L iam, his mind trapped in a body that was stuck in
a hospital bed, broken and aching, raged silently,
eyes shut. He'd been blindsided by Brad Chambers
and he knew it. By letting his guard down for a few
seconds to show Aiden the love he felt for him in the
presence of the humans that he'd attended school
with. He couldn't believe he'd made such a stupid
mistake. He should have known things were going too
smoothly.
He could hear sounds that indicated he was in a
hospital. It made sense. To a human, he'd look like
he'd been assaulted. His head hurt, no doubt where
Brad Chambers had lobbed the spell to kill him. If he
could have laughed he would have. Brad must be
pissed. Liam was protected by more than just his own
hereditary powers, he had Aiden and Shay aligned
with him now. Love alignments were more powerful
than any other kind. Not that it was doing him a lot of
good right now. Of course being alive was a good
thing. Being alive and in a state resembling a coma,
244 Magical Moonlight
was a bad thing. Liam wondered how he was going to
get out of this. Or better yet, how Aiden was going to
get him out of this mess. He knew without a doubt that
Aiden would be doing everything he could to find
Chambers and reverse what had been done.
"Li, Li." The words filtered into his conscious
mind, relaxing him slightly. It was Shay. "Li, don't be
sad, Da fix." He heard. "Shay sing sleep song for
you." And then Liam began to hear the words of the
ancient lullaby he'd once sung to the baby. The words
accented correctly, though the voice was only learning
how to speak. A haunting melody woven with healing
power filled Liam's mind. The red head that had
discovered the love of a child at such a young age,
gave himself up into the baby's hands, knowing he'd
be safe while he slept.
In the waiting area near Liam's hospital room,
Lisa arrived with lunch for anyone who might be
there. She was hoping that she'd see Aiden; she knew
how much he must have been beating himself up over
what had happened. Liam's bashing, for that's what it
was now being called, had affected a lot of people in
the community.
A quick peek inside Liam's room told her he was
alone except for a stuffed toy, a turquoise cat on the
pillow by his head. She'd been surprised right from
the start that his mother wasn't around. Lisa had a
warm feeling for the young boy lying in the sterile
room. She couldn't leave him in there alone. Looking
back over her shoulder to check on the others, Lisa
slipped inside. "Hey there Baby." She spoke softly,
ER Bryant 245
afraid to make any noise. Though the machines that
beeped and groaned and sloshed didn't have the same
fear.
Lisa pulled a chair up beside Liam's bed and took
his hand in hers. "You're doing good, well pretty
good. You've given us all quite a scare. Aiden is out
trying to be his usual super hero self, you know how
he gets. Richard is going home soon to bake. I bet
your nurses will get sick of all the cakes and cookies
he ends up bringing in." she smoothed Liam hair back
off of his forehead and then leaned in to kiss him
gently. "Your temperature is fine." She smiled and sat
back down. "You sleep baby and get better, let your
body heal. I'll just sit here and watch over you."
She ignored the tear that ran down her cheek as
she began to pray the prayers of her youth. While she
prayed, she was sure she could hear singing in a
language she didn't know. The words were somehow
comforting. They made her feel safe and secure,
though she wasn't sure why. The words of the song
wove in and around her, making the room seem like it
was filled with cotton wool, and Lisa's eyes closed,
her head lay on the bed beside Liam's hand. She slept
the sleep of the just, knowing she was safe, though
from what she never knew or even wondered about.
Aiden realized as he made the rounds searching
for Brad Chambers, that this fight between the
Chambers' and Liam was going to be something that
wouldn't end now or easily. The best he could hope
for would be to find Chambers and secure him enough
246 Magical Moonlight
that Liam's body and mind could be released from the
thrall the kid had put him into.
He was walking out to his Lexus, Killer on a
leash, when Daniel seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Hey Aiden." Daniel said. "Mom said not to worry,
she's staying with Liam today."
"HEY, WHAT THE FUCK IS HE DOING?"
Daniel looked in horror at his pant leg that was now
firmly in Killer's mouth, a deep very grown up growl
coming from the large puppy.
