Chapter One-hundred: The Watcher Part Two

Chapter 100

The Watcher Part Two

Everyone was sleeping in the cottage—or most everyone. Chihiro and Christian were in the master bedroom downstairs, with Gustave and Honorine in the guest bedroom. Upstairs, Tristan and Deimos slept in one of the rooms down the hall.

Tristan lay awake, trying to sleep. Deimos was behind him, spooning him. Tristan wore silver silk pajamas, and Deimos wore blue plaid pajamas. Tristan remained awake thinking of him and Deimos getting intimate—or about to—by the swimming hole. Someone was watching them, but who? He wondered. Was it Dougal? Did he follow them out here? He pondered.

Celeste and Jaxon were in the room next to Tristan and Deimos. Celeste wore a black tank top and panties and slept on Jaxon’s chest with her arm around him. Jaxon wore his red boxer briefs. Jaxon lay awake, thinking of the events from earlier. Who was watching them? Was it that wretched old woman or someone worse? Ichiro… he wondered.

~

Lucas and Asashi were asleep in their bunk beds, with Lucas on the bottom bunk and Asashi in the top bunk. Lucas groaned in his sleep and felt thirsty. He wanted water. He ground his eyes with his fists. He was going to get up, but he heard someone walking down the hall. He quickly got back in bed. If his parents saw him, he didn’t want them to get angry with him. He got back in bed and pulled the sheets over him. He heard the doorknob twist and the door open.

Lucas pretended to be asleep but saw the figure through his peripheral vision. It didn’t look like his parents, grandparents, or any of the guests in the home. Lucas trembled in his sleep, waiting for the figure to go. He heard the footsteps leave, walk down the foyer, and go downstairs.

Lucas slowly pulled the blankets off and ran out of his bedroom, down the hall, and to Tristan’s room. He swung the door open and shook Tristan. Tristan looked up.

Tristan: “Yes, Lucas?”

Lucas: “Tristan, get up! There’s someone in the house!”

He cried. Tristan blinked and reached over to the nightstand to get his glasses.

Lucas ran out of his room and swung the door open to Jaxon and Celeste’s room. He shook Jaxon.

Lucas: “Jaxon! There’s someone in the house!”

He cried. Jaxon’s eyes snapped awake, and he rose from the bed. He threw on his dragon robe and tied the sash.

Jaxon: “Shit!”

He went with him to investigate. Tristan was out in the foyer.

Tristan: “Hey, Jaxon, did he tell you someone was in the house?”

Jaxon nodded in confirmation.

Jaxon: “Yeah? The fuck is going on?”

Tristan and Jaxon went downstairs with Lucas following the two men close behind.

Tristan: “Deimos and I were in another area of the swimming hole, and we felt we were being watched.”

He told him as they entered the kitchen.

Lucas: “There was someone in my room!”

He cried. Jaxon froze.

Jaxon: “...The same thing happened to me and Celeste. Someone was watching us…”

He frowned.

The two men looked around with Lucas following them close behind. They went back to the kitchen near the rear door and heard a loud bang, which made them jump. Lucas clutched onto Jaxon’s leg. They saw Leanne with her face pressed to the back door and screaming like a banshee. Jaxon jumped and shuddered with disgust and terror.

Leanne: “OH MY! Look at you, you handsome tall, whitey snow angel! You look like you’re hung like a horse! Wanna fuck?!”

She rasped to Tristan and licked the glass door. Tristan’s face twisted with disgust as he drew back.

Leanne: “I could ride yours and that hot Chinese boy’s dicks!”

She cackled.

Jaxon: “I’m Japanese, you ugly bitch and fuck off!”

He snapped. Tristan flicked his gaze to the patio, forming a path of ice. He quickly slid the door open and shoved her, where she slid down the path, screaming. Jaxon smirked.

Jaxon: “Nice!”

He gave him a high-five. Tristan high-fived him back and smiled.

Tristan: “Thank you, Jaxon!”

Tristan looked down at Lucas and knelt beside him.

Tristan: “Was that who you saw in your room?”

Lucas: “I don’t know, I guess so?”

He sobbed. Tristan consoled him. He then nodded and rose to Jaxon.

Tristan: “I think we should lock the doors.”

He went and locked the back door. Jaxon nodded.

Jaxon: “God, yes! I’m locking our room tonight!”

He huffed.

Tristan: “The bedrooms can’t be locked, but we can lock the front and back doors.”

He replied to him. Jaxon nodded.

Jaxon: “I guess that’s good enough.”

