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Chapter 61: The Marks

Nathanial tensed up as he looked at Garret and Wallace glaring at each other. Wallace's voice was quiet, "I haven't spoken to Gordon in over a week, Garret. What happened?"

Nathanial barely registered that the dishes began rattling on the table or that his pack was filtering into the house, "Poppy?" Micah whimpered at the sound of Nathanial's voice, even Garret froze and looked at Nathanial cautiously, "Am I to understand you're friends with Gordon Ahjee, the Investigator? You speak to him often?"

Wallace met Nathanial's eyes evenly, "Yes. I practically raised him, so it's small wonder we keep in contact. He's been a lot better about keeping in contact with his mentor than my son has."

A light bulb exploded in the hall, the sharp bang made Micah shriek and dive under the table, Nicholas curled his legs up against his chest and whimpered. "Indeed. I really hope you aren't aware of the trouble he's been giving us, I want to give you the benefit of the doubt and I want to have a family, including extended family. Did he talk to you about coming over to check us for Taint?"

Wallace shook his head, "The only times he mentioned you was to say that a portal had opened on your property. I think he opened it to try to turn one or more of you into Demon Mages. That's something Garret should have done years ago, it was his duty as a member of the Cabal. Gordon knew I wasn't happy about Garret's... reluctance and probably wanted to surprise me with a Demon Mage grandson." Nathanial's breath hissed out between his teeth, his pack growled in the shadows around the dining room. "Keep them back, Nathanial. I don't want to fight you."

Several more light bulbs exploded across the house, "Don't!? You don't want...!?" Nathanial struggled to talk, "It's a bit late for that! You put Nick through this! You! Do you know what we've been going through since that night!?"

Rosemary snorted, "Don't be stupid, pup. We did nothing, we didn't even know about until later. If Garret did his duty you would've been properly supervised and things would've been just fine. As it was Gordon did a great job. No one was hurt, only a few Imps made it through, the Succubus Tainted Nick and actually let him draw in some of her magic. She even let him go. It went extremely smoothly. Did you even wonder at how easy it was to handle those Demons?"

Garret roared, "My job!? Like hells! You think there was going to be a chance I'd let any of my boys go through what I went through!? Even Micah!? No! I wouldn't put anyone but that sick bastard through it! Why the fuck would you even think it? I have nothing to do with your twisted Cabal, the Society, or the Hidden World itself! And I have a damn good reason- you!"

Nathanial's eyes narrowed, "If you didn't want us to go through something, Dad, you should've been here. If you knew we've had trouble with Demons, Poppy, why didn't you come over to help us? Even just to let us know what Nick might go through? It's obvious you have nothing but contempt for Dad and you knew where we lived, so you should've been here to help us. Don't blame Dad for everything, you dropped the ball, too."

Both men looked a little guilty, Rosemary just smiled, "You really are good, Nathanial. I haven't seen either of these two look guilty about anything in ages. But this is all water under the bridge. What problems are you having? Currently? We can't help with anything that's already resolved, one way or the other."

Garret hissed, "Get out. We don't want the help of Demon lovers. I can't believe that sick bastard did this to my boys, I'm going to kill him."

Wallace laughed, "You? You couldn't touch him as pups; you could never match him in magic or anything else that mattered. What the fuck do you think you could do to him, now?"

Nathanial snarled, "Dad could tell me where he is. I want to kill Gordon slowly, I want to stare into his eyes as he feels his life draining drop-by-drop from him. I want to drink in his fear as he sees the Fates cut his thread and feels Thanatos' claws digging into his soul. I want him to suffer. I could've killed him yesterday, I should have. The next time I see him, I will." Nicholas let out a high pitched whimper, he was shivering violently on his chair, eyes wide as he rocked.

Wallace started laughing, again, "You? A little pup? Gordon is a Nosferatu Demon Mage! A blood magic user! How could you beat him?"

Garret smirked, "Nathanial beat him and Lara May at the same time. Granted Gordon didn't use any Demon magic, but it was two Investigators at once, two who are used to working together."

Micah squeaked out, still under the table, "I saw him fight, um Gordon fight. He fought us using blood magic. Uh, me and Nats' friends. Nats could take him. He-he tried to make his friend Turn, Lara. She was screaming and crying, begging him not to. You're friends with a guy like that? I don't want you as my grandparents."