"Biting your pant leg." Aiden drawled as he
looked down. "Hey Killer, your job is inside not
outside." The dog stopped what he was doing and
looked up at Aiden. "I'm not worried about Liam, he's
in good hands." He bent down to pat the dog. "I have
to take Killer for a short walk and then I have things to
do."
"Who owns the dog?" Daniel asked, walking well
away from sharp puppy teeth.
"He's mine."
"You don't like dogs."
"I like you, why wouldn't I like dogs?" Aiden
asked.
"You've never had a dog before."
"I have one now."
"Where did you get it?"
"What is this, twenty questions? He was a present
from Liam." Aiden had walked the dog to a grassy
area down the block while Daniel followed along.
"I should have known." Daniel sounded pissed.
ER Bryant 247
"Don't go there Danny." Aiden warned. He
leaned down and cleaned up after Killer before turning
to head back to the apartment. His stride was long, but
the puppy kept up. He might have been young, but he
didn't mind running after his master.
"Aiden, have you spoken to the police yet?"
Daniel continued as he ran after his old friend.
"About what?" Aiden asked, of course he knew
about what, but he wanted Daniel to say the words.
"About Liam's bashing. I mean you could have
been hurt or even killed. I don't understand why you
went there anyway. I mean, it was just a dance with a
bunch of kids. You didn't even go to our prom."
Aiden could see Liam's point. There were
certainly times when Daniel would make a great toad.
"Can't talk now, Danny." Aiden said, letting himself
and Killer into the building and then doing something
he wouldn't normally have considered. He put a quick
spell on the door making it unable to open for two
minutes. Long enough for Daniel to become
discouraged and leave.
"Hey Ty." Aiden said, once he and Killer were
inside the loft. The cat had jumped up to his shoulder,
his favorite perch. Aiden wasn't sure how the small
cat managed to do this trick without him feeling
claws, but it was rather reassuring once he was there.
He felt a momentary sadness that he'd been unable to
have a Wah cat when he was eight, but glad he had
one now. "I know for sure now that it was the
Chambers family who poisoned their son's mind
against Liam. And because of that Brad felt he should
248 Magical Moonlight
do something to destroy the boy. I'd like to think he
hadn't meant to use enough force to kill him, but I
don't know that for sure. If Shay hadn't intervened by
warning me, there might have been an all out war
declared. It isn't how I've lived my life. I've never
knowingly harmed anyone and I don't plan on starting
now. I need some help from you Ty, in figuring out
how we're going to handle this. I need Liam back and
I need him back now and in good shape."
Aiden found talking to Ty somehow comforting.
He was glad Daniel wasn't around to see or hear him.
He'd think he'd lost his mind. There were times he
wondered himself if he hadn't done just that. Times
when he held a red headed boy twelve years his junior
with laughing blue eyes and an insatiable desire for
sex and wondered how he'd come to love him. Aiden
shook his head to clear it.
He sealed the door to his loft and headed for the
shower. For what he had to do, he needed to be
prepared. His knowledge of spells and magic and all
the other rigmarole that went with being a wizard of
the highest order was nothing he'd ever needed
lessons to learn or an apprenticeship to fill. Things
like that were for those who knew bits and pieces of
Wahjee lore, not really understanding that there was
truth in legend.
Aiden Mac Ruaidhri was from a long line of
powerful Irish based Wahjee. Some even said that the
Mac Ruaidhri's had been part of the first High
Council and leaders of the little people, the elves and
leprechauns, fairies and pixies. It didn't matter to
ER Bryant 249
Aiden right now. He knew what he'd been born to do.
What his mother had wanted for him from the moment
of his birth and perhaps even longer than that. He was
meant to keep Liam Taylor safe and out of harm, for
the young red head was meant for great things in his
lifetime. And he was to do so, by using white light and
white light only, nothing that would harm Zane
Chambers or his son Brad. He needed to find a way to
turn the evil Brad had unleashed back on the boy, for
it would return doubled or more.
Brad Chambers would be stopped by his own
hand, not by Aiden Mac Ruaidhri or Liam Taylor's.
And so began Aiden's all night vigil on the roof
of his apartment building. Tonight, like every night for
the next twenty-one days, Aiden showered, cleaning
his body. When he was done, he and the two animals
would walk up to the roof under the cover of darkness.
