arescere ✿ xavier thorpe

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31 - to be scared

he kneeled in the dirt. the sting of cold air hitting at his body. the thing jumper no longer provided enough warmth now rain fell from the grey skies above. the officer questioned the two ladies, before leading them to the car where they'd be taken to lock up. neither bothered to protest. wednesday had always wanted to spend the night in jail. and morticia got to see her husband for a night. it was a win win. yet peter stayed huddled behind the random mans grave. his phone buzzing in his pocket to alert him it was on 5 percent. he wondered if it were clear to move now. he wouldn't admit it out loud but he was starting to grow scared. the shadow night lurking around him. the streets were silent. nothing made a noise. it was like there was nobody here at all. and so he moved. quickly yet carefully. he pulled himself from the ground, doing his best at brushing off dirt that he could see. the hair on his arms had raised, he was so cold. the street wasn't even lit, the streetlights that long since turned off at dead of night. his screen showed him it was at least 1 am. how long had they been digging at that grave? he walked. and walked. he remembered that the path to nevermore was a brisk 25 minute walk, but he could have sworn he had been walking at least an hour at this point. and he still couldn't even see the towers of the school from afar. when his phone ran in his pocket. an unknown number. and the shadows in the trees lurked closer. terror shot at his veins. and no longer was he alarmed, oh no, he was shaking like a leaf. he was scared shitless. ashen coloured eyes appearing from one of the trees to his left, and his breath haltered. they were smaller then they hydes. more human like. and a women appeared from the trees. she wore the most beautiful green dress, splattered in red. much like the colour of her hair that cascaded down her back. her face he found ever so beautiful, sharp features and eyes like a snake. he found himself staring into the eyes of monstrous rogue creature. one he found himself enchanted by. he knew what she was. a lamia. he hadn't know they wandered so close to the school. she reached out, her beautiful toffee skin was soft against his own. log fingers brushing over his cheeks, he couldn't even stop staring. she was going to hurt him. yet he remains stiff. enchanted.

"peter, i can help you."she smiled, sharp fang like teeth sparkling in the moonlight. and his phone rang. the familiar tune and buzz vibrating in his pocket. the women's face twisted. growing almost ugly as he reached for it.

"peter?" a voice called softly, xavier thorpe was calling him from the unknown number. and before peter could respond the women sprang at him. baring her teeth as she hissed. he begged as he was thrown to the ground. his phone smashing on the floor. xavier was left in their room, the cry of peter and snarl of the creature still ringing in his ears from before the phone crashed and disconnected. he made quick work of grabbing his red jacket. throwing red converse on. not even bothering to lace them as he ran for the stairs. he didn't even know where the boy would be, but he'd find him.

peter cried, hot tears streaming over frozen cheeks. raising his hand to her women's head. he knew he could kill plants, but he had never tried humans. if she even counted as human. he wanted to throw up, watching the diamond eyes grew dull. pulling the life from the women. he grew weaker and weaker. he could barely keep his eyes open. so he could.but he wouldn't do it ever again. he felt empty,he had taken a life. the body fell limply beside him. and he grabbed his hone. using all his strength to pull himself towards the school. and xavier looked to the lump of a boy beside the archery corse.

"you try then." he spat and so peter did, his green eyes locked on xavier's as he pulled back and shot. xavier raised a brow as he heard the thump of the arrow hitting the hay. turning to look where the arrow hit. and much to his shock, it hit the middle and peter wasn't even looking.

"do that again." he called and so peter did, picking another arrow. remembering what his mother had taught him, two fingers between the arrow. one above, one below. and xavier watched as it split the other arrow right down the middle.

the memory of the last time the belfiorpe boys found themselves on the archery course, so he ran over to the boy. it was unrecognisably him. he was twisting and writhing in the ground as rain cascaded from above. the boys face was blank and pale, as if he were already dead. the dark circles under his eyes made him look almost ill. his hair wet and stuck to his wet face, the rain rolling down his cheeks like tears. his face melted in pain, the death of someone cursing through his veins. xavier cried his name as he threw himself to the boy, kneeling softly. holding his head up from the dirt. peter groaned softly as the warm skin melted into his iced skin.

"it's okay, i've got you." xavier spoke, trying to remain as calm as he could possibly be. throwing peter's limb arm over his body. hugging him close as he carried him towards the school. the boys' shoes dragging in the soaken dirt. all the lights of dorms were either off or dimly lit. including the room of their own. getting the boy from the grass to the school was one thing, but getting him up the stairs promoted to be an even bigger challenge. the boy was growing tired as he hauled the boy up the stairs, hoping not to wake their dorm mother. the shit they would get in.

"leave me alone." peter cried softly, not wanting the boy's pity. xavier face softened. gently resting the boy on his desk chair. knowing he wouldn't want to get the bed wet.

"here's some clothes. shout when you've changed." xavier told the boy, opening peter's closet grabbing the boys pjs from the bottom before leaving quickly. peter changed as fast as he could. staring at his wet reflection. red marks covered his hips. the women's claws had sunken into his skin when he tried to crawl away. when xavier didn't get the shout he rushed into the room. only to find peter belfiore already asleep in his own bed. the pile of wet clothes left in the hamper.

"brilliant." he mumbled softly, yet his fear for the boy never fizzled away. not even as he lie in his bed, staring up at the the ceiling. listening t peter's almost silent breaths.