Wallace's face fell, laughter gone. Rosemary blanched, "He what? He tried to Turn someone? Forced Turning? Oh, Gordon." Her voice was full of grief.

Wallace leaned back into his chair, "Hecate have mercy and take me now. Gordon, what have you done?" A tear ran down his cheek, "This changes everything. He's a marked person, now. I... I'll put the word out, tonight. He'll have the whole Cabal searching for him, including us. I have to ask you to stay out of this, Nathanial, it's a Cabal matter."

"Fuck you. He's mine. He crossed my family and hurt Nick." Nathanial glared at his grandfather, but he felt a twinge of pity. Wallace looked old right now. Nathanial could see the weight of his years pressing down on him, his regrets and unfulfilled dreams. His mistakes. Grief. Loss. The life lived in hiding. Nathanial felt his anger melt away, "Sorry. You know what my life may end up like, don't you? Living in hiding, pretending to be something your not."

Wallace looked confused. Rosemary did, too, "I don't know what you're talking about, pup."

Nathanial sighed, "I guess not. I just looked at you two and saw how hard it's been for you, pretending to be something else, having to hide a big part of who you are. Granted your secret is using Demon magic and my secret is being gay, but lots of people find both of them abhorrent. Some places it's a death sentence either way."

Wallace still looked confused, "Where the hells did that come from? I'm glad you aren't threatening to kill me or anything, but what the fuck?"

Garret sighed, sounding tired, "Dad, watch your language. We're still at the dinner table."

Wallace rolled his eyes. Rosemary smiled, "He's right, Wallace."

Liam walked into the room, sheathing his sword with a metallic hiss, "Since it appears I do not have to kill anyone after all, perhaps we should talk."

Everyone jumped, there was a loud bang from under the table, "Oww..." Micah whimpered. Nicholas' chair fell backwards, but Nathanial caught it with his magic before he hit the ground and lifted him back upright. "Uh, Sensei?" Micah peeked out from under the table cloth, his muzzle barely visible and his normal gold eyes glinting in the dim light. Micah saw Liam and crawled out the rest of the way, rubbing his head.

Nathanial sighed, "I'm glad to see you, Sensei. How did you know what was going on? How did you get in?"

Liam tipped his head toward Snow, who was sitting by the door, "Snow thought I may be useful should things continue to escalate. It is almost a pity they have not." His eyes were full of loathing as he looked at Nathanial's grandparents, "However, I have need of experienced Demon Mages if I hope to cure Nicholas-kun."

Rosemary's face changed from surprise to concern, "He's sick? I didn't sense any illness in him. I'd know if there was."

Liam looked disgusted, "Eidos Loimos." He said some other things in a language Nathanial didn't recognize, but his tone wasn't complimentary. Hades and Hecate figured prominently in his monologue.

Rosemary smiled faintly as he finished, "Now, why don't you tell us how you really feel, pup."

Liam's eyes blazed, blue flame flickered deep inside them and along the blade of his sword as it flashed out to point at her, "You will address me with respect, plague bearer, or I shall cleanse you right now. Hades shows no mercy to the likes of you; I have sent many of your kind to Tartarus and I have no qualms about sending a few more."

Wallace smirked, "You're an Ancient One. How marvellous. You used to be a priest of Hades didn't you?" Garret's jaw dropped but he quickly recovered and looked thoughtful, as if pieces suddenly clicked together in his head.

Nathanial lifted his paw, "Stop!" Liam stopped, partially crouched, ready to leap over the table to skewer Wallace, "Poppy, I warned you, I still have that one way ticket to the Darkness ready. Liam, he's my grandfather and he's promised to sic the Cabal on Gordon and Beriatana. You said they might be able to help you get Nick's sex drive under control?"

Rosemary blinked, "That's the cure you mentioned? Well, it's not a disease, so I can't help you there."

Liam's gaze was flat and contemptuous, "I would not ask a... I am a Healer. I will do the healing. What I need is the opportunity to analyze you, to see how the use of Demon magic affects you, and to see if you know how he has been altered. If I can learn what was done to him I have the starting point of a cure."

Wallace snorted, "You make it sound like this is a bad thing. I'll grant that a Succubus wouldn't be my first choice, or even in the top ten, but they're still powerful. So he's a little horny, what teen isn't?"

