Gwen Stone
“No, Sam, absolutely not,” Asteria yelled.
Gwen flinched at the uproar she knew would come when Sam shared the news. She watched the others' reactions to the news. Suzuko stared at a spot on the floor, Eruan attempted to calm everyone down, Asteria paced the living room, and strangely, Euryale sat calmly, watching the others closely.
“I think we should all calm down and hear him out,” Eruan urged. “There is most likely a good reason for this.”
“Says you,” Suzuko said quietly. “You’re one of them.”
“Half, Suzuko,” Sam said. “And we don’t need to constantly remind him of that.” Sam retorted, scolding her.
The dhampir went quiet after Suzuko’s words. Being half-human is difficult for any monster, not knowing which group will reject you more. Tensions were high enough when Eruan came to the safe house for the first time.
“I need everyone to relax right now,” Sam shouted.
Everyone went silent. Waiting and watching Sam to see what he’ll say. The news that two humans were on their way to be placed in their safe house set the small group of monsters into complete unrest. Gwen understood the others’ stances. Jorah, her coven member, lost a sister to an angry human whose wife bought a potion from her. However, she’s never wanted any part in fighting this war, even so much as engaging in debate.
“I’m aware tensions are getting higher with more attacks on monsters happening daily,” Sam explained. “However, they need help and we are in the position to give it.”
“I don’t understand why it has to be us,” Asteria questioned. “Why not some other safe house. There have to be ones with humans in them already.”
“Asteria, safe houses are limited, and why should they have to go somewhere else when everyone here can work on their tolerance of humans when said humans need safety,” Sam prompted, urging the monsters to have empathy and see reason.
Gwen watched the other monsters, aware Sam’s words didn’t work.
Knock Knock Knock
The house went quiet, and the air was heavy. They were here, and none of them were prepared. Even with Gwen’s stance on the war, she feared having humans living amongst her and the group.
Humans always want something from monsters. Gwen’s never met one who didn’t want a spell, a potion, or reading without having the gall to ask for it. Gwen knew humans were shameless from the beginning.
“Come in, come in. Make yourselves at home, considering this will be yours for a while,” Sam chuckled while a man and woman shuffled in, each carrying a small bag in which, Gwen assumed, had all the belongings that could make it on their trip.
The group stared at the two newcomers, whom they branded as intruders. Meanwhile, the intruders stared right back, regarding the established members of the safe house with judging glares. It was clear the intruders didn’t want to be here as much as the monsters did.
Ahem
The staring match was over. Everyone in the house looked at Samuel, who had just cleared his throat as he sensed the rising tension despite no one but him uttering a word. The silence was deafening.
“Well okay then,” Sam said awkwardly. “I feel as though we should start with introductions. I am Samuel Barclay, it’s wonderful to have you.”
The man and woman didn’t look impressed at his introduction.
The humans looked between each other before the man scoffed out, “What are you exactly?” and all hell broke loose.
Eruan was up in the blink of an eye and lunged at the man who made himself an intruder in a single sentence. The man barely dodged Eruan’s attack but the Dhampir swung again.
“Eruan,” Suzuko screamed. Sam went to grab Eruan, managing to get him by the back of the jacket.
“What the hell was that?” The woman yelled. “You all just attack defenseless humans?”
Euryale slithered up behind her and gave a warning hiss, which caused the woman to scream.
“You come in here with your disgusting questions and judging glares and yet you’re the ones that feel threatened?” Euryale accused. “You keep it up, I will personally give you something to feel threatened about.”
“For the love of the gods, enough,” Sam yelled. “Euryale, Eruan, go cool off somewhere, I don't care where.”
The two angry beings stormed off, no doubt going to sulk somewhere in the house. Sam looked exasperated, obviously exhausted by this introduction that rivaled two feral cats meeting.
“Sorry for the chaotic introduction. The strain of this war has gotten to my more combative house guests. They were only offended on my behalf, but I will speak with them,” Sam explained. The two invaders had the nerve to look annoyed at Sam’s explanation, but Gwen continued to watch in silence, until the man’s eyes singled in on her and more shouts arose.
