maverick looked at the fire sorcerer and giggled at him, swatting at the air. Montarg curled his lip and turned, walking away; Marcus following. "Cute kid, eh, Montarg?"
Montarg grunted. "No. Not at all."
Marcus's grin dropped slightly.
…
As Marcus and Montarg entered the cavern, Marcus immediately jogged over to where Richard was sitting with his small group of gamblers. "Oi, Rich! Ya gotta hear this!"
Richard turned to him. "Yeah?"
"Montarg held a baby! Mandy's kid!"
Richard burst into laughter, as did the men sitting around the circular table (which Montarg had stolen from a family soon after he and Rodney found the cavern). Montarg growled. "Cease the laughing."
They immediately stopped, except Richard. "Ah, c'mon, Montarg! You? Holding a baby? That's funny!" Richard turned to look at the entrance to the kitchen. "Oi! Cousin! C'mere!"
Rodney poked his head out. "Hm?"
"You should 'ear what Montarg's done."
Rodney sighed and looked at Montarg. "Montargo, if you've thrown another man through a shop window, I swear-"
"That was one time." Montarg interrupted. "You heard what he called you."
"Yes. I did hear. But I didn't throw him through a window, which, by the way, we still haven't paid for." Rodney looked at his cousin. "What has he done?"
"He held a baby. Amanda's kid." Richard replied.
"Maverick." Marcus added. "Kid's name is Maverick."
"Aw. How cute." Rodney said with a smile. "Maverick. That's a nice name." His eyebrows rose. "And Montargo, holding a baby. That's rare. You know, I wonder how he did that," He suddenly scowled at Montarg. "With an injured right arm."
Montarg's brow slowly fell from its furrowed state and his lips fell. Rodney stomped over to him and grabbed his right arm roughly, then rolled up the coat and shirt sleeves in one. The men gasped and Marcus muttered, "Dear God…"
The skin on Montarg's right arm was charred and black. It was burnt. All of it. Right up to the shoulder. Montarg looked down at his charred arm, then slowly looked at Rodney, who was still scowling. Rodney's eyes were wet. "I was just curious."
"How could you, Montargo?" Rodney yelled. "How could you go back to those theories? That's all they were! Theories! You stole that book from an old professor, who didn't know squat about sorcerers! You could've been killed!" The tears fell as Rodney screamed, "And what would I have done if you died?" He shoved Montarg away from him and Montarg stumbled. "You promised me! You said you wouldn't! How could you?"
The whole cavern was silent now, all eyes on Montarg and Rodney. Rodney was breathing heavily, tears pouring down his face. Montarg still had his neutral expression. The fire sorcerer slowly raised his left hand, reaching out to wipe Rodney's tears, but Rodney stepped back. "Don't…Don't touch me. Just don't…don't talk to me." The rock sorcerer took off sprinting to his room and disappeared into it. A wall of rock suddenly rose up in the entrance to the room, blocking their view. Montarg looked at his feet.
"Well done, Montarg." Richard muttered, standing up. "You know when he does that he doesn't come out for ages." He walked off toward his cousin's room, then tapped three times on the wall. A square-shaped hole opened and Richard crawled through, then the hole closed up again.
Marcus looked at Montarg, wanting an explanation, but Montarg's eyes were hidden by his hair.
…
Maverick was sleeping peacefully in his crib, his hands made into tiny fists. He was laying on his back, curled up slightly; his tiny tail swishing gently. Amanda was asleep in the next room. Maverick slowly opened his blue eyes when he heard a noise and was about to cry, to call for his mother.
Above him, staring at him, was a man. Maverick immediately brightened up, giggling and reaching out for him. The man's reddish-brownish eyes narrowed slightly in the darkness before he leaned over the crib, reaching down with both hands.
…
Amanda awoke quickly when she heard a thump. She sat up, whipping the blanket from her body and looking around. In a burst of thought, she got up and ran out, towards her baby's room. She threw open the door and paused.
The window was open, the curtain fluttering in the breeze. Amanda felt tears develop in her eyes as she approached he son's crib. The human gasped. The only things in the crib were the pillow and mattress.
No blanket.
No wolf toy.
No Maverick.
…
Author's note:
Translations:
Mangez vos légumes, Edwin: Eat your vegetables, Edwin.
Me: R.I.P. Xavier.
Mav: *Sniffles*
Me: I apologize if the flashback/dream upsets anyone. I felt like them just talking about Montarg's abuse didn't really describe how bad it really was, so Montarg has a little flashback/dream about it. D'you remember what I said about Montarg's dislike of homophobia and how he doesn't hurt Christopher? That whole 'throwing the man through the window thing' is a reference to that. Obviously, that guy must've said something pretty bad to get thrown through a window. So, Montarg has met Maverick!
Mav: Rodney knows about Montarg!
Me: And Montarg's up to something! Will Mav be ok?
Mav: Will Rodney forgive Montarg?
Me: And will Amanda get to Maverick?
Me + Mav: Find out next time!
Mav: Of course I was a cute baby, MissBliss8527. I'm always cute. Everything I do is cute. *Grins*