Liam growled, "A little would not be an issue. Even very would be manageable. He is constantly in need of sex, the more aggressive and violent the better. It causes him pain if he is forced to abstain and his need affects those around him. This occurs in hours. He needs help, not platitudes."

Wallace tapped the side of his muzzle, thinking. Rosemary leaned back in her chair, fingertips pressed together in front of her face. Nathanial shook his head, "Liam, have you eaten? I can get you some food if you want, there's still more from supper. Oh, Nanny and Poppy, address him as Smith or Smith-sensei." Wallace waved his paw dismissively in front of his face and Rosemary shrugged, her eyes still looking off in the distance.

Liam sighed, "I have eaten, Nathanial, but the food smells very good. I will have a little of what you recommend most."

Nathanial smiled, "All of it. The fiddlehead and saffron soup is phenomenal, if I say so myself, then I'd go with the quail or stuffed mushrooms, but I'm crazy about mushrooms."

Liam nodded, "I will have the soup, if you please. Fiddleheads are very much out of season, I do not think they even freeze well, how did you obtain some?"

Nathanial grinned, pleased with himself, "Heh, I have culinary contacts. I even found several local farms for organic greens, ethically raised sheep, goats, and pigs, and a great supplier for fresh spices. Fair trade spices. Oh, I got some small crates of the teas you said you like, Bai Hao Yinzhen from Jian Yang in the Fu Jian province is one. A spring picking." Nathanial stumbled over the unfamiliar words, but he thought he said them close to correct. He ladled out a bowl of soup for Liam and got a plate with one of the stuffed mushrooms, too.

Liam grinned as his tail tapped the door frame. He glanced at the elder Marks and schooled his features, but his nose kept twitching in excitement, "That is most gratifying, Nathanial. Thank you."

Nathanial stood up as he brought the food in, "Here, sit. I want to see if this meets your approval." Liam smiled, slightly, and sat. "I'm sorry, but they've sat a little longer than I'd like. The soup is very delicate and doesn't sit too well. The fiddleheads might be a little mushy, now."

Liam sniffed the soup and took a spoonful. His eyes widened, "Most remarkable, Nathanial. It is one of the finest soups I can recall having. I believe you are slightly more skilled in Chinese food, but I would be pleased to have a soup such as this again." Nathanial felt warm and happy from Liam's praise. Recall having covered a very large time frame for Liam.

Wallace smiled, it even looked genuine, "Even better than the food you had as a priest?"

Liam put his spoon down, "Yes. I travelled as a priest of Hades, we were not well liked so staying in one place was not advised. Also, the food of that era left much to be desired, I would not willingly have a quote rich meal unquote from that time for the rest of my existence. The fresh fruit, nuts, cheeses, and freshly slaughtered meats were as you would have from any time or place, but the recipes were horrendous, designed to cover rotting meat. Food preparation and recipes have improved drastically over the ages, and Nathanial has great skill in that art." Liam resumed eating, he still looked out of sorts from being addressed by a Demon Mage and eating in front of two.

Rosemary nodded, "He does, he'd do very well as a chef."

Nathanial looked thoughtful, "No, I don't think so. Cooking is a hobby, I don't think I'd want to do it as a job. I might change my mind, though. I've thought about psychology, you know helping teens who are having a rough go, maybe specializing in gay teens if there's enough demand. Or social services, but that's supposed to be really hard. Um, tough to deal with, not to do."

Garret looked fondly at his boy, "Or management, you're really good at getting people to do things and organizing them. Keeping things running smoothly and keeping track of finances. I've looked through the accounts of the last few years, you were a hell of a lot better than Lily in bookkeeping. You'd do well in politics, diplomacy, or negotiating, too, as long as you remember not to send people to Tartarus or fling them around by their neck."

Nathanial blushed and lowered his head at the chiding tone. Wallace rubbed his neck and laughed, "It does put a damper on conversation, Nathanial."

Garret's laugh wasn't entirely humorous, "You got off easy, Dad. He was a lot rougher with me." Nicholas blushed and fidgeted at that, his mind must have been in the gutter.

Liam put his spoon down, having finished his small meal, "Thank you, Nathanial. If supper is finished for all, let us retire to a more appropriate setting."

