I didn’t know what to do, so I kept the kid with me. I couldn’t just leave a kid on the street, or in a dumpster. During the bus ride back to my apartment he told me how he managed to escape the temple. He snuck out of the dormitories without being seen, used to be harder in my day. Someone helped him when he struggled with the wall and tossed him the backpack. He had a rock that led him to the city, when I showed up it shattered. My guess is that it was an aspirant stone; a stone enchanted to lead people to objects they aspire for. Once they’ve obtained it, the stone shatters. Whoever gave him the stone probably set it me and he had no idea. I have an idea who did it, but I don’t want to jump to conclusions. I’m not jumping to conclusions, it’s exactly who I think it is.

He’s obviously tired from the walk up the stairs in my building, still no elevator. Yet, he doesn’t complain, he just follows me with that stupid little smile, huffing and puffing. I unlock the door to my apartment and he follows right in, as if he’s lived here his entire life. If I was anyone else, he might be in danger. This kid doesn’t even know me and he’s willing to put his safety in my hands. His faith is misplaced if he thinks I’m some sort of guardian angel.

“I’m going to take a shower, there’s leftovers in the fridge if you’re hungry.”

“Thank you, I haven’t had real food in a few months,” he heads right to the fridge.

I smell like dumpster juice so a shower is at the front of my mind. It also gives me some time away from the kid to think about how I need to approach this. I can get him back to the temple, but he’d just run away again. He clearly hates it there. I could try to find his real parents, but that would leave me in charge of taking care of him for a while. I’m not really sure how to raise a kid. I barely take care of myself sometimes. I could just abandon him, but I don’t really have that in me to just leave a kid on the streets. If he was an adult, I wouldn’t care, but a kid. Damn, how did this happen? I barely even remember the kid. If he hadn’t come up to me at my trial I wouldn’t have recognized him. I knew I saved someone that night, but I don’t even remember what the person looked like. I don’t even remember his name. Maybe I can convince him to go back to the temple on his own accord.

When I return from the bathroom, he’s sitting on the couch surrounded by no less than four different Styrofoam containers. Working on his fifth, there goes all of my leftovers and I don’t really have more money. The Orc job is pretty much trash now, if anything they’re going to hit T.S.S.K. a lot harder now. I’ll have to find more work somehow since I’m bankrolling two now, instead of just me.

“Hey, you have go back to the temple,” I say turning off the TV.

“Why can’t I just stay with you?”

“Because I’m not a great guardian or parent. I’m not even great at taking care of myself in this unfamiliar environment. Look around you, this apartment sucks. It’s falling apart, and the fridge has nothing but leftovers. There’s not even elevator here. I can’t afford to keep the heat on and these cinderblock walls aren’t going to provide much warmth as it gets colder. The Eremites could keep you fed, warm, and healthy. I don’t have the funds for that.”

“I can pull my own weight, that isn’t a problem.”

“It’s not about pulling your own weight. It’s about this not being a great environment for a kid.”

“I’m seventeen, almost an adult,” he says finishing off food.

“But you didn’t age when you were enthralled. That’s just how it works. So you’re what? thirteen or fourteen? That’s how I have to treat you, that’s how the world has to treat you.”

“Only if you want to. I told you, I’m just small. Give me time.”

“I think you’re suffering from something called transference.”

“I can’t be suffering from that because I don’t even know what that is,” he throws his arms in the air in an exaggerated and comedic form of confusion.

“That’s when you have some kind of trauma from your childhood so you transfer your emotions somewhere else. So maybe you had an issue with your dad, and you’re transferring the love you had for your dad to me.”

“That’s so stupid,” he holds his belly and laughs. I haven’t had anyone laugh at me this hard since I was a kid. “I just want to be a vampire hunter and you seem like the best,” he calms his laughter.

“There’s better hunters at the temple. I don’t even specialize in hunting vampires. You’ll get better training with them, they’re the ones who trained me.”

“I’m sure you can teach me more. I know I’m small but puberty starts at a different time for everyone. You don’t have to think of yourself as a parent or guardian either. You can just think of yourself as my big brother. We’re basically brothers anyway.”

“How are we basically brothers? You just made that up so you can stay.”

