Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:21:06 -0600
From: Zachary Shay <shayzac@gmail.com>
Subject: The Wielder Teaser

       Hello all and thank you for reading! This is just a portion of a
story on which I'm working. Saying that, there will be certain terms or
titles that may not be understood at this time. But, depending on how it's
received, I will most definitely be writing more! I, more than anything,
just wanted to get it out there and see if it was worth pursuing!
       Please feel free to send any comments you may have to
shayzac@gmail.com. I would be honored to hear from you!
       As usual, the work presented before is the sole property of the
author.
       Again, thank you for your time! Let a bitch know! :) Zac



       "Alex told me what happened," Mavis said softly as she entered the
room. I was sitting on the edge of the bed, my hands folded, looking quite
calm after what had happened. My emotions were seething near the surface
though, dangerously close to flowing over.
       "Did he?" I asked, perhaps a little too forcefully. Mavis flinched
before resuming her slow, cautious march towards me.
       "He did. So you finally hit the Magistrate," she stated, jumping up
and coming close to me. I closed my eyes and shook my head.
       "That I did. And believe me when I say he had it coming. Did Alex
tell you what he `suggested'? What his solution to this entire,
royally-fucked situation was?" I asked, turning to face her. All she did
was stare at me, waiting for me to finish, waiting for me to get out
whatever I needed to.
       "He wanted to kill Alex. He said that he was too dangerous to live.
He said that we would be better off if I just put him down. The bastard
didn't even have the brass to do it himself. He said it should be me," I
said, my voice shaking with rage. Mavis remained silent. God, that was
infuriating.
       "Don't you see how ...despicable that is?! The man is in charge of
the one faction dedicated to protecting humans, and he's telling me to kill
one! How could I not hit him!? Hell, I wish I'd put more force behind it!
How could he, Mavis?!" I asked, getting up, my anger finally flowing
over. The books on the shelf near my window began to shake, the trinkets
and baubles on top quivering as my power raged forth. But all Mavis did was
stare at me silently, completely nonplussed by the show.
       "I could never kill a human! He knows that! And then to go on about
how my feelings for Alex are blinding me to what need be done. What the
hell was that? Going so far as to say that I was in love with him...," I
finished lamely, the rage still pouring forth. The books weren't so much
dancing now as doing a jig.
       "I'm not in love with him. I swore to protect him, to protect them
all! I don't care if he's the Writer or the fucking Anti-Christ! I swore to
protect him and that's what I'm going to do! Wielders be damned! I'd like
to see them try to take me down. I've been pulling my punches for far too
long. It's time they learned their lesson!" I shouted, causing the books,
baubles, and trinkets to fly violently through the air, smashing and
breaking. None of this broke Mavis' calm.
       "GOD, WOULD YOU SAY SOMETHING?! ANYTHING, MAVIS! I'M NEARING THE END
OF MY FUCKED-UP ROPE HERE AND I COULD USE SOME GODDAMN ADVICE!" I shouted
at her, causing a few of the books to light on fire. With an irritated wave
of my hand, the flames extinguished, leaving an acrid smell in the air.
       Mavis, God bless her, simply stood up and looked me dead in the eye
before speaking.
       "Dage, you're in love with him." Her words, though simple and small,
hit me with the force of a thousand bricks. The anger I'd been feeling
evaporated, leaving me with a confusion that was even worse. Unbidden, the
tears sprang forth, pouring down my face as I sank to my knees.
       "I didn't mean to. I swear, I swear I didn't mean to. I didn't want
to fall in love with him. I didn't want to. I just wanted to do my job,
just wanted to do what was right," I cried, sinking to the ground. Mavis
got off the bed and came to me, her warm body pushing against me.
       "I know, baby. I know. Let it out. Let it all out," she said, cooing
softly. And I did. I cried 24-years worth of pain into her, crying and
screaming, the frustration and confusion almost too much to bear.
       "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be like this. I didn't
mean to fall for him, I swear," I said meekly, crying into her, holding her
as close as I could. She let me do this for a second before pulling away
and looking at me straight on.
       "Baby, I know! You say these things like you did something wrong!
Dage, you fell in love! You found the person who made you feel like you
weren't worthless, like you were something! How could any fault you for
that? How could I, the one being who's wanted nothing but your happiness,
be upset with you for falling in love? You have the weight of the world on
your shoulders, my boy. And the one thing that I can give you, the one
thing that I think you should be allowed to have, is love, no matter who it
may be with. There will be Hell coming our way. A war is brewing, my boy,
and you're gonna be the one to win it. You need a reason to fight, you need
a reason to live, and that boy out there, that sweet, kind, caring boy is
it. I will NEVER begrudge you that. And anyone who does is NOT your
family," she said, shushing my tears. Her words caused me to cry even
more. And all she did was rock me back and forth, gently calming me as I
fought the biggest battle I would ever wage.
       An hour passed before I had finally cried myself silent. Mavis was
still there, gently soothing me. Once I was silent, once all the emotion
had left, Mavis helped me get up.
