The Seasons

Chapter 25

Slaine frowned when he felt someone watching him, and he looked around to see Rex Superno walking straight towards him. He tensed when the king stopped before him. Slaine had to arch his neck to look up at the man, and he forced himself to smile. He could feel Chaos telling him to run, it was a deep hum originating from the base of his neck, and he had to force himself to take a deep breath.

“Hi,” he said, taking a step back. He frowned when Rex’s eyes landed on his necklace.

“Hello,” Rex said; Slaine noticed the hint of an Egyptian accent. “You must be Slaine.”

“I am, yes.” Jasper nudged him, and Slaine cleared his throat. “Sir?”

Rex laughed a little, “just Rex is fine.”

“Okay.”

“May I ask where you got that necklace?”

The insistent buzz became stronger. “I found it.” Well, technically, he did find it. In his palms. Given by Chaos.

Rex smiled. “I see. And you were the human cursed, yes?”

“Yeah, I died. Elizabeth brought me back.”

At the mention of her name, Elizabeth turned to stare at Slaine, and he looked over, pleading with his eyes to get him out of this situation. She leaned in and said something to Rosalyn, and her eyes snapped to him. He couldn’t hear what had been said as the buzzing was too loud. Aloud buzzing his head, that had appeared out of nowhere.

He was sure he excused himself from Rex and stumbled past everyone, ignoring their glances to get into the bathroom. He leaned against the sink to stare at the mirror. His eyes were glowing. They were still purple but had faint undertones of red. Chaos was standing behind him, a frown on their face.

“Slaine! Are you okay?”

“What the hell was that?” he hissed as his gums throbbed and his fangs peeked through.

“Slaine,” Jasper began as he rushed into the bathroom.

“Get out!” he hissed, interrupting him. “Get out, Jasper!” Oh, he could smell his blood. “Leave! Call Elizabeth and stay far, far away. Keep Atticus and Summer away.”

Jasper paled as he nodded and rushed out.

“What is happening?”

“You are okay,” Chaos said.

He could feel the ghost of a hand on his back, rubbing in slow circles. “You’re okay. You’re just overwhelmed. He was one of the first vampires, he was using his powers on you. You’re okay. You just need to calm down. You’re okay. Send Elizebeth away, Slaine. You don’t need her. I will help you through this.”

“Slaine,” Elizabeth said as she walked into the bathroom.

“I’m okay,” he said. “I’m fine, sorry you can go. Just don’t let any fo the humans in here or anywhere near here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” he said through clenched teeth as his grip on the sink tightened. So hard that he snapped some of it. “Oh, and tell Neo I broke his sink.”

Elizabeth eyed him warily before running her hands down her black dress, nodding, and walking out.

“Okay. You’re okay. I know you feel odd. You feel scared; you would if you turned your emotions on.”

“They’re on!” he hissed, glaring at them through their reflection. “And I feel f*****g terrified. So help me!”

Chaos led Slaine to calm down once again. His fangs had receded into his gums, so only his canine teeth remained, and his eyes returned to their standard purple shade.

“What the f**k what that?” he said. Somewhere along the way, he had curled up in a corner with his arms around his knees and a phantom body wrapped around him. He stared at the mirror, which was barely visible, but he saw half of Chaos.

“In the beginning, I created two vampires for balance. Rex Superno is one of them,” they said. “He used his magic on you, but the necklace I gave you counteracted it, and instead of dispersing the magic as it should have, it contained it. You’re body began to overheat in a sense, and the magic was finding a way to escape.”

“I have so many questions, but I am tired.”

“I know,” they said. “Please, avoid the king, and once you get home, you can sleep this off.”

He stayed curled up in the corner of the bathroom, with the phantom touch of someone holding him for five more minutes before the strength finally came back into his legs, and he stood up shakily. Wobbling over to the sink, he stared at Chaos. “Why the f**k did he try and use magic on me?”

Chaos’s face remained blank. “I’m not sure, Slaine. But stay away from him for your safety. I have to go. I will see you in a bit.”

Before Slaine could ask the deity to stay, he watched as they turned into red particles, and like constantly, a few always swirled around him before all he could see in the mirror was him. Slaine stayed beside Jasper, Kevin and Atticus, and now and then, he could feel the eyes of someone on him, and the three times he looked up, it was always Rex Superno, and he wasn’t staring at him per se. It was always on his necklace.

After almost three hours, did Rex announce that he was leaving and that Cairo would join him for a while. Wing looked like he was about to cry before dragging Cairo into the backroom, and ten minutes later, the duo came out, and Cairo went to Elizabeth.

Slaine being the nosy s**t he was, overheard their conversation.

“Wing’s having a meltdown.”

Rosalyn snorted. “When is he not?” Cairo shot her a glare, and she put her hands up. “Sorry.”

“Elizabeth, can he stay with you two for a while? He’s fresh. We can’t have him feeding on someone who accidentally tripped and scratched their skin.”

Elizabeth looked reluctant but nodded. “Yeah, he can crash in the guest room.”

“Thank you. I’ll pick him up when I’m back.”

Ten minutes later, Rex Superno and Cairo left The Seasons. Slaine waited five minutes before practically running home himself. He went straight into his bedroom, and despite only being awake for roughly six hours, he fell back asleep.

~*~