Monsters in the Attic [Ari/open-ish]

[Max Kameren]

"Aggh..." Bmp. Thmp. Crsh.

Max Kameren's emerald eyes rolled towards the ceiling from his beginner's healing book, glancing worriedly at Lucy. Curse was having a bad day, a very bad one. He had sent his patronus down earlier, telling Max he'd locked himself into his room for the day, and he'd arranged for someone to stay downstairs with him. Max was more than a little worried; it wasn't often Curse had days this bad, where he was this restless. Max had first heard the yelling at three o'clock in the morning. A nurse had come by earlier, but she couldn't get Curse to open the door. For now, they had to wait him out. Max hoped he'd be better in the morning.

"Dad?" Max yelled up towards the ceiling. He heard a bit of shuffling, but nothing else. The young wizard bit his lip. Please, let help come soon.

Tabby crawled up into Max's lap, curling up between the boy and his book. Max smiled, stroking the small orange creature. "He's fine, Tabby. Don't worry," Max consoled the cat to replace his own fears. "I bet he'll be better by tomorrow. He just needs today to get his demons in order."

Thk. BANG.

Max winced. Hopefully.

The young wizard sighed in relief as the doorbell rang. He scooped Tabby up into his arms, pushing the book aside as he went towards the door. He pulled a stool over to the door, letting the cat down so he could climb up onto it to see through the peep-hole. He smiled. "Aunt Ari! Thank Merlin!" Max unlocked the various locks Curse had on the door, finally opening it to embrace his aunt. "You got dad's patronus, then? I was worried you didn't. I couldn't leave him alone to go send an owl myself." Curse's son smiled up at his aunt, inviting her inside as he kept Tabby back with a foot. The boy's demeanor seemed to change one-eighty; he was no longer worried, Arianna could help him, and Curse if he needed it. Hopefully they wouldn't need it, and she would only be here for companionship, but Max couldn't help but feel they were in good hands. Arianna wouldn't leave with Curse in this state again, would she? Besides, this was only one bad day. Things would get better. Max just knew it.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

Sliver light blazed, alighting the small cluttered office with bright light. The pesky magical light leached under heavy eye lids. Slowly, Arianna Blackthorn stirred from her rather awkward perch on her desk. Eyelids fluttered open to see a shining owl flapping in place before her. Curse's patronus. Immediately she unfolded her arms and shoved herself into a sitting position. The magical creature opened it's mouth and Curse's voice poured forth.

He was having complications from his illness and needed her help with Alex. Ari glanced at the clock and cursed when she realized that it was a little past eight in the morning. Apparently, she had once again lost track of time and had fallen asleep in her office. Really, at this rate she should just sell her little flat. Lately her small place was just a storage shed for her things. Well, clothes mostly. Over the last couple of weeks, it seemed that Arianna had transported more of her books and artifacts to her office. One never knew if something could be of use and she hated to waste time. Worrying her lip, Arianna sprung into action. Max and Curse needed her help, that poor boy must be worried and scared. After checking on Echo and giving instructions to one of her lab assistants to keep the woman company and watch the magical analysis, Ari left the ministry.

What exactly was wrong with Curse this morning? Was he seeing his enemies again? Or was it the poison? Either way he needed rest and Max needed to be distracted. Serious kid, that one. Sometimes far too serious and responsible. Arianna knew what it was like to have a parent with mental health issues. Something different was in order today, but what? Max would only protest and fret in Alex Kameren mother hen fashion if they left the house. Arianna was nearing the floo fires when her stomach growled. Food. She'd definitely need to stop by the store on her way over. Curse Kameren was a wonderful father but his shopping skills were lacking sometimes and if he had been sick lately there probably wasn't much in the house. Better be prepared than arrive to barely anything and have to scramble. Maybe they could bake cookies. That could prove to be a wonderful distraction.

Thirty minutes later, Ari exited the muggle grocery store with several bags filled with supplies. She'd even bought cookie cutters and frosting! Walking into a deserted alleyway, Ari quickly shrinked her packages so they fit into one bag and then apprated to Godricks hallow. Quickly, she knocked on the Kameren's door, back straight, face a mask of calm. She might look a bit wrinkled in yesterday's work clothes, but she wouldn't let Max see how concerned she was.

A minute passed and Arianna's brows knitted slightly in worry. What could be taking so long? Then a series of clicking sounds emerged from the other side of the door and a small fury launched itself at her.

"Aunt Ari! Thank Merlin!""You got dad's patronus, then? I was worried you didn't. I couldn't leave him alone to go send an owl myself."

Arianna hugged the boy, a motherly smile on her face. It felt wonderful to hold this child, even if the circumstances were not ideal.

