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Chapter 124: Rumbles in the Dark

Geoff lay on his back as he cuddled with Nathanial in his pup's bed and relaxed in the dark room, while his Akita studied some magic books on the desk through his ESP. They had returned from the Elemental Plane of Darkness a bit over an hour ago, and while he felt better, he still wasn't 'normal.' They sipped some relaxing tisanes with Faelen and Liam; the Rottie had called Da to tell him that Hao Chan would stop by with a lot more stuff to look at -- that Betty was the one who had hacked the guy's computer, and Liam was afraid that she'd hidden some sensitive information on some of her other devices -- and then they'd split up. Nathanial studied; Faelen wanted to exercise and went to the gym with Nick to practice their kung fu; Liam wanted to meditate some more (and from the sounds of his conversation with Faelen, it sounded like he'd be looking at one of his old lives); and Geoff... The Wolf sighed. He didn't feel up to kung fu; it didn't bother him so much now that he knew why, and he felt relieved that it'd be over before terribly long, though it felt like an eternity right now. He had no lives to meditate on and no magic he needed to study to help everyone. He could go watch a football match on Nathanial's computer or see if he could find one on the TV, but comparing that to his friends and Nick made that seem like such a waste. He should be doing something. Something other than thinking about last night.

His phone rang when he was just about to start working ahead in his German class with Faelen. He had been glad for a few seconds, because it interrupted a disgustingly mushy speech from Liam to Faelen, but once he found his phone the sight of Micah's number had turned the relief into confusion and worry.

Geoff mentally shook his head, taking care to not actually move and disturb his boyfriend. 'Something else. Anything else.'

He dashed through the laundry room in the Markses' house and threw open the door to the living area, heedless of any property damage he might cause. Nathanial was hurt and needed him; fuck the house; fuck the world, even.

His pup lay halfway across the room, sprawled on the floor, and Garret cradled Nathanial the way a da would a sleeping pup...or a dying one. 'No. Not Nathanial. Please, let him be all right.' His heart felt like it had frozen into a solid block of ice...

Nathanial stirred under the blankets and rubbed his head on Geoff's chest, sighing happily. The Wolf's building tension deflated from that small motion. Holding Nathanial was something. The pup always seemed calmer when he held him, and hearing such contentment in that little noise made Geoff's world feel...perfect, like he was the most powerful and important thing in existence, even if it was just to one person -- and that one person's opinion was all that mattered to him right now.

The Akita tipped his head up and bumped his nose against the bottom of Geoff's muzzle. "U-Um, can I have a kiss? Please?"

'Aww, fuck. That's just way too cute.'_Geoff slipped a paw down to cup one of his pup's firm and _damned hot ass cheeks and hauled his treasure up on top of him. "Gladly." He kept his paw where it was and relished the way it felt under his pads. His other paw drifted up over Nathanial's back to gently scritch behind one of the perky ears while they tenderly kissed. After a minute Geoff broke the kiss and just held his pup close. "I love you."

Nathanial sniffled and whispered, "I-I love you, too." Sometimes those words really made the pup tear up; Geoff was pretty sure that they were tears of happiness or overwhelming emotion, and not sadness. Or worse, guilt that Nathanial had made Geoff fall in love with him when all along he was planning on leaving the Wolf behind. That Nathanial was planning on-- His panicked thoughts broke when Nathanial gripped the fur on Geoff's shoulders in his fists and said, "I need to hear that, sometimes. You've made me so happy that I worry it'll all just burst like a bubble. When you say you love me it-it's like a promise that you won't leave. I'm so happy." He sniffled again and buried his head under Geoff's chin.

Geoff squeezed his pup tightly. "I love you, Myo. No matter what comes against us, nothing can keep us apart. We can pick somewhere in the Plane of Darkness as a meeting place, if you want. No one can find us there, and I don't think anyone can stop us from getting there, either."

Nathanial released his grip on Geoff's fur. "Yeah, you're right, but, um, we shouldn't do that. Snow seems to divert my portal and makes it open by him, somehow, but he doesn't do that with you. Doesn't or can't, I don't know which. I-It's dangerous for you there, but the dragon construct you made seemed to scare the iron-rhino things a lot, so maybe it'd keep other nasties away, too. I'd rather not need to meet you there, but I like knowing we always have the darkness." Nathanial hesitated a moment before timidly asking, "Can you say it again?"

