His worries had been confirmed when Darius had decided to move to another country and change his name. He had also stopped drinking human blood, the horror.
Anyways, Mr. Sharp's displeasure was so evident in his voice that Mr. Cecil would have caught it, even if he hadn't been a manipulator. He also caught Mrs. Sharp's thoughts, which he was glad she didn't voice aloud. Darius was bound to lash out if he heard what his mother was thinking.
"And Darius too. Good to see you've finally decided to join your family. How's your . . . . little. . . . friend." Mr. Sharp added, turning to Den, who would have found his father's lack of words funny if his mother hadn't just let out a predator growl.
"She's fine. I showed her around the house. She seemed to think the decorations might be a bit outdated." Den's mouth curved up a little upon seeing his mother's face twist in anger. "She's too polite to say anything though. Penelope is protecting her right now." Den added, his voice getting lower with every word.
His mother stood up, mock insult etched into her face. "Protecting her? I hardly think there's any danger to your friend here darling." she said smiling, perfectly showing off her fangs to show just how much danger Stella was in.
"Of course not." Den replied with a chuckle. McCarteney had held her own against Mazata Zuako, a fighter who had already tasted her blood. Den had no doubt that she and Penelope wouldn't be able to handle the crusty old vampires in this house. Who hadn't been in an actual fight for centuries. He continued, becoming genuinely proud of McCarteney with each word, "Stella is more than a match for any danger anyways."
Den blinked as he let out a surprised smile. He kind of liked how McCarteney's name rolled off his tongue. "Maybe I should start calling her by her first name more often." Den thought and growled the next second when he heard his uncle chuckle beside him. God he hated people getting in his head.
"Anyways, I and Darius should take your leave now. We'll let you rest. I only wanted to say hello." Mr. Cecil spoke and turned towards the door before his nephew could tear his head out.
"Stop getting in my head." Den spoke once the two were out of hearing range from the Sharp residence. Mr. Cecil laughed and shrugged as he said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm not used to purposely staying out of people's minds. Plus, staying out is a lot of effort, it really drains your energy."
Den blinked upon hearing these words. "Is it?" he asked, thinking back to how McCarteney so easily did it. Maybe it became easier the stronger you were? Den rolled his eyes upon his own excuse. Of course that was not true. If weak manipulators had an easier time getting into people's heads, Den had no doubt that Allen would have rented rooms in all of their minds.
"Yeah. Of course it's easier once you learn to control your powers, but pulling out of minds is like going against all instincts for manipulators." Mr. Cecil cut into Den's thoughts with his words.
"Maybe that's why it makes our heads ache." he added, more to himself than to Den, who hung his head upon hearing this.