by Quil Carter
“I’m going to come back, Lex,” Sasha said, still glaring up at his uncle on the second floor. “I just have some shit I need to take care of, and I need to get Kel and Jye home. Whatever you did, undo it.”
Lex put on an expression of confusion. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Don’t bullshit me,” Sasha snapped. “I know it was you, either you or Jobe, or that little shitsnack Nate. Whoever it was, go and undo it. I have a long fucking day ahead of me.”
“Why don’t you let me make you, Kel, and the cat, some breakfast and afterwards we can both take a look at it,” Lex suggested as he began to descent the stairs. “I have english muffins, tell Kel I’ll make him homemade McDonalds.”
Sasha’s teeth gritted together. “I need to go now.”
The door behind him opened. “It’s okay, Sasha,” Kel said as he limped in with Jye. “I don’t feel like fighting with him. Let’s just eat.”
Lex looked smug at this, which only made the simmering anger steaming under Sasha’s skin raise in temperature. “We need to fucking get back to the house,” he said.
“It’ll be okay, I’m hungry anyway,” Kel said. He was leaning on his crutch with his good arm, the casted one holding Jye’s leash; the cat’s nose was in the air as he smelled the house. Sasha quickly walked over to him, afraid he’d spot a house cat and take off.
“Don’t you want to get home?” Sasha asked him in a low whisper. “I just… fucking want to get this over with.”
There was a flash of nervousness in Kel’s eyes. “Yeah, I do,” he said, but Sasha suspected he was also lying. “Breakfast would be nice though… and then you can say a proper goodbye, right?”
Sasha sighed, then relented with a nod. “Just… unthaw some meat for the cat because we’re out of the other stuff. I’m going to go put him back into my apartment so he doesn’t eat the other cats.”
“I’ll do it,” Lex said, still smiling. “Jobe will be here soon, I already called him. You’re not going to sneak off like a thief in the night, at least let us say a proper goodbye before you go back.”
Sasha handed him the leash, but Lex’s attitude threw up his guard. Lex wasn’t flipping out or yelling at him even though it was known that he was going back to check on Kheva. This wasn’t what he’d expected from his uncle, at all, and it was putting him off-kilter.
But as Sasha thought about it, he realized that he already knew the answer, one that explained everything. Kel knew something that Lex was hiding, and it would make sense if Lex was sucking up to appease him. However, that didn’t explain why he’d sabotage the damn truck, wouldn’t he want Kel gone as quickly as possible?
Of course, Kel being gone meant Sasha would be gone too.
Well, whatever. Lex better fix that fucking truck as soon as breakfast was finished or else Sasha was calling a mechanic and it would be going on Lex’s fucking Visa.
Kel and Sasha sat down around the dining room table with two cups of coffee. They drank that while Lex was cooking away, the aroma of fried foods tempting them from the kitchen.
There was a knock on the door then, and Jobe entered. Sasha glanced over at him, unsure of what to say or do. He was still hurt by Jobe’s words the previous night, so he remained silent and continued drinking his coffee.
“Hey, Jobe,” Lex greeted him with a smile. “Breakfast is almost ready, you’re right on time. Did you have a nice walk?”
“Hey, Lex,” Jobe said. He took off his jacket and shoes. “Very good walk, it’s beautiful out there.” Jobe glanced over at Sasha, but when they made brief eye-contact, Jobe looked away. “Hey, Sash… did you sleep well?”
“I did,” Sasha said stiffly. He turned back to Kel then, needing a distraction. “Can you imagine how many chicken eggs we’re going to have to collect? We’re going to need to make devilled eggs or something to use them up.” Yes, that was pushed conversation, but the petty person buried deep down inside of Sasha wanted to continue to ignore Jobe with every fiber of his being. Last night… it had really hurt him. Who wouldn’t be offended by your best friend saying you’ve changed so much you must be another person?
Jobe stayed in the kitchen with Lex, obviously ignoring Sasha too and ten minutes later they began bringing out breakfast. Kel’s eyes were brilliant as the food was laid down, and as soon as his plate was set down in front of him, he attacked it.
“I gave some chopped up beef to Jye in your apartment,” Jobe said, picking up his breakfast sandwich which both hands. “He seemed thrilled to have it. I can never get over how huge that cat’s teeth are.”
