Post by StoryGirl83 on Nov 10, 2011 22:12:11 GMT -5
Chapter Thirty – Time For Rest
“Our landlord was here,” Chris commented as he entered the bathroom to brush his teeth.
“Huh?” Wyatt looked at him confused, toothpaste foam dripping out of his mouth.
“Apparently, our pipes are leaking down into the apartment below us,” Chris explained. “He was acting a little strange though. Ever noticed that?”
“Other than the fact that I’ve never heard him call you ‘Chris’, not really,” Wyatt admitted. “Give him a break. He’s got to be one hundred. I can’t believe he’s still involved in these apartments.”
“I don’t think he’s quite that old,” Chris commented, “but I thought it was worth mentioning about the pipes. He’ll be in here with a plumber, probably sometime tomorrow. Be careful not to leave anything out about magic. We don’t want to expose magic.”
“I’m not the technophobe,” Wyatt retorted, though the tooth paste dripping down his cheeks took any bite he might have intended out of his words.
“I’m not a technophobe,” Chris protested as he looked over at his brother. Seeing the toothpaste, he bit his inner lip to stop himself from laughing. When he had controlled the impulse he continued. “I just prefer to have a hard copy in front of me over . . .”
“Having it all stored in one place where it’s unlikely to get lost,” Wyatt finished, giving his brother an amused look.
Chris gave him an annoyed look back. Trying to change the subject he asked, “What do you think was in the letter Dad read?”
Wyatt shrugged, not really all that interested. “If we needed to know, Dad would have told us.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Chris replied reluctantly. He really did want to know what was in there.
Silence followed as both brothers brushed their teeth.
Breaking the silence, Chris asked, “Think the demons can leave us alone for a few days?”
“What am I? Aunt Phoebe?” Wyatt gave his little brother a look. He pushed closed the medicine cabinet where he kept his toothbrush and toothpaste. “I can’t tell the future.”
“Well, if there aren’t any demons tomorrow, what are you doing?” Chris wanted to know.
“Sleeping until noon,” Wyatt retorted. “I’m exhausted. Now go away.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re rude?” Chris asked before he poured some water in his mouth to rinse out the tooth paste.
“You most likely,” Wyatt returned. He stripped off his shirt as he left the bath room and headed for his room. Without looking he tossed it in the general direction of the laundry hamper, missing by several feet.
Chris rolled his eyes as he left his toothbrush out and headed after his brother. He didn’t answer for several seconds. When he did talk, his voice was serious. “Any residual effects from the curse?”
“Other than the knowledge that instead of protecting Olivia I almost killed her,” Wyatt informed him, a haunted look in his eyes. He sank down onto his bed and bowed down his head with a sad sigh. “I’m supposed to protect her, protect all of them.”
“You do,” Chris argued. “You did. You didn’t infect any of them. When each of them was in danger of death, you saved them. And you got Nathan at least to hold on with his own power. I’m not saying you had an easy day. I’m not even denying the fact that in the end you snapped, but you know what, if you hadn’t been there, they’d all be dead, probably Emily’s brother and that other co-worker of yours, too.”
Wyatt didn’t answer at first, but he did look up. With an odd look on his face he said, “It occurs to me that you are a very contradictory person, little brother. Can’t you even make up your mind about whether you think I’m a failure or some big hero?”
Chris chuckled as he plopped down on the bed next to Wyatt. “That one’s easy. You’re neither.”
“Come again?” Wyatt looked at him confused.
“You’re my big brother,” Chris announced. “That means you are held on the highest pedestal that I can find and I naturally expect you to never do as good at anything as I do, because I am the younger brother.”
“Is that supposed to make sense?” Wyatt asked, a smile tugging at his lip.
Chris shook his head. “Not really. It’s supposed to make you smile.”
Wyatt snorted.
Chris gave him a big grin. “I see its working.”
“You are so weird,” Wyatt commented as he pulled Chris into a headlock and messed up Chris hair.
Chris wiggled out and attempted to catch Wyatt in a headlock.
Unfortunately for him, Wyatt was ready and jumped out of the way. “Uh uh.”
“You started it,” Chris reminded him.
“You really up for a wrestling match?” Wyatt asked.
Chris scowled. “Good night, Wyatt. Tomorrow, you’re mine.”
“Not until after noon,” his brother reminded him.
Chris stuck out his tongue and left the room.
Wyatt smiled as he closed the door after his brother. He quickly finished getting ready for bed and slipped beneath the covers, very glad that the day was done. As he drifted off to sleep he tried not to think of curses, demons, or anything magical. He just wanted a deep uninterrupted sleep.
He thought he was tired now, but he didn’t really know what tired was. If he only knew what was coming, he wouldn’t have been so quick to say that. What was about to happen was going to make this day seem like a vacation.
THE END