Chapter 12: Cops and Mobbers

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006, Waterville Maine

I sighed heavily as I opened the door to our hotel suite. I basically ignored the girls as they all clamored in behind me; I was in a mood. I found the right bedroom and then dropped the two duffle bags and two suitcases that I had been carrying next to the king-sized bed. I flopped onto the mattress and sighed again; I was feeling mentally weary. We’d rented a two-bedroom suite for the night in Waterville, Maine, which was about three hours north of Boston. We all just wanted to relax for a day or two after the craziness of everything that had happened to us in Quebec City. We—or at least I—desperately needed to recoup somewhat psychically, I was feeling majorly depressed over Martin’s death.

Shooting K-rag or whatever he’d said his name was and having an innocent man die—one that I’d used my power on to make him lead us—made everything very real all of a sudden. I mean, it wasn’t as if I hadn’t believed Malachar and everything that he’d told me, but until we’d actually had that horrific confrontation, it had still seemed like a movie or something. None of it had been quite real, not one-hundred percent anyway. Yes, I felt the magic, and yeah, I heard him in my head, but being told that you had enemies got a lot more authentic when they were flesh and blood, standing right in front of you, where you had no choice but to fight.

I sighed again. No matter what I did, no matter how many blow jobs Maria gave me, I couldn’t get Martin’s smiling, laughing, and kind face out of my head. That image kept being superimposed with his sightless staring eyes and the ashen color of his skin. I kept seeing his crumpled body as it laid unmoving upon the cold, rough cement of the long-forgotten underground chamber. I was haunted by his death, and I’d forbidden Malachar from allowing me to forget. I didn’t deserve that luxury. I needed to have him haunt me as a reminder so that it didn’t happen again. I did ask him to help me to suppress the memories and imagery of chopping the Devil’s corpse up though. I didn’t want to handle those nightmares; they weren’t the same as grief.

I’d used my own ability to relieve the burden of remorse and overwhelming sadness from the others. It wasn’t their fault any more than it had been Mr. Montpetit’s. It’s ironic that only after his death could I learn to pronounce his name right. I’d seen the tears on his broken-hearted wife’s face when she had answered the door and realized who I was, and that had definitely helped me to imbibe that. I had also witnessed his devastated kids as they clung to each other, sobbing.

Giving them a hundred grand didn’t alleviate me of my culpability, but it was the least that I could do. I’d unwittingly caused a family to mourn for their father and husband, and I knew what that was like first hand. I still missed my father every single day. Even though I was madly in love with my mother and she felt the same, I knew that she missed him too. Our love didn’t change how she felt about him, and I was glad for that. She and I had talked about that very subject last night after everyone else had gone to sleep, brought on because of her pregnancy.

We talked about the future of our baby; we were scared but happy as well. Having our lives almost snuffed out, or enslaved, and witnessing the death of our guide—we both knew that we would be bringing new life into a supremely dangerous situation. Like me, she had thought about birth control and the possibility of getting pregnant, but it had always gotten pushed out of our heads in those moments where we could have done something about it or discussed it. We had both ignored the issue and put it off whenever we’d consciously thought about it. She coyly admitted that whenever she thought about it, the idea had turned her on like crazy. She wanted to bear my children.

It was too late now, and even though it was much too early for a pregnancy test, we both knew in our hearts that the Demon had been right when he’d told us. I suppose that the smartest thing that we could do now would be to have an abortion, but neither of us could bring ourselves to actually do that. So I was going to be a Dad, a father—to my own brother or sister, no less. What a messed up concept—but even so, I was overjoyed at the thought of having a son or daughter with my mother.

It’s weird being manipulated by magic. I knew that it was happening, I knew that for some reason, the ring was wanting us to have a child, but I was okay with it. I just had to make damn sure that I protected her and all of my girls. I figured that Sheila was most likely knocked-up by now too. I definitely needed to bring that up with her, probably at the same time that I told everyone else about Kelly’s pregnancy.

I opened my eyes when I heard Heather push the door open and tiptoe into the room.

“JJ?” Heather asked tentatively. Everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells around me.

“Yes, Peanut?” I replied gently.

I was hurting inside, but I wasn’t about to take it out on the ones I loved. Especially when the fault lay solely with me.