“Nope. Mrs. Dalia took care of me while I was there. She said she basically raised you and told me all kinds of stories about you growing up. Mr. Elser helped me a lot too, and he called you his son. I heard him. So we’re basically their kids.”

“That’s so stupid.”

“Mr. Elser said you could be mean.”

“Really?”

“Yep, can I take a shower?”

“Sure, I’ve got some clothes in the dresser. They won’t fit you, but they won’t smell like garbage either.”

“Thanks,” he makes his way to the bathroom. “Wait, I have something for you. The backpack they threw over the wall had a letter for you inside,” he starts to rummage through the bag.

“Why would they give you a letter for me?”

“I don’t know. Just read it,” he hands me the letter and heads off.

I recognize the handwriting right away. The letter is from Mother Dalia. She must have been the one who Kaiden break out of the temple, exactly what I thought. Why would she do that? I know why she would do it, I just didn’t want to believe it. Probably called me lonely and said I need someone to balance me out. That damn crystal ball probably let her stalk me. I hope she can see how pissed off I am right now. I open the letter, Dalia’s handwriting no doubt, but her hand wording doesn’t leave much for debate:

Dear Jason,

I miss you every day and Brother Elser asks about you constantly. He’ll never say it, but he cares greatly for you as well. I know you arne’t one for pleasantries so let’s get to business. I’ve never asked you for anything other than being the best you that you can be. Now, I’m asking for a big favor, no I’m giving you an order. The boy is Kaiden, I’ve already found his parents. They won’t be the help he needs so don’t waste time with them. The temple isn’t the place for him, no more than it was for you. The two of you have a lot in common even if you fail to recognize it. You were a very sad and lonely child, who grew into an angry lonely adult. I apologize if that hurts you, but it is the truth. Kaiden is no different. You spent your time destroying property and seeking attention. He constantly smiles and tries to see the best in everything but he is the same as you, simply processing the emotions in a different way. The two of you could help each other avoid the darkness that will eventually hold you both. you used to pray for a younger brother or a true friend, i did not forget even if you did. Now you have one. I think it’s best that he stays with you. In my old age, I can’t give him the attention he needs nor the direction he desires. I’ve included a page with things you’ll need to take care of him.

There’s an information broker that was excommunicated. Just mention I sent you. She’ll get you set up with a job and an apartment. I already spoke with her, the apartment should be very nice, but will require things beyond money to acquire. There’s also a bar, where you can get work. They’ll be mostly small jobs that aren’t official but it’s money and in the outside world, money is their true monarch. Another excommunicated runs the bar, he’ll be understanding to your situation. There’s a place where you can get some clothes for the boy and probably yourself as well. Knowing you, you probably haven’t bought new clothes. Well, people in the city change clothes a lot more often, and I don’t mean having multiples of the same robes. There’s the address of a school that will provide him with a great education. Their curriculum isn’t much different than our own.

He should have a potion in his pack. This was a gift from Brother Elser, it will get the boy to the correct age if it works. It won’t do anything about his scars but they could fade as his body ages. Jason, don’t let me down, you will not take care of him forever. You can’t contact me but I’ll make sure to reach out and check on you from time to time. Just promise me you’ll protect the boy the best you can. With the aid of the potion, he’ll be an adult soon so you won’t have to raise him for long. I love you, don’t let me down again.

Love Mother Dalia

I guess I’m raising this kid now. I did let her down at every turn, I guess I can do this. She clearly saw something in her crystal ball, even if she didn’t say it. What kind of help does the kid need? Shit. I tuck the letter in my nightstand and lay on the bed and stare at the ceiling. This is my life now.

“What did the letter say,” Kaiden jumps in bed next to me.

“It said, get off my bed.”

“Why? It’s big enough for both of us if we squeeze in.”

“Nah,” I push him off the bed onto the floor.

“You’re so mean,” he says from the floor.

“Take a pillow and sleep on the couch,” I toss a pillow at his face.

“I haven’t had a real bed in months. C’mon.”

“Nope. At least let me have my bed.”

“I know how we can settle this,” he says with a devious smile on his face.

“How’s th,” I don’t get to finish my sentence before he brings a pillow down hard on my face.

“Pillow Fight,” he yells out.

This is my life now.