The crying of a baby was the first clue that babysitting duties were about to begin. Leaning back from the patio table, Dom took a look at the trio approaching from the door in the dividing wall before he put the chair back on all fours and went back to his dinner. 1
Craig’s faint voiced carried over the lawn as they walked. “Sure she’ll be okay?” 2
“She’ll be fine,” Melissa said. “She just has gas.” 3
“Ah, good,” he replied. “And hopefully a mess for Dom later.” Smiling as they stopped by the table, he nodded to his old boss. “Evening.”4
“Hey, cutie,” Dom said, then looked at Craig. “And I wasn’t referring to you.” Standing, he took the baby basket from Melissa, placed it on the ground and took Amy out. Bouncing her lightly in his arms, he rubbed her spine with two fingers, then tapped lightly just below the middle of her back. He was rewarded with a large belch, then cooing as Amy immediately settled down. 5
“Show off,” Craig muttered as Dom handed Amy back, then returned to his seat.6
“You were the same way,” Dom said. “Used to drive your father crazy. And don’t bother responding or else I’ll drag out your baby pictures and show your wife.” 7
“Ohh,” Melissa said playfully. “I’d like to see those. Maybe tomorrow.” She yawned lightly, and blinked her eyes a few times. “Teach me that rubbing trick, too. I could use it.”8
“What’s up for tonight?”9
“Movie,” Craig replied. “Most likely something action packed.” Catching a frown from Melissa, he shrugged. “I mean…really romantic.” 10
“Coffee before you go?” Dom asked. ‘Keep you awake?”11
“Hell no.” Craig grabbed the bottle of wine from the table. “Wouldn’t mind being drunk during it, though.”12
“I could use a coffee,” Melissa said, smiling in humor at her husband’s actions. “Maybe keep me awake through the movie.”13
“Maybe we should stay home,” Craig said as he drank straight from the bottle. He offered some to Dom, who waved it away as he silently gagged. “Dom can still watch Amy, and you can get a good night’s sleep.”14
“No problem with that,” Dom said. 15
“Maybe,” Melissa said slowly. 16
“And I can get drunk in the comfort of my own home.” He held it back out to Dom. “Sure you don’t want any?”17
“Not after you had your lips on it.” He smiled. “Go on... take the bottle. Have fun. Amy’s fine here.”18
“You’re in a good mood,” Craig observed. “Who’d you beat the hell out of?”19
“No one,” he said, then gave a pointed look. “Yet.” 20
“Oooo.” Cringing in mock fear, Craig gave him a look that dared him to even try. 21
“What’s not to be happy about?” Dom asked. “Got a beautiful woman, great friends, and for the first time in over a thousand years, I don’t feel like someone’s pawn.”22
“Interesting,” Craig said slowly. “Care to share, or is it…confidential.” Glancing pointedly at Angie and Melissa, he raised an eyebrow.23
“I told Roan to get lost,” he replied, taking a sip from his coffee. He shrugged. “Thought I was going to help her right up until the words came out of my mouth.”24
“Good.” Raising the bottle slightly, Craig tipped it in a small salute. “Maybe things can get back to normal around here.” He paused. “Well, as normal as can be with an ancient dude like you getting hitched to a young ‘un like Angie.”25
“Craig?” Melissa said as she plucked a carrot out of the salad bowl.26
“Yes, hon?”27
”Stop being a smart ass.”28
“Yes, hon.” He glared at Dom as he started laughing. “Laugh it up, pal. And damn it, hurry up and set a wedding date. I’m tired of eating rabbit food so I’ll fit in the tux.”29
Trading glances, Angie smirked at Dom. “You’ll have to talk with ‘Mr. Foot-Dragger’ here,” she said, kissing Dom on the cheek.30
Blushing slightly at their teasing, Dom stared at the table for a few moments. “Tonight,” he said.31
“Tonight, what?”32
Lifting his gaze, he stared in to the eyes that had captivated him at first glance those years ago. “Me, you, elope,” he said. “Tonight.” He turned from her confused face, to look at the other two. “Be honored if you’d witness.” 33
“Whoa, wait,” Angie said. “Married? Tonight? But my dress…”34
“We’ll pick it up on the way,” he said, wondering why he was even suggesting it. Somehow, the need to be married as soon as possible coursed through him. There was no panic with the feeling, but the urgency was there. “Come on,” he said, smiling. 35
“Tomorrow,” Angie said. “Get the dress in the morning, and get married in the afternoon?”36
“Sounds good to me,” Dom said. “Grab a couple squires as bodyguards, and you’re good to go.”37