       "Dage, expect no judgment from me. Those people may have birthed
you, may have raised you, but I have always loved you. You, my dear, sweet
boy, are the closest thing to family that I've ever had. Nothing you do,
and I mean NOTHING, will ever make me turn from you. I want you to remember
that," she said, eyeing me cautiously. All I did was nod.
       "Are you feeling any better? Or do we need to go find something to
kill?" she asked me. A slight laugh escaped my lips.
       "Come on, Mary Potter. You've been way too serious the past hour and
half. SOMEONE need to liven the mood. Now are you going to come and join
Alex and I for dinner or are you going to stay in here?" she asked heading
towards the door.
       "I think I'm going to stay in here," I said softly. "Maybe I'll take
a shower or something. I just...need a little more time to think."
       Mavis just nodded.
       "Okay, baby. There will be food out there if you want it. Bacon. And
booze, for that matter. Hell, I didn't even fight my father over the love
of a man and I'm feeling like I need a shot or two. I know I'd love to see
you and I KNOW Alex would. If you feel like it, come and join us," she said
to me. I nodded again.
       "Thank you, Mavis," I said, the full meaning of my words
unspoken. All she did was smile and walk out the door.
       "Oh the gays. Be they mages, humans, or anything else, they still
LOVE the drama...," she said as she sauntered down the hall. I couldn't
help but laugh.
       I took a few more minutes to calm myself. I was still shaking from
my little meltdown. A glance at the clock told me that it was nearing
midnight. Part of me wanted to go out and be near Mavis and Alex, but part
of me was still too scared. I didn't know what to make of it all. Alex had,
at least I'd thought, been the person I was supposed to protect. He was the
Whitney Houston to my Kevin Costner. Adding the romantic element simply
made it more complicated. No longer was he SUPPOSED to survive; he HAD to
survive. His making it through this was no longer an option; it was a
necessity. And I hadn't even said anything to him. I'd made no overture, no
gesture to show him how I REALLY felt. Could I do this? Could I protect the
man I love without him knowing that I actually loved him?
       I shook my head to rid myself of these too complicated thoughts. I
couldn't handle them right now. I needed something simple, something that
was easy. I needed a shower. Stripping off my clothes, begging my
overly-occupied mind to give me a moment's rest, I walked to my tiny
bathroom.
       Half an hour later, after taking the hottest shower imaginable, I
walked out. I put on the most comfortable pair of pants I could and was in
the process of pulling on a shirt when I heard a soft knock on my door.
       "Come in," I said, finishing putting on my shirt.
       "Mavis, I promise I'm doing better. I'm not the raving lunatic I was
before, I swear," I said, not facing the door.
       "Well, though I'm not Mavis, it's nice knowing that my protector
isn't a raving lunatic," a voice said. I quickly spun around, seeing Alex
standing in my doorway. I think I may have turned five shades of red.
       "Oh, Alex! Hey! I thought you were Mavis. Did you need something?" I
asked hurriedly, attempting to cover my blushing.
       "Uh, yeah, I did," he said, staring at me. "But it was
stupid. Forget it," he said, turning to leave. I hurriedly finished putting
my shirt on.
       "No! Alex, what was it? I'm sure it's not stupid," I said, making a
move towards the door. He stopped, still not facing me.
       "Really, it was stupid," he replied.
       I couldn't help but laugh.
       "Alex, you saw me air my dirty laundry with my entire family this
evening. I hit my father and made myself the most wanted criminal in all of
the magical community because I wouldn't turn you over. I think, after
putting you through that, I'm entitled to a `stupid' request," I said,
still laughing. Finally, he turned around, fixing me with those magnificent
eyes of his.
       "It was like Maury, but with magic," he said, his face turning into
a grin. I smiled at him too, fully aware that I was in sweat pants and a
tank top and feeling awfully vulnerable at this moment in time.
       "So, what was it you wanted?" I asked him. His eyes fell to the
ground and a small blush filled his face.
       "Well, uh, I was wondering...well, I was wondering if it was okay
if...I stayed...in your room tonight," he mumbled, unable to meet my gaze.
       "Of course! I've had you sleeping on the couch all this time. It's
time you got the bed. Just let me grab a spare set for the couch and you
can have full-reign," I said, smiling at him and making a move to the
closet. I'd almost reached a pair of sheets when Alex's hand gripped my
arm. I stopped and looked at him, confusion in my face.
       "No. I want to stay in your room. With you in it," he said softly. I
froze. His hand touching my arm, my hand touching the sheets, our eyes
locked on each other...it was almost surreal.
       "You want me to...stay with you?" I asked. He nodded, letting go of
my arm and walking towards the bed. My hand stayed on the spare sheets,
watching as he turned down the left side of the bed, crawling inside the
sheets.
       "Is this okay?" he asked me, his eyes meeting mine. Nothing, and I
mean nothing, had or ever will feel as right as having him in my bed.
Despite my desire to say this, I simply nodded, slowly bringing my arm
down. My eyes still locked on his form populating my bed, I walked to the
lights and turned them off. For a moment, I stood there, trying to collect
myself. The man I'd been wanting, the man I'd given up everything for, was
laying in MY bed, waiting for me.
       "Are you coming?" he asked, his voice uncertain.