Tristan went to the front door to lock it.

Tristan: “Okay, that should do it. We should go back to bed.”

He said to Jaxon, but still felt a lingering feeling of dread. The encounter tonight spooked him, but something else was amiss.

~

The next morning, Lucas told his parents, grandparents, and Kristen what had happened last night. Kristen went upstairs to gather the laundry and stopped in her tracks when she saw Jaxon exiting the bathroom with just a towel around his waist.

Jaxon: “Morning!”

He waved his hand nonchalantly as he entered his bedroom with Celeste. Kristen was red-faced and covered her face.

Kristen: “Ah, Jaxon! Breakfast will be ready shortly!”

She called out to him.

Jaxon: “Sure, Kristen!”

He grinned and sauntered back into their bedroom, wrapping his arms around Celeste. The towel dropped to the floor as the door closed. Celeste smirked at Jaxon’s naked body as she dried her hair from getting out of the shower. She nuzzled against him and kissed him all over.

~

Deimos and Tristan were already at the dining room table. Deimos wore a Possessed Pestilence tank top, torn jeans, and black cowboy boots. Tristan wore a blue button-up short-sleeved shirt, white ankle-length pants, and boater shoes.

Jaxon and Celeste came downstairs. Jaxon wore a black leopard print shirt with the buttons undone, exposing his dragon tattoo, tight black jeans, and chelsea boots. Celeste wore a black leather bustier, daisy duke shorts with a huge belt buckle, black leg warmers, and Converse. They joined Deimos and Tristan at the dining room table. Deimos was sipping coffee, and Tristan had a cup of black lemon tea. Christian came in and sat with them.

Christian: “So, boys, Lucas told me about your run-in with Leanne. I know she has been giving us trouble, but this is the first time she ever broke in.”

He folded his hands over and nodded. Tristan flicked his gaze at his step-brother.

Jaxon: “That’s because me and Tristan are too hot to handle, and she’s desperate for us.”

He huffed bitterly. Deimos glanced at Jaxon and Tristan.

Deimos: “Why didn’t you get me up? I would have protected you.”

He knit his eyebrows. Tristan drew a breath.

Tristan: “You were sleeping, and I wasn’t sure if Lucas really saw something or if he had a bad dream.”

Deimos pouted, not buying that. Tristan sighed and put his arms around Deimos.

Christian nodded.

Christian: “Well, we’re gonna have to deal with her.”

Kristen: “Oh, Jaxon, Lucas told me about what you did last night! You’re so brave!”

She giggled. Celeste smiled up at Jaxon. Jaxon grinned smugly.

Jaxon: “I know!”

Tristan cupped his chin.

Deimos: “I could have protected you, Tristan.”

He pouted. Tristan wrapped his arms around him.

Tristan: “Fret not, Deimos. You always do.”

He purred.

Kristen: “So I’m making you brave boys a huge breakfast! Well, breakfast for everyone!”

She stammered. Christian smiled at her. She dished up sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, French toast, and made of batch of blueberry muffins and banana muffins. Celeste eyed the food with hunger. She dove into her breakfast and grabbed some blueberry muffins.

Christian: “What’s the occasion, Kristen? You don’t usually do this. I mean, I’m not complainin’ but it’s nice!”

He said as he ate bacon and sausages.

Kristen: “Nothing! No reason! Just glad we have brave young men looking out for Lucas!”

She smiled. Deimos pouted. I should have been protecting Tristan, he thought. Tristan sighed and held Deimos close. Deimos smiled in his embrace.

Deimos started tucking in the breakfast.

Jaxon: “I was also looking out for my green queen!”

He gloated, draping his arm around Celeste. Celeste looked up at him and rested her head on his shoulder.

Celeste: “My hero!”

She ran her nails over his chest and kissed him. Jaxon shivered at her touch and kissed her back.

Deimos: “This is one of the nicest breakfasts I’ve had in a while.”

He nodded. Tristan ate bits of a banana muffin in delicate bites.

Tristan: “Yes, this is very lovely. Thank you, Kristen.”

He said genially.

Jaxon: “Yeah, this is FACEROCK!”

He grinned.

Kristen: “Facerock?”

She laughed.

Celeste: “It’s something he says! I love it!”

She purred. Jaxon grinned at her.

Tristan: “It’s a Jaxonism.”

He said as he sipped his tea.

Jaxon: “Yeah, it means something rocks and rocks your face off!”

He explained.

Kristen: “Well, I never heard that! Aren’t you creative?”

