Page 3 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

Thank the Stars he had come in when he did. Bale admittedly was a bit stalkerish and might have been watching over Darius’s home since the fall. He didn’t want to upset Darius and remained distant in hopes that one day Darius would forgive him.

Events were happening in the village, and he needed to speak with Darius about them. Bale had been waiting for Isaac to leave before he approached the cottage. However, the amount of angry energy and magic sparking out of Darius’s home concerned Bale. He hadn’t seen that much dangerous magic in years, not since he rescued a young man from a malevolent demon.

Darius’s magic was created in pain and sorrow. Darius never had the opportunity to work with lighter magic like Isaac or even Adam. Darius burned with other, and his control over it was what had initially attracted Bale to him.

Darius was a man whose brush with grief had turned him toward the darker side of the magic wheel, even though his moral compass was fixed firmly on positive and light elements. Despite Hastur’s multiple attempts to change Darius’s alignment, he remained steadfast and true to his core self. Something Bale ached for himself. He wanted his hero to see goodness in Bale’s soul.

Because of Darius, Bale’s darkness had begun to recede. He could pray to his beloved morning star without feeling like filth, and it was because of Darius. And Bale needed to return the favour. He had to make sure Darius wasn’t drowning in pain. Darius deserved good in his life.

Bale stood over his former lover and bit his lip. Stars, he never wanted to witness Darius in a destructive mode again. His beloved guardian cats had been cowering under the kitchen table, tightly balled-up and ears flat to their heads. They had never been that afraid of their human before. Bale only managed to sneak up behind Darius because he was lost in a maelstrom of emotional pain. It had been very dangerous of Bale to black out the world for Darius, but it worked.

Darius’s long black hair was coming loose from the ponytail and stuck to the sides of his sweaty face. He was one of the most beautiful men Bale had ever laid eyes on. He was feisty and snarky. He stood by his friends and willingly took on the threats for them.

Bale adored him.

When Bale had made the stupid decision to collect Hastur’s coin, it was an attempt to see what the Elder Demon was going to do. Bale’s first priority had always been to protect Darius against all things. He hadn't thought about what the others would say.

“Bale? Is he okay?” Isaac whispered from the safety of the kitchen. He peered around the corner, his eyes big and worried.

“Darius has some unresolved issues that we’re going to have to watch out for. Do you know where he hides the broom and dustpan?” Bale asked easily. If he didn’t make a big deal about it, there was less of a chance Isaac would as well. He trusted Bale, especially when it came to Darius. Bale didn’t want to lose Isaac’s belief in him. It had sustained him while he spied.

“In the closet by the back door. Seriously, will he be okay?” Isaac ventured closer to Darius, peering down at his unconscious friend.

“In time. We just have to be there for him, of course.”

Bale and Isaac cleaned up the kitchen, placing all the glass shards in a cardboard box. Bale picked up Master Cat and gave him a good cuddle, reassuring the black mass of fur. Master Cat dug his claws into Bale’s shoulders but never purred.

“He’s not well, and he doesn’t need anyone to be concerned, right?” Isaac asked as he glanced around the kitchen. He nodded briskly and sat at the table; his eyes always trained on the front room.

Bale smiled briefly. Isaac understood Darius well. Darius never was one for people to take care of him. He did the worrying and the fixing. No one else was allowed. “Got it in one, kid. Typical asshole behavior.”

Isaac snorted. “He’s been like that his whole life. It’s a teeny bit irritating.”

“Stop talking about me like I’m dead.” Darius’s raspy voice interrupted them and sent a shiver down Bale’s spine. No matter Darius’s tone, it always made him react. It was perfect “It was an unguarded moment.”

“But you passed out. Not exactly a good thing. Did you want something to drink? I can make you a coffee?” Isaac offered as he stood up.

“Jesus, fine.” Darius stumbled into the kitchen, a ferocious scowl on his face. He looked weak as a kitten, but even Bale wasn’t ready to tangle with him. “Who said you could come in here?”

Bale smirked, as he knew it would anger Darius. “Does it matter? I’m here now, pretty boy.”

“Oh, fuck off.” It was shaky and only held a hint of fire; however, it was classic Darius. “What happened?”

Bale waited until Darius was seated and Isaac was listening. He tucked his ragged wings close and straddled one of the kitchen chairs. “You got a little angry and blew out a few lights. I can fix those.”

His height had to count for something.

“Did I hurt you, Eye?” Darius whispered as Isaac brought over three mugs. Isaac spun around briefly as he shook his head.. “Cats?”

“Might be a bit angry with you, but they’re fine.” Isaac shrugged.

Bossy Cat sauntered over to the window and leapt up onto the sill, deliberately turning his back to Darius. Bossy did snubbing well.

“I’ve never done that before, so what the hell?” Darius wrapped his hands around his mug and glared at the light fixture. “Fuck.”

“You were angry and thinking about something. Have you not—“ Isaac paused as he spoke. His nose wrinkled, and Bale understood why he was having trouble. Confrontations were always dangerous. “Have you practiced your magic since you woke up again?”

“Yeah, obviously when we kicked Whatshisface’s ass at the park. And then when…” Darius’s brow furrowed as he thought. “Just because I don’t use it willy-nilly like you doesn’t mean—”

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