CHOSEN
By Wes Leigh and Rob the Scribe
This is a work of
fiction intended solely for the entertainment of our readers; any resemblance
to any real people or places is purely coincidental. Readers who would like to
chat are encouraged to contact either of us at weston.leigh@protonmail.com
or robthescribe@protonmail.com.
This story is the property of
the authors and is protected by copyright laws. The authors retain all rights.
No reproductions are allowed without their consent.
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Chapter Twenty-Five
Which is better?
To be Chosen by the Gods
for a great destiny
Or to be Tested by the Gods
and thus made stronger
Aiden opened his eyes and found
Lutz's face inches away, mouth slightly open, snoring softly. He sat up and grinned
down at the sleeping boy. Sleeping next to Lutz was Max. Aiden reached across
and gently shook Max, waking him up. When Max opened his eyes, Aiden pointed at
Lutz sleeping between them.
Max frowned in confusion.
"What's he doing here?"
"Don't know," Aiden replied.
Then Aiden grinned wickedly. "But if he's sleeping with us, we should give him
a special wake up call, don't you think?" Aiden curled his fingers into claws
and made scrunching motions above Lutz's ribs.
Max grinned and nodded
agreement. Together, Aiden and Max attacked Lutz, running their fingers up and
down his sides, tickling his belly, and clamping down on his legs just above
the knees.
Lutz screeched and flailed,
struggling to defend himself but failing utterly. "STOP!" he cried, punching
ineffectively at the two teens tormenting him. "HELP! SOMEONE!"
Max clamped one hand over Lutz's
mouth. "There is no one to save you. You're at our mercy!"
Lutz licked Max's palm. When Max
pulled his hand away in disgust, Lutz shouted, "My brothers are molesting me!
Someone help!"
Aiden pulled up Lutz's shirt and
began blowing raspberries on his belly. Max followed suit, blowing on Lutz's
neck and collarbone.
Lutz wriggled from side to side,
pleading, "Please stop. I haven't peed yet!"
Aiden paused immediately. "Oh!
Well, don't use my bed."
Lutz giggled. "I might if you
don't stop torturing me."
Max grabbed Lutz by the chin and
turned his face until they were looking at each other. "Little Cub, is this
going to be what we find every morning when we wake up? You, sleeping between
us?"
Lutz grinned. "Maybe."
Max moved his fingers down to
Lutz's ribs.
Lutz quickly added, "Okay! No, it
won't." He pushed Max's hand away. "I only did it last night because I felt
lonely."
Aiden cupped Lutz's face and
caressed his cheek. "Fine. Any night you feel lonely, you can sleep with us."
"Any night?" Lutz asked.
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Any
night. IF you feel lonely."
Max began rubbing Lutz's chest
gently. "And to keep you from feeling too lonely, I think I'll have a chat with
Graham and Calan today."
"Don't you dare!" Lutz cried.
Grinning, Max said, "It's a
short walk from the staff wing. I'm sure they wouldn't mind taking turns
keeping you company in the night."
Lutz reached down and grabbed
Max through his sleeping shorts. "You better not say a word or I'll rip off
your balls."
Max cupped Lutz's balls and
squeezed gently. "Be careful with those threats, little brother. My boyfriend
likes my balls."
Aiden laughed. "Stop fondling
each other and get out of my bed."
Lutz frowned. "Why? It's
Saturday. We could sleep in. Have some fun."
Aiden tossed the blankets
completely aside, exposing their bodies to the cool air in the room. "Have you
forgotten what we're doing today?"
Max and Lutz looked at each
other, confused.
Aiden smiled. "We're cutting the
Christmas tree. I heard Giles and Calan talking about it after dinner last
night."
Pandemonium ensued as all three
boys, underwear fully tented, leapt from the bed and rushed off to the bathroom
together to clean up and get ready for the day.
͠ ͠
͠
After breakfast, Harrison took
the twins Calan and Graham aside and asked them to join him in the chapel.
