Every nerve ending in AJ was humming. He was acutely aware of Brian standing behind him. Sweet, wonderful, vulnerable Brian. There was no hiding from Roth exactly how important Brian was to him. Most likely he already knew all of that information. He was the type to gather information and lay in wait, like a spider. He and Howie had known that when they’d joined the backstreet boys, but they also knew that Roth would never attack where he was outnumbered. His powers against AJ were equal, but with Howie on AJ’s side, that tipped the scales. This made AJ wonder what the hell he had done to Howie.
“Fancy seeing you here. I’d offer you refreshments, but you see, we’re on our way out the door. Band stuff, you know.” He smiled lightheartedly.
Roth chuckled, shaking his head from side to side. “Tisk, tisk. I see you haven’t gained any manners since the last time we spoke. You can’t spare ten minutes for an old friend.”
“The last time I spared you ten minutes, Roth, you blew the top off of Mt. St. Helens and tried to bury me in lava. Pardon me, but we just had these carpets cleaned, and I really don’t fancy cleaning up after you leave.” Try to act natural. That was the only way to get through this, and buy him some time to think. Keep it casual and easy, keep him talking, and something would come to him. Dammit, something had to come to him.
Again, Roth laughed. The flame in his hand grew a little larger, wavering tauntingly at them. “Oh, but doesn’t that sound like fun. I doubt your little mortal over there would know what to do. Wouldn’t it be just delicious to watch him scramble, Alyck? I have missed playing with mortals.” That sickly sweet smile turned toward Brian. “What say you, oh mortal one. Do you wish to play with me?”
AJ didn’t bother glancing back at Brian. He simply prayed that his lover would heed his advice. When Brian didn’t say anything, Roth’s face grew slightly annoyed. “Don’t you train them better than this, Alyck? For shame.” He turned back to Brian again, and all signs of a smile were gone from his face. “Answer when you’re spoken to, shenag.”
“He’s not here to amuse you, Roth.” AJ effectively drew the attention back to him. “Nor is he my plaything. I don’t train him to do anything. Some of us believe the mortals deserve their lives, to live as they choose.”
Inside, AJ was praying harder than he ever had, hoping that Howie would sense the magic on the air and come running. Please, dear God, be awake, Howie. Get your ass over here!
“Freedom, again, Alyck? Always you preach this to me. But I have found nothing to back your ideals. What good have mortals done, left to their own devices? You see the world as it is now! You see what they’ve done to it! Left alone, they have almost destroyed the planet. Where is the world you and I grew up in? The trees and the deserts; the forests and lakes. All of them slowly disappearing so that these shenag can build more houses, more factories, destroying everything in sight!”
The more agitated he grew, the bigger his fire grew. AJ watched it warily, ready to douse it at a moments notice. He moved a small step sideways, putting Brian fully behind him, as Roth continued on.
“I’ve warned you, the world must be washed clean, and born again. These mortals you are so fond of need to be taught that they are not supreme. They cannot destroy our earth on a whim! I will cleanse the world, and it shall be born again from the darkness. Fresh, clean, pure.”
“With you as God, I assume?” AJ said scathingly. “Your plans have never interested me, Roth. You seek to destroy the world so that you can play God. I told you the last time, I won’t allow it.”
It came then, the feeling that AJ had been praying for. In tune with Howie’s magic, and actively searching for it, he felt when it came close, moving at a fast speed. He could see on Roth’s face that he sensed it as well, and was debating his options. He wasn’t stupid enough to take them both on at once.
“As I was saying, Roth, we have obligations. Pardon our lack of hospitality, but we really do insist you take your leave.”
Anger darkened the man’s features. There was nothing he hated more than losing at anything. Then his face lit. “You’re saved this time by that traitor, Alyck. But don’t count on it happening every time. One day it will be just me and you.”
“I look forward to the day.”
“In the meantime, at least let me leave you with a parting gift.” With only that much warning, Roth raised his hands. AJ barely had time to spin around and grab Brian, wrapping them both in a shield, before Roth let fire explode from him, instantly setting the house alight. Against him, AJ heard Brian let out a small cry, not knowing that they were protected from the flames.
“Until we meet again!” Roth called out, and then he was gone.
All around them the house was burning. There was no time to waste; they had to get out of there. AJ could tell that Roth had aimed his fire perfectly, and made it hot enough, that it was spreading like crazy. They would only have minutes before the house would collapse down on top of them.
He took one hand off of Brian and waved it in the direction of the front door. With a loud bang, the door flew off of it’s hinges. Around them, the flames blazed with the oxygen that soared in. God, he was going to have to do this just right. Smoke was already filling the room, choking the both of them. AJ wouldn’t die from it, but he needed to get Brian out of there as quickly as possible.
Drawing water from the air, he soaked a path from them to the door. In the split second that it cleared the flames, AJ dropped the shield and ran, dragging Brian with him. They made it out the front door just as a bang echoed inside of the house, and AJ felt part of it cave in behind them.
AJ forced them to walk, to get away from the smoke and the debris. “Come on, baby, breathe, take in the fresh air. It’ll help, I swear. I’ve got you, so don’t you worry.” He kept up the soothing litany, feeling Brian tremble and cough against him.
Right as they hit the driveway, Howie’s flashy little blue sports car came tearing up. He hit the brakes, spinning the car around so that it stopped by them, facing the road. One of the doors flung open. “Get in!” he shouted.
AJ rushed them both forward, and they fell into the back seat. Even before AJ could close the door, Howie was tearing off down the road.
He didn’t speak until ten minutes later, after Brian’s breathing had eased, and they were flying down the highway.
“Well.” Howie said, flashing them a quick grin. “I see you told Brian.”
All AJ could do was throw his head back and laugh.