“Um, can I do anything for you?” she asked hopefully. “I mean, I can massage you or give you a really good blowjob if you want!” she added in a rush.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m not in the mood right now,” I answered with a sigh. I watched as my baby sister’s face fell; she looked crestfallen. I sighed inwardly—I probably just hurt her feelings without meaning too. Sometimes it was hard to remember that she was only fourteen and that she was still emotionally fragile. “You can cuddle with me ... if you want to. I’d like that,” I told her, hoping that would be enough for now. I wasn’t in the mood for anything other than introspection and knowledge-seeking with Malachar.

“Okay!” she yipped immediately.

Her demeanor instantly improved, much to my silent amusement; teenage girls had mood swings that changed quicker than a strobe-light could flash.

“I love you, Peanut,” I murmured.

“I love you too, JJ! Here, let me undress you, and then we can cuddle underneath the sheets. It’s pretty late, and since it’s mine and Abs turn to be with you tonight anyway, we could just go to sleep right now if you wanted to,” Heather happily babbled now that she knew that she was welcome to stay.

I shrugged non-committedly and sat up so that she could pull off my t-shirt. I looked up as both Abby and Maria wandered in, looking at me with concern.

“Going to bed now, Jake?” Abby asked as her gaze flicked back and forth between Heather and me.

“Yeah, I guess. You’re welcome to cuddle with me too. I just don’t feel up to talking right now. I’ve got a lot of stuff to discuss inside of my head with Malachar if you guys don’t mind.”

Abby didn’t say anything; she just nodded and started to strip off her clothes for bed.

“Can I do anything for you, Mi Gato?” Maria asked demurely as her eyes roamed over my cock, which had just sprung from my boxers as Heather yanked them down my thighs.

She’d blown me twice since last night—all in an effort to recharge my ring somewhat, but other than that, I’d been resisting letting anyone else suck or fuck me. I was learning how to combat the ring’s lust that it caused to bubble up in me; I was the master of the magic, not the slave! I had used almost every scrap of energy the artifact contained in dealing with the police and Mr. Monpetit’s family; thank god the border guards were easy. I had been on empty until I let Maria suck me while I drove after getting back in the States. I knew that my ring was dangerously low in power and that I should be doing my best to recharge it, but I didn’t feel like it. I was simply too depressed.

“No thanks, Hermosa. You can come to give me a kiss goodnight though if you want,” I said as I tried to give her a smile but failed.

She dove onto my lap, and I gave her a sweet, loving kiss as she hugged me tightly to her. I loved her scent, oranges mixed with a hint of cloves.

Fuck her in the ass, you fucking ass! You need to be charged; you’re risking everything!

<Drop it! I’m just not in the mood, we’ll be fine overnight, and I will tomorrow! I promise!> I said, feeling exhausted and exasperated.

Thankfully he backed off again; I really didn’t feel like arguing.

“Hi, Jake. Billy wants to give you a hug goodnight too,” Sheila said as she walked in, holding the little tyke within her arms.

“Of course! He’s my little man!” I quipped back.

This time a small smile did appear upon my face; Billy brought out the best in me. I hoped that I’d be a good Dad when my mother gave birth to our child.

Thinking about Mom must-have summoned her because she came into the room right behind Sheila with worry creasing her brow.

“You know that it’s not your fault, Jake-e-poo!” Mom exclaimed. I could tell that she could see the stress haunting my eyes. “You need to stop blaming yourself for Mr. Monpetit’s death! It was a horrible, horrible thing, but no one could have foreseen what happened, and as I said during the drive, what choice did we have? You needed to get that ring, because if you didn’t, then it would be all of us that would die! I’m sorry if this sounds callous, but I’d rather it be anyone else over my family and loved ones! Besides, now we have even more reasons to win this war if we’re going to be having a baby, my love!” she stated pleadingly.

I couldn’t help but notice how her hands subconsciously caressed her belly, both lovingly and protectively at the mention of her carrying our child.

“You’re going to have a baby!?” Heather squealed as she started to bounce up and down upon the bed excitedly. “For real? That Demon guy was telling the truth!?”

“I figured as much, but I didn’t think that you guys were in the mood to bring it up earlier, so I held back from asking! Wow, that’s so freakin’ cool! We’re going to be Aunts, Goldilocks!” Abby stated, barely containing her own excitement at the news. “And sister’s!” she exclaimed as an afterthought.

“I’m not, Baby!” Billy grumped as he misunderstood what the fuss was about. “I’m big boy now!”

