Page 65 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

Darius scowled and strode to the living room. He sat down with a huff on an overstuffed pillow and glared at the fire.

The fire sprites that made the fireplace their home gazed at Bale with confusion. However, they sat on the mantle and watched over Darius with wide-eyed curiosity.

Bale kept an eye on Darius for a few more minutes before slipping outside. A restless Darius was almost too much, even for him. He took a deep cleansing breath and shivered as the cold hit him. They needed a small break from each other, and Bale stepping out would help.

Flying in the crisp air cleared his head, and he was able to rationalize a lot of Darius’s behaviour as the quiet untangled a lot of his thoughts. He landed outside the museum and was surprised at the lack of vehicles.

“Bale, hello! This is new.” Hakko was there immediately, slightly dishevelled and holding his cardigan closed.

“I had to escape. Darius was being moody,” Bale explained. “How’re things here?”

“The museum is doing well. Lots of people have been dropping by, having a quick lookie-loo.” Hakko rocked on his feet. Bale narrowed his eyes, unsure of how to take Hakko’s comment. “We’re fine. It’s been weird. I can’t quite explain it.”

“I get odd. Town’s been the same way. Which was probably the plan all along.” Bale pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Dare has been Dare, and it’s a challenge.”

“Is that why you came here? Advice or a place to release some of that frustration?” Hakko asked knowingly. He led Bale through the warren of hallways until they came to a nondescript door. Hakko unlocked it and revealed a small staff room.

“It’s been suggested firmly and kindly that Dare’s sort of help is not necessary. That maybe we should see what happens before jumping to conclusions.” Bale resisted the urge to spit out the words. Hakko had only asked a question, after all.

“I see. And a friend said that?” Hakko rested against the small counter and crossed his arms. “I’m assuming Darius took it well.”

“He’s been going between ranting, planning, and depression. Though we’ve added meditation to the mix now.” Bale slumped his shoulders. “I’m fumbling, and it kills me that I’m unable to offer suggestions or anything.”

“He’s a strong man, Bale. This is a minor setback. He’ll power through. The townspeople will come around or they won’t. But I believe in him. I trust he can save us all. He has good people in his corner. He’s not alone.”

“That…that helps. But the worst part is that some of the naysayers are cryptids,” Bale admitted, emotional from Hakko’s words.

“They’ll regret their decision. But fuck them. Fuck anyone who wants to remain complacent. Did that work?” Hakko asked.

“A little bit. Any ideas on how to deal with an angry Dare? I’m at a loss. He refuses to leave the cottage, and he’s an absolute bear.”

“Be patient?” Hakko smiled briefly. “Commune with the spirits. And I don’t mean just Darius. You as well. You both are very powerful in your own right. You need to broaden your perspectives. Look at the big picture. Stop worrying about saving the world and start focusing inward. Once this awful cold goes away, take him to the grove. It helped Adam…somewhat. And I regret that I made his introduction to the tree spirits uncomfortable. Darius might find the Mother helpful in a way that Adam couldn’t.”

“Thanks, Hakko. I appreciate this. I hate this uncertainty of what’s going to happen.” Bale straightened up.

“Maybe Poe and I will drop by this evening. We can help spread the grumpiness around.”

Bale left the museum with thoughts buzzing around in his head. Speaking with another person had cleared a few things up. He hadn’t realized he was also part of the problem. As always, the assumption of fault was placed on Darius being Darius. He followed a marked trail down to the cemetery and shrugged at the fresh footprints. It seemed odd against the pristine snow.

The path led him to a small cemetery with another continuing on. The gravestones had a worn look to them, but someone had come along recently and brushed off all the tree debris. There was care here. Bale removed more snow and did his own quick cleanup, and a feeling of peace and acceptance settled over his shoulders.

“Hello?”

No answer. Of course, there wouldn’t be. He was alone. Bale sat on a post and wrapped his wings around his chest. “I don’t know what to say as I’m not sure who I’m talking to. There aren’t any dryads, and the mother tree is not in this space. I can sense another being, though. So here it goes. How do you support a person who constantly has to do everything for themself?”

It wasn’t that Darius didn’t seek out guidance. He got stuck in his own thoughts about how things could be done. It took a lot for him to see an alternate way. And that was where Bale kept getting stalled.

The canopy of cedars fluttered in the wind as though answering Bale’s question, but he wasn’t an expert on trees. He did tell Darius that meditating was a possible way of communication. Shaking off the nerves and closing his eyes, Bale soaked up the atmosphere and opened his mind to the otherness of the cemetery.

And was flooded with visions of a future if Darius didn’t win against Hastur. Granite would fall into ruins, and there was a very real chance of people dying. Demons would run through the streets, taking their pleasure in any way they could. Hastur sat on a rooftop with his right-hand men standing just behind him. His smile was proud as he gazed over his kingdom of chaos.

Bale fought to return to the present but found himself sucked back into another possibility. Darius stretched out on a chair, his chest bare under the burning sun. Friends and family gathered in a backyard, talking with one another while children played soccer in the field behind their house. Bale was there with scars crisscrossing his face and his wings spread out to gather heat from the sun. Their clowder of cats had grown by two with kittens chasing flying insects.

Gasping, Bale returned to the present in a rush, his body frozen and cold as he became aware of what he had been subjected to.

These were only two futures, and he could just waste time sitting on the post waiting for more if he wanted to. Bale had no desire to do that again, but it did give him an idea to share with Darius.

Bowing to the canopy, Bale said goodbye and went home. His trip to town had been useful. Despite everyone telling him there was no help for Darius, Bale had managed to find a solution. Meditation while seeking out possibilities rather than a concrete answer. Life never gave you right or wrong nor black or white ones. Shades coloured everything.

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