Chapter 3 - All Bets Are Off

Brandon observed Ezekiel his eyes shamfully unable to break away from the flex and snap of his powerful form no matter how much Brandon knew he should be anywhere but in that gym room.

Brandon rolled his shoulders as more energy unbound inside of him, he felt kindof weightless and more alive then he’d felt in weeks, but he was also feeling very pissed off. The more that the smell of blood saturated the gym he couldn’t help wondering if Walter wasn’t being just a little too aggressive.

Brandon swallowed a curse as he watched Walter open up another wound across Ezekiels chest and Brandon couldn’t stop himself from inhaling deeply to catch the irritation or the flare of energy that hit the air as Ezekiels inner beast rose and started healing the damage that was being done to him.

“God...there’s blood everywhere...” Brandon grumbled out loud then sniffed and shook his head to dispel the energy fuzzing his thoughts. Even from the distance between them Brandon could sense how densly delicious the power of the Guardian would be. How poweful the satisfaction he would feel if he took Ezkeiels life. “So um....Have any of you ever gotten close to actually beating Walter before?” he asked Ezekiels brothers trying to move his thoughts away from the uncharacteristic agitation he felt growing inside.

“Nope....” Lander said as he shook his head. “Although Ezekiel always manages to inflict more damage on him then either of us ever can.” Lander growled to Brandon. “It makes no sense. I’m better then that gay any day. Being a homo should have made him more of a sissy ya know? Kind of like you, but....”

Brandon did some growling of his own, cutting the obnoxious Shifter off midsentence. “Ugh. Shut up Lander.” he said.

The smell of blood tickled his nose again, making his hands twitch. He balled them into tight fists. He didn’t pay attention to the energy swirling, pushing his passions and emotions into overdrive. The flame slowly leaking out into his soul and his mind....making him reckless as his sickness was replaced by heat...and unending strength.

Lander hissed at him. “Oh did I hit a queer nerve. Are you upset?” He teased hostility. “Please! It was joke! Don’t go acting all bitchy on me now Brandon...” He said with a sneer. “I mean we all know you can take it up the ass like a girl, but that’s not my fault.”

Brandon balled his hands up until he felt pain in his palms. “Fuck you! You think your better than me, huh? Better than Ezekiel!?” Brandon sneered back.

The waft of blood and Ezekiels essence poured into his chest. He felt the energy constricting around him, the strength of it, of holding it down, making him pant. His control was flying out of the window and anger was taking the driver’s seat.

“I know I’m better then you and stronger then you.” Lander told him climbing to his feet and glaring down. A vein pulsed in his head as his own temper began to rise.

“Fine.” Brandon huffed standing. “I’m calling Bullshit. Let’s go. Right here....Right now. I want the next match! Im going to make you choke on those words!”

“What!?” Ezekiel roared.

Startled by the sound Brandon’s head whipped his way just as Walter struck him. Walters leg slammed up into Ezekiels stomach like a brick wall, then as Ezekiel stumbled back Walter shot forward and his hand clamped down onto Ezekiels throat, as Walter surged forward.

His large body taking Ezekiel off his feet and slamming him bodily down into the matt. Then Walter raised his hand cocking his elbow back for the final blow...but he stayed his fist at the last moment. Instead dropping it to his side.

A second later Walter released Ezekiel and sat back on his hunches. “Sorry Ezekiel. I win again, but each year...it does get a little harder to beat you.” He said simply. Then stood up and helped Ezekiel to his feet. As they both gained their feet he patted Ezekiel on the back in comidaridie.

Brandon watched Walter grab one towel off the ground for himself and toss one to Ezekiel. Ezekiel wrapped the towel behind his neck before he and Walter turned and made their way over to Brandon and their brothers.

Instantly Brandon swallowed as Ezekiel’s energy grew closer, it washed over Brandon as it always did. Confusing him and electrifying him all at the same time. And his body. If Brandon’s thought it once he’s thought it a million times, but Brandon didn’t know anyone who looked like Ezekiel. Wide shoulders, solid abs, slim stomach, long arms and a well-defined cut peeking out from his low riding jeans that was almost sinful. Or at least made him think of sinful things. Brandon forced himself to focus on anything but the specimen of temptation coming towards him. So many temptations.

“So....” Ezekiel began as he drew closer. “What was that I heard about a match?”

Lander rolled his eyes. “Guess what? Little candy pants here..?” he said as he whipped his towel in Brandon’s direction. “He wants to take me on. Mano-e-Mano....Opps! I mean Mano-e-Homo if you catch my drift.” his brother sneered.

Ezekiel rolled his eyes at his brother’s crude sense of humor and turned to Brandon. He raised his eyebrows in question, blue eyes concerned. “You do? You want to spar with Lander?”

Brandon looked him dead in the eyes, because looking anywhere else was simply a bad idea. Especially while the energy inside of him trembled across his core. Ezekiels proximity was dangerous.

“Yup.” Brandon said quickly trying to move back from him without making the movement too obvious. “Let...let’s do this. I want to teach this self-righteous pussy cat a lesson before I leave.”