“I don’t need a bodyguard in the day.”38
“Sure you do,” Craig said, then paused as he took another swig from the bottle of wine. 39
Sighing at what she considered to be overprotection, Melissa stared at the two men. “Come on, what kinds of dangers are there in the daylight?”40
“Gallu,” Dom said.41
“Demons,” Craig said.42
“Pissed off gods,” Dom added.43
“Were-Hunters,” Craig supplied.44
“All right,” Melissa said, holding her hand up, interrupting the list. Sitting straight as something occurred to her, she stood. “I saw the perfect dress the other day when I was shopping. I grabbed one of their catalogues. I’ll go get it.” 45
Craig raised his head as she kissed him, and watched as she headed off across the lawn and through the door that separated the properties. He turned and gave Angie a silent look, which prompted her to stand, grab the basket Amy was in, and take her for a short stroll. 46
“Okay,” Craig said when he and Dom were alone. “What’s the deal with the quickie wedding?”47
“No deal,” Dom replied. “I just want to get married.”48
“Right.”49
Sighing, Dom stared at the barely touched wine glass in front of him. “Since I told Roan no, it’s like I can see every thing clearer. Things that I thought were some big deal are nothing, and the simplest things are ones that I can make happen. Marrying Angie shouldn’t be the big worry that I made it in to.”50
“Welcome to reality, bro,” Craig said, tipping the bottle in a salute. “’Bout time you dragged your ass here.” 51
“Well, us ancient folk are set in our ways.” He looked as Angie approached with the baby. “She good?”52
“She’s hungry,” Angie replied, then looked at Craig. “And someone, I’m assuming you, since Mel would never forget, forgot to put a couple bottles in the diaper bag.” 53
Feigning innocence, Craig laid a hand on his chest. “I’d never do that,” he said. “But, on the off chance that it was most likely me, I’ll go grab a couple bottles for you.” 54
“You do that,” Angie said lightly. Sitting by Dom as Craig got up, she leaned over to kiss him. “Are you sure you want to get married tomorrow?”55
”Positive.”56
“And I don’t have to club you over the head?”57
“If you want to include some foreplay, then I’m all for it.” He stopped at the look she gave him, and tried not to laugh. “Yes, I’m positive. Yes, I want to marry you. And no, you don’t have to club me over the head to get me there.” 58
“Good.” She paused as if considering something, watching as he took a drink from his coffee. “Wonder if I can get my deposit back on the bat I put on layaway?” 59
Choking in surprise, Dom quickly lowered the mug and grabbed a napkin. When he was finally able to talk, he gave her an amused smile. “You’re a funny lady.” Reaching for the coffee again, he grabbed it, then jerked so fast that it spilled over his hand. 60
“Dom!” Angie gasped in surprise. It quickly turned to worry as he jumped from his chair and ran across the lawn. 61
“Take the baby and get in the house,” he yelled over his shoulder. “Now!”62
Frozen slightly with worry and fear, Angie watched as he yanked open the door in the dividing wall. She cringed as she heard him bellow in anger, and before she realized, she was heading across the lawn after him.63
~~~~~~~~~~~~64
~~~~~~~~~~~~65
Tria? 66
Blinking in surprise, Tria sat up on her bed. Looking around, and unsure whether she had been dreaming or not, she scanned the area carefully. The voice had sounded like Savitar’s, but wasn’t as deep or mellow as the surfers. “Hello?” she whispered.67
You’re needed, the voice said, echoing lightly from the corners in her room. 68
“Where?” Too many years in dealing with strange things had taught her not to bother asking who the person was. Mysterious beings were that for a reason… they preferred to remain anonymous. 69
Dominic. 70
Flinging the covers off, Tria dressed quickly. “When?” Waiting for a reply, she paused while slipping her feet in to stiletto boots. “Hello?”71
“Hello.”72
Turning at the new voice, she stared past the person. “Someone was here.”73
Roan took a step in through the archway that separated the room from the rest of her palace. “Who?” she demanded lightly. 74
“No idea,” Tria replied, going to her small weapons locker and selecting a few things. “Just a voice. Said that I was needed at Dominic’s.” 75
