Gods and Monsters

Ch. 32 Childes Meal

The house was quiet that morning but it didn't last.

Their mom's screaming woke everyone but Marlo. The hallucinations were an effect from the abrupt withdrawal of alcohol.

Sage stayed with her, unable to do more than he already had for now. She'll have to do this part herself. He knew she'd get through the sickness but he hoped it was enough of a reminder to keep her from relapsing.

She mumbled incoherently about something watching, something waiting. Then she threw up over the side of the bed. Between her pleading for him to kill her and the threats that she'd kill him, the seizures were the worst. Keeping her on her side, all he could do was wait for them to pass.

It was during a hallucination that she spotted Elias standing in the doorway, she laughed manically before stopping abruptly and glaring.

"Eli," Sage blocked his view of their mom, not wanting him to see this. "Have you eaten?" He asked, smiling softly. Elias looked at him with wide eyes but nodded.

"Brandon made breakfast."

"Raza." Sage corrected, knowing it's what his Mate preferred.

"Yeah..." Elias trailed off, his eyes shifting behind Sage where their mom was puking again. At least this time he had a trash can in place.

"Can you do something for me?" Sage asked, trying to distract the younger teen. Elias nodded, eager to help. "Call Myla, She should come home."

Elias' nose scrunched up in distaste, having never cared for the oldest of the Taylor siblings. Sage could understand why, seeing as she was gone before Elias was really old enough to remember. When she did come around it didn't leave a good impression. But Sage had asked and so Elias nodded again.

Sage walked back to the bed, the door closing on a soft breeze.

Elias stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door before turning away and going back downstairs.

Brandon, or Raza, had a bored game set up on the coffee table that kept the kids entertained. Maverick sat in a dark corner, now opposed to the sun and wanting to stay away from it.

"Everything okay?" Elias turned to Sam who was wearing one of his shirts. It was a bit tight on him but he liked that the taller boy had his scent on him.

"As okay as anything can be." He tried for a smile but it was weak. "Did you talk to your parents?"

Sam watched him for a moment. "Um, yeah, they're kind of on their way." He said, scratching the back of his neck.

Elias snorted. "Of course they are, couldn't leave their little puppy all alone." He teased, ruffling his soft brown hair. It was really just an excuse to touch him.

Everyone grew quiet as they listened to the screaming coming from upstairs. Elias wanted to go check on Sage again but his brother obviously didn't want his help, and he had the feeling if something was wrong Br-Raza wouldn't be sitting there all calm and unbothered.

"I'm hungry." Maverick spoke up from where he was huddled inside his black hoodie.

"It's on its way." Raza said, sounding almost bored.

Elias still wasn't sure about him. He was just...weird. He always stared at Sage and seemed to know more than what he revealed.

"You don't think he's talking about my parents, do you?" Sam whispered, confusing him.

"Why would Ricky eat your parents?" He snickered but Sam wasn't amused.

"He's a Night Childe."

Elias had no idea what that was supposed to mean but no one explained further. "I have to call someone." He remembered, leaving them to be weird in the living room.

Raza watched the two young Mates interact and how the pup watched the hybrid like he was his very own gift from the gods. In a way, he was. A gift of love, a life long companion, a trusted ally. Every single being was given this gift, it was up to Fate if they ever met them but Fate gets bored easily.

"How come I only have one pointy ear?" Marlo asked, large eyes curious as he looked up at him.

"Because you're different." He answered shortly, offering a smile.

Marlo looked confused, his brows furrowing before his face lit up. "Sage says it's good to be different." Aurora and Mia agreed quickly, not wanting the youngest to be upset.

Raza listened to the distant sound of his Chosen's soothing voice and the retching of his mother.

He knew they needed to leave soon, it was no longer safe here. With Cerpheos awake he'll be looking for his revenge. He's weak now though, and dependent on whoever released him.

Raza kept the kids distracted with games as time passed slowly. They had questions but he answered them vaguely, knowing Sage could do a better job explaining things to them. He didn't have much experience with kids, none actually. At home there was always the young running around but he avoided them and preferred only the company of his close friends.

Maverick started grumbling under his breath and growling. It was Raza's mistake, forgetting the male was only a Childe and couldn't go long without feeding. It was impressive that he lasted four days.

Luckily there was a knock on the door and Raza got up to answer it.

Arkaelis stood there as expected but so did two wolves and Raza remembered them to be the pup's parents.

"Where's my pup?" The female demanded, pushing her way into the house. "Sam!"

Raza rolled his eyes and moved out of the way so the male could come in.

"The Childe's meal, sir." Arkaelis spoke formally in front of the others, as expressionless as always. Raza only spared a glance at the Human Arkaelis had a grip on.

Inside, the female wolf was fluttering around her pup whose face was red from embarrassment. Elias was clearly trying to hold back his laughter.

Maverick stood at the scent of the human, knowing it to be his meal but Raza's eyes went to the small blond standing at the bottom of the stairs. He smelled like the sick and Raza wanted to direct him to the shower.

"David?" He said, looking between the silent human and Arkaelis. "What are you doing here?"

Raza rolled his eyes. "He's here to feed Maverick." He said simply, giving a nod to the male whose eyes glowed an ominous red.

The Childe was a blur before he appeared behind the Human with his fang buried in his neck.