5. Getting Somewhere

5

Getting Somewhere

Merin

H e watched Chrissy playing in the garden with Jimmy and Vale. The sight of the little girl, so carefree and happy despite all she had been through, made his heart ache with a bittersweet mixture of joy and sorrow.

"She's a resilient little thing, isn't she?" Benjamin said, coming to stand beside Merin."

Merin nodded, his eyes never leaving Chrissy's small, darting form. "It's amazing, really. The way children can bounce back, can find joy in even the darkest of times." He glanced over at Benjamin, a sudden thought occurring to him. "Speaking of joy…any news on when that magical seed of yours is going to blossom? I know you and Adrian must be getting anxious to meet your little one."

Benjamin's face softened, a tender, wistful look entering his eyes. "Rowan says it could be any day now. Adrian's trying to play it cool, but I know he's just as excited as I am. Maybe even more so, though he'd never admit it."

Merin chuckled, shaking his head. "That sounds like Adrian, alright. The man could be on fire and he'd still be all stoic and unruffled."

Dominic, who had been sitting quietly on the porch steps, looked up at that, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Oh, I don't know about that. I seem to recall a certain incident involving a spider in his bathroom that had him screaming like a little girl."

Benjamin snorted, trying and failing to hide his laughter behind his hand. "I remember that. I thought the house was being attacked, the way he was carrying on."

Merin grinned, feeling a warmth spread through his chest at the easy, familiar banter. These people, this little makeshift family they had built…it meant more to him than he could ever put into words.

"Well, I for one am excited to meet the newest member of our little clan," he said, his voice soft and sincere. "That baby is going to be so loved, so cherished…just like Chrissy."

He glanced back out at the garden, his smile fading slightly as he watched Chrissy transforming a stick into a wand with a flick of her small, chubby wrist.

"It's incredible, isn't it?" he murmured, almost to himself. "The way she's taken to magic, to the strange and wondrous world we live in. You'd think she'd be frightened, or overwhelmed…but she just accepts it, embraces it like it's the most natural thing in the world."

Benjamin nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. "It's a gift, I think. That childlike wonder, that ability to see the magic in everything. We could all stand to learn a thing or two from her."

"I'd drink to that," Dominic said, stretching his arms above his head with a groan. "And speaking of learning…Christian and I have some news of our own to share."

Merin raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Oh? Do tell."

Dominic grinned, a blush staining his cheeks. "We're getting married. Christian proposed last night, and I said yes."

Benjamin let out a whoop of joy, pulling Dominic into a tight hug. "Congratulations, man! That's amazing news!"

Merin smiled, feeling a rush of happiness for his friend. "I'm so happy for you, Dom. You and Christian…you're perfect for each other. Anyone can see that."

But even as he said the words, even as he watched Dominic's face light up with love and excitement. Merin felt a pang of something else, something darker and more bittersweet.

Jealousy. Longing. The aching, desperate desire for something he couldn't have, something he didn't deserve.

His mind flashed to Roman, to the way his heart raced and his skin tingled every time they were together. To the quiet strength and unwavering loyalty that shone in those dark, expressive eyes.

He wanted that. Wanted it with a fierceness that scared him, a longing that threatened to consume him whole. But he couldn't have it. Couldn't let himself hope, couldn't let himself dream of a future that could never be.

He was too broken, too damaged. Too much of a risk, too much of a burden to ever be worthy of Roman's love, of the happily ever after that Dominic and Christian had found.

Before they could celebrate even further, Mr. Prattle, Adrian's trusty butler, came out to the garden, his face grave and his eyes filled with a tension that made Merin's stomach twist with dread.

"Pardon the interruption, gentlemen…but Mr. Roman and Mr. Christian have arrived. They're waiting for you in the living room."

Merin felt a cold, sinking fear wash over him, a sense of foreboding that made his skin prickle and his heart race. He glanced over at Chrissy, still playing happily with Vale and Jimmy, oblivious to the danger that lurked just beyond the safety of Adrian's wards.

"Chrissy, sweetie…it's time to come inside now, okay? Roman and Christian are here, and they need to talk to us about something important."

Chrissy looked up, her small face scrunching up in a mixture of curiosity and concern. But she nodded, taking Merin's outstretched hand and allowing him to lead her back into the house, Vale and Jimmy following close behind.

