Covens and Proxies

36

You gawk at the manor before you, Toby's arm holding you close to his side. You knew that his boss housed a number of psychotic individuals, but this is something far bigger then what you had thought.

"I don't think the white house is this big." You mutter, to which Brian and Toby laugh.

Hoodie had spent last night on your couch, mostly unconscious from bloodloss. It took a little convincing, but Toby curled up with you in bed for the night.

Your boyfriend guides you up the steps; Hoodie throwing the front doors open with a bang. "HEY! We're back!" He hollers at the top of his lungs into the silent abode.

A great number of strange creatures poke their heads out of doors and hallways, coming to stand at the tops of stairs to get a look. Toby guides you along, gently pulling you down a hall where a small girl with a teddie bear, a boy in mostly black or grey clothing and creepy yellow glowing mouth and eyes and Masky move out of your way.

Masky comes up alongside Toby. "What are you doing?" He asks, glaring at you through the mask.

"Sh-shove off Masky. We're solving the pro-roblem." Toby growls, gripping your waist a little tighter.

"How? By sacrificing her?" He concludes after a moment of silence.

"No. Do you ha-ave an issue with me handl-ling my own issues?" Your boyfriend's coworker shrugs.

"The boss isn't happy. You guys were supposed to be back by three." He tells Toby.

Hoodie laughs. "We got caught off guard by the maniac. He actually did some heavy damage. But this little flower," he slaps your shoulder playfully "brought us back from the dead."

You flush, ducking your head. "You weren't that badly injured." You mutter, trying hard to maintain humility.

Toby chuckles. "Says the-the one that was worried I-I'd bleed out in her kitchen."

You smack him in the side, making him laugh and squeeze your waist.

"So you're really doing this?" Tim asks.

Toby cocks an eyebrow. "Yeah. Wha-what do you think? I'm pranking ev-eryone?"

Tim shakes his head. "You're fucking insane."

You come to a stop in front of a large, dark door. "Yeah. We-e know." Toby says grimly.

Tim nods and walks off, leaving you alone in a half-dark hallway in front of the room that may be the last place you see.

Hoodie knocks, followed by a beckoning from their boss. The room inside looks like a comfortable office. The far wall is mostly window, the flanking walls full of books from all eras. A desk sits in front of the window, facing a coffee table flanked by couches. A lamp stands in each corner, casting a warm glow on the room. But it's far from warm.

Slenderman sits at his desk, forehead resting against his folded hands. "You've brought someone, Tobias." He growls low.

Oh no. You think, instinctively grasping his hand as he walks closer. He looks back with a comforting smile, silently convincing you to let go.

"Yes sir. So-sorry. But I thought this was the-the best course of action." He mutters, bowing his head.

"And why is that?"

"Be-because she's known about us-us since I tried to-o kill her, on your orders. Sh-she impressed me, so I spared her. I-I've come to like her a lo-ot, sir. So I didn't want you-you to order her death because of my dis-dishonesty." He explains calmly, but you can tell with his hands clenched so tightly he's far from calm.

It melts your heart a bit that he's willing to fight to keep you, but it scares you even more so.

"Understandable, however I'm afraid I cannot allow her existence. Brian." He waves a hand.

Brian glances from his boss, to his friend--who looks frantic--to you before drawing his gun. "Sorry, lady. Thanks for fixing us." He mutters.

"Wait!" You cry, desperate to keep your life. Brian freezes, everyone looking to Slenderman, who's raised his faceless head to gaze at you. "I... I can be useful." You stammer, slowly walking closer.

"How?" He challenges.

You recall a directly harmful jinx you learned. Basic, but effective. Placing a hand firmly over your wrist, you mumble the enchantment. A deep cut spreads quickly down your arm, almost reaching your elbow--whimpering as a hot pain spreads. Toby steps forward, but you hold him back. Slenderman sits at attention.

You shakily take a breath, holding a hand over the deep incision. Already feeling a little dizzy, you mutter your next incantation quickly, feeling your energy flow to your fingers, warmth enveloping the cut, slowly sealing it shut until all that's left is a faint scar, barely visible.

He's silent for a moment, thinking before he turns to Toby. "She can stay. Brian will show her to your room. She will wait for your return." He growls low, waving a hand in dismissal.

Toby nods and takes your hand, leading you back into the hall, where a number of others have just scattered.

"Why can't you show me to your room yourself?" You ask, hoping he won't answer how you think he will.

"I we-went against orders onc-once, and broke several ru-rules right after. If-if it's a rule here, it's ta-taken seriously. He-he enforces those rules." Toby explains, avoiding hitting the nail on head.

You swallow, hard, and hug him. He hugs you back, carefully. "I'll be up in an hour. Curse anyone who tries to touch you for me." He whispers before giving you a kiss and heading back towards his boss' office.

"Come on. You should get to his room before Slenderman starts. It's soundproof." Hoodie mutters, heading the opposite direction.

You hesitate, not wanting to hear him, but also wanting desperately to help, before following Brian. He explains that the second floor is mostly bedrooms and bathrooms, showing where his is before where Toby's is.

"If you need anything, I'll be in my room." He tells you, leaning on the door frame while you look around the room. You glance back on nod, which is returned with his own. He's about to leave before stopping. "I would advise keeping this door either open so you can see out here, or shut and locked so no one will bother you. Anything in between is an open invitation for everyone to pick on the newbie." He explains pleasantly before heading down the hall to his room.

You sigh and sit on the bed, dropping your satchel next to you. You hadn't brought very much. Only the essentials; some shirts and jeans, a jacket and your spell book. You pull the book out and flip through the pages.

When your family first manifested the gift, long before the dark ages, it was decided that a book would be kept. In it was documented every spell every member of your family ever encountered. Since, it's been rewritten and changed to different bindings, but the contents has never been altered. Except, occasionally, to make it more understandable.

The cantation before you is in ancient Japanese, a spell for manifesting a small object, like a sewing needle, and controlling it. With only the occasional interruption from a curious passerby and one or two almost-kills, you manage to summon a full needle and wield it within a three-foot radius in an hour.

You're pushing your limits hard, trying to expand your range, when Toby limps through the door. You stop, your needle vanishing, and watch him carefully. The only physical wound looks to be a large circle in his leg, though with his jeans on it's hard to say. You shove the book in your bag and help him to the bed, shutting and locking the door immediately after.