The Druid
By: Dark Shadow
(© 2006 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...


Chapter 6
Dicentra Spectabilis "Bleeding Heart"
 

"David!" I shot upright in bed, nearly throwing Brian to the floor.

The dream had been so real. In my mind I could still hear the echoes of David's cries for help. I glanced around, frantically trying to understand my surroundings. Taking note of the shadowed dresser in the corner and the window at the head of my bed, I found my bearings. I was in my room but I didn't feel safe anymore. It would never be the perfect safety that it had once been. Recent events left this place tainted somehow.

My Godfather's dead body haunted my mind with a flash of memory. His amber eyes showing me pity as the bolts of lightning struck his chest. I had killed my own Godfather. Tears rolled down my cheeks and sobs shook my chest.

I felt an arm wrap around my shoulder and I nearly jumped out of the bed. I heard Shadow's collar jingle as she shook awake from the foot of the bed.

"You're safe, it was only a nightmare."

Hearing Brian's comforting words seemed to fuel my sobs and the ache in my chest. His comforting made the pain seem so much more real. My world was no longer safe. I had been killed in my own room by the people that I loved the most. Yes, I had been brought back, but the safety I used to feel here was now gone. The smell had changed. The memory and comfort of my bed was now stained by recent events. How could I ever feel like this place was home after all that had happened?

I felt Brian run his fingers along the long hairs that scattered along my forehead. He brushed away my tears as my door opened. I could tell by the shadow-muted features that it was Mark, and that Kent stood behind him.

"You two okay?" Mark's voice was filled with concern.

I felt a sudden rush of anger. It wasn't because of them. I loved them. I took a deep breath and let it out with a hiss and sniffed. Brian strengthened his embrace around me. The gentle pressure of his arms seemed to push away my pain. I felt Shadow curl up against my other side as if protecting me from what Brian might miss. I was sandwiched between the two of them.

"We're fine. It was just a nightmare," Brian told them.

"You sure you're okay, Ty?" Mark's voice almost burned my skin. I really couldn't take any more consoling right now. It only reminded me of my pain.

"I'm fine, Uncle Mark. Sorry I woke you up." I answered.

Was it true? No, I wasn't fine but I knew they couldn't fix my problem. How can you ask someone to take back the past? How do you ask them to make it disappear? Oh, I'm sure there are spells... but the damage was already done. A spell might take away memory, but it wouldn't take away the scars.

I watched the silhouette of Mark's shoulders drop as he relaxed. He pulled my door closed behind him and I heard wood creak as they made their way back to their bedroom.

I thought about my Godfather, David. The wind had surely taken his ashes by now. That was one thing that was never absent on our small hill of the world. There was a constant breeze. The subtle hills and now harvested cornfields of Illinois did little to slow nature's breath along the landscape.

I leaned into Brian. I needed his warm touch and the company. He gave me quiet comforting and I appreciated the silence. He was comforting in a way I wasn't really familiar with, but was happy to feel.

I leaned back against my now cold, damp pillow. I rustled about and turned the sweat soaked cold toward the sheets beneath. The fabric was cool and fresh and pulled me back into slumber. Brian seemed to follow me, keeping his strong warm arm wrapped around me. Shadow kicked and remade her bed on my other side before finally settling in. I remember thinking how soothing the feeling was, as my mind drifted.

I woke to the feel of Brian running his fingers casually through my hair. As his fingers trailed to the base of my skull, I felt a pull back into sleep. It eased my mind so much. I felt as though I could have slept forever. He was so gentle. The rise and fall of his chest and the steady beat of his heart gave me a strange sense of belonging.

I nuzzled against the heat of Brian's skin, not wanting to break away from my dreams. It was morning. I knew it in the back of my mind but didn't want to wake. It felt so perfect.

"Good morning, sleepy head," Brian announced, shifting his weight in the bed.

"Good morning," I gave my flesh-mumbled reply. My mouth was pressed against the curve of his body below his ribs. I had nestled myself against his upper hip during my sleep. I didn't have the will to bother with a more discernable answer. Besides... I was totally content.