Though Ezekiel was no longer bleeding Brandon could see the whelps crisscrossing his upper body. Unconsciously the energy in his hands shifted, trying to reach out, but Brandon snuffed it, sucked it back in. He could heal the pain....or he could just as easily end up killing him. So Brandon tucked the energy back behind his barriers. Ignoring it as it slammed against his control.

It was clear to Brandon that Ezekiel was going to object, but at that moment Walter came over. His height dwarfing everyone else’s by a good inch or four in Brandon’s case. “Take the floor you two.” He ordered Brandon and Lander solemnly seemingly having heard the entire conversation.

Ezekiel looked at his eldest brother, then back at Brandon. He leaned in close. “Are you sure about this? Lander will hurt you.... If he gets the chance. Hes got some issues with his strength.” he advised. “He doesn’t care that you’re mortal Brandon. Hell come at you full tilt.”

“What? No faith in me?” Brandon gritted his teeth as the energy inside of him clawed at his insides. Ezekiels closeness setting it off once again. “Are you going to stop me?” Brandon asked Ezekiel ignoring his inner struggle. He was sure of himself, he believed in his control, he could hold the powers down. At least in a fight he could ignore it and focus.

He had been doing it for two years now, there was no reason his little slip up in the forest with Ezekiel would change that now. But it had. His energy sought Ezekiel out, it craved his proximity. Everything had changed, but Brandon was dammed if he would admit it to himself.

“I’m simply your escort Brandon...IM not your master or babysitter.” Ezekiel told him with a shrug a moment later pulling Brandon from his private thoughts. “If you want to fight I’m not gonna tell you no, but....Try to be careful.” Ezekiel said and then he went to squeeze Brandon’s shoulder, stopped, laughed to himself in derision as if he was unhappy with is instinct to touch Brandon. Then he just went to stand next to Nate.

Brandon watched him walk away and then he looked at Lander and didn’t like what he saw one little bit.

Lander cracked his neck loudly, grinned, flashed his burning green eyes then turned and made his way to the middle of the floor. Brandon took a deep breath, redoubled the barriers on his powers ignoring the energy as it squirmed to get free. Exhaling he pulled his shirt off and dropped it on the round. He kicked off his shoes and his sock then walked over to his spot on the opposite side of the blue mat.

Brandon looked over to wave at Ezekiel, but soon realized that all eyes were on his torso. Walter stared at Brandon’s arms and chest making he realize that this was the first time anyone besides Ezekiel and Glen had seen his scars. Not only was Walter staring at him, but Nate and Lander were analyzing him as well. All of their faces were impassive as stone so Brandon didn’t know if they were disgusted or horrified by what they saw.

His scars braided across his skin, stark and too clear in the bright sunlight that poured in through the glass roof. Brandon knew that they were shocking and repulsive. He had spent so much time alone out in the world that he had forgotten how horrible he really looked. But it was too late for him to put on his shirt again and spare the world his decimated skin, so he rolled with it.

“Jezz guys don’t look so shocked....I’m fine. ” Brandon said snapping his fingers and glaring at each of them. Nate glanced away as did Lander with a curse.

“Hey! Are we gonna do this or not Walter?” Walter didn’t answer at first, he just nodded and glanced back at all the damage.

Then seeming to come back to himself Walter came toward the sparing mats, walking past Brandon Walter suddenly reached out and did something unexpected. He ruffled Brandon’s hair, igniting a warmth inside of Brandon that he didn’t know what to do with. It wasn’t a touch given in sympathy or comfort....It seemed simply given in kindness.

“Good luck...” The Eldest brother rumbled.

Then without further comment, or touching Walter removed his hand and continued on towards the middle of the matt just between Brandon and Lander.

“All right.” Walter said once he got in position. “I’ll explain the rules to the new combatant.” he said his deep voice filling and dispelling the awkward silence. “Rule 1, No groins. Rule 2, No eyes. Rule 3, No Shifting. Rule 4, No Supernatural abilities. Combatants can only use non-lethal weapons. Okay?”

Walter looked at Brandon. Brandon nodded. Then Walter looked at Lander, he nodded as well.

“Combatant 1 and Combatant 2 take your Stance!” Walter commanded them both.

Lander instantly got down and put his hands out. Wrestling form. Close and personal. Brandon swallowed as the agitation he had for Lander began to fizzle out and turn to stark reality.

How the hell am I going to keep Lander off me? He probably likes it up close and personal, boxing with him would be suicide though.

He thought to himself as he took his position.

Brandon crouched down as well. Taking a self-defense stance, but something was telling him that self-defense wouldn’t be nearly enough. Walter raised his right hand and chopped it through the air in a downward fashion.

“Spar!” he barked.

Lander instantly dropped his guard, slowly straitened up to his full height. Then with a cocky laugh he flashed Nate and Ezekiel a gloating smile. And with a soft hiss he began to stalk forward like a cat on the hunt.

A sharp smile crept across his face as he grew closer and closer.

“So...What now candy pants? Im so looking forwards to you begging me to let you go. Say please and Ill only make you submit instead of beating you black and blue...” he said in a goading manner. Not even attempting to strategize or even appearing worried. He just strolled closer with sharp fangs peeking out beneath his top lip.

Brandon didn’t answer. He did the only thing he could do. He smiled back, turned, and ran in the opposite direction. Lander let out a bloodthirsty roar and rushed after him like a beast after blood.