Page 122 of Sidhe
“Are you really that afraid of me, Walt?” Nathan said with a smirk in his voice, a cruel, pleased smirk.
Walter didn’t want to be sent away, even if it might mean he could regain his status as Spirit Guide. But he couldn’t lie either. “Yes,” he said, frozen in place, frozen by Nathan’s continuedstare that he knew was red on black, just like Nathan’s layered shirts.
“Why? I haven’t hurt anyone. I’m only trying to make things better.”
If Walter had enough breath in his lungs to laugh, he might have. “You are not Nathan. You are not Malak either. You are something…worse. Maybe you believe what you say. But I do not.” He risked a glance up, hating that the sight of Nathan made him tremble more deeply, that cold stare like a great expanse ofdarkness.
Nathan cocked his head. “You know, Walt,” he said, taking slow, purposeful steps closer so that Walter had to back away or risk Nathan being totally upon him, “I thought you would understand in time. You still can. Jim. Sasha. They understand now. I can give that to all of you. Take your fears. Show you how powerful you can really be, so much more than a mere…puppet.” He reached out for Walter’s face as he said that.
Terrified that Nathan would do something to him with that touch, Walter backed away before coming to a sudden, horrible stop as his back hit the refrigerator. “I-I don’t…want that. My duty will always be stronger than your influence.” He did not feel as sure and confident as he forced himself to sound, but he still had faith. In Nathan. In the plan he knew Nathan once had.
He had to.
Frowning, Nathan’s hand dropped. “There is so much potential in you,” he said with something of a hunger that made Walter’s insides twist, especially since Nathan leaned into him, his face coming close to the crook of Walter’s neck. “If only you’d see it. All that I could give you. Even…your family,” he whispered.
Those simple words, for a moment, erased Walter’s faith completely. He closed his eyes, tears stinging them as he shivered against the fridge.
Walter could not lose as others had lost. He could not.
Fists clenched, eyes opening to stare into red on black unflinching, he mustered what faith he could, saying clearly,boldly, “Get thee behind me, Satan.”
Fire and anger flashed in the awful-colored eyes, Nathan stumbling back a step, surprised it seemed, maybe even flinching at the words in a way that made Walter feel empowered, if only slightly. Then Nathan threw his head back with a long, loud laugh, and all the fight flew right out of him again.
“Did you actually think that would do anything?” Nathan shook his head as his laughter died. He stepped into Walter’s body again. “I’m not what you think. I’m much, much more.”
“You are nothing but a shadow. Worse than Malak, maybe, but lesser—muchlesser than Nathan.” Walter flattened himself to the fridge door, willing himself to stay calm long enough to outlast Nathan’s fury that flared once more in the dark fae eyes before him. But then something flickered, something unmistakably bright, and Nathan stepped back again.
“Trying to goad me isn’t very bright, pal. You’re lucky I mean it when I say I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Just trying to make things better here, make the world better, and everyone’s against me.”
Walter knew that Nathan, the real Nathan within, was still capable of keeping the dark fae part of him from tearing Walter apart. But he could not take comfort in that when he also knew that mercy was part of the seduction. “I will never choose you,” he said, his trembles finally stilling enough for him to relax away from the fridge.
Nathan merely smirked. “I don’t needyouto choose me,” he said. Then he turned, leaving Walter holding a sandwich he no longer had an appetite for, and walked away.
After chucking the rest of the sandwich in the garbage by the pantry, Walter quickly gathered the other things he had planned to bring up, left the kitchen, and raced back to his room. He wasn’t shaking, but his heart pounded so loudly that he felt his pulse visible on his neck and echoing loudly in his ears like a bass drum.
Wally peeked at him only briefly. He deposited the food and water bottles on the dresser, clutching its edges a moment, half wanting to send it toppling over with a crash, as conflicting emotions surged through him.
Eventually, he lay down on top of the covers. He knew he wouldn’t sleep, but lying next to Wally was for the moment peaceful, and reminded him that he was not alone. Soon the gentle sound of Wally’s purrs drifted into nothing.
Walterwassurprisedwhenhe woke up that he had actually fallen asleep so easily. He felt, for the first time in days, refreshed. He did not in any way feelgood, since they were, after all, still in the midst of the apocalypse. But he felt rested, and for that he was grateful.
The sun was still shining when Walter peered out the window, opening it in hopes of letting in some fresh air, though it came in smelling stale, fake. He could see clearly where the false backdrop fell away to Nathan’s barrier, a jagged shield keeping all others out.
Wally roused as he moved for the door and chirped at him to be given more food before he left her alone again. He happily obliged.
“Don’t worry, little one,” he said, giving her an extra pat, “we are going to figure this out and bring the real Nathan back.”
He expected the Gatehouse to be quiet still with so few of them, but voices drifted to him from the bar as he descended the stairs—heated, angry voices. He entered to the sight of a crowd, everyone he knew to still be in the Gatehouse, with Nathan, Jim, and Sasha at its center.
Walter watched as Jim and Sasha moved toward Shiarra and took her forcefully by the arms. She did not look at all surprised by this, but shifted suddenly into the form of Puck. Walter held back a gasp, seeing equal surprise from Alex and Solrin.
“You thought you could hide from me,” Nathan said chastisingly, head cocked at Puck in cruel humor. “Maybe you would have stayed hidden too, but my baby doesn’t keep secrets from me.” He grinned at Sasha, who grinned right back, pleased to be praised. “So, you wanted to help? Thought you’d try turning those I love against me? That isn’t very nice of you.”
Puck didn’t look scared, just sort of accepting of the inevitable, resigned. He pulled on a smile. “Nathan,buddy, I was just waiting to see how things turned out. Your side’s looking much more likely the winner here, so…how’d you like another recruit? I’m good at parties. Can’t have an apocalypse without a bit of mischief, now can you?”
Nathan clearly wasn’t impressed.
He looked at Jim, who shook his head and sneered, “He’s lying. He’d betray us the first chance he got.”