Nathanial cleared off the table as they walked to the sitting room, "Coffee? Tea? I can prepare a pot of the Bai Hao Yinzhen tea for you, Liam."

"That would be lovely. I trust it came with appropriate directions?" Liam sat in the chair he'd sat in with Faelen yesterday evening. Nathanial nodded. Garret and his mother chose tea, Wallace asked for another glass of wine. "Now, out of curiosity, what relation is Gordon Ahjee to the Marks?"

Garret growled. Wallace shook his head, "He was my protégé and godson. Everything I wanted in a son; smart, obedient, ruthless, eager to please, strong magic, cunning. Perfectly willing to do whatever was necessary to follow my orders." Liam and Nathanial started growling, too. "Shut up, would you? You asked a question and I'm answering. I usually don't, you know. Besides, I'm a Demon Mage, not a saint. What were you expecting? Gordon crossed the line when we went to turn Garret and him into Demon Mages, though."

Garret stood up, looking a little pale, "I'll go check on the tea."

Wallace snorted, he sounded just like Garret did, "Grow up, would you? That was twenty-five years ago. Get over it already." Garret ignored him and went downstairs. Nathanial didn't mention that the tea was in the kitchen. "We summoned a Nosferatu to do the honours, but there's a problem in summoning powerful Demons to do the job, they don't always cooperate. They don't always honour a deal, either. The Nosferatu took Gordon and Garret and fled, we lost track of him when he slaughtered several people and used the blood to create several clones. We searched for a month before we found Gordon, he told us Garret was dead." Wallace smiled and shook his head, "I should've known better, Gordon was the only one who could lie to me without me knowing. Gordon didn't escape, he was still working for the Nosferatu, and, as we know now, Garret was obviously still alive. We didn't suspect anything for several months until more people went missing and showed up later drained of blood. I started keeping closer track of Gordon and noticed he was frequenting a warehouse. I left an anonymous tip with the Knights, they raided the house and killed everyone and everything in it. Except Garret. They thought he was already dead; he was hanging on the wall, his intestines were strung around the room like garland, and he was attached to an IV and several other pieces of medical equipment to keep him barely alive. The Nosferatu fought well enough to take out almost all of the Knights but died, too. The surviving Knights were Tainted and had to be killed by their comrades." He leaned back smiling, "A perfect outcome. I went in, rescued Garret, and took him home, but of course, I couldn't let Gordon off for what he did." He stopped smiling, his voice became quiet with remorse, "I had to punish him and kick him out, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do." Wallace's voice sounded normal again, "Garret hated Gordon ever since, well, I think he actually hated him before that. He seemed jealous of how good Gordon was and how miserable he was at everything. Like those sports he played mattered for anything, whatever they were. Pft. Magic is all that's worth while, Demon magic. Mage magic is all right, it certainly helps provide cover, but as Marks we normally draw the short straw that way." He nodded to Nathanial, "However, we're immune to the progressive growth of the Taint and that allows us to rise high in the Cabal. Anyway, Gordon was also jealous that Garret was actually my son, where he wasn't. He had the strength in magic and will too use it, where as Garret didn't but had the Marks blood. When I had to punish him and ban him from the house while Garret still lived there, he didn't take it well. I thought they would have gotten over it by now." Wallace paused, "It seems Garret has unusually powerful blood, the Nosferatu took great pains to ensure he stayed alive to power his magic. I've never been able to figure out what he was working on and Gordon doesn't know, either."

Nathanial was horrified by the man in front of him. He sounded so nice most of the time. "You- you monster! How can you talk so calmly about that?! How can you tell Dad to just grow up? He was there for a year! Being bled by some Demon while his god brother waltzed in and out of the warehouse the whole time, never once getting help. Dad should've turned the lot of you in!"

Rosemary rolled her eyes, "Calm down, pup. He wouldn't have lived long enough to try. The Cabal kept a very close eye on him for years to make sure he didn't. He also knew he would've been killed just like the rest of us. He is a Demon Mage and is Tainted, too. Besides, we took great pains to fix him up and to study him. Even for a Marks his ability to resist the Taint was beyond compare. A year in the claws of a Nosferatu? Actively being used as a magic source the whole time? He should've been Turned within the half year, even with the Marks' legendary resistance. It's just a terrible shame Garret's infamous 'gift' for magic extended to Demon magic, that ridiculous blood phobia he got certainly didn't help. Now, of course we never wanted him to go through that. We were horrified when we found out what he'd been through and we were furious with Gordon for not helping his brother. But Gordon was our son, too, just not by blood. We couldn't disown him."

