After gathering Simi from Dom and Angie’s place before she could consume every piece of food, and securing her to him in tattoo form, Ash appeared just outside to door to Aiden’s home. Knocking lightly, he waited, then knocked again. Deciding she was probably out wandering around, he closed his eyes and located her. Appearing in her general area, he blinked his eyes in slight confusion. 1
Surveying the area, Ash had to shake his head in amusement at the lake that mysteriously appeared since his last visit. Watching as Savitar dove off the small ledge some thirty feet up, he waited until the immortal surfaced before approaching. 2
“Making yourself at home?”3
”Hey, she said I could add a pool,” Savitar pointed out, swimming towards the shore where Ash stood. 4
“Some pool.”5
“You here for a reason?” 6
“Yes.” Looking around, he gave Aiden a small wave, then continued gazing at the scenery. 7
Vanishing from the water, Savitar appeared beside him. “Walk and talk,” he said, knowing what Ash was there for. 8
Aiden watched the two as they wandered off, laughing to herself how different both looked. Savitar was still in his wetsuit, dripping water everywhere, while Ash wore his leather pants and long leather jacket. They looked like polar opposites, really, yet they had more in common than both noticed or would even admit. 9
Yawning slightly, she put the book down she was trying to read, and stared out on to the clear surface in front of her. Although she didn’t swim, or even like the water, she had to admit that it made a great addition to her property. Nearly ready to head back to her home, she decided to give the gods a few minutes, then head out.10
A little distance away, Ash grimaced as a branch nearly smacked him in the face. “Couldn’t put your pool a little closer to her chalet?” 11
“What’re you bitching about?” Savitar asked. “At least you’re wearing boots.”12
Ash looked at the sandals the other man was wearing, and shook his head. “Footwear out of your vast magical powers?”13
“No. I just like complaining.” Stopping, he leaned against a rock that appeared behind him. “You have questions.”14
“Do you have answers?”15
”I may.”16
Well, this was more promising than the usual cryptic non-answers Ash usually got from the surfer. “Is there any way to stop Labeve?”17
“Of course there is.”18
“And that would be?”19
“Not my place to point out.” Manifesting a towel out of the air, Savitar briefly ran it over his hair, then wrapped it around his shoulders. “You know the rules, what’s-her-bitch knows the rules, and I know the rules…I break ‘em, but I do know them.”20
“Each event in time has a specific meaning and point,” Ash said in a monotone voice. “Yeah, I know. But, damn it.”21
“Fire.”22
“Pardon?”23
“Her weakness is fire,” Savitar said. “She can’t control it, and much like water and the Wicked Witch of the West, it will melt her.”24
“You’re kidding me.”25
“Maybe,” Savitar replied with a small shrug. “Maybe not. I may not be telling you the truth, but I can guarantee that I’m not lying.”26
“And people tell me that I’m vague.”27
“Why do think sending Tria with…her… felt like the right thing to do?” Straightening, Savitar took a step away from the rock, ignoring it as it vanished. “The oracle in you knew it was the move you needed to make.”28
“Honestly,” Ash said, “I’m not overly trusting when it comes to anything you say regarding Tria.”29
“You can’t still be pissed about that, can you?”30
“You made me think she was dead.” 31
Shrugging, Savitar turned for the lake. “That it, or can I go back to swimming?”32
Annoyed at the surfer’s penchant of running from responsibility, Ash blinked as a stray thought ran through his mind. He was about to dismiss it, but decided that even though he’d more than likely never get an answer, at least he took the initiative and asked.33
“Can I ask you a personal question?” 34
“You can always ask,” Savitar replied, turning.35
“What happened to make you give everything up and retreat to Neratiti?”36
“And I can always refuse to answer,” Savitar said, not missing a beat. He sighed lightly. “Even though you’re being annoyingly nosey, I know you’re trying to help. My reasons are my reason, and won’t do you any good to know. Let’s just say that I cut myself off from the world for good cause, and leave it at that.”37
“Yet you’ve opened yourself up in the past few years.”38
“Not really.”39
“So all that stuff with Aiden was just my imagination?” Ash asked with a small grin.40