I felt Brian slowly rise from the bed, letting my arm and leg slide to the body-warmed sheets below. The lack of warm skin to snuggle against wrangled me from my sleep as I peeked out from under the covers. Shadow still lay curled in a knot of blankets at my back. unwilling to rouse from her sleep. She was not a morning dog.

Dawn had snuck up on me. I could smell the coffee downstairs, waiting to be poured. I heard the water's hiss from the shower down the hall. I mentally kicked myself for not being more alert to watch Brian's near naked body leave my bed. There would have been morning 'tension" to be seen. I had missed it, and now noticed my own. I was preparing a mental reprimand when I shrugged it off. I'm sixteen Of course I'm 'frisky'. It's natural. With that I kicked my self again for having missed the opportunity.

I fought against the covers and sat upright in bed. The cool air and blinding sunlight through my bedroom window were quickly taking care of any 'tension' I had moments ago. I listened as the hiss of the shower stopped. With a shiver and cat-like stretch, I slid out from under the covers and trudged to my dresser. I grabbed fresh socks and underwear, barely opening my eyes to see what I had selected. I went over to my closet and stood staring with sleepy eyes at the cluttered organization of my clothing. I finally decided on a heavy black sweatshirt and a pair of worn, comfortable blue jeans. Depending on how the day went, I wanted to have the ease of movement. Restrictive clothing didn't seem like a good idea, considering all that had been going on lately.

Brian pushed the door open and entered as I prepared to make my exit. I yawned as I looked into his eyes. I watched his attention drift down my body and then flash back to my eyes.

"Morning." Sleep hung lazily in my voice. I smiled, seeing the flush of pink in his cheeks as he grinned back.

"G-Good morning," Brian stammered, dropping his gaze again and then lifting it sharply. His habit of staring down to the floor when he got nervous was adorable and all too inconvenient, considering I was standing in front of him naked.

"Wear something loose. I'm not sure what the uncles have planned, but I bet we'll be training."

I gave Brain a mischievous grin and made my way out the door and into the bathroom. I stood under the spray of hot water, letting it take the last remnants of sleep from me. I needed coffee. I toweled off and pulled on the clothes I had selected and went downstairs.

I paused at the bottom of the stairs and looked at the destruction David had made of my garden and porch. My heart ached with the memory as I turned toward the kitchen. I didn't want to dwell on past horrors. I concentrated on the aroma of fresh coffee and let it lead me to the kitchen.

It seems like Kent, Mark, and Brian were in a heated discussion and, as I entered, the room was left in complete silence. Their eyes pressed against me as I fixed myself a cup of coffee and turned to see them staring at me.

I took a small sip, nearly burning my lip, and studied them. They had been talking about me. I could feel the tension between them.

Mark interrupted the silence. "Ty, are you okay?

"There is nothing wrong with me that any of you can fix," I answered, taking another sip of my coffee.

My answer had been matter of fact and flat. It seemed to sting them as they flinched at the words. A thoughtful look passed Kent's eyes as I felt the resolution of his thoughts. He understood it would take time.

Mark had already opened his mouth to speak when he stopped, feeling Kent's hand on his shoulder. Mark looked into Kent's eyes and let out the breath he was going to use to further the discussion and stared, in stead, into his coffee with a look of defeat.

"I'm okay Uncle Mark. I love you. It's okay." I smiled at him before taking another sip of my coffee.

Mark lifted his eyes to mine. They were glassy and threatened to let loose a torrent of tears. I felt his flood of sadness drift away as he smiled back at me,

I caught the smell of 'almost' sausage piled to my right on a towel-covered plate. I picked one from the pile and started eating. Conversation wasn't really what I wanted right now. We ate our breakfast in silence.

"John and Laura are coming, Brian," Kent said quietly. "They'll be here very soon."