She smiled at him.

Gustave came in, and his eyes grew large.

Gustave: “OH BOY, MUFFINS!”

He ran over, grabbing many and eating them, and the muffin cups. Crumbs and bits of fruit were all over his face. Celeste gaped at him, owlishly. Damn, and I thought I stole food and ate fast, she thought. Jaxon laughed. Tristan rolled his eyes as if this was nothing new for him. Honorine entered and glared at him.

Honorine: “For God’s sake, Gustave, there are other people here!”

She scolded him.

Jaxon scanned the table for interesting conversation. He paused when he noticed Christian.

Jaxon: “So… you’re Tristan’s brother, huh?”

He began. Christian nodded as he drained his cup of coffee.

Christian: “Brother, step-brother.”

Jaxon: “What’s with all the scars?”

He asked. Christian paused and heaved a deep sigh. Celeste glanced at Christian, and she wanted to know herself. Honorine shot Jaxon a glare. Tristan glared at his grandmother and put his hand up.

Christian: “...They’re skin grafts… I was burned badly and needed skin grafts, and the donor was darker than I, so this is why part of my face is darker. It happened fifteen years ago.”

He explained with some pain in his voice. Tristan embraced himself and looked away. Deimos rubbed his back.

Jaxon: “Oh, that sucks!”

He frowned, not knowing what else to say. Honorine raised an eyebrow at him. Christian just smiled and shrugged.

Christian: “Well, what can I say? That’s history, and life goes on.”

He concluded. Tristan looked away. It certainly does, he thought.

Jaxon: “That’s right! Gotta keep marching forward!”

He said, taking a bite of bacon.

~

That afternoon, Jaxon leaned up against a tree, smoking a cigarette. Kristen gingerly approached him and twiddled her thumbs.

Kristen: “J-Jaxon?”

Jaxon looked over at her.

Jaxon: “Yes?”

He asked.

Kristen: “We need wood for the bonfire. Would you come with me to get some?”

She asked meekly.

Jaxon: “Yeah, all right.”

He nodded and stepped forward, lifting his heel and putting out his cigarette on the sole of his shoe. She felt the heat rise to her face and walked with him to the path leading to the woods.

Jaxon ventured into the woods, kneeling and picking up pieces of wood and branches. Kristen pursed her lips, checking out his ass and twirling her hair.

Kristen: “Jaxon?”

Jaxon: “Yeah?”

He asked nonchalantly as he gathered more sticks.

Kristen: “So… I noticed you were creative with your words. What do you do professionally?”

She asked.

Jaxon: “Oh, I’m a rockstar!”

He grinned smugly.

Kristen: “Oh, do you play solo or with a band?”

She asked ecstatically.

Jaxon: “I play with Deimos!”

He chuckled.

Kristen: “I see! I bet you both make wonderful music! You are creative with your words!”

She smiled.

Jaxon: “Oh, I know! That’s why we’re so great!”

He grinned smugly. She smiled back at him.

Kristen: “Thank you for what you did for Lucas last night, Jaxon.”

She said graciously.

Kristen: “You’re a very brave young man.”

She said softly.

Jaxon: “No prob.”

He nodded, picking up more firewood.

Jaxon: “What’s all the wood for? We having a bonfire?”

He asked, wanting to shift the subject away from Leanne.

Kristen: “Yes, we are! The kids love having bonfires!”

She said excitedly.

Kristen: “Everyone is going to be there!”

She added. Jaxon nodded and picked up firewood.

Jaxon: “Sounds cool!”

He said, filling his arms.

Jaxon: “Lead the way!”

He nodded to her to put the firewood somewhere. She nodded and led him down a path. She stopped when the two came across a dead moose. Its corpse was hollowed out where there were machetes, knives, and men’s underwear stored inside. Jaxon froze.

Jaxon: “What the fuck?!”

He gaped at the horror before their eyes. His heart sank when he noticed the flame speedos among the underwear.

Kristen: “I think we should go back, Jaxon.”

She trembled. Jaxon nodded intently.

Jaxon: “Damn right!”

He said hurriedly and rushed back with her, dropping his sticks as he ran.

~

That evening, they were having a bonfire where everyone sat. Celeste sat next to Jaxon, and Tristan sat next to Deimos. Chihiro, Christian, Lucas, Asashi, Gustave, and Kristen sat around the fire. Celeste cuddled Jaxon, and Tristan leaned on Deimos’ shoulder.

Asashi: “Who wants to come catch some snakes after this?”