Checking first that they hadn't
been followed, Harrison motioned for Calan to close the door and stand guard
next to it. Then he turned to Graham and said, "Please check the protective
wards. My wife thinks there may be something testing our defenses."
Graham nodded and opened the
tome on the lectern. Turning a few pages, he studied the tome briefly, then
began chanting. The words reverberated in the room, and the air seemed to pulse
around him. His voice lifted in song, and the music swirled around them, making
the hair on their necks stand on end. Graham finished singing, then turned
toward Harrison, frowning. "The wards are still unbroken, my lord, but
something has been probing them."
Harrison bowed his head,
thinking carefully, then nodded as he reached a decision. "Lads, I need your
help guarding the manor. I hate to ask this, but you may need to leave school
and study here, with Elias Sch�fer."
Calan bowed his head, "Yes,
sir." It was obvious the teen was disappointed, and Harrison knew exactly why.
"I'm sure you'll miss your
friends," Harrison said.
"Yes, sir, but mostly I'll miss
playing sports. And the team won't do as well without me." Calan paused, then added.
"I don't mean that to sound conceited, sir. It's just that I'm the captain, and
they depend on me."
"I know," Harrison replied.
Turning to Graham, he said, "You don't seem as upset, Graham. You won't miss
school?"
Graham shrugged. "I suppose I
will, but it will be great having more time to practice my music. Lutz asked me
to teach him to sing, so that will be fun too."
Calan's face immediately lit up.
"Hey, that's right. I can work on my swimming." `And,' he added to himself, `spend
more time with Lutz in the pool.'
Harrison held up his hand. "I
appreciate your cooperation, lads. But I did say I would hate to ask you to
quit school, and I'm not willing to go quite so far yet. It may be necessary,
but I hope other arrangements will suffice for now, arrangements that may
require just as much sacrifice on your part."
Calan nodded. "What do you
require, sir?"
"I want to post a guard every
night. Calan, I need you on vigil until midnight here in the chapel. If the
wards sound an alarm, head up onto the walkway on the roof and see if you can
tell what is testing the manor defenses. If necessary, wake up the two of us."
"Yes, sir."
Harrison continued, "I'll take
over at midnight. Then tomorrow night, we'll do the same, with Graham on duty,
keeping watch until midnight, when I'll take over once again."
"That will be tiring for you,
sir," Graham observed.
Harrison nodded. "For all of us,
Graham. That's why I want you to add a song of fortitude tonight, before your
brother goes on watch. It should sustain us as we keep guard. And hopefully,
our vigilance will be enough to keep our families safe."
The twins nodded, mouths set and
determined.
͠ ͠
͠
It seemed almost everyone joined
in the tree cutting party that morning. Most of the staff and all of the family,
bundled in their warmest winter clothing, laughed and joked as they walked
across the manor grounds under a hazy December sky. Giles, the elderly steward,
led them toward a distant corner of the property, quite some distance away. He
walked with a brisk step and a beaming smile on his face. "The tree is in that
direction, Sir Harrison. Over the next ridge, if I recall correctly. Calan, my
boy, you know the way. Don't let us get lost."
That comment caused everyone to
laugh, as Giles McCoy's infamous sense of direction was well known. Harrison
clapped Calan on the back. "Yes, Calan, do keep us on the straight and narrow.
Your grandfather has been known to get lost in his own wardrobe."
Giles chuckled, accepting the
joke at his own expense. "When everyone sees the beautiful tree I've selected,
I'll be the hero of the day. Wait and see!"
Marching along on the brisk
winter morning, Max struggled to enjoy himself. With each step, it seemed the
pull of the cape got stronger, not weaker. It was if his body hated the forced
separation as he walked away from his bedroom, where the folded cape was stored
in one of his drawers. Aiden and Lutz walked beside him, arms linked with his.
They sensed his anxiety and refused to let him go. They weren't laughing like
everyone else, but were watching Max's face in concern, for he was pale and a
sweaty sheen had appeared on his forehead.
