Chapter 14
Fae-mart is a large store with dozens of wide and long aisles. Jackson and Eddie both grabbed carts to fill as Hakeem leads the group down the aisles one at a time, list in hand. As Hakeem tosses items into the carts and crosses them off the list Eddie and Jackson have a moment to chat.
“You are an impressive one, Eddie, I hope you know that.”
Eddie raises an eyebrow as they continue to follow Hakeem through the store. “Oh? Where’s this coming from? I’ll take the compliment though.”
“From what I heard, the youngest of the LaLune family children didn’t possess unusual gifts. People whisper, rumors and idle gossip sure, but it pays to keep one’s ears open.”
“I know what you mean. I’ve heard plenty about you, Mr. Nocturne.” Eddie’s tone is teasing when using the honorific.
Jackson huffs, “I’m aware of what people say. The only Nocturne heir, avoiding high society outside his own domain for decades. A rakish brute who charms any pretty face he comes upon, who indulges too much but never causes a scene. Always escaping from view before the evening ends.”
“Sounds about right. Any truth to the rumors?” Asks Eddie with a raised brow.
“A few stolen moments away from prying eyes, too much drink to care about who says what after the fact. Nothing substantial or scandalous ever came of them, but people do love to talk.” Admits Jackson.
“Too bad they don’t see the version of you we see.”
“And what version is that, Eddie?” Jackson rolls his eyes, his smirk betraying his amusement.
“The kind, funny and nervous version. The one who is worried about hurting anyone with their magic. Who indulges ridiculous requests. The Jackson whose smile brings out the dimples in his face. The one not hidden behind the mask of proper society standards.”
Jackson stops beside Eddie, face flushed, shoulders raised towards his pointed ears.
They wait for Hakeem to find the bags of rice he wanted.
He wasn’t expecting that response from Eddie.
Wasn’t sure what he expected, just most certainly not that.
“You’re much more impressive than what people say too.
Besides your impressive strength, I mean.
Your presence is calming, oddly supportive.
You’re patient and uplifting. You make people feel special. ”
Jackson can’t believe what he was saying, why was he saying it?
Shut up, Jackson. For the love of the gods, shut up!
Eddie chuckles and leans into Jackson’s ear, warm breath tickling his ear. “It’s not hard to make someone feel special when they already are. Even if they don’t see what we do.”
“We?” The question blurts out of Jackson in a squeak without him realizing.
“Me and Hakeem, we both believe in your ability to grow and gain control over your powers.” Eddie gestures to the man carrying fifty pounds of rice in his arms. Two bags, basmati and short grain.
“Found the kind we wanted,” Hakeem huffs as he drops a bag into each of the carts.
He wipes his brows, arm muscles firm from lifting the bags over.
“We got the seaweed and short grain rice for Eddie’s Kimbap recipe he got from his mom.
Zucchini and basmati for my Teta’s Kousa.
Gochujang for that kimchi recipe we wanted to try.
We just need potatoes and beef cause my Khalto Bahera also sent me the recipe for her Kafta w Batata, we got all the other veggies and seasoning earlier.
” Hakeem crosses more and more items off the list before looking up to see a flushed Jackson and a grinning Eddie. “Shuu, what I miss?”
“Nothing!” Eddie giggles out the reply the same time Jackson barks his answer out. Hakeem tilts his head to the side in confusion, eyes wide behind his glasses like a bunny.
* * *
The guys haul the groceries into the apartment, multiple bags on each arm. Hakeem goes to put bags down on the island then stops when he sees the large ornate box sitting atop it. “Oh hello, what’s this?”
Jackson places the bags down on the kitchen floor then goes to grab the box. “Sorry, that’s mine. It’s a box from the friend I inherited the apartment from. Last couple of things she willed to me. Forgot to move it before we left.”
Eddie peers over Jackson’s shoulder. “It’s a pretty box, big too. Did you have an attachment to this big and pretty box when she was with us?” Jackson shakes his head, lip quirking upwards, as he pulls the box closer to him, propping the box open.
“The pretty box is just storage, it houses her grimoire and wand.” Jackson holds the wand case in his hand, memories flooding in.
“I remember finding it during an open air bazaar seventy years ago, during one of my visits from the human realm. I bought it for Brenda as a birthday gift, she was in need of a new one. She loved it, and it treated her well for the rest of her life.”
