Daggers and Roses

Chapter 2



Sometimes Jay really pissed him off. Seriously, they had just saved his life and he hadn’t received a word of thanks. He graced Norma with the second act of affection that Moses had ever seen Jay give to another human being. But how does he think Norma made it there in time? If he hadn’t been there to guide her, there wouldn’t be enough left of Jay to find! ‘Aah, this is stupid. Why am I even worryin’ ‘bout this anyways?’ “Sorry to bother you, but I didn’t call you here to daydream” Moses looked up. The eyes of Senel, Shirley, Chloe, Norma, Will, and Jay were all upon him. “Heh, heh, sorry I kinda zoned out there, huh?” he asked, having almost forgotten where he was and why he was there. “What else would you expect from a stupid bandit?” Moses stood and faced Jay. “You wanna take this outside short stuff?” with a blinding speed both Moses and Jay received a blow to the head from Will. “Like I was saying before, there have been several reports of unusually strong and aggressive monsters appearing throughout the Legacy.” Senel looked up. “You don’t think that it has anything to do with the black mist do you?” Will shook his head and began unrolling a map onto the table. “No, but I do think that this is the work of a person.” Halfheartedly Jay asked “What do you mean?” It was one of the few times Jay had spoken today much less having ever asked a question of someone, Moses noted. “Well, take a look at this map. Each red dot represents where the victims believe they saw the monsters.” Jay’s face lit up with understanding. “So, you think whoever is doing this is using the ducts?” Will nodded “Most attacks occurred within a mile radius of a duct. It could also explain the recent duct malfunctions.” Norma blinked and brought her finger to her mouth like she often did when in deep thought. “But who could do something like that?” Will remained silent “I’m not really sure. But I believe whoever is doing this is basing their operation at the Ruins of Frozen Light.” Shirley looked up, confused. “Why would they be in the ruins?” “Recently some of our scholars discovered a pathway into an underground room that appeared to be littered with unknown technology. They left to gather a research team, but when they returned they could not find the path again.” Will replied, “We’ll be heading out after this storm subsides, so feel free to do whatever you want until then.” Everyone stayed and talked for a while. Eventually Senel headed to his house, Chloe returned to the hospital, and Norma went to the Inn leaving Moses, Jay, Shirley and Will still sitting at Will’s house. “Do you mind if I stay the night here? I’d rather not stay at the Inn anywhere near Norma’s snoring and sleep talking.” Just as Will was about to say something, Moses butted in. “There’s always room at the camp for my lil’ bro’ to stay!” Jay cringed but didn’t come back with his usual insult. “No, I think that…” Jay was trying to say but Moses picked him up and started carrying him to the door. “Night y’all!” Shirley and Will exchanged glances and laughed as Moses left carrying a screaming and flailing Jay.





Jay was infuriated. Never, NEVER, had he been so humiliated in his life. Jay became still as he was pulled close to the beast tamer’s chest as he began his mad dash through the rain to the bandit camp near the lighthouse entrance. Jay admonished himself for letting himself get worked up over being close to the idiot. They reached the camp both soaking wet, Jay never really dry since his encounter in the forest. It may have only been hours ago, but it already seemed like he had spent days reflecting upon it. He was brought out of his thoughts by Moses sitting him down. “You okay?” He wanted to hit the fool. “Of course I’m not okay! You just dragged me through the rain like I was an infant!” Moses laughed. “I don’t see what’s so funny.” He pouted and Moses finally said “You look so cute when you’re angry!” then burst out into laughter again. ‘Did Moses just call me CUTE?’ he thought not sure whether to be angry or, or…. He wasn’t going to take that as a compliment….was he? Finally he turned and stomped out of the room into what appeared to be a bedroom. Was it just his imagination or did he see a flicker of sadness on Moses’ face when he entered the room. Moses looked at him. “You know, you should take those clothes off, wouldn’t want you dyin’ after all the trouble of savin’ you.” Jay was glad he currently had his back turned to the other man so he couldn’t see the blush that covered his face. ‘Did Moses really just ask me to take my clothes off?’ “Go ahead and hang them somewhere and I’ll go find you something to wear.” He said before leaving the room. Making sure Moses had walked away from the room he quickly undressed and covered himself with a sheet off the bed. Moments later, Moses returned with a pair of shorts that were white with stripes in a similar design to the pants he wore and a shirt that looked two to three times too big. ‘At least they’ll cover up the shorts’ he thought. Jay changed into them as Moses was distracted shuffling through his own clothes. Finally he procured an ‘outfit’ similar to the one he was wearing, the only difference being that it was visibly older and had a few tears in it. Without warning the bandit began to strip. Jay looked away, his face now redder than Moses’ hair. Out of the corner of his eye he could guess that apparently Moses sunbathed in the nude. His eyes ran across Moses’ equally developed legs and firm backside to… ‘Oh, Nerifes’ he thought. Managing to hide his blush by the time Moses had dressed and faced him he asked “Where am I going to sleep?” Moses stared blankly at him for a second. “That’s a silly question! You can sleep right here with your big bro’!” Jay groaned and mumbled something like “stupid idiot bandit” under his breath before lying down on the bed as close to the edge as he could. Moses put the candles out as Jay undid his hair making sure the dagger he took from his clothes was concealed next to the bed. Jay lie there for a while unable to sleep, something that apparently not a problem for the bandit. The rain pounded against the roof in torrents. Jay had almost managed to go to sleep when it happened. KA-BOOM! The sound of thunder rolled throughout the room and all of a sudden he was grabbed from behind and pulled toward the taller man as he whimpered in his sleep. He started to yell or push Moses off, but decided against it. Despite whom the idiot was, this was the safest he had felt in a long time. He lie against the warm chest behind him and quickly fell asleep.