Date: 2-24-17

Chapter 31: Practically Royalty

Adrian enters Lucas and Mason's house in search of Mason. Adrian hears the clicking of buttons on a remote, and it leads him to a closed bedroom door.

Mason pauses the game he's playing on his Xbox 360 and goes to the door. Mason takes a sniff of the air, in case it isn't Lucas like he thinks. Mason doesn't know who it is, but he recognizes the smell of the person and he knows it isn't Lucas or Jerica.

Mason opens the door cautiously. "Adrian?" Mason forgets to veil his tone so Adrian doesn't hear the surprise.

"You didn't recognize my smell?" Adrian asks with a smirk. "I mean, I smell pretty good. It's an unforgettable thing."

"What are you doing here?" Mason questions Adrian while he crosses his arms and stands defensively in the doorway.

"Hanging out with Lucas." Adrian keeps talking when Mason gives him a bewildered look. "You're twin brother. Remember him?"

"Yes, I remember him! Why would I forget my brother?" Adrian rolls his eyes and leans against the door frame.

"I was being sarcastic, Mason." Adrian says in exasperation. Adrian would rather being talking to Lucas, even though he doesn't exactly like Lucas. At least Lucas is somewhat smart, unlike Mason.

Mason huffs and opens his mouth to respond, but Adrian intercepts Mason just in time. "Anyway, we need to talk."

"Okay." Mason says in a mistreating tone, which makes Adrian wonder why people don't trust him. Who is he kidding? Adrian knows exactly why he's not trusted.

Adrian grins and backs up into the hallway. "I bet I can beat you to my house. You know where it is?" Adrian asks with a tilt of his head before taking off, not waiting for an answer. Adrian figures that Lucas mentioned it at some point.

Adrian knows Mason will take the bait because he's not the brightest person. Mason's all about his pride, or so Adrian's heard. Adrian wonders why the Alpha he's supposed to be hunting chose Mason. Lucas has a spark of potential inside of him, but Mason? Not so much.

Adrian is leading Mason away from this house for their chat because there's a big possibility that Lucas will hear. He's catching on quickly to his werewolf senses. Mason... again, not so much.

Adrian hopes to get information from Mason, since he's more likely to spill without any worries. Hopefully.

Adrian reaches his house first, obviously, since he's way more powerful and faster than Mason will ever be. Adrian can outrun anyone, even full grown experienced werewolves. He's just that fast.

Mason is only a minute behind Adrian, which is good because Adrian didn't feel like waiting much longer than that.

Adrian lets Mason inside, then they head into the living room. Adrian leans against the wall while Mason sits down on the couch.

"So why do you wanna talk to me?" Mason asks, sounding curious and not concerned. That's good for Adrian. No concern equals no worries.

"I wanted to ask you how you're doing with being a werewolf. Like, are you being careful?" Adrian questions Mason nonchalantly.

The way Adrian is letting the wall hold him up and the way his whole body is relaxed is a technique to make sure Mason sees no threat. Adrian is a master at deception and he knows it.

"Yeah, I'm being careful. When I get angry I leave the room so I don't hurt people." Mason answers, shifting in his seat a little.

Adrian immediately notices the movement. This is just another thing that Adrian has mastered throughout the years. Adrian can interpret body movements. So, Adrian can tell that Mason is getting slightly uneasy.

"What about other people? Is anyone noticing that you're different so they're getting suspicious. I would like to know so I can avoid these people, to keep them from finding out about me." Adrian explains so that Mason doesn't get suspicious of Adrian's motives.

"And so I can help you avoid them better. I'll give you tips." Adrian smiles in a friendly way, making sure not to overdo it. Too much emotion and people get nervous. Too little emotion and people get anxious.

Mason nods his head in understanding. "Yeah, there is this one guy. But I'm sure he'll drop it."

Adrian listens closely and doesn't hear much confidence in Mason's voice, and his heart beats strangely to show Mason doesn't believe his words.

"Mason, I just want to help me and you." Adrian speaks as if he's concerned, which technically he is. But really, Adrian just wants to find out if this John Caster guy is his and Monique's stalker.

"Okay. His name is John Caster. He's me and Lucas' best friend. The same height as me with golden blond hair and dark blue eyes." Mason tells Adrian.

"What's he done to make you think he knows something?" Adrian asks Mason casually, keeping his tone light.

And just like Adrian had hoped, Mason spills everything about John that Adrian needs to know.

Mason tells Adrian about the day at the teen club when John pulled him outside to ask what was wrong. John asked Mason if he was taking pills for the pain in his legs from the wolf attack, because everyone in town knows about that.

