storm ◇ jasper hale ◇

chapter twenty-five ; guise

It had taken a few days to get adjusted to the fact that Madej's familiar had finally appeared. Blackthorn River. It felt like an appropriate name for the wolf, and Madej was a little at ease with the fact his familiar had now come to him. Finally. Blackthorn River reminded him of Zeke, and made him feel like he wasn't completely alone.

With a familiar with him, then he would get stronger when casting spells, with the powers that he had.

He was going to deal with his powers. He could share with Blackthorn, to be able to control them with more ease. It just hurt that his familiar had come at such an off time. Just when he'd found out he had maybe half a decade left in him.

But now he was going to be OK. He had to be.

"Hey, it's Enchanter!"

Madej rolled his eyes at Paul Lahote as he got closer, Blackthorn River on his heels. "One day, I'm going to throw you into that ocean!" he called back, smile on his face as he got closer to the others.

"Can't wait to see that." Jared said, grinning once Madej was close enough, in hearing range. He came to a stop in front of Paul and the others.

"How's the hunt for Vicky going?" he asked, frowning at them. They'd told him about her, coming on and off the Reservation. She was seeing how much of a threat they could be, probably.

Sam had a serious look on his face. "Not the best. She's wicked fast. We follow her into the Cullen territory, but she always slips away, goes far enough the trail goes cold." He crossed his arms over his chest. "We'd appreciate your help, Madej."

Madej shrugged. "Sure, yeah. I threatened her once, what's another time?" he said, and then dutifully bumped fists with Jared when it was offered.

"Why's she coming back all the time?" Jared asked.

Madej readjusted his hearing aids. "Long story. Cut short: she thinks Edward killed her mate who tried to kill Bella, so is out for Bella as revenge. I was the one to kill her mate, but she doesn't know that."

Paul rolled his eyes at Madej. "You are a tragedy."

Madej finger gunned him. "It's the terminal cancer that does it."

While Jared and Paul shared horrified looks, Sam gave Madej a stern one. "You shouldn't talk like that, Madej."

"Well, my body, my life, my incurable cancer. I'm trying to not think about it too much otherwise I'll have a breakdown."

Around their legs, Blackthorn had been walking around, panting with his tongue stuck out.

"Still, it's cool that you managed to kill the vamp after Bella," Jared said, and the impressed tone in his voice was obvious. "How did you do it?"

"You guys call me Enchanter for a reason. Vamp tore my gloves. They make sure I don't die, and that the powers don't get too out of hand. Superpowers went wild and disintegrated the guy." Madej did jazz hands, as if to make a point.

"Dude, witches are so cool."

Sam shook his head at Jared, then took him out to go and run a patrol on the border, checking for any breaches. It left Paul and Madej alone, keeping each other company.

"C'mon," Paul said, and he and Madej set off walking. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Because I know you better than the others."

They'd gotten fairly close ever since they had found out what fate had for Madej. Having a friend in Paul made things easier. They could joke and be weird together without judgement. It meant being normal, even if the two of them were the opposite of normal.