He asked.

Chihiro: “No snakes allowed, Asashi!”

She chided him gently. Deimos shivered. God no, he thought.

Chihiro: “After this, you boys will go Easter Egg hunting. NO SNAKES!”

She waved her hands around.

Asashi: “Awww!”

Jaxon looked over at Celeste.

Jaxon: “Hey, babe, wanna go easter egg hunting?”

He nudged her with a grin.

Celeste: “Fuck yeah.”

She kissed his lips softly. Jaxon kissed her back. Kristen gazed at Jaxon.

Kristen: “So, Jaxon, why don’t you and Deimos play your music for the fire?”

Christian: “Oh, fuck yeah! I’d love to hear your boys play!”

He raised his can of beer. Tristan drew a long breath. He’s drinking again, he thought.

Kristen: “Jaxon was telling me he plays with you, Deimos. I would love to hear you boys play.”

She smiled. Tristan raised an eyebrow. Jaxon shifted his eyes over to Deimos. Deimos gave him a slight nod.

Jaxon: “All right…”

He shrugged and rose, picking up the guitar. Deimos picked up his guitar. Tristan smiled at Deimos. He started strumming his guitar. Jaxon strummed along with him, plucking the strings in harmony with his playing. Deimos started singing in his deep, breathy voice as he strummed. Tristan beamed, and his cheeks turned a bright pink. Jaxon started singing in his high-pitched, silvery voice. Celeste bobbed her head and leaned on Jaxon. Christian was clapping and cheering. Kristen clapped and nodded her head along to their singing, enjoying this.

~

After the bonfire, the kids went on their Easter Egg hunt, and Kristen went with them. Celeste, Jaxon, Deimos, and Tristan sat at the bonfire with Christian. Deimos gulped back some Corona Extra. Gustave had bunny ears on his head and hopped around.

Gustave: “Ribbit, ribbit, I’m the Easter Bunny!”

Honorine put her hands on her hips.

Honorine: “Stop that nonsense at once, Gustave!”

She turned to Christian.

Honorine: “Don’t you think you had a bit much, Christian?”

Christian looked at her, grinning inanely as he hiccuped. He then fell over.

Honorine: “Oh, for Pete’s sake!”

She threw her hands up. Deimos rose to help him up.

Christian: “Thanks, buddy.”

Asashi came back with a basket full of treats.

Asashi: “Look at all this cool stuff, Grandma!”

He presented it to her. She gave him a curt nod.

Honorine: “Where is your brother and Kristen?”

She asked sternly.

Asashi: “I dunno.”

He went to the bonfire to present his stuff to Deimos, Tristan, Jaxon, and Celeste.

Asashi: “Who wants to catch some snakes?”

Deimos put his hands up.

Deimos: “NO!”

Tristan laughed awkwardly.

Honorine looked at her watch.

Honorine: “They have been taking their time.”

Christian: “ ‘ey, Jaxon, why don’t ya go look for ‘em? Kristen might come out for you, if ya get what I mean. She thinks you’re hot stuff!”

He wiggled his eyebrows and collapsed on the ground. Honorine rolled her eyes. Jaxon scoffed.

Jaxon: “Of course, she does. But there’s only one for me!”

He grinned at Celeste. Celeste smirked back and winked.

Honorine: “Well, I don’t know who is strong enough to carry him to bed.”

Celeste rose and raised her hand.

Celeste: “I am! Jaxon can go look for Kristen and Lucas.”

She nodded and hoisted Christian’s muscular body over herself with ease. Jaxon grinned at Celeste, marveling at her.

Jaxon: “Oh yeah, that’s my woman!”

He grinned proudly at her. He turned on his heel to venture into the woods. Celeste carried Christian back to his house.

~

The sun started to set as Jaxon ventured further into the woods. Everything was getting darker and more silent. Jaxon heard twigs snapping.

Jaxon: “Hello? Kristen?”

He called out for her.

Suddenly, he was pinned against the tree with Leanne pointing a Winchester 21 in his face.

Leanne: “Well, well, well, look who’s back?! Hello, sexy!”

She cocked her gun at him, gliding the barrel over his neck, down to his chest and his groin. She licked her lips. Jaxon glared at her.

Jaxon: “YOU!”

He snapped at her through clenched teeth.

Leanne: “You smell great, by the way.”

She chuckled, pressing the barrel against his groin. Jaxon shuddered.

Jaxon: “You don’t.”

He groused and glared at her.