“Thank you, Jobe,” Kel said, even though Jobe had directed that comment to Sasha. “Thank you for breakfast, Lex. I cook most of the time where I live, so having someone else cook for me is a novelty. I love my food, but I love other people’s food if they cook good, and you cook good.”
Lex gave Kel a tight smile. “You’re welcome, Kel. Glad you’re enjoying it.”
“And I’m glad you didn’t do anything to it, since I would know,” Kel said with a smile back. However, that smile was a bit… more patronizing than his previous ones. It made Sasha smirk, especially when Lex paled just slightly at the comment.
They ate in relative silence after that. Sasha was trying to eat as quickly as possible, eager to get on to the road. This issue he had was weighing on him and he just wanted to get it over with, resolving it was the only way to get things back to normal, and he needed things back to normal with Kheva.
The thought of Kheva being pissed off at him was… devastating. That was all there was to it, just fucking devastating.
He…
Sasha swallowed hard as he stared down at his food.
He loved his master; just like he loved Kel.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kel smiled. “I love you too, Sasha,” he said simply, and both Jobe and Lex gave them confused looks.
“Oh, right, they can read each other’s minds,” Lex said, his voice snipping like a pair of enthusiastic scissors. “That’s just… wonderful, Sasha. I really will never understand you.”
“Lex…” Jobe said quietly. “Come on, there’s no need to pick a fight.”
But Lex’s body language was already reading hostile. He put down the rest of his breakfast sandwich and quickly rose to his feet and stalked away.
“Remember, Uncle Lex,” Sasha called after him. “I’m not Sasha anymore. So why don’t you just let me go back to my old life, and you can enjoy being rid of me––just like you always wanted.”
Lex froze, halfway to the kitchen. Then, to all of their shocked surprise… Lex threw the near-empty plate down, shattering it onto the floor.
Kel recoiled; Sasha just jumped up from the dining room table with Jobe. “He’s not leaving this fucking house, Jobe,” Lex said angrily, and when he turned around hellfire was in his eyes. “I will tie him up in his fucking apartment if I have to, but I am not letting him leave this fucking house.”
“Lex!” Jobe exclaimed, worry drenching his face. “Baby, calm down. Just remember… baby, remember what we talked about.” He ran to Lex, and as Sasha’s eyes trailed his best friend, he noticed Kel’s own blue eyes darkening, and the top of his lip rose in a snarl.
Jobe held out his hands to Lex, like he was a matador in front of a pissed off bull. “Calm down, take a deep breath. It’s okay… I promise, it’s okay.”
“It’s not okay!” Lex yelled, the tension in the room reaching critical. “That’s my god damn son, Jobe. That’s my god damn kid and I’m supposed to let him go back to those rapists? I can’t do it, I don’t care what the plan was, I’d be a shit father to let him go back to them.”
Then, oddly, Kel… he laughed.
“That’s your threshold?” he said, bemusement dancing on his tones, “your limit? That’s what makes you a bad father? Did you not already burn that bridge the night before we came?”
Lex, hunched over with his eyes wild, pointed an accusatory finger at Kel. “You shut your fucking mouth, rapist. You
shut your fucking––”
There was a knock on the front door, and Lex stopped midsentence. He looked past Sasha, and Sasha and Kel both turned around.
Kel’s eyes became wide, and Sasha could feel the horror suddenly clutch him. It must be fucking Nate. Sasha’s teeth ground, and he stalked towards the door, ready to give that little fucker hell.
“Sashy!” Kel called desperately. “I’m scared. I’m scared. I’m scared. I’m scared. Don’t answer it. Don’t answer it.” Horror overwhelmed Kel’s eyes and both hands clasped his mouth. “He’s going to kill me!”
Sasha turned to Kel as he walked past the living room window towards the door. “I won’t let him in, I’m just telling him to… to…” Sasha’s words failed him when he glanced out the window and saw the back of the last man he expected to see.
There was a third knock on the door.
And that knock belonged to none other than Kheva Swift.
CHAPTER 36
Sasha stared at the door, his heart a drum circle that banged so loud Sasha was sure the entire living room could hear it. He hadn’t moved, his feet had become rooted the ground, and he feared in that moment that he may actually physically pass out from the sheer terror of what was behind that door.