"Sorry, I was at the Ministry checking on Echo. I brought provisions!" She said with a grin as she followed Max into the house. Directly, she made her way into the kitchen to put everything away, her eyes taking in the state of the house. A book laid on the floor in the living room, but other than that nothing else was amiss. Good Curse wasn't in the destruction part of the delusions yet.

"I was thinking we could bake some cookies," She said over her shoulder as she entered the kitchen. A small chuckle slipped out when she saw the state of the small room. A jug of milk was turned over on the counter and several dishes were scattered. It seemed that Max had fixed his own breakfast that morning.

"Did you get enough to eat?" Arianna glanced at Max and then at the breakfast paraphernalia spread out across the kitchen. Ari whipped out her wand and quickly cleaned up the mess with a few quick spells.

"How is he this morning?" It had to be asked. They both knew why she was here. His father was in no state to watch over him that morning. Or really, to be in anyone's company. Arianna fought against the nagging thoughts and emotions that plagued her. Curse was not the same person, he was getting treatment and she would not run away. These KAmeren men needed her and she wasn't going to let her own fears run her off again. He obviously wanted help.

[Max Kameren]

"Sorry, I was at the Ministry checking on Echo. I brought provisions!"

The young wizard seemed to skip along with his aunt as she hurried towards the kitchen, trying to hop up enough to see inside the grocery bag. "What's in the bag?" Max asked eagerly, his emerald eyes wide. Aunt Ari always brought good things with her when she came; today, they were spending mostly a whole day together. Well, hopefully just a day; if Curse wasn't cleared up by then, they would have to figure out what to do overnight.

"I was thinking we could bake some cookies,"

"That sounds fun! I've never done that before. Mum doesn't like baking. Dad and I tried to make muffins once, but it didn't work out very well. They all crumbled apart." Max shrugged, grabbing a towel to try to mop up the milk before Arianna did away with it with a spell. Who knew Lucky Charms weren't a valid muffin ingredient? They'd tried their best, but it hadn't worked out. They'd try it again sometime. "Still tasted good though, If you ate around the mushy bits."

"Did you get enough to eat?"

Was he supposed to eat? Max arched a brow at Arianna, a little confused. He slid onto a stool at the counter, leaning on the counter as he looked at the mess. "I didn't eat yet. The milk was for Tabby. Dad told me to eat through the door, but I didn't get around to it. We're all out of bread anyways." He shrugged, as if that was that. If there wasn't any bread, there wasn't any sandwiches, which meant there was no meals for Max. Curse was going to grocery shop today. It was unfair, how unpredictable his illness was. What if he had something important to do?

"How is he this morning?"

The worried fog that was growing around Max's mind was dismissed by his aunt. He looked up at her, grimacing at the thought. "Not good. He's been up since three. The nurse came by, but she couldn't get him to open the door. He's been doing that a lot lately, locking himself into his room when he has bad days. He doesn't want to take a chance at hurting me." The young boy sighed, his green eyes focussing on Tabby as the small orange cat jumped up on the counter.

"He's quieting down now, though. He might come out in a little while, which then he'll either do the chalk board thing or apparate to Mungo's." His dad would be okay, Max knew. Sure, today wasn't great, but he had seen Curse much worse. It was tough seeing his dad this way, but it was their life. It was unfortunate and terrible, but it was what they had, so they had to do what they could with it. The bad came with the good, but there was plenty of good to even it out. His fingers scratched Tabby behind the ears. The cat laid down, closing her eyes and purring in pleasure. "So, cookies?"

[Arianna Blackthorn]

Arianna didn't know what to expect. She'd watched Max before for his mum but that had been just for a few hours and under better circumstances. That was also before Max learned that she had a past with his dad and was a witch. He was a good kid and strong but even the best kids had off days. Would this be one? How was Max holding up? He'd been alone all morning while his dad was locked away in his room. While he was ten years old and more than capable of entertaining himself, Arianna knew what it was like to pine for a normal good morning from a parent. Max followed Ari to the kitchen, skipping and prying into the bag. He seemed to be all right. Bright sunshine smile and positive attitude.

"I was thinking we could bake some cookies,"

"That sounds fun! I've never done that before. Mum doesn't like baking. Dad and I tried to make muffins once, but it didn't work out very well. They all crumbled apart."

Ari smiled at the thought of Curse baking. He was a world class potion master but when it came to muggle baking he was lost. Still, it would have been a sight to see the results. Ari was slightly surprised that Max had never made cookies before.

"Well then, we'll just have to make a whole bunch. I even bought cookie cutters so we can have funny shaped cookies, like trees and stars. We'll even decorate them, k?" Arianna stated as she unpacked the cookie ingredients. She hadn't been sure what kind of cookies Max would like so she had bought different flavors. But before they could start baking they needed breakfast.

"Did you get enough to eat?"

"I didn't eat yet. The milk was for Tabby. Dad told me to eat through the door, but I didn't get around to it. We're all out of bread anyways."

