Meadow

Chapter 3

MIKA’S RESIDENCE:

A car pulled up in front of the porch and parked. Mika emerged from the car, accompanied by Joshua who exited from the front passenger seat. Their camaraderie was evident, as she even dragged him all the way to her house.

Inside, her uncle Stanley greeted her. A man of average height, dark-skinned with a goatee-style beard. He had a broad chest and visible muscles beneath his shirt sleeves.

Joshua and Stanley exchanged handshakes as Mika introduced them, then headed to the kitchen, leaving the two men alone in the living room.

“So, what should I call you?” Stanley inquired as they sat down.

“Joshua Cast…” he paused briefly. “Casper. You can call me Joshua Casper.”

Stanley gave him a puzzled look, furrowing his brow.

“Cast-per, you say?” Stanley asked.

“Never mind, Uncle Stan,” Mika interjected, returning from the kitchen. “It's a usual thing, he and his brother don't place much value on their surname,” she playfully emphasized.

“Hmm,” Stanley mused. "Do you reside in Meadow, haven't seen you around much?”

“Yes, I do. Meadow is my town.”

“Wow! The way you said that sounds personal, like you have a strong connection to it.”

“It's home,” he smiled. “No matter where I go, no matter how far, Meadow is incomparable. I guess that's why it's called ‘Meadow,’ it holds, protect and cover.”

“Well said, you seem to have a deep understanding of this town. You must have studied it, haven't you?”

“Yes, I know it like the back of my hand.”

“So…” Stanley leaned in closer, arms resting on his knees. “Joshua, do you believe in supernatural beings residing in Meadow, or anywhere else?” he asked, looking directly at him to catch any subtle reactions.

At this point, Joshua hesitated, meeting Stanley's gaze before responding.

“No, I do not believe in them at all,” he answered after a moment, averting his eyes.

“Understood,” Stanley reclined back on the couch, relaxed.

“Joshua,” Mika called out, returning once again from the kitchen. “The food is ready, let's eat at the dining table.”

“Uh...,” Joshua glanced at his watch. “I'm afraid I must decline, I am already late for an engagement with my brother. I should be on my way.”

“Oh,” she expressed disappointment. “Not even a bite?”

“Sorry, perhaps next time,” he said, rising to leave.

Stanley also stood up, the two men shook hands again, and Joshua departed, with Mika seeing him off.

A few minutes later, she returned to find Stanley already seated at the dining table, enjoying the meal meant for Joshua.

“This is absurd, Uncle,” she objected firmly, drawing near to him.

“What?” He responded, sipping on his chew and reaching for a glass of juice.

“You're consuming food meant for my guest,” she remarked.

“Oh!” He exclaimed in surprise. “I assumed this was your plate.”

“That's not accurate, Uncle.”

“Oh, come on... When was the last time you prepared noodles this delicious?”

“Really, noodles?”

“They taste quite good, I wouldn't mind having your portion as well.”

“But you just said you had mine,” She quickly retrieved her plate and headed upstairs to her room.

“Wait!” He called after her.

“The answer is a firm 'No,' you won't be having my food. I just got back from school…”

“Joshua, does he always act like that?”

“What, referring to his last name?” She nodded. “He has an unusual obsession with the Castle life and somehow links it to his name. His brother does the same.”

“Why is that?' She inquired.

“Possibly their ancestor,” he replied.

“Obviously, Castle is our ancestor, us all,” she muttered and continued on.

A few nights later, Joshua walked Mika back to her house and declined the invitation to come in, insisting on saying their goodbyes outside. However, the door opened, revealing Stanley. Though Joshua was about to leave, Stanley urged him to come inside before departing. Joshua obliged without protest.

“Hey there,” Dominic eagerly grasped Joshua's hand upon entering. “You're Joshua, I've heard quite about you,” he exclaimed.

Joshua smiled and briefly glanced at Mika before returning his focus to Dominic, continuing to shake hands.

“I'm Dominic, her older brother,' he introduced, nodding towards Mika.

“Nice to meet you, Dominic,” Joshua acknowledged, still smiling.

Mika intervened, separating their hands, which had been shaking for some time.

“Let go of his hand,” she demanded.

Stanley was spotted lighting a cigarette, a rather large one, much to the surprise of the siblings.

“Since when do you smoke, Uncle?” Dominic quickly questioned.

“I've been smoking for a few weeks now, you probably didn't notice because I rarely do it at home,” Stanley answered, moving closer to Joshua.

Joshua felt uncomfortable, covering his nose with his arm and stepping back dramatically.

“Stop!' Mika snatched the cigarette from Stanley and crushed it against the wall. 'You're making my guest uncomfortable, don't you see?” She expressed her displeasure.

“I apologize, I didn't realize he was allergic. I'm sorry, Joshua,” Stanley admitted.

Joshua, feeling uneasy, announced his departure.

“I have to go,” he stated, stepping outside.

“Wait,” Mika attempted to follow him but was held back by Stanley.

“Stay, let me handle this, I made the mistake, let me fix it,” Stanley urged.

Opening the door, they discovered Joshua was gone, with no sign of him in sight.

Near the edge of the wooded area, a single-story home, ostensibly Joshua and Gideon's residence, stood with a stream behind it. Joshua fell, coughing up blood, just before reaching the steps. Gideon, with his acute hearing, quickly arrived.

