EL Official BK5 Chapter 6 - Babysitting Monsters Is Exhausting (Patreon)

A day in the life of Calla, a post-war slice of life.

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It was our second summer in Leúchtend and the day was pleasant. A comfortably warm breeze stirred the air, mottled shadows danced across the grass from the tall trees above and Claire's gentle encouragement filled the tranquility. 

“Come on, come to Mommy, you can do it, come on!” she cooed, gesturing with her arms for the pudgy child to get up. 

Claire and I were sitting a small distance apart, and Hadrian had stopped on the grass in between. His attention drifted to passing insects and his big purple eyes stared absently into the air after them as he ignored his mother completely. It was a frivolous task trying to keep the attention of what would be the human equivalent of a one-year-old child. How she had the patience for it I will never know.

Not far from us Nathaniel was reading, resting back against a tree and turning the pages occasionally. Eric lay beside him on the ground with his head on Nathaniel’s lap and one arm curled around his thigh. They didn’t speak or otherwise interact with each other or us, but Eric was watching as we tried to get Hadrian to walk.

“Come on, Cyriiiiii,” Claire pouted, leaning forward to try and reach her son, but Hadrian was sitting just past her reach. 

For a moment she flailed helplessly as she accepted that she would have to get up to grab him, before he eventually turned toward her with a toothy smile. Mirroring her, he fell forward with his arms outstretched and Claire laughed. Her hair dropped over her shoulders as she dragged her chubby child to her.

“You’re getting so heavy, little man,” she teased, cuddling him close.

Across the way Markos was approaching with a tray of food from the morning feast and Eric was speaking to Nathaniel softly. The whispered tone caught my attention and I glanced over to them to see Nathaniel slowly petting Eric’s hair as if he were a house cat. “Stop it… I’ll fall asleep…” he murmured the complaint half-heartedly and it was as Nathaniel began to answer him that the peace of the day shattered.

A wet crack, almost like a pop, followed by a blood-curdling scream erupted from Claire and everyone moved instantaneously. Auras flared and in seconds Nathaniel had Hadrian. Blood dripped from the child’s round lips off his chin but he kept his mouth shut, holding something in it while plump tears welled in his eyes and dribbled from his nose.

In the same moment, Eric and I were with Claire. Blood covered her hand and poured onto her dress skirts. The tip of her pointer finger from the first knuckle had been bitten clean off by sharp teeth and looked almost as if it were severed by a blade. The skin was slightly torn and the bone was missing, but I didn’t look at it for long before taking a secure hold of it to stem the bleeding.

It was Eric that understood what had happened first, and he turned to Hadrian, “Hold him,” he told Nathaniel firmly, then without another word grabbed the child’s cheeks. 

He held the boy where his jaw hinged and Hadrian squirmed, trying to push him away with uncoordinated shoves. He made an upset sound while thrashing as he tried to free himself, but it was little use. 

“Open your mouth, you little sh*t,” Eric muttered with mild annoyance in his calm dialect. He squeezed until the boy was forced to open his mouth, and the tip of Claire’s finger fell out. It was like watching an animal spit up a tablet, and the moment his mouth was empty, Hadrian began to scream, adding to the chaos.

Markos reached us immediately after and pushed me aside as he moved to tend to his wife. Anxious energy swirled around him and concentrated at his fingertips. He took only a fraction of a second to assess the damage then scooped Claire into his arms, “Bring her finger to the infirmary,” he barked the order as he was already moving. 

We followed after them and Markos was able to reattach Claire’s finger almost seamlessly, though she was distraught nonetheless. She was holding onto Markos and trembled with the shock of what had happened, while tears glistened on her cheeks as she cried.

Similarly Hadrian had not stopped screaming throughout and was dribbling mess onto Nathaniel’s clothes.

“G-ive me m-my baby,” Claire sobbed, reaching for him. But as Nathaniel moved to do as she asked, Markos stopped him.

“No, keep him away from her,” he hissed tensely. 

“I want him!” Claire insisted, trying to push past her husband regardless.

“He just bit you, he’s-”

“He’s my baby and I want him back! He’s crying-”

“He just bit you!” Markos shouted as he repeated himself. He shook her slightly and she swallowed hard as her eyes met his, “He’s too dangerous… You can’t, I can’t… I can’t…”

Markos lowered his voice to whisper the last part and Claire reached up to cup his face in her hands, “... He didn’t mean to do it…” she murmured just as quietly.