Right. Max Kameren wouldn't drink milk by choice. She should have guessed it was for the cat.
"Good, neither have I. It so happens I stopped by the store and bought some food." And she was very glad she had bought stuff. Arianna quickly pulled out another bag, she had magically made smaller. She placed the tiny bags on the counter, whipped out her wand and brought them back to their original size. The bags were stuffed with a loaf of bread, different kinds of cheese, meats, salad, pasta and fruits. Enough food for a couple of days.

"What would you like to eat? Egg sandwich? Pasta? Ham and Cheese?" Arianna asked as she moved around the kitchen, looking for a knife and a cutting board. When in the kitchen she preferred tools instead of her wand. Something about the effort that made food taste better.

"Not good. He's been up since three. The nurse came by, but she couldn't get him to open the door. He's been doing that a lot lately, locking himself into his room when he has bad days. He doesn't want to take a chance at hurting me."

Arianna paled slightly at the mention of the nurse being barred from Curse's room. That sounded awfully familiar. Before Curse had lost complete control and scared Aria, he hadn't let her inside the apartment.

"Sometimes it's hard for him to remain in control." Ari said as she paused in front of Max. She reached out to pet the tabby cat as she wondered what to say.

"Max, I have a spare two way mirror set in my apartment. Tomorrow, I'll bring it by. If you ever need me, just look in the mirror and speak okay? I'll be able to hear the message and we can communicate that way." Max couldn't always get away to send an owl. The mirror would also be quicker, as long as Ari had it near. Hmm maybe she could shrink it and wear it on her neck or something.

"He's quieting down now, though. He might come out in a little while, which then he'll either do the chalk board thing or apparate to Mungo's."

At least he knew how to get help now. But what did he do with a chalk board? Did he work on physics problems?

"What does he do with a chalk board? My mum use to finger paint the walls when she was dealing her with demons..." Ari shared good naturely. Her mum also ran around starkers trying to chase Arianna down calling her a demon.

"So, cookies?"

"Sugar, double chocolate chip, just chocolate chip, peanut butter, or oatmeal raisin?"

[Alex Kameren]

The silvery messenger had come and gone-- delivering its message summoning Alex to Godric’s Hollow. Unfortunately, Thursday was a very busy workday and Alecsander Kameren, Auror, was tied up for the next few hours-- even quite literally for a brief period of time. He rubbed his neck, leaning in the doorway of the head auror’s office, he informed Tynan of his destination as he popped his neck with a deft twist.

It was with growing impatience that he made his way down the lift, through the expansive Atrium and finally to the Floo fireplaces. Each minute gone by was a waste, time that could be crucial. He took a pinch of the powder, tossed it into the flames that always burned here, magic fire with no fuel. He stepped in, stated his destination, and was gone.

"Sugar, double chocolate chip, just chocolate chip, peanut butter, or oatmeal raisin?"

“Arianna.” Alex said, entering from the living room. His expression was stoic as was his habit, but worry tightened the lines of his face, and his tone was cool as he addressed Arianna. Things were still tense between them. He smiled briefly at Max, not trying to hide his thoughts from the boy. Alex didn’t see the point in pretending to Max that his father was fine. They both knew different. And when he spoke again, it was as if he were speaking to an equal.

“How is he?"

[Max Kameren]

Thmp.Th....nk.

Max sighed, glancing up at the ceiling as he listened to Aunt Ari unpacked her grocery bags. The kitchen was directly below Curse's room; any movement he made they would hear. Though he worried about his father, whenever a noise was made, Max was glad when he heard something. At least he knew his father was conscious. "Can I take the pasta and make a sandwich out of it? Dad made me a pasta sandwich one day and it was really good." Who would have thought one could combine two such wonderful things? Max was never more amazed at his father's genius than that day.

As the conversation turned to Max's father, the young wizard shifted uncomfortably. He could tell by watching her that Arianna was still a little nervous about being around Curse in this condition, but if she wanted to be a part of their family she would have to live with it. Max lived with it. The sickness was just a part of his father, not the whole. He was a very complex man, Max could tell even in his young age. To be a part of his family, though, you had to accept all parts of him. That was what being a family was.

"Sometimes it's hard for him to remain in control."

"Sometimes he does good. He says on some bad days he just plays the Silent Game and pretends like he can't see them. Today must be a really bad one if he's acting like they're there." Max shrugged, his fingers finding Tabby as he pet her soft orange fur.

"Max, I have a spare two way mirror set in my apartment. Tomorrow, I'll bring it by. If you ever need me, just look in the mirror and speak okay? I'll be able to hear the message and we can communicate that way."

