Chapter 32: Bratty

As soon as they got back to the mansion, the wonderful aroma of food greeted them. They lifted their heads only to see Rebecca coming down the stairs

"You guys are back early" Rebecca said "I thought you'd all start training today" she said

"We're starting tomorrow" Nathan said as he glanced at Sloane "Everything's already been settled" he added

"That's good" Rebecca said "Would you all like to....." her voice trailed off as Sloane immediately walked passed her and headed to her room. It didn't take long before they heard the door slam shut and get locked.

Nathan dropped Mackenzie with a frown on his face while everyone stared at him

"What did you do?" Rebecca asked with a sigh

"I didn't even touch her" Nathan said

"You of all people, doesn't even need to touch her before you hurt her" Rebecca scolded "What.did.you.do.Nathan?"

"I seriously don't know what's wrong with her" Nathan said as he rushed up the stairs and headed to his room. He had done the same as Sloane; slammed the door and locked it

"I'll tell you what happened, during dinner" Cassandra said

"Right now, we need rest" Natasha added and they all headed upstairs leaving Mackenzie alone with her.

Rebecca sighed and looked at the little girl "Aren't you going to rest?" she asked

"Dad and Sloane are the only ones I sleep with but they've already locked me out" Mackenzie said while twiddling with her fingers

"Those two....Do you know what happened to them?" Rebecca asked and Mackenzie shook her head

"All I know, is that I couldn't feel Sloane's presence again. I went to look for her but everyone tried to stop me. When I finally found her, I fell asleep" Mackenzie said "When I woke up, everyone started acting strange and it looked like something was troubling Dad and Sloane"

"Those two really need help" Rebecca said as she shook her head "Where are you gonna rest now?" She asked

"I'll sleep at the door of their room" Mackenzie said as she ran up the stairs "When they realise I'm there, it's sure to make them guilty for locking me out" she said

"I really hope this doesn't continue on for long" Rebecca murmured as she went straight to the dinning area, to join Marcus

******

   After Nathan entered his room and locked the door, he had followed the veranda looking over the western side of his room, and jumped out and unto the roof.

When he got there, he rested his back on the roof tiles and laid there unmoving. He just stared at the sky and then, Sloane had come into his mind. Just thinking about her, made the screams in his head reduce but then, he felt the burning sensation on his back and knew the tattoo had appeared once again

"Sloane, what are you doing to me?" Nathan mumbled before he shut his eyes and drifted to sleep on the roof. He had no idea how much stress the events of the day had caused him and then, he had a dream.....a nightmare to be precise.

   In the nightmare, Nathan stood all alone in what used to be Greenwood Springs. The land was burnt and the beautiful scenery that the place once possessed, was replaced with black soil and molten lava. There was nobody there but himself and the deserted area.

However, Nathan didn't look normal either. From the tip of his fingers, to the edges of his elbows, were covered in black fur. His nails were elongated but they also had a black color to them. His legs were just like his arms except, instead of black fur, it was just a thick black color. A furry black wolf tail grew from above his ass and the tattoo on his back, was glowing. His face was slightly the same but his ears were black, elongated and furry like a wolf, his eyes were like infernos while two large, long black horns grew from his forehead.

   It looked like he was crying and when Nathan looked around, he could see why. His family were all dead and off in the distance, Sloane and Mackenzie's bodies could be found. Nathan's heart began to beat wildly at the scene while his other self had screamed out in pain and anger...

"Dad!!!" Someone shouted and Nathan jolted awake, and sat up. He was sweating heavily and his brows were seriously frowned but when he looked to his side, he could see Mackenzie with worry over her face but she was perfectly fine

'That dream. Is that what will happen if I don't get full control of the demon seed again?' Nathan thought as his hand shook. He was clearly afraid. Afraid of the bad things that could happen if he wasn't in control

"Dad, did you have a nightmare?" Mackenzie asked but Nathan only stared at her

When Mackenzie touched Nathan, she saw the nightmare he had but she simply smiled and pulled him in for a hug. Nathan's head was resting on Mackenzie's belly since she was standing while her hands were behind his head ruffling his hair

'This.....is really warm' Nathan thought as his body relaxed

"With how strong dad is, I wasn't expecting you to have a nightmare" Mackenzie said but Nathan didn't say anything "I believe that dad can handle anything. He wouldn't let anything take over his body and he'll keep getting stronger" she said while smiling at him and Nathan finally looked at her in the eyes

"Mackenzie...." Nathan called out and she hummed "....If you start feeling anything strange....or, things seem to change in a bad way, will you promise to always tell me?" he asked and she nodded

"I can try to always tell you....but, I can't make promises" Mackenzie said and Nathan smirked

"That's good enough" he said and there was silence as Mackenzie only stared at him

"Dad, why don't you smile much?" Mackenzie asked "Don't you know how handsome you look when you do?"

"I hate it when people ask me that question, Mackenzie" Nathan said with a frown "But, because it's you, I'll answer" he sighed "Whenever I smile, I let my guard down. I'm at my most vulnerable when that happens. I know you're smart enough to notice that, the only time I smile, is when I'm in a danger free zone, or I'm in the comfort of this very house"

"Makes sense" Mackenzie said

"Come to think of it, how did you get here? And what's the time?"

"As for how I got here, I could sense your presence on the roof and had used the stairs leading to the attic" Mackenzie said "As for what the time is, it's already five in the evening" she said

"I've been asleep that long?" Nathan asked and she nodded

"We left the house around eleven in the morning. Got to Old man Dante's place around twelve, after one hour of walking. Spent a few minutes there in their world but only a few seconds in ours. Came back to the real world and spent thirty minutes gathering ourselves back together before another one hour of walking back home" Mackenzie said as though complaining "We reached the house around one thirty in the afternoon. But we were so exhausted, we all went to bed. Some woke up around three and others around four, but you're the only person along up now. We even missed lunch and that's why I was sent to call you" she said, ending her explanation

"Is Sloane still-"

"Sloane's awake but when I entered the dinning room and I was sent to call you, she carried her plate of food and went back to her room" Mackenzie said "Did you do something to her?"

"I kissed Sloane" Nathan said and Mackenzie's face went blank "I think she's taking it to heart because it was her first kiss. But she seems to forget that it was also mine" he said a little frustrated

"Then, fix what you did" Mackenzie said with her arms crossed

"How?" Nathan asked

"Apologise" Mackenzie said "Sloane was actually saving her first kiss for her one true love. You messed that up for her"

"Aren't we all?" Nathan said referring to the true love part "First of all, it was a dire situation and-"

"La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la" Mackenzie screamed as she covered her ears which made Nathan's frown increase

"Are you serious?" Nathan asked

"Of course I am" Mackenzie said "I'm not gonna listen to you. Explain it to Sloane" she said before walking towards the attic window "And go eat something" she said before going through the open window and shutting it

Nathan combed his hair back with his hand and smirked "Guess I'm apologising" he said as he got down from the roof and landed on the veranda. 'That was the first time Mackenzie acted.....bratty' he thought as he entered his room before walking straight to the door and leaving his room for the dinning