Mason tells Adrian how John somehow knew Mason was lying. Then John said, "My family has some experience in these sort of situations."

"His family..." Adrian mutters to himself, knowing something's about to click in his head.

Adrian is right, because he's always right, and it clicks just then. John's family. The Casters. Adrian would have laughed out loud if Mason wasn't there.

"Thank you for telling me, Mason. All I have to say for you is to act like yourself around him. If you're angry then walk away." Adrian says, giving Mason some quick advice like he said he would.

Mason nods seriously at Adrian, proud to be getting advice from an Alpha werewolf. Now Mason can try to be as good at all of this as Lucas seems to be. Mason just wants to be as good as his brother.

"Well, I have some things to do before Monique gets home from work. So I'll see you later." Adrian tells Mason, even though Adrian has no plan of purposely hanging out with Mason unless he has to.

"You should get back home before Lucas gets too worried." Adrian says, trying to not let the impatience leak into his voice.

Mason stands and walks towards the front door, but hesitates before he makes it. Adrian sighs in annoyance as Mason turns back to him.

"Adrian?" Mason says in a questioning tone.

"What Mason?" Adrian asks in the least harsh voice he can manage at the moment. Once Adrian has gotten what he wants and if he's annoyed or angry, it's hard for him to keep up his act of caring.

There are only a few people that Adrian has ever really cared about. The only one right now is Monique. Although Adrian would never admit it, he's starting to respect Lucas just a tad.

Adrian knows his tone was harsh when Mason's eyes dart around nervously and he slowly steps closer to the door.

"I was wondering... If you could maybe not tell Lucas about our talk here." Mason says, surprising Adrian.

Adrian has to fight the urge to grin at Mason. He's inadvertently just given Adrian the other thing he wants, to make sure Lucas doesn't know about his talk with Mason.

Adrian forces his face into a concerned look, just like he did with Lena earlier. Adrian nods once at Mason.

"Of course, Mason. I won't speak of it." Adrian even writes an x over his heart with his finger. "Cross my heart and hope to die." Adrian says a little enthusiastically.

He can't help it. Adrian's excited to have figured out something. And better yet, Mason and Lucas don't seem to know it yet. Adrian wants to keep it that way until he knows more about their situation.

"Thanks." Mason says with a small smile as he walks out the front door.

Adrian feels someone watching, and he knows it's John Caster from across the street. But Adrian only ignores the feeling. The curtains are drawn, it's fine. So what if John is seeing Mason leave his house?

Adrian sprints into the kitchen to check the time. It's 3:44 pm.

Adrian rushes back to the living room, staring at the wall that should have a fireplace but doesn't. Adrian had it taken out as soon as they moved here because he hates fire more than anything.

As soon as it turns to 3:45 pm, the blank wall becomes a portal and Monique steps through. The portal and its light disappears immediately behind her.

"Adrian!" Monique says in a happy tone and sets down her sports bag. When Monique sees how happy Adrian looks, her mouth drops into a teasing pout.

"You haven't been waiting here to tell your sister how much you love her, have you?" Monique isn't really hurt, she expects this from Adrian. And she also doesn't need people constantly telling her they love her.

Monique can usually see that Adrian loves her by the way he acts around her. Plus Adrian hasn't killed her yet, which truly means he loves her, considering how much she teases him.

"Nope." Adrian spouts out with a huge grin. "But I do love you!"

Monique can tell that this time, Adrian is being sincere. "Somebody woke up on the right side of the bed this morning!" Monique says.

She laughs as Adrian suddenly picks her up and swings her around. Monique loves it when Adrian's soft side comes out, which he only shows once every couple of months. He's a nice guy if you know this side of him.

When Adrian sets his sister down and takes a step back, Monique asks the big question. "What did you find out?"

Adrian drops onto the couch and stretches his legs out. Monique shoves his legs over and sits where they were resting. Adrian doesn't even frown at her. This must be good.

Adrian sits ups and leans closer to Monique. "John Caster is his name. The guy who's been watching this house."

Monique stops and thinks about that, wondering what it means to Adrian.

"He's not the original stalker, but a new one. And he's a supernatural." Adrian says excitedly.

"What type?" Monique asks, getting anxious for the answer.

"Think, Monique! His name is John Caster." Adrian repeats.

Monique's eyes widen in realization. "Oh my gosh! No way!" Monique jumps up and Adrian immediately follows.

"Yes way!" Adrian shouts, wanting her to hurry up and say it.

Monique finally says it, what Adrian's been thinking. "John Caster as in the Johnathon William Caster? The son of the most powerful Spellcaster in the supernatural world???"

Adrian nods, confirming that what Monique just said is perfectly true. John is practically royalty.