He opens the case to admire the wand, he hadn’t touched it since he bought it for her. Since…
The wand had remained in good condition, Brenda treated it with care.
“Jackson, it’s beautiful,” Hakeem steals a look at the wand, admiring its dark wood twisted with clear quartz.
“You have good taste.” Eddie echoes Hakeem’s admiration of the conduit.
He puts the wand away and stows the box on the coffee table in the living room.
The boys put away the groceries, they hadn’t realized how much they bought.
Hakeem was panicking at the rising total when Eddie and Jackson insisted they cover the majority of the bill, since he would do most of the cooking for group meals.
As they put the last of it away, Jackson taps Hakeem’s shoulder. “Can you join me on the couch, I have something for you.” Confused but curious, Hakeem doesn’t ask questions and joins Jackson on the couch as Eddie goes upstairs to shower.
“What’s up, everything okay?” Asks Hakeem, concerned.
Jackson sits and places the box between them off the coffee table.
“The letter from Brenda said I’d find use for this if I followed my instincts.
My instincts tell me these don’t deserve to gather dust for another hundred years as I wallow in my eternal life, they deserve to have a purpose.
One, I think, is with you.” He opens the box and brings out the grimoire and wand box, handing them to Hakeem.
Hakeem’s eyes widen, hand to his mouth stifling a gasp.
“Jackson, no, no no. I can’t, this is too much.
This isn’t something I can repay with lessons or my life or ever.
That wand has sentimental value and is an extraordinary piece in itself.
And that grimoire holds spells of astromancy.
It isn’t a broadly used school of magic.
It’s rare, almost no one has an affinity and the spells are complex. ”
“So you don’t want them?” asks Jackson, resting his head on a hand as he leans on the couch.
“That is not what I-I couldn’t-this is-” Hakeem releases a sigh and places his head in his hands.
Hakeem takes a deep breath, hand clutching the golden chain of his mother’s name that hangs around his neck.
He has an affinity for astromancy, it was the magic he inherited from his mother.
She was a skilled user of divination magic which she paired with her love of archaeology.
She used it to find ancient ruins and relics in all the realms as part of a great team of archaeologists.
These are the stories he heard from his Khalo Shadi, when he could bear the memories.
A grimoire of astromancy would be a connection to her he never had, something he hadn’t told many people, Jackson included.
“Besides being rare and complicated, grimoires holding secrets of astromancy are expensive. I…I never had a chance to use one myself. My mother’s books all belonged to her work place, her wand shattered when she…
” Hakeem looks up at Jackson from under his lashes.
“Jackson, nothing would make me happier, astromancy was my mother’s specialty.
” Hakeem clutches the necklace he wears tightly.
“I had nothing to connect myself to the magic we shared, this would be a dream come true. But these mean too much to you, I cannot accept these even as a loan.”
Jackson takes Hakeem’s hand in his, placing them both on the grimoire.
He holds his silvery gaze, forest green eyes unwavering.
“Hakeem, I don’t want these to go to waste.
I want to honor my friend’s legacy. Would you grant me this selfish wish and accept these, even if you just hold on to them till I ask for them back.
I know you can do amazing things with this tome and wand because… .you’re amazing.”
Hakeem’s voice catches in his throat, he tries to swallow but can’t.
Jackson releases his hand and grabs the wand case.
“Here, just hold the wand, see how it feels. I can’t risk my shadows destroying it like they have countless others.
” Jackson opens the case, the wand’s dark cedar wood twisted with clear quartz catching the light in the room.
Hakeem’s hand shakes as he reaches for the conduit.
He grasps it firmly in his hand, fingers curling around the leather of the wand’s base.
The wand flares to life in Hakeem’s hand, the clear quartz filling with a strong silver glow, the air swirling with magic.
Hakeem’s glasses fall off as an unseen force whips through his fluff of curls.
The grimoire’s cover glows with the same sheen as the wand, a moonlight silver.
The secrets of astromancy hidden in its pages responding to the hum of his mana.
Jackson’s smile grows wide, the dimples Hakeem can’t help but notice on full display.
“I knew it, these belong with you Hakeem.”
Tears roll down Hakeem’s face. Jackson panics, he didn’t mean to cause Hakeem to cry. He hastily picks up the fallen glasses, turning to hand them back to Hakeem. “Shit, sorry, are you okay? I didn’t mean to pressure you. You don’t have to accept the wand and grimoire I was just trying-”