Leanne: “Nice and easy, little Chinese man. Take off your clothes.”

She commanded.

Jaxon: “I’m Japanese and NO!”

He snapped and glared at her. She glowered at him and fired her gun at a nearby tree, and shoved the barrel in his face. Jaxon froze, and his heart sank as he looked down the barrel of the gun. She reached out to caress his hips, keeping the barrel on his face, and placed her hand on his belt buckle. She chuckled. Jaxon’s heart thundered in his chest as his fear accumulated. He kept his eyes on the barrel and looked away as she fiddled with his belt buckle, hoping Celeste would come.

Suddenly, she was hit with a blast of ice. The impact sent her flying into a tree as she screamed and crashed down. Tristan ran up to Jaxon.

Tristan: “Are you okay?!”

He asked as he knit his eyebrows. Jaxon panted and clutched his chest.

Jaxon: “Holy shit!”

He gasped. Tristan patted his back.

Tristan: “Let’s find Kristen and Lucas, and leave.”

He said as he examined his dark surroundings. It was eerily quiet. Tristan and Jaxon ventured further into the woods and walked across a bridge over a swamp.

Tristan and Jaxon came to an old cemetery with a rusty, decrepit spear-top fence. The gravestones were covered in moss and eroded with time. It looked to have been there since the 1800s. Tristan froze in his tracks. He saw something in the shadows. Jaxon’s heart leaped out of his chest when they saw it.

Stepping out of the shadows was Kristen, who was crying and terrified.

Tristan: “Kristen?! Are you okay?!”

He called out to her and rushed to her.

Kristen: “Get Lucas out of here, Jaxon and Tristan!”

She cried. Jaxon gasped. Tristan stopped in his tracks.

Jaxon: “What happened? What’s going on?”

Tristan: “Where is he?!”

He ran up to her and stopped when Ichiro stepped behind her with a grin.

Ichiro: “Ah, what a pleasant surprise! I get to meet my dear little brother’s lawyer, Tristan! Hello, Mr. Trémaux. I received your notification that you’re helping Jiro contest our grandmother’s will. How adorable.”

He said through a strained smile and squeezed Kristen’s wrists, causing her to yelp and weep. Jaxon glared at Ichiro.

Jaxon: “YOU! Let go of her!”

He hissed at Ichiro.

Ichiro: “You don’t bark orders at me, Jiro. There’s nothing to contest. Grandmother left me everything and you nothing since you ran away from your fiancée and everything else, as you always do. May as well deal with it.”

He smirked.

Tristan panted. He didn’t want to argue with a man like this. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and opened them to glare at Ichiro.

Tristan: “Let her go and we’ll drop the case.”

He relented, trying to remain calm. Jaxon had enough money, and it wasn’t worth it for this. Ichiro clicked his tongue and scoffed.

Ichiro: “I don’t make deals, Tristan. Rather, I make friends for you and Jiro to play with. This one is just for you and Jiro. It’s a shame my little specimen isn’t here to play. It’s okay. When you two die, I will gladly take possession of her.”

He smirked at Jaxon. Jaxon’s eyes widened like saucers.

Ichiro withdrew a needle and plunged it into Kristen. She screamed as he injected her with the fluid. Ichiro yanked the needle out and then kicked her toward Jaxon and Tristan, where she collapsed on the ground. Tristan cupped his mouth with fear in his eyes.

Tristan: “Wh-What did you do, Ichiro?!”

He quivered.

Jaxon: “YOU MONSTER!”

He glared at Ichiro. Kristen panted and crawled toward the two men.

Kristen: “G-Get L-Lucas out of here!”

She stammered and wailed. She dug her nails into the ground and sank them in as clumps of skin fell, and her glasses fell to the ground. Her hands turned into elongated, bony, purple hands with long black claws. Ichiro threw his head back and laughed. Tristan clasped his hands over his mouth to stifle a scream. Jaxon had a look of panic on his face.

A tail protruded from her with veins bulging out. They could hear bones cracking and a squelching sound as she grew larger. Her eyes bulged out of her head, and her neck grew longer, several spikes sprouting out of her neck, shoulders, and back. She glared at the two men with five red eyes, opening her mouth full of sharp teeth, and a long tongue protruded.

Tristan’s blood ran cold, and he trembled all over.

Tristan: “WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HER?!”

He cried. Jaxon was too stunned to speak.

Jaxon: “...WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!”

Ichiro: “I made a friend for you and Jiro to play with, Tristan. Don’t be so ungrateful. You sound like Jiro at Christmas. Nothing was ever good enough for him after I sacrificed so much.”