“...He’s a monster…” the man responded inaudibly.

“He’s not… and neither are you…” she reassured, briefly tucking one of his curls back behind his ear before speaking past him more firmly to Nathaniel, “Give me my child.”

Nathaniel hesitated, uncertain, before gratefully handing Hadrian over. It was rare that he should hold him for any length of time so I’m sure he was relieved as Claire shushed the boy. She cuddled him close, cradling him until his cries became little more than sniffles and the tension began to dissolve.

*** 

That wasn’t the first or last time Hadrian had hurt his mother, although it was rarely spoken about. The times he had bitten her were numerous and as he began to grow it only became worse. His first words came with a host of new challenges. Claire had been determined that he should say ‘papa’ first, but I had caught Markos in private encouraging him to say ‘mama’ instead and it worked.

From then Claire spent most of her time trying to talk to Hadrian, although his sentences were rudimentary at best, and unintentional commands at worst. He liked it when he could get Charles to do things, like pull funny faces or give him things.

“Cookie,” the child asked, reaching out expectantly.

“Nope, you gotta eat your other food first buddy,” Charles shook his head. Since coming back from Europe he was somehow different, less of a push over I suppose, but just as funny as before.

He, along with Eric and I, were babysitting Hadrian while Markos and Claire were out on a date. We were sitting in the great chamber together. It’s a large room with tall windows and a large stone fireplace. Fluffy rugs blanket the floor and sitting tables at the edge of the room allow for small meals to be eaten. 

Hadrian and Charles were seated at one of these tables. He was feeding the child chicken nuggets, that was all he would eat, aside from cookies, since Claire had given him some last time we visited the mansion in Maine. Apparently he preferred human foods to fae foods, and that made some meals difficult.

It was my job first and foremost in any circumstance to watch over Claire. I was her personal guard at Markos’s order and he had specified she must be the priority. However, it was also my job to watch over Hadrian, and Claire had requested that I place him first in any situation… Truthfully it left me uncertain of what to do, protect the child or the mother? 

Eric remains perhaps the only person who truly understands this predicament. By our training I should follow Markos’s command, but by his own command, I should obey Claire as well. I suppose I can simply hope nothing ever happens to endanger them both at the same time, that way I will not have to decide.

As it was, Eric was braiding my hair and the sensation of individual strands lightly being pulled was soothing. I wish I could say our relationship had returned to normal, but I fear it never will. I’m hesitant to trust him as I once did, and he is insecurely nervous about our interaction which has resulted in him going out of his way to be nice. It’s excessive, almost tiring. 

Thinking about it I leaned backwards to look at him, and he stopped startled. “Are you alright?” he asked, confused. Even upside down his lashes were too long, however his velvet voice and the neutral expression he wore was comforting. 

“When do Nathaniel and Achaicus return?” I asked calmly.

“Three hours,” he answered without doubt. Eric seemed to have some way of knowing exactly when Nathaniel would be back, I assumed it was an additional contract term given the mess he had created.

Still, that was good. It made me nervous when both twins were out of the castle. They usually didn’t leave simultaneously, but word had arrived from Europe, one of their party had disappeared without a trace, and it was the twin’s duty to investigate. Although I doubted anything would come of it, for Markos had been absent for a brief moment around the same time as the disappearance, and no one finds anyone Markos vanishes.

“Cookie…” Hadrian’s whining interrupted my thoughts as he made the request again.

“Other food, no cookie,” his uncle insisted and the boy pulled a face. 

It was the kind of disgruntled expression he would make before coming up with some kind of an idea, and it was poorly concealed, “Cookie,” he demanded, lacing his words with magic.

Involuntarily Charles reached for the jar in the windowsill beside him and set it down on the table, but stopped with his hand on the lid as the order wore off too quickly, “Hey, you know that’s not fair.” 

“...Cookie,” he ordered more firmly and Charles took a deep breath. Red energy sparkled behind his irises as it negated the child’s second attempt.

“No can do, kiddo.”

The commands of children are significantly less powerful. They’re uncoordinated and wear off quickly, but if you’re caught off guard, it can be troublesome. Moreover, Hadrian was making a fuss, usually he would have let it go by now. Instead he insisted, “Cookie, cookie, cookie!” and Charles struggled.

