Post by StoryGirl83 on Sept 30, 2008 23:06:42 GMT -5
Chapter Five - Introducing Vicus
Present Day - 2005
As outside Robin Brooks’ Preschool a mother pushing a toddler in a stroller walked past a woman and wished her a “Good morning,” inside a worried Leo turned the corner into the hallway leading to Wyatt’s classroom. He looked around and saw Ms Henderson stepping out of a room. He headed over to her. “Ms. Henderson, hey, I came as soon as I could.”
Ms. Henderson turned to look at Leo, surprised. She continueed to walk away from him with Leo close behind. “Leo, what are you doing here?”
Concern in his voice Leo asked, “Well, you called about Wyatt, right?”
Not sure what that has to do with the situation as hand Ms. Henderson’s response sounded confused as she said, “Yeah. But I said it was nothing to worry about. I thought I made that clear.”
Leo kind of shrugged. “Well, I was in the area. Is he all right?”
She was used to overprotective parents, but usually she didn’t have them coming for a child who isn’t sociable. Usually that brought up defensive hackles, not concern. “He's just talking to himself. I mean, I wouldn't have even bothered calling if your wife hadn't asked me to.”
Leo stepped in front of her hands raised in a demonstrative way. “She's very protective. He's . . . he's a special kid.”
Shaking her head with a half smile, Ms. Henderson told him, “Oh, they're all special, Leo.”
Not really sure how to explain what he means Leo said, “Right, but he has special needs.”
This got Ms. Henderson’s concern up. “Special needs? You never said Wyatt was a special needs child.”
Realizing she didn’t take it the way he meant it, but really how do you tell your child’s non magical teacher that your son is a very powerful witch, Leo hurried to correct that assumption. “Not like that. He's, um, gifted.”
She laughed at this. “First child?”
With a nervous laugh Leo asked, “Is it that obvious?”
With a shrug of her shoulders and a little smile Ms. Henderson returned with, “Do you want to see him?”
Leo quickly agreed. “Please.”
Ms. Henderson put her hand on Leo’s back and led him to the classroom. They walked into the room and looked around at all the children laughing and interacting until Ms. Henderson spotted Wyatt sitting in a corner by the cubby holes.
He was looking up with his bear, Wuvey, fallen off his lap upside down hanging from his leg. Wyatt appeared to be talking to someone.
Ms. Henderson pointed to Wyatt and said, “Oh, there he is.”
Leo frowned as he looked at his son. “Oh, um, how long has he been doing that -- talking to himself?”
Ms. Henderson shook her head and shrugged. “Oh, I don't know. On and off since he first started coming here, I guess.”
Leo looked at her, confusion on his brow and concern in his voice. “Oh, and, uh, is that normal?”
She looked at him. “Normal? No. But I don't think you should be alarmed. He's just playing by himself. Lots of kids do that.”
Leo was unconvinced as he looked around the classroom at the other children. All of them where busy interacting with the other children or the teacher. Wyatt was the only one by his self. “Mm-hmm.”
Though Leo couldn’t see him, Wyatt was talking to someone. Whether this someone was real or only in Wyatt’s imagination was an entirely different subject, but Wyatt saw him and right at that moment, Vicus was crouched in front of Wyatt wearing a black leather jacket and laughing at something Wyatt had said.
“I really like our conversations, Wyatt. But you know I'm a secret, right? Nobody else can see me.”
As Leo looked at his son appearing to be having a conversation with thin air, Ms. Henderson tried to reassure him. “You're just not used to letting him go during the day. Happens to lots of first-time parents.”
Though Ms. Henderson doesn’t know Leo has reason for his concern. “It's more complicated.”
Ms. Henderson tries once more to reassure Leo. “I see this every day. Trust me, it's not.”
Leo’s mind is made up. “You know, he wasn't feeling very well this morning. Maybe I should just take him home, you know, just . . .”
Over by Wyatt Vicus looked up. It was obvious that Vicus heard what Leo was saying.