Geoff rubbed his chin on the top of Nathanial's head and squeezed the pup's ass for good measure. Damn, what a nice pawful. Another squeeze for luck. "I love you." Hells, make it a third.

Nathanial sighed softly. "Thanks. It looks like Micah is on his way home, and Nick and Faelen are finishing up their practice. Even Liam is stirring. You're hungry. Why don't we get up and have a snack?"

"What makes you think I'm hungry?" Geoff kept kneading those muscles he loved so much as he gave it some thought. 'Hmm, snack, or play with Nathanial's ass?' He grinned as Nathanial groaned to his groping massage. Damn, he loved the way that felt in his paws. "I think my appetite can keep for a bit." Which was right when Geoff's stomach growled.Loudly. He rolled his eyes. "Traitor," he hissed. "Fine. Snack it is."

His pup began laughing uncontrollably and struggled to roll off him to stand up; but Nathanial's legs gave out, and he fell to the floor. His pup wrapped his arms around his stomach, laughing so hard it looked like it hurt.

Geoff grinned, feeling a little embarrassed, but feeling far more amused than anything. "Oh, so that was funny, huh?" He rolled off the bed himself and pinned the Akita to the floor. "Well, let's see if you find this funny." He began play-biting at Nathanial's torso, mock-growling as he did so. He made each nip as ticklish as he could and soon had Nathanial writhing and gasping for breath in between gales of laughter. Geoff stopped when his stomach rumbled again -- not that that helped his pup calm down. He stood up and scooped the exhausted Akita into his arms, but he paused when he turned to the door. It was open -- when it opened, he had no idea -- and Faelen, Liam, and Nick all stood there with huge grins plastered on their muzzles. Geoff pretended to be annoyed, though he mostly just felt embarrassed to be caught acting like a young pup like that. "What?"

Nathanial wrapped his arms around Geoff's neck and snuggled in while he tried to control himself. Liam bowed to Geoff and stepped out of the doorway. "I heard a sound that soothed the worries gnawing at my heart and sought to hear it more clearly. I am delighted to find you both in good spirits. A trip to the Plane of Darkness may mean an unavoidable and inevitable ticket to the Underworld for all but you two, yet it seems to have provided a miraculous boost to your moods."

Geoff wasn't entirely_sure what to make of that, but Liam was happy that _they were happy and laughing. That's all that he really needed to get from the spiel. He carried his still-snickering pup out of the room. Geoff's stomach rumbled again, and Nathanial tensed up while he tried to keep from bursting out in laughter again. The pup couldn't quite keep it in, and he made a noise like steam escaping from a kettle before he completely lost it. Geoff started laughing and leaned against a wall to keep his balance. The other three teens couldn't help but join in.

It took a few minutes for them to calm down, though Nathanial still had trouble keeping his composure whenever Geoff's stomach rumbled. Geoff carried the pup upstairs, followed by the other three. Once in the kitchen, he carefully put Nathanial down.

The Akita went to the fridge and began pulling out yoghurt and a whole mess of other stuff. A line of sundae glasses set themselves on the counter, and Nathanial began making those parfait-things of his. At the stove, beef began frying itself up. "It's close enough to lunchtime that I figured I'd start making it now. We can have some parfaits--" Nathanial paused to swallow a guffaw as Geoff's belly tried to contribute to the conversation. "--um, so my boyfriend doesn't die from hunger."

Geoff walked around the counter to stand beside Nathanial and wrapped an arm around his pup to hold him against his side. "Appreciated, Pup." He nuzzled the orange and white ear. "I have the perfect boyfriend for me. The gods couldn't have designeda better one if they tried." The gathering clouds on Liam's face prompted Geoff to add, "Uh, though I do give my thanks to every god involved in bringing Nathanial into my life."

Liam walked over, only partly mollified. "Careful with what you say, Geoff. Our little group already has far too much divine interference and too many displeased gods observing us. Do not add hubris to our troubles or give the more temperamental ones reason to strike at Nathanial." He gently prodded the two of them back from the stove. "Now let us see how your rest and trip to the Plane of Darkness has affected you." Liam's paw rested in the white fur on Nathanial's chest. "You have become far more used to high levels of yin in your environment. You are drifting towards balance despite all that has happened."

