Page 22 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

“Have you been getting enough nutrients?” Hawk’s question came out of the blue, startling both Bale and Darius. Hawk stood near the table with another tray laden with soup bowls and crusty bread.

Darius bit his lip as he thought. His brow furrowed as he shook his head. “I eat the same amount as I always have.”

Bale and Hawk exchanged glances, and Bale conceded the floor to an outsider. Maybe Hawk would be able to get more details out of the reluctant Darius.

“And your magic? Have you been doing things with it?” Hawk asked, pulling up a chair and sitting down across from Darius. “It looks like you’re being consumed. I thought you had a circle at your home.”

“That’s Adam’s. I have no need for it.”

Bale and Hawk groaned together. Bale dropped his head back and gazed at the ceiling, hoping for a miracle of clarity for Darius.

“Use it, Darius. It’s there for a reason. Just because you’re a bigwig warlock doesn’t mean you don’t need it. You do more than ever. You must get rid of the excess magic, or it’s going to eat you alive,” Hawk said sharply.

“Bigwig warlock? Explain,” Darius demanded as he sat straight in his chair. Bale had never seen him so focused before.

“Warlocks are different than most magic users. They have magic thrust upon them through a patron. Like you did with His Majesty.”

“He is not mine. Don’t even put that out there.” Darius sneered. He gave himself a shake and stared hard at Hawk.

“My apologies. I didn’t mean to say that. Anyway, you didn’t get magic naturally, I’m assuming. You were… given it forcefully, and it has taken root in you. It has claimed you, so to speak. Because you haven’t done anything with it, the darkness consumes you. You won’t last long if you continue down this path,” Hawk said. Darius’s only reaction was a tightening at his eyes. His face stayed smooth as he listened. It wasn’t a good sign, in Bale’s opinion.

“Darkness nor magic consumes me. It’s not seeking to destroy me. It’s a tool, not a living entity.” Darius popped a small piece of scone in his mouth. Bale clenched his fists, wincing as his nails bit his palms. Darius’s stubbornness would be what sent Bale raging. “I will give you the whole not-using-it thing. That’s on me. I should have done something, but I didn’t think it necessary.”

“How are you supposed to defeat the yellow one if your skills aren’t sharp enough? How can you protect Adam and Isaac if you don’t practice?” Bale leaned forward and laced his fingers tight together. It was so important right now that Darius understood what was going on. Darius began to look hunted as he glanced around the small room.

“Listen.”

“No, Darius, you listen. You’re a magician, a warlock. Your magic has never been kind to you. It takes and takes. It’s why the portal orb is attracted to you. It wants your magic so it can oust Adam’s healthy power and continue to draw in yours,” Hawk spoke quietly. Bale blinked at the fierceness in his voice and wished he’d thought of approaching Hawk sooner. “I don’t know what happened when our two worlds joined, but you have been steadily becoming less and less each time I see you. You must lance your wound. Only then can you defeat him and heal. It must be done soon. The people… they’re listening to him and finding things in his statements that they agree with. Once their opinions shift to align with his, it’s no good for you.”

“I’m fine.”

Bale was ready to throw those words into oblivion. Why Darius thought they’d work confounded Bale. They never had. Ever. Darius glanced between Bale and Hawk, as though someone would agree.

“Make sure he meditates in the circle every day. It will help. And do not allow him to wallow.”

“I don’t fucking wallow, and Bale can fuck right off. If Bale even thinks of trying to help me, I’ll do something. He doesn’t deserve this mess or my issues. He did enough in bringing me out of the hellscape,” Darius snapped. Lightbulbs in the dining room popped, and something cracked in the air as the room went utterly silent.

The chain around Bale’s heart tightened before loosening, as though a promise was made. Light filled him, and he was given a sense of true purpose. Darius trying to threaten him had somehow revealed the truth of his feelings toward Bale. Bale smiled briefly and took a cleansing breath. “Good luck enforcing that, Dare.”

“Fuck you. I can, and I will.” Darius’s voice went squeaky and high-pitched. It was almost gratifying to watch him scramble. “Dammit.”

“I don’t understand what happened, but I don’t appreciate my lightbulbs breaking. Bale, you will correct that before you leave.” Hawk rubbed an antenna tiredly. He drifted to the back room, leaving Bale and Darius alone.

“What did you do?” Darius shook his hands out as he glared at Bale.

“You did it, not me. You showed me honesty,” Bale said as he removed the broken bulbs from the fixtures.

“I always tell you the truth. This isn’t new. What happened?” Darius rolled his shoulders as though uncomfortable. “Seriously, Bale, tell me.”

“I don’t know, Dare. Something in your words revealed honesty, some integrity, and the magic, land—whatever, liked it. It gave me a sense of purpose.” Bale set the small pieces of glass down and contemplated Darius’s confused face. “I can protect you as I always wanted to.”

“No. No, it doesn’t work like that. You… can’t just say that.” Darius’s fumbled words hurt Bale, but it was only a temporary thing. Darius needed to get used to the fact that Bale was truly a safe harbour. Whatever hold Hastur had on Bale was gone, like dust in the wind. It was better than handing the coin to Hastur.

“Darius, is it really so terrible to have me around?” Bale asked. If Darius was so vehemently opposed to Bale’s closeness, Bale would retreat. He’d hate it, and Bale was sure it would destroy them both, considering their progress, but if it was what Darius desired… Though Bale would make sure there were words and Darius would hear them.

Dare’s incoherent babble and frustrated growls didn’t make sense, and he just screamed softly before grabbing his coat and leaving Bale and the shop.

“Where did he go?” Hawk asked as he returned with a broom and dustpan. Bale rolled his eyes as he shook his head. “What did you say?”

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