“Let’s go,” Roan said, not bothering or needing any extra information. Her world was full of vagueness and danger. She knew that there were few that would be able to take her on and live, and really didn’t know anyone beyond a select few who would know about Tria to be able to contact her. 76
The women vanished, appearing almost immediately in the area where Dom should have been. Catching sight of a female running to the property wall, Roan immediately saw what was going on and phased her and Tria to the neighboring yard. 77
The scene that greeted them was confusing and ongoing. Tria watched as Dom started towards two bodies on the ground, then stopped and spun mid stride, going back to the door in the wall and kicking it shut. Spinning again, he set his sights on a demon that was watching both him and Roan warily. 78
Not even bothering to stop, Roan raised a hand and shot a god bolt at Labeve, catching her in the midsection and flinging her across the yard. Raising her hand again as Labeve cried out, she cursed as the demon simply vanished.79
“Damn you!” Roan screamed to the sky. 80
Tria blinked back tears as everything around her grew still. Dom was on the ground, leaning over Craig as he tried to get him to talk. The body of Melissa laid not too far away, her expression that of fear… it was an expression that Tria was getting very tired of seeing. 81
Her eyes were dragged to the door in the wall as it opened slowly, and a face peeked in. Rushing over to stop the pregnant Angie from entering, Tria was a few seconds too late as the woman stumbled through, a baby secure in her arms. 82
Not sure if what she was witnessing was real, Angie was too stunned to move. She watched as Dom hung his head over the body of Craig, then slowly pulled himself to his feet. She blinked at the hatred and hardness that was etched in to his face. It was like looking at a stranger as he stood and turned towards Roan. 83
“You…bitch!” he growled, stalking towards the goddess. “You did this because I said no to you, didn’t you?!”84
“Dom,” Tria said as she made it to Angie. 85
“Shut it!” Dom snapped, not looking. Anger coursed through him so strongly that it was near impossible to think of anything beyond the woman who was standing there, just watching as he stalked towards her. 86
Tria was torn between trying to steer Angie back to her yard, or stepping between an angry Dom and her boss. Knowing that Dom’s anger would make him do something he’d probably not live to regret, she took a step back from Angie. Grimacing as Angie immediately headed towards the bodies, she’d only taken one step when everything suddenly stopped. 87
Appearing between an angry, yet unmoving Dom and an unimpressed Roan, Savitar blocked the ex-Dark-Hunter’s path. Gasping is annoyance as she surveyed the pair, Roan placed her hands on her hips and glared. The glare intensified when she realized that she and the Savitar were the only ones moving. 88
Walking towards Angie, he gently took Amy from her, smiling lightly as the baby started to coo at him. “She’ll be okay,” he said as doubt shone through Angie’s eyes. He turned and handed the baby to an elderly woman that appeared beside him. “Take Amy in to the house and make sure she’s comfortable,” he ordered. 89
The woman and baby vanished as Savitar walked back to Dom. Ignoring a simmering Roan completely, Savitar let his gaze linger for a few moments on the bodies behind him. Using his powers, he pulled their bodies through time to another spot and place in the city where they would be discovered later that same evening. 90
“You attack Roan and you’ll die,” Savitar told Dom, his voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t do this to your unborn child.91
“You’re angry,” Savitar continued in the same voice. “Store it away for later. You’ll need it. I’ll give you everything you need to destroy this demon, but you have to do as I say.” He paused as eyes flicked to him, and he knew he had Dom’s undivided attention. “Don’t do as I say, and you’ll be dead. Permanently.”92
Just let me hit her… once, Dom thought, still angry at Roan.93
“Trust me human, I know that feeling.” Taking a step back, Savitar allowed Dom to move. “Heed my words.” He motioned to Angie. “Now go tend to your woman.”94
Suddenly able to move, Angie blinked and looked around. She was certain that she had been running towards the bodies of her friends, but they seemed to have vanished. Looking up as Dom appeared, she grabbed on fiercely as he hugged her. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice breaking. 95