He shook his head with a sinister smirk. Jaxon glared at him, marching forward to punch him. Ichiro glanced at Jaxon, and they all heard a raspy scream.

They saw Leanne barreling toward them.

Leanne: “GET BACK HERE, YOU HOT PIECES OF MEAT!”

She screamed at Jaxon and Tristan and then froze at the monster.

Leanne: “WHAT THE FUCK?!”

She screamed and raised her gun. She fired, and the bullet bounced off the monster’s hard shell.

Leanne: “WHAT THE FUUUUUUCK?!”

She caterwauled. She started to run, but the monster grabbed Leanne’s shoulders, causing her to drop her rifle.

Leanne: “HEY! WHAT THE FUCK?! WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!”

She screamed as she tried to get away, and the monster tore her in half, splashing her blood and guts all over the tombstones and on Tristan. Tristan screamed and drew back. He clasped his hands and shrieked when the monster threw half of Leanne’s corpse at Tristan. He screamed and ducked. Jaxon’s eyes widened, frozen in shock.

Jaxon: “Jesus fucking christ!”

Ichiro chuckled.

Ichiro: “I don’t know about you, Tristan, but I hope you can keep your focus on your new friend for a while before it kills you. Jiro could never focus long on anything, but I am sure you’re familiar with his incredibly low attention span.”

He said smugly as he removed his glasses to clean them. Jaxon glared at him hatefully.

Jaxon: “Not my fault you’re so boring when you’re not evil!”

He snapped at him, charging for him again, clocking him in the jaw. Ichiro had the wind knocked out of him and crashed into a nearby tombstone. Blood came out of his mouth. He glared at Jaxon and put his glasses back on.

Jaxon: “This shit ends NOW, Ichiro!”

He huffed, placing his foot on his chest to stomp on him. Ichiro smirked at him.

Ichiro: “No, it doesn’t until I say so, Jiro. Keep your eye on the prize. Focus.”

He poked his tongue out at him.

Celeste and Deimos came.

Celeste: “Jaxon?! WHAT IS THAT?!”

The monster charged after Celeste and Deimos. Jaxon knit his eyebrows.

Jaxon: “OH, SHIT, CELESTE!”

He ran after her.

Tristan: “DEIMOS!”

He formed an ice spear and threw it at the monster. The ice spear shattered on her hard back. She turned around to face Tristan. Tristan cupped his mouth.

Tristan: “Oh no…”

He whimpered.

Ichiro: “I made this for you, Tristan! Do you think I don’t know about your ice powers?”

He laughed. Tristan glared at him with hatred.

Deimos: “Ichiro?!”

Celeste froze when she saw him.

Ichiro: “Hello, my beautiful queen. I read so much about you… If you can kill this thing, it will turn me on so much! You will greatly exceed my expectations!”

He moaned. Celeste paused and glared at him.

Tristan: “You goddamn monster!”

He rasped.

Jaxon: “Fuck you, Ichiro! Don’t you dare hurt her!”

He snapped at him, glaring at him with hatred.

Ichiro: “Jiro, focus. Is it that hard?”

He spread his arms out and laughed.

The monster lunged at Jaxon. Celeste leaped in front of Jaxon, grabbing the monster’s head and swinging it around, throwing it into an old gravekeeper’s shed with a loud crash as pieces of wood broke apart and collapsed to the ground. The monster jumped out from the pile of destruction, grabbed Celeste, and threw her to the ground with violent force. Blood came out of Celeste’s mouth, and she lay there wincing in pain.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He cried out for her and rushed up to her, rubbing his hands all over her to heal her. The monster raised her fists to slam down on them like a hammer. Tristan formed a path of ice that shot up to send her into the air. She landed and crashed into a tree and plummeted to the ground. Deimos ran up to Tristan. The creature staggered to get up and panted.

The creature charged after Tristan. Deimos stood in front of him. The creature shot her claws out at Deimos, slicing his legs, arms, and torso, cutting his clothes and drawing blood. The creature swung her claws at him, knocking his glasses off and drawing blood. Tristan trembled.

Tristan: “DEIMOS!”

He cried. A purple glow surrounded Deimos as he healed himself.

Deimos: “Tristan, get out of here! I won’t let this thing hurt you!”

He rasped.

The creature swung her tail, knocking him over, and slammed her fists into Deimos. Deimos had the wind knocked out of him as blood came out of his mouth, and he lay there covered in blood. Tears streamed down Tristan’s cheeks.

