Grim Echoes

Chapter 18 - Ander

Will had returned with dinner. Surprised he had asked what they wanted, versus just choosing their meals. Ander noted the amount of alcohol Will had also returned with. It was more than usual. He understood Maeve's expectation and had agreed. He would speak with Will. Inevitably it would escalate into an argument, and Will would not listen, but he would keep his word to her. After she was calmer, he had explained it was best to wait until tomorrow to discuss it again. Will would need time to review her words and choose whether he would allow them to have sway over him.

All of which was true. But she did not comprehend how stubborn Will was. Next to his Uncle Wyatt, Will was the most stubborn human he had ever spent time with. She had agreed to let the issue go for the moment. Ander was relieved. He would need to prepare himself for Will's wrath when they spoke. Given the circumstances, he assumed the argument would end in a fight. Fighting after a fresh kill was dangerous for those like them, things could quickly escalate, and serious to fatal injuries might occur.

His eyes moved to Maeve. She still sat on the bed where they held hands. Will had broken down and began conversing with her. Due to their talk when Will was gone, she was also speaking to him. Will explained how the ward they were going to preform worked well to the best of his ability. Will's explanation missed some key points, but for the moment it did not matter. Provided Will followed the instructions when Ander told him what to do, it was irrelevant if Will mixed up the order of the spell. Ander clenched his fists. He should have been casting the ward. It would have been a simple exercise, but he was banned from any spellwork.

"So we good for tomorrow?" Will asked Ander.

Crap, he had been in deep thought and tuned out their conversation. Ander nodded. Unless Will had added additional information, he understood the plan for the werewolf. Will had repeated it twice, mainly to be sure Maeve understood her role and would not make mistakes. Thankfully, Will avoided bringing up the family. 

"Good. So let's do this warding." he stood up.

Ander looked as the chair shook with his movements. Maeve cast a wary glance at the chair. She had not sat in it since his return this afternoon. Ander retrieved the spell book that was unnecessary for him when casting. Everything contained there was already committed to memory for him. Ander handed the book to Will and told him the page to find. Curious, Maeve came closer to view the book. Will's posture changed when was within touching distance, his body filled with tension. Ander found the reaction odd. Typically, that was how his body reacted, not Will's. She peered down at the book. She wanted to touch it, but cast a nervous glance at Will and remained still.

"And this keeps demons away from me?"

"No, this keeps demons from tracking you or noticing you," Will answered her. "Only lasts ten days, so if you're still around we'll have to do it again."

Ander could not tell from her expression if the idea of still being with them caused discomfort, or the idea of not being with them was the reason for her distress.

"Does this take a long time?" she asked.

Will shrugged.

"It does not compared to other rituals or spells," Ander replied and set the circle in the largest clear area of the floor. To keep things more tidy, he used salt versus other things that would stain the carpet.

"Is that salt?" She followed him around.

Amused by her interest in the different aspects of their work, Ander slowed his movements. "Yes." He went to his bag to retrieve candles and almost ran into her when he turned around.

"I can help." she put out her hands.

He handed her the candles, went back to his bag, and removed the various other spell components. In preparation, Will murmured the incantation's words to himself. Ander recited the words in his mind as he began to mix the components. He sensed Maeve's attention as he worked and made certain she could see his actions.