“Shhh,” Dom whispered in to her hair. “Try to stay calm for the baby.” 96
Nodding against his chest, Angie cried silently. Concentrating on the thumping of Dom’s heart below her head, she tried to piece things together. She was sure there had been bodies. And she was positive that this wasn’t a dream. 97
Numbness was starting to overtake the anger that he felt, causing Dom’s breath to catch in his throat. He was thankful that he bodies had been removed, yet angry that someone had dared to touch them. The image of Craig being killed by the demon played through his mind again.98
If only he’d been a couple seconds earlier… if only he hadn’t suggested getting married that evening… if only Craig had packed the damned baby bag properly… 99
If only he had killed the demon last time. That thought struck him so deeply that he was surprised that it didn’t slam him flat on his back. 100
“You okay?” Angie asked, her voice full of confusion and grief. 101
Hands shaking, Dom pulled away from Angie. “I just… I need…” Giving her a look of pure sorrow, he looked at the ground as the words wouldn’t come. 102
Staring at the couple, Savitar could feel the agony rolling off them in waves. Things like this always carried a trickle of unease to him that brought along a temptation to thoroughly destroy something. Then again, Roan was still standing somewhere behind him… 103
Banishing the appealing thought of turning and killing her, he took a step towards Dom and Angie, his face void of emotion. 104
Dom’s stance grew rigid as the god approached. “Nothing personal,” he said. “But I’m not up for talking with a deity at the moment.”105
“No one worships me,” Savitar pointed out gently. “I’m just here to make sure you’re…” The words ‘all right’ were on the tip of his tongue, but he was unable to utter them. No one would be all right after experiencing a night like this. “…not going to attack someone.”106
Sighing deeply, Dom seemed to lose most of his resolve and inner strength. Covering his face with his hands, he moaned lightly. Images of the past thirty plus years played through his mind, bringing the sting of tears to his eyes. 107
“I…” Taking his hands away, he turned and walked to the house. 108
Angie watched as he slammed the door behind him, then turned to Savitar. “Thank you for saving him.”109
Giving her a nod, he went to speak, but stopped. Behind him, he could hear a conversation between Roan and Tria as they decided it was time to leave. The temptation to kill her rose again, and he closed his eyes to employ a miniscule amount of his powers to make her stay for a few moments longer. 110
“I believe your fiancé needs you,” he told Angie in a gentle voice, keeping the serene look on his face until she made it to the house and the door shut behind her. Inhaling deeply, he slowly turned to the women behind him.111
Confused when she wasn’t able to leave, Roan quickly zeroed in on the reason for her detainment. More than a little annoyed at the surfer and his childish attempts to one-up her agenda, she folded her arms across her chest and stared. Giving Savitar a cold-blooded look as he turned to look at her, she fought to keep her anger under control. 112
Tria watched, wary, as the two immortals stared at each other. Savitar looked like he was forcing himself from both saying and doing something he sorely wanted to do. The air around him seemed alive with a wind that picked at his hair and clothes, making the laid-back beach persona a distant memory. His eyes flicked from lavender to brown, then white, and back as an aura powerful enough to make her cringe rolled off him. 113
He was pissed…no doubt about it. 114
“Don’t try to blame this on me,” Roan warned him. 115
Eyes flicking to white, Savitar snarled as he took a step forward, which made Tria take an involuntary step back. “You best pray that you’re on time when he needs you next,” Savitar warned, his voice a cross between an eerie calm and a demonic growl. 116
“Don’t threaten-“ Her words were cut off as he vanished from sight. “Arrogant bastard,” she muttered, then turned to Tria. “Let’s go.”117
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~~~~~~~~~~~~119
Dom stared out the window as the words from Savitar ran through his mind. I’ll give you everything you need to destroy this demon... Closing his eyes, he told himself to wake up, then opened them again. The scene out the window was the same, and the feeling of numbness that blanketed him threatened to push him to the floor in despair. 120