They found Roman and Christian in the living room, their faces grim and their eyes filled with a tension that made Merin's heart clench. Dominic immediately went to Christian's side, pulling him into a fierce, desperate kiss that spoke volumes about the depth of their love, the strength of their bond.

"Hey, now…save it for the honeymoon, you two," Adrian drawled, a rare hint of humor in his voice. "Some of us are still single and bitter, you know."

Everyone turned to stare at him, shock and amusement warring on their faces. Adrian, making a joke? It was almost unheard of, a sign of just how much the man had changed, had grown, since finding love and happiness with Benjamin.

But Merin couldn't focus on that now, couldn't let himself be distracted by the easy, familiar banter. Because Roman was looking at him, his eyes dark and serious, and Merin knew, with a bone-deep certainty, that whatever he had to say…it was going to change everything.

"Roman? What is it, what's wrong?"

Roman took a deep breath, his jaw clenching as if he were steeling himself for a blow. "It's about Chrissy, Mer. About Riordan. We found something at her house, something that…that changes everything."

"Come on, everyone. Let's take this to the kitchen," Adrian said, his voice low and serious. "Mrs. Potter just made a fresh pot of tea, and I think we could all use a cup after…after whatever it is Roman and Christian have to tell us."

Merin nodded, feeling a rush of gratitude for Adrian's level-headedness, his ability to stay calm and focused even in the face of the unknown. He glanced over at Chrissy, seeing the fear and confusion in her wide, innocent eyes, and felt his heart clench with a fierce, protective love.

"It's going to be okay, sweetie," he murmured, reaching out to take her small, trembling hand in his.

Chrissy nodded, her lower lip quivering as she clung to Merin's hand like a lifeline. Together, they followed the others into the kitchen, where Mrs. Potter was already bustling about, setting out cups and saucers and a steaming pot of fragrant, herbal tea.

Merin smiled at the matronly woman, feeling a rush of affection for her kind, nurturing presence. Mrs. Potter had been a fixture at Adrian's manor for as long as he could remember, always ready with a warm smile and a comforting word, no matter the circumstances.

"Thank you, Mrs. Potter," he said softly, accepting a cup of tea with a grateful nod. "You always know just what we need, even before we do."

Mrs. Potter chuckled, patting Merin's cheek with a weathered, gentle hand. "That's my job, love. To take care of you lot, even when you're too stubborn to take care of yourselves."

Merin grinned, feeling a warmth spread through his chest at the easy, familiar banter. But the moment was short-lived, broken by the sound of Roman's voice, low and tense and filled with a gravity that made Merin's stomach twist with dread.

"Alright, Roman. We're all here. Tell us what you found, and don't leave anything out."

Roman sighed, running a hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration and sorrow. "When Christian and I were at the house, we found…we found a journal. The mother's journal."

He reached into his back pocket, pulling out a small, leather-bound book that looked old and worn, its pages yellowed with age and use. Merin felt his heart skip a beat, a sense of foreboding washing over him like a cold, dark wave.

"In the journal," Roman continued, his voice low and rough with emotion, "She wrote about…about the struggles she had, trying to conceive a child. She was desperate. Desperate enough to…to seek out someone who promised to help her, to give her the baby she so desperately wanted."

Chrissy's eyes widened, her small hand tightening around Merin's until it was almost painful. "W-what do you mean? Who did she go to? What did she do?"

Roman closed his eyes for a moment, as if gathering his strength. When he spoke again, his voice was heavy with sorrow and regret.

"She made a deal, Chrissy. A deal with…with someone powerful, someone who promised her a child, but at a cost. The cost of…of her firstborn. Of you."

Chrissy gasped, her free hand flying to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. "No," she whispered, her voice broken and filled with a pain that made Merin's heart ache. "No, that can't be true. My mother…she wouldn't…she couldn't…"

But even as she spoke the words, Merin could see the doubt, the fear, creeping into her eyes. The realization that, as much as she wanted to deny it, as much as she wanted to believe in the goodness and love of her parents…there was a terrible, twisted truth to Roman's words.

"Shhh, it's okay, sweetheart. It's going to be okay. We won't let him hurt you, won't let him take you away from us. I promise."

