Shadows Creed (Shadows Creed #1)

"I'm listening..."

It was a very subdued, withdrawn Johnny who sat across from Matthew at the kitchen table, as Val served dinner, chatting away about her day’s work. After they had left the basement, the younger male had occupied himself with wandering the house like a lonely ghost, obviously deep in thought. He was shocked, which was entirely expected of him considering what he’d seen.

Matthew’s little video was a surprise package, even to him. A year had gone since he’d filmed himself, and a year had gone since he’d watched it. In fact he couldn’t even remember ever watching it back after that. The recording had taken place at such an odd, random time of the year. Between the insanity of end of year functions and parties, it was just another thing in his busy December calendar that was then swept aside for the New Year. Of course, he didn’t forget what it was that he said and did on that small piece of film, he just hadn’t taken the time to go over it again since.

Seeing Johnny’s reaction to it had inexplicably warmed something in Matthew’s heart, stirred some inner emotion that he hadn’t felt in a long while. And, watching it himself, made him realise that no matter how hard he worked to uphold and maintain the laws, his heart was no longer in it. He was very, very close to giving out. And that could only mean one thing. It was time to get out.

“Matt?”

“Huh?” Matthew blinked, realising Val was looking directly at him, her eyebrows raised questioningly at him.

Val sighed, “I said, do you want some chicken?”

“Oh, right. Thanks,” he smiled as she dished several pieces onto his plate.

Val served herself last as she sat down opposite her husband. “So, how did things go with Johnny’s parents?”

Johnny looked up from his plate, as Matthew tilted his head, brow furrowed faintly.

“Why don’t you ask him, Val?”

Val grimaced apologetically before she turned her gaze to the younger man. “Johnny?”

“Uhuh?” He met her eyes and frowned a little.

“How was it?”

Johnny dropped his stare back to his plate, and pushed some of the food around with his fork. He hunched up his shoulders for a moment then allowed them to slump. For a few minutes it seemed he wouldn’t respond, but then he looked up again and muttered in a barely audible tone.

“Interesting.”

Matthew blinked at that, shaking his head. “That’s it? Come on, it was good, wasn’t it? To see your parents and all…”

Johnny lifted his shoulders in a noncommittal gesture then returned his concentration to the food in front of him. The bigger man pulled a face.

“Matt,” Val admonished her husband. “If that’s all he wants to say, just let him be.”

Matthew held his hand up in a placating gesture as he pushed his own plate away from him. “Alright, I was just saying.”

Val gave him a funny look. “Anyway, what else did you two get up to? You can’t have been at the Seward’s all day.”

There was an uncomfortable pause where Matt found himself just staring at his wife. She raised her eyebrows at him her look pointed. He sighed, as he propped his elbows against the edge of the table. He wasn’t exactly sure how to go about explaining what they’d done, considering the legality issues behind it all. But, he didn’t want to be dishonest.

Val frowned at his hesitation, though. “Matt? Are you up to something?”

“What? Why’d you ask that?” Matthew asked, frowning as well.