“That was me guaranteeing my continued survival,” Savitar said, then paused slightly as he felt a presence behind him. “The relationship with Aiden was just a wonderful result.”41
Nice save, Ash thought to him.42
You could have told me she was behind me, Atlantean. Turning, he smiled at Aiden as she stood close enough to have heard his last remark. “Hey, Babe.” Grimacing as she vanished, he turned back to give Ash a hateful look. “Great.”43
~~~~~~~~~~~~44
~~~~~~~~~~~~45
Appearing back at her home, Aiden walked across the bedroom carpet as she headed for the large glass doors that opened on to a sizeable balcony. Opening the doors, she welcomed the feel of the cool breeze as it flowed over her.46
Babe? A voice whispered in her head. I’m sorry. It’s not like it sounded. 47
Turning from the view of the valley below, Aiden closed the door with her magick and walked to the bed, grabbing the remote control as she passed by the end table. Dropping onto the mattress, she turned the TV on, then aimlessly flipped through the channels. 48
Looking to the side as her phone started to ring, she glanced at the call display, then went back to the television. Sighing as the ringing stopped, her eyes closed as it started again.49
“I need to talk to you.”50
Turning from the TV in disgust, Aiden glared at the man standing behind her. “Usually when someone leaves, then doesn’t answer your calls, it means they want to be alone.” 51
“No,” Savitar said. 52
“No?”53
“I’m not going to allow you to turn yourself into a recluse.”54
“Ignoring you is going to turn me in to a recluse?” Aiden asked, annoyance lacing her words.55
“That’s not what I meant,” he replied, hearing her scathing thoughts. He so didn’t need this right now, with his limited patience already nipping viciously at the breaking point. “Just let me say what I want to say, then I’ll be gone from your life.”56
“Fine,” she said, trying to hide the pain that those words caused. Even though she knew that they weren’t meant to be together forever, she never really thought the end would come. Damn him for coming back just so he could break up with her.57
Hurt at her attitude, Savitar forced a look of indifference on to his face. Well… if she wanted to use this as the breaking point, then…58
“As you know,” he began, “I’ve been sort of keeping outside of the basic mainstream of the world… Were-Hunters being the exception. Now, for me, the world could tumble off the end of the cosmic cliff, and I wouldn’t shed a tear. Yes, I’d lose things, but all in all, it’s just not worth it some days. 59
“But,” he continued, “I do care about the universe and the cosmos as a whole, and the Earth is an important part of the overall design. Certain things happen, and if not stopped or managed, can spiral out of control, taking everything with it.”60
“Why don’t you care?” Aiden asked slowly.61
“What?” Giving her a confused look, he shrugged. “The reasons don’t matter.” 62
“Typical,” she said with a small snort. “Nothing matters to you unless it contributes to... what did you call it?… guaranteeing your continued survival?” Shaking her head, she went back to watching the television. 63
Staring at her back, Savitar closed his mouth, unaware that it had dropped open in surprise. A denial was on his lips, when he paused. “You’re right,” he said instead, realizing he wasn’t ready just yet to give up and walk away. “And I’m sorry. I’ve been basically sequestered for a long, long time, and I think I’ve forgotten one basic rule.”64
“Yeah?” Aiden said casually, not turning from a randomly picked channel. “And what would that be?”65
”That you don’t hurt the one you love.”66
Turning slowly, Aiden stared at him. “What did you say?”67
“You heard me.”68
“I did,” she said with a nod, wondering if he would brush off the four-lettered word like he did the last time it slipped past his lips. “I don’t want to deal with you saying it when it’s convenient, or just to get yourself out of an uncomfortable conversation.”69
“The word and its meaning annoys the hell out of me,” Savitar said. “Why would I use it unless I meant it?” 70
“Because you have some ulterior motive,” Aiden said. “You always do.”71
Right then he felt an unfamiliar sensation that took a few moments to identify. Regret and shame at his actions flowed through him, bringing anger at himself for making her suspicious of any thing he did.72