Max arched a brow, surprised at the offer. What was a two-way mirror like? He'd read about them, but had yet to see one in person. He knew his father had one or two stashed away, but he'd never tell who the mirror's brother belonged to. Max wouldn't mind having his own one, with his very own person to contact in the Wizarding World. It was like having a cell phone, sort of. "Sounds good. I can hang it up in my room." Another thumping sound came from above them. Max pushed himself off the stool, too nervous to stay still. He crossed to the fridge. "Can I have some juice?"

"What does he do with a chalk board? My mum use to finger paint the walls when she was dealing her with demons..."

"He picks a math formula and writes the same one over and over. He likes the repetition, how the numbers are always constant. He doesn't like too much change on his bad days." Max reached a jug of grape juice down from the fridge, putting it on the counter as he grabbed two glasses. "Your mum was like dad?" Max had never heard about Aunt Ari's mum before, beyond being told by Curse that she was a witch. Maybe Arianna's mum was why she was so apprehensive around Curse.

"So, cookies?"

"Sugar, double chocolate chip, just chocolate chip, peanut butter, or oatmeal raisin?"

"Hmm... Peanut butter."

“Arianna.”

"Uncle Al!" Max smiled, jumping happily across the kitchen to embrace his uncle. This was a good day, now; the family was all here. "Umm.. I mean Alex. Uncle Alex." He smiled, his emerald eyes mischievous. Max hadn't known that Alex was going to be coming, he thought Arianna was the only one Curse contacted. He was glad to see his uncle, though. They had been busy lately, and Max hadn't seen Alex since Victor's funeral.

“How is he?"

Max shook his head. "Not so good. He hasn't come out of his room yet. Elle came by, but she couldn't get him to come out. He's past the violent part, though." The idea of his father fighting his demons alone in his room depressed Max again, and the young wizard sighed. He pulled himself back up onto his stool, sighing deeply. He wished he could wave a magic wand and make his father all better. It wasn't fair that he had to be like this. It wasn't fair to Curse, but it also wasn't fair to Max. He finally met his father, completed his family with another parent who really loved him, and then this had to get in the way. It just wasn't fair.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

For a few seconds, the domestic scene in the kitchen was a little weird for Ari. This was her dream since she'd been, well Max's age. Family life for her had always been abnormal, leaving her wishing for a "proper" family of her own. Putting away groceries was a simple, mundane task but it allowed her to pretend for just a moment that this was her house and Max was her son.

"What would you like to eat? Egg sandwich? Pasta? Ham and Cheese?" Ari found the cutting board and a knife in a drawer just as Max was replying.


"Can I take the pasta and make a sandwich out of it? Dad made me a pasta sandwich one day and it was really good." A knowing smile lit up Ari's face. It had been her take out pasta that had been the substance for the sandwich.

"Of course. It'll take a few minutes. Do you want butter and garlic on your bread? Kinda of like mustard and ketchup on a turkey sandwich?" Ari said as she found a pot and put it on the stove. With a wave of her wand it was filled with boiling water. Sometimes it helped to have magic. She continued to use both magic and muggle ways to prepare the food as they talked.


Sometimes it's hard for him to remain in control."

"Sometimes he does good. He says on some bad days he just plays the Silent Game and pretends like he can't see them. Today must be a really bad one if he's acting like they're there."

As Ari listened her respect for the child rose. Max Kameren was more observant than anyone, including his mother gave him credit for. He also was resilient. What child could objectively speak about their father's illness without being hysterical?

"Max, I have a spare two way mirror set in my apartment. Tomorrow, I'll bring it by. If you ever need me, just look in the mirror and speak okay? I'll be able to hear the message and we can communicate that way."

The boy stared at her, an eyebrow raised. Was he weighing her offer? Wondering if she'd follow through or be like many adults and fail to hold up their promises. She didn't blame him, promises and Adults were often incompatible.

"Sounds good. I can hang it up in my room."

Ari smiled, glad that he accepted her gift. Yes she as his aunt and had given him things before, but this felt different. Then, he didn't know that she knew his father. Max hadn't a clue that she was a witch and now that he did know about her past with his father, things could be strained.

"Can I have some juice?"

"Of course," She said opening a cupboard and handing him a glass.


"What does he do with a chalk board? My mum use to finger paint the walls when she was dealing her with demons..."

"He picks a math formula and writes the same one over and over. He likes the repetition, how the numbers are always constant. He doesn't like too much change on his bad days."

It made more sense now. Repetition had been hard to come by when Curse and Ari were living together. Each day was different. Curse would be on a case with the aurors and Ari would be exploring some rune or another working with her mentors, visiting strange places.

"Your mum was like dad?"

Ari paused, looking at Max as she answered. "Yes and no. Her mind was shattered through torture." Was she being to honest? Max was still a child but that didn't mean he didn't deserve to know the truth. Besides, if she sugar coated it, he might just learn the whole truth and be angry with her.