Geoff yelped in shock -- Liam had unexpectedly grabbed him by the balls. The Rottie didn't grab them hard or anything; he was actually rolling them in his paws gently, but the suddenness of it scared the dickens out of him. "Gods, Liam! Warn a guy, next time. What the fuck are you doing!?"

Liam looked up at him in mild surprise like it was perfectly normal to go around seizing pawfuls of balls at every turn. "I am seeing how your rest and trip have affected you, as I just said. Was not the whole purpose of said venture to see if it would hasten your recovery?" Liam released his balls, wrapped a paw around his sheath, and squeezed. Geoff stifled a moan and felt himself slide partway out. "You are reacting quite close to normal." Liam dropped his dick and walked back to Faelen, adding over his shoulder, "Your verbal response was proper, as was the physical one, and your chi indicates only a minor depression in testosterone. You should be back to your bellicose and lecherous self in hours." Liam sat on the stool between Faelen and Nick with barely a trace of a smile.

"I'm not_lecherous _or bellicose! I confine myself to Nathanial, and I don't_go around with indecent PDA...usually. Well, just here, really. And I _don't_go looking for fights! _You're the one that keeps picking them with me!"_Geoff breathed heavily through his nose, hackles bristling. _'Ares damn him, that guy really pisses me off sometimes.'

Liam arched an eyebrow. "No? Yet I hear quite the bellowing response to such a mild observation. You truly believe you engage in no bellicose behaviour?"

Nick laughed. "He's got you there, Geoff." The Demon Mage shook his head and turned to the Ancient One. "But stop teasing him, please, Sensei. You're upsetting Nats."

Nathanial's eyes widened slightly and tipped his ears back. "Um, um, n-no, not really. They're j-just having, well, Liam is just having fun. It's fine."

Liam bowed his head. "No, Nicholas is most correct. I apologise, and I will cease at once." Liam bowed his head to Geoff, too. "Nicholas was astute in his observation, my friend, for I was just seeking to tease a reaction out of you."

Geoff grumped. "Yeah, it's all right. I'll accept your apology if you offer one to me." Liam just smiled infuriatingly and stuck his tongue out like some primary school pup. He knew Liam was just trying to take the piss out of him, but it was so hard not to rise to the bait.

Faelen moved his stool closer to his boyfriend and took Liam's paw in his own. The grey Wolf caressed the short fur with the pad of his thumb. "Want help, Nathanial? What are you making?"

Micah bounced up the stairs, making enough noise for a stampeding herd of goats. "I'm home! Home, home, home!" Liam and Faelen turned to smile at the pup and froze. He was soaked.

Nathanial froze too, but for just a split second. "Micah Joel Marks!" Micah halted instantly and looked around, confused and scared. "You're drenched!_Look at the mess you're making _everywhere! If Mom sees--" Nathanial cut off abruptly and put a paw on the counter and his other one on his forehead. He sighed and took a few deep breaths.

Nick quickly intervened before Nathanial finished his breaths and cast a Drying spell on his baby brother. "Micah, why don't you clean up all those puddles you made, eh? Then come back and tell us how your visit went."

Micah nodded vehemently. "Yeah, yeah! Yup, cleaning up!" He spun around and his naked form was covered by... What the fuck was he wearing? It looked like he turned into a giant wad of...paper towels? Rags? Well, something with his head stuck on top. He shuffled over the floor toward the stairs. "Dry, dry, dry. Cleaning, cleany, clean, clean!" He looked back over his shoulder, wherever that_was under all that fabric, smiling hopefully. "Clean?" He reached the edge of the stairs and tipped over. _"Waah!"

Nathanial reflexively flung an arm toward his baby brother, and the pup stopped halfway over the edge. The eldest Marks shivered next to Geoff and panted. "Careful! Oh, gods, you scared me. Nick, please help him before he kills himself." Nick rolled his eyes and climbed off his stool; Geoff could see he was panting a bit, too.

Micah laughed. He seemed completely recovered from his fright. "I can do it, Nats! I just need to watch where I'm going." He scrunched his face up, and the fabric flowed like a pile of muck. "Ooze! The cleaning slime strikes fear into the hearts of puddles everywhere!" Nathanial must've let him go because Micah dribbled down the stairs, followed by a bemused older brother.

