Page 17 of Beloved Charmer

“Let’s go.” Evan said and they started forward. The instant that Evan stepped foot onto Hadden property his visage started to change. Everyone there the soldier and guard got to behold the shift of a Charmer, and the reaction was a collective shock and wonder.

Evan went from a five-foot eight skinny kid to a nearly nine feet tall, muscled warrior with wings. The wings were like those of a dragon although more translucent and less bulky. They sparkled in the early morning light and lit up as if electrified. The transformation was instant from one step to another Evan slipped on the form with the ease of slipping on a jacket.

Conrad was freshly amazed at the power and majesty of the Charmer. Heat began to build as they entered the property and fire burned in the air while not touching anything physical. They continued to the back door and when Evan opened it a rush of putrid decay enveloped them until the fire burned hotter and rose higher eliminating the stench as they moved forward.

The world around them was renewed with each step the Charmer took and Conrad took in the brightened surfaces the clean air and the heightened mood. His beloved was fantastic. They walked up the five stairs that took them to the main area of the ground floor. It was a wide and open space with chairs and tables and couches. The fire burned in a wave across the marble floor and burst to the ceilings of steel beams and skylights.

"Be ready," Evan ordered and pulled the broadsword from where it hung at his side. They all took the stance as ahorde of ghouls ran at them from the perimeters of the room, taking form from out of the shadows.

Master Hadden and Marek cut them down as fast as they approached, and Conrad held off those that came from behind. Any that were touched by the Charmer's sword were instantly turned to dust and burned away. Nothing remained.

Evan moved in the direction of the storage room off to the left, and they were hit with a barrage of flying beasts striking out at them, filling the space and darkening the room. Again, they were cut down and burned away. One came at Conrad, getting close enough to slice his cheek open. In less than a fraction of a second, the Charmer cut the thing from the air and wrung its neck, watching it burst into flames and disappear.

Conrad was impressed with Evan’s fighting skills and a little perplexed by the gentle throb and heat that was coming from the Charmer’s mark on his chest. He could see through his shirt that it was glowing. The battle continued with the darkness sending one evil horde after another in an attempt to thwart them. It was slow going but they kept moving, Evan never stopped.

They drew closer to the storage room, the location and origination of the curse and the birth of the darkness. This was where Nathan had set it down and opened the door to this disgrace. The Charmer had located the heart.

The door opened, and the Charmer stepped through to the beating heart of the darkness, the source of the ancient evil claiming this city. The scent was foul, and the monsters fled and died under the burning influence of the Charmer.

Conrad, along with Master Hadden and Marek, stood back as Evan, tall and strong with all the power of the Charmersat his fingertips, sliced his broadsword through the gossamer haze of the malevolent force holding fast to this realm.

It writhed in pain and, in a final attempt, gathered its failing strength and potency and rushed the four of them. It was trying to damage those standing with the Charmer to draw away his strength and focus. But they were standing well behind him, and that thing was not getting by Evan.

It rose up to its dark form, not much larger than Evan, and charged him in a final act of self-destruction. It made contact with Evan, and it screamed so loud that it shook the earth with its howl and the depth of its pain. Fire consumed the room hot cleansing fire burned away every trace and essence of the dark that had inhabited the space. The fire continued to burn for several minutes reaching every minute crack and crevasse no evil or shade would remain.

The three of them followed as Evan walked every floor of the forty-story building and sterilized every inch. The curse was broken, and the evil returned to the underworld. When satisfied, Evan led them outside. He left the building and stepped into the Plaza and shifted back to his human form with his tracksuit and sneakers.

The mood was bright as the sun hung high in the sky and shown down on the new and vibrant Hadden Center. The fire had burned away leaving nothing but freshness and hope in its wake. Evan reached over to the marble wall by the back door on his right and placed his palm against the sun-warmed surface. When he removed his hand the same insignia that he placed on Conrad’s chest was burned onto the wall.

“The curse is broken the evil has been sent back to the underworld.” He told them and reached out to take Conrad’s hand. Conrad took his hand and pulled him close to his sideneeding the warmth and the contact of his beloved. “No evil will ever cross this threshold again.” He pointed to the insignia. “You now wear the mark of the Charmer and no evil can cross the mark of the Charmer.”

“I cannot thank you enough and I know I can never pay you enough for the life and peace and future you have given us all.” Master Hadden reached out and took Evan into his arms and held him.

It was very uncharacteristic of him. Conrad had never witnessed him hug anyone apart from Walker, not even his closest friend Josef. The most you could expect was a pat on the shoulder which was high praise. This indicated the depth of his despair and the fear he held for the welfare of his people. His relief and happiness washed over the entire Coven, and everyone felt the joy of that relief.

He stepped back and patted him on the shoulder. “You will always hold my deepest respect, and I will remain in your dept forever.”

"You do not owe me," Evan stated. "You took me from that place and brought me here and treated me like I mattered. You taught me to embrace who I am, and most importantly, you gave me Conrad." He turned and buried his face against Conrad's chest and held on, taking several deep breaths before stepping back but still holding on. "You gave me life and a future, a marvelous future, so I think we're even." He chuckled, and the Master smiled.

“I give you a month off to spend with your beloved since you’ve had very little time to yourselves. Go anywhere you wish and enjoy yourselves to the fullest because it is on me.” He patted Conrad on the shoulder and again pulled Evan in for a brief hug.

“Thank you, sir." Conrad was shocked but pleased. He desperately wanted time alone with his beloved.

“When you return you will have one of the finest apartments on the upper floors. It will be move in ready so go and relax and get to know one another better.”

Conrad and Evan returned to the Imperial with every soldier thanking Evan for his assistance and many pulling him in for a brief hug much as the Master had done. He beloved was shining with pride of his achievement and glowed under the praise of this Coven.

"I think I will like living here with you, Conrad." He no longer harbored doubts about being accepted.

"I think you will, too."

“They’re really a nice bunch.”

“You won’t find nicer anywhere.”

“I love you so much.” He burst and jumped into Conrad’s arms.

“I love you too.” Conrad cuddled him close and headed for their quarters. “I think you need some rest and some snuggling and loving after such a productive morning.”

“I need a lot of snuggling and some deep loving.” He teased.

"Deep and intense, and I will deliver."

“You always do.”

THE END

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