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I never meant to hurt you, in any way. Ever since I saw you exploding rocks in anger on the beach two years ago, I’ve wanted to see you smile. You gave me that, and instead of being satisfied, I wanted more, and more, but gave nothing in return.”73
“You gave me lots,” Aiden said kindly. 74
“Suspicion, danger,” he replied. “Yes, I can see how those would be cherished.” Turning for the door, he paused. “Goodbye, Aiden.”75
“Whoa!” Standing from the bed, she walked over to him. “What are you doing?”76
“Leaving.”77
“For good?”78
“I think so,” he whispered.79
“Stay.”80
“I thought you were pissed at me.”81
”I am,” she admitted. “My life is an open book to you, yet I know virtually nothing about you, and although I understand and accept your secrecy, it annoys me at times.”82
“What do you want to know?”83
“What made you give up hope and turn your back on everything and everyone?” she said, rephrasing Ash’s question.84
“I’m not…” pausing, he looked at her before shifting his gaze. “It makes me enraged every time I think about it, so I really prefer not to.”85
“It’s the reason you’ve shut everyone out,” Aiden said. “How can you not think about it?”86
“I just don’t.” His eyes shifted back, and he could see the doubt his words caused. Sighing, he closed his eyes. “I was stupid enough to believe in…someone…and I ended up paying the price for it.” Opening his eyes he looked at her. “Then I struck back in anger and nearly destroyed everything.”87
“How long ago was this?” she asked, suspicious.88
He shrugged. “A long time,” he admitted. “A betrayal like that stays with you.”89
“You can’t forget it?”90
“No.”91
”How about forgive?”92
“Never.”93
Sighing, Aiden gave him a studied look. “How about come to terms with it?”94
Turning from her, Savitar reached for the door, then stopped. “For you, I’ll think about it,” he said. “I’ll…talk to you later.” 95
Watching as the door opened, then closed, Aiden sighed as she was once again alone. Turning, she took a step back when she realized that she wasn’t alone.96
“You just left,” she said.97
“I know,” Savitar replied. 98
~~~~~~~~~~~~99
~~~~~~~~~~~~100
Tria had thought the non-busy times being a Dark-Hunter had been boring…until she experienced the lull that came with her current position. The little bits of information gleaned from Savitar had been useful, and the small bit about fire that Ash had told Roan had been worked in. So far, Tria had a lot of notes that pointed to things that they already knew, or could find from weeding through other sites. The fire bit was interesting, but seemed to fit in with her place in it, and Labeve’s vanishing when Roan attacked. 101
Hours of searching out information… although, with the way things worked, it could have been years searching… gave her a headache, and an antsy feeling that demanded she get up and do something. Preferably destructive.102
“I’m bored.”103
Looking up from her pile of pillows, Roan gave a small smile. “You get used to it.”104
“Great,” Tria said, stretching to word out to show annoyance. 105
“Go take a walk or something,” the goddess suggested. “The grounds are huge, and there’s lots to do.”106
“Like what?”107
“Anything you want. Just let me know, and it’ll be there when you arrive. You want a specific time period, and I can send you there, too.”108
“Can I go back to the night I died?”109
“No.”110
“I won’t do anything,” Tria said. “I just want to see my kids again.”111
“No.”112
“Why?”113
“Because,” Roan said, standing. “You’re too emotional, and won’t be able to just stand there and not do a thing. You’ll step in, stop the killings, and your life as you know it now will be changed. All those that you saved by killing assorted demons will be dead, and the lives of their families and potential offspring vastly altered.”114
“But-“115
“Fate would alter other things to make sure you were dead anyway, and it probably would have been something mundane…perhaps in childbirth for you and something else, like a car accident, for the rest of the family. Neither one would bring the pain that would reach Artemis’ attention. You won’t have met Ash, and you wouldn’t be sitting here now, asking to be sent back.”116
“That sucks.”117
“More than you know.” Roan gave her an encouraging smile. “We all have things we’d like to change, but the past is the past, and changing anything major will have repercussions that none of us want to even imagine.”118