The terror in Brian's eyes didn't reassure me as I watched him stiffen. Fine time to spring this on us! I had to suppress my anger. Kent's announcement was less than subtle or kind. That had always been his way. He never sugar coated the truth. Seeing Brian's hurt reaction, fueled a small fury in me. Hadn't we been through enough? Why does everything have to be so damned hard?

"I think it would probably be best if you two went outside while we talk," Mark announced.

I could hear the distant sound of an engine and tires running against the pavement toward our house. I was going to object when I saw Kent give a nod. This wasn't going to be a pleasant encounter and they were trying to spare us. I glanced over at Brian and was swallowed by his feelings of impending doom. He was worried.

"Come on," I reached out my hand to Brian.

He rose from his chair, clasped my hand tightly, and I led him through the side door of the kitchen. We walked around the side of the house and sat in the swing that hung from the large oak tree.
We watched as Laura and John drove up our dusty driveway. They barely paused to glare in our direction before barging into the house. They were people with a purpose. Two intense hours of arguing finally ended with John and Laura slamming the screen door behind them and walking back to their car.

"Brian Alexander, get your ass in this car right now!" Laura screamed.

I felt Brian rise, defeated, and pull his hand from mine. He was leaving. He was leaving me! Brian turned away and walked toward the car. He opened the back door and climbed in, staring at the floor, never looking back. I could feel his anguish, yet he obeyed.

John glared back at the uncles as they stood solemnly at the side door. At about the time Mark was going to speak, John cut him short by slamming his car door shut and starting the engine. He tore backwards, sending a spray of dirt forward, and turned in the yard. Their car jerked forward, taking Brian down the driveway

My heart felt like it was dying. The sky erupted in a shower of lightning as black ominous clouds rolled in and blocked the sun. A small tremor was felt through the ground. The shaking earth only slightly slowed John's escape before the car turned away from our driveway onto the gravel.

Lightning flashed across the sky and the earth shook again under our feet.

"Ty! Stop!" I felt the back of Kent's hand blast across my cheek. I hadn't seen him walk in front of me.

I flooded every ounce of pain and anguish I felt into a single burst, and focused it upon Kent. He screamed and fell to his knees in front of me. A sound was squeezed from him that was barely audible. It was a slow, compressed exhale that hissed passed his lips. Only complete devastation can cause that effect. I wanted him to feel it. For a split second I wanted someone to hurt as badly as I did and Kent had become the target.

The absolute horror in his eyes brought me back to reality. I pulled the pain back, almost violently, as I watched his body topple to the ground. The recoil of my own emotion crashed against me like knifes as I screamed my frustration to the sky. Lightning tore down and struck around us in blinding flashes, too many to count. I fell to my knees and sobbed. They had distracted me long enough for Brian to leave. I could have forced Brian and his parents back, but that wasn't our way. I yearned for that small piece of selfishness we could be afforded by our gifts, but remained constantly out of reach. I let them take him from me.

I stood and watched Mark cradle Kent in his arms. A piece of me broke, watching them cling together. Each was there for the other even in the worst of times. They supported each other even if the only thing they had to offer was their touch.

I remembered the feel of Brian's skin against my face this morning when I awoke, feeling his fingers stroll through my hair. I stood up and walked past Kent and Mark. I headed to the back of the house and toward the lane which led to our sacred circle of trees.

I turned and whispered across the wind, "I love you, Brian," and then started my way down the lane. The turmoil in my heart was reflected by the wind and darkness around me. The black ominous clouds blocked the suns rays, giving everything a grey cast. The breeze violently pushed through the trees and threatened to freeze my tears as they rolled down my cheeks.

It didn't take much longer walking to get back to the circle than it did riding in the truck. I was now entering the circle and moving toward the altar. I pulled my hands into my sleeves of my sweatshirt and crossed my arms to help fight the frigid air. I wasn't sure how much time had passed and I didn't care. Misery always feels like an eternity and this pain was fresh.

I slumped down and sat on the ground in the space between the altar and the giant oak tree that was the center of the sacred circle. I leaned my back against the altar and lowered my head to my knees and cried. Everything had seemed almost bearable when I thought I would have Brian by my side. Now he was gone.