“It’s you,” The man yelled in shock. “You’re the girl that’s always with them, you and your people got my family trapped in this mess.”
Gwen was confused until she realized he said “You’re the girl who’s always with them,” and she spoke to the intruders for the first time.
“Them?” She asked. “Who is them?” Her tone was more hopeful than she wanted, but she couldn’t help it. Maybe the man knew where her coven was, those she called family.
“You and your ilk,” he spat at her. “Your magic group you curse children with or something.”
“That wasn’t very necessary,” Sam said disapprovingly.
Her mind couldn’t keep up. He’d seen them, her coven. “Where did you see them, you have seen them right?” She said immediately while hurrying towards the man. “Do you know where they are? Please, I’ve got to know, do you remember what they looked like” She pleaded with him.
Something in her desperation and tone caused him to consider her, “Uh I’m not the most sure. I met them briefly a few months ago, my brother, he was working with them before we had to be put in safe houses,” he explained.
“I saw you with them a few times, but the last time they came to the house you weren’t there. Only five came, a tall darker man with locs, a young ginger, a blonde man and woman, and a scraggly guy who looked about your age.”
She was on cloud nine, until the man spoke again, this time his kindness for her desperation was nowhere to be seen.
“You and your group shouldn’t have been near my brother or my family. Your kind needs to stay away from humans all together,” he spat. “Because of you monsters, my life has been turned upside down.”
“Your life has been turned down?” she seethed.
“Oh boy,” Sam sighed out.
“Yea, my life and my family’s, you and your filth can never leave us alone,” he retorted.
“You humans sure love to hate us on paper and love voicing that, but the second one of you is sick or hurt, you need us alive,” she declared. “We’re of no use to you dead, but you don’t want us to truly live either. You merely want us breathing.”
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With that remark, she stormed off away from the man and woman, the intruders.
Samuel Barclay
Sam looked over at the man and woman, Brent Shepherd and Alex Davidson, who had steered the safe house members out of the room one by one. He took this silence to look them over. They had an arrogance about them, as if they had a right to be here when they are the one’s coming into an already established house. His smile at them had an angry bite in it.
“Well, since you drove all the members of this household into seclusion, I guess I’m all you get to do introductions to,” Sam bit out.
Brent and Alex began to look uneasy. “I need to know what you are before I start any introductions,” Brent said uneasily.
“I am a Bodach,” He stated simply.
“And that is?” Alex asked.
“I am a boogeyman of sorts,” Sam explained. “According to legend back in Scotland, I scare children into behaving.” His grin grew sinister towards the human pair. “In actuality, I prey on those who come for those I consider my children.”
“So the group of monst-,” Brent started.
“The living beings who have a right to this space,” Sam interrupted. “Is what I think you meant to say, right?” The threatening tone could not have been missed.
“Yes, the living beings. They’re your children?” Brent asked.
“Not through blood. Some are even older than I am, but they look to me for care, and I take care of my own.”
Gwen Stone
“I still say they shouldn’t be here,” Asteria whined. “This has got to be capital punishment or something akin to it.”
“Capital punishment means those without the capital get the punishment,” Gwen said solemnly and the whole group groaned.
“Alright, Gwen, who’s that one from?” Euryale asked.
Gwen grinned, “John Arthur Spenkelink.”
“And he was?” Asteria questioned.
“A convicted murderer who got the death penalty in the late 70s,” Gwen answered.
Suzuko looked over and scoffed, “We aren’t getting the death penalty Gwen, we’re getting trial by fire.”
“That’s a bit dramatic, Suz, don’t you think,” Sam questioned as he walked back in, the two intruders following close behind. “Let me introduce Brent Shepherd and Alex Davidson,” Sam paused for a moment, then sighed annoyed. “Now it’s your turn, right now preferably.”
Eruan stood, “Eruan Soika.”
“All of it Eruan, you know they are human, it’s only fair they know all of you,” Sam said.