Tristan: “DEIMOS!”

He wailed and knelt to him. Heavy footsteps drew closer to them as the creature marched up to Tristan. Tristan glared and waved his hand, blasting it with ice.

Tristan: “GET AWAY FROM HIM!”

He screamed.

Deimos winced in pain. He held onto Tristan’s hand as a bright purple glow surrounded him as he healed himself. Deimos used up too much of his psi. He felt himself getting weak and tired. He laid his arms back, turned his head, and passed out.

Celeste grabbed at the gate, trying to yank one of the spears off. She snapped one off and charged at the creature. She twirled the spear, jumped up, and landed down with the tip toward the monster. She rasped as she shoved the spear into her eyes. The rusty spear drove through. Celeste pressed the palm of her hand down, driving the spear further in. The creature led out a ghastly wail and reached out clawing Celeste’s boobs. The creature slashed at her face, arms, and legs, drawing blood.

Celeste winced and gnashed her teeth as she drove the spear through the creature’s head. The screams of the creature dwindled to a wheeze, and then the creature fell over and died. Jaxon’s eyes widened with a scream.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He yelled, rushing over to her to heal her. Celeste jumped down and sank to the ground, panting as blood dripped from her forehead and arms. Jaxon held her in his arms, emitting a red glow as he healed her. He sank as he felt his energy drain as he passed it onto her. Celeste held him close as he passed out.

Ichiro stood there, red-faced and panting.

Ichiro: “Celeste…, you exceeded my expectations and I am SO turned on now.”

He moaned. Celeste glared at him.

Celeste: “Fuck off! What did you do anyway?! What was that thing?! Another creature like the ones Robin sent?!”

She rasped.

Ichiro: “I’ll tell you if you make out with me.”

He reddened. She bared her teeth.

Celeste: “NO! FUCK OFF!”

She held Jaxon close. ”

Tristan: “He turned her into a monster, Celeste! It was Kristen! She’s dead!”

He cried. Celeste froze and gaped at Ichiro with horror.

Tristan: “You goddamn monster.”

He rose from Deimos, forming an ice path behind him as he marched toward Ichiro.

Ichiro: “Tristan, if you and Jiro never did this, she’d still be alive, but whatever. Jiro is never happy.”

He laughed.

Tristan: “Don’t you dare blame this on him contesting the will!”

He growled.

Tristan: “You would have done this anyway!”

Ichiro scoffed at Tristan and smirked.

Ichiro: “I’d love to play more, Tristan, but I am a busy man, and so are you with babysitting a manchild with a short attention span. I’ll be in touch. Sayonara.”

He scoffed and pressed a button on his ear, teleporting away.

Tristan glared, hot tears flowed down his cheeks, and his teeth bared. He sank to the ground and cried, pounding on the ground. Celeste knit her eyebrows and sighed.

Lucas poked his head out from behind a tombstone. His bottom lip trembled, and he ran to Tristan in tears, wrapping his arms around him. Tristan knelt and hugged him close.

Tristan: “Are you all right, Lucas?!”

He smiled a bit.

Lucas: “NO! I’M SCARED, TRISTAN!”

He bawled into his chest. Tristan held him close and sighed as he stared into the sky with tears streaming down his cheeks. He saw it all, I can’t believe it, he thought as he cried. He will be ruined for life, Tristan thought.

~

Celeste came back carrying both Deimos and Jaxon over her arms. Tristan held onto Lucas’ hand. Lucas bawled when he saw his mother and ran into her arms. She took one look at Tristan and his friends, the blood on their clothes, and cupped her mouth. She knew something horrifying had happened.

~

An hour later, Tristan told Chihiro, Christian, and his grandparents everything that transpired in the forest. Chihiro was crying into her hands. Gustave gazed up at the ceiling, and Honorine folded her arms, looking unfazed. Celeste embraced herself with Jaxon’s head on her lap. Christian sat with his hands together to his mouth, seething.

Chihiro: “Oh my God, we’ve had Kristen here since Asashi and Lucas were babies! I don’t know how Lucas is going to cope with this! What kind of thing is that for a child to see?!”

She sobbed. Tristan bowed his head. He didn’t know what to say. Deimos’ eyes fluttered open. He gnashed his teeth as he sat up. Through his blurry vision, he thought he saw an angel. He blinked and saw Tristan’s smiling face and felt his soft hand caressing him.

Deimos: “Tristan? Are you okay?”