"If you ever have questions, Max, don't be afraid to ask me. My mum saw people too." There, that should be enough information for now right? No need to scare the kid, but if he did need help or was scared, she understood all too well.

So, cookies?"

"Sugar, double chocolate chip, just chocolate chip, peanut butter, or oatmeal raisin?"

"Hmm... Peanut butter."

"Excellent choice." Ari said as she laid out Max's brunch in front of him. So, pasta in the morning wasn't the food of choice for most mothers, but if Max ate it, at this point Ari didn't much care. Besides, she liked dinner for breakfast too. She'd made her own pasta sandwich, not hearing the door open until Alex called her name.

“Arianna.”[/b]

Some protector she was. Ari hadn't even heard the door open! Ari flashed a hesitant smile at Alex. He hadn't been to keen on her return. Things between them had been icy, and it was her fault. When she left, taking care of Curse had fallen to Alex. She hadn't even told him she was leaving for fear that Alex would track her down.

"Hi." She finally said softly. This was awkward but she should have known that Curse would have called Alex. Max jumped up to greet his uncle enthusiastically. Ari tried not to interrupt as she ate her food.

“How is he?"

Max shook his head. "Not so good. He hasn't come out of his room yet. Elle came by, but she couldn't get him to come out. He's past the violent part, though.

"We're having pasta sandwiches, if you'd like some." Ari offered. Men liked food. Maybe this could be a peace offering?

"We're also going to make peanut butter cookies, if you want to join us. But first we should make a tray for Curse. He might get hungry..."

[Alex Kameren]

"Uncle Al!" Max smiled, jumping happily across the kitchen to embrace his uncle. This was a good day, now; the family was all here. "Umm.. I mean Alex. Uncle Alex."

Alex bent to return Max’s hug, he smiled as Max corrected himself. He’d found that the term grew on him, but Max seemed determined to keep a promise he’d made while Alex had been in his coma. Curse had told Alex about it, he wasn’t sure what to think but let Max call him what he wanted. Names were trivial.

"Not so good. He hasn't come out of his room yet. Elle came by, but she couldn't get him to come out. He's past the violent part, though.”

The auror frowned. It wasn’t right that Max should have to deal with such things at his age. He was only ten, for Merlin’s sake. Alex knew how much knowing Max meant to Curse, he had never seen his brother so happy as when he discovered he had a son. It wasn’t fair for them to deal with his illness, not when they had just met each other.

"We're having pasta sandwiches, if you'd like some."

“Ah, the famous pasta sandwiches. Max told me they were really good.” He kept his voice neutral. He looked up at another sound from above. “I’ll check on Curse first.” He headed towards the stairs. A thump behind him was followed by the sound of feet crossing the kitchen floor. Without looking, he knew Max was following.

[Max Kameren]

"Your mum was like dad?"

Ari paused, looking at Max as she answered. "Yes and no. Her mind was shattered through torture."

Max paled, his eyes downcast towards the counter as soon as Arianna mentioned it. "Oh." He acknowledged Arianna's statement, too off-put to ask anymore questions. The mention of torture made him automatically think of his father in that position; he knew from stories that Curse had endured torture before, but the stories tended to center around Curse's escape and success over whoever had tortured him. Max had never thought of it as something that could contribute to his illness. Curse Kameren was the good-guy, he couldn't be defeated. Right?

"If you ever have questions, Max, don't be afraid to ask me. My mum saw people too."

"Sometimes I don't know when he's talking to me or someone else," Max's round eyes looked worried as he glanced up at his aunt, then back down. Aunt Ari's mention of her own mother had upset him, and now he was back to worrying. He loved his father, but he was difficult to live with sometimes. It wasn't his fault, he was a good father. At least, he did his best. It wasn't fair that they had to be this way.

“Arianna.”

"Uncle Al!"

“How is he?"

"Not so good. He hasn't come out of his room yet. Elle came by, but she couldn't get him to come out. He's past the violent part, though." Max's worries only seemed to increase at his uncle's frown. He was sure he was safe with his aunt and uncle present, but was Curse safe on his own upstairs? Curse needed to come out of his room. That would solve Max's worries. But would Arianna be okay with that?

"We're having pasta sandwiches, if you'd like some."

“Ah, the famous pasta sandwiches. Max told me they were really good.” He kept his voice neutral. He looked up at another sound from above. “I’ll check on Curse first.”

"I'll come with." Max immediately volunteered. Perhaps just hearing his father's voice from behind the door would be enough. He took his untouched pasta sandwich. "This one can be for dad, Aunt Ari. I have to go with, so I can tell him it's Alex." This was often a situation Max had to do on his father's bad days: he would introduce whoever came by to Curse, letting him know that he wasn't the only one who could see and hear them. He needed Max to make sure Alex was real. He dutifully followed Alex up the stairs, Tabby nipping at his heels as they went.

