#that cerulli cameo tho 👀

[aplaceinthedark]

chapter 5: WHEN the NIGHT'S DUE

Summary: The Appalachian Mountains hide numerous monsters, and it's up to Taylor and the Bad Omens to prevent them from causing any harm.

Word Count: 2.5k+

CW: Supernatural themes, mentions of witchcraft

This is RPF, and thus will contain real people, but names and events will be changed. If this bothers you too much, then please leave this temple without causing harm.

“I'll do it.”

I told Nick those words forty-eight hours after his proposal. He had looked up from his drawing tablet with wide green eyes, and he nearly let out his breath when I continued.

“On one condition.”

I learned his Practice. Despite not having his Gift, I had learned that I could be taught how to do certain things. I had done it once, maybe I could do it again.

“You casted that location spell because of my essence nestled in your soul,” Nick had explained. He had used his own soul to heal me, and I kept a hold of it until it could find its way back to Nick: when I used it to bring him back from the dead.

“But you could still teach me so I can help you with the hex books.” I had even fluttered my eyelashes at him.

Honestly, it hadn't taken much persuading to get him to yield. "After the Ritual, we’ll start,” he said, kissing me on the nose.

And that's how I found myself reading a translated hex book, lying on my stomach on a warm, dry rock.

The first day of May fortunately provided a steady warmth, though it didn't extend to this part of the woods. Thankfully the sun was out, warming the spot Jolly and I occupied. Over the months, I had learned to use Jolly's music as a way to focus, and now I could resist the alluring magic of it.

Where Folio had become the energetic younger brother and Noah had become the annoying middle child, Jolly was more my friend than the others. We could sit in companionable silence and be fine, as opposed to the other two haints. I just wish I could see him more often, since he was confined to the river that ran through the Holler.

The same Holler which would be the scene for tonight.

That thought crept up on me again, and I shook my head as if that could erase it. Nick was back at our home, preparing for tonight. Apparently, there were “things he had to prep,” which he wouldn't tell me about. Of course, he told Noah, which didn't help my uneasiness.

My anxiousness started to bubble in the pit of my stomach, so I closed my eyes and focused on Jolly again:

“I thought I wanted legacy; I thought I wanted fame. I didn't know I'd lose all my loved ones in exchange,” he sang quietly, barely audible over the strings of his guitar. “Left them all behind, and, yeah, for that I am ashamed, but that's the price I'm paying ‘til I'm buried in my grave.”

“When did you make that one?” I asked.

Jolly continued plucking at the strings. “This one was one of the first songs I made,” he said.

“You haven't played it before.”

“I play it a lot, lilla. You're just not around for it.”

I made a face at his back. He let out a throaty chuckle.

“Your entourage is back,” Jolly said suddenly.

I looked over my shoulder and along the riverbank to see Folio making his way through the shallows. The New Moon was over, so he wasn't confined to his Grim shape, but I could tell he was still suffering from what Noah liked to call “Dog Brain.”

“Up and at ‘em, Bunny,” Folio said, flashing his sharp teeth up at me. I rolled my eyes.

“Until next time, Jolly,” I said, gathering my things and stuffing them into my bag. Jolly hummed out a response.

“You could always provide tonight's mood music!” Folio joked, earning a glare from the two of us.

I unsteadily made my way down the rock until I was in Folio's reach. He suddenly wrapped his hands around my waist, picking me up and putting me down on ground level. His hands lingered, especially when he threw an arm around my shoulders as we walked into the forest.

“Uh, Fish?” I piped up.

“Hm?”

“You're being handsy,” I said.

He jerked away with a hastily mumbled apology. I heard him mumble something about “must be near the time of the month.”

Slowly we made our way back to the house, where Nick was waiting for us. Folio immediately beelined for the shower, and I almost made it to the dining room table before Nick intercepted me.

“Nicky–” I was cut off when he placed his lips along my neck. “Nick, Folio's here.”

“I don't care,” Nick muttered into my skin, kissing a path up to my jaw.

“You'll care when he gets whipped up into a frenzy. Remember the last time that happened?”

He sighed, pulling away. “I hate that you're right,” he said.

“You alright? You never jump on me like this,” I said.