But even as he spoke the words, even as he tried to pour every ounce of love and comfort and reassurance he could into the embrace…Merin felt a flicker of doubt, of fear, creeping into his heart.

Because Riordan…he was no ordinary foe. No mere mortal man, to be defeated with swords and spells and brute strength alone.

He was a monster, a twisted, malevolent force of nature that seemed to defy all the laws of magic and reason. A creature of darkness and shadow, who fed on pain and fear and the shattered dreams of the innocent.

And now…now he had a claim on Chrissy. A claim that, if left unchallenged, if left unchecked…could destroy everything they held dear, everything they had fought and bled and sacrificed to protect.

Merin looked up, meeting Roman's gaze across the room. In those dark, expressive eyes, he saw his own fear, his own doubt, reflected back at him. But he also saw something else, something fierce and bright and unbreakable.

Merin took a deep breath, feeling a calm, steady sense of purpose settle over him like a mantle. He looked down at Chrissy, still clinging to him like a lifeline, her small face streaked with tears and her eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"Chrissy, sweetheart…I know this is hard. I know you're scared, and confused, and angry. And you have every right to be."

He brushed a strand of hair back from her face, his touch gentle and filled with all the love and comfort he could muster.

"But I need you to listen to me now, okay? I need you to be brave, to be strong…just for a little while longer."

Chrissy sniffled, her lower lip trembling as she looked up at him with those big, trusting eyes. "I…I don't know if I can, Merin. I'm…I'm so scared."

Merin's heart clenched, a fierce, protective love welling up inside him like a tidal wave. He gathered her close, pressing a soft, gentle kiss to the top of her head.

"I know, sweetheart. I know. But you're not alone, okay? You have me, and Roman, and all the others. We're here for you, Chrissy. We'll always be here for you."

"O-okay," she whispered, her voice small and filled with a fragile, tentative hope. "I…I trust you, Merin. I trust all of you."

Merin's heart swelled with love and pride, a fierce, protective warmth spreading through his chest. This little girl, with her big heart and her incredible strength…she was a marvel, a miracle. And he would do everything in his power to be worthy of her trust, her faith in him.

Chrissy sniffled, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Can I be excused, please?"

She trailed off, her voice breaking on a sob. Merin nodded, pressing a soft, gentle kiss to the top of her head.

"Of course, sweetheart. Take all the time you need. We'll be here when you're ready."

Chrissy gave him a watery smile, clutching the diary to her chest like a lifeline as she slipped out of the room. Jimmy and Vale followed close behind, their eyes filled with a fierce, protective determination.

"We'll look after her," Jimmy said, his voice low and serious. "Make sure she's safe, that she has everything she needs."

Merin felt a rush of gratitude, of relief, so strong it nearly took his breath away. "Thank you,"

Jimmy gave him a small, sad smile, his ancient eyes filled with a wisdom that went beyond words. "We're family, Merin. We take care of each other. No matter what."

With that, he and Vale slipped out of the room, leaving Merin and the others alone with the weight of the revelation, the terrible, twisted truth of Chrissy's past.

For a long moment, no one spoke, the silence heavy and thick with tension. Then Roman cleared his throat, his voice low and serious.

"There's more," he said, his eyes meeting Merin's across the room. "Something else we found at Chrissy's house, something that…that I think you need to see."

"What is it?" he asked, his voice rough and filled with a fear he couldn't quite name. "What did you find?"

Christian reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, folded piece of paper. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes meeting Merin's with a look of deep, profound sorrow.

"It's a drawing," he said softly, his voice heavy with emotion. "A drawing that Chrissy made, that we found in her room."

He unfolded the paper, holding it out for Merin to see. And in that moment, as Merin's eyes fell on the image, as he took in the stark, terrifying lines and shapes…

His blood ran cold, a sickening, twisting fear gripping his heart like a vice.

Because the drawing…it was the same. The same demon, the same twisted, malevolent creature that had haunted his dreams, his visions, for so long.

The same monster that had torn through the veil between worlds, that had brought darkness and destruction and death in its wake.

Merin swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry and his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the others' eyes on him, could sense their confusion, their concern.

But he couldn't speak, couldn't find the words to explain the terrible, sinking dread that had settled into his bones.