Nathanial rested his out-flung paw on the counter, and his head drooped. "Her--" He glanced up at Liam and changed what he was going to say. "Goddess of family give me strength and patience. Some days... Some days." He shook his head. "Faelen, I was going to make tacos for lunch, with fresh soft taco shells. Once you eat your parfait, you could chop the veggies if you want something to do."

Liam perked up a little. "I can chop if Faelen would be best served elsewhere. _That_is something I can do in the kitchen." The electric kettle floated over to the tap and began filling itself. Liam eyed it warily for a moment before shrugging; Geoff knew that he knew that the Markses had installed a built-in water filtration system in their house, much like everyone else in the neighbourhood. "Would you be making a jasmine green tea? I would prefer the white, but it would be overpowered by such a strong flavour as presented by tacos."

"I can make the jasmine; I think it might get a bit overpowered too, but it'll serve as a pleasant counterpoint."

Faelen stood up and walked to the stove, carrying his glass. "I'll take over frying the meat. Do you want me to let you season it or just do it the way Da taught me?"

Nathanial grinned. "I love the way your dad made his tacos. I'd like to see how he does it."

Faelen smiled back. "Happy to oblige, if you'll compare notes." He took the pan off the heat and pulled another pan out of the cupboard. "Da likes letting the cumin and coriander seeds heat up before grinding them for the seasoning. He adds those pretty early on, too, and mixes the fresh oregano and cilantro right at the end." He pulled an onion and some cloves of garlic out, too. "Do you use powdered or fresh onion and garlic for tacos?"

The onion and garlic floated out of Faelen's paw and peeled themselves. "Um, all the recipes I saw said powder, so that's what I use. Since everything is dry, I actually keep a jar of taco seasoning on paw and just make a large batch when that runs out. I do add a bit of fresh oregano when I fry up the meat, though."

Liam waved at the garlic. "I shall chop those if you inform me of the desired consistency."

Geoff nodded, not wanting to be left out, and sat on the stool Nick had vacated. "I can do something, too." Faelen looked a little leery. "Hey, it's been months since I cut myself chopping stuff. You still nick your paw pads on occasion, too." The smell of toasting cumin made Geoff's stomach rumble again despite the parfait occupying it.

Nathanial shrugged. "So do I." A cutting board, knife, tomatoes, and two bowls arranged themselves in front of Geoff, and another set in front of Liam with the onion and garlic. "Dice the tomatoes into small cubes, about a centimetre to one and a half square. Put the seeds and gunk in that bowl." He pointed at the left one. "And the tomato flesh in the other. I'll use the seeds for supper."

Faelen called over his shoulder to his boyfriend. "Minced fine, please. Three cloves and just half the onion."

Nathanial began mixing up some batter and suddenly said, "Stay off the counter, Micah."

Micah's eyes appeared amidst them all, just half a metre above the countertop, followed by his unnaturally white teeth. Everyone recoiled in shock. "Aw, dang it." He grinned widely and his ears faded into sight. "'Twas brillig in the slithey toves/ Did gyre and gimble in the wabe--"

"Off the counter, Micah!"

The Changeling's features slid to the side and dropped sharply, followed by the sound of small hindpaws hitting the tile. The black tail faded into view, wagging slowly and silently pleading along with the disembodied eyes for attention. "All mimsy were the borogoves/ And the mome raths outgrabe."

Nathanial let the beaters continue mixing the batter on their own and turned to his baby brother. "Thank you. Now..." Excitement crept into Nathanial's voice. "That is so cool! How are you doing that?"

That was the reaction Micah was hoping for, and his tail took off. It seemed to knock the pup's concentration off, because he reappeared all at once. He wore a smooth body-suit that quickly flowed up to the pup's neck to become the woven grass necklace his grandda had given him. That left him naked except for the leaf-pouch he kept his nuts in. "I practiced! I know a Fey invisibility spell, one to turn me invisible, and there's one like it in the Succubus Grimoire, and, and another one to make other stuff invisible, so I took those and some illusion magic and figured out how to do an Alice in Wonderland Cheshire Cat trick. It's mostly invisibility with illusion and Granddad's cloak. I can make the clothes invisible and move it around to reveal just part of me and use illusion to make things like my eyes and teeth seem to appear without being all gross. I could make my teeth actually appear, but then you see all the roots and yucky stuff around them. I did my eyes once and blech! All those blood vessels and nerves and eww!" He shuddered dramatically. "Illusion eyes are lots nicer, even if they're still creepy." He reached into his bag and hauled out a scroll of paper. "I wanna--" He looked at the counter, and his nose twitched. "Tacos? Ooh! And parfait! Yum! I really missed these!" He put the paper back in the bag and plopped onto the stool next to Geoff. He quickly began wolfing down his glass of yoghurty goodness.