His response was not what I expected. “Let's just… call the whole thing off. Maybe there's another way in the hex books–”

“Nicholas Ryan Ruffilo, this was your idea.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

Nick groaned. “I know, I know, but…” he trailed off, then sighed again. “I'm sorry. Working on the ritual for tonight has got me annoyed.”

“Anything I could do to help?" I asked.

“Nope, I'm done. The next steps are in Noah’s and your hands.”

I grimaced, and I was about to agree with him when Folio came out of the bathroom. “Guys, you're gonna undo what the cold shower did if you keep it up," he grumbled.

“Then I suppose you're not staying for dinner?” Nick asked.

“Did those words come out of my mouth? I'm sure those words didn't come out of my mouth.”

I don't know how we were able to have a normal supper despite the gravity of the night hanging over us, but we did. It was a little bit quieter, since Folio wasn't his usual chatty self. Not to mention Noah was missing.

Folio didn't stay long after that. “What's his problem? Did I miss something?” I asked.

“He's grouchy because he doesn't get a turn. His words, not mine," Nick said. I rolled my eyes.

With the sun setting, Nick started getting' everything ready. I watched him put several things in a bag, including candles and a thermos. “Is there something I'm supposed to do?" I asked.

“As much as I don't want to, I have to send you into the woods," Nick said. Seeing my worried face, he hurriedly continued. “Don't worry, Noah's got the path locked down. He'll meet you halfway and take you to the Grove.”

“And when we get there?” I asked.

“Take the candles and place them in a circle. The biggest one goes at the base of the big oak tree. You'll know which one it is when you see it," he said, his back to me as he opened the fridge. “That's the candle that gets lit last. You both drink the tea that's in there. That'll help with… the warmth."

“And then?”

“You know what happens next," he said. “As long as it… takes.”

“As long as it takes? What's that supposed to mean?” I asked incredulously.

“As long as it takes. Could be a few minutes, could be all night," he said. He turned around and placed a bunch of flowers on the table.

"Nick. I'm thirty. Not to mention crippled,” I said.

“I don't know, that's never stopped you before,” he said, weakly smiling at me. “Is the tattoo not helping?”

“It's fine,” I said. I sighed. “Do I have to wear something? Or can I just wear what I have on now?”

He eyed my borrowed Deftones shirt and jeans. "Honestly? That's fine. You just have to wear that.” He pointed to the flowers.

“I have to wear a bouquet?” I asked

“Listen, it's been a while since I made a flower crown. And my sister wasn't exactly the best teacher.”

Nick gently placed the flower crown on my head. It shifted downwards, one side more than the other. It pushed my bangs into my eyes, concealing Nick behind a curtain of blonde.

“Alright, that’s kinda cute.”

I pushed the crown up. “Alright, anything else?” I asked.

There was only a moment before Nick crowded me against the door, his full lips crashing onto mine. I met him with the same amount of fervor, forgetting what I had to do tonight. As I opened my mouth to him, he groaned and pulled away.

“If we continue, I won't be able to let you go out there,” he said. He turned and picked up the bag. “Guess that means it's time to go.”

Nick slipped his denim jacket onto me before we went outside. The warmth from earlier had vanished, probably even before the sun had set. The familiar background noise of the forest was comforting.

Nick led me down to where the weeds separated my lawn from the woods. He then pressed a flashlight into my hand and slipped the bag onto my shoulder.

“Just keep walking in a straight line until you see Noah,” he said. “And you know the rules.”

“Eyes straight, don't conversate,” I said our motto from memory.

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He kissed my forehead. “Love you, Bun.”

“Love you, Nicky.”

“If he treats you bad, kick his ass,” he said.

I nodded and started walking. As soon as both feet were inside the forest, all sounds stopped. The urge to look back at Nick was strong, but the third rule was stronger. Don't look back.

I didn't know how long I had been walking. My phone was back at the house since it never worked right in the deep woods. The only way I could tell the time was by how tired my legs were and how my hip protested. Nick's enchanted tattoo could only do so much.

The worst part was that Noah wasn't talking. I tried casting out my thoughts, but all I got was radio silence… brain silence? Whatever it could be called. I asked him how much further, can't he just meet me now, all that. Nothing. It was just me, my flashlight, and the eerie forest.