The sound of air hissing through the bare branches mixed with my sobs, made somber music. The trees whispered with what seemed a thousand quiet voices. "Galen," the voices said.

I lifted my head from my knees and pushed my hands back through the sleeves of my sweatshirt as I scanned the circle from where I sat. I didn't see him.

"You're much too hard on people, Ty." I heard Galen's gravely voice behind me.

I jumped up and spun around, backing away toward the oak tree. Galen was perched atop the stone altar, resting his hands and chin atop his staff.

"What the hell would you know?" I spat out the words.

"I loved once, a long time ago. I remember the feelings of loss as much as I can taste them from you now." Galen studied me as he had the first time we met. "Judging by the expression on your face, you don't believe me. I can assure you it's quite true."

"What are you doing here, Galen?" I felt my body tense in preparation for a battle. I didn't know him, and I surely didn't trust him. Everything about him was a deception.

"I'm not here to fight, so please be at ease. Come and sit with me." He lifted his head enough to move his wrinkled hand and patted the space on the altar beside him.

I took a step backward and he frowned.

"Don't be silly, young druid. Had I wanted to kill you, you would already be dead. You didn't even heed the tree's announcement of my arrival. Come sit with me."

His voice was somewhat warmer this time, and pulled me to him with its comforting hoarse tones. I took a few slow cautious steps toward him before moving the short distance at an even stride. I sat on the altar beside him and cupped my head in my hands as my elbows rested on my knees, mimicking his pose.

"I did hear the trees announce you. I just didn't see you." I offered.

"You only looked at what was in front of you. The world is not only what is in plain sight. You must learn to grasp the larger scope of life. You didn't look above, below, or behind you," he said earnestly.

"Whatever," I snapped at him. I was angry and he was as good a target as any.

Galen slid forward and stepped down from the alter to stand in front of me.

"Brian didn't leave you, Ty. He was taken." Galen's steely blue eyes stared into mine. His voice had taken on an angrier tone.

"He could have said no!" I countered.

"Oh? Had the roles been reversed and your uncles came to collect you, would you have fought them?" he asked. "You must learn to temper your emotions."

I supposed Brian felt the same about John and Laura as I felt about Kent and Mark. He loved them and they were the only parents he knew. I knew Galen was right, but I didn't want to admit it.

"No matter whose fault it is, he's gone," I said finally and looked off to the side at the sound of a snapping twig.

"Is he?" I heard Galen's voice seeming to come from the oak tree.

He was gone. I jumped off the altar and ran behind the tree. He had vanished. I made my way around the tree and prepared to brood a bit more when I saw Brian running toward me. At first I thought I had lost my mind, but it was him! I don't know how long I stood, dazed. I finally gathered my wits as his arms wrapped around me and pulled me into a tight hug. I pulled him tight against me before we broke from the embrace.

"I don't understand," I said, staring in disbelief.

His face took on a jilted look of sadness as he spoke, "I told them."

"That you are Druid?" I wasn't getting something here.

"No. That I'm gay. They could love me if I was part of a 'cult' so long as I didn't practice. They wouldn't stand for a pervert being around her children." Brian's voice choked out the words and I could feel the sharp pain that flooded his chest. "I told them when I heard you say you loved me."

"They kicked me out of the car and I walked back. Brian and Kent said I could live here. I've got nowhere else to go." His eyes were red and swollen from his recent tears. I am sure I had a matching pair.

"You're not a pervert, Brian. I love you." I meant the words. "I hope you stay here with me forever." I pulled him into my arms and gave him a gentle kiss. I relished the warmth of his body against mine. We finally separated and smiled at each other.

"So, what was the light show I saw when we were leaving?" he asked.

I felt my face flush with embarrassment. "I was upset that you left me," I mumbled in reply, staring down at my feet.

"The earthquakes too?" he asked.

I could only nod my head in reply. I had completely lost control. Had Kent not snapped me out of it I might have been responsible for some serious destruction. What frightened me most was trying to understand the limits of my new found power. I raised my hand to my cheek where Kent had struck me. It didn't sting or even feel swollen, but the memory made my skin tingle. It was the kind of fleeting memory you get from a special smell.