Geoff noticed Faelen and Liam exchanging glances, but Micah normally ate parfaits that fast. Did they suddenly start thinking it was rude or something? Nathanial just chuckled and stopped the mixer. He poured six dollops of dough onto the griddle built into the far end of the island and pressed them flat via telekinesis. "Missed? It's only been, what, a couple days since you had one? Oh, and it's 'want to,'_not _'wanna.'"

Micah nodded. "Yeah, I guess, but I really like them. And tacos are yummy, too." He drew out his words with a mock upper-class British accent. "Is there anything else thou wouldst want to inquire about, milord? If you _want to_continue this inquisition, I am thy loyal vassal."

"Don't be a smart-ass." Nathanial flipped the finished shells off the griddle and laid them on a plate in the warming drawer; Dirk would probably really like one of those appliances. "So you learned how to do that today?"

Micah hesitated half a beat. "Um, yeah." He brightened up. "'Cause I wan...want to do this!" He hauled the scroll out of his bag again and put it on the counter.

The paper looked different than the printer paper Geoff typically saw: it wasn't as white, it had a slight texture to it, and it smelt almost floral. Definitely from Faerie...even ignoring the fact that it was a scroll. Micah unwound a bit to show a 'title page' labelled Micah's Wonderland Adventure! Beneath it, a picture of the Markses' front gate half opened to reveal their drive partially covered in fog and Micah standing there dressed like the Cheshire Cat from the Disney Alice in Wonderland. The work wasn't refined, certainly not to the level of Liam's stuff, but everything was recognizable and a good sight better than Gwen's scribbles. Geoff never had any idea what he was supposed to say when she hauled out a bunch of illegible lines smeared across some paper for him to look at. He always found himself glad that she seemed to find something else to do with her time, whatever it was.

Liam's knife stilled for a moment. "You should fix the image in your mind, fully formed and complete, before touching brush to surface. I can see six -- no, seven -- places where you changed your mind over the course the image was to take. Once the image is in one's mind, it becomes a much simpler task to release it through whatever medium one desires. That said, I do find myself pleased with the skill demonstrated at your age. It is remarkable, though still far from exemplary." The Rottie began chopping up the onion, already done with the garlic. Damn, that was fast. Geoff took his first tomato from the bowl and began carefully slicing it.

Faelen poured the cumin and coriander into a mortar and began pounding it with the pestle. "Hey, that's pretty good, Micah! Well done. Those cat eyes you have are really creepy." Micah looked up at the Mist Spirit happily. Faelen looked toward the stairs. "But I thought Nick was with you. Where'd he go?"

Nathanial flipped another six shells up and began washing some lettuce as his magic took over the cooking. "He's talking to a friend on the phone. And I agree, Micah did do a very good job." He glanced over his shoulder to smile at his now excitedly wriggling baby brother. "I'm impressed, but how did you do all that and learn such complicated magic in the space of a few short hours? It's absolutely incredible."

Micah's tail slowed down for a moment, and Liam smoothly interjected, "Oh, I am certain Micah had more than enough time to do such work. I do not think the spell and scroll would take over a week to accomplish. Do you not concur, Faelen?"

The Wolf grinned. "Micah's a very smart pup, and his grandfather might have given him some pointers. Besides, who said he did it all at once? He could've started_two weeks_ ago and finished today."

Nathanial wasn't washing the lettuce anymore or paying attention to the griddle. He stared with narrowed eyes at Micah. The pup looked at his scroll innocently and rolled it to show the next scene. Nathanial slowly said, "I don't know if you two are inferring anything or not, but Micah knows he'd be in deep fucking shit_if he stayed _one night in Faerie without asking permission. Sir Fellwedyr wouldn't abuse my trust like that, either. He's a knight and knows about chains of command and stuff; Micah is my responsibility, not his, and he would know that something like that has to be cleared with me first. Furthermore, time may flow differently there for mortals, but Micah is a Changeling and a guest of a noble Fey; he won't get thrown around in time like non-Fey."