I had started to think that maybe he had called the whole thing off when I heard a noise behind me. My footsteps faltered a bit, but I kept walking. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a large shadow disappear. Not like my humanoid shadow; this one looked like an animal.

It's probably Folio, making sure you're safe, I told myself. They wouldn't leave you out here in danger.

It was hard to keep my eyes forward, especially when I knew that presence was there. And especially when it kept circling closer and closer.

Just Folio just Folio just Folio.

It passed the corner of my vision again, closer this time, and with startling horror, I realized it was twice as big as Folio and wasn't white.

NOAH FOR THE LOVE OF FUCK–

Suddenly, the Thing vanished. I could hear heavy steps retreating, as if it got scared or was lured away. I stopped my trek for a moment, sucking in my breath to calm my frantically beating heart.

When I let out my breath, I noticed it was visible. I had passed into the holler.

“You made it.”

I gasped as I whipped towards Noah's voice. Noah blinked as the beam of my flashlight hit his face. He was just standing there, hands in the pockets of his ratty jeans.

"What the hell was even–” I cut myself off, realizing I was practically shouting. Lowering my voice, I asked, "What was that?”

Recovered, Noah frowned, brow furrowing. “Something definitely not from the Valley, and definitely not from this part of the mountains.”

“You could've at least acknowledged me," I said, wrapping Nick's jacket tighter around me. The flower crown slipped a little further down, almost obscuring my vision again. I pushed it back up with a finger.

Despite the low light from the flashlight, I caught a flicker of fear on Noah's face before he schooled it back to one of indifference. “C’mon, we still have a ways to go.” He turned and walked away.

“Hang on–” I stumbled after him. A sharp pain shot up from my knee. “Ow! I just hiked here. Can't I get a… break?”

“We have to get started before midnight,” Noah said, but at least he stopped.

“Oh yeah, let's fuck after I climbed and was tailed by some unknown Thing–”

Noah had been moving back to me, but I didn’t anticipate him picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. “Noah! What are you–” I demanded. The flower crown had fallen onto the ground, and it was quickly abandoned as Noah started walking.

“Taking you to the Grove. What else would it be?” he asked, his tone cold.

“Listen, you ass,” I snapped, pushing myself up to where my upper half was parallel to the ground. “Put me down or I'll–”

“What? Kick my ass?" he snorted. The urge to punch him right in the center of his back tree tattoo was rising.

“Nick told me to if you were an ass to me,” I shot back.

“He told me, and I would love to see you try.”

“At least carry me with some dignity instead of manhandling–"

I was suddenly tipping backwards as he pulled me off his shoulder and put me back on the ground. I stumbled back a few steps before catching myself.

"I'm not doing this if all we're gonna do is bicker the whole way there,” he said.

“Noah, all I wanted was a break. I'm in pain," I stated. “And before you say that that's why you were carrying me, you practically folded me in half over your shoulder.”

Noah was clenching and unclenching his hands. If I hadn't known better, I would've said he was trying to prevent himself from hitting me. Except I knew it was a nervous tic.

“Noah, what's wrong?" I asked.

With one breath, he thawed. “I can't– I don't–” the stammered before pausing. He looked back up from the ground to me, that fear from earlier painted clearly on his face. “I don't think I can do this.”

My mouth went dry. All that time trying to get me warmed up to this idea, and we never considered to ask Noah if he was still up for this. “Noah, it's okay."

“No it's not!" he shouted. "I've only been the Watcher for barely several years, and I fucked that up! What's not to say I don't fuck up this?”

Oh.

“Well, what's to say that I don't fuck this up?" I asked. “I don't know what I'm doing either.”

That seemed to ease him a little bit. I closed the distance and placed my hand on his arm. “Let's go be fuck-ups. Together.”

That got him to smile a little bit. “Fine. Let's go be fuck-ups," he said. He then held out his arms. “Your carriage, m’lady. Gender neutrally saying, of course.”

Instead I dodged around him and jogged back to the flower crown. I picked it up and plopped it back onto my head. I then ran back to him and bent at the knees. He scooped me up with an ease that surprised me.

And we went to the Grove. Together.

tysm for reading! If you enjoyed this, please reblog to share the word of the Revered Father. Next chapter coming soon (you know what it is)

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