“Nope, you are definitely not a baby anymore, Billy. You’re absolutely right, but Aunt Kelly is going to have MY baby, so that means that you’ll have a little cousin to play with after,” I explained as I took him from his mother’s arms and held him.

“Tanty, Kelly, have baby?” he asked as he looked at her skeptically.

“Yes, she’s going to give me a son or daughter, my little man!” I confirmed for him.

“Uh-huh! She will, but now it’s time to say goodnight. It’s way past your bedtime, my little Billy-Goat!” Sheila told him with a warm smile.

“Night, night, ‘Ake! ‘Ughs, peease!” Billy screeched happily as he reached out his chubby little arms to hug around my neck.

I tickled him a little and let his innocent joy wash over me. His shrieking laughter was contagious, and it had all of us grinning in no time. After a couple of minutes spent horsing around, I hugged and kissed him good night and then did the same for his mother. Billy had actually managed to bring a huge smile to my face, but it disappeared as soon as Sheila left the room with him.

I sighed as I saw that my Ma—it was Kelly now, I tried to remind myself, especially since I had slipped up earlier and called her both my girlfriend and my mother to the same police officer—she was still staring at me with loving concern etched across her face.

I stood up and opened my arms for her, and she quickly slipped into my embrace, “I love you, Ma-Kelly, I mean...”

“It’s okay to call me Ma or Mom when we’re alone ... I like it when you say that still,” she whispered to me as she looked up into my eyes, scrutinizing me.

“I know, me too, it’s just that I’m trying to practice,” I said with a shrug. I bent my head and kissed her briefly before pulling back. I wasn’t in the mood to get excited, and I knew what would happen if I let her slip me the tongue. “I know what you said about my not being responsible, but I have to disagree, but please ... I really don’t want to talk about it tonight. I’m weary, and I just want to relax now that we’re back in the States. I need to figure some stuff out in my head; we’ll talk about it another time, Kelly,” I told her gently but firmly.

“Okay,” she pouted. “Goodnight, my baby boy. I love you more than words can ever say. Goodnight, my gorgeous girls. Please take care of your brother; make sure that he sleeps well tonight; he needs it.”

“We will!” they both echoed at the same time as they pulled back the blanket and sheets for me.

Our mother grabbed Maria gently by the arm and led her out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

“Night,” I mumbled as I got into the bed and closed my eyes.

I may have been in a bad mood, but I still enjoyed the feeling of two warm naked teenaged bodies as they snuggled up on either side of me.

<Hey, Malachar, what are the odds that Sheila’s pregnant by now as well, do you think?>

She most likely is, but you should still broach the subject with her regardless. Maybe she got birth-control, and she just hasn’t brought it up yet. I haven’t bothered scanning her since she became one of your five, so I don’t know anything for sure. From your memory banks, I can see that they have a few different options available that would reduce the chances of pregnancy immediately, even if they are not fool-proof. Spermicide, IUD, a diaphragm, cervical cap, and a few others. Still, I bet that she is knocked-up, preggers, got a bun in the oven, and that you’re going to be a daddy, though. Magic is funny that way, Jake; it always does something when it has a goal, even if the result is very unexpected.

<How can magic have a goal if it’s not sentient?>

Hmm, let’s see what I can find in your memories that could be used to create the best analogy to help make you understand. Oh, I got it! In the boxes that you have called computers, well, you have programs, those programs aren’t sentient, but they do sometimes cause unintended consequences when given a goal. Magic works much in the same way. Often times—mostly with amateurs or the mediocrely skilled—a gifted will create a spell to do one thing but find that it also does another thing as well, one that wasn’t intended.

<Oh, so kinda like the ring wanting me to procreate in the first place. You said that was an unintended side-effect from when you created it. Did you ever figure out what went wrong and why the magic wants the bearer to make babies with his loved ones?>

As a matter of fact, I did. As soon as I saw the flaw, I knew instantly what had happened and why. Emotional intent.

<Emotional intent? What do you mean?>

Most magic is not created by exact measurements. It’s not at all like the idea that you have floating around in your head. There is no add one cup of newt, a dash of bat guano, and a tail feather from a peacock type of spells where if you don’t follow precise instructions, the incantation fails. Nor is there a Witch stirring a bubbling brew in a huge black cauldron, as seen in your cartoons. While there are a multitude of spells that do require specific ingredients, the amounts vary by person, and emotional intent is often a key to how successful the outcome will be. It is the will and the desire of the caster that determines everything; the various instruments used are merely for focus and to help form an outline of the basic shape of the magic to be cast.