Eventually, Max stopped, took a
deep breath, and blew it out. "This is stupid," he muttered.
"What is?" Lutz asked.
Max looked at his little
brother. "I should be able to go for a walk without having a panic attack."
"There are no more wolves out
here," Aiden said, misunderstanding Max's concerns.
Max turned to Aiden, and their
eyes met. Once again, for the thousandth time, the sea green eyes of his Welsh
boyfriend washed away his anxieties. He took another deep breath and smiled. "I
know that, Aiden. I'm not worried about wolves this morning."
Aiden wiped the moisture from
Max's forehead and glanced around. No one was paying attention, so he quickly
kissed Max on the cheek. "Wolves will never bother you again, not while I'm
with you," he promised.
Max nodded. The pounding of his
heart had finally stilled. Looking around at the bright winter day, he realized
what the problem was. He was focused on the wrong thing. Instead of thinking
about the cape and how much he wanted to wear it, he should be enjoying the
crisp morning air, the laughter of his friends and family, and the warm arm of
the most beautiful boy in the world standing next to him.
"Are you feeling better now?"
Lutz asked, rubbing Max's back.
Max turned to Lutz and gave him
a quick hug. "I am, Little Cub. I just need to enjoy this special day. Take my
mind off the ... you know."
Lutz nodded quickly. "Oh, yes.
Exactly. And we'd better hurry now, because everyone is getting ahead of us
now." He grabbed Max's hand, motioning for Aiden to take the other hand, and
all three began running over the light layer of crunching snow to catch up with
the rest of tree-cutting party.
With Calan's able guidance, they
didn't lose their way but found a picture-perfect Nordmann fir at the edge of a
sunny clearing. "I planted this when the twins were just toddlers," Giles said,
admiring the majestic tree. "And now it will grace our home, providing the
centerpiece of our celebration of the birthday of the King of kings."
"It's beautiful," Helene said,
shifting Clara on her hip and pointing to the tree. "What do you think of our
Christmas tree, Clara?"
"Pretty," Clara said, eyes wide
in wonder.
"Shall we take it back with us?"
Helene asked.
Clara nodded, excited but still
too young to fully grasp all that was going on that day.
"It's perfect, Giles. You are certainly
our hero." Helene smiled in gratitude.
Giles bowed his head humbly.
"Thank you, my Lady. Boys ... to work!"
And with that, Calan motioned
for the other boys to lift the lower branches out of his way so he could lay
across the snow and saw through the trunk of the tree. Lutz positioned himself
as close as possible, watching the teen's powerful muscles flex as he heaved
the saw back and forth. At one point, Calan glanced up at Lutz and winked. Lutz
giggled and squatted down, casually placing one hand on Calan's muscular thigh.
Max and Aiden exchanged a
knowing smile.
Graham, on the other side of the
tree, saw nothing.
Calan continued forcing the saw
through the tree's trunk, cutting deeper with each pass. A sharp crack made
everyone jump and laugh.
Calan scooted back, shouting, "Timber!"
The tree toppled into the snow
as the boys leapt back out of the way. Calan moved back in to trim the trunk
even. When he finished, the excited boys and several other staff members found
a handhold on the trunk and lifted, carrying the tree back to the manor for the
next step in the decoration of Embleton Hall for the upcoming Christmas
celebration.
͠ ͠
͠
An hour later, the tree was
positioned in a place of honor in the great hall. Boxes of ornaments and
ribbons were scattered around the tree, with everyone helping to adorn the
branches. Even little Clara joined in, needing only a bit of guidance from her
mother as she placed ornaments on the lower branches.
Giles had Calan and Graham help
him bring in more boxes filled with festive decorations made from holly, ivy
and mistletoe.
Carrying on as a master of
ceremonies of sorts, Giles opened each box and inspected the contents, before
announcing to the room what it contained. "Holly reminds us of the cruel crown
of thorns that Christ wore in mockery of his place as the true king. Ivy symbolizes
the everlasting life he came to grant us. And this ..." Giles lifted an
intricate, interlocking hoop of mistletoe, holding it high for everyone to see.
