Chapter Text
There's always a lotta people that you need to see,
But you got a quick way to get from A to B,
Just be careful who's aware of your reality,
You know what I mean.
— "Everything is Not What it Seems"
***
If ask Aaron what interesting things are happening in Waverly Place, he'll say nothing. That's partly true. After all, he wouldn't tell that it was home to various magical creatures that wizards like him weren't supposed to talk about. Besides, if people knew everything, the wizard world would be on its ear, so it would be better for them to remain in ignorance.
Waverly Place, in general, is not much different from other Greenwich Village streets. Narrow passageways, dense buildings, and a steady stream of people, nothing new, really. It remains a mystery how he and his brother got here in the first place, but, okay, it's not that important in the story he's going to tell.
Every barber knows that, yes, their family, if you can call it that, is unusual. They look like orphans, unremarkable, but in fact, attention, do not be surprised, the most real wizards. Yeah, it sounds crazy, but it's true. Aaron couldn't believe it at first.
His days were spent in the gray walls of the orphanage, among orphans like him. Nothing unusual, just the harsh truth of life. It all started when Aaron's brother, Andrew, suddenly discovered he had magical powers. Of course, it was always him, and Aaron was even jealous of him until he realized how serious it was.
At first it was all a game, a couple of tricks to entertain the street gawkers, but they quickly realized that magic does not tolerate frivolity. They began to master the art of magic on a deeper level, learning many aspects. Not only children, but also adults were eager to see unforgettable performances full of mystery and wonder.
Perhaps that was when they came to the attention of The Wizard Council [1].
Since then, Aaron, like many wizards, tries to live by the rules. He avoids unnecessary interference in the lives of ordinary people and protects his secrets from prying eyes. Of course, he knows almost no one, but in any case, there are still descendants of Minyards walking around somewhere, - presumably, but it's worth playing it safe, - with magical powers, and he doesn't want to be the one who foolishly deprived everyone of magic.
All would be well if it weren't for a couple of... minor missteps. Yeah, yeah, they're not saints either! Who would be, pray tell, if they could work miracles? It's all right if things get out of hand sometimes.
He'd already had a few instances in his practice where his magic had failed and he'd found himself the center of attention. Wasn't good, but he could live. One wrong gesture, and instead of a light burst of light, they had to face a storm. Andrew had reminded him of that for a long time. He'd been careful not to cast magic in public ever since.
Honestly, he's sure that young wizards should have magic mentors, but then again, in case anyone has managed to forget, he and Andrew are orphans. Normal children grow up with parents who teach them how to cope, gradually introducing them to the wizard world. It's different with them. No one cares about a couple wizards who can't control their powers.
All they know for sure is that there will be a Wizard Competition [2] and only one of them will be able to keep their magical abilities. Aaron thinks it's unfair, but the wizard world has its own laws, so he's not too outraged to hear about it from Professor Crumbs [3].
Deep down, he feels he has no margin for error. He breathes magic, and, sorry, Andrew, not ready to give it up in favor of his brother. It's foolish, to say the least, but it's okay to accept it, too. Rather, what scares him is that every time it's time to compete, the dust of long-buried grudges rises.
Learning magic on his own almost always means disaster, and while Aaron still tries to do it in the safe study room he and Andrew accidentally found by buying out a restaurant, for his brother there are no barriers at all. He can list all the times they've been on the verge of being exposed.
Aaron is well aware that the rules are there for a reason. The laws of magic don't forgive mistakes, but, you know, sometimes he takes advantage of what he knows a little more than others. For example, it helps a lot to freeze time sometimes just to get some sleep, for crying out loud, no judgment, he has to rest at least some of the time.
"Aaron!" Andrew pokes his head out from behind the warehouse door, distracting him from counting the proceeds and practicing simple sorcery. "The Wizard Council is coming tomorrow, remember? Examinations."
Aaron takes a deep breath, trying not to think about the wrongness of their situation. They should have been given the opportunity to study at the wizarding school, because it is impossible to combine study with work. Aaron locks the cash register with a key, intending to get up and turn over the sign on the door announcing that they are closed.
How are they supposed to be able to hide their magical abilities among ordinary people if they simply aren't trained how to do it? It is an art that requires ingenuity. Most people are not ready to accept the existence of magic, and any revelation about it can cause fear, distrust, or even aggression. That's why they hide who they are.