Liam was quivering in rage, "No, you could have killed him. He demonstrated he was not to be trusted, he had no regard for others, and he betrayed his family. Casting him out was not an option, death was the only proper choice. I do not take betrayal well and that was betrayal of the worst sort."

Wallace shook his head as he smiled, "Keep your sword sheathed, I don't mean this as an insult, but you'd make a great Demon Mage."

Liam was completely soundless as he leapt across the room. He was moving faster than Nathanial had ever seen someone move, even faster than Geoff when he was Manifest. It took him by surprise but not Wallace. He flicked his paw as he said something and Liam bounced off a shimmering reddish-black wall with the same force he hit it with. Liam spun in midair and landed back in his seat, as if he never moved, "Interesting spell. It would work wonders against foes with firearms, quite well against any other weapons, too." He flexed his paws, the joints popped like firecrackers, "Do not say such a thing again. As an insult or compliment."

Wallace shrugged, "Very well. You just aren't the first person to tell me I should have killed him, but almost the same number told me later I was right to leave Gordon alive because he was the better Mage and Demon Mage. It doesn't matter. I left him alive and we have to deal with it, now. I'm sorry you're upset Nathanial, I don't want you angry with me and I really do want to help you. Please trust me when I say that I'll help you and your brothers in any way I can, including dealing with Gordon. I... love him like a son, but..." Wallace sighed heavily and put his face in his paws, his elbows braced on his knees. Rosemary wrapped her arm around him, her eyes glistened with tears, too.

Nathanial swallowed a derisive snort, he really understood why Garret didn't like his parents, now. They didn't love Gordon like a son, they loved him more than their son. "You've been really unfair to Dad, you know. So he's not a great Mage, Demon or other, but he's still your son. He's smart, handsome, he's trying his utmost to learn how to be a good father and is making great progress. He had a lousy role model growing up, but he's learning."

Wallace's head snapped up at that, "Don't lecture me about being a father, whelp!"

Nathanial sneered, "I'm not, I'm just making an observation. The worst parts of Dad's parenting habits come from you. You've been here a few hours and I've already seen you do them. He uses the same tone, the same words, the same mannerisms. They're identical to yours." He made his voice become soothing; he needed their help, "But you're right, it's all in the past. He's starting to finally heal and I'll help him along the best I can. We need to learn how to work together, too. For Nick and for us. You are my grandfather and grandmother, I want to get to know you."

Wallace's eyes narrowed slightly, "How... pragmatic of you. And sentimental at the same time. I agree. You are our grandkids, Martina has made it clear she won't be giving us any." He added hastily, "Not that we'd care any less for you if she did. But, ah, this isn't the time to talk about that."

Nathanial rolled his eyes, "Don't tell me you're concerned about the Marks bloodline." Wallace blushed and Rosemary suddenly checked her purse for something. He stopped rolling his eyes and sat up, "You... are, aren't you? That's a bit premature, don't you think? What about Nicholas or Micah?"

Rosemary sighed, "Is Nicholas straight? Micah is half-Fey, we don't know how the bloodline will pass through him. But even if all three of you were straight and carried the blood, you're still hunted. You could be killed anytime. You're the last three Marks pups, and to have one of you be gay is a loss."

Nathanial looked at Wallace, shocked, "Don't you have any nieces or nephews? Cousins? Surely you aren't the only Marks of your generation?"

He grimaced, "The only one with the blood. The rest succumbed to the Taint and had to be put down. The hazards of using Demon magic. Great power, great risk."

Liam growled, "That should be all the reason you need to stop using it. To force this upon your own children is inexcusable. To force this upon anyone is unconscionable." He put a paw to his forehead and winced. He took his paw away and growled slightly as he looked at Wallace's ears. Micah squeaked and scuttled off the couch before backing away, paws over his tail. Nathanial shook his head, confused. Liam shivered violently, "Sit, Micah-kun. I will go see if Mr. Marks has prepared the tea."

