Creatures of the Night

Chapter 21 - must we be so brave?

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(TW: blood/injury, near drowning)

“Hold on, Virgil!” Roman shouted, frantically digging at the dirt around his waist. Ursula was gone, but her spell held fast. Perhaps it was because he was her familiar. Perhaps she was just that powerful. Regardless, the gashes were climbing to Virgil’s shoulders and neck, licking the underside of his jaw like flames. Blood ran from every wound, trailing down his arms and dripping from his shirt. He snatched his jacket and turned out the pockets, going pale.

Creatures of the Night

Chapter 2 - and down they forgot as up they grew

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(TW: child abuse, intense arguing, off-screen character death, car crash, blood, and mild injury.)

(The title for this chapter comes from "anyone lived in a pretty how town" by E. E. Cummings.)

Stokemore, Missouri.

Age: 10

Roman sat at the kitchen counter tapping his pencil against his chin. The math homework for this week was fractions, and he hated fractions. The clock on the wall ticked softly, and the dishwasher thrummed on the opposite side of the counter. His parents had left to go grocery shopping an hour and a half ago. He was starting to get worried, which wasn't helping him finish his homework at all. Pushing back, he clambered down the stools that were still a bit too high for him and grabbed the landline from its port near the fridge. He punched in his father's phone number, mouthing the words to the song he'd made up to help himself remember the number. The line rang... and rang, and rang. Nothing. The automated voice of a woman told him his father was unavailable, but he could leave his name and number after the beep. Roman replaced the phone and wiped his hands on his pants. What was he getting so worked up about? They were only at the grocery store. He was sure they'd be back in a few minutes. Nothing to worry about.