Howling in the dark

Chapter 5. An awkward family dinner.

- Jesus Christ, Dana! Sit down!- Nathan said with a gentle smile.- Stop. There's plenty of... Just sit...
- Here. Chacha.- Dana said excitedly.- Abkhazian.
- I know it's Abkhazian.- Nate chuckled.- Now, sit down, okay?- he sighed.- I wanna hear about you.
- Me?- Dana blushed.- Oh, there's nothing to say!
- Really?- Nathan smirked.- Well I've heard some damn interesting stories.- he whistled.- Tell me...
- Nate, it's... it's nothing compared to discovering Shambala or... El Dorado, actually.- Dana huffed.
- Don't be shy...- Sam purred.- Tell us everything.
- Well... I've told you about Dioscuria, have I not?
- Hm, the long-lost city named after two brothers Castor and uh, Polidevk?- Nathan said, his pupils extending as if he was high.- The drowned city...?
- Yeah!- Dana said.- Well, it was like... a year ago. Rafe and I had a small picnic one night and... and it was wonderful, really. I said I missed my home, so... he bought tickets for the two of us. Then he...
- A picnic!- Sam rolled his eyes.- Sorry. Go ahead.
- Rafe never really let me participate in... treasure hunting. He was worried about me, he really was.
- Sure...- Sam snorted. The very concept of Dana, his sweet little sister, dating Rafe goddamn Adler broke his heart. Love is not blind, apparently. It's cruel.- Jesus. I'm sorry... I'm sorry. Do go on, girl.
- So this time,- Dana closed her eyes as she took a small bite of smoked meat.- Rafe let me explore. I was so excited! I found... Dioscuria! The long-lost city, and the treasure.- she smiled at the memory.
- Sounds pretty damn interesting.- Sully smirked.

They spent the rest of the night, talking, playing a huge amount of games, laughing. Sam had all but forgotten Nathan's warm laugh... the way his eyes sparkled. The atmosphere was light and everyone was at ease. Dana told them all about Abkhazia, a lovely country, her home, it's food and traditions, and even though Sam had heard it for God knows which time... he listened attentively, though tried to avoid hearing the Mahajir tragedy... and also... the Lata tragedy; shivers never failed to ran down Sam's spine whenever Dana brought it up... Now, however, she merely mentioned those events, she didn't want to spoil the mood... though, promised Elena she would tell her the whole story later... as Nate watched Dana blush over Sully's vulgar joke a bitter thought accrued to him. "Why do women, beautiful, golden-hearted women love shit-heads, like Rafe?" By the look on Sam's face, he, too, was thinking the same. Nate looked at his watch. Half past twelve. It was about time to leave. But he did not want to. After all, they hadn't seen each other for years. Dana got up, and cut the cake to pieces.
- Coffee. Anyone?- she asked softly. Nate nodded.
- Yes, please.- he smiled warmly.- Elena, h-how... how is your job? Still, ugh... journalisting... right?
- Sorta!- Elena said.- I mean. Ever since you died, well, rather "died" I... Uh, I haven't been working for quite a while. You know, grief... stuff like that.
- Ohh?- Nathan coughed. He didn't know what to say. There was an awkward silence.- Well... yeah!
- Wow!- Sam chuckled.- You two have a lot of ice to melt. Actually... Let's play "Never have I ever?"
- Sure! Everyone in.- Dana said happily. It wasn't even a question.- I'll start. Never have I ever, hm, caught feelings but denied it?- she asked. Nathan shook his head. Sam shrugged. Elena chuckled as she emptied a glass of wine. Sully shook his head.
- Come on, man... No cheating!- Nate said, poked Sam on the shoulder.- Empty your glass, brother!
- Sheesh!- Sam rolled his eyes but drank the wine nonetheless.- Never have I ever cried because of a joke.- he said and this time, Dana drank the wine.
- Why?- Nathan asked, worriedly.- Why, sweetie?
- Rafe came up to me... Placed Mc'Donalds on the table, you know... cheeseburgers, nuggets and uh, stuff like that and he said: "I'm going out with my friends, so don't call me, don't text me, ok? Don't. Don't even think about me... Ok?" and put money on the table and left with a smirk...- Dana sighed.
- And what did you do?- Nathan asked her gently.
- I cried... But I ate all that damn food. And I took the damn money and... hid it. Though. Rafe came back but... I wasn't there. I left a note on the door which said "I am leaving you. Don't call me, don't text me. Don't even think about me" and that's it.
Of course he called me and I said: "oh maybe you were joking. But I am dead serious, Rafe Adler..."
- I would've been incredibly proud of you... If not for the fact that you came back to that moron...- Nathan said.- Oh my baby girl...- he whispered.- I beg you. People like Rafe... they never change. He will never stop hurting you. Sam and I will always be there for you. If he dares to touch you, I swear, I will kill him. Nay! If anyone dares to touch you!
- Oh, thanks...- Dana whispered. Nathan took her hand and squeezed it.- Right, uh, ok, never have I ever been drug addict.- and surprisingly Sam was the one to drink.- Jesus Christ... Sam... seriously?
- After Nate's death... well, "death", I broke. I just really, I broke down. Blamed myself. Every time I closed my eyes, Nathan, I saw you. I did. And... at some point... someone offered me. And... I'd been doing drugs for like two years, but... I don't know what came over me! I just... every memory of the past, our past, Nathan... I thought, you would not want me to live like that...- Sam said very quietly.
- And you're goddamn right.- Nathan whispered.- This game is getting pretty dark though. Maybe...
- Maybe we could play "who am I?"- Dana asked.- It's very fun. I'll go get some post-it notes! God, I can't even imagine how fuuuuun it will be, Jesus!
- She's so excited...- Sam whispered in Nate's ear.
- Aye.- Nathan smiled warmly.- Such a pure soul!

