“Taliesin!” Nik and Maxwell rushed down the stairs when they heard Mr. Moreno’s panicked voice. Neither of them could explain why Taliesin’s Coach would be at the manor if it weren’t for something serious. Something bad had happened. Nik’s heart beat so rapidly that the sound of his blood rushing through his body made him nauseous. “Taliesin, wake up.” Mr. Moreno’s voice grew louder and soon they were down in the entrance hall staring at a passed out Taliesin and a panicked Mr. Moreno. The Coach looked up at Nik and Maxwell then lifted Taliesin in his arms. “I don’t know what happened but he needs rest. And I need the phone.” Nik walked towards him and carefully felt Tal’s forehead. “He’s overheated. He must have exhausted himself. How?” The question was directed at Mr. Moreno whose pale face was already enough of an answer. “He brought you here, didn’t he? Was it accidental or did he bring you here on purpose?” Maxwell touched Nik’s shoulder gently and smiled at the Coach. “Let me talk to..?” “Paul Moreno.” “Alfredo Maxwell, a pleasure to meet you. Shall we head to the dining hall?” “I’ll take care of Taliesin.” Nik offered and watched how Mr. Moreno reluctantly let go of the boy and handed him over. Nik had carried him once so his weight wasn’t a problem. While he moved him into the living room Maxwell and Mr. Moreno walked towards the dining hall.
He stared at him, as he lay there still and silent. His chest rose and fell in a regular pattern. His cheeks were red due to the heat and yet when Nik had reached out to hold Taliesin’s hand his fingers were cold. He’d draped a blanket around his body and watched him. He could feel his warmth and pretended it wasn’t the fever. Since Tal’s confession he didn’t have a lot of time to consider his words and what they meant. He barely had time to wonder if he felt the same. Maybe he didn’t need to understand it. There was no logic behind love after all. It was just tough to draw the line. What made Taliesin special? Nik cared about his friends, he joked with them, on a good day he even flirted with them. What was so different with Taliesin? He got more irritated and anxious. He worried all the time and whereas he didn’t mind not having his friends around all the time he felt the need to watch over Taliesin every second of his day.
Nik gnawed at his lower lip. Those weren’t the types of emotion he’d associate with love. Anger, irritation and fear, all those were negative emotions, so how could he love Taliesin? The boy stirred under the blanket and Nik felt a pang of guilt. Taliesin had explained his feelings to him and confessed that he’d liked Nik for years and he couldn’t even figure out if he liked or hated him. No, it can’t be hate either. If it were hate he wouldn’t care or worry. He wouldn’t want to hold his hand to feel his warmth. There must be feelings for Taliesin. There must be something. Even if right now, he didn’t know what that meant.
“Nikandros.” Coach Moreno and Maxwell walked into the living room. He sighed and turned to face them. “Yes?” “You should hear him out.” His Butler explained and motioned for the Coach to sit on the sofa but he gratefully denied and knelt next to Taliesin. Nik didn’t want anyone else being this close to Taliesin while he was this vulnerable. He didn’t trust the Coach. He trusted no one with Taliesin’s safety but himself. “Let’s hear your story then, Coach.” He tried not to sound as if he was mocking Mr. Moreno. After all, he was talking to someone who’d just witnessed something unnatural happen to him for the first time in his life. “I don’t know exactly what happened. I practise sometimes when the hall is closed for everyone else. I had just unlocked the doors when I heard something from the inside. I thought an animal had gotten trapped, I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t… this.” “What did you see?”
His gaze shifted from Taliesin to Nik and he gulped. “I don’t know. I thought it was a woman. She was attacking Taliesin. I grabbed a hockey stick and hit her so that Taliesin could run.” Mr. Moreno shivered and Maxwell got up to leave the room. Nik wondered where he went but didn’t pay him too much attention. “She wasn’t human.” Mr. Moreno whispered into Nik’s direction, his eyes full of terror. “Her body was bent in ways that no human would survive. There was something black oozing out of her mouth and eyes. It mixed with her crimson red blood and I stared at her for so long that I didn’t hear Taliesin yell at me to run. I think I must have looked at him because the woman grabbed my leg and pulled until I hit the ground. She crawled on top of me and threatened me with the stick I– I couldn’t move. And then suddenly Taliesin was there again. He kicked the… the thing off of me and asked me to hold his hand. Then we were here and he passed out.”
He hid his face in his palms and rubbed his nonexistent beard. Nik’s lips curled up into a soft smile. “You’re pretty collected for someone who just made contact with a supernatural being.” “Please.” Mr. Moreno huffed. “I wish I could think I’m going insane but… My god, do you think all the cults in the world are actually worshipping and summoning demons?” Nik shook his head and wanted to make a remark about cults when a moan interrupted him. His head snapped towards Taliesin who pushed himself onto his elbows. “What happened?” He asked in a quiet voice and rubbed his eyes. “You did it.” Nik said and reached to hold his hand. “You gained control.” “You saved us.” Mr. Moreno added.
Taliesin’s gaze switched from Nik to Mr. Moreno. “What?” He asked again, disbelief carrying his voice. “We can talk later, for now, you need to rest.” “We’ll wake you when the police arrive.” Nik furrowed his brows and faced the Coach. “The Police?” “We were attacked,” the man explained. “We need to report it to the police.” “I thought we established that you were attacked by a creature that wasn’t human. What do you suppose the police will do if you tell them what happened?” Mr. Moreno stayed silent. Just then Maxwell walked back into the living room. He brought a blanket and a cup of tea. “Mr. Moreno,” he called the Coach gently and smiled. “Let’s talk about further proceedings upstairs. You should have a chance to rest too, I will explain everything.” There was a soft notch to Maxwell’s voice that Nik had never heard before. He watched the men leave upstairs with furrowed brows. Was Maxwell supporting Mr. Moreno during his walk? Was he smiling at him? “We got attacked by a demon.” Taliesin spoke up and brought Nik’s attention back to him.
“Mr. Moreno told us about it. Did the demon say something to you?” Taliesin was avoiding looking into his eyes. He clutched the blanket and pulled it up to his chin. “It said that I shine. They can sense me because mortals, demons and gods shine differently.” Nik pressed Taliesin’s hand and moved to sit on the sofa next to him. “Anything else?” “No.” He replied quickly and then hid his face again. “I don’t… They can find me. They will find me. I’m scared, Nik.” “I can protect you.” “No you can’t.” Taliesin’s snarl took him by surprise. He knew that he could have a sharp mouth but he didn’t expect him to lash out now. “What is that supposed to mean?” “You can’t protect me, Nik. You will die. You will die the way my parents died and the way your parents died. If I stay here I will drag you down with me.” “You’re not suggesting you’d leave, are you?” “I’m suggesting I die alone. I saw that creature and this time I was lucky. But I won’t always be that lucky. It will come for me and it will get me. It will kill me and I will die and no one can do anything against it!” Taliesin heated up again and Nik quickly cupped his cheeks and forced him to look into his eye. “Deep breaths, Taliesin. What just happened was terrifying and I’m sorry that I wasn’t there to protect you.” “I don’t want this.” Taliesin whispered and Nik felt his breath against his lips. “I didn’t choose this.” “I know.” He replied firmly and looked up into his eyes but Taliesin wasn’t looking back. He was staring at Nik’s lips and a sudden heat came over him. “You should rest.” Nik whispered. Taliesin dragged his gaze up until their eyes met. Then he gave him a weak nod. “I probably should.”
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