Leo continued on not realizing that anything significant happened, “. . . just to be safe.”
Sputtering a little and more than a little surprised Ms. Henderson looked away and agreed. “Uh, well, okay, if you really think that's best.”
On the other side of the room Vicus was preparing Wyatt for his departure. “Now we won't be able to talk much longer . . .”
Leo gave Ms. Henderson an appreciative look and said, “Thanks,” before heading over in Wyatt’s direction.
Vicus kept talking reassuring Wyatt that he wasn’t leaving for good. “ . . . but don't worry, I'll be back. I promise.”
Leo walked over to Wyatt and crouched down in front of him. Though only Wyatt could see Vicus was only a foot away from where Leo was.
In a cheerful voice that didn’t show any of the concern Leo felt, Leo talked to his son. “Okay, buddy, come on. Are you ready? Let's go home, okay?”
Vicus stood as Leo picked up Wyatt. Leo made a noise as if picking up his two-and-a-half-year-old son, was tough, “Ohh!”
As Wyatt looked over Leo’s shoulder, Vicus said his good-byes. “See you soon, Wyatt.”
As Leo walked away carrying Wyatt, Vicus kept talking. “I want to hear more about that special teddy bear.”
Wyatt watched Vicus as Leo carried him out the door. As Leo passed Ms. Henderson he said, “See you later.” Then, he walked out the door holding Wyatt.
Once Leo and Wyatt were out the door a strange thing happened. Vicus began to disappear. First his body vanished, then most of his face, and last of all his glowing eyes.
In the same way he disappeared, Vicus reappeared. First his eyes, next his face, and finally the rest of his body reappeared. Behind him sheets were hung in what appeared to be a makeshift hide out.
A young man named Hugo, with slicked back hair and black clothing stepped out from behind a pile of stuff. He looked concerned. “Vicus. I was getting worried.”
Vicus ignored the young man’s words. “You failed me.”
Hugo stopped walking. “We didn't fail. We've been distracting the witches for you, dying relentlessly.”
Vicus looked at Hugo with a tough of disdain. Though it was obvious Hugo was concerned about Vicus and about the others, it was equally obvious Vicus didn’t care anything for Hugo or the others who had died. “But you haven't sustained the distractions. The father took the boy from school, just as I was starting to make some progress.”
Hugo looked at him surprised. “What?” He paused to think a moment. “Forget him. We don't need his powers. Dealing with the Charmed Ones is too dangerous anyway.”
Vicus inclined his head and started circling Hugo. “Do you think you know how to do this better than I do, Hugo?”
Hugo shook his head a little. “That's not what I'm saying.”
Vicus inclined his head for Hugo to continue.
With concern in his voice Hugo continued. “You've been working at this for, what, three weeks now? We're risking everything here, and for what?” The last question was asked in a yell.
Vicus looked about ready to pounce as he responded angrily. “For us. To add his power to yours, to the Collective.”
Hugo stared silently at Vicus as Vicus went on.
Vicus once more began circling Hugo. “Now, didn't I risk everything nurturing the evil within you, Hugo, just as I did with all the others?” Vicus stopped just behind Hugo looking over his shoulder intimidating.
Hugo almost visibly gulped. “Yes, of course you did, but . . .”
As Hugo stopped not having any way of finishing, Vicus continued to speak over the boy’s shoulder. “Then you must trust me. See, this Wyatt will grow to become one of the most powerful witches to ever walk the earth. It's better he walk with us than against us.”
Hugo took in a big breath and turned to look at Vicus. “I just worry.”
The was a coldness to Vicus’ voice as he responded. It was as if he finally noticed this trait about Hugo and it annoyed him. “Don't.” His toned turned back to the patronizing sugar sweet of before. “I realize that I only have a small window at this age in which to change him, but I am close.” Vicus patted Hugo’s shoulder. “Very close.”
Vicus walked away. Hugo stood still, very still, but his eyes followed Vicus as Vicus walked out of the area.