“And killing Labeve in the past wouldn’t alter things?”119
“Killing Labeve at any point in the fabric of history and time will stop her from destroying other futures. She takes that away, and it changes things for too many people. That’s why it has to be done at a certain point, so that the changes she makes by killing won’t be vastly altered by setting it right.”120
Rubbing her temples, Tria gave a pained look. “Let’s pretend that I have no idea what you’re talking about, and explain it to me in plain words.”121
“Okay. Labeve kills a woman and unborn child. The woman’s husband eventually remarries, and has another child. That child turns out to be the father of an important figure in history. By stopping Labeve before she kills that woman, the husband will not father that other child, and the historical figure will not be created, thus impacting the universe as a whole.”122
Staring as the words went through her, Tria took a step back. “Orchestrating a preferred history. How… ghoulish.” 123
“You were expecting this gig to be glamorous?” Roan asked, amused. Hearing Tria’s retort in her mind, she narrowed her eyes. “Contrary to my general friendliness, I’m not going to put up with disrespect from you. You need a break, and you’re going to take it. I’m going to send you to the cemetery where your family is buried. Take some time, then go walk along the beach or something. I’ll bring you back in a few hours.”124
Before Tria could object, she was gone from the room. Shaking her head in annoyance, Roan went to the desk to look through the notes Tria had been keeping. Grabbing the notepad, she sat in the chair and placed her feet on the desk as she leaned back. 125
She had to admit that Tria was thorough in her work, better than most that helped track Labeve. Eyeing the words, her attention was drawn to a single name under the heading of ‘sources. Savitar. Sighing when she realized that he had whisked Tria off for a little conference, then returned her, Roan began to get slightly annoyed. 126
All these years she’d lived under the impression that he couldn’t gain access to her palace and its grounds. And here he was, pulling people out of it with no problems what so ever. It was then that she realized that just because he hadn’t shown up to finish what he had started so long ago, didn’t mean that he couldn’t. The man’s patience was legendary, almost as much as his temper, and although she doubted he’d actually follow through on threats, a little part of her worried that he might. 127
Savitar? she thought, needing to talk to him and put this distraction to rest so she could continue hunting. And maybe, if he was finally willing to listen, she could sweet-talk him into helping her, and maybe pick up where they had left off. 128
Laughing at that idea, she shook her head. No. He was too skilled at holding a grudge, and wanting people to pay for mistakes made against him. It would take a hell of a lot of sweet-talking from her to get him back in her bed. Pity though… beings like him were rare, and the power that surrounded him was better than every stimulant found anywhere in the cosmos. 129
But, like all things good, it came to a crashing end… mostly through her fault. The Chthonian war was just beginning when other gods with a plan to stop the conflict approached her. If they could get Savitar on their side, it would be enough to make the other gods and goddesses listen. Since he was one of the most powerful, feared and respected of their ‘family’, it seemed like a logical choice. 130
To make it legit, all she had to do was place a pendant over his heart, and it would draw on the power of the universe and make him powerful enough to stop the conflict. It all seemed so easy, and Roan hadn’t felt an ounce of deceit from those that approached her. Trusting them, she slipped the pendant over his head as he slept beside her, and then jumped to her feet as gods started appearing in the room with them. 131
Attacking her, she barely managed to make it away, stung by both their betrayal, and the fact that all Savitar did was lie there staring as she fought for her life. Afterwards she heard stories about the true nature of the pendant…tales from the mouth of Savitar when he came hunting for her. He’d already destroyed the others involved, and now it was her turn.132