Micah looked up and nodded. "I won't. Even without Granddad's help, I can cross into and out of Faerie without getting bounced around; it's a minute for a minute. I, um, can't do that for other people, though. Granddad would have to help them back."

Liam set his knife on his cutting board; he had already finished chopping everything,including all of Geoff's other tomatoes. Geoff didn't even see him take any. The Rottie folded his paws serenely. "I do not wish to state that which you may know, but I want to warn you, Micah, that Oiche Samhna -- the night now known as Samhain or All Hallows' Eve -- approaches. The Veils, all_of them, weaken on that night, but particularly those between Earth and Faerie, the Underworld, the spiritual realm, and some of the hells. Crossing into Faerie after sunset on the thirty-first to sunset on the first of November will be particularly easy, but coming _back may cause some temporal fluctuations, even for you. I recommend that you stay here or ensure your grandfather assists you on return if you do cross over." He turned to Nathanial. "A similar warning applies to you and your use of portals. Those_things_ will most likely find it much easier to break through on Samhain, so do not use any portals, particularly for long distances or across planes."

Faelen's nose twitched, and he dropped the pestle. "Crap!" He darted over to the griddle, drawing Nathanial's attention, and went to salvage the smoking flatbreads. They floated out on their own, goaded by Nathanial's muttered curses. Faelen studied them. "Well, they're only a _little_overdone."

Nathanial sighed. "Yeah, it's edible, but it'll be a bit chewy." He poured another batch of batter in. "Micah, why don't you tell us about your plans, but remember that I have a lot going on this week. I won't be able to even think about it, what with the O'Conalls coming over, needing to get the portal fixed or replaced, studying those books for the Society, getting ready for the magic test..." He sighed heavily. "...school." He deflated, so Geoff got up and hugged him tightly. The Elemental couldn't keep one of his paws from drifting south to rest below that curly tail. Nathanial clung to him. "Good gods. I really shouldn't start listing all that crap, and there's _still_more to do."

Geoff leant back, took a fistful of Nathanial's scruff to pull his head back, and planted a big kiss on his muzzle, which the pup quickly returned. Eventually, Geoff let him go, making sure it was in time to prevent the next shells from burning. "There is_more to do. There's relaxing, having fun, getting your tail-hole filled by your boyfriend's hot cock, spending time with friends and family, and _living._That test isn't a pass or fail thing; it's measuring your magic _as it is._That's low priority, Pup. If you do all the stuff _I said, like getting fucked, then you'll be less stressed out, and you'll do better. From the sounds of it, the biggest concern the Society has is your lack of control, and that_is a direct result of stress. You told me that Liam had a talk with the server so it'd get off your back about studying those primers, so take those as you can. That makes _that low priority, too." Geoff squeezed his pup's rump. "This is much more important."

Nathanial laughed as Geoff intended, and buried his head under the Wolf's chin. "I'm glad you're back, my shadow prince." Geoff's stomach rumbled loudly. Nathanial snickered and struggled to stay composed. "I'd say that is the highest priority, eh?"

Micah chirped happily, "Hey, hey! Why not 'prince of darkness'? He's not really shadowy, as in also kinda light, but fully dark. He's the _Dark Elemental,_after all."

Geoff and Faelen started to protest -- Geoff had_been called 'the Prince of Darkness' before, and it _wasn't as a compliment -- but Nathanial beamed happily and exclaimed, "I like that! My prince of darkness." A quick glance showed Liam looking way too still to be coincidence; the mutt thought it was hilarious. Nathanial lifted his muzzle up, gently pinched Geoff's chin fur between his thumb and index finger, and pulled the white muzzle down. "Always ready to hide me away from my troubles so I can rest and recover. Swoops in with his dragon-wings wide and chases my monsters away. Watches over me in the dead of night and changes my worst nightmares into pleasant dreams. My prince of darkness." Nathanial looked so cute, and the love in his voice kept Geoff from saying what Christian character actually held that title. Maybe after this kiss...

Geoff sat next to Nathanial in the entertainment area of the basement with Faelen and Liam. Lunch had been very tasty, and Liam was about to start telling the second portion of his Yoishi and Ohtori-sama story. Geoff knew Faelen had a hard time listening to it, even though his best mate never let on, but it wasn't a comfortable tale. Nathanial kept getting teary-eyed even thinking about it. Hells, Geoff had trouble with the whole thing; he wouldn't hurt Nathanial no matter who ordered it, even his grandda. He couldn't understand how anyone could hurt the one they loved, no matter the reason.

