The Demon Boy

Day Six - Evening

     Casper forgoes the direct route to the manor he's used in the past. It's better, less conspicuous this way. It's a small miracle that he hasn't been exposed as is. He retraces his steps through the fresh tilled fields until he finds the river, then follows the waters upstream until he finds the spring. From there, he wanders the woods until he stumbles upon the glass house hidden among the trees. The rest is easy.

     Meanwhile, Myr's yelling up a stink in the house. Casper can hear him, even from all the way out here. He slips into the glass house to hide while he waits out the storm. He might be here awhile. He hunkers down among the planters and snacks disinterestedly on some of the plants to pass time. Sadly, the taste hasn't improved.

     Myr's tantrum ends with one last shout and the slam of a door. Casper perks up. He doesn't hear anyone coming his way. He waits a minute more. Neither hide nor hair of the drunk bearing down on him. Reassured, he leaves the glass house, gently closing the door behind him.

     Does Myr know about the glass house? About the plants? What are they for, the plants? Are they magic too? Will he turn into a frog if he eats the wrong ones? Would Balor tell him if he asks? If he asks, would Balor lie? (That's what he'd do, but Balor isn't him, isn't like him. But if he is...) He doesn't know.

     He enters through the back door. He dithers, leaning back on the old door frame. If he said something, if he asked, would someone listen? "Balor...?" Is there anyone to listen? "Are you there?"

     Silence, but then, from deep in the house, "I come Casper. I ask but a moment's pardon and I shall come."

     "Okay... I... I'll be in the kitchen." Casper wastes time in the hall, putting off the inevitable, seeking something to take his mind off his nerves.

     There are portraits on walls, just small ones. Nothing as big as the one on the mantle in the sitting room. Framed faces stare stoically at Casper. Did they live here too? Are they the ones who died? (Do they haunt the house still?) Casper pauses at a family portrait, the only picture where the people in it smile. In the mother's arms is a cooing babe. Did the little guy die too? Is he buried in a tiny grave? Or did the monster swallow him whole, not leaving so much as a tiny body behind? Would the same happen to him should the monster catch him? (He's small for his age, easy to pick off.)

     Casper has a good guess why Balor insists on him being back before sundown. He swears something's stalked him in the past, something behind the foliage, hiding in the dark. Likely something monstrous. And he thought it was just a wolf.

     Casper backs away from the portrait with the babe. He makes a promise to himself that he won't be out in the dark from here on. He'd hate to see how the babe died (eaten alive). He scurries into the kitchen, where he promised to be, before Balor finds him elsewhere. He grabs a chair at the table. And now, he waits.

     Balor arrives from the main hall a minute later. "Dare I say it, you do have the most shocking habit of knowing when best to make a disappearance." Casper doesn't so much as twitch at the sudden appearance. Is it strange that he's getting used to Balor's comings and goings? "... Casper? Are you with us?"

     Casper gives a tight nod. "'M fine." He bites his lip. His eyes stay glued to the table top.

     Balor sighs and sits down as well. "I do not appreciate that you left without first notifying me, but... In light of what happened not long ago, it would seem that your discretion was wise."

     "Myr?"

     "Myr."

     "I heard. From outside, I heard him yellin'."