Shaking herself from the memories, Roan placed the notepad down and stood. The advice to Tria had been sound, since she herself daily fought the urge to go back in time. One little trip and she could refuse to help the gods. Savitar wouldn’t have gone through what he did, her followers wouldn’t have been destroyed because of her folly, and she wouldn’t have accepted the task of hunting Labeve as a self inflicted atonement for her lapses in judgment. 133
She’d been gullible, and paid the penalty thrice fold for believing in someone that had hid his deceit so smoothly that it still made her angry to this day. Yes, she had been used, and eventually paid a large cost for her lack of caution…the price that had been handed out by the surfer himself in retaliation. 134 She didn’t know why Savitar had been so pissed off anyway…not like he died or anything. Yes, she knew she should have stepped in to correct the wrong that she initiated, and help him out of the predicament she place him in, but she had her own worries at that point in history, fighting off fellow Chthonian that wanted her dead. 135
And did he help when she needed him? No. He was too busy throwing a hissy fit and trying to take her down himself. Only through truthful ignorance about his recent plight on her part, was she able to escape his cataclysmic wrath. 136
~~~~~~~~~~~~137
~~~~~~~~~~~~138
Grimacing slightly as something made it through to her sleep filled mind, Aiden’s eyes opened slowly in blurry confusion. Raising her head slightly, she looked around the bedroom, noting nothing out of the ordinary, and wondering what had woken her. 139
The bed beside her moved slightly as Savitar repositioned himself from lying on his side to his back. Shrugging to herself, Aiden cuddled up to him, her head on his shoulder, and hand on his chest. She could feel his heart pulsing under her palm, and closed her eyes, willing to allow the rhythmic cadence to lull her back to sleep.140
It never ceased to amaze her how Savitar could sleep through anything. The world could come to an end, and he’d still find time to catch some zzz’s before kicking back and surfing a wave or twenty. Nearly asleep when the sensation woke her again, she cracked one eye open to stare at his face. 141
The feeling was definitely coming from him, and felt like some mutated version of scared anger and pure rage. She’d felt it from him a few times, albeit briefly, although in each instance it gave her a headache and caused her stomach to clench. Making a mental note to talk about it with him when he woke, and not letting him off the hook with one of his legendary vague excuses, her eye closed. She noticed the increase in the heartbeat below her hand a moment before he came awake with a roar so intense that it made her scream. 142
He stared at her for a moment before pulling himself back from attacking. “Whoa,” he muttered, then laid back down. Staring up at Aiden, who was looking more than confused at being woken that way, he tried to give her a brief smile. 143
“What the hell?”144
“Bad dream,” he said, closing his eyes. “Go back to sleep.”145
“You’ve been having this dream a lot,” Aiden said. “And it always makes you angry. I can feel it.”146
“I don’t like that you can fell my emotions.” 147
“And I don’t like that you have a dream that makes you nearly insane with rage,” she replied back. “The feelings are giving me a headache and making my stomach hurt.”148
“I’m sorry,” he replied, a little ruder than intended. “I’ll just take my dream, emotions, and leave.”149
“I want you to tell me about this dream,” Aiden said. “Or you can go back to Neratiti and stay there.”150
Go on, tell her. What have you got to lose? “There’s an amulet,” Savitar said before he could stop himself, not really wanting to leave in anger at her ultimatum. “It has the ability to paralyze a god. It was used on me at one time…the…betrayal that I mentioned… and, well, that, and the end result were the reasons I’ve been on Neratiti for as long as I have.”151
“Okay,” Aiden whispered. 152
“And I’ll be damned if I let anyone close enough so it can happen again.”153
“You think I’d ever hurt you?”154
“I know you’ll hurt me,” he said. “The moment you leave my existence forever…” he trailed off, not really knowing why he admitted that. 155
“I thought you said we weren’t supposed to be together for long?”156
“That doesn’t make it any easier in the end, does it?”157
“I’ll make you a promise,” Aiden said, sitting on the bed. “Regardless what happens to us, I vow to be your friend until I’m no longer alive.” 158