<So the person with the strongest willpower can create the most potent spells?>

Yes and no. Willpower is a considerable part of it, but so is lifeforce, magical acumen, specific spell crafting knowledge, and intuition. And like I said, emotional intent—desire—which can often help to create the more powerful spells, but not always. There is a flow to magic, and it is different for each user. Just as all rivers take various courses to wind their way towards the sea yet still end up at the same destination, so too do different practitioners take multiple pathways to cast their magic. Nevertheless, the results can be the same. When a Magician, or Sorcerer, uses their magical ability, it takes a balance of all the various aspects to make their intent successful. Yet, their methods of doing so will be unique.

<What’s the difference between a Magician and a Sorcerer?>

<Okay, I can see that, so how would a magician cast a fireball then? Wouldn’t it slow them down if they had to perform a certain recipe to get the results they needed?>

Yes, which is why Magicians use powerful artifacts that have spells stored within them to cast from. They use rings—obviously—wands, scrolls, cloaks, potions, amulets, familiars, and the list goes on. Sorcerers can use those as well, but they usually can’t create their own and must purchase them. I hope you do realize that you are getting a very simplified version of magic at this point. It is much more complicated than I can take the time to explain to you right now. It takes decades of study to master even medium level spells for a Magician. For Sorcerers, while they learn much more quickly, they are limited in how often they can cast due to lifeforce expenditure.

<Lifeforce expenditure? What? They need to use their own life to power their spells?>

Exactly, each cast drains them, and eventually, they will be unable to cast a spell without permanently harming or killing themselves. When they reach that stage, they need to recharge their energies first, akin to how your magic works in conjunction with your ring. Each type of Sorcerer has different methods of doing so, some are like you, and they need sex. In contrast, others need to kill and steal the lifeforce from sentient creatures to fuel themselves—most of those use animals, but not all—and some simply need sleep and food.

<So if I am one of the gifted, as you said, then how do I know what type I am? Am I a Magician? A Sorcerer? Are there other types of magic users?>

<You said before when you were explaining some of the details about the Hydra that the sixth element is magic. So that means that it’s an element just like Earth, Water, Fire, Air, or Spirit?>

<Possibility? Is that because magic makes all things possible?>

I yawned even though I had zero desire to sleep; I was afraid to see what nightmares I’d have.

Yes, in a general way, but that discussion is for another time. You need to sleep, Jake, m’boy. You didn’t get any rest last night, and you drove for hours after dealing with the body, investigation, and Martin’s family both yesterday and today. You wanted me to help curb your nightmares, but you haven’t let your brain sort your memories, and until you do, I can’t help. You also really need to recharge. You aren’t just placing yourself at risk but everyone that you love and care about...

<I know, you’ve been telling me that repeatedly since yesterday.> I grumped.

Yeah, well, I actually give a shit. You must start acting more responsible when it comes to being prepared, Jake. Stop wallowing in misery simply because someone got killed. I understand that you’re hurting; trust me, I do, but this is war. It’s your life versus that of our enemies. They will give you no quarter and expect none. It’s unfortunate that Mr. Monpetit lost his life, but don’t throw yours and your families on top of the pyre in some misplaced sense of guilt. You’re allowing yourself to become frozen in inaction when it wasn’t your fault in the first place. There is only one person responsible for Mr. Monpetit’s death, and you shot him in the head with nineteen bullets.

<Can we drop it if I agree to go to sleep? I’m pretty much starting to pass out now anyways. Oh, and remind me to ask you more details about Delilah’s Tears tomorrow, please.>

Fine, but you’d better think about getting your act together in the morning. The Council won’t be sitting back on their laurels, just hoping that you slit your wrists or something, they’ll be coming after you, and this time it will be worse.

I grunted at that and let myself slip away into welcome unconsciousness.

Wednesday, July 26th, 2006, Waterville Maine

I slowly awoke; my arm was wrapped around someone, and I had a firm breast cupped within my palm. I could feel a warm body pressed back into my chest, and a set of firm buttocks was snug to my groin. A faint whiff of strawberries pleasantly filled my nostrils, and I breathed in deeply, savoring the smell. Without opening my eyes, I knew that I was holding my Peanut as she slept peacefully encased within my arms.