Something like this should not have happened without him knowing. What good was a gift like precognition if it couldn’t prevent the death of his closest friend. The idea that he’d also lost a family member circled the exterior of his grief, and he wished that he’d taken the time to talk with Melissa about her past. Foolishly thinking they’d have years to cover it, he’d let the subject alone. 121
Inhaling raggedly, he brought his hands up to scrub his face. He heard the front door open, but ignored the new arrivals. Angie walked to him, giving him a hug, which he returned, and then went to the kitchen to check on Amy who was still with the mysterious older woman. 122
“Dom?” Ash asked in a gentle voice. “I’m sorry.”123
“Me too,” Dom replied back. “Why’d it come back?”124
“And not after Angie?” Savitar asked, completing his unasked question. “Melissa was pregnant. She didn’t know, but Labeve wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity.”125
Dom blinked, then finally turned from the window. “What?”126
“Melissa was pregnant. She was tired, which is why they didn’t go to the movies. Had they gone, they wouldn’t have been coming back.”127
Ash grimace at Savitar’s callousness, although he knew that Dom needed some cold hard facts right now. Adding on to the annoyance he felt at Savitar for not telling him about this until just a few moments ago, Ash wasn’t in an overly pleasant mood. 128
“They were fated to die tonight,” Savitar continued. “By not going, things simply shifted to make the end result possible. “129
“But it changed another future,” Dom said. “I’d told Roan to kiss off, but now I’m with her one hundred percent.”130
“You were always going to be.” Taking a step forward, Savitar regarded him intently. “I meant what I said. I’ll give you every thing you need to destroy Labeve, but you have to put everything on the line, with no expectations of coming out alive on the other end.”131
“You can’t.”132
The three turned to the small voice that came from the doorway. Angie stared at them, not quite comprehending the part of the conversation she had heard. 133
“Ang-“134
“You can’t,” she said, cutting him off. “You face her and you’ll die.”135
“I can’t lose you,” Dom said.136
Savitar sighed as he considered what to tell them. Honestly, dealing with humans was a pain in the ass, and something he truly didn’t like. “I’m going to lay out some basic facts here,” he said. “Labeve will be back. You will die, your son will die, and Dominic will basically go effing insane at the loss and … hell… it won’t be pretty. He’ll piss too many people off, and mess up too many futures. He’ll still end up dead, and the life that Amy would have had being raised by you two will have changed dramatically. That will change a future that I’m not willing to compromise. Ever.”137
Ash’s gaze went from Angie to Savitar, then back. He’d rarely ever heard the surfer divulge such information, and immediately wondered just what he was planning this time. “Sav?”138
“Ash?”139
“A moment of your time, if you will.” 140
Tilting his head slightly, Savitar turned from Angie and walked to where Ash was standing. “It’s going to end up looking like a mugging gone wrong,” he said before Ash could speak. 141
“Why?”142
”Because ‘death by demon’s revenge’ would look too suspicious in the obituary,” he replied evenly.143
Running a hand over his forehead in a vain attempt to stop a headache, Ash sighed lightly. “I meant why are you doing this?”144
”Same reason I saved the squire’s life after the eagle’s attack, and the same reason I informed you of Labeve’s first attempt.” He glanced behind him, his gaze lingering slightly on the sight of Dom and Angie sitting with their heads together. “There’s only so much shifting the cosmos can do to realign itself after a massive fuck up.” He looked back. “The daughter is the key to stopping a violent future, and she’ll still be raised that way.” 145
Ash took the information in, knowing that the other god was right. That didn’t mean he had to like it though. 146
“I’ll do it.”147
Both immortals looked to the voice that had spoken. 148
“On one condition,” Dom added. He stood from the windowsill, placing his fingers on Angie’s lips to stop her protest. Exhaling at what he was about to ask, and already hating himself for even considering it, he didn’t look from her eyes. “Make her memories of tonight how they should have been.” 149
