Alastor

10

It had been almost a week since the incident with Bernard. Neither Zagen nor Eros stopped to say anything to Alastor afterwards, which Alastor was thankful for.

A few days ago Thaddeus had tried talking to Alastor about something, but he'd brushed him off. Hard. His cousin hadn't talked to him since.

Alastor walked downstairs, his hoodie already on as he made his way to the kitchen. "Why haven't you left for school yet?" Zagen said, making Alastor look up.

"I can go?" Alastor asked, seeming to brighten up. "After your recent incident with Bernard you earned it back." Zagen said. Alastor nodded, running back to his room. He grabbed his backpack before running back downstairs, running out the door.

Alastor had ran to school, he was too excited to see a particular person to stop. He had missed his first class, which was fine. He just needed to make it to his fifth. That was the one that mattered.

The rest of his classes went by in a blur, he hadn't really payed attention to anything. That was till the bell rang. Alastor practically ran out of the class, quickly making his way to his fifth period.

He ignored the hushed whispers and stares in the hallway, he had only came to school for a week, disappeared for one then came back the next. So the whispers were understandable.

Alastor brightened up as he saw a girl with pure white hair. He raised his hand to call her when an announcement rang. "Alastor Anderson, please report to the principals office."

Alastor slumped, turning to go the opposite way of his class. Did Thaddeus drag me into something? What else would I be going to the office for?

Alastor turned to see Thaddeus give him a 'good luck' look. Alastors stomach dropped. Damn it. What happened that Thaddeus looks sad?

Alastor begrudgingly made his way to the office, entering it to see a lady and the principal. He was a short man, maybe in his 40s. The lady next to him though, looked much older.

"Hello Alastor, this is Ms. Price. She's here to be therapist." "Therapist?" Alastor blurted out afterwards, immediately narrowing his eyes at Ms. Price.

"Yes, she was sent here by your grandfather." The principal replied, Alastor scoffed. Of course he'd only let me come back to have an intervention. "And if I refuse?" He said, looking back at the door. I'd probably get away if I ran. "It's mandatory, your grandfather said something about a punishment." Ms. Price said.

That made Alastor freeze. Whenever Zagen mentioned a punishment it meant blood. Alastor sighed. "Fine." Ms. Price smiled and led Alastor outside the office. "How long do I have to do this for?" Alastor asked, trailing behind Ms. Price.

"An hour once a week for a month." Ms. Price responded, making Alastor groan. "It sounds like more time than it is, trust me." Alastor scoffed. Why would I trust you? Therapist are people who like to make you feel more shitty about yourself. As well as stick their noses into your business.

Ms. Price led Alastor into the old guidance counselor's office, telling him to sit down on the couch. Alastor sat down on one of the edges, while Ms. Price grabbed a chair and sat in front of him.

Alastor crossed his legs, one starting a crisscross formation as the other stayed normal. "This is pointless. You won't get anything anyways." Alastor said. Ms. Price smiled. "I'll understand more than you think. I know about your family's fire ability's." Alastor looked up at Ms. Price, his eyes widened.

"You know about this?" Alastor said, one of his fingers lighting on fire. Ms. Price nodded. "It's intriguing how much you react like your cousin." "Wait wait, you did this to Thaddeus too?" Alastor asked, Ms. Price nodded.

Alastor put down his leg, holding his head in his hands as he mumbled to himself. "Damn it, that's what he wanted to talk about." He mumbled, making Ms. Price speak up. "I noticed you like to talk to yourself a lot. Why is that?"

Alastor looked back up, narrowing his eyes at Ms. Price. "I don't have to tell you anything." He growled, crossing his arms as he laid back. Ms. Price didn't say anything, just changed the subject. "Let's talk about your father." Alastor tensed, starting to tap his foot. "What about him?" Alastor said, refusing to look Ms. Price in the eyes.

"What about your hearing, what exactly happened?" Ms. Price said, Alastor looked off to the side, now no longer looking anywhere close to Ms. Price.

"Um, I-" Alastor stammered, struggling to find the words. "I had broken a window. I was bored inside and wanted to play catch. Bernard wouldn't play with me so I tried playing on my own." Ms. Price noted down how Alastor didn't refer to his father as dad.

That's when Alastor realized Ms. Price held a small tablet. Am I really just that unobservant? "I had thrown the ball when it hit the window, I didn't mean for it to happen but the window broke." Alastor said, his hands now shaking.

"Instead of being damn normal and grounding me he hit me. He got carried away and I suddenly couldn't hear anything." Alastor said, he saw small sparks emerging from his hands but didn't care to stop them.

"He had taken me to the hospital where the doctor said I had lost my hearing. That coward lied to him saying I did it to myself." Ms. Price nodded. "And what about your stay in the mental hospital?"

Alastors whole body began to shake. "They sent me there, claiming I was a danger to myself and others. That's where my hair started to change. I don't know how it happened but I ended up burning another kid, earning me another months stay." Alastor said, he didn't know why he was saying all this information, he didn't like anyone knowing what had happened to him.

It was just a liability, something others would hold against him. "You and your cousin are very similar. I suggest you try and talk about your trauma." Ms. Price said, Alastor burst out laughing.

"Me and Thaddeus? Similar!" He laughed, after calming himself he spoke again. "The only thing me and Thaddeus share is our blood. And I'm starting to wonder if we don't share that too." Alastor said, his voice eerily calm after almost having a breakdown.

"What happened between you and Thaddeus?" Ms. Price asked, messing with something on her tablet. "He's Thaddeus, what else do I have to say." Alastor said, putting his feet on the small table in front of him. "Explain." Mr. Price said, her voice tired.

"He tried killing me when I was younger. As well as the first day he'd seen me in three years." Ms. Price looked up, an eye brow raised. "Is this normal?" She asked, Alastor held a grin.

"Yup." He said, as Ms. Price continued to mess with her tablet. "The difference between me and Thaddeus," Alastor said leaning forward and he placed his feet on the ground.

"Is he's deteriorating up here." Alastor said, pointing a finger to his head. "But I'm not, you can't break what's already broken." Alastor said, a huge grin on his face as he leaned back.

"Ok then, our session is over. Your principal said you can take the rest of the day off to adjust." Ms. Price said. "Remember to tell me if you have any panic attacks or nightmares." "Finally." Alastor said opening the door and leaving almost immediately.

Alastor left the school, still smiling. He'd been hoping he scared that therapist, maybe she wouldn't come back. That's unlikely, she knew Zagen so she must be brave. Alastor sighed, he was starting to wish he hadn't brushed off Thaddeus.

Would he maybe still want to talk? No. It doesn't matter. Why would he need to talk about his feelings with his cousin? That's weak. I can't be weak. No.

Alastor opened the door to Zagens house, making his way to his room. Luckily Zagen or Eros didn't stop him, he sat on his bed in his room. Noticing his shaking hands he sighed.

What the heck was happing? Maybe I should've told Price about this. Alastor shook his head, trying to take deep breaths to stop the shaking. But it didn't stop, nothing made it stop.

Alastor sighed, laying down on his bed as he stared a the ceiling. He closed his eyes quickly drifting away to sleep.