“What's the matter, Joshua?” he demanded.

Joshua, overwhelmed by coughing, struggled to speak.

“I-I've been poisoned by Mika's Uncle,” he managed to say while attempting to stand up.

“How?”

“A cigarette, mixed with wolfsbane and vervain.”

“He wasn't sure of your species,” anger evident in Gideon's voice and blood-red eyes.

“They will all pay,” he declared, eyes blazing with rage.

“Hey, calm down, Gideon,” Joshua reached in vain as Gideon was already consumed by fury. “Stand down, Gideon,” Joshua pleaded, but it was too late as Gideon's rage took over.

A few moments later, Gideon appears, impatiently standing on the front porch of the residence, aware that he required a formal invitation to enter. With a clenched fist, he moved to punch the door open but was thwarted as a powerful force knocked him off his feet. The door then opened, revealing Mika, who searched the area but found nothing at the entrance or nearby. Despite this, she could swear she heard a faint noise, possibly a grunt or rustling of the wind. Frustrated by the lack of evidence, she retreated indoors, closing the door behind her. Meanwhile, as Joshua forcefully pushed Gideon away, they tumbled and stumbled down the sloping ground until Gideon regained his balance and pushed Joshua against a tree.

"Are you out of your mind!" Gideon shouted.

Joshua, in a deeper, more menacing tone, with glowing fangs and yellow eyes, slightly transformed into a wolf-like creature, except for a separation between his hair strands under his chin. Gideon pressed him firmly against the tree.

"I'm trying to protect you, us," he asserted.

"No, brother, I am," Joshua responded as his wolf-like appearance abruptly returned to normal. "You were walking into danger."

"Since when have you been afraid of hunters?" Gideon inquired, releasing his grip and stepping back.

"It's not just him you should fear," Joshua cautioned, also stepping back.

"Who else then?"

"Mika, she's like mother," he murmured.

"What?" Gideon grimaced.

"She's a white witch." Gideon was momentarily speechless, prompting Joshua to continue softly, "If she truly knows what she is, you wouldn't stand a chance."

"She might have figured out what we are, but I doubt it," Gideon speculated.

"Yes, and that means she has yet to realize it," Joshua explained. "There are two conditions - she must know and believe, otherwise she's just an ordinary human." "Well, that works to our advantage then," Gideon said with a menacing smile. This particular smile of Gideon's signified only one thing - bloodshed. Not unfamiliar with such expressions from his brother, Joshua quickly lunged, preemptively attacking Gideon. Before Gideon could react, he felt the sharp claws pierce his back, slashing through to Joshua's hand already protruding from his chest.

"W-what, what ar..." Gideon struggled in agony.

"I'm sorry, brother, I can't let you harm her," Joshua said, followed by a sharp snap as he broke Gideon's neck.

He transported Gideon back to their residence and secured him in an underground bunker filled with vervain to weaken and contain him.

The next day, traveling through the road that separated two forests, Stanley spotted Joshua blocking his path. Stanley alighted from his vehicle and confronted Joshua about blocking the road. Joshua moved closer to the car as Stanley reached for a cigarette in his chest pocket. In a sudden burst of speed, Joshua snatched the cigarette before Stanley could light it.

"That won't save you," Joshua warned. "How did you discover our secret?"

Stanley, appearing calm rather than frightened, revealed, "I am a hunter, and uncovering creatures like you is my specialty. You were quite clear when you introduced yourself as Castle to my niece and almost to me."

"That's insignificant."

"Perhaps in the grand scheme of things, but for us hunters, it holds significance," Stanley remarked. "We are aware of what transpired with the sons of Castle and the rumors of their return to Meadow. It simply took me some time to locate you.”

"If I desired your demise, you would no longer be living," Joshua challenged.

"Just refrain from interacting with my niece, and stay off my roads, boy," he stated while attempting to open the car door.

Joshua forcefully pushed Stanley against the car, causing him to audibly groan in discomfort. The intensity in Joshua's gaze and the creased anger on his forehead were evident.

"This is my town," he proclaimed, exuding ownership in his voice. "I possess the autonomy to act as I please, and I am not your boy. I am over two hundred years old."

Stanley was taken aback by Joshua's aggressive behavior. He carefully observed him before him, endeavoring to comprehend the situation.

"You are the werewolf, correct?" he inquired, his voice quivering slightly. "And your brother the vampire."

Joshua released his grip on Stanley and started making his way towards the forest. However, a gunshot rang out before he could progress further, leading Joshua to swiftly pivot and intercept the bullet in his hand. The gun in Stanley's possession emitted smoke, and Joshua tightly held the silver bullet in his fist despite the burning sensation it caused.

"You should stay off my way," Joshua cautioned as he proceeded into the forest, driven by his determination to safeguard his territory. Despite the discomfort from the silver bullet, he held his composure and cool.

Stanley stood there, astonished by the display of strength and power he had just witnessed. He realized that he had underestimated Joshua and the supernatural realm to which he belonged. An underlying sense of apprehension crept over him as he acknowledged that a werewolf who could withstand a silver bullet effortlessly was not to be underestimated.

And as Joshua vanished into the forest, Stanley was impressed and intimidated by the werewolf's prowess.