Because if Chrissy had seen the same demon, the same monster that had haunted his own dreams…

What did it mean? What dark, twisted fate had brought them together, had bound their paths in such a terrible, inescapable way?

"Merin?" Benjamin's voice, soft and filled with concern, broke through the haze of fear and confusion that had settled over him. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Merin shook his head, forcing himself to take a deep, shuddering breath. He couldn't tell them, couldn't burden them with the knowledge of his own dark, twisted visions.

Not yet. Not until he understood what it all meant, not until he had some kind of plan, some kind of way to keep them all safe.

"I'm fine," he said, his voice rough and unconvincing even to his own ears. "Just…just a little shocked, that's all. I never imagined that Chrissy…that she could have seen something so terrible, so frightening."

He glanced over at Roman, seeing the knowing, searching look in those dark, expressive eyes. He knew, with a sinking sense of certainty, that he wasn't buying his flimsy excuse.

That he could see straight through the mask of calm, of control, that Merin had so carefully constructed.

And in that moment, Merin knew…knew that he would have to tell him. Would have to confess the dark, twisted truth of his own visions, his own fears.

But not yet. Not here, not in front of the others.

To figure out how to keep them all safe, how to protect them from the darkness that loomed on the horizon.

Merin slipped out of the room, his heart heavy and his mind racing with questions, with fears and doubts and a desperate, aching need for answers.

He found himself in the back garden, the cool, crisp night air a balm to his fevered skin and his troubled mind. He tilted his head back, his eyes tracing the patterns of the stars, the endless, infinite expanse of the sky above.

And for a moment, just a moment…he let himself breathe. Let himself feel the weight of the world, the burden of his own dark, twisted destiny, slip away into the vast, eternal silence of the night.

But the moment was short-lived, broken by the sound of footsteps, the soft, familiar tread of someone he knew all too well.

"Merin?"

Roman's voice, low and filled with concern, brought him back to himself, back to the reality of the moment.

He turned, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of the man who had come to mean so much to him, who had become his anchor, his guiding light in the darkness.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice rough and filled with a vulnerability he couldn't quite hide. "I…I needed some air. Needed to clear my head."

Roman nodded, his eyes searching Merin's face with a look of deep, profound understanding. "I know," he said softly, his voice filled with a tenderness that made Merin's heart ache. "It's a lot to take in, a lot to process."

He hesitated for a moment, his hand reaching out as if to touch Merin's arm, to offer comfort, reassurance.

But he pulled back at the last moment, his eyes filled with a uncertainty, a hesitation that made Merin's heart clench with a desperate, aching longing.

"Merin," he said softly, his voice low and serious. "What's going on? And don't…don't tell me it's nothing, don't try to brush it off like you always do."

Merin swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry and his heart pounding in his chest. He knew, with a sinking sense of certainty, that he couldn't hide from this, couldn't keep the truth from Roman any longer.

"I…I'm scared, Roman," he said softly, his voice rough and filled with a vulnerability that made his heart ache. "Scared that we…that we might not be strong enough to defeat Riordan. That he might be too powerful, too far beyond our reach."

He looked up at Roman, his eyes filled with a desperate, aching need for reassurance, for comfort.

"How can we defeat someone who's almost as powerful as a god? How can we stand against a force that seems to defy all the laws of magic and reason?"

Roman's face softened, his eyes filled with a deep, profound understanding. He reached out, his hand finding Merin's in the darkness, his fingers twining with the other man's in a gesture of comfort, of reassurance.

"The same way we always do," he said softly, his voice filled with a quiet, unwavering strength. "By taking things one day at a time, one battle at a time. By standing together, by fighting with every ounce of strength and courage we possess."

Merin felt a flare of frustration, of anger, rising up inside him. He pulled his hand away from Roman's, his eyes flashing with a fierce, desperate intensity.

"But that's not enough!" he snapped, his voice sharp and filled with a pain he couldn't quite hide. "Every day that we wait, every moment that we hesitate…Riordan is getting stronger. Is gathering his forces, is preparing for a war that we might not be able to win."

He ran a hand through his hair, his chest heaving with the force of his emotions.

"So tell me, Roman. Tell me how we can afford to take things one day at a time, when every day brings us closer to a battle that might be our last."