“Hadrian, no,” Eric spoke up firmly at last and the child burst into tears, ending the cookie argument.

There were only three people whom Hadrian would listen to as a child. His father, his ‘uncle’ Nathaniel, and Eric. Now the boy is a teenager, and everyone has a different relationship with him. Achaicus is soft, he spoiled him as a child with sweets and even now continues to allow him to do whatever he pleases. He is whom Hadrian goes too when he wants to avoid his duties. 

In contrast, Nathaniel is strict. On the days Hadrian is assigned to him they work together in his office. Mostly the boy is set up at the desk to study while Nathaniel sorts through the paperwork, but occasionally they will take a break to spar outside. Hadrian goes to him for advice. 

Charles is certainly more human in his approach, being the boy’s only true uncle, he takes him on outdoor activities. Fishing, hiking, camping. All of which I must endure in line with the protection order on him. They get along well, and Hadrian has developed a sense of humor uncharacteristic of other fae, but I’m not certain it’s a good idea for him to learn human skills.

Claire is gentle with her son, and endlessly supportive. In her eyes he can do no wrong, and her affection is unconditional. They spend a lot of time together, cooking or reading, which makes my job easier. She is the only person I have seen Hadrian cry in front of, and remains the person he will seek out when he’s upset.

Similarly, Hadrian spends considerable time with his father. I can’t say for sure what they do during this time, as I am not required to watch him when he is with his father. However, I know Markos has been teaching him healing techniques, and they sometimes go on walks in the forest for herbs. They have a calm relationship, although it is strained at times due to Markos’s overprotective nature.

It’s the same thing that strains all of Hadrian’s relationships, he dislikes being ‘babied’ as he calls it, and it has sparked arguments. Similarly, it fuels his dislike of me. He resents that I follow him most places, and will commonly try to escape my supervision. I don’t feel as though he dislikes me, only my job. Still, I know who he goes to when he ‘escapes’ me, so it’s not as if I have truly lost him.

“I hate it! I hate them!” Hadrian’s voice echoed up the side of the castle wall in conjunction with metal clashing on metal.

“Don’t say idiotic things,” Eric responded bluntly.

Hadrian was where I had expected him to be, sparring with Eric just outside the castle grounds along the edge of the forest. I settled in to watch from a somewhat concealed position above along the top of the wall, and they continued largely unaware. 

You see, despite being frightened of Eric as a child, he was undoubtedly the boy’s favorite now that he was grown.

“They never let me do anything, or go anywhere alone. They think I can’t handle myself!” 

“They let you go to school by yourself.” 

Hadrian snorted, “You think I don’t know one of you is waiting just around the corner?” 

“So? They could have sent Calla into class with you. She could pass for a teenager.”

The young fae didn’t answer, simply put more effort into his next swing. His sword met with Eric’s and was forced back, “You're attacking too directly, put some thought into your motion.” 

As he gave the instruction he demonstrated and Hadrian was thrown to the ground. He coughed as the wind was knocked out of him and scrambled to defend himself as Eric continued to attack him.

“Wait, let me get up!” he complained, barely deflecting the hits.

“You think an enemy will give you the chance to get up?” Eric answered, uncaring. 

This was why he wasn’t supposed to be alone with Eric. He was the only one who would dare treat Hadrian harshly like that, and it worried Markos. 

As Hadrian struggled he clenched his teeth and I was beginning to wonder if I should intervene, when he pulled the knife from his belt to throw at Eric’s feet. To avoid it, he stepped back, and Hadrian scrambled to his feet in the interim.

“I was wondering how long it was going to take you to figure something out.”

“My father is right… You are a bastard,” he panted breathlessly.

“Takes one to know one,” Eric shrugged as he lowered his weapon, “Let’s take a break, if you get any more bruises I’ll get in trouble.”

Hadrian looked mildly annoyed, but rested back against the castle wall gratefully. His chest heaved with deep breaths and sweat beaded on his brow, they had been training for sometime. 

“Right, can’t bruise my delicate complexion.”

“Stop complaining.”