“Done,” Savitar said before anyone else could talk. 150
~~~~~~~~~~~~151
~~~~~~~~~~~~152
Although it was a warm evening, the temperature in the room was chilled by the attitude of the lone occupant. Placing a small travel bag on the couch, Aiden sat beside it and waited. 153
Within twenty minutes, a small mist appeared, quickly solidifying into Savitar. He gave a smile, which faltered slightly as his eyes fell on the travel bag.154
“Where’d you vanish to this time?” Aiden asked, her voice surprisingly calm.155
“Dominic and Angela’s,” he said, obviously preoccupied. “Big crowd… Ash, Tria, Roan…”156
“Why?”157
“Labeve made an appearance and it had to be stopped before it went too far.” 158
“What?”159
Turning slightly as he worked through the evening in his mind, he brought a hand up to absently scratch a tattooed shoulder. “Uh, Dominic’s property is protected from uninvited… demons. Labeve appeared on the neighboring property… the one Craig and Melissa lived in.”160
Lived in? “They’re…”161
“Yeah,” he said in a low voice. “Dom almost joined them, but Roan and Tria show up, making Labeve vanish. Dom transferred his anger to Roan.” 162
Staring at Savitar, Aiden tried to comprehend what he was saying. Craig and Melissa gone… Labeve showing up there instead of… Taking a step back, Aiden covered her mouth with her hands as a terrible thought ran through her, leaving a trail of guilt behind. 163
“I did this,” she whispered. “Didn’t I?”164
“What? No.”165
She nodded slightly. “But making you promise Angie and Dom couldn’t die by Labeve, I made this happen instead.”166
“No,” he said, walking to her and gathering her in his arms. “Gods, no. This was as far from your fault as anything could ever get.” 167
Standing there in his arms, while he assured her that she hadn’t cursed two people to a death, Aiden couldn’t help but start to relax. He had such a powerful aura about him that it discharged calmness all around.168
Wanting Aiden to know that she had nothing to do with the deaths, he held her until she started to realize the fact. He felt her starting to revert to the resigned, yet strong emotions that she had when he first arrived back. 169
Pulling back, he brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face, and gave her an honest look. “They were never supposed to die,” he said in a quiet voice. “Not like that, at least.”170
Getting the impression that he wasn’t talking about Dom and Angie, she took his hand in hers and brought it to her lips for a gentle kiss. Tonight was going to be hard enough without the added burden of deaths. “Who wasn’t?”171
Giving her an understanding look, he squeezed her hand, then gently withdrew his fingers from the warm embrace. “Craig and Melissa.” 172
Closing her eyes at the loss, Aiden offered up a silent Arcadian prayer of passing for the couple. “Then why did they?”173
”Fate.” He turned slightly to look out through the patio doors. “Melissa wasn’t feeling good so they decided to stay home instead of going to the movies.” He sighed in annoyance at the way things sometimes worked out. “On the way to the movie, they were supposed to be mugged and killed.” He looked at her. “Since they were on a heavily protected property, with no chance of muggers, Fate simply rearranged a few variables to make sure it would happen.”174
“That’s why you vanished from here, wasn’t it?” Aiden asked. “Dom was having a major meltdown, and you prevented his timeline from being altered if he attacked Roan.”175
“She would have killed him,” he muttered in explanation. “And, I promised you that I would see that no harm came to him because of Labeve.” 176
“You saved him.”177
Savitar gave brief nod. “As Simi would put it, he’s quality peoples.” 178
“You kept your word,” she said. “And I love you for that.”179
His heart soared at those words, making the delighted emotion bittersweet by the events he sensed was coming. He couldn’t see in exact detail, but he knew he’d be crashing to the ground just as quickly as he’d been lifted. 180
“Do you mean that?”181
“Mean what?” she asked.182
“That you love me.”183
Giving a small smile, Aiden stood on her tiptoes and kissed him gently. “Yes, I mean it.” She pulled back with a sigh. “Which makes what I have to say hurt all that much more.”184
“It’s all right,” he said, storing her words away in his heart. “I can take it.”185
She bit her lip for a moment, then exhaled. “I have to go.”186