"... is a decoration we all recognize, I trust." He carried the mistletoe to the
main entrance of the great hall and motioned for Graham to help him hang it
from the center of the doorframe, so that anyone entering the room would have
to pass beneath. "Do not pause here, beneath the mistletoe, unless it is your
desire to be kissed by the next person to come through."
Everyone laughed, but Helene
stood up and walked to where Graham was working. She gave Giles a tender kiss
on the cheek, making the old man smile with joy. Then she kissed Graham as
well, who blushed furiously while Lutz rolled on the carpet, laughing hysterically.
Giles took Helene's hand and led
her back to an enormous, still unopened box. He cut through the tape on the
top, pulled open the flaps, and pulled out an evergreen wreath. "These will be
displayed on all the outer doors. The branches are woven in a circle to remind
us that the sun will return in the Spring with new life. The Winter cannot hold
forever. Joy always returns with the new year."
Max leaned against Aiden's
shoulder. That was all he wanted. A joyful new year, with the cape firmly under
his control and his boyfriend holding him in his arms.
"Lunch is served!" the chef
announced from the entrance. Tables had been arranged on the far side of the
room. An enormous cake had center stage, surrounded by sandwiches, pies, meats,
fish, cheese and fruits. The crisps were all hand cooked and salted, so
incredibly delicious the boys ate four servings each.
͠ ͠
͠
Having satisfied their
appetites, the family and staff returned to the decorations, moving throughout
the manor to adorn the stair railings and fireplaces with garlands, baubles,
and red bows. It was a merry affair, with everyone enjoying mince pies,
spiced cider, and warm mulled wine (for the adults and the teens who could
sneak a taste).
When the decorating was almost
complete, Harrison motioned for Aiden, Max, and Lutz to follow him. He led them
into a nearby study, where stacks of colorfully decorated hampers filled one
corner. "Each hamper has a tag on the handle with a name on it," Harrison
explained. "I believe you know most of the staff by now. Would you mind helping
me hand these out?"
The boys nodded and walked
quickly forward to lift a hamper in each hand. Harrison led them back into the
great hall, carrying the first hamper to Giles. Giles turned, saw the hamper,
and smiled knowingly.
Harrison presented the hamper to
Giles. "In deep gratitude for your diligent service to Embleton Manor this
year, I thank you, Giles McCoy."
Giles took the hamper. "It seems
only yesterday that your dear mother was giving me a Christmas hamper. It has
been my honor to serve the Weatherfords for half a century." He frowned. "Has
it really been that long?" He opened the hamper and lifted out a bottle of malt
whiskey. "And just like your mother before you, it seems you feel I perform my
duties best when I am well hammered."
Harrison laughed and hugged
Giles. "You perform your duties flawlessly every year, my dear friend, and I am
the one who is honored to have you as my steward."
The boys helped Harrison
continue distributing the hampers to each of the staff members, stealing peaks
at the contents when the delighted staff showed each other the gifts they had
received. Holiday foods and drinks. Fine spirits. Small gifts. And at the
bottom of each hamper, a thousand pounds sterling.
Aiden took Max aside and whispered.
"Your stepfather is a generous man. That's quite a Christmas bonus."
Max nodded. "It certainly is."
And looking at Harrison greeting each member of the staff with a smile and a
personal acknowledgment as he handed out the Christmas hampers, Max realized
that he had a new-found respect for the man who was now his father.
͠ ͠
͠
Aiden slowly sat up in bed.
Max was sleeping comfortably
next to him.
Lutz wasn't.
Aiden chuckled. Apparently, Lutz
had decided to sleep in his own bed after the long and busy day they'd had,
cutting the Christmas tree, decorating the manor, enjoying the first feast of the
season, and playing video games until well into the night with Calan and Graham.