But Lex knew nothing, nor did his weak human instincts prevent him from walking right up to the entrance with that pissed off look on his face that would have no place gazing upon the terror that was the Master Nightcrawler.
Before Sasha could stop him, Lex grabbed the door handle and yanked the door open.
Sasha saw his face fall.
Kheva Swift stood on the entrance stoop in all of his glory. No longer the zombie-like shell that laid on the couch staring off into the abyss, he was clean shaven, his black hair freshly washed and combed. He looked healthy, and not only that––his body was radiating power.
The first emotion that Sasha felt, was an outpouring of fear, the second, a panicked sense of urgency to get those he loved out of the line of fire.
Which meant all of them.
And that strong compulsion snapped Sasha out of the horror that had frozen him to the spot.
“Lex…” Sasha grabbed Lex and pulled him away; he stood in front of his uncle and faced the Master, now only inches away from him. He was dressed in black, entirely in black, a button-down and trousers. It was like he was expecting to attend a damn funeral.
“Please, let me explain,” Sasha stammered. “Master, let me explain. I’m begging you. Please.”
Kheva stared him down, still not speaking a word, though the man’s stance screamed volumes. “You disobeyed my orders, nightcrawler.” The tone, that low gravelly voice, like a rural road freshly grated; Sasha had never forgotten that voice, yet hearing it right now had a cold chill root itself in his spine.
“It wasn’t his fault,” Sasha said, his own voice thinning under Kheva’s intense gaze. Those eyes, every time he got angry, or felt any intense emotion, they seemed to glow, and today was no exception. “It was mine. Kel was innocent; he was innocent and I couldn’t let him die because of my mistake. Please, Master Kheva, just talk to me… let me take you to my apartment and I’ll tell you everything.”
The pupils of Kheva’s eyes retracted, like a sun spot quickly becoming consumed. It looked as if he was about to say something back, but before he could, a click sounded behind Sasha.
It was…
Sasha whirled around and his jaw dropped.
Lex was holding a handgun––and it was pointed at Kheva.
“Get the hell out of my house,” Lex said, his tone harsh but the fear was a thick blanket wrapped tightly around his frozen body. “Not one step further, asshole, or I’ll show you how immune nightcrawlers are to bullets.”
“Lex!” Sasha shouted, Jobe behind him also crying the same. “Drop the gun, for fuck sakes!”
Kheva’s yellow-green eyes glanced at Lex, before focusing back on Sasha, as if Lex was nothing but a dog barking at a stranger at the door. “You disobeyed me,” Kheva said. “That’s not smart, nightcrawler.”
“I said get out of my fucking––” Sasha whirled around when Lex’s voice was cut off. He watched with horror as the gun Lex was gripping in his hand began to turn away from Kheva.
And instead, the tip of the gun pressed itself against the wide-eyed Lex’s temple.
“Kheva, no!” Sasha cried. He stood in front of Kheva and raised both of his hands into the air, like he was a rodeo clown trying to distract the bull. “Please, please,” begged Sasha. “Come with me, let me talk to you. Master, it’s my fault. It’s fucking my fault. Punish me, don’t punish them.”
Kheva looked disinterested. He walked away from Sasha and into the house, Lex staring with bulging eyes as the barrel of the gun dug itself into his temple.
“Where’s Keluva?” Kheva asked calmly. “And where’s my cat?”
Sasha followed behind him, his head lowered and his body submissive. “Kel’s hiding, Master,” he said, his voice small. “Jye’s fine. I’ve been taking care of him. I was trying to check on you today. Lex disabled the truck, but I was working on him attempting to fix it.”
“Indeed,” was Kheva’s reply. He glided through the hallway and into Sasha’s apartment; right, then left he looked before carrying on inside.
There was as scared whimper from Sasha’s closet. Sasha’s heart broke at the noise. It was Kel, and he was terrified.
Kheva made a beeline for the closet and opened it wide. There cowering down, his blue eyes soaked in fright, was Kel.
“How did you manage to get him to save you, Keluva?” Kheva said, his voice still eerily calm. “You disobey me, even after you told me you’ve been loyal?”
