The Occult Division: Lesser men

“Mama?” Jackson climbed on the bed.

“I did try to stop him, Susan, but you know how child get. Especially at a time like this.” Renee said
.
“Men too it seems.” Susan replied.

“Now just what is that supposed to mean?” Howard asked

“It means what you think it does, Howard.” Renee said.

“You stay out of this—” Howard said.

“Would you have said a word?” Renee asked. “If you were a warlock, and came from a line that made you wanna abandon magic. Found a life outside of it. Would you have said a single word?”

“Alchemly is kind of fun…” Jackson muttered.

“Excuse me?” Howard said. “What are you doing teaching my son alchemy now?!”

“She doesn’t have a choice, Howard.” Susan replied. “Just listen! For once! Jackson, what exactly did you ask?”

“Did I do something wrong?” Jackson sniffed “Am I why you're fighting?”

“No, son.” Howard said. “Your dad wasn’t prepared for this, and he… he’s making mistakes, because he is angry and stressed.”

Jackson straight himself, and repeated sternly “You are not supposed to talk if you're angry!”

Both girls did their best to hold themselves together. Holding in the laughter Howard just smiled. “You’re right. You’re not supposed to unless?”

“Unless you were hurt too.” Jackson stated proudly. “And then you need to be listened to, and and listen. You just might learn something.”

“And what happens when someone else knows more than you, sweetheart?” Susan asked.
“You get scared, and you yelled. And yelling hurts people, and can do things you don’t wanna do.” Jackson's eyes went wide “Were you too fighting and yelling before?”

“That is not what caused this, Jackson.” Renee said. “I kind of wish it was, but Kazoo could’ve handled it by now.”

“Alright… let’s talk then, miss Alchano.” Howard said. “What is it then? And didn’t she notice?”
“I left Howard. I didn’t want it, and my family  has never forgiven me for making that choice.” Susan said.

“So I guess that's what I still don’t understand.” Howard said. “She can’t do magic at all? But still has it in her?”

Renee whistled with two fingers, and let Kazoo plow through the bedroom door. “Kazoo could go plushie form for a minute?” Kazoo obeys, and hop into a fox plushie that Renee caught. “I never would’ve noticed just how much I put into this childhood plushie, but I always kind of knew he had more tail that was ever let on. And one night he just sort of showed up. Wanting to protect. She WON’T do magic, and that is her choice. 

“Why not honey?” Howard asked. “Wouldn’t that make this easier?” 

“Maybe,” Susan admitted. “But I come from a long line of.. Stuff you really shouldn’t, and I rather people like Renee do it.”

“Alright.” Howard replied. “Then we’ll let people like Renee do it. But this is still my house, so what is torturing my love and my son I want it out.”

“It’s either a wendigo classification or a wraith,” Renee replied. “It’s not easy to tell.. Especially when they both give out nightmares.”

“Jackson did have a nightmare?” Susan asked

“Kind of… I don’t wanna talk about it.” Jackson replied. “Especially when dad doesn’t know her.”

Jackson, son?” Howard said. “You should tell her about the nightmare. Your father may not understand what is going on,but she does. So you need to listen to her, okay? If she thinks it’ll help then it’ll help.”

“Lesser men would die before they ever say that.” Renee said
.
 “Well the Holicks aint lesser men!” Both Howard and Jackson replied