"Is Kent okay?" I didn't want to fill Brian in on all of the embarrassing details, but I did hope he would be able to give me good news.

"He seemed fine when we spoke. He and Mark were in the kitchen when I got back. They told me I would find you here."

Brian looked a little worried when I lifted my eyes to his. I could feel his concern. He had enough to think about right now without worrying about my little tantrum from earlier.

"I never had anyone shake the earth for me before." He smiled so wide it seemed to reach his eyes.

"Keep that in mind when we have our first fight!" I said, sticking out my tongue.

We both burst into laughter and I felt the sun shining against my face. The weather had cleared along with my mood.

"So when do I get to learn how to do that talking thing you do?" Brian was nearly bubbling with excitement.

"Well, I don't really know. Let's go talk with Kent and Mark. You can practice on our way back."

Our hands reached for each other's and clasped as we found an even, slow stride.

"It's called Wind Whispering. What you do is push the words out across the wind and then let it carry them to their destination."

Brian looked back at me and whispered, "I love you."

"I love you, too." The words made me smile. "But it isn't really whispering. Stop for a second. Now hold your hand up to your mouth, palm side to your lips. Face into the wind and feel the air pushing against the back of your hand." I paused as Brian followed my instructions.

"Now, blow on your palm until the pressure feels the same as the wind hitting the back of your hand."

Brian listened intently and faced into the wind, blowing onto the palm of his hand.

"When you Wind Whisper, you turn so that your back is against the wind. Go ahead and turn around, and try to match the breath on your palm with the pressure of the wind on your neck. The idea is that the wind carries your words to their destination. You aren't really whispering. The wind becomes your voice."

Brian turned with his back to the wind and practiced a few times. Nodding, he stared at me waiting for more. You could practically see his excitement and I was glad to distract him from thoughts of John and Laura.

"Okay. Now, put your hand down, close your eyes, and imagine who you want to hear your message. Picture Kent's face in your mind and, when you are ready, blow out the words and picture them riding on the wind and brushing past his ears. Nature will take care of the rest."

I watched as Brian took several deep breaths as he focused. After a few moments he pushed the words out with the wind. "Thank you, Kent."

A few seconds later came his reply. "You're welcome, Brian."

Brian's eyes shot open and he danced around me. "I did it, I did it!" I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

His expressions darkened slightly and he stared at me, tapping his foot. "Just what's so damn funny?"

I could feel he wasn't truly angry but it still made me laugh.

"You've died, come back to life, saw a werewolf, and protected me from an attack of the most powerful of all Druid's, and THIS is what you get excited about?" I doubled over laughing again.

"I can't help it. This is cool!" Brian protested.

I pulled Brian into a quick, tight hug. then let him go, after giving him a peck on the lips.

"I think it's cool, too, Bry. You certainly learned it faster than I did. One warning though, don't try to hold a long conversation over the wind. You'll hyperventilate."

"Bry, I like the sound of that," he said, grinning.

I don't know when I had started referring to him as Bry in my mind, but it just seemed to fit. Bri and Ty. We started walking toward the house again as he whispered a 'thank you' to Mark. A quick 'you're welcome, Brian' had him nearly hopping in place. I struggled to suppress my giggles. He was so cute!

We finally made it back to the house and walked into the kitchen. I walked over to Kent and gave him a hug. I whispered 'I'm sorry' into his ear and felt his arms pull me in tighter. I then walked over to Mark and we hugged.

"So, can I keep him?" I asked.

"Is he potty trained?" Kent asked.

The look of confusion on Bry's face was priceless.

"He's potty trained. I promise to take good care of him!" I begged.

"Well, so long as you feed and water him every day, and clean up after his messes, then you can keep him. If he starts to chew the furniture he's going outside," Mark announced with a wry smile.

I turned to Bry with a wide grin on my face. "It's settled, you can stay."

TBC