"DAD! Dad, Alex is here and he wants to talk to you!" Max pounded on the wall as he spoke, making sure to get his father's attention. He heard Curse move inside the room, but didn't reply right away. "We have a sandwich for you if you'll open the dooor..."

"Did you eat?" Curse's voice sounded muffled through the dark wooden door, but he sounded fine. He hadn't hurt himself too badly, then. Hopefully he hadn't hurt himself at all. Sometimes in his violent fits he would practically knock himself out, Max recalled.

"No, not yet."

"Damnit, Max, I told you to eat hours ago."

"I know, but we were out of bread. Aunt Ari's making me a sandwich now." A pause came from behind the door. Curse may be surprised Arianna came, the patronus he'd sent her was a longshot. He hadn't thought she was ready for this part of him yet.

"Go eat with Aunt Ari please, Max. I can talk to Alex."

"Will you come out?"

"I... I can't yet. I'm sorry." Curse sounded defeated, ashamed of himself. They heard a light thmp on the ground, as if Curse had sat down near the door.

Max frowned. "Oh, okay. I'll go eat with Arianna then," Max turned, sending his uncle a worried look as he hurried down the stairs.

"He can't come out yet," Max frowned as he pulled himself up onto his stool again, sighing in defeat as he laid his head on the counter next to his new sandwich. He eyed Arianna worriedly. "Why is it still like this? He was better, and now he's bad again. He's not as bad, but it isn't fair." He closed his eyes, pushing the sandwich plate away with his arm as he turned. He had suddenly lost his appetite.

[Curse Kameren]

As soon as Max's footsteps receded down the stairs, Curse's head bumped against the door. He was sitting with his back to it, listening to his family from the other side. He hated this. He hated having to cause so much trouble, inconveniencing everyone around him for no reason. There wasn't a reason. There was nothing there, only the delusions in his mind. On some days, though, those delusions were too much for him. On days like this, his delusions didn't just hurt him, the affected Max. Curse couldn't take that.

"I'm a terrible father," Curse rubbed his hands tiredly over his face as he spoke to his brother through the door. He let out a sigh, looking miserably down at the floor. "I want to come out, Alex. I really, really do. It's just..." Curse sighed, the fear overtaking him for a moment as he thought about it. "I know they're downstairs. If I go down there and something happens... I don't know what I'd do. I can't hurt Max." Curse frowned miserably, wringing his hands with guilt. They were all excuses, but what could he do? He couldn't take the chance at hurting his son, he couldn't be near him until the delusions were gone, or at least decreased.

[Alex Kameren]

Alex didn’t offer condolences or platitudes as some people would have. He simply took a seat on the floor, his own head thumping lightly against the wood as he sat, back to back with his brother on the opposite side of the door. He remained quiet as Curse talked, staring towards the distance and letting his brother’s talk ramble to a standstill. He had done this many times before, and there were times when he’d had to do more than listen.

It was hard. It was rough on Curse, it was rough on the family. Only Curse knew what was going through his mind right now, but Alex knew some of the more common. He let out a low sigh, picking idly at a piece of lint on his knee.

“Who… or what, is it this time.” A pause. “Sorry it took me so long to get here.”

They all had expectations. Alex expected that he would always be there for his family when he was needed. No matter what. Whenever it was that he was needed, whatever it was for.

[Curse Kameren]

“Who… or what, is it this time.”

The door between the two brothers suddenly shook as Curse pounded it out of frustration. "Why does it bloody matter? None of it was real, it was all shit my sick mind invented to keep me stuck in here." He stopped himself before he got louder. Max would get upset if he had another episode. He needed to stay calm and get himself back, for his son's sake. It was endlessly frustrating to Curse, knowing that his delusions existed, but not being able to do anything about them. He was used to control, he had been taking care of himself practically since childhood. Being a grown man rendered helpless by his own thoughts was a feeling Curse would never, ever get used to. It killed him.

The eldest Kameren stayed quiet for a long pause, silently mouthing to himself as he tried to work his way back from his fictions into fact. He sighed, pushing himself onto his feet using the door to steady himself as he did.

“Sorry it took me so long to get here.”

"Don't worry about it. You're an auror," footsteps could be heard as Curse moved around his room, pulling a shirt from his dresser pushed against the window and pulling it over his head. "I knew you wouldn't make it on time. That was why I sent Ari an owl too, figured one of you would make it here for Max. I didn't expect Arianna to actually show up, though." Curse wrinkled his nose as the words came out of his mouth a bit more harsh than he meant. He loved Arianna and they had worked out most of their differences, but that didn't mean Curse still blindly trusted her. Especially in this situation, he kept an eye out. He was glad she'd made it for Max's sake, but he was wary about going downstairs himself at risk of scaring her off.