Eruan rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, obviously sizing up Brent, “Dhampir, 65,” He bit out.
“Dhampir?” Alex asked. Her tone showed curiosity and Gwen assumed that’s why Eruan answered so calmly.
“My dad is a vampire, my mom was a human when she had me. Bing, bang, boom. I’m both and neither.”
Gwen knew he hated talking about “what” he was. He never felt fully human and never fully vampire, something he still hasn’t come to terms with even at 65, although he looks 35. Suzuko came to stand at his back, running her hand on his shoulders for comfort.
“I am Suzuko Mori, a 637 year old Kitsune,” Suz spat. “We do not want you here.”
“Suz,” Sam warned.
“We welcome you to our home,” Suz said sarcastically while bowing.
“Alright, someone else please,” Sam sighed.
Euryale spoke next, “Euryale and I’m a gorgon.”
“Like the child of the original three?” Brent asked.
“More like she is one of the original three,” Eruan said.
Alex and Brent’s faces looked shocked, as they took in the almost three thousand year old gorgon in front of them. “Move on,” Euryale cautioned, giving no room for argument.
“Well I’m Asteria, I am a dryad,” Asteria rushed out. Her hands started showing the wood grain patterns that come about whenever she’s nervous. Asteria quickly sat back down after her introduction then abruptly stood up again. “I’m 40 years old,” She yelled before dropping back into her chair.
Gwen guessed it was now her turn. “I’m Gwen Stone. You already know I’m a witch but I’m an alchemist specifically and I’m 25 years old.”
“An alchemist? So like potions?” Alex asked. “Does that mean you can essentially give yourself powers? Or heal yourself completely? That must make life super easy,” She joked.
Gwen could tell Alex wasn’t meaning the maliciousness comments like that often hold, but she couldn’t not correct her. “If you mean alchemy being the first to be outlawed so I can no longer do my practice, then sure but “A dying man can do nothing easy,’” Gwen retorted.
The whole room except the humans groaned again, including Sam. “I want one day where we don’t get quotes from dead people, Gwen, please for the love of god,” Euryal pleaded.
“He technically wasn’t dead when he said it,” Gwen said.
“And this one is?” Sam asked.
“Benjamin Franklin.”
“Of course it is,” Sam laughed. Noticing that Alex and Brent looked incredibly confused, he explained, “Gwen quotes peoples’ last words quite often.”
“Quite often?” Euryale sputtered. “It’s an everyday, every hour occurrence.”
“We have a lot to learn from the thoughts of those near death,” Gwen yelled.
“Well it drives me nuts,” Euryale muttered.
“Everything drives you nuts,” Gwen shot back.
“Alright alright, that's enough,” Sam interrupted. “You two fight about this daily and that drives us all nuts. Besides, I’m sure our new members are starving after their journey.”
At Sam’s words headed into the dining room. The air was still tense but it had calmed for the moment, allowing for each group to truly take in one another.
“So,” Asteria started, seeming to have forgotten her anxiousness from only a few moments ago. “How long have you two been a couple? Traveling alone throughout this must have been hard on you guys.”
Alex and Brent immediately went still. “We aren’t together, there’s nothing to even suggest that,” Brent all but yelled.
“You both arrived together, you were holding both of the duffle bags, and Alex was standing behind you. Looked that way to me,” Eruan said.
Brent looked at Sam, “You gonna say anything?”
“You all must learn to get along, you have a disagreement, you must get through it together. However, I will say this. They aren’t allowed to use any of their supernatural abilities, but I haze zero rules on them fighting without them.”
“So you’d let them attack us?” Alex accused.
“I know my children enough to know they won’t.” While Sam appeared to say this with irrefutable confidence, Gwen and the rest of the monsters knew it to be the warning it was. Despite none of them being blood family and Sam having no kids of his own, he has mastered the fatherly way of only his children knowing the warning to behave through what seems like a compliment to others. Gwen couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
“But they can defend themselves if the need is there, as can you,” Sam finished. “But we are all going to get along, whether we want to kill each other or not.”