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“Why is Prue a girl?”
Archie looked up from his homework. The two of them were alone in the apartment, a rarity, but since Jeremy was suspended and their Ma needed to work Archie had taken time out of school to look after him. He felt guilty for it, but he didn’t feel guilty about punching Ian in his stupid face, or for Prue biting his dæmon. But what they had said about her had stuck with him and left him in a mood for the past day.
His oldest brother hadn’t asked about it. Jeremy liked that about him. Archie never nagged like their Ma or Percy. He didn’t make Jeremy sit down and talk until he was ready to talk and he always answered his questions instead of giving him some bullcrap about not being ‘old enough’.
Like now. He looked at Prue, Rowan lifting his square head off of his lap to look at her as well with his small, always tired eyes. Archie’s dæmon was something called a capybara. To Jeremy he looked like a big dog crossed with a guinea pig.
“Dunno,” he said after a moment. “Some dæmons are just like that.”
Jeremy scowled, hugging his rabbit shaped dæmon to his chest. “Why though? Why’s she gotta be different?”
Archie set down his pencil and sat back. He had the same dark, thoughtful eyes as his dæmon, a little droopy and tired looking — though that may have been because of him working night shifts between school. He understood the root of Jeremy’s question without having to ask. He sighed and shrugged.
“Sometimes there isn’t a reason.”
Jeremy didn’t say anything to that, just glared out the window at the wet street below.
“Y’know, Nicky’s dæmon was a girl.”
That got his attention. He looked up quickly, Prue shifting into a blue jay and perching on his shoulder. “You mean our dad?” she asked.
Archie nodded. They never talked much about Jeremy’s dad. He hadn’t been around for a while now and they all knew he wasn’t coming back this time, even if a part of Jeremy still hoped he would. He didn’t even properly remember his face or his dæmon’s shape, and his Ma never wanted to talk about him. He hadn’t really dared to ask Archie. He knew he’d answer his questions, but he wasn’t always sure if he wanted answers or if he just wanted to be mad forever about it.
“What was she?” Jeremy asked.
“A spider.”
He wrinkled his nose. “A spider?”
Archie smiled slightly. His expressions were always subtler than most. “Yup. A wolf spider, I think, one of those big grey ones with black markings.”
Prue shifted into a spider as he spoke, waving her many legs experimentally. “Who would choose to be a spider?” she asked.
“You don’t choose,” Rowan said.
She became a chipmunk, scampering up to sit on Jeremy’s head. “Well, I’m choosin’ something good.”
The capybara chuckled, laying his head down. Archie laughed as well. “Like what?”
“Um.” Prue flicked her tail, shifting into a brown lizard. “I dunno yet. But something better than a spider.”
“What about better than a capybara?” Archie asked.
Both Prue and Jeremy studied their older brother’s dæmon. He was odd, but he was still pretty cool, Jeremy thought.
“Something just as good,” he decided.
“Alright. You let me know then, yeah?” Archie turned back to his homework.
“We will.” Prue turned into a hummingbird, flitting about the room with her usual energy.
Jeremy was feeling a bit better as he sat back in the windowsill, contemplating what shape his dæmon might take. He knew he was still too young to worry about settling, but Percy had just settled and it was only a matter of time before the twins did. Jeremy wondered if they’d settle at the same time since they always did everything else together.
“Hey, Archie?”
“Hmm?”
“Sorry about makin’ you miss school,” he mumbled, picking at his sneaker.
Archie ruffled his hair. “Don’t worry about it, Jay. That kid deserved it. But try not to get into too much trouble after this, alright? Ma’s got enough to deal with.”
Jeremy nodded. “I’ll try.”
“Good.”
They lapsed back into silence and Jeremy went back to staring out the window contemplatively. Prue settled on his lap, rabbit shaped again, and he stroked her soft fur idly. He usually tried not to think about his dad, but now he couldn’t help but wonder, trying to imagine him and his spider dæmon. He wouldn’t admit it even to Prue, but some small part of him still wished he’d come back. Maybe if he did he would know why Prue was so different.
He hugged Prue to his chest. If he did, Jeremy would ask him.