He stared at her, seeing her intentions, and knowing if he spoke, he would more than likely beg her to stay. But he couldn’t. The next few months were going to be an insane whirlwind of trouble and shifting alliances… the last thing he wanted was for her to get caught in the crossfire. “I know,” he finally managed to whisper. 187
Aiden smiled lightly as she reached out and touched her palm to his cheek. “It’s been madness these past few years, and I need to step back and take a breath.”188
“I understand,” Savitar said, getting some of the emotion under wraps. After all, how could he fault her for doing the exact same thing he’d done more than a few times. 189
“I’ll come back.”190
No you won’t. 191
”I’m not going to be leaving forever,” she assured him.192
Serves me right. Taking a step back, he turned and clenched his eyes shut. Opening them again, he exhaled. “I pushed you away, and I’m sorry. There’s nothing I could possibly do to make up for breaking promise after promise to you.” Turning back, he gave her a small smile. “Go. Find yourself. I know you’re going to enjoy discovering the amazing person that I’ve always seen in you.”193
For the first time, doubt crept in to her resolve. “I didn’t want to upset you-“194
“You didn’t,” he interrupted. “It’s your choice, and I will respect and support you the entire way.”195
The honesty in his words made her feel slightly better, although she could feel the hurt coming from him. “Can I call you?”196
“Even if all you want to do is talk.” Or need someone to hold you while your world falls apart. Savitar took a step towards her, raising a hand to gently brush through her hair. His chest tightened when he realized that this might be the last time he’d be able to do this. Funny how it hurt a lot more than the last time they had parted. 197
Standing on her tiptoes, Aiden placed her lips against his, shivering as he gave her the gentlest kisses imaginable. It was one of pure honesty and love, something that showed he was resigned to her leaving, yet hoped that she would remain a part of his life. 198
Savitar nearly pulled her back as she took a step away from him. He didn’t want her to go, but knew that he had to so she could follow her own path that would hopefully lead back to Neratiti. The adage of loving something and setting it free crossed his mind, and he was sorely tempted to track down whoever created it so he could kick his ass. 199
“I won’t say good-bye, since that sounds too final,” Aiden told him. “So, I’m just going to say that I’ll see you soon, and I wish you the peace that you need.”200
I found peace with you, but I blew it. Bringing her left hand up to kiss the palm, he let it go and stepped back. Don’t go. Please.201
“Good-bye, Aiden,” he said calmly, staring as she vanished. 202
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Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Shocked and Slowly Losing My Mind
I can't believe they died....and I, a guy, wanted to cry for Savitar....damn that was a hard chapter to read. They need to kill that demon.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Wow, you did a marathon reading!!
Yeah, this was a hard chapter to write, but one that had to be done (
) ... I had a tear or two while writing it, and another part in a later chapter where Dom is talking to Amy.
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Oh
my
frikkin'
God.
You didn't!
You killed them?!
What? No. Why?
But... but... sigh. And the ending where he says goodbye? *sniff* Damn it.
My god, but that was a hard chapter to finish... I kept reading over parts, thinking that it wouldn't end up the way it did, but it didn't change
Most excellently done, brah.
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good story! just needs more imagry. more drama. starting with all dilouge leaves the scene weak in the minds eye.
took me a while to get into it but good once i was there.
reads a bit like a film script.
beginning: 2, language: 1, plot: 4, ending: 3, dialog: 4, characters: 4.
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Thank you for your comment
This is part ten of (so far) fifteen parts, so the imagery is set throughout the entire story, same with the drama. -
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Needs more drama he says? More imagery? Apparently we didn't read the same chapter.
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