Killer would pace around the grassy area three times
before settling down just right of center. Aiden was
sitting directly in the center of the grass, his legs
folded in the lotus position. Once they were settled.
Ty would make the circle counter clockwise seven
times, taking care to stop and listen at the four points,
north, south, east and west, before he would walk to
Aiden and sit on the cross his legs made.
On the other side of the city, Shay would be
rocked in his grandmother's arms while she, and in
turn he, would sing the protection lullaby that kept his
mother's calm and accepting of the nightly visits from
Margaret Mac Ruaidhri and his Liam safe. Two things
that were necessary for his father to pull in white light
250 Magical Moonlight
from himself and from Liam to form a barrier to return
that which meant harm to Brad Chambers and his
henchmen.
And each night for twenty-one days, Liam lay
sleeping in his hospital bed, a turquoise toy on guard,
its eyes sparkling. His superficial injuries healed, but
he was still trapped inside himself, unable to speak or
even open his eyes. He could hear the care and
concern in the voices of those who continued to visit
him day after day. He knew they were worried that he
wouldn't regain consciousness. And he knew that one
and all were unhappy that Aiden didn't appear to ever
visit the hospital.
But he wasn't, because each night, just before
midnight, Aiden popped into his room to kiss him
goodnight and tell him he was loved. He would rub
lip-gloss into his lips and smooth lotion into his skin.
It was only the barest of moments, but it was enough
to keep Liam from lapsing into despair, as he knew his
Aiden was taking care of him.
Twenty-one nights of sitting naked under the star
strewn sky, in all weather. Protected by those who
loved him, guarded by a young dog, that by the twenty
first day had tripled in size. And by a Wah cat, golden
and sleek, eyes as green as glass, mentally connected
to Aiden, and in turn with Liam, as Aiden's true love.
In this time, with the help of Wahjee all over the
world, Aiden focused on Liam until finally on that last
day, he'd located the exact point where the black
forces Brad Chambers had used, were hidden inside
Liam's still body.
ER Bryant 251
Aiden used all that he had to get around the
hidden spot, not noticing the clouds above his head
that threatened to come lower and eventually smother
the life force from his body.
Killer was the first to be aware of the evil
pressing down. He might not have magic in his body.
Or be from a long line of Wah cats. But he was a dog
and dogs throughout time, have forged a bond with
their pack, of which Aiden was the leader. He gave
one quiet woof, uttered low enough not to startle
Aiden, but loud enough to warn Ty. Ty had grown as
well during the past three weeks, but not to the same
extent as his roommate. But he'd grown inside as
well, developing his inborn powers so when the dog
warned him, he was able to ward off the evil that
threatened to envelope them all.
All this drama in the city of Vancouver was
taking place while life around them went on. The
defeat of the heavy evil above the Bradley building
snapped back to the lump of evil placed inside of
Liam, causing it to vibrate with such strength that in
seconds, with Aiden guiding it, the evil ricocheted
back to Brad Chambers. It exploded around him with
enough force that he'd be dogged by bad luck in all
aspects of his life for the next seven years. All brought
on through his jealousy of Liam.
At dawn, Aiden rose to his feet. He shook off the
stiffness in his body, smiling when he saw Killer and
Ty doing much the same. "I'm going to get my boy
back." He announced to the two animals.
252 Magical Moonlight
Killer loped around the roof jumping and hopping
like some kind of multi jointed clown dog. He was so
excited about hearing Liam was returning. Ty watched
him for a few minutes and then lifted his leg to wash
the base of his tail. The dog irritated him some of the
time.
Sun peeked over the treetops facing Liam's
hospital room. As it gained in strength, the positive
rays shone in the window, touching his skin. Closed
eyes fluttered open to stare into hazel eyes filled with
longing. "Hey there, Liam. It's time to come home."
Aiden leaned down and claimed his lover's lips. He
never noticed the absence of Liam's guardian stuffed
toy.
"Aiden." Liam murmured. "I knew you'd save
me."
"I had to. You know I can't sleep without you
beside me." He joked.
"But you have Ty." Liam grinned a wobbly grin.
"I'm just not into pussy." Aiden laughed. "I think
I should call someone to come and check you out. I
want to take you home as soon as I can."