"I remember,” he snaps back. ”You don't have to shout about it at the top of your lungs. Do you want us to lose our magic for revealing a secret?"
"Oh, come on," Andrew rolls his eyes, teasing his brother. He is not afraid of the consequences at all. "Ad in the newspaper: super-fortune teller gypsy Kassandra, a pedigree clairvoyant, is guessing. Hands send by mail to address..."
"Andrew, are you an asshole or what? If we get caught breaking the basic law of the entire wizard world [4]..."
Every time he and Andrew get too close to being exposed, Aaron feels incredibly scared. No one knows what the punishments are for criminals in the wizard world. His fertile imagination has already spawned many methods of execution.
"Relax, nerd, who's gonna believe that crap? Just pretend it's a ridiculous coincidence."
"You really don't get it, do you?" Aaron whispers, looking around anxiously. "The other wizards could turn on us! If someone decided to check to see how well we were following the rules, it would be a disaster."
Magic in their lives has just become an integral part. Sometimes it scares the hell out of him: what happens when one of them becomes ordinary? Aaron leans on the counter, mulling it over. A lot of families, he's heard, fight about it. It's like they're living on a powder keg where every spark can cause an explosion. There are real wars going on between blood relatives.
What if he and Andrew do the same?
Aaron can't shake the thought that the closer they get to the competition, the more they drift apart. Other families have spent years teaching their children that life doesn't end here; there are wonders beyond the wizard world.
This is not their case.
They have no parents to mentor them. The Minyard twins rely only on each other, but what if that isn't enough? Time is working against them.
The restaurant "At the Minyards" attracts the attention of various gawkers even at night. The only danger is that various dangerous creatures can be found among this rabble. Aaron tries to avoid interacting with them, but many of them don't ask when come. Last week, their restaurant was attacked by a pack of werewolves, it was terrible.
Okay, on to the real problem. What he really doesn't like is when suspicious individuals show up unannounced. It's hard to say exactly what it is that scares him. Maybe it's the fact that they're not human, maybe it's the invasion of privacy.
The unwanted guest doesn't stomp on the doorstep, but walks in uninvited. If Aaron could read minds, he's sure this guy's head would be empty. He's annoyed by the very presence of someone so self-assured.
"I heard the food is delicious here," Aaron flinches when a visitor turns up next to him suspiciously fast, like lightning. People are not capable of such tricks.
Fangs, eyes, unbearable attractiveness, everything about him reminds Aaron of the most dangerous creature they could ever meet, a vampire. Andrew reacts faster, pulling out his wand. Aaron tries to remain calm, but his heart races as the young vampire approaches the counter. His fangs are visible even in the dim light of the restaurant.
"We're closed," Aaron says briefly, trying to make his voice sound confident, "get out."
The guy, ignoring his words, sits down on a bar stool, crossing his arms over his chest. Andrew freezes, ready for action. The wand in his hand signals for danger.
"How rude," the vampire chuckles, smiling with such irony that Aaron lost his composure for a moment.
Aaron grits his teeth, realizing that this conversation could have bad consequences for them. Thoughts are already flashing through his mind about how it will be possible to repel an attack if the vampire decides to show his true appearance. Andrew resembles a ghost standing guard, ready to rush into battle at any moment.
He feels a chill run down his spine. He tries to remember everything he knows about vampires, but it seems useless now, at this moment. Following his brother's example, Aaron reaches into the back pocket of his jeans for his wand, but the vampire quickly guesses what he's about to do and shakes his head as if to warn him.
"Don't be," the stranger cuts off any movement from Aaron, "I'll still be faster if I have to."
"No faster than The Monster Hunter Council [5]," Andrew retorts, noticing the confused look on his brother's face. "They'll be on to you in no time, ghoul, so get away from him before I accidentally dial the number."
"You both stink of part brick, part pine needle scent [6] a mile away, wizard, it's better to be friends with me."
In the dim light of the restaurant, every muscle in Aaron's body tenses. He knows they can't handle such a powerful creature. Six level [7] is no joke, not even all hunters can stand up to it. Andrew builds a barrier around his brother, making a few simple movements.
The young vampire smirks, baring sharp fangs. The bold gesture instantly catches Aaron's attention. The fear he feels is mixed with involuntary admiration.