Aiden was worn out as well, but he hadn't practiced shifting in a week and felt
a compelling desire to run upon the hills or fly above the clouds.
Max seemed to be sleeping
deeply. No nightmares. Surely, he wouldn't notice if Aiden slipped out for a
quick run. Aiden carefully lifted the blankets back and eased his body out of
the bed, then pulled the blankets back over Max. Walking to his window, Aiden
eased it open. Chilly air blew inside, making him shiver. He slid his underwear
off and dropped them on the floor. His cock began swelling immediately, making
him shiver again, this time in anticipation.
Aiden squeezed through the
window and stepped out onto the bank of snow underneath. Turning, he pulled the
window shut and shook his body once, transforming into a stag. His breath
puffed out in the dim moonlight. His golden antlers glistened. His white coat beneath
the brightly shining moon appeared to be gleaming silver. He pranced on the
snow-covered grass, tossing his head as he gamboled about, picturing his family
in the Chamber beneath their home, perhaps dancing as well. How he missed
Gathering with the rest of the Cavanaugh clan and transforming together.
He kicked up snow and reared,
pawing the air. CAVANAUGHS!
͠ ͠
͠
In the chapel beneath the manor,
Calan McCoy looked up, alarmed. His brother's protective wards were chiming
softly, alerting him that something was wrong. Somewhere on the manor grounds,
a creature that shouldn't be here must have penetrated the barriers. Calan
checked his crossbow, ensuring it was loaded and the safety was off, then
rushed from the chapel, through the practice room, and up the stairs to the
parapet on the roof. There was a fair amount of moonlight, unblocked by clouds
that night, so he was able to see the grounds below. Turning slowly, he
searched for whatever had disturbed the wards. Movement near the family wings
caught his eye. He stared intently, seeking, then noticed a shape moving below.
A deer. It had to be. A large
stag, in fact, with a pure white coat and an impressive set of antlers.
Calan blew out his breath,
relaxing. He watched the stag trotting across the grass, almost dancing, then
it lifted its head and sprang up the hill into the trees.
Calan listened carefully. The
wards continued to chime faintly, warning not of danger but of incongruity.
Strange.
He flipped the safety on his
crossbow and walked back inside the manor.
͠ ͠
͠
When Aiden reached the trees, he
slowed to a walk and ambled through the dappled shadows. In a quiet grove, he
found a family of deer. Several adults with juveniles curled up next to them
kept each other warm. Off to one side, an older deer watched him with calm
eyes. He approached and stretched out his neck, huffing. The deer touched her
nose to his, breath mingling, unafraid. Closer now, he could see her eyes were
clouded with age. Her breathing was slow and labored. She was close to death,
and he suspected this would be the last winter she spent with her herd.
Acting purely on instinct, Aiden
shifted into his gryphon form. The huddled deer watched, not springing up, not
fleeing. They seemed to sense that he wasn't dangerous, though his massive lion
paws were formidable indeed. The elderly deer looked up at the enormous curved
eagle's beak above her and closed her eyes, accepting her fate before the
mighty gryphon.
Aiden turned his head and
blinked his eyes rapidly as he studied the deer's calm manner. Did she expect
him to give her mercy, ending her life this night?
He spread one wing over her.
Looking deep inside, he found
the glowing, spinning radiance once again. He studied it, focusing on how it
moved within his spirit. Yes. It could be turned like this, and made to
spin on a different axis.
Aiden opened his eyes and saw
his feathers glowing softly. The light grew slowly, sending the shadows fleeing
all around him. And as quickly as it came, the light faded.
Aiden lifted his wing and folded
it back into place.
The deer looked up at him, her
eyes no longer clouded with age. She shivered and sprang to her feet, surprised
by the energy now coursing through her body. Shaking her head, she pirouetted
about, kicking up dirt and dried leaves. Then she paused and touched her nose
to Aiden's furry chest.
Aiden gathered himself and leapt
from the ground, lifting himself up, up, catching a thermal and rising higher.