"I want to go home." Liam said quietly. He
looked into Aiden's eyes, "That is if the loft is my
home?"
"For now it is." Aiden sighed. "After this latest
attempt by Chambers, I wouldn't feel right to leave
you at Lisa's. For both of your sakes. You know how
these black lights work. If they can't get to the one
they want, they get the one's close to the one they
want."
ER Bryant 253
"That sounds too complicated to think about."
Liam rubbed his head. "Fuck, I have a scar."
"It adds character to an otherwise too perfect
twink face." Aiden said as he kissed the scar.
"Asshole, you'd be screaming if it was your
face." Liam grumbled as he snuggled closer to Aiden.
"My head hurts and I'm starving to death. Don't they
feed you when you're in a coma?"
"No such thing as coma burgers." Aiden rang for
the nurse. "He's awake and hungry." Aiden
announced when she walked into the room.
"Mr. Taylor, do you know what day it is?" she
asked.
"How would I know? I've been in a coma." He
looked at her with suspicion. "I want out of here. So
get me unhooked from all this stuff." He indicated his
lap, where he had a catheter.
"First your doctor has to see you. After that, he'll
give me instructions for your continued care." She
bustled around.
"When is he coming? I don't want to wait." Liam
wiggled in the bed and then fell back. He was weaker
than he realized but didn't want to admit it to anyone,
least of all the nurse. He could tell by her eyes that she
knew.
"He'll be in before eleven." She said. "But I'll
call him and see if I can remove some of the more
intrusive things."
Aiden held onto Liam's hand, squeezing it gently.
"Don't be so impatient Brat. I want you home fast too.
You have no idea how much trouble those two
254 Magical Moonlight
birthday presents are. You deserve half the fun of
looking after them."
Liam looked at Aiden and saw he was being
teased. "You love it and you know it." He giggled. "I
can't wait to see Killer. I bet he's gotten huge. Did
you know that standard poodles are really, really big
dogs?"
"Oh, is that what's wrong with him. I thought
you'd put a spell on him or something witch boy. The
damn dog is bigger every time I see him. I swear he
grows an inch or more a day."
"I love you." Liam whispered.
"I know you do." Aiden smiled and kissed the top
of the red head's head. "Don't change the subject.
Why did you get me a dog that is going to grow to be
as large as a small moose?"
"He was cute and he needed a home. I found him
at the pound. Even though he was a purebred, he'd
been surrendered because he chewed up some kind of
designer shoes. I mean, who puts a dog in the pound
just because he was being a dog?"
"Apparently someone who doesn't own a Wah
cat. Ty would beat that dog's ass if he did anything
like that in the loft." Aiden huffed. "I've seen him do
it."
"I've missed a lot." Liam looked downcast. "How
is Shay?"
"Shay is doing just fine." Aiden walked over to
the window and looked out. "And so is my mother.
You do have a way of making things happen don't
ER Bryant 255
you? Even if you are unconscious. You're good, damn
good."
"Of course I am, I'm kind of an apprentice High
Council head guy."
"Hmmm, is that the official term?" Aiden asked
with a laugh. "All joking aside, mom has been
keeping Shay safe. There had been some idea by
Chambers to do something to the kid. But she's on the
top of her game and headed off anything dark,
redirecting it back to the originator."
"Hey, is Vanessa okay with your mom hanging
around?"
"She doesn't seem to mind." Aiden shrugged. "I
suspect that either Shay or mom has something to do
with the ease of her being there."
"Good, I'm glad." Liam looked thoughtful.
"Aiden, your son is going to be very powerful when
he comes of age. More powerful than either of us."
"I know. That's why I need you to recover, to
help keep him safe. He's going to be a handful
growing up. We have to keep him from harm until
he's able to realize what he's going to be." Aiden
sighed. "Now, can I trust you to behave while they see
if you're going to implode? I promise you that I will
take you to the loft immediately, once you're
released."
"And fuck me?"
"Maybe." Aiden smirked. His long legs took him
back to the bed and in seconds Liam found himself
thoroughly kissed before seeing Aiden disappear
256 Magical Moonlight
through the door on his way to what ever it is that he
felt he