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Jace had taken the boys swimming in the lake, something that he neglected to tell Alec and Magnus beforehand.
He didn’t want them to make a fuss, and laden them with a bunch of safety gear. After all, he was a great teacher. He had taught Simon how to fight, so how hard would it be to teach his two nephews to swim?
He sighed in relief when Max and Rafe finally found their rhythm, and they paddled happily.
“Unca Jace! Unca Jace! Join us!” Max waved at him while Rafe pointed, “Do you think that the ducks over there will join us?”
Jace looked around in horror.
Ducks!
Here!
Oh no.
“Okay boys, don’t disturb the ducks. You swim towards me now.” Jace replied, praying to Raziel that the ducks won’t come near them.
Why did it have to be ducks?
He would admit that it was a weird fear that ran in his family.
Jace knew he shouldn’t look, but he kept stealing peeks, as he monitored their proximity. His anxiety trigged his runes and his eyes began to glow with a golden light, and just as before, the ducks looked at him.
Fear gripped him as the lead duck began swimming in his direction, and the rest of the ducks just followed, quack quacking all the way, like they were so thrilled to see him.
“Max, Rafe! Get out of the water quick!” Jace urged his nephews.
Disappointed the little boys came out the water and grabbed their towels and slippers. They were having so much fun learning to swim and couldn’t wait to tell their dad and papa.
“Unca Jace, what’s wrong?” Max asked worriedly.
“The ducks are coming for me!” Jace cried in a panic, scrambling back as the animals came out of the water one by one.
Max and Rafe however clapped their hands and laughed, enjoying the company of the ducks, as they waddled determinedly after their uncle.
“Let’s get out of here!” Jace yelped, as he held each of their hands and ran in the direction of the loft, hoping to get help from his brother and brother-in-law.
“Uncle Jace, that’s not the right way,’ Rafe pointed out, ‘We should go left instead of right. Home is that way!”
Jace nodded gratefully, trying to keep calm as he went left. He dared not look back to see if the ducks were gaining.
About ten minutes later, Jace burst through the door as if being chased by demons. He hustled the kids inside and slammed the door shut in relief.
“What is the meaning of this? Why are my kids wet?” Magnus thundered darkly, as his children giggled.
“The ducks… the ducks are after me!” Jace rasped, trying to breathe.
“The what?”
Alec moved toward the door, and Jace yelled after him but it was too late. He opened the door and all the ducks came waddling and quacking toward him.
Quack Quack Quack.
“Why me?” he cried out, hiding behind Magnus.