He groggily asked. Tristan smiled and nodded. Deimos’ hand rose to cup Tristan’s face. Tristan leaned into it and smiled tenderly.

Honorine looked away, thinking of Tristan coming out of the house fire that Charlotte started, and gazed at him. He will turn out like Tristan, she thought. PTSD, insomnia, and a plethora of problems, she thought, and heaved a deep sigh.

Christian angrily rose and furiously shook Jaxon.

Celeste: “Uhm, what are you doing?!”

She asked sharply. Jaxon jolted awake and snapped his eyes open to see a seething Christian. He resembled a papa bear, ready to maul him and protect his cubs.

Christian: “GET UP NOW, BOY!”

He barked.

Chihiro: “Christian, please! The boys and Katie are asleep upstairs!”

She whispered hoarsely, waving her hands at him.

Jaxon: “Wh-What’s going on?!”

He stumbled to his feet, looking around for Ichiro.

Christian: “Tristan told me what happened! YOU BROUGHT YOUR CRAZY BROTHER HERE! Lucas saw EVERYTHING and Kristen is dead! THIS IS YOUR FAULT!”

He screamed. Tristan rose. Jaxon’s eyes widened.

Jaxon: “I DIDN’T bring that psycho fucker here!”

He snapped.

Tristan: “Christian, it’s not his fault. We felt someone was watching us and you and others suspected your neighbor, but it wasn’t. We didn’t know Ichiro would follow us and do this.”

He said firmly.

Christian: “Shut up, Tristan! Kristen is dead! Lucas is traumatized because your little friend brought his mentally insane brother here!”

He bellowed at him.

Jaxon: “I DIDN’T BRING THAT FUCKER HERE!”

He snapped.

Christian: “He is your brother, right?! He followed you here!”

He barked at him.

Jaxon: “So what if he is?! I want nothing to do with him!”

Christian: “Your entire family is fucked up! Your father impregnated a young girl, your mother is a snobby bitch, and your brother is insane! And you brought him here to terrorize us!”

He thundered. Jaxon rose.

Jaxon: “I am NOTHING like my family! I DIDN’T BRING HIM HERE!”

He thundered.

Tristan: “Christian, this isn’t Jaxon’s fault, and he’s estranged from his family. I had to go up against this, too! I am sorry Lucas had to witness that and for what happened to Kristen, but this is not Jaxon’s fault!”

He reiterated firmly as his voice shook.

Celeste: “That’s right!”

She nodded.

Christian: “I don’t remember asking for opinions from the peanut gallery. Your friend’s brother is insane, and he brought him here!”

He rasped at them.

Jaxon: “I AM NOT FUCKING ICHIRO! I DIDN’T BRING HIM HERE!”

He fumed and snapped at him.

Christian: “Don’t raise your voice and swear when there are children around! You are like your brother! I want you out of here and away from my children! Stay away from my family and never come back!”

He barked.

Jaxon: “I. AM. NOT. LIKE. MY. BROTHER!”

He seethed between clenched teeth as his blood boiled.

Christian: “Yes, you are. Kristen is dead, and Lucas is traumatized. You are like him.”

He growled.

Christian: “And I want you gone in ten minutes.”

He said coolly.

Jaxon: “I DIDN’T KILL HER! I AM NOT THAT PSYCHO, AND I NEVER WILL BE!”

He rasped and stormed out. Celeste knit her eyebrows and chased after him. Tristan rose, and Deimos rose with him.

Tristan: “Goodbye, Christian.”

He said icily and left.

~

Celeste loaded the luggage into Jaxon’s and Deimos’ cars as Tristan, Deimos, and Jaxon stood outside, smoking a cigarette where he would smoke when Kristen talked to him. Honorine sat on the patio with a look of uncertainty on her face. Deimos closed the hood of his car and nodded to Celeste. Deimos drove his car away with Tristan.

Jaxon: “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

He huffed, putting his cigarette out on his shoe.

Celeste: “Are you good to drive?”

She asked and caressed his arms. Jaxon nodded and kissed her forehead.

Jaxon: “I’ll be fine, babe.”

He said, getting in the car. Celeste smiled sadly and got in the passenger’s seat. Jaxon slid his keys into the ignition, started the car, and shifted into the first gear as he drove down the driveway and onto the road. Celeste leaned on his shoulder as he drove.

Celeste: “Are you okay, Jax?”

She looked up at him. Jaxon drew a breath and shook his head.

Jaxon: “...No, babe.”

He confessed. Celeste kissed his cheek and lay on his arm.