Kel shrunk down, his eyes staring forward. “I didn’t ask Sasha to save me,” he said meekly. “I was cold… I asked Jye for a blank-” Suddenly a shriek, a gut-wrenching awful shriek that pierced Sasha’s heart. That scream was made of nothing but the purest of pain, agonizing enough to make Sasha want to scream too.
Kel began to claw at his head, scream after scream emptying his lungs, his curled fingers were digging and raking his scalp, pulling chunks of hair and skin away and leaving bloody gouges behind.
“NO!” Sasha cried. He put his hands on Kheva’s shoulders and wrenched him way. “He’s innocent! He’s fucking innocent!” Sasha pulled Kheva off-balance and shoved him away from the screaming Kel. “LISTEN TO ME!” he begged, both fists clenched. “JUST LISTEN!”
Kheva’s face twisted into an inhuman snarl, his eyes flashing with animalistic hostility that was attuned to a wolf’s glare more than a person’s. “He brainwashed you, you dumb fuck!” Kheva snarled. “You’re weak; the moment you were in his god damn range your mind was his. I told you to stay away from him for a reason. He’s been manipulating––” Sasha closed the distance between himself and Kheva, and before Kheva could finish his sentence, Sasha dove into his own mind and saw Kheva’s beacon flaring with a brilliance that hurt his eyes.
And he grabbed Kheva, pulled the nightcrawler forward, and took him inside of his head. Inside of his Silent Ground.
Still grasping hard onto Kheva, he looked up and stared into the inferno that was Kheva’s eyes, now pure yellow and two flaring suns. Around him was the room Sasha had decorated, the two couches, the marble coffee table, the fireplace with the ancient painting hanging above.
And in a corner… the Dead Zone.
“It was me,” Sasha cried. “I helped Rob. It wasn’t Kel. Rob came to me with a plan to take you out. I was beaten; I was battered and raped. I was scared, Kheva. I was desperate to go home and I agreed.” Kheva’s eyes widened, his jaw tightening. “I was able to go into your mind without you knowing. Rob told me I have a Dead Zone, and I do. I have an area in my mind that you cannot access, and every thought against you I had, was hidden before you had a chance to read them.” A fear bloomed inside, and quickly it consumed him like a fast spreading cancer. “I’m sorry. If I knew now what I knew then, I wouldn’t have do
ne it. I wouldn’t have hurt you. I…” Sasha’s lips pursed. “I love my life in Ciel Lake. I want to go home.”
Even though the temperature in Silent Ground was non-existent, Sasha could feel the atmosphere around him grow cold. His body began to tremble, his grip on Kheva’s shoulders loosening.
“Forgive me,” Sasha said, his voice weak. “I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Kheva’s vibrant eyes looked nowhere but to Sasha, and the body underneath Sasha’s touch grew to stone.
“What did you see inside of my head?” Kheva asked in a hushed and dangerous whisper.
“Master, I’m sorry…”
“WHAT DID YOU SEE!” Kheva suddenly screamed.
Sasha cried out, and like Kheva’s skin had become boiling hot, he retracted his hands and shrunk down. His head shook back and forth, the breath in his lungs strangling him, as if he was inhaling steam. “I saw you,” he choked. “I saw the men who bought you, who hurt you. I know your name is Gabriel.”
The bellowed scream that came from Kheva was the most terrifying sound Sasha had ever heard. He knew that this was the last sound that many had heard, because no one who’d triggered such a monstrous noise could survive the rage that they had induced.
Kheva ripped himself away from Sasha’s mind and the two of them were thrown back into reality, but Sasha had no time to compose himself. He only saw the light of his room for a fraction of a second, before Kheva began to beat on him.
There was no mind-control, no thousands of knives slicing and stabbing Sasha’s head. No, this was no nightcrawler destroying their victim in their own unique way, this was the brutal energy of a dominant, proud man who’d just had his most shameful of secrets dragged out into the open.
Sasha screamed under the rain of blows. He was now on the ground, Kheva on top of him, and again and again Kheva’s fists pounded onto his flesh, bellow after bellow of pain erupting from the Master Nightcrawler; all with an agony in his eyes that Sasha never thought he’d see in this prideful creature.
A creature, a demigod who had been hiding a past like an illegitimate child, out of shame, embarrassment, and fear.