“You don’t understand. I can’t go anywhere without Calla or someone following me. I’m constantly being watched and everyone makes a big deal out of everything. I can’t even get a scrape without my father healing it, or Achaicus and my mother freaking out. Even Nathaniel… They all treat me like I can’t do anything… No one but you will even spar with me properly. They think I’m incapable…”

“No, the problem is you ask guards to spar with you and none of them want to risk pissing off the nobles.”

“That’s exactly my point! Even in magic training Nathaniel holds back…”

“Nathaniel holds back because you’re so far beneath his power scale he doesn't know what else to do.” 

Hadrian scowled, “He’s not that strong and I’m not that weak.”

“He is that strong, but it would seem arrogance is an inherited trait afterall,” Eric mused. 

“...Whatever. It’s like they don’t care about who I am at all… I’m just a trophy, ‘first fae born in a decade’.’” he mumbled, allowing himself to slide down the wall and holding his head in his hands. 

Eric exhaled softly, crouching down with him, “Don’t say things like that.”

“Why not? It’s true…”

“...No… you just don’t understand…”

“Understand what?”

“How much they care for you… Your fae uncles were hurt when they were young. They grew up with no one protecting them. Not even their mother, and it was the people who should have taken care of them who hurt them. They’re afraid of being bad uncles, and they don’t want to see anyone hurt you.”

“…Why didn’t anyone help them?”

“It was a different time…” Eric said softly then added, “And don’t you ever let them hear you say you think you’re a trophy. They were the only twins born in a Millenia, they were a public spectacle, you? Hardly.”

Hadrian was quiet a long moment, “What about my non-fae side… why are they so annoying about stuff…?“

“They’re just trying to give you the security they didn’t have. Charles and Claire were kicked out of their home when they were teenagers. It’s very difficult for young humans to live on their own. They want you to have the stability they didn’t.” 

“Why didn’t anyone ever tell me any of this?”

“You were too young, and it’s not easy for them to talk about. Especially not for Nathaniel and Achaicus. I’m not sure either of them would be honest with you if you asked.”

Again Hadrian took a moment to consider, “What about my dad..?”

Eric looked mildly surprised and delayed as he thought, “Your father and I don’t exactly get along, so I don’t know all that much about him. You would be better off asking Calla… but I think he's afraid of himself, and of how much of himself he sees in you.”

“That’s…-” 

“Don’t say anything until you’ve seen your father lose it.”

“Fine, then… why aren’t you like the rest of them then?”

That caught Eric by surprise and he laughed, “Why should I be? I didn’t have the problems they did. My family never laid a hand on me.” 

“You get nervous when uncle Nathaniel is away, everyone can tell,” Hadrian commented and Eric looked mildly annoyed.

“…Oh… that’s something different. Your uncle and I have an agreement, and I don’t particularly like it when it looks like he’s going to break it. What does that have to do with you?”

“Nothing. I guess.. I’m just glad you don’t treat me like I’m made of glass.”

“I tried to kill you, more than once, just so you know.”

“What?” Hadrian asked, startled.

“While your mother was pregnant, I wanted her to give up. I couldn’t see how any good would come of you. It’s part of why your father doesn’t like me around you. But… I’m glad your overprotective family were there to keep you safe. Turns out you’re not so bad.”

“Yeah well, now that I know you tried to kill me, I guess I’ll have to make Achaicus or Charles my favorite uncle.”

“I’m not really your uncle anyway.”

Their conversation lulled a moment as Hadrian didn’t answer before Eric spoke again. “I’ll help you talk to them, about giving you some more freedom. I’m sure they’re not trying to suffocate you… They probably don’t realize they’re upsetting you.”

“You think they’ll listen?”

“...Yeah, I do…” he said offering Hadrian a hand up, “Now get back inside the castle, before any of them find out you’re out here. I don’t need to get yelled at.”

The boy snorted, giving a sly smile, “Me? Sneak out? Doesn’t sound like me, you must’ve asked me to train outside the walls.”

“Don’t even try it.”

“Okay okay… aren’t you coming too?”

“In a bit, I’ll see you at dinner.” 

Hadrian nodded, moving to do as he was told and disappearing into the hidden tunnel into the cool room. I supposed I should follow him, however, Eric spoke again, “You’re losing your touch, letting him disappear from your supervision.”

“I knew he would go to you,” I answered calmly. It didn’t surprise me that he knew I was there, Eric just as observant as he always was.

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