“Strong promise.”159
“You could piss me off completely, but all you’d have to do is call and I’ll be there for you.”160
A strange déjà vu sensation started when he realized he’d said nearly those same words to her over a year ago. He could see it all, and in every instance, she would be there…even if all he wanted to do was sit beside her on the beach without a word or touch exchanged between them. 161
“I love you,” he finally whispered.162
“I know.” 163
“I want you to be with me for eternity,” he added, deciding to go for broke.164
“I kind of picked up on that,” she said, kissing him. “But, as you’ve often said, what we want, and what needs to happen are two different things.”165
“That so doesn’t apply to me,” he pointed out. “I do what I want, remember?”166
A sensation crept up her back, causing her to shiver involuntarily. At that instant, a scene flashed through her mind, as clear as she had witnessed it herself, although she knew she hadn’t. She saw a being standing in the middle of massive ruins, his arm held in an angry pose as he yelled. 167
Although she knew it was Savitar, it looked nothing like him. Gone was the extremely good looking man with the laid back manner. Instead, a tall being with long white hair, red and white marbled skin, white eyes, and fangs in a slightly reptilian looking face stood there. The image was gone in an instant, leaving her confused and startled.168
“What?” Savitar asked, then frowned when he realized what she had seen. Rolling off the bed, he stood and started for the door. 169
“Don’t go.” 170
“I have to,” he said, then paused. “I’ll be back. I just have to talk with someone first. You… go back to sleep, and I’ll be here when you wake up.” 171
“But-“172
“I’ll return. I promise,” he assured her as he took a step back, laid a light kiss on her lips, while using his powers to lull her back to sleep. Once he was sure she was out, he vanished. 173
Appearing on the beach, he inhaled deeply, and held the breath as the area around him exploded with a massive detonation. Trees splintered from the force of flying beach stones, while the water lashed at the shores in response. 174
Standing in the middle of a large crater, he stared at the water as his eyes went to the white they sometimes did when he was angry. Exhaling gently, he turned and walked to his palace, the area behind him mending and itself with each step. 175
Damn it. He hadn’t expected Aiden to ever know, let alone see any of the ‘non-human’ forms he could achieve. Especially the one he had used while on his little rampage all those millennium ago. 176
Aiden was right… he had to come to terms with his past. Or it would assuredly ruin the future he wanted to have with the avian.177
~~~~~~~~~~~~178
~~~~~~~~~~~~179
Roan. 180
Stopping at the voice in her head, Roan couldn’t contain the surprise it brought. The last time she’d heard it, he was cursing her in anger. Savitar?181
I’m lifting your ban from Neratiti for one visit, made in peace.
Only one? 182 I can't forgive or forget what you did, Savitar thought to her, but I'm willing to listen to what you want to tell me. With that, the connection closed, leaving Roan slightly confused. 183
184
In a list
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
-
Savitar admitted it finally. Sweet. And Roan...makes me feel sorry for the pair, but then, it had to happen that way. Well written as always.
. Rewarded 4
-
-
And about time he admitted it, too, and didn't try to gloss it over. (I hope that the 'real' history for Sav is interesting. I'd hate for him to be 'the big bad' because some waitress got his order wrong, or something)
-
-
This is very originial. At least, from what I've read so far on storywrite and in the world. I liked it and can't wait to read more from you!
-
*blinks* Oh my god....that was yet another amazing chapter and we get to see more of the amazing Savitar's background. I cannot wait to see just what will happen when Roan and Savitar finally meet face to face after so long, and to see what exactly has happened in his past to make him one ticked off man. Anyways keep up the great work and can't wait to see what you have in store next.
. Rewarded 8
-
-
I'm just fine tuning the next chapter.. it's sort of a 'omg! she did that!?
', coupled with a 'he's *still* ticked off about that? 
' type of thing. Then the later chapter goes deeper in to it.
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 9 of 9