His spirit, merged with the gryphon's spirit, celebrated. He was finally, fully
Cyffwrdd Deirgwaith, the Thrice Touched shapeshifter of Clan Cavanaugh,
fully in command of all the powers of his fox, his stag, and his gryphon! He
banked in the sky and screeched his joy to the deer below and the moon above.
͠ ͠
͠
"I saw only a deer, walking near
the manor right about there for a moment, before running up into the trees,"
Calan said, pointing to the spot below.
Harrison followed the direction
of Calan's pointing finger. "And the wards chimed?" Harrison asked.
Calan nodded. "Yes, sir. And
just that one time. They were quiet the rest of the night."
"Odd," Harrison replied,
scratching his head. "I'll have to check with Graham. The wards shouldn't
respond to the deer. Are you quite certain there wasn't a wolf also?"
"I saw nothing else, sir. I
looked."
Harrison nodded, placing his
hand on Calan's neck and squeezing. "You did well, lad. Now go on in and get
some sleep. I'll take over now."
"Yes, sir."
Harrison stayed on the parapet,
searching the grounds below and the sky above. Even now, the wards continued to
hum, almost as if they were agitated but not concerned enough to sound the
alarm. Very odd. He'd definitely have a chat with Graham about that in the
morning.
͠ ͠
͠
Graham was just as confused when
Harrison talked to him the next day. Together, they looked through the pages of
the tome, studying the words and notes of the songs. Graham pointed at one
spot. "See. This chant is designed to exclude the creatures who live here. The
deer. Squirrel. Foxes. All of them. They shouldn't disturb the defenses in any
way."
Harrison nodded. "I see that."
"It doesn't make sense," Graham
maintained.
"Would the wards recognize a
strange deer who wasn't part of our regular herd?"
Graham shrugged. "The song is
very specific. Even birds are excluded, but we get new flocks passing through
all the time. If it's a natural creature, it shouldn't matter if it lives here or
is wandering onto the grounds for the first time."
"I suppose we'll simply have to
keep an eye on it," Harrison decided, motioning for Graham to close the tome.
"Let's go eat."
͠ ͠
͠
Sunday's brunch was delicious
and filling, energizing everyone. Calan needed it, along with a large cup of
coffee, having spent the first part of the night on vigil. Aiden, though he'd
also been up for hours during the night, was invigorated by his discovery of
yet another mystical power of his gryphon form. Max was relieved that he'd
slept so well in Aiden's arms, which had been wrapped around him when he awoke.
Lutz was simply starved, digging into the scrumptious food with gusto. Graham
ate lightly, too eager and excited about the performance coming up later that
day to have a large breakfast.
Helene notice Graham picking
nervously at his food. "I'm looking forward to your concert, Graham."
He looked up, pleased. "I hope
you enjoy it, my lady."
"I'm sure we will."
Graham ducked his head. "It's
just our small church, but we've been practicing for months now. Thank you for
coming to hear us."
"I wouldn't miss it," Helene
replied. "It's the first Sunday of Advent. What a wonderful way to begin the
Christmas season."
Lutz swallowed a bite of
scrambled eggs and washed it down with juice. "What is it we're going to see?"
Helene motioned for Lutz to dab
the corner of his mouth, where a bit of egg was precariously hanging. "It's a
concert, Ludwig. Graham is playing in the orchestra and the choir is singing
Handel's Messiah. It's a tradition they have here at Embleton, and I'm
sure we'll enjoy it immensely."
Lutz nodded. "Graham is an
incredible musician. It will be stupendous."
Blushing, Graham replied, "I
don't know about that. I just hope we do a good job of it."
Helene placed her hand on top of
Graham's. "Put your heart into it." She smiled and squeezed. "The music will do
the rest."
͠ ͠
͠
Sitting in the pews polished to
a golden glow, the Weatherford family along with Giles and Calan McCoy watched
as an elderly fellow in white robes with a purple stole walked slowly down the
aisle carrying a fluttering candle. He approached a table near the front,
covered in a simple purple cloth. In the center of the table was an evergreen
wreath twined with bright red ribbons and decorated with pine cones, holly, and
laurel. In the center of the wreath were mounted four, unlit red candles. He
touched the flame of his own candle to the first red candle. It sputtered for a
moment, then caught and added its soft glow. He pulled back his candle and blew
it out, leaving only the one red candle burning.
Turning to the audience seated
around the small chapel, he said, "It is the first Sunday of Advent, when we
eagerly look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and
Savior." He pointed at the wreath on the table and said, "The Advent wreath is
shaped as a crown, reminding us of the victory of our Lord. Its green branches
are a sign of life and hope. The fir symbolizes strength, the laurel victory
over sin and suffering. The holly, which never loses its leaves, represents
eternity. The flames symbolize the light of Christmas approaching, bringing
hope and peace, pushing back the darkness. Each week, we light the next candle,
until the day of his appearing." He turned and nodded to the musical director,
who lifted his baton and swept it through the air.
Graham, playing the violin,
joined with the rest of the orchestra in the first movement of Handel's Messiah.
The music swelled, building, filling the small church. Lutz, unembarrassed,
felt tears flowing down his cheeks as he watched Graham playing. Their eyes
connected briefly. Lutz smiled, wiping away his tears. Graham closed his eyes
and squeezed out a tear of his own, drawing the bow across the strings as his
heart soared into the rafters of the church.
͠ ͠
͠
On the way home, Lutz snuck his
hand into Graham's. Leaning over, he whispered, "I love your music. The singers
were good, but you were fantastic."
Graham smiled. "I wasn't the
only one playing."
Lutz grinned. "I know. But I can
always hear your music inside all the rest, and it's magical."
͠ ͠
͠
The rest of the afternoon was
quiet, restful.
The evening stole upon them,
with everyone heading to their beds early.
Max and Aiden once again slept
together, though they did enjoy a bit of fun in the shower first. The
exhaustion that comes from sexual release must have wiped them out, because
they fell asleep quickly.
Lutz, on the other hand,
couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned in bed, thinking about the concert that
afternoon and how beautiful the music had been. Finally giving up on sleep, he
climbed out of bed and peeked into Max's room. Max's bed was empty, so Lutz
knew where his brother was sleeping. With Aiden.
Lutz thought about joining them,
claiming he was lonely again. They'd probably give him a hard time about it,
but relent in the end. But he wasn't really lonely. He was ... excited. But why?
He walked over to his dresser
and opened the top drawer. Resting on top of a few shirts was the bear fang
he'd found in the woods. He turned it over in his hand, examining the curved
tooth. He closed his hand around it and moved back to his bed, lying down and
holding his totem in a tight grip over his chest. Closing his eyes, he pictured
the moment when he saw the glowing, bright creature deep inside. He quickly
found himself drifting down, searching, finding. The bear was waiting for him.
He climbed onto its brightly lit back, gripping its radiant fur in both fists
as it carried him forward, rising back up again.
He was outside the manor now. No
longer riding the bear. He WAS the bear. Looking out through its eyes, feeling
the strength of its body, rising up on its powerful hind legs, lifting its
shaggy head to sniff the night air. Within his chest, his heart pounded,
reacting to ... something ... that sang to him and called and resonated within him.
He fell to all fours and
shuffled forward. It was here. In the manor. And all around him, on the
grounds. Music. Delicate, touching his soul and dancing around him. He moved
with the music, following the rise and fall of the chords, heading out into the
woods, a glowing ghost of a bear that would have amazed anyone who saw it.
͠ ͠
͠
"I must have been seeing things.
It couldn't have been there," Graham told Harrison at midnight.
"A white, glowing bear?"
Harrison asked once again.
"Yes, sir. It ran off into the
trees, and the wards were vibrating the entire time."
"You're certain?"
"Yes, sir. It was so bright, I
couldn't miss it."
With a sigh, Harrison sent
Graham off to bed. "I'll keep vigil for the rest of the night. Get some rest,
lad."
Harrison moved to one of the
armored mannequins and detached the gauntlet on the right hand. He inspected
the miniature crossbow attached to the gauntlet, then nodded with satisfaction.
He slipped it over his own fist, wriggling his fingers to check the fit. It
would be uncomfortable wearing it, but he wanted to be ready in case anything
else odd happened. At least he didn't need to wear the full suit of armor. That
would have been most unpleasant.
͠ ͠
͠
Max woke up, agitated. Aiden was
snoring softly, turned with his back to Max, facing the wall. Max rolled over
and searched for his cellphone. It was 2:38 a.m. Why was he awake? Had
something disturbed his sleep? He slipped out of bed and walked out into the
hall, padding down to Lutz's room. Opening the door, he saw his little brother
asleep in bed, clutching his fists under his chin. Max noticed that the
blankets were tossed aside, so he moved up and pulled them over Lutz, tucking
him in.
Then Max walked into his own
bedroom. Should he climb into his own bed and try to go back to sleep? Or
rejoin Aiden? He slept so much better there.
Without thinking it through, Max
walked to his dresser and opened the bottom drawer. Neatly folded, he saw his
wolfskin cape next to his workout clothing. How long had it been since he'd
practiced his gymnastics? Would that help with the agitation he so often felt?
He reached in, intending to pull out his gym clothes, but his hand strayed over
to the black fur of his cape. He touched the soft hair, stroking it. Electric
tingles ran up and down his spine. He slid his fingers underneath the cape,
pulling it up out of the drawer. He lifted it and pulled it to his face,
rubbing the soft fur on his cheek.
Why was he so concerned about
it? It wasn't dangerous, wasn't hurting him or anyone else. He held it up,
admiring the soft lining, the golden clasp, the luxurious fur. What would it hurt
to try it out one more time? Surely, he'd have more control this time.
Without hesitation, he pulled
his sleep shorts down and kicked them away. His cock sprang out immediately. He
gripped his swelling shaft and stroked it, groaning with excitement. It had
been several hours since he and Aiden had sucked each other in the shower, and
Max felt horny urges rising up in his body again. Should he go to Aiden for
release? He rudely shoved that thought aside and began frantically jerking his
cock. The tingles grew stronger, making him stumble as he ran for the window,
unlatched it, and pushed it open. The cold air blew across his feverish skin as
he gripped his cock tighter and jacked himself off. When his balls began
twisting inside their sac, he quickly threw the cape over his shoulders,
arching his back as agony and ecstasy combined.
His cum splattered on the window
sill as his body transformed into a wolf. He jumped through the open window and
landed in a snow drift. Free at last! To run. To hunt. To howl.
͠ ͠
͠
From high on the parapet,
Harrison saw the black shadow dashing across the grounds. Another wolf. He
lifted his armored fist, aligning the crossbow mounted there with the wolf
running up the hill. He pulled back the crossbow string, locking it in place, then
spoke a musical command that caused a glowing blue bolt to appear, loaded in
the crossbow and ready to be fired.
Bracing himself on the parapet,
Harrison aimed the crossbow at the black wolf. His finger curled around the
trigger.
The wolf stopped, turned, and
looked back at the manor.
Harrison's finger tensed, slowly
tightening on the trigger.
The wolf's eyes glowed with a
silver light.
Harrison gasped, releasing the
trigger and lowering his fist. He pulled the armored gauntlet off his hand as
the wolf turned and ran up the hill, disappearing into the trees.
Harrison went back inside the
manor, left the gauntlet in the chapel, and walked quickly to his own bedroom.
Helene sat up as he entered.
"What is it, Harrison? Is something wrong?"
Harrison sat on the bed next to
Helene and took her hand in his. "Helene, my dear, I need you to tell me
everything?"
"Everything?"
"Yes, my love. Everything."
The end of Chapter
Twenty-Five of CHOSEN