Roman's face fell, his eyes filled with a deep, aching sorrow. He reached out, his hand hovering in the air between them, as if he wanted to touch Merin, to offer comfort, but wasn't quite sure how.

"Merin," he said softly, his voice rough with emotion. "I…I know you're scared. I know you're worried, and frustrated, and angry. And you have every right to be."

He took a deep breath, his eyes meeting Merin's with a look of fierce, unshakable determination.

"But we can't let that fear, that anger, consume us. Can't let it drive us to make rash decisions, to take risks that might put us all in even greater danger."

Merin felt a sudden, overwhelming wave of shame wash over him. He knew Roman was right, knew that he was letting his fears, his doubts, get the best of him.

And he hated it, hated the way it made him feel weak, vulnerable, like a child in need of constant reassurance and comfort.

"I…I'm sorry," he said softly, his voice rough and filled with a self-loathing that made his stomach churn. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I'm just…I'm just overthinking things, letting my fears get the best of me."

"You don't need to apologize," he said softly, his voice filled with a tenderness that made Merin's heart ache. "Not to me, not ever. I'm here for you, Merin. No matter what."

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching Merin's face with a look of deep, profound concern.

"But I…I do think we need to talk about what happened back in the kitchen. About the way you reacted to Chrissy's drawing, the fear and recognition I saw in your eyes."

"I…I had a dream," he said softly, his voice rough and filled with a fear he couldn't quite hide. "A vision, really. Of…of a war, a battle that seemed to take place in the distant past."

He took a deep, shuddering breath, his eyes meeting Roman's with a look of deep, profound vulnerability.

"There were…there were Vikings, fierce warriors locked in a desperate, bloody battle against…against a demon. A monster that looked…that looked just like the one in Chrissy's drawing."

Roman's eyes widened, his face going pale with shock and fear. "What…what does it mean?" he asked softly, his voice rough and filled with a desperate, aching need for answers. "Why would you have seen the same thing, the same monster that haunts Chrissy's dreams?"

Merin shook his head, his heart heavy with the weight of the truth, the terrible, inescapable reality of their situation.

"I…I don't know," he said softly, his voice filled with a quiet, simmering desperation. "But I…I think it might just be a fluke, a random vision that doesn't mean anything."

He looked up at Roman, his eyes pleading, desperate for the other man to believe him, to let the matter drop.

"Please, Roman. Don't…don't read too much into this. I'm sure it's nothing, just a strange coincidence that doesn't have any bearing on…on what's happening now."

But even as he said the words, even as he tried to convince himself that it was true…he knew it wasn't. Knew, with a bone-deep certainty, that the vision, the dream…it was important. Was a piece of the puzzle, a clue to the dark, twisted fate that had brought them all together.

And from the look on Roman's face, the quiet, unwavering determination in his eyes…he knew it too.

"I…I don't think it's a fluke, Merin," he said softly, his voice filled with a calm, steady certainty. "I think…I think it means something. Something important, something that might help us understand what we're up against."

He reached out, his hand finding Merin's once more, his fingers twining with the other man's in a gesture of comfort, of reassurance.

They stood there for a long moment, hand in hand, their eyes locked in a gaze that spoke volumes, that said everything they couldn't quite put into words.

And then, just when Merin thought his heart might burst from the sheer, overwhelming force of the love and gratitude he felt for the man beside him…Roman did something that took his breath away.

He reached out, his free hand cupping Merin's cheek with a tenderness that made Merin's knees go weak, his heart stutter in his chest.

"Merin," he said softly, his voice rough with emotion. "I…I know this might not be the best time, with everything that's happening. But I…I can't go another moment without telling you how I feel, without asking you…asking you to be mine."

Merin felt a sudden, overwhelming surge of joy wash over him, a happiness so fierce and bright and all-consuming that it nearly brought tears to his eyes.

But even as his heart soared, even as his soul sang with the sheer, overwhelming rightness of it he hesitated.

"I don't know, Roman," he said softly, his voice filled with a teasing, playful edge.

"Please, Merin," he said softly, his voice filled with a raw, aching vulnerability that took Merin's breath away. "Give me a chance, give us a chance."

And Merin, stubborn and proud and fiercely independent…he felt his walls crumble, felt his heart open wide and his soul sing with the sheer, overwhelming rightness of it.

"Yes."