I fluttered my eyes open, squinting at the bright morning sunlight that had found a way into the room, no matter that the heavy drapes were still closed. As my eyes adjusted, I could see Abby’s long platinum-blonde hair where it cascaded halfway down her sleek back, her long legs, and her perfect ass as she gazed between the curtains and looked outside. She was the culprit who was letting the sun in to fall across my face.

“Hey,” I croaked, my throat feeling dry. “Any chance that there’s any coffee ready?” I asked my sister blearily as I propped my head up to look around.

“Oh! Good Morning, Bro! You startled me!” Abby exclaimed as she spun from the window, letting the curtains fall back in place to do their job of blocking the sunlight once more.

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “What time is it?”

“It’s just after nine, and yeah, there’s a full pot. I’ll get you a cup, you horny little goat!” she replied with a smirk. “Well, maybe not so little,” she giggled as she swept across the room to make me a coffee.

I watched her face in the mirror as she stood in front of the large dresser where the complimentary coffee maker sat. I liked the way that her tits jiggled as she stirred in my cream and sugar. It was her turn to smirk as she caught me staring.

“I love how you make me feel when you look at me, Hot Stuff,” she murmured with a smile as she sauntered over, bringing me a steaming cup of joe.

“Good,” I grunted, still not quite awake yet. “Anyone else up?”

“Sheila and Ma have been up in the living room with Billy for over an hour. Maria’s still asleep, I think, and your Peanut looks like a fairy princess with the way that she’s cuddled up into you,” she replied with a twinkle in her eyes. “I’m surprised that I’m up considering last night!”

“Last night?” I inquired with a raised brow. Something about the way she said it implied something to do with me.

I took a sip from the cup she handed me and sighed gratefully as the pleasant warmth of coffee flowed down my throat.

“Jake, you must have fucked Heather and me three times each in the middle of the night! You don’t remember? My ass certainly remembers—it’s fucking sore, Baby!” she accused with another giggle.

“I fucked you guys?” I asked her, feeling pretty confused.

I rolled over and sat up so that I was sitting on the edge of the bed, making it easier to gulp down some more of the liquid caffeine that I so desperately needed. Heather groaned in protest as she tried to keep me next to her.

Oh boy did you ever! You slammed that sister snatch for hours! You made them eat a creampie every time that you switched, plus you spanked both of them until they came, and then you did them each in the ass too! It was FAN-ASS-TASTIC!

<You made me fuck them last night? Why can’t I remember it? And just how in the hell did you manage to do that!? I thought you said that you couldn’t take over my body?! What in the hell, man?>

“You certainly did, Sparky! I woke up to you slamming me in the puss from behind! Mmm, you can wake me up like that any time, big brother!” Abs exclaimed with a naughty grin as she stood and watched me slurp my coffee.

Relax! Don’t get your panties all in a bunch! I can’t take over your body. I already explained that to you the first time that you asked. I can control your subconscious, though, and as soon as you were conked out, I got you to fuck them both in your dream state. Basically, you were sleep-fucking, and you can bloody well thank me for making you do so too! Your power is now fully charged, your negative emotions regarding Mr. Monpetit’s unfortunate demise have been successfully suppressed, and your sister’s actually slept like babies when you finished with them—instead of them being up all night worrying about your selfish ass.

I glanced down at the Twin-Serpents on my finger and saw that the coils were tightly entwined even though I didn’t really need to look because I could feel that I was brimming with power as soon as he said it.

<Thanks. Sorry I snapped, I’m not quite awake, and it’s a bit disconcerting not to be able to remember anything about doing it.>

Someone had to do the smart thing. Listen, m’boy, you’re the best chance that I have at getting resurrected, and I’m going to do my best to see that you don’t blow it. Having an emotional breakdown was simply not going to fly, as you like to say here on Earth. If I didn’t do what I did, then you’d still be in a funk with almost no power available to you, and we’ve got enemies on their way. You feel better this morning, don’t you?

<Yeah.> I answered as I took a moment to take stock. <Much better, actually. Thanks. Uh, wait ... did you just say that we had enemies on the way? Like right now?>

Good, I’m glad you feel better, now get a move on. And of course, they are on the way! The Council most likely sent someone or something out to find you the very moment that you donned the ring yesterday morning. I told you this—did you think it was just a joke? You need to always be moving now, and you need to stay focused.

<Yeah.> I replied sheepishly. <Yeah, you did, but I guess my mind was still reeling with everything that happened, and I wasn’t able to think clearly.>