Andrew remains calm, or at least tries to. The unwelcome guest ignores his clear threat. Time slows down, weaving three different fates into a complex web.
"My name is Kevin."
The new acquaintance's voice sounds soft and melodious, like a whisper of wind in the middle of the night. All of Minyard's instincts tell him to run, but curiosity makes him hold his breath. It's common knowledge that few people can resist the hypnotism of a vampire, well, now Aaron is sure he's no exception.
Kevin leans forward. The coldness of his presence fills Aaron with something strangely appealing. Every movement of his new acquaintance causes him to struggle internally. Aaron hates it when higher magical beings take advantage and use their abilities against wizards. It does not lead to anything good.
"Stop hypnotizing him," Andrew's harsh voice cuts through the tense atmosphere.
"I don't want any trouble," Kevin raises his hands, stepping back as the tip of Andrew's wand presses against his chest. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm opening a restaurant near yours."
Aaron exchanges a concerned look with his brother. Vampires rarely come with good intentions, and their reputation in the wizard world clearly precedes them. A new competitor could be a problem for them. Everyone knows that vampires prefer fresh blood, and if this vampire one decides to open a feeding station for his kin here, it's a disaster.
Kevin continues to smile, keeping his gaze on Aaron.
"Isn't it nice to meet someone new in this dreary town?"
Aaron can easily read his Irish accent. He feels the judicious voice of reason recede into the background, giving way to a new and dangerous attraction that binds them together. Aaron involuntarily reaches out to the creature with his wrist up. Thoughts flow smoothly and unhurriedly.
"Get away from my brother, I'm not repeating myself. Ziposa Ziposi Zipozarum [8]"
Andrew waves his wand, burning the vampire with a pillar of sparks. Kevin's pupils flash red. Andrew doesn't stop, intensifying the spell. Kevin reacts instantly to the lunge, his smile turning into a scowl. The sparks hit his skin, but he doesn't back down, swatting them away like a pesky fly.
"The Monsters Hunter will seem like childish babble to you if even a hair falls off him," Andrew warns.
Kevin tilts his head, studying the wizard. Andrew clutches his wand so tightly that his knuckles turn white. Losing all interest in him, Kevin returns his full attention to Aaron. Andrew grows like a wall between them, but Aaron already realizes that spells won't help them if Kevin really wants to hurt either of them. Wizards have always been weaker than vampires [9], and self-taught wizards even more so.
"Just go away," Aaron says. "You shouldn't have come here."
Kevin agrees easily, not even trying to impose his superiority on them, but he leaves a business card with his phone number on the counter. Aaron frowns but takes it, swearing to himself that he'll throw it away immediately (he won't).
"Call me if you think it's necessary," Kevin says, "or just come, it's not far, “The Late Nite Bite” [10], you won't miss."
Andrew smirks smugly, letting Kevin through the door. As soon as the vampire crosses the threshold, he places a protective dome over the restaurant, tossing his wand demonstratively in his hand. Kevin raises an eyebrow in surprise, but doesn't upset the wizard by saying that any self-respecting supernatural being would destroy his “defense” without blinking an eye.
"Of course he will, now get out of here."
"You don't have to be rude," Kevin stops the wizard's attempts to hurt him by walking out the door.
There's a slight tang of magic mixed with death in the air; the familiar aftertaste of being in the presence of a walking corpse. Aaron slowly lowers his gaze to the business card with the phone number. He wants to forget about Kevin, who is like a spider's web tightly entangling his thoughts, but he can't. The thin layer of paper trembles slightly in his hand, like a harbinger of something ominous.
"Are you okay?" Andrew approaches his twin, giving him a quick glance. He's clearly trying to figure out if the vampire has had time to hurt Aaron or if he's safe.
The alarm in his brother's voice knocks the ground out from under Aaron's feet. The feeling of danger lingers, but the desire to know more about Kevin overpowers the fear. They can't let him out of their sight. Vampires don't just appear out of nowhere.
"Ron?"
"I... yes, everything is fine, but... I don't think it's just an accident."
"We'll take turns watching him," Andrew suggests.
Aaron sighs, feeling his brother's every word pierce the thin shell of his peace of mind, but agrees. This vampire is definitely up to something. It remains to be seen if he is dangerous to them and the rest of the people, or if they can safely ignore his presence.