Faelen looked over. "That's because you weren't raised as I was, Geoff. No matter what anyone intended, you were raised as a lord, or at least as a modern guy, while I was raised to serve you and your family. We still have the old ideals of fidelity, honour, and duty."

Geoff hated_that bloody mindset. That's how evil Furs -- and other beings -- kept in power. Why should _anyone's love and life be considered less than anyone else's? Faelen was just as valuable a person as he was!

Nathanial put his paws over his ears when Geoff tensed up to give a sharp retort. "Please! No, not now! You've been through this, and I can't bear to hear you two fighting!"

Liam looked properly uncomfortable; this was his fault. Well, no, not really. Geoff knew, deep down, that this was the way the world used to work, and Liam had been just as much a product of his time...times...as anyone else. The O'Conalls weren't the only ones who still talked like that in the clan. Grandda Luke did on occasion, and his da and grandda almost always did. Great-Great Grandda Tola often lectured Geoff when he was younger about his duty as a McDougal and a Dark Elemental; Tola hated the way Faelen was being raised with 'the heir of the clan.' Fucking evil wanker. Geoff had gotten into fights with his da the last few years when Da 'suggested' he visit the bastard.

The Rottie sighed. "I need not tell the tale, as I keep saying. I am quickly coming to the conclusion that, despite your protestations otherwise, you three truly do not wish to hear it. It causes far too much turmoil."

Nathanial cuddled into Geoff's side. "W-We find it hard to listen to, knowing the outc-come, but it's part of who you are, Liam." The pup shivered. "We're y-your friends, and we want to know you better, even the stuff that's hard to hear. Do you refuse to listen to _my_pastwhen it upsets you? About Mo-- Lily, the bullies, a-and my ancestry?" Geoff felt his chest rumble, and his cute pup curled in more tightly so he could put an orange and white ear against him. Geoff always thought his growls would scare his pup, but it seemed to do the opposite.

Liam's hackles had fully raised, and a snarl split his still-immature muzzle; it almost looked cute, but Geoff knew him more than well enough to know just how terrified he should be if he ever became the target of the guy's anger. "No. In fact, I wish to hear far more, starting with the names of those bullies who yet live. That is a curable condition, and I possess the antidote."

Nathanial shook his head emphatically. "It's your story time, not mine."

The Ancient One's piercing look said this was far from over, which Geoff wholeheartedly agreed with, but he relented. "Very well. Now, when last I spoke--"

Nick cleared his throat. He stood in Micah's doorway, naked, and with a bit of cum hanging from the underside of his fully swollen dick. Was the Demon Mage making a point of showing them -- or at least Faelen and Liam -- his cock and cum? Maybe hoping he'd arouse them enough to make them pounce him? Or was he in that state so often it was rather inevitable? Anyway, he ducked his head a touch when Liam stopped talking and everyone looked over. "Um, Nats, I, uh, forgot to mention that I'll be going out this afternoon to hang with some friends...if the weather lets up enough."

Nathanial nodded. "Sure, if it lets up. I expect Conor and Dirk will be coming over around four, and we'll be having tea. Let me know if you'll be here for that. Supper will be around seven or eight. It's a school night, so don't be out late."

Nick grimaced, grabbed his dick, and waved it around. "It's not like I can go far from home for long anymore. The six-plus hours of school are killer, and I don't want to go through that when I don't have to. I'll probably be no more than three or four hours."

Nathanial nodded sadly. "Yeah, I suppose that's true." He shifted his gaze over to Liam. "I...want to call Nanny. See if she can start those wards so she can test Nick. I refuse to let her do anything with Nick's blood without you watching over her; I don't trust her to act in our best interest. She also wants my blood to compare it to Nick's. Apparently Nick's and Dad's blood is tainted in different ways, and Micah is our half-brother, so only my_blood can work as a baseline. Any blood samples taken must be destroyed when you two are done. I told her I wouldn't let _any of our blood out of this basement."

Liam looked extremely_leery. "I agree that my presence is a _very wise precaution, and I agree that the blood must not be permitted to remain outside of your control. I just fear what she may find."

