Well, looks like at least 190 views at the story so far with 4 responses. It's not a big reaction, but it's not a bad one either for a non-genre writer like me. Unless, you guys are dying for another fantasy story, I think this might just be a one time thing.

I wanted to at least share some things about the story at least for fun facts:

1. I have read way too many stories about witches, (used to love Charmed too), I feel like there's really no difference in story elements of fantasy. I went backwards and looked back at the old source material, which to my surprise was Norse Mythology and old English. As a gay man, I appreciate great heroic tales of valor, man on man brotherhood/love/betrayal, and some harsh reality mixed in, which the Norse Myths provide in excess. Hoor and Baldur story was glossed over in here, but I really think you guys should look it up. I also mentioned Odin's beloved Raven, Muninn, who travelled the world receiving knowledge along with his brother Huginn.

2. Yes, my main Character Billy is dysfunctional, but he's the American style of Harry Potter If Old Harry were stuck in our foster care system, he'd be offering his ass up without issue Despite what you might have seen on shows like the Fosters, our current system has a lot of jaded kids, who have been passed along from home to home throughout their lives. Some are petty criminals acting out due to society's empty promises of "unconditional love", who eventually get 3 strikes and get sent to Juvie, then become real criminals. I wrote him as the unapologetic Dickensian child of American Society.

As for Magic, he unlike Harry or any of the numerous writers on GA, who have wrote in this genre, is not at all enthralled or surprised by it. Too many years of CGI and animation has made "real" magic cheap to him. He'd rather play video games and be a normal kid than ride broomsticks and play quidditch. He has real power to change the world and real leadership focus, but he's too jaded and self-consumed right now due to his past of abuse and neglect from his foster parents prior to Nick and Rick.

3. As for the other characters:

Jason- Puppy Dog!

I am howling over the moon for him. He definitely has a crush on Billy and I will confirm it, but they've got a complex Boy + Dog/best friend relationship. Billy likes him too, but it's more sexual than romantic at this point. Billy doesn't get the idea of love yet; he never felt it, nor expressed it, so it's hard for him to reciprocate Jason's feelings. Lucky for Jason, he's got dogged determination

The problem with this kind of love story, I started hinting at it as I was writing. Jason would willingly sacrifice himself to save Billy from danger. Wolves and Dogs have a deep attachment to their owners/masters/best friends, which can be sacrificial. It's an unrequited love that can be fatal for our favorite pup.

Now if you wonder, if I am making fun of Twilight by having him and Ethan, a vampire child in my story, ask yourselves why did I use a character with initials "J" as the werewolf love interest of my main character and "E" as his potential vampire love interest as well

As for backstory, Odin's wolves that I reference as his ancestors are none other than Geri and Freki. Read up on your Norse mythology to learn more. There's a long history between the wolves and human beings, along with Warlocks/Wizards. Since Jason is a direct blood descendant, he is a"pure" werewolf, rather than one created by a bite.

Ethan- Vampires are overdone and everyone knows it. I wanted to make a new kind of Vampire, one that doesn't meet anyone expectations, who yearns to keep his humanity. Ethan is a vegan vampire Yes, you heard me, I did not want a plain blood sucker. As for his relationship with Billy and Jason, he is best friends with Jason, plus his "betrothed", but he actually has some feelings for Billy as well. Is it platonic, sexual, or romantic? He's still trying to figure this out

For inspiration, Comsie deserves credit for Gone from Daylight, but I am writing against normal Vampire lore. Two vampires in my universe can have kids. However, these kids are born innately Vampiric, so they can turn into a Vampire upon consuming any type of human or animal protein, like meat, milk products, or even broth with animal flavoring. These kids have other weaknesses, they are partially narcoleptic, meaning they easily fall asleep in the day time, and unlike regular vampires are susceptible to a wider variety of human illness.

As for actual Vampires, in my universe, they have to kill to survive. There is no pig's blood or animal alternative for them. Human blood has to be sucked dry to keep them going everyday, so it's a tragic fate, not one to be wanted by anyone. Some vampires have taken the high road and only go after criminals and evil doers, but most are based creatures resembling the demon that created their race.

Rick/Nick/Baxter- Two men and a werewolf go into the Bedroom together wonder what will happen ....Seriously, I like the combination between the 3 mature adult couple. Baxter and Rick's relationship is an allusion to how a Warlock and his best friend/familiar can be lovers eventually on equal pairing to his warlock partner. Yes, I made a Polyamory couple, but it makes perfect sense to me, why fight for one or the other, when you can have both

4. Themes: Curses and Blessings are big in this universe.

Warlocks are twice blessed and cursed, Vampires are cursed by demonic ancestors, and Werewolves were blessed by Odin himself. People slide owards curses a lot for Vampires and Werewolves, but I think it is a choice of the character and reality to view it as a curse or a blessing. Werewolves to me seem to be more blessed than cursed, while Vampires are more cursed than blessed.

Masculinity- Seriously, yes, witches are part of the Feminine, Mother Earth et al, power source of creation. Why hasn't there been a writer in either mainstream Fantasy or Gay Genre, who wrote about the masculine, Father of Knowledge, aspects of magic power. Using Norse Myth, I have a powerful mythic backdrop of manly guys, who like to fight, drink, and fuck on occasion, while singing songs about all these things. I am not being a Chauvinist, but seriously magical knowledge can go both ways.

As for the real life issues, all the kids are becoming teenagers, they are comparing cock sizes and pube patches. It's pretty normal for guys and their best friends as they develop to discuss their growing bodies and there is an underscored theme of male emotionalism as well. Guys can be as understated emotionally as girls if they have serious issues in their head.

Well that was my attempt at Fantasy, not sure if anyone else will read it or enjoy it

Here's the link again:

https://www.gayauthors.org/story/w-l/billysnewt13thbirthday