Nathanial smiled, "The tea is ready, I can bring it out. Dad is lying on the couch in the basement. The last day has been rough on him, too." Liam nodded and left the room, ever so slightly unsteady. Micah kept his tail covered and slipped back into his seat. "What was that about, Sprite?" Micah just shook his head and refused to answer.

Rosemary gave him a peculiar look but turned to Nathanial, "So what did happen? Garret said it was very difficult for you."

Nathanial shrugged, "Ask Nick and Micah. I don't remember most of it. I was apparently trapped in a tie pin for a while and had several hours of my memory taken from me."

Rosemary blanched, "Oh. Sounds... pleasant."

Wallace's lips quirked up in a small smile, "You seem to be doing pretty well. I'm sure that Ancient One would take the credit. He seems quite proud of his healing abilities."

Nathanial made his tone as icy as he could, "Liam is a great Healer. If it wasn't for him I would've died from that smoothly run Demon attack. The Taint almost reached my heart and my arm was completely numb. No one was hurt, pah!" He shook his head, and moderated his tone as he thought, 'Gods, these two alternate from being almost stereotypical sweet grandparents to complete scum.' Out loud he said, "Sorry, past is past. Liam is one of the best Healers in the world, and that's not me saying it. That's from Agents in the Society. He's removed the Taint from all four of us, he fixed my arm, he keeps my Chi in balance so I don't suffer from the side effects of having sex with a Spirit, and many other things. I owe him a debt I can never repay. Anyway, let me give you a run down of the relevant stuff that's been going on. Micah, Nicholas, if you want you can do your homework or any of that other stuff. Just remember, no video games, TV, or computer. I'll call you up if anything interesting happens."

Nicholas and Micah stood, Nicholas looked at Nathanial as Micah trotted off, "Um..." It seemed he wanted to ask something but didn't know how.

Nathanial just waved him off, knowing he was probably wanting to know if he was allowed to have sex. "Shoo. I told you what you aren't allowed to do. If you need exercise to work off some stress, you can go to the gym or whatever."

Nicholas smiled and followed Micah off to the basement. Rosemary and Wallace smiled as he left. Wallace laughed quietly, "He wanted to know if he could jerk off or something?"

Nathanial smiled and raised his paws, "Not my business, but he was affected by that damned Beriatana."

Rosemary raised an eyebrow, "The Succubus you mentioned? You know her name?" Nathanial nodded, "That could be useful. You can summon a Demon if you know their name."

Nathanial grimaced, "I heard that, but why would I want to? Anyway, she's already on this plane. Summoning won't work. Uh, before the run-down of last month, Nanny, how come you haven't turned? You aren't a Marks. Not by blood."

She shook her head, "No, but Gordon worked out a way that we can use a little of the Marks' resistance. Also, the foci we use now help a lot. We don't draw the demonic power directly into ourselves, but filter it through the focus. We store the magic there, too, so it doesn't hasten the spread of the Taint. Still, we have to limit the amount of Demon magic we use and our lifespans are about twenty years shorter than a Marks. With the help of Gordon and Wallace, I'll probably die of old age first, as long as I'm careful."

Nathanial nodded, but didn't say anything about how Gordon can't help her anymore, _ "_Did Gordon make the magic item Lara used to check for Taint?" Wallace nodded. "Thought so. He probably can disable it whenever he wants. I bet he was using it to see which of us was a Demon Mage, and then was going to kill Dad. Lara made a point of checking him for Taint even though he was out of the country when this 'event' happened. His plan failed, he didn't know Sensei had cleansed Dad earlier. I bet Gordon figured we'd be sent to live with you, giving you the Demon Mage grandson you wanted."

Rosemary sighed, "As far as we know you don't have godparents. We would have fought for custody, not that we'd expect any competition. On one paw I refuse to believe Gordon would turn on another member of the Cabal like that, especially his brother, but..." She trailed off shaking her head.

Wallace mirrored her, "Yeah, he made the item. A gift for his girlfriend he said. An easy way to keep her from finding anyone in the Cabal, actually. I agree with you, dear, it's hard to believe, but it fit's the pattern. It looks like he did try to betray his brother, again. He has to be stopped. Permanently." Rosemary pulled out a tissue and blew her nose as she nodded.

Nathanial didn't add anything else, but said, "Now, about my last month..."