Geoff's ears flicked in bafflement. "Isn't 'finding' the whole point of this? You need to know how Nick was changed so you can fix him."

Liam and Nathanial ignored him. Nathanial sat up and nodded. "Me too; that's why I insisted_everything be done here _and with you. Dad's blood is potent enough that a Nosferatu took great pains to keep him alive, and it stayed on this plane to do something very important with it...important enough to die for. Micah's blood would give Gordon enough power to open a hellgate. Nick is the target of a Succubus, and I don't think it's just so she can have a pet Mage. And I'm being hunted as a sacrifice; what magic is in my blood that draws the Hunters to me? What could the Cabal do with it?"

Geoff's blood ran cold. 'Shite. Holy shite.' He rubbed Nathanial's far arm, but his pup refused to be drawn over into a hug. "Then call this off. Don't let her so much as smell your blood. She can do it without bleeding you and just study Nick's. It's not worth the risk."

Nathanial shook his head. "This is my brother we're talking about. It is worth it." Nick looked extremely uncomfortable and fidgeted in the doorway as the basement lights flickered. "If she crosses me, she dies. If she sells us out to the Cabal, I'll hunt every last one of them down if I have to in order to keep my family safe. And I told her so." His voice turned bloody cold, as energy poured out of him. Geoff felt his fur standing on end from more than just nerves as the basement windows rattled in their frames. "She threatens my brothers, and no force in any_of the hells will keep her safe from me." Geoff cringed along with nearly everyone else in the room as the air itself vibrated with power. Damn, that pup could be fucking scary. He meant it, and Geoff _believed it. Nathanial's frosty eyes turned to Nick, and the Demon Mage flinched away from the chill they all felt. "Go back to bed and sate yourself before heading out. I sense the storm will have abated in a bit over an hour." Nick nodded and scuttled away. Nathanial's phone floated up from the coffee table and dialled itself before it reached the Mage's ear.

Geoff heard it ring once before Mrs. Marks answered. "Hello, Nathanial. What do I owe the pleasure to?"

"I want you to start those tests today," he growled. "Liam is here, and since school was cancelled, we have more time. This is the best opportunity we'll have for a bit over a week."

If the Demon Mage was put off by Nathanial's tone, she hid it well. "It sounds like you're threatening murder and not talking to your grandmother, dear. Beriatana and Gordon haven't been making trouble, have they? I'd expect you to call right away if they have."

"No, it's nothing new, just the trouble she's caused gets my dander up sometimes." Nathanial took a deep breath and his tone warmed up. "I'm sorry, Nanny. Would you be able to come over today?"

The elderly Demon Mage chuckled; she really sounded like a pleasant older Fur. "I can, but have you looked outside?"

Nathanial chuckled, too. "Yes, Nanny, I did. I fixed a car out in it earlier. It's a touch wet. A minute ago I could sense that it should start abating in a bit over an hour, but I can easily open a portal for you when you're ready. Well, when we're ready, too. It'll probably be a bit over an hour."

There was a pause before Mrs. Marks said, "That sounds fine with me, dear. Wallace is away on business; he was supposed to fly back today, but his flight was delayed for obvious reasons. The wards will take a long time to draw out, so I may have to do the actual tests tomorrow."

Liam chimed in. "I am familiar with many of the wards used by Mages, so I may be able to hasten the process."

Nathanial nodded. "Liam says he might be able to help with that."

She snorted. "Why am I not surprised? I still think I can do this alone."

The dark look that fell over Nathanial's face made the ice in his voice much more chilling. "I said no. You will work with Liam, and you will abide by the restrictions I set out."

Oddly, she sounded...pleased by that. Proud, even. "Yes, dear, I remember. I'll call you when I'm ready."

Nathanial visibly struggled to rein in his temper. "Sorry about that, Nanny. I'll look forward to your call. Thanks."

"Bye, dear." The call disconnected, and Nathanial put his phone back on the table.

Nathanial sighed and rubbed his face. "Sorry. Let's hear your tale, Liam."

Liam nodded. "Of course. When last I told you of--" Liam growled when his phone beeped. He looked at it and read a text message. Whatever it was made him smile a little grimly, but he still smiled. "Ah, I apologize for the interruption. When I was last telling you of my lost love, I had been serving him tea in a small and private room."

The other three settled in to listen to the tale of Yoishi.