Even though they really had to go refusing to play "Who am I?" with people he hadn't seen in fifteen years would be a crime. So Nathan smiled, yelled:
- Count me in!- he had another shot of chacha.- It is gonna be fun! But first... gonna eat some cake...
- You want a cake? After two plates of mamaliga!- Elena gasped.- After half the hachapur? And that incredibly tasty smoked meat? And achapa? Ooh, boy!- she chuckled.- Kidding... I want a cake, too.

As Sam attached a post-it note to Sully's forehead everyone laughed. Sully looked pretty astonished.
- Wha, am I a woman?- he asked. Nate shrugged.
- Maybe. I say, could be both. Never mind, really!
- Ok.- Dana smiled.- My turn, right? Am I a man? 
- Eh...- Sam frowned, thinking deeply.- Probably!
- Probably?- Dana's eyes widened. Sam chuckled.
- It varies, from a moment to a moment.- he said.
- What?- she gasped.- Alright. Well... Am I good?
- Depends on your perspective. I guess, balanced!
- Do I have some, uh magic powers?- Dana asked.
- Certainly.- Nathan said.- That's enough. Next...- he coughed.- Am I sexy?- Nate asked.- Am I? Uh?
- Well, maybe like... forty years ago?- Sam said.- I  don't know, brother!- he chuckled.- Okay. Am I...
- Hold up, hold up... Do I... Do I have moustache?
- Hell, yeah.- Elena smiled.- Perfect moustache...
- Ok! Am I Sullivan?- Nathan asked with a smirk.
- Correct!- Sam said.- My turn. Am I... beautiful...
- No.- Nate smiled.- You are absolutely gorgeous!
- Pff!- Sam huffed.- Well, I'm Elena, then, ain't I?
- Yes, you are!- Dana said.- Now. I'm not a man... but neither am I a woman? Sometimes I'm good? Sometimes I'm not. Magical powers... Am I Loki?
- That's too easy!- Nathan groaned.- Elena, next?
- Okay, uh, well... am I a... woman?- Elena asked
- Nah. Sully. You're next. Ask your question now!
- Wait-wait-wait... Am I actually a human being?
- Oh, he ain't ever gonna guess it!- Elena laughed.
- I'll give you a hint.- Nathan said.- You are kinda connected with human beings, especially women.
- What was that supposed to mean?- Dana asked.
- Anyway, my turn.- Elena said.- Okay. Am I bad?
- I kinda grew to like you but nah. Just empathy...
- A man... Practically bad... Am I old?- she asked.
- Nope.- Nathan shook his head.- So... questions?
- Nope? Am I alive at all?- Elena asked, frowning.
- Sadly not. You were quite funny though, really...
- Funny, dead, young, male, bad... Honestly, wha!
- Alright. My turn. Am I overreacting?- Sully said.
- Oh very close!- Sam snapped his fingers.- But...
- Drama Queen?- Sully asked.- Drama Queen, y... you damn seriously... Uh!- he burst out laughing. 
- Now, Elena, come on. You can guess it. Guess it.
- Dead, man, young, funny, bad, uh... Am I Eddie, Eddie Raja?- Elena said. Nathan cheered.- WOW.

They sat there and played, and played and talked, until Elena and Sully left. Nathan and Sam stayed as neither of them wanted to leave Dana and both of them were too drunk. Dana quickly made them bed. Then hugged Nathan, as tightly as she could. 
- G'night, Nate...- she whispered.- Sweet dreams!
- Sweet dreams, baby girl!- Nate whispered back.
- Sweet dreams, Sam!- Dana breathed and before she could think better off it, kissed him gently on the cheek.- And. Thank you for the best birthday!
- It is always a pleasure.- Sam smiled, pulling her into a tight hug.- Sweet dreams, my little princess