"Alex? I think I'm going to come out. You're not carting me off to Mungo's right away though, and if Elle's out there ready to ambush me as soon as I open the door I'll be pissed." Slowly the doorknob turned and the door opened, revealing the wreck that was Curse Kameren stooped in the doorframe.

Curse had been through Hell and back that morning, it was evident in his appearance. He still hadn't changed out of the clothes he'd slept in, besides throwing an old shirt on over his naked upper half. There were dark circles under his hollow green eyes and his face appeared sunken and exhausted, but those that had seen him at his very worst would recognize him as on his way out of the fog rather than entering it. An unkempt beard was growing along his jaw, and his characteristically messy hair was now messed beyond repair. A small scrape on his right temple just under Curse's hairline had been bleeding, dripping now-dried blood down the side of his face and neck, where a large bruise was darkening on his collar bone. He stunk of smoke, and the smell from his room also told that he had been smoking in the house, something he never did.

As disarrayed as Curse was, his room was far worse. The ex-auor had apparently spent the morning moving his furniture, as every piece of furniture in the room now stood against the far wall, covering the windows. A small glass ashtray sat in the middle of the empty floor, Curse's used cigarettes still smoking in their ashes. Lucy's yellow eyes peered out of the closet at Alex for a moment, before the great snake turned around and headed back downstairs from where she came.

He sent Alex a hard look, warning him not to ask as he maneuvered around his brother in the cramped hallway to get to the bathroom. "Don't tell Max about the scrape, it will only worry him. It's only a scratch, but you know how head wounds are..." The sink's faucets ran on full strength as Curse washed away the dried blood. He bit his lip as he sealed the wound, prepping it for the healing spell that would get rid of it. "Alex, there are two potions in the fridge downstairs, one is clear and the other is a silvery-green. Could you grab them for me please? Be careful with the green one, it could kill you." Curse spoke to his brother's reflection in the bathroom mirror, trying his best to keep as much dignity as he could as he silently pleaded with the man. Coming out of his room he could do, but he still wasn't sure if he could make it downstairs. Not for the delusions as much as for the woman downstairs. He hadn't seen Arianna after an episode like this since she left, he wasn't sure if he could face her like this again. It was just too soon.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

Coming here was a mistake. Arianna was fit to watch Max. Despite her dreams of being a mother she had no clue how to be one, not really. She worked with dusty tombs, studied dead languages. Merlin, she spent more time looking into the past than she ever did living. How was she to know what to say to a child? And that was exactly what Max Kameren was. A child. Despite his soulful, knowing eyes, and his level of maturity, he was scared little boy and instead of easing his fears she told him about her own mother being tortured until she went insane. Bloody hell, she was an idiot. But she couldn't take back her words. There really wasn't much she could say to rectify the matter.

Then Alex arrived and any hope of reassuring Max disappeared. Alex already disapproved of her. If he discovered that she told a ten year old about torture....something would happen. If he had his way, Ari would be back in Italy, or in America as far away from Curse and Max. To him, she was trouble. Still that didn't stop him from complementing her cooking.

“Ah, the famous pasta sandwiches. Max told me they were really good.”
Or as he mocking her? Pasta sandwiches weren't the most healthy menu item. It was difficult to tell with Alex especially now that he didn't trust her. Didn't the man ever show emotion? His neutral tone was madding. But that was neither here nor there as he quickly left the kitchen to find his brother.

"I'll come with." "This one can be for dad, Aunt Ari. I have to go with, so I can tell him it's Alex."

"Alright," she called after, her eyebrows knitted with concern. Was Curse alright? Should she follow at a distance to make sure everything was alright or stay in the kitchen and make another sandwich? But what if Curse actually opened the door? Could she handle seeing him? Would he even want to see her? Surely he was a sight. She remembered how haggard he had looked the day she had left. The emptiness in his eyes still haunted her. BUt surely he wasn't that far gone. He knew who he was, where he was, and who was around him this time. After all if he had forgotten all that he wouldn't have sent for Ari or Alex.

Ari stayed in the kitchen, busying herself by making another sandwich and cleaning up the mess. Everything for cookies was all laid out by the time Max shuffled back into the kitchen. The boy climbed up into his chair, his face gloomy.

"He can't come out yet,"

Ari's heart went out to the child. She understood how much he had hoped that his father could have come out. She had wished the same of her own mum. But she'd been lucky for sometimes her father had been there to deal with it. Until, he left. But Ari wasn't going to leave. Not this time, not ever.

"Why is it still like this? He was better, and now he's bad again. He's not as bad, but it isn't fair."

"No, it isn't. But Max, nothing about life is fair. Just isn't possible. I know this hurts a lot, but things will get better. It may not seem like it now but they will. Best not to dwell on what we can't change, but focus on what we can. Right now, your dad needs to be alone, but that doesn't mean we can't have things ready for him when he comes down. Sweets always makes me feel better when I'm drained, maybe just the smell of cookies will cheer him up a bit. So will you help me? I'm rubbish when it comes to adding the sweet things. I just want to eat them...but you can prevent that from happening right?" Hopefully, she said the right thing. Maybe getting Max to help her with cookies could get his mind off his dad...or something.

[Eden Fletcher]

Something was happening. What it was exactly, Eden didn't know. A nagging feeling kept creeping up on her. Like she was supposed to be doing something but had forgotten what it was. It was very annoying. She tried to think about her latest visions, but they were all foggy and even flipping through the sketch books did nothing to help her. Then her eyes fell onto a picture of Max and an image flashed in her mind.

Max was alone in the living room, reading on the floor. Or pretending too. He looked worried. Where was Curse? Then Eden saw him, huddled in his room, half dressed, the furniture pushed to one side. He was in a right mess. Instinctively, Eden knew she couldn't help Curse but she could help Max.

As quickly as it came the visions disappeared and Eden sprung into action. It was nearly eight in the morning and if she hurried she could sneak out of the house before her grandmother found her and made her stay and practice the piano or some other lady like hobby.

It was not to be. In her rush, Eden hadn't properly secured her messenger bag, and several toys she had packed toppled out. The resulting crash, instantly brought a house elf, who then summoned Grandmother the second she realized that Eden was escaping. Her frantic pleas that Max Kameren needed her were shoved aside. The boy had family to look after him. He didn't need a little girl.

Finally, after what seemed like five hours, Eden was allowed to visit Max. She sprinted across Godrick's Hallow, slowly when she reached the front steps. Without bothering to knock she let herself inside and followed the voices into the kitchen. Max was sitting on a stool, talking to a pretty red head lady.

"Hi Max," She said softly as she pulled herself up onto the stool next to him.

"He'll be fine, you know," She said matter a factly. And he would be. After all Eden had seen his death and it wouldn't be for years. Her pale blue eyes landed on the uneaten sandwich and Eden hid a wicked grin. She reached over, snatched one half and took a bite. Really, she had taken it just to goad Max into eating. Eden had already had breakfast.

"Yumm, you gonna eat the other half?" She asked mouth half full with another bite.

[Max Kameren]

"No, it isn't. But Max, nothing about life is fair. Just isn't possible. I know this hurts a lot, but things will get better. It may not seem like it now but they will. Best not to dwell on what we can't change, but focus on what we can. Right now, your dad needs to be alone, but that doesn't mean we can't have things ready for him when he comes down."

Max's brow furrowed and he seemed to slump even further on his stool. He knew Aunt Ari was only trying to cheer him up, but sometimes the unfairness of the situation would get to him. It wasn't fair to Curse or Max that they had to live this way. His father had spent his life fighting off demons; now when he wants to retire and live with Max, he had to fight off the demons all over again, but this time with no one's help. Max hated not being able to help, as well. What good was he doing just sitting downstairs, waiting him out? He knew Alex was more capable of helping Curse, but staying away made Max feel like a helpless little kid, which he hated. He lived with Curse on a daily basis, why couldn't he help on days like this?

"Sweets always makes me feel better when I'm drained, maybe just the smell of cookies will cheer him up a bit. So will you help me? I'm rubbish when it comes to adding the sweet things. I just want to eat them...but you can prevent that from happening right?"

A loud thud sounded from upstairs, and Max winced. He closed his eyes, silently wishing everyone away. This day was a disaster; he wanted it to be quiet again. He wanted Curse to be able to come downstairs and help make cookies and be normal. Nothing was normal in their house and it frustrated him. Each morning Max would wake up and wonder who his father would be that day.

"Hi Max," Max groaned when he heard a familiar voice next to him and a young body climbing up on a stool. "He'll be fine, you know."

"No he won't be. He's going to be like this forever and he'll just get sicker and sicker, and then he'll die." Max's voice was muffled by his arms where he rested his head, but it was obvious his voice was choking up. There were too many people here, trying to take care of him and console him while secretly wondering what was going on upstairs. He wasn't a child, he didn't need to be comforted. He didn't need help. He didn't want people at his home during one of his dad's episodes, it was too personal for both of them. As much as Curse didn't like others knowing about his illness, Max disliked it even more. He hated being pitied. The more frustrated he got with the attention he was getting, the more he felt like crying, which made him more frustrated. "Just leave me alone," he whimpered, closing himself off from the two girls.

"Yumm, you gonna eat the other half?"

"Leave me alone!" A sudden burst of magic blew the cookie ingredients off the counter with Max's outburst. He pushed himself off the stool, storming out of the room and up to his bedroom so quickly he didn't notice that Curse was